CUT THROAT MMA: SUPREMACY 3
May 19, 2011 by Matt
Cut Throat MMA returns on Saturday night with Supremacy 3 at the Hammond Civic Center in Indiana. Local standouts Gabe Salinas-Jones, Brandon Delprado and Mike Welch are all on the card. Ticket information below on the poster. Click the pic for full-size.
“THE EXORCIST” COMES TO BELLATOR
May 18, 2011 by Matt
Bellator’s Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament is starting to take shape as wrestling Olympian turned professional knockout artist Alexis “The Exorcist” Vila has been added to the eight man tournament starting in September. Vila will join fellow bantamweights Eduardo Dantas, Chase Beebe, Marcos Galvao, Luis Nogueira, Ed “Wild” West, and Bellator Featherweight World Champion Joe Warren, who will be dropping down to bantamweight, as confirmed participants in the upcoming tournament. If the fighter is as scary as the 1970′s movie, the Bellator bantamweights had better beware.
“With fighters like Joe Warren, Eduardo Dantas, Marcos Galvao, Chase Beebe, Luis, Ed and now Alexis, this bantamweight tournament is absolutely loaded next season.” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Vila is a wrestling Olympian that knocks his opponents out, and that makes him huge problem for anyone he fights.”
Born in Cuba, Vila joins Bellator with a spotless 9-0 record, including finishes in eight of his nine fights (6 KO’s, 2 submissions). A two-time Freestyle Wrestling World Champion, Vila represented Cuba in the 1996 Olympic Games, earning a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling. Shortly after the victory, Vila moved to the United States and quickly established himself as one of the premier collegiate wrestling instructors in the country, including training UFC veterans Rashad Evans and Gray Maynard at Michigan State. While only standing at 5’4, Vila certainly isn’t short on confidence.
“I feel like I’m the best bantamweight in the world right now,” said Vila. “I have everything. I have all the training and all the tools. People don’t even know. Nobody has the stand-up that I have, the wrestling I have, or the strength that I have.”
While reigning Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Zack Makovsky will be watching the tournament closely, Vila isn’t concerned about any opponents that may stand in his way on the way to the Bellator Bantamweight Title.
“I’m not worried about any of the guys I’m going to fight in the future,” said Vila. “When they fight me, they’re going to find out that it’s a different story. I’m not the same guys they’ve fought before. When they feel how strong I am and how strong I punch, they’re going to change their mind really fast. So I’m not worried about Joe Warren, or Zack Makovsky, or any of these guys – they have to worry about me.”
Vila’s addition to the Bellator roster makes him the fourth Olympian currently calling the promotion home. Vila joins his good friend and current Bellator Middleweight World Champion Hector Lombard, a Cuban Judo Olympian; Bellator Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren, a U.S. Freestyle Wrestling Olympian; and Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Finalist Rick Hawn, a U.S. Judo Olympian.
“I’m here at Bellator to take the belt. I’m not here to play games. I feel like that belt’s already mine, now I just have to fight to get it, and I’m not worried about nobody,” said Vila. “I’m here at Bellator to become a World Champion, and to be recognized as the best bantamweight fighter in the world.”
KOREAN ZOMBIE PIXEL SHIRT
May 18, 2011 by Matt
Tri Coasta has a new addition to its “Korean Zombie” line. They have released the “Korean Zombie Pixel Shirt“, the latest of their shirts featuring fan-favorite Chan Sung Jung, “The Korean Zombie”.
JONATAS NOVAES: ILLINOIS STATE CHAMP
May 17, 2011 by Matt
Congrats to FLO MMA’s Jonatas Novaes for becoming the Illinois state champion in the 155 lb. division of the Combat USA Fighting Championship.
Novaes defeated American Top Team and former UFC vet Ryan Thomas via armbar at 4:08 of the first round to take the title. Now, Novaes will fight Sherron Leggett on June 16th in Osh Kosh for the Wisconsin vs. Illinois title.
MMA Nuts made the trip to Racine for the event, and had this rundown of the Novaes/Thomas fight:
“Novaes opened the round with a vicious leg kick before taking Thomas down near his corner against the cage. Thomas attempts a very tight armbar but Noaves is able to escape with a slam winding up back in Thomas’ rubber guard. Novaes’ cornerman Comprido shouts instructions in Portuguese to create space and he obliges landing a vicious bomb to the forehead of Thomas that stuns him momentarily. Novaes passes guard as Thomas attempts to escape to standing but leaves an opportunity for the Brazilian Black Belt to sink in a very deep armbar. It’s tight, but Thomas refuses to tap even though it looks like his arm is about to snap in half. Novaes readjusts sinking the submission even tighter and cranks back on the arm forcing Thomas to submit at 4:08 of Round 1.”
Novaes moved to 8-3 with the win, and now has three straight wins since his Strikeforce loss to Christian Uflacker here in Chicago in 2009.
C3 TORNEO DE MAYO
May 16, 2011 by Matt
Corral’s Combat Classic is holding a BJJ tourney at Calumet High School in Gary, Indiana on Saturday, May 21. There will be cash prizes awarded in the adult male Gi divisions. Register online at C3fighter.com or call 219.688.7363.
Hector Lombard’s One Punch KO at Bellator 44
May 15, 2011 by Matt
Hector Lombard has done it again. The former Pride warrior and current Bellator middleweight champion has delivered another highlight-reel KO. This time the victim was Falaniko Vitale at Bellator 44. Vitale was looking to beat Lombard and hopefully get back into the UFC. But the Cuban Judo Olympian had other ideas. Check it out.
THE FEMALE DIEGO SANCHEZ? YES!
May 14, 2011 by Matt
Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc fought her heart out in a decision loss to Felice Herrig at XFO 39. On her walk out to enter the arena, she displayed the passion and determination of Diego Sanchez, complete with his trademark “Yes!”
JEFF CURRAN: UFC OR RETIREMENT
May 13, 2011 by Matt
After his unanimous decision win against Billy Vaughan at XFO 39, Jeff Curran was being interview by cage announcer Ray Flores. Flores asked Curran about the future, and Curran’s reply was a bit of a shocker.
“You’ll never see me in the XFO again,” Curran said. “If the UFC doesn’t want me then I’m done.”
You ought to take a man at his word, but I wonder if he was speaking a bit out of frustration in having to go to a decision to beat Vaughan.
After all, since leaving the WEC, Curran has won 3 of his last 4 fights, including the one against David Love where he re-injured his arm. He later needed surgery on the arm, and XFO 39 was his first fight in 5 months.
Time will tell, but even if the UFC isn’t ready to welcome back Curran, I still don’t think we’ve seen the last of him as a fighter.
XFO 39 RESULTS
May 13, 2011 by Matt
Live results for XFO 39. The Vince Ramos vs. Ivan Wolshlager bout has been scatched. Ramos did not make weight according to MMA Recap.
Nick Scotti Vs. Hector Garcia (155)
Garcia KOs Scotti just :13 into round 1. He was out from the power right, but it will be ruled a TKO as the ref was slow to get to him and Garcia landed 2 more before it was waved off. On the way out of the cage, Scotti asked his coach if he was out and his coach said that he was. Good stoppage.
Will Brooks Vs. Bobby Reardanz (155)
Reardanz got off early, landing some head kicks. But Brooks controlled the cage and did more damage as the round went on. He landed a hard knee to the body that felled Reardanz near the end of the round. We score it 10-9 Brooks.
Brooks lands a right cross to start round 2, then drops Reardanz with a knee to the forehead. Brooks is doing what he wants now. 3 straight knees to the head from the clinch spill blood from Reardanz, and Brooks pulls off a power slam that makes the crowd roar. It was all Brooks from pillar to post, I can see if it was scored 10-9, but we score it 10-8.
Round 3 begins with another barrage from Brooks. A right cross drops Reardanz and Brooks smothers him. This needs should be stopped, as any contact sends Reardanz to the ground. Brooks gets full mount and mixes elbows and punches. They roll a bit and Brooks grabs an arm and submits Reardanz. Amazing performance by Brooks, with props to Reardanz for his courage. Brooks via tap/armbar at 3:22.
Kent Rexford Jr. Vs. P.J. Cajigas (190)
Rexford got his eye dotted early in the round, but then took control. He spent most of the round on top, doing damage with elbows and strikes. He took Cajigas’ back near the end of round 1 and choked him out at 4:47.
Michele Gutierrez Vs. Amanda LaVoy
Gutierrez is landing power rights, dropping LaVoy to the canvas twice. LaVoy remains game, and tries to clinch and throw knees. Nothing connects cleanly. But LaVoy does recover to make it an interesting round, and almost closes Gutierrez’ left eye. Still, 10-9 Gutierrez.
Round 2 begins and Gutierrez’ eye gets busted open and she is leaking badly. The ref stops the fight and calls for the doctor. The end comes at :24 as the doctor calls the fight. LaVoy wins by TKO, and tells me as she leaves the cage that the it was her knee that opened the gash on Gutierrez’ forehead.
Dan Stittgen Vs. Jason “Reaper” Graves
The fighters battle for position and Stittgen is able to roll into an armbar. It’s quick work as Graves has to tap. 1:10 of round 1.
Jon Murphy Vs. Lucas Gwaltney
Murphy dominated round 1 with takedowns and punishment from top position. He trapped Murphy’s arm across his own face and dropped some big bombs that bloodied Gwaltney’s face. We have it 10-9 Murphy.
Round 2 is action-packed with some excellent scrambles. Murphy is on the hunt for more takedowns, but Gwaltney counters with elbows to keep him off his back. Gwaltney reverses position an hammerfists Murphy. A brief doctor stoppage to check Gwaltney’s bloodied face, but action resumes.
Gwaltney lands a body kick that hurts Murphy. Jeff Curran calling for Murphy to set up his shots because Gwaltney knows they are coming. Gwaltney ends the round with a catch and it’s his round, 10-9. Awesome bout.
3rd round is full of action again, with Murphy getting takedowns but Gwaltney countering with unorthodox strikes. It goes the distance though, and the crowd boos as Gwaltney gets the UD, 29-28 across all 3 cards.
Daniel Aguirre Vs. TJ Kinney (135)
Aguirre — behind the biggest fanbase of the night — wastes no time in getting Kinney to the ground. He locks in a triangle, adjusts in several times and finally gets a tap at 2:20 of round 1. The cageside doctor was screaming to stop the fight as Kinney appeared totally out, but after the fight was stopped he popped right up to his feet. Very strange.
Mike Stumpf Vs. Dan Bolden
Spirited grappling between the 2 combatants that goes to the scorecards. Mike Stumpf controlled the pace and the cage and wins via unanimous decision.
Felice “Lil Bulldog” Herrig Vs. Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc
Three rounds of gritty grappling between Felice Herrig and Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc. Neither fighter did much damage, but Herrig controlled the bout in all three rounds. She wins it by unanimous decision.
Jamie Varner Vs. Tyler “Tyrant” Combs
Varner wastes little time getting back on a win streak. He defeats Combs with a North-South choke at just 1:30 of round 1.
Jeff “Big Frog” Curran Vs. Billy Vaughan
Curran the busier fighter, and lands more meaningful shots in all 3 rounds. He catches Vaughan in a guillotine near the end of round 1, but Vaughan wriggles loose. Curran wins via unanimous decision, 30-27 across the board.
EPIC STAREDOWN: FELICE HERRIG VS. NICDALI RIVERA-CALANOC
May 13, 2011 by Matt
Felice Herrig will take on Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc tonight at XFO 39. I’d say they are both ready to go, judging by these pics from Suckerpunch’s FB page. What do you think?
