Sports Legends Train Locally

Harbor Bay Club gym enthusiasts got an eyeful over the weekend as the world’s top, big name mixed-martial-art (MMA) superstars trained there. Frank Shamrock and his brother and rival Ken, Marco Ruas from Brazil, Maurice Smith, Bas Rutten, and others lift weights and do cardio at the Harbor Bay Club on a daily basis and are all MMA stars.

"Hopefully we didn’t cause a lot of chaos," said Frank Shamrock. "We’re happy to sign autographs for kids and adults. I think they know us know from the TV shows like ‘Ultimate Fighting Championship’ (UFC). In Japan, crowds of 5,000 people follow me to the hotel or when I go out to eat. It’s nice to have a little less craziness here in Alameda while we prepare for our big show at the Oakland Arena."

The fighters were in town for an International Fight League (IFL) event which will soon debut on KRON channel 4.

Frank was in the main event last year for the very first California State Athletic Commission-sanctioned MMA show at the HP Arena that broke all North American gate and attendance records, eclipsing even the resident San Jose Sharks. MMA has overtaken professional boxing and wrestling both in television ratings and in pay-per-view revenue as the sport has exploded in recent years.

"They’re the biggest MMA stars on the planet and I can’t believe how big they are. What a surprise for us," said Harbor Bay Club member and MMA fan Seyed Jang. Many follow UFC which airs several weekly TV shows including a reality show: "The Ultimate Fighter."

"You have boxers, amateur wrestling greats, jiu-jitsu artists, and all the various disciplines represented," said Frank. "They have legends coaching teams and many of the world’s greatest fighters on their roster."

Source: The Alameda Sun

More On UFC/HBO Deal, Lennox Lewis As Announcer?

The following is an excerpt from an article from the sports section of NYDailyNews.com:

HBO's 'Ultimate' dilemma

Talks are heating up between HBO Sports execs and representatives of Ultimate Fighting Championship that could soon end in a deal bringing the caged warriors to the pay-cable network.

If a contract gets done there are all kinds of ramifications. HBO does serious sports journalism with shows such as "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" and Bob Costas' "Costas Now." Where would the controversial UFC fit in? Yes, boxing, HBO's marquee sports franchise, ain't exactly without its share of whacked actors, but compared to UFC it is a mainstream sport.

Also, how would HBO handle the production? Considering its history, both HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg and executive producer Rick Bernstein would probably seek new and independent voices with no ties to UFC.

Would they do some crossover with their boxing yackers? Word is both Lennox Lewis and MeMax Kellerman, who work on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" series, are UFC aficionados.

Source: www.mmanews.com

Group dislikes Station buyout bid.

LAS VEGAS -- A Washington, D.C.-based investment group affiliated with organized labor said Thursday it believes the management-led proposed buyout of Station Casinos undervalues the company and should be rejected by its board of directors.

CtW Investment Group, which is affiliated with a federation of labor unions representing 6 million members that broke away from the AFL-CIO in 2005, thought an offer of $82 a share by Fertitta Colony Partners doesn't reflect Station Casinos' vast real estate holdings in Las Vegas and the potential value of future casino earnings and tribal gaming management contracts.

Fertitta Colony Partners includes members of the Fertitta family, including Station Casinos Chairman Frank Fertitta III and company President Lorenzo Fertitta, who took the casino operator public in 1993.

CtW Investment Group, which works with union-sponsored pension funds and public employee pension funds with combined control of more than 2.6 million shares of Station Casinos, believes the company is worth more than $97 a share.

"In our view, the proposed $82 offer by Fertitta Colony Partners would allow the insiders of the company to unfairly capture the value of (the company's) investments at the expense of long-term shareholders," William Patterson, executive director of CtW, said in a letter to the nonmanagement members of the Station Casino board of directors.

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Dana meets with ESPN..also...Is the IFL in for an empty arena in Houston?

ESPN is on the verge of covering mixed martial arts - or at least the UFC - like it covers other professional sports. UFC President Dana White is headed to New York this week for a meeting with network honchos to discuss how it will all come together.

It's likely that UFC will get airtime scraps to start, similar to how the network covers other "fringe" pro sports. Don't expect wall-to-wall NFL-style coverage - yet.



Seems the International Fight League has taken a "if we host it, they will come" approach for its Feb. 2 show at Reliant Arena. Well, they aren't coming - at least not in droves.

A check Friday with the promotion for an update on ticket sales essentially produced a "no comment" response - PR-speak for "all is not well."

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Koscheck vs. Sanchez confirmed for UFC 69

"WELL WELL WELL, Just to clear a bunch of reports: YES, it's on UFC 69 Houston; TX there will be a KOSCHECK vs. Diego Sanchez. I hope you kids on the forums have some fun talking about KOSCHECK vs. Sanchez because yes it's on UFC 69 and yes, you'll tune in because you either hate me or love me with nothing in between!!!" - KOS

Two of the top 10 welterweights in the world are set to do battle at UFC 69 in April. Kos confirmed on a bulletin from Myspace that he will indeed get in the octagon with Diego in Houston.

This match first took place in TUF season 1 with Diego pulling out the close decision in a 2 round exhibition match.

The stakes are raised this time. Everytime one of these two athletes gets into the octagon, he wins, and everyone on every forum says they deserve a title shot. Well this time you may just get your wish.

The winner of this match will be the number one contender. I honestly believe the UFC will see it this way as well.

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Japan boxing faces crisis!

Who is stronger? Ex-world flyweight and bantamweight champ Masahiko Fighting Harada (55-7, 22 KOs) or ex-three time junior middle titlist Koichi Wajima (31-6-1, 25 KOs)? The Japanese boxing world is facing a crisis of splitting into two groups. In Japan, there are a couple of bodies; Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and JPBA (Japan Pro-Boxing Association). The JBC regulates the boxing world as governing organization in charge of regulation and licensing, while the JPBA is a union of all the JBC-licensed club-owners under the traditional club system. The JPBA has had a serious internal problem. The president of the JPBA has been Masahiko Harada for six terms spanning last eighteen years, now supported by majority of 274 club-owners. However, Koichi Wajima has run for the JPBA presidency to terminate Harada's reign.

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MMA arrives, controversy sure to follow.

They call it mixed martial arts. It is a polite term for street fighting.

You know, when testosterone-pumped guys get in a caged ring and punch, choke and kick until the other surrenders. Or the fight is stopped completely because one is facedown on the mat, wondering what planet he is on, while the other is running around with fists pumping as if he just found the cure for cancer.

Sure, there are rules. You can't gouge out someone's eyes, for example. Or use your elbows like Louisville Sluggers. You can't turn your head into a battering ram. And, my favorite -- listen up, ladies -- there is absolutely no hitting in the groin area. None. So forget about what you learned in those self-defense classes.

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Minotouro trains hard to Pride USA

Rogério Minotouro is training hard even doesn’t knowing yet who will be his adversary at the Pride USA, that will be held on February 24th, in Las Vegas . The BTT athlete, who was the highlight of the Pan special newspaper, said that is improving his ground game. “I am working my ground game. I did lose some gas, but I am working hard. I am also training my Boxing and Muay Thai”, said the BTT athlete. Minotouro talked a little bit about his training plans until the fight day. “I am doing a resistance job on the ground and under my Boxing, with big trainings. Next week I will train not so much time and when I know my adversary, I will start an specific training”, told Minotouro.

Source: www.tatame.com

Seth Kleinbeck talks EliteXC fight against Fukuda

EliteXC’s first show is coming up February 10th with five fights airing on Showtime starting at 10 PM and five more undercard fights being streamed on slitexc.com starting at 8 PM. One of the undercard fights to be streamed and not televised on Showtime is Seth Kleinbeck taking on Riki Fukuda. Seth fights out of Matt Hamilton’s We$t$ide Fight Team in Arkansas while Fukuda fights out of ‘Kid’ Yamamoto’s Killer Bee Gym in Tokyo. Both fighters have for the most part equal pro records so this fight is the local hero vs. the international ‘star’. Don’t let that make you think this is an easy fight for Fukuda. One look at the shows Seth came up in should indicate Kleinbeck is respected in the Southern circles and fighting in the right shows. Now he gets his shot at the big time.

KM: How did you get involved with Elite XC? SK: A guy David Ferguson from Memphis heard about it and told (trainer) Matt (Hamilton). Somehow my name got mentioned. They called Matt and asked if I wanted to fight and Matt brought it to me. I don’t really know much of the details. I thought those guys were from Mississippi.

KM: Now that they are turning into such a solid card how do you feel about fighting for them? SK: The card I see is a world-class card. I know it is a new organization and they bought Rumble on the Rock. I’m just glad to be a part of it. Hopefully it grows and gets bigger than it is now. I’m glad I got in on the front end of it and get to grow along with it.

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RITC 90 - Results

Submitted by: John Petrilli ( RITC )
Posted On 01/28/2007

COMPLETE RESULTS:
Fight #1
Doug Moore ( 154 ), Relson Gracie of AZ
won by decision ( 2-1 )
Derithe Harper ( 158 ), RITC Training Center

Fight #2
Omur Cor ( 180 ), Attitude First Training Center
won by fighter retirement, 3:00 Rd 1
Joe Bognnar ( 192 ), Hard Knocks Gym

Fight #3
George Hartman ( 202 ), Phoenix Grappling Center
won by submission ( arm bar ), 1:19 Rd 1
Avery Burroughs ( 212 ), Southside Fight Club

Fight #4
Ray Robinson ( 157 ), RITC Training Center
won by submission ( knee bar ), 2:11 Rd 1
Jeremy Floyd ( 159 ), No Regrets

Fight #5
Jeff Horlacher ( 184 ), Team Relentless
won by ref stoppage ( arm bar ), 1:44 Rd 2
Brandon Hall ( 197 ), AZ Combat

Fight #6
Lars Haven ( 201 ), RITC Training Center
won by TKO, :22 Rd 1
Lyle Tenfingers ( 222 ), Freestyle

Fight #7 ( Super Fight )
Joe Cronin ( 172 ), RITC Training Center
won by decision ( 3-0 )
Mike Peterson ( 175 ), Ultimate Fitness

Fight #8 ( Main Event )
Heavyweight Championship
Gilbert Aldana ( 263 ), RITC Training Center
won by submission ( kimura ), :26 Rd 1
Rich Beecroft ( 235 ), No Regrets

Source: news.adcombat.com

Cage matches draw thousands to Forum

Larry Landry (left) and Justin Moore prepare to fight Saturday
night at the The Forum. By Ken Caruthers / RN-T

A score of 20-somethings from Dublin filled a section of bleachers at The Forum on Saturday, part of a cheerfully rowdy crowd in town to see The Battle of Rome.

The series of mixed martial arts cage matches featured professional combat fighters and amateurs — including locals Shawn Harris and Robi “Rick James” Ramey.

“It’s no holds barred,” said Cory Nestlehutt, a co-owner with Ramey of event sponsor Beat Down Productions. “The only difference is, amateurs do three 4-minute rounds and professionals do three 5-minute rounds.”

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And Check out the ISCF web page here...www.iscfmma.com

Phil Baroni Interview

The Shooters Paradise - Inside MMA In Las Vegas
By Mike Sawyer
www.myspace.com/mikesawyerkayfabe

I spoke with Phil Baroni today and we briefly touched on what is going on with him and his MMA career....

Sawyer: How is the training going?
BARONI: I'm starting back in the gym on Monday. I plan on training with Randy Couture for the next five weeks while I'm in Vegas. I will then go back to San Jose and continue training with AKA.

Sawyer: What is your weight at right now?
BARONI: 215... I'm rock-hard and ready to go...

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NOT BOXING, IT’S NO HOLDS BARRED

Forget the ring and take a step inside the octagon. Ultimate fighting’s rise has created a new breed of American brawler.

BETTENDORF, Iowa The red-brick gym just a block from the Mississippi River sits tucked among a rundown karaoke bar, a white house straight out of “That ’70s Show” and a candy store.

From the outside, Champions Fitness Center looks like a small town’s small bar, the place flannel-clad John Deere workers go after the second shift, where farmers looking for some fun in the city venture when it’s too cold to plant or till.

The only hint that this spot helped spawn a sport that’s fast and bloody — a mix of martial arts and wrestling, the kind of no-holds-barred brawl you’d expect at a roadside bar, not featured on television — is a sign that reads, “Miletich Fighting Systems.”

Inside the cramped gym is a corner room with wrestling mats and guys who wear shirts that say things like “Fighting Solves Everything.”

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SOSZYNSKI VS. ROTHWELL REMATCH OFF

Early indications are that the Anacondas’ ever-improving heavyweight, Krzysztof Soszynski, is off the card for his squad’s matchup with the defending champ Silverbacks on February 2nd.

Many had hoped this would be an exciting rematch between Soszynski and Silverbacks heavyweight Ben Rothwell, after Rothwell TKO’d Soszynski in their first meeting last year.

But word is that an injury suffered in training has sidelined Soszynski for now, which means fans will have to wait to see just how much the Polish-born fighter has improved since his first bout with Big Ben. All Soszynski’s teammates can talk about is his rapid development, but maybe he still isn’t quite ready for a juggernaut like Rothwell.

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MARKHAM TO MISS SILVERBACKS 2007 IFL DEBUT

When the Quad Cities Silverbacks attempt to take their first step towards defending their two-time IFL Championship on February 2nd in Houston, Texas, they will be without one of the team’s most exciting and dependable fighters, Rory Markham.

Markham, who is 4-1 in the IFL, explained his absence from the card to MMAWeekly shortly after having laser eye surgery to fix his injury.

“What I had in my eye is what they call a 3% retinal hole,” said Rory. “[They call it 3%] because that’s how big the hole was. It’s impact induced, so it’s from getting hit in the eye over the course of the last couple of months.”

According to Markham, if he had not found out about the injury when he did, it could have lead to a potentially devastating prognosis.

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Shooto "Battle Mix Tokyo" Pictures

Shooto on Friday made its 2007 debut with "Battle Mix Tokyo,"
headlined by fights featuring Megumi Fujii (Above), Atsushi Takeuchi and Hayate Usui.

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More Pictures Of The New Chute Boxe Facility.

Chute Boxe, the famed Brazilian mixed martial arts camp that plays home to PRIDE champion Wanderlei Silva among others, opened its new headquarters on Jan. 17.

Logging in at over 1,000 square meters, the shiny new gym is two floors and features the biggest grappling mat in the southern region of Brazil. As expected, the facility is decked out with anything and everything a fighter training for a bout would need, including both a ring and caged fence.

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Pavlik Stops Zertuche!

Middleweight Kelly Pavlik looked very impressive tonight as he knocked out the previously unstopped Jose Zertuche in eight rounds at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

The entire fight had good action but during the first three rounds it was much more back and forth. Rounds four through eight saw Pavlik dishing out much more than he took as he was able to use his height and reach advantage to keep Zertuche at bay. The 6′2″ lanky Pavlik connected with solid blows whenever he had room to punch but early in the bout Zertuche managed to get inside on Pavlik and landed his share of blows.

ARCE’S OPPONENT DID NOT WANT TO FIGHT!
In the main event, Jorge Arce scored a unanimous decision win over Julio Ler in a terrible fight. It was a disgraceful performace by Ler as he came in with no intention of trying to win. He ran throughout the bout and whenever Arce caught him on the ropes, Ler would curl into a defensive ball until he found and opening to get out and run some more. Official scores were 117-109 and 117-110 twice. Fight Report had it 120-108.

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All Japan Kickboxing - "Departure" - Card Update

Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan
March 9, 2007

New Matches
Haruaki Otsuki vs. Hiromasa Masuda
Yuya Yamamoto vs. Toko Kin
Mitsumasa Horikawa vs. Winner of Mamoru Takaragi/Yoichiro Mikami
Hiroshi Iwakiri vs. Genki Nakamura
Tatsuhiro Hatao vs. Tomohiro Endo
Naoki Terasaki vs. Kazunobu Noma

(Full Card)

LutaCasada Quick Results

LutaCasada.com
27th of January 2007
Ribalta Rio, RJ

Female:
Hannette Quadros defeated Letícia Ribeiro with a kneebar in the 1st

Lightweight:
Leonardo “Tunico” Leite defeated Bruno Frazatto by 2-0
Celso Vinícius defeated Eduardo Pessoa by 12-0
Tiago Alves submitted Alexandre Pulga Pimentel by choke in 1st

Middleweight:
Demian Maia defeated Delson Pé de Chumbo by 2-0
Marcelinho Garcia defeated Rômulo Barral by 2-0

Heavyweight:
Leo Leite defeated Braga Neto by 3-0
Jefferson Moura defeated Robert Drysdale by 9-6

Superfight:
Marcio Pé de Pano defeated Rodrigo Comprido by 2-0

Source: lutacasada.com

"Kid" Yamamoto hospitalized in Emperor's Cup

by Dave Meltzer

Kid Yamamoto was hospitalized at today's Emperor's Cup in Tokyo when it appeared he suffered a dislocated elbow in his second match in the Japanese national freestyle wrestling championships.

Yamamoto looked strong in his first match of the tournament, in wrestling at 132 pounds. He was injured in his second match with Kenji Inoue (the Olympic bronze medalist at this weight in Greece in 2004) from an arm whip takedown in the first move of the match.

There was more interest, including live national television coverage, of this year's championship than any in history due to Yamamoto.

Kennichi Yumoto beat Inoue in an exciting match to win the championship.

Source: www.wrestlingobserver.com

Castro demolishes Herrera!

Amazing former world middleweight champion Jorge "Locomotora" Castro (130-11-3, 90 KOs) is back with a vengeance. The 39-year-old scored a second round TKO over Jose Luis Herrera (14-3, 14 KOs) Saturday night in a highly charged cruiserweight "revenge bout" in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Castro brutally dropped Herrera three times in round two to avenge a knockout loss at the hands of Herrera last year in Buenos Aires, a fight Castro took just months after an auto accident left him in a coma for 20 days. "He felt the right hand and the left to the liver hurt him a lot," stated a jubilant Castro afterward. "Fortunately, I won like I wanted. I was powerful and I demonstrated it."

Source: fightnews.com

Former Wrestling Coach Wally Johnson Passes Away

Former University of Minnesota wrestling coach Wally Johnson passed away Wednesday at the age of 91 in Edina from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Johnson, who coached the Golden Gophers from 1952-86, guided Minnesota to Big Ten titles in 1957 and ‘59. The predecessor to current head coach J Robinson, Johnson is the school’s all-time leader in wins with a 392-209-11 career record.

“Wally will be missed,” Robinson said. “There was a fondness about him when people talked about him, which means he impacted a lot of people’s lives in a very positive way. So when you come in and follow a legend, you want to make sure you fill those shoes. After he retired, he reveled in the fact that we took a next step and really enjoyed seeing the success of Minnesota Wrestling. The true measurement of a coach when he leaves is that he wants the program to continue to build and to get better, and Wally epitomized all of those things.”

During his tenure at Minnesota, Johnson coached 28 individual Big Ten champions, including three-time winners Dick Mueller (1953, ‘57-58) and Larry Zilverberg (1974-76). He also led 25 different wrestlers to 31 All-America certificates, including three wrestlers who won NCAA individual titles: Mueller (1953), Evan Johnson (1976) and Pat Neu (1977).



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