Clay Guida UFC on FOX After Party
January 24, 2012 by Matt
Here’s your chance to hang with “The Dude”, “The Carpenter”, the one and only Clay Guida. The standout UFC lightweight fighter will be hosting a UFC on FOX after party at Proof Chicago on Rush St.
Dana White UFC in Chicago V-Log
January 24, 2012 by Matt
UFC president Dana White talks about the big UFC on FOX event at the United Center in Chicago this Saturday, and he takes fight fans behind the scenes at the recent UFC on FX event in Nashville.
Plus, Jonny ‘Bones’ Jones offers his predictions for the big fights on the Chicago card.
UFC Sells Out the United Center
Nice job, Chicago fight fans!
The UFC announced that its event on Saturday at the United Center is officially sold out. The UFC’s long-awaited return to Chicago is headlined by a light heavyweight No. 1 contender fight between former champion Rashad Evans and unbeaten Phil Davis. Middleweight contenders Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping collide for the right to fight champion Anderson Silva later this year, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Demian Maia meets red-hot 185-pound prospect Chris Weidman.
This exciting tripleheader airs live on FOX at 7pm local time. Viewers can also watch all of the preliminary fights live on Fuel TV beginning at 4pm.
“The fans in Chicago have wanted us to come back there for a long time and they proved why it’s a great sports town by selling out the United Center,” UFC President Dana White said. “Get ready Chicago! We’re bringing a night of fights that you won’t forget!”
Check out the entire UFC on FOX card.
Fans can also take in the weigh-ins at the Chicago Theatre on Friday evening, as well as many other UFC-related events in Chicago throughout the week.
Couture, Forrest, Hendo Talk UFC in Chicago
January 23, 2012 by Matt
MMA:30 caught up with some of the MMA elite to get their opinions on a number of topics, including the UFC on Fox card here in Chicago.
Forrest Griffin, Randy Couture, Greg Jackson, Dan Henderson and others discuss Rashad and a possible title shot against Jon Jones, Sonnen/Silva II and Michael Bisping’s jump right back into action after his fight with Mayhem.
UFC in Chicago: Fight Week Events
January 23, 2012 by Matt
Before the fighters do battle in the Octagon Saturday night at the United Center, there are plenty of other UFC-related events and activities happening around town.
Weigh-ins for UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis will take place Friday at The Chicago Theatre, near the corner of State and Lake. The actual weigh-ins begin at 4pm Chicago time, and the general public is invited.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will host a Q&A session for UFC Fight Club members prior to the weigh-ins. If you are a UFC Fight Club member, doors open at 1pm. Jones will start his session at 2pm. Non-UFC Fight Club members will be allowed to enter at 3pm.
Other events:
- Party with Arianny Celeste- UFC ring girl and model Arianny Celeste will be at two events. She’ll be at The Lodge in Four Lakes in Lisle on Thursday from 9-11pm. She’ll be there for a calendar signing, which will be on sale at the event, and she’ll be available for pictures and autographs. Fight Chix apparel will also be on sale at the event.Then on Friday, Arianny will be at Proof Chicago, for a party hosted by Anthony Van Morre, Fight Chix, and Jaco. Arianny is hosting Proof’s pre-party for the UFC fight. Click the link above for more info.
- Big John McCarthy Seminar – McCarthy is coming to Emerald Smoke MMA for a 3-day course on judging MMA bouts. After the course, all the applicants that pass are put on a certification list that is available to all athletic commissions. Hit the link for registration and event info.
- Joe Rogan in Concert – UFC analyst Joe Rogan will take a short break after the weigh-ins and then perform a stand-up show at the Chicago Theatre. Tickets are still available at the link above. ESPN Chicago has already given away tickets to the show, and I’m told that some time this week they will be giving away more tickets.
More events will be posted here as they are made available. Check out our UFC in Chicago section for more news and interviews.
Carlson Gracie Team BJJ Tournament
January 22, 2012 by Matt
Carlson Gracie Team is hosting its first annual Carlson Gracie Team Tournament on January 29th in Aurora at La Sierra.
Having successfully led the resurgence of Carlson Gracie Team to three regional titles in 2011 in the Chicagoland area, the legendary 5th Degree Black Belt and grandson of the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is now organizing the intramural tournament to build team unity and also to identify and assemble a team for competition at the national level.
The tournament features both Gi and No-Gi divisions for all age, weight, and skill levels in line with the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. All members are encouraged to participate to gain valuable tournament experience as well as to represent their local schools and meet other members and instructors at an exclusive team event.
Although the main focus of the tournament is to gather all affiliated school members under one roof, the biggest buzz is coming from the assembling of an official Carlson Gracie Competition Team for competition at the national level.
Competition Coach Jason Sullins explains, “Our team is swelling in ranks and we are an unstoppable army in tournaments that give points on straight results. However, we placed second in the last IBJJF tournament because they only allow each team two official spots at each division. As a result, we had some of our best students points go unused and that led to the second place team finish.”
Each competition team member will have a featured profile on the website as well as be entitled to exclusive competition team gear to proudly show the achievement they earned through hard work and dedication.
The tournament pre-registration fee has been set to $45 and covers entry into an unlimited number of divisions. Not designed to be a revenue producing event, the tournament fee is being kept low to cover costs and allow as many participants as possible. All spectators (friends, family and non-competing students) are invited to come for a minimal $5 spectator admission fee.
La Sierra is located at 2131 New York St. in Aurora. To register for the event, visit chicagoMMAtraining.com.
Pat Curran Fights Joe Warren For Title in Hammond
January 19, 2012 by Matt
Pat Curran will get to fight for the Bellator featherweight title fairly close to Team Curran’s Crystal Lake location. Curran will take on current Bellator Featherweight Champion “The Baddest Man on the Planet” Joe Warren at The Venue at The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana on Friday, March 9. Tickets for this event go on sale at 10 a.m. CT on Friday, January 20 and are available at The Horseshoe Casino, Ticketmaster, www.thevenue-chicago.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
The event will broadcast starting at 7 p.m. CT on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CT, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. The preliminary card will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CT.
“Everything is falling into place right now,” Curran said. “My hometown is really close to where I’m fighting and I know I’ll have the support of my family and friends. This is something that is meant to be.”
Even though Curran admits he will have the “home-cage advantage” on March 9, the 24-year-old Crystal Lake native knows the challenge that is right in front of him.
“Even though he’s coming off a loss, he’s a very dangerous opponent,” Curran said of Warren. “He is a very strong wrestler who’s going to try to close the distance and work the clinch against me. I’m looking forward to a great fight.”
After a one-fight stint at Bantamweight, Joe Warren is back defending his Bellator Featherweight championship. Winner of his last five Featherweight fights, the 35-year-old Denver product has the experience and the cage savvy to bust up Curran’s homecoming party.
“The Midwest is known for great fighters and great fight fans,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “To be hosting an event of this magnitude in our backyard is like Christmas morning; plus you get to see Chicagoland’s own, rising superstar Pat Curran vie for the World Title against one of the toughest fighters in all of MMA – Joe Warren. As a diehard MMA fan, I can’t wait for March 9th to get here at Horseshoe.”
Also on this big night in Hammond, the Season 6 Featherweight Tournament kicks off as Season 5 finalist Marlon Sandro takes on Roberto Vargas. A member of the renowned Team Nova Uniao, the 19-3 Sandro is widely regarded as one of the top featherweights in the world. With seven of his 19 wins coming via KO/TKO and three by submission, don’t blink when the dangerous Brazilian enters the Bellator cage. A former wrestler at Cal-State Bakersfield, Vargas has used his wrestling pedigree and parlayed that success into a 12-1 mixed martial arts record with three knockouts and four submissions.
Born in Thailand and raised in England, the UK’s best featherweight Ronnie Mann has the talent and drive to make a deep run in this season’s tournament. A tenacious standup fighter with 10 submission victories on his record, the 20-4 fighter has possibly his toughest test to date when he takes on dangerous veteran Wagnney Fabiano. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former WEC fighter holds an impressive 14-3 record and adds another true contender to this season’s featherweight tournament.
Top featherweight prospect Alexandre “PoPo” Bezerra enters his first Bellator tournament and will face stiff competition in his quarterfinal matchup as the 12-1 submission ace battles fellow Brazilian Genair da Silva. “Junior PDQ” is coming off an impressive victory at Bellator 52, and will be looking to carry that momentum into the tournament on March 9
XFO veteran Daniel Straus returns to the Bellator cage after nearly a year. Straus made a dominant run through the Season 4 Featherweight Tournament, only being stopped by eventual tournament Champion Patricio Pitbull in the finals. When the Ohio native steps into the cage on March 9, it will be against the undefeated Jeremy Spoon, who brings a spotless 12-0 record to the cage, including eight submission victories.
Gina Carano Chokes Out Radio Host Jim Norton
I’ll never understand these radio hosts and their continual desire to have fighters choke them out. I’d rather be punched in the face than have someone choke me out.
Nevertheless, we have yet another radio jock who gets his wish. Here it’s Jim Norton, choked out by Gina Carano. Her new movie “Haywire” comes out this Friday!
“When I tap, stop though, and I’m gonna tap quickly.” C’mon man — either get choked out or don’t! Gina should have left that on tight until he went to sleep!
Party with Arianny Celeste in Chicago
Arianny Celeste is coming to Chicago for the UFC on Fox event at the United Center, and you’ll have a few chances to meet her during fight week.
Fight Chix is hosting two events with Arianny, the first being at The Lodge in Four Lakes on Thursday the 26th from 9-11pm. She’ll be there for a calendar signing, which will be on sale at the event, and she’ll be available for pictures and autographs. Fight Chix apparel will also be on sale at the event.
The Lodge in Four Lakes is located at 5750 Lakeside Drive in Lisle, and you can get more info on the Facebook event page.
Then on Friday the 27th, Arianny will be at Proof Chicago, for a party hosted by Anthony Van Morre, Fight Chix, and Jaco. Arianny is hosting Proof’s pre-party for the UFC fight.
There are be special VIP tickets available that will allow you into the Proof Penthouse to hang with Arianny and get some pics from 10-11pm. The party goes from 10pm until 4am. Click here for ticket info, and you can contact Proof Night Club Chicago.
Bas Rutten Interviews Gina Carano
January 17, 2012 by Matt
From the always excellent ‘Inside MMA’ on HDNet comes this interview with movie starlet Gina Carano.
With the opening of her new movie “Haywire” just days away, ‘El Guapo’ sat down to talk to her about the experience, her thoughts on Cyborg’s positive roid test and if she’ll be fighting again.
