Alternates tabbed after IFL-Houston weigh-in

Two alternates will get the call tomorrow night, after Scorpions lightweight Shane Johnson failed to make weight during this afternoon's International Fight League weigh-in in Houston. Johnson didn't even show for the mandatory trip to the scale at a packed Hooters restaurant on the Southwest Freeway, one day ahead of the IFL's Texas debut.

Johnson was tabbed to lock up with Kaz Hamanaka of the Sabres. That 155-pound bout will now be replaced by stand-ins Masaaki Izena (Sabres) and Matt Ver Halen (Scorpions). The Silverbacks' Victor Moreno also came in heavy - about two and a half pounds over the 170 welterweight limit. The coaches agreed to let Moreno's bout against Jay Hieron proceed, but Moreno's paycheck will probably still be a little lighter.

All other fighters on the card, including super-fight combatants Matt Lindland and Carlos Newton, came in on weight.

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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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