Monday, December 31, 2007

Pound-For-Pound:Begining 2008


Here is ring magazines pound-for-pound list(Newly Golden Boy Acquired)since everybody has their own opinions on who should go where? I figure i turn to the last credible source.

1. FLOYD MAYWEATHER
WELTERWEIGHT

2. MANNY PACQUIAO
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT

3. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT

4. BERNARD HOPKINS
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

5. JOE CALZAGHE
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT

6. ISRAEL VAZQUEZ
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT

7. MIGUEL COTTO
WELTERWEIGHT

8. RICKY HATTON
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT

9. WINKY WRIGHT
MIDDLEWEIGHT

10. RAFAEL MARQUEZ
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT

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Sunday, December 30, 2007

Another Addition to The Golden Boy Family


Oscar de la Hoya and Millie Corretjer are proud to announce the birth of their second child, Nina Lauren Nenitte de la Hoya born December 29th in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 4:36 pm local time. She weighed in at 7 pounds 13 ounces and is 20 1/2 inches long. BoxMMANews congratulates the Golden Boy family on their new addition!


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UFC:79 Results


A sold out crowd packed the Mandalay Bay Events Center for UFC 79: Nemesis to see the rubber-match between Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes and the highly anticipated bout between former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and former Pride Fighting Championships middleweight champion, "The Axe Murderer," Wanderlei Silva.St-Pierre dominated Hughes, beating him at his own game, grounding, pounding, mounting and eventually submitting the greatest welterweight in UFC history.

The crowd remained on it’s feet throughout the Liddell vs. Silva bout as the two legendary fighters exchanged blows for three rounds in an epic war that lived up to the hype. We now know who would win between Liddell and Silva; a question debated by mixed martial arts fans for six years . . . Chuck Liddell. Liddell and Silva were awarded Fight of the Night honors while Georges St-Pierre took home Submission of the Night and Eddie Sanchez was awarded Knockout of the Night. The bonuses handed out for each category for UFC 79 were $50,000.

-Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes by Submission (Armbar) at 1:54, R2
-Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva by Unanimous Decision
-Eddie Sanchez def. Soa Palelei by TKO (Strikes) at 3:24, R3
-Lyoto Machida def. Sokoudjou by Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) at 4:20, R2
-Rich Clementi def. Melvin Guillard by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:40, R1
-James Irvin def. Luis Cane by Disqualification (Illegal Strike to Downed Opponent) at 1:51, R1
-Manny Gamburyan def. Nate Mohr by Submission (Ankle Lock) at 1:31, R1
-Dean Lister def. Jordan Radev by Unanimous Decision, R3
-Roan Carneiro def. Tony DeSouza by TKO at 3:33, R2
-Mark Bocek def. Doug Evans by Unanimous Decision, R3


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Thursday, December 27, 2007

Upcoming Bouts



Upcoming Fights

Dec 29 (GER) Steve Cunningham vs Marco Huck

Jan 4 (ESPN2) Allan Green v Rubin Williams

Jan 4 (SHO) Anthony Peterson v Guadalupe Rosales

Jan 5 (SHO) Paul Malignaggi vs. Herman Ngoudjo

Jan 11 (ESPN2) Edison Miranda v David Banks

Jan 11 (TeleF) Sergio Mora v Rito Ruvalcaba

Jan 19 (ZDF) Ruslan Chagaev vs Matt Skelton

Jan 19 (HBO) Roy Jones Jr. vs. Felix Trinidad

Jan 26 (HBO) Alexander Povetkin vs Eddie Chambers

Feb 2 Amir Khan v Martin Kristjansen

Feb 9 (HBO) Paul Williams v Kermit Cintron

Feb 16 (HBO) Kelly Pavlik vs Jermain Taylor
Feb 16 (HBO) Zab Judah vs. Carlos Quintana

Feb 16 (ARD) Nikolai Valuev vs Sergei Liakhovich

Feb 23 Wladimir Klitschko vs Sultan Ibragimov

Mar 8 Samuel Peter vs Oleg Maskaev

Mar 15 (HBO) Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Two Legends Go Head On


On January 26th 2008, Two legends will go toe to toe or rather for Jones box and dance,as for Trinidad aggressively stalk and head hunt. Trinidad will return to the ring after 2 year hiatus to face former undisputed light heavy weight king and pound-for-pound superstar Roy Jones Jr. at a catch weight of 170 pounds. Jones will most definitely be the favorite over the Puerto Rican superstar who is moving up 10 lbs in weight from his previous fight. This fight will most definitely be on a independent pay per view. “If this fight took place a few years ago when originally planned, I think Roy would have overwhelmed Tito and taken him out relatively quickly” said John “The Iceman” Scully a former sparring partner of Jones. “Jones at any point of his career would have an advantage because tremendous hand speed and bursts of power. I am not sure how even a prime Tito would have been able to deal with it”.

Felix Trinidad is coming back for a couple of reasons. Money for him, and the fact that he is envious and does not like the attention Miguel Cotto is getting. Trinidad picked Zab Judah to knock Cotto out in four rounds, the two had plans to ride on the same float at the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Nobody wants to be remembered as some one "who once was the king" Imagine walking around on your island and some one else is talking about a new prince.

Either way it turns out this will be an exciting crossroads match between two former kings and multiple division champions. This bout will still leave many wondering if the two would have met at some point in their respective careers, although the two traveled along different weight classes at the time. If Roy was able to take a heavy weights shots then he should be able to take Trinidad's but this is boxing and anything is possible.

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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Is The IceMan Still Here?


In the long career which began professionally in 1998 for Chuck "The Ice Man " Lidell and even years before then while disciplining himself in various forms of martial arts from koei-kan karate-do to kickboxing to collegiate wrestling. There is not one person most of all himself would actually think that this maybe his last ride. This is what he is up against when he faces off with Wandelai Silvia who maybe on his last leg to stand on as well.

Liddell first surfaced on UFC 17 by earning a decision victory over a boxer named Noe Hernandez,since then such as all athletes he has had his share of victories and defeats; not many others can actually say that they rode a wave of star studded popularity. That is where it all stops because After being knocked out by an old foe in Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in May, Liddell looked to rebound in the main event of September’s UFC 76 but lost a decision to a heavy underdog in Keith Jardine.

This is a fight that should of been made about five years ago but as with the politics of things in competitive sports the fight never happened. Here is how they stack up aginst one another.Liddell was scoring knockout after knockout against the UFC’s best, Silva was doing the same. When Liddell scored two KO’s over hall-of-famer Randy Couture, cementing his own legacy, Silva did the same to Kazushi Sakuraba—not twice but three times,both have lost two of their last three in convincing fashion.It will be an interesting match for as long as it lasts. The first one to land one of those barbaric right hands wins this fight. When you have two strikers facing off somebody is going to sleep.Here is a video of some of his best KO's.

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Sunday, December 23, 2007

Silvia Needs A Big One


After a seven year hiatus from combatant sports Wanderlei Silvia takes one of the biggest risks as he makes his come back. This was a fight that should of been mad several years ago but for some reason it never materialized. Most average fighters would take an easy fight to get themselves back in the W circle and build anticipation for a mega fight with a rival.Silva recently relocated to the United States to focus his training for this fight, leaving behind his former team, Chute Boxe, and joining forces with Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

Since his last appearance in the Octagon, the UFC has undergone a cosmetic makeover that nip & tuck change included different owners and the obvious growth of the sport. It will have been just over 10 months since he last fought when he faces Liddell on Dec. 29, Silvia is 0-2 in his last two fights.The excitement and anticipation for this bout can be summed up by the statements of UFC president Dana White when he was finally able to sign Silva to a contract earlier this year, for all intents and purposes, solidifying this bout.


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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 5:05 PM 0 comments

The Dancing Destroyer


Herbie Hide now campaigning as a cruiserweight is the former WBO heavyweight champion, Hide destroyed previously unbeaten Mikhail Nasyrov on Sunday night to claim the WBC International cruiserweight title at the Maritim Hotel Halle in Halle/Saale, Germany. The "Dancing Destroyer" dropped Nasyrov in round two, but Nasyrov survived the round. Nasyrov showed great toughness and the next few rounds were close. After Hide dropped Nasyrov again in the sixth with two big right hands, referee Mike Griffin stopped the bout at the 1:20 mark.

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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 4:57 PM 0 comments

Floyd Mayweather Talks With Mark Cuban


According to reports in the Media and rumors that have been circulating is that Floyd "Money" Mayweather is considering taking a leap into mixed martial arts. Floyd sat down with the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and they had a serious conversation about Floyd competing in mma events.

Quoted by the Associated Press after the Mavericks' game Friday night, Cuban in regards to Mayweather Jr. stated: "We're definitely going to work together," Cuban went on to add: "It's just a question of in what capacity. You just don't jump from being a boxer to an MMA fighter overnight. He's got to test the waters. Mark Cuban is not only the owner of the Dalls Mavericks he also owns an mma promotional company called HDNet Fights.

Floyd Mayweathers most trusted business advisor Leonard Ellerbe, told ESPN.com Mayweather Jr. was seriously considering a move to MMA. "It's definitely something he is interested in, and when Floyd makes his move, obviously it's going to be a mega event," Ellerbe added: "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."


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Friday, December 21, 2007

Liddell-Silvia A Dream Match


Author: David L. Hudson

It had to happen. The match had to be made.

Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell vs. Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva: The MMA world demanded it and the UFC, through Dana White, delivered in a major way. These two striking phenoms face off Dec. 29 in a bout that likely will end in spectacularly brutal fashion. Liddell possesses a right hand bomb, an impenetrable stand-up defense and an ice-cool demeanor. Silva unleashes an aggressive all-out assault, marked by brutal knee and leg strikes.

For several years, Liddell was the face of the UFC, a fighter who twice defeated the great Randy Couture, who stopped Tito Ortiz twice, and graced the cover of ESPN The Magazine. Silva possesses a most entertaining style, utilizing a variety of knee, leg and arm strikes to become a popular legend worldwide from his native Brazil to the PRIDE home base in Japan.

What will happen is anyone’s guess, as both legends are coming off two straight defeats. Liddell’s last two fights were the devastating first-round kayo loss to lose his UFC light heavyweight belt to the explosive Quentin “Rampage” Jackson, and a close decision loss to Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine. Silva comes off losses to Mirko Cro Cop and “Dangerous” Dan Henderson. Each legend desperately needs a win. Three losses in a row could be a death sentence, as far as title contention is concerned.

Common opponents provide little guidance and a touch of irony. For example, current UFC light heavyweight champion “Rampage” Jackson twice has kayoed Liddell, while Silva twice has blasted out Jackson with devastating knee strikes. Ortiz defeated Silva by decision, while Liddell has stopped Ortiz twice.

Both legends say they are ready, realizing that this dream matchup presents them with a golden opportunity to move closer to a title shot.

“This is a very important fight for me,” says Liddell. “A win puts me back in the title hunt. It is a huge fight for me. I plan to go out there and knock him out.”

For his part, Silva relishes the opportunity, saying that his 10-month layoff has been a blessing in disguise for him, allowing him to get in the best shape of his life.

“I’ve been training at Extreme Couture with excellent sparring and am in the best condition of my life,” says Silva, who vows that he will unleash an aggressive, attacking style.

“I will use a lot of kicks in this fight.”

Liddell says it best:

“It is a compelling matchup. The contrast in styles is very interesting. He likes to come after people and I like people to come after me. We’re both great strikers and you have the Pride v. UFC issue.”

Tune in via pay-per-view on Dec. 29 to watch these two striking legends face off.

. . . . .

David L. Hudson Jr. is a feature writer for Fightnews. For more information, check out his website at http://www.davidlhudsonjrbooks.com


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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 5:42 PM 0 comments

Marquez Pacquiao 2 Tickets

Finally after three long years the two best super feather weights in the World square off once again. Champion Juan Manuel Marquez takes on three division champion Manny Pacquiao in an epic street fight for pound-for-pound dominance in March. This will be a 12 round fight for the ages, whereas both fighters have something to prove, both are still hungry, and both will be second to none. The bout will be at none other than the infamous Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on March 15th. They both have a combined professional record of an astounding 93-6-3-69KO's. Marquez(48-3-1-35)KO's from Mexico City,Mexico and Pacquiao (45-3-2-34)KO's from General Santos,Philippines ended up in a draw the first time the two met each other. It was a rock em sock em affair leaving both men to head to the ER battered,bruised,bloody and exhausted.

Maquez who has been champion since 2003, stopping Manuel Medina in his tracks via seventh round to capture the vacant IBF featherweight championship. He next took out Derrick"Smoke" Gainer to capture the WBA version to unify the titles.

Paquiao who's a.k.a is "Republica Enemy #1" has virtually wiped the divisions best Mexican fighters out. He has stormed through Eric Morales(TKO10,KO3),Barrera(TKO 11, W12), Oscar Larios(W12), Emanuel Lucero (TKO3), Hector Valasquez (TKO 6), Jorge Solis (KO8). The only Mexican he did not beat beyond a reasonable doubt was Marquez. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

Here is a Video clip of the first round in Which Pacquiao scored three knockdowns


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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 4:30 PM 0 comments

The Equipment Needed For Martial Arts

Author: James Liu

If you have decided to try one of the various Martial Arts
available, you may be now wondering what you will need to
purchase for your first class. Well, each Martial Arts practise
is different and so it all basically depends upon which type of
Martial Art you have chosen to partake in.

The Clothing and Equipment Needs of Each Martial Art

All forms of Martial Arts require different things and generally
the things which you will need for each one include:

* Uniforms

Depending entirely upon the Martial Arts class you have decided
to join, usually you will need a uniform. For Karate the uniform
consists of a white suit and it comes in two different sizes for
both males and females. Firstly there is a children's white
uniform and then there is the adult white uniform. There is no
real size difference between the male and the female suits which
could be a problem for some.

If you are taking part in Taekwondo then you will be wearing a
similar suit to the Karate one only it will have a V-neck and it
can come with either a black V-neck or a white V-neck. The
trousers are sold separately too so it is a little extra
expense. Kung Fu and Tai Chi suits are completely black and
again they come in either children's or Adults sizes.

If you are going to be doing Kickboxing or ordinary boxing, then
you are going to need boxing gloves. You will also need boxing
shorts as well as inner elastic gloves which fit under the
boxing gloves to keep your hands protected.

* Protective Wear

As well as a uniform, you may have to invest in some protective
wear such as a head guard which will help you to protect your
head against attack when you are fighting. It is usually a good
idea to ask your instructor beforehand whether protected gear is
recommended as not all Martial Arts need protection.

Shin pads and other protective gear can be bought for your own
peace of mind too so it all depends upon personal preference as
well as if it is an actual requirement with the Martial Art that
you have chosen.

Overall each Martial Art is different as stated and you really
should contact your instructor before buying any equipment and
before your first class. You can usually buy the equipment from
the Martial Arts school or failing that there are also plenty of
equipment online for you to choose from.

About the author:
For more information, please go to our site: http://www.ocjj.com


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Are Mixed Martial Arts Dangerous?

Author: James Liu

There has been a lot of bad press surrounding MMA fights and the
UFC. Many critics say that mixed martial arts are barbaric and
gruesome and are nothing more than amateur street brawls. The
beginning of the MMA movement in America and the inception of
the UFC did not help matters at firs as they promoted the sport
as the most violent combat sport available and only helped to
further the negative stereotype. Originally, MMA fights were
banned in many states but after stricter rules were put in place
and new UFC owners worked to change the barbaric stereotype, the
MMA movement has gained huge popularity.

But are mixed martial arts dangerous, at least any more
dangerous that other combat or contact sports? Sure, in the
beginning the sport itself claimed to be extremely violent but
things have changed since then. To really answer the question of
the danger in MMA fights, one would have to understand the rules
of the UFC and compare it to other sports.

Mixed martial arts is just that, a mixture of many different
fighting styles from boxing to wrestling, to jui jitsu, most of
which have ancient roots and were at some time a part of the
Olympic Games. Critics against the UFC and MMA fights say that
it teaches kids that fighting is ok or honorable. Some of these
same critics agree that all combat sports are bad and other
single out MMA. The truth is, when compared to boxing MMA is not
as bad. The object ion boxing is to beat your opponent until
they are unconscious or so badly injured that they can no longer
get up. In MMA a victory option is knockout, but fighters can
also win by submission or referee stoppage, two options not
available in boxing. Instead of going at it until irreparable
damage is done, many MMA fights end when a fighter submits or
the referee stops the fight before serious injuries occur. This
seems like a much safer option.

Critics that say that MMA is barbaric and dangerous must not
realized that there have been no deaths in sanctioned MMA fights
ever. No MMA fighter has ever died during a fight; the same
cannot be said about boxing a sport that has lost hundreds of
fighters. Injuries are also infrequent, as well as brain damage
because submission and referee stoppage is a victory option. The
same is not true in boxing, many fighters end up with long term
problems, brain damage, or have their careers halted abruptly
because of injuries. Even non combat sports like football and
hockey see more serious injuries than MMA fights such as broken
and fractured bones, spinal damage, and concussions. While MMA
fighters do receive injuries, they are not usually severe.

Critics that initially called the game barbaric and dangerous
spoke of the lack of rules and regulations. MMA fights have over
gone rule changes and additions, and although still allow for a
great variety of fighting techniques, the fighters well being is
considered. No matter how many people think that MMA fights are
dangerous, the sport will continue to grow and attract fans.

About the author:
For more information, please go to our site: http://www.ocjj.com

Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 4:22 PM 0 comments

Thursday, December 20, 2007

George St. Pierre Get UFC Title Shot


Author: Raymond Burton


Matt Serra is out with a injury for the Dec 29 fight against
Matt Hughes (the most dominant welter weight in UFC history).

Hughes is a machine. He has won 41 fights with the same
wrestling style over his career which says something for the
guy. Most fighters with one style get picked apart early in
their career but Matt has proven he can over come almost anyone.
He's a strong, hard working, tough farm kid with a "Must Win"
mentality. And all the power to him! He had a ton of fans prior
to the UFC's Ultimate Fighter series where he coached and then
came off as cocky and a bully. Call him what you will, anyone
with wins over BJ Penn, Carlos Newton, Georges St Pierre &
Hayato Sakurai is a machine. No matter what happens in the
future he is a champion and a role model for MMA fighters. His
work ethic and ability to find a way to win are incredible and
as a competitor you just have to respect the guy.

However..

He has also lost to BJ and GSP and the win against Newton, well,
that's tough call as he was asleep at the same time he slammed
Carlos to the mat. The win could be argued either way.

In no way shape or form am I taking away from his abilities
because I have watched him from early in his career and all I
can say is "Wow", but the power of the media has him beat. When
a guy wins 41 fights most of them are televised which hurts him.
Your style is known and your best moves you use to win are
visible. Enter BJ Penn and George St Pierre.

BJ beat him the first time they fought (and I was there!). BJ
had lost the title fight at 155lbs to Jens Pulver. He was ticked
off. So BJ, being BJ, said I'm moving up a weight category to
win the 170lb title. Unheard of at the time. Hughes called him
disrespectful for it. But BJ was able to rattle Hughes with a
punch to the head while he was on top and then grab him from
behind in a rear naked choke. Matt could have got out but he was
still dummied from the punch and had to tap out. Wow. NO ONE saw
that coming. Side note, I got a photo with BJ that night, it was
amazing. This was before UFC got to where it was today. Myself
and a buddy met him outside of Mandalay Bay by himself waiting
for a cab. How times have changed. BJ ended up leaving UFC due
to "reason unknown". A lot issues with himself and UFC and the
title got vacated. Hughes recaptures it after that.

An up and comer in George St Pierre is tearing up the
competition and gets a title fight. GSP dominates the first 2:55
of the fight against Hughes. But GSP frees an arm and Matt (when
did he learn BJJ? ) grabs an arm bar and GSP taps with 1 second
left in the first round. That is a mistake on GSP's part and
more importantly his corner. No way should he have tapped like
that. Suffice, he lost.

Rematch.

Guess who was there! George controls the whole fight. Has an
answer to everything Matt throws at him. Now, here's where the
idea of the televised fights comes in. GSP knew every move Matt
had from studying video and it was obvious. He controlled the
whole fight and beat him 3X in my opinion. 1 - leg kick that
Matt claimed was a groin kick and got a time out 2) End of round
1 Matt is out but saved by the bell 3) GSP gets the TKO. WOW!

GSP dominates. Now he has huge crowd support.

Enter Matt Serra.

Always liked him but never thought he'd make it far. Low and
behold he wins ultimate fighter series of 'has beens". Proved to
be a great team mate and a coach. Good on him. Well done Serra.
He wins the series and a chance at GSP. I missed the fight
aginst GSP as I was in Thailand but was surprised when I heard
he won by TKO. Congrats to the millionaires who bet on him cause
the odds were nuts!

Enter Politics. GSP deserved an immediate title fight / rematch.
But Dana White wrapped up Matt and Matt to coach the Ultimate
fighter series and fight for the title as a wrap up for the TV
show on Dec 29. Lots of animosity on the show between the two.
Built up a good fight that had Hughes being the favorite.
However Serra is now hurt.

Dana picks up the phone and GSP says "Yes" on short notice and
we have a blockbuster on our hands. Great rubber match!

Reality check, limited time for GSP to train for a real fight.
And Hughes has done his homework for sure as he hates to lose.

There is question as to George's mental stability when it comes
to big fights. He blew it against Hughes the first time and
Serra 2 fights ago (he dominated Josh Koschek whom I refuse to
chat about cause I think he's over rated). Both were pressure
fights for different reasons. Question is, can he over come the
mental barrier?

Now if you think cage fighting is just a "fight", go to a gym
with a cage. Walk in and close the door. That alone will freak
you out. Now pretend there are 20k people watching, a few
million on TV and a guy who wants to smash you 20' away. Not
easy and GSP has a few things to control in his head when the
added pressure of a title is involved.

Hughes will be ready for Dec 29. Guaranteed. He's mentally tough
and a warrior. Will George?

Mack's bet? I am a betting man and I like George St Pierre!

About the author:
Mack Kay And Ray Burton Are Owners Of
http://www.FasterLeanerStronger.com Perform like a machine.
Conditioning and fitness information for high performance
athletes.

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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 4:15 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Who Is The Best Heavyweight In The UFC

Author: Jon Murray

The UFC Heavyweight division has changed more than any other
over the last year. There has been an influx of new fighters
from the Pride organization and most recently the addition of
former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar, combine that with the
departure of UFC heavyweight champion Randy "The Natural"
Couture and you've got a division looking for a new leader.

Who are the players in the UFC heavyweight sweepstakes? - Randy
Couture, although he has said he is leaving, but Dana White says
he is still under contract. - The "Maine-i-ac" Tim Sylvia is the
former UFC heavyweight champion. - Andrei Arlovski also a former
UFC heavyweight champion. - Brock Lesnar, former WWE superstar
and outstanding amateur wrestler. - Mirko Cro Cop, former pride
standout and Pride open weight champion. - Antonio Rodrigo
Nogueira who was a long time Pride heavyweight champion. - Frank
Mir, former UFC heavyweight champion. - Gabriel Gonzaga, the guy
who KO'd Mirko Cro Cop.

Picking the UFC heavyweight top dog is no easy task. The
division is full of talented fighters and with the exception of
Fedor and Josh Barnett has the best fighters in the world of
MMA. Randy Couture is on the list, but because he's decided to
step down I cannot pick him as the top UFC heavyweight fighter.

Tim Sylvia is the former UFC heavyweight champion and prior to
him loosing decisively to Randy Couture would have been my pick
as the number one heavyweight in the UFC. A lot has changed
since his reign of terror however and Tim has lost to three of
the fighters on my list. He lost of course to Randy Couture in a
five round decision. Tim also lost to Andrei Arlovski by
submission. Tim's most crushing defeat was to Frank Mir. Mir
broke Sylvia's arm and submitted him, but it's worth noting that
even with a broken arm Tim did not submit, the ref who heard the
snap stopped the fight. Tim Argued, but of course the fight had
to be stopped. Most recently Tim won over highly touted
contender Brandon Vera in a three round decision. Tim is
certainly a top runner as one of the best heavyweights in the
UFC.

Andrei Arlovski was at one time considered the most dominant
heavyweight in the UFC. He was knocking out and finishing
opponents at a feverish pace. His quick victory over a very
tough Paul Buentello was the last in a series of six dominant
victories, including one ove Tim Sylvia. The rematch with Sylvia
looked like it was going to be the same thing when suddenly
something happened. Arlovski landed a crushing shot and Sylvia
went down, but Sylvia got up and when Arlovski moved in for the
kill big Tim nailed him, knocking him to the canvas and then
rained down strikes to finish him. Still, I think Arlovski is a
contender on any given night for the heavyweight title.

Brock Lensnar's size and speed will make him a tough opponent
for anyone in the UFC heavyweight division, but we haven't seen
Brock in with a real striker like Mirko Cro Cop, or a submission
specialist like Big Nog. Frank Mir will test whether or not
Brock Lensar belongs in February. Until then, Brock Lensar
doesn't make the #1 cut.

Mirko Cro Cop has victories over some of the best names in MMA,
both in the Pride and K-1 orginizations, but his UFC
performances haven't lived up to the hype. I hope that Mirko
brings his "A" game in his next fight and we can start getting
excited about his chances of capturing the UFC heavyweight title.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira ( Big Nog) was the Pride heavyweight
champion and as such deserves respect. The only fighters to
defeat Big Nog are Fedor, Josh Barnett and Dan Henderson. Fedor
is not fighting in the UFC and Big Nog has avenged his losses to
Henderson and Barnett. Until Nogueira gets beaten by someone in
the UFC he must be considered one of the top dogs in the UFC
heavyweight division.

Frank Mir hasn't done enough lately to deserve to be the number
one ranked fighter in the UFC. However, Mir has a long history
of winning big fights and he's been looking better and better
lately. Something tells me that we'll see the championship
quality version of Frank Mir again before it's all over.

Gabriel Gonzaga has made his name mostly off his big win over
Mirko Cro Cop. Gonzaga started by catching Cro Cop's leg kick to
the body, taking him to the ground and then ground and pounding
him for most of the first round. When the ref stood the fight
up, Gonzaga KO'd Cro Cop with one of the nicest kicks to the
head (aside from Cro Cop's) that I've ever seen.

That pretty much sums it up, the best UFC heavyweight has to be
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Big Nog is the only guy on the list
short of Randy Couture who has performed consistently over the
past two years, honorable mention goes to Tim Sylvia, big Tim
only has one recent loss and with his victory over Brandon Vera
Tim looks to be making another run at the title.

About the author:
UFC results, UFC predictions, UFC news and UFC fight cards can
all be found at http://www.ufcresultslive.com.com UFC Results is
the number one spot to get your live http://www.ufcresultslive.com


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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 2:11 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

More Chute Boxe Leave

Chute Boxe leader Rudimar Fedrigo on Tuesday announced, via the Chute Boxe website, that Murilo “Ninja” and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua have officially left the team.

“We regret the (departure) of Murilo and Mauricio Rua,” commented Fedrigo indicating that they were leaving to form their own team in the United States. “The doors of Chute Boxe will always be open to them and we wish them good luck.”

The Rua brothers are the latest in a number of talented fighters that have made the decision to leave Chute Boxe recently.

Shogun is a former Pride Middleweight Grand Prix winner and Ninja a former EliteXC middleweight champion.

The most high profile fighter to leave has been former Pride middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva, who is set to make his Ultimate Fighting Championship return on Dec. 29 against Chuck Liddell.

Andre “Dida” Amade, who made it to the K-1 Hero’s 154-pound tournament final this year, also announced his decision to leave the team recently. He is moving to Canada to accept an offer to teach mixed martial arts and Muay Thai.

"I have talked with Master Rafael Cordeiro and I’ve never seen him so sad with anything,” said Dida of his decision to leave. “He was disappointed with the news. I consider him as a father, but I have to leave."

The departure of the Rua brothers along with Silva and Amade will have a tremendous impact on the once dominant Brazilian team. The foursome represents much of the success that the team has had in recent years.

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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 9:13 PM 0 comments

Replay Of WEC

VERSUS will televise an encore presentation TONIGHT (Sunday) at 9pm ET of the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) event which took place on December 12 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegsa. The telecast’s main event features WEC featherweight champion “The California Kid” Urjiah Faber defending his title against UFC and PRIDE veteran Jeff “Big Frog” Curran, plus “The Rhino” Doug Marshall (6-2) defending his light heavyweight title against Cuban fighter Ariel Gandulla and WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho battling hardcore challenger Chael Sonnen. Also, in a special feature attraction, former UFC lightweight champion Jens “Lil’ Evil” Pulver makes his WEC debut at 145 lbs. against rising star Cub Swanson.


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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 9:09 PM 0 comments

Pacman's Birthday


Superstar Manny Pacquiao turns 29 today. Bob Arum is with the mega-star in General Santos City, Philippines, to be at the birthday bash and talk about Manny's upcoming title bout against world champion Juan Manuel Marquez at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 15. "Manny will have to train real hard and fight to the end because Marquez is still a great fighter," Arum told fight writer Ronnie Nathanielsz of Philboxing.com. Pacquiao, the 2006 Boxing Writers Assocation 'Fighter of the Year,' has a record of 45-3-2, 35 KOs and is 19-1-2 in this last 22 bouts. A Pacquiao news conference is scheduled in General Santos on Wednesday.



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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 9:05 PM 0 comments

The Petersons Are back Again


The unbeaten Peterson Brothers, Anthony and Lamont, will be back in action on January 4th at the Hard Rock Casino and Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi. WBO #1 lightweight Anthony Peterson (25-0, 18 KOs) will face Guadalupe Rosales (25-2, 15 KOs) while WBO #4 junior welterweight Lamont Peterson (23-0, 11 KOs) goes up against undefeated Antonio Mesquita (34-0, 26 KOs). Tickets are on sale now at the Hard Rock Biloxi box office and at the bottom of this page Stub Hub. Showtime will televise.


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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 8:59 PM 0 comments

Who Lost Their Zero

2007 has given us plenty of reason to speculate on the topic so lets get started….

Vic Darchinyan entered 2007 as a fan favorite with a perfect record, 28-0 (22), and as the reigning IBF and IBO Flyweight Champion. His year began with a vicious beating of tough contender Victor Burgos. Darchinyan’s victory was so thorough that Burgos was hospitalized and in listed in critical condition following the bout. Things couldn’t be better for the “Raging Bull”. His stock was on the rise, he was amassing a following due to his fan friendly, free swinging approach. Vic then signed to fight relatively unknown Nonito Donaire in July. Donaire was considered a solid fighter with a nice record, 17-1 (10), who would end up being another victim of a Darchinyan KO. One quick left hook changed all of that. Nonito Donaire took out the champ and became the fighter to watch at 112 lbs, while Darchinyan lost his sense of invincibility, his championship titles and ultimately his “0”.

Vic got back to his winning ways by scoring a TKO over Federico Catubay in October. The win marked his 29th as a pro and was his 23rd win by way of knockout. Darchinyan is next scheduled to battle Z Gorres, 27-2-1 (15), in February of 08”. A return to prominence and eventually a title shot should be in Darchinyan’s future. Given the former champions power, marketability and resume barring another shocking defeat Vic Darchinyan’s future appears bright. Whether it’s a rematch with Donaire or another alphabet title quest expect Darchinyan to bounce back strong in 08”.

Vic Darchinyan: Expect Darchinyan to Bounce Back in 08”

Jermain Taylor began the year as an undefeated world champion and was less than two years removed from defeating the legendary Bernard Hopkins twice. Taylor signed up to tangle with former Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight title holder Cory Spinks, despite harsh criticism from fans and media. Spinks would be Taylor’s second straight opponent, with Kassim Ouma being the first, who spent the majority of their careers below the 160 pound limit. Taylor ignored the denigration and scored a close win over Spinks.

While Taylor was able to block out the critics he could no longer avoid a true Middleweight contender in the form of Kelly Pavlik. The two squared off in September and put on a show to remember or forget in Taylor’s case. Pavlik destroyed the former champ, after getting off the canvas early, and scored a tremendous TKO. Jermain Taylor will kick off 08” with a rematch with Pavlik and a chance to avenge his lone defeat. It is for this reason more than any other that Taylor’s chances of having a nice bounce back year are very slim. Taylor seeking an immediate rematch with Pavlik showed a side of Taylor that fans yearned for while he was the champ, brashness, confidence in his ability and willingness to take on the best opponents. Unfortunately for Taylor he may have really stepped in it this time. He has split ties with Emmanuel Steward and faces an opponent who seems focused and unshakable in Pavlik. He would have heard it from the critics but a tune up fight or two may have been just what the doctor ordered for Taylor to bounce back in 08” and prep for a championship run going forward.

Jermain Taylor: Expect Taylor to Fall Flat in 08”

Ricky Hatton had fought his way to a flawless record, had legions of fans and was recognized as one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world. He began his 07” by besting Juan Urango in January before scoring, perhaps, his most meaningful win over Jose Luis Castillo in June. That is when he made, what might be, the biggest mistake of his career. Hatton called out Floyd Mayweather following his 4th round KO of Castillo. Hatton had to figure, why not, after all nobody had ever knocked out Castillo and when Mayweather fought him the first time it was as close as anyone had come to beating “Pretty Boy”.

The fight was made and it would be the second major event that Mayweather would take part in during 2007. On December 8th somebody’s “0” had to go. Hatton fought valiantly but, as witnessed in his fight with Luis Collazo, 147 was just too much for “The Hitman” and Floyd was just too good. Ricky Hatton holds all the cards at this point in his career. Whether 08” is a bounce back year or not depends on whom he chooses to fight. An eagerly anticipated match up between UK rival Junior Witter could make or break the year to come for Hatton and, perhaps, do the same for his legacy. I expect Hatton to be carefully matched in order to line up another big name fight by the end of 08”. You should expect a bounce back year from “The Hitman” who will undoubtedly return to 140 lbs where he does his best work. Hatton should look impressive against some mid-level opposition before something big pops off toward the end of 08” or early 09”.

Ricky Hatton: Expect a Bounce Back year from “The Hitman” in 08”

Mikkel Kessler made his American television debut in 2007 and proceeded to pound out a win over an iron chinned Librado Andrade. Interestingly Andrade also entered the fight with a perfect record before being outclassed by the “Viking Warrior”. Although Kessler failed to stop his opponent the beating he administered was so one-sided that none of the three judges could find a single round to award Andrade. There were many, myself included, who thought that a younger, stronger Mikkel Kessler would bring Joe Calzaghe’s long reign as Super Middleweight King. The outcome of a match up between two undefeated, highly skilled champions had been speculated for sometime now, and a strong case could be made for both.

Finally on November 3rd all our questions would be answered. The fight was entertaining but failed to live up to the hype surrounding it. Kessler failed to apply the kind of pressure that many felt he was capable of putting on Calzaghe. Surprisingly Mikkel Kessler seemed almost content just to share a ring with the “Pride of Whales”, who boxed circles around him and coasted to an easier than anticipated decision victory. While Calzaghe deserves all the credit for again beating the man who was believed to be his vanquisher, Kessler’s performance was sub par and has to leave doubts as to his future. On the plus side Kessler remains one of the top two or three Super Middleweights in the world, with Calzaghe seated firmly on the throne. Mikkel should be able to bounce back and enjoy a solid 08” given his track record against top quality opposition. His wins over Anthony Mundine, Librado Andrade and Markus Beyer are proof enough for me that Kessler should be back in a big way in 08”.

Mikkel Kessler: Kessler should Bounce Back to enjoy a solid 08”

A few other noteworthy fighters who lost their “0”

Nicolay Valuev: The Heavyweight divisions Goliath met his David in the form of Ruslan Chagaev. “The Russian Giant” lost his WBA title along with his “0” as Chagaev fought tough on the inside and avoided being caught at the end of Valuev’s stiff jabs. The game plan laid out by Chagaev will likely be replicated by any of the top two or three heavies in the world if matched up with Valuev. Nicolay did well to score a decision win in his next fight over Jean Francois Bergeron in September and if he chooses to continue his plight in Europe against relatively unknown fighters he has a great chance of a Bounce Back 08”. If, on the other hand, Valuev is matched with Klitschko, Maskaev or Peter than the colossal former champion would surely Fall Flat in 08”.

Rey Bautista: After blasting his way toward title contention “Boom Boom” ran into a buzz saw in free swinging Daniel Ponce De Leon. Bautista was crushed, suffering his first loss by 1st round TKO. He did manage to go 3-1 in 07” and bounced back to score a win in his very next fight, a decision win over Antonio Meza, but don’t expect Bautista to regain his once lofty status as a potential champion. A loss to Ponce De Leon, who looked little more than ordinary against Eduardo Escobedo could have exposed Bautista as nothing more than a brawler. Expect a fair share of exciting knockouts from Bautista in the future but look for him to Fall Flat in 08” when faced with quality competition.

Allan Green: Green was a fast rising star who flashed devastating knockout power to go along with solid technical skills. What was expected to be a great contest between Green and heavy handed Edison Miranda turned out to be a coming out party for Miranda and brought to light whatever short comings Green’s arsenal possessed. Every fighter, nowadays, seems to have an excuse for losing; I was drugged, this isn’t my best weight, I was distracted, and so on however Green was suffering through some rather serious medical issues going into the Miranda fight. Whether his medical condition was truly the cause for his unraveling is tough to say. What I can say is that Green has looked solid since his lone defeat scoring two knockouts in his only fights since facing Miranda. He kayoed Darrell Woods in the 1st round and Sherwin Davis in the 2nd to cap off 2007. Expect Green to Bounce Back in 08” and re-emerge as a serious title contender at Super Middleweight.




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Posted by Dominque Murdoc at 8:19 PM 0 comments

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