UFC 182: Starting with a bang

Photo Credit: Zuffa LLC via Getty

By Chris Huntemann, Columnist

The new year is here, and the UFC is hitting the ground running by delivering one of the most anticipated title fights in recent memory: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier. Ever since their infamous brawl at a promotional event for the fight last year, and an alleged “off-camera” exchange that somehow found its way on-air (which I continue to believe was planned to further develop interest in the fight), this title fight rivals previous ones such as Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen and Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz on the anticipation scale.

But there are other fights on the card that feature competitors who are a hit with the fans, including Hector Lombard and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Who do I think will emerge victorious on this particular night’s main card? Read on, dear reader.

Hector “Showeather” Lombard (34-4-1) vs. Josh “The People’s Warrior” Burkman (27-10) (Welterweight – 170 lbs.)

This is Lombard’s first fight in almost a year, which he attributes to fighters being reluctant to face him because he’s allegedly “the most hated guy in the UFC.” Lombard has won three of five in the UFC, with his two losses being close split-decisions. Burkman was kind of a last-minute choice, as he was previously in World Series of Fighting until March of last year. Burkman won four of five in WSOF, with all but one coming with a finish. These guys seem very evenly matched on paper, but I like Burkman to outstrike Lombard for a unanimous decision victory that some might consider an upset.

Winner: Burkman by unanimous decision

Kyoji Horiguchi (14-1) vs. Louis “Goodnight” Gaudinot (7-3) (Flyweight – 125 lbs.)

Horiguchi has been on a tear in the UFC, winning all three of his fights – which includes a TKO of Dustin Pague. Horiguchi’s overall winning streak in MMA goes all the way back to 2012. Gaudinot is coming off a no-contest, preceded by a loss, and I think Horiguchi’s speed and skill will overcome a scrappy Gaudinot.

Winner: Horiguchi by second-round TKO

Brad Tavares (12-4) vs. Nate “The Great” Marquardt (36-13-2) (Middleweight – 185 lbs.)

Tavares rebounded from his loss in The Ultimate Fighter Finale in 2010 to Court McGee by reeling off seven wins in his next eight fights and approaching the fringes of middleweight title contention. Unfortunately, he’s since suffered back-to-back losses to Yoel Romero and Tim Boetsch.

Marquardt is rebuilding his middleweight resume after a run at welterweight, and he's coming off a first-round submission victory over James Te Huna last summer. Tavares loves to scrap, and I’m sure he’ll make Marquardt earn every inch. But, I think the wily veteran Marquardt will show the kid how it’s done.

Winner: Marquardt by unanimous decision

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (25-6) vs. Myles “Fury” Jury (15-0) (Lightweight – 155 lbs.)

Speaking of young guys wanting to make a name for themselves, Jury is quickly rising up the lightweight ranks and boasts victories over the likes of Diego Sanchez and Takanori Gomi. Cerrone continues to follow his “anyone, anytime, anywhere” philosophy with EIGHT fights over the last two years, winning six and managing four finishes in a row before his last bout with Bellator import Eddie Alvarez.

Jury is supremely talented, and an upset win over “Cowboy” would put him in the conversation for a title shot. However, Cerrone combines the experience of a veteran with a devil-may-care attitude and a burning drive to finish every fight. Jury may go on to do great things in the lightweight division, but it won’t be in this fight.

Winner: Cerrone by second-round TKO

Jon “Bones” Jones (20-1) vs. Daniel “DC” Cormier (15-0) (Light Heavyweight Title – 205 lbs.)

The history and animosity between these two is well-documented. Jones was able to run through every challenger he’s faced so far, making it look easy while doing so. The only exception is his last title defense against Alexander Gustafsson, which many fans scored for the Swede. Cormier bulldozed Patrick Cummins, who was slinging coffee a week before that fight, and then he threw Dan Henderson around like a rag doll. Cormier's superior wrestling and improved striking helped him prove that Henderson’s best days are far behind him.

If you’re basing this fight purely on resumes, it should be Jones in a cakewalk. Jones is younger, faster and more dynamic in all areas. Cormier is a world-class, former Olympic wrestler who many think can finally get Jones on the ground and keep him there to grind out a victory. I just don’t see it happening. I truly believe that when it’s all said and done, Jon Jones will be the greatest mixed martial artist we’ve ever seen. Cormier will bring everything he’s got, but it won’t be enough.

Winner: Jones by third-round submission

This pay-per-view is the first in a string of shows that feature marquee fights such as Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz, Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort and Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano. After a tumultuous 2014 that saw the UFC weather injuries to multiple top fighters and other hardships, UFC 182 represents a great opportunity for the organization to start the new year on the right foot.

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

A quick fix to a slow-growing problem?

Photo Credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

By Chris Huntemann, Columnist

Much has been made lately about UFC bringing back old faces and signing new ones, with former WWE wrestler CM Punk making the biggest splash. He announced live during UFC 181 earlier this month that he signed a contract with UFC.

The signing of Punk is on the heels of the UFC bringing back famed rebels-without-a-cause Nate and Nick Diaz, and was followed by the company bringing back Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who left under less-than-pleasant circumstances in 2013, to put it mildly.

Punk’s signing was met with derision by multiple fighters, while Nate Diaz’s return was marred with a missed open workout, missing weight, continued complaints about his pay and a three-round beating by Rafael Dos Anjos. His brother Nick seems to be faring slightly better, landing a main event fight with former middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in late January and staying out of trouble since his most recent arrest.

Not much is known yet about Jackson’s return to the UFC, as it is being contested in court by Bellator MMA and its parent company, Viacom. But the signing of a former pro wrestler with zero MMA experience, brothers who are accomplished fighters but also certifiable pains-in-the-asses and another accomplished fighter who has displayed numerous instances of questionable behavior outside the cage, suggests the UFC may be scrambling for something – anything – to increase fan interest.

Oh yeah, and the UFC is also being sued by former fighters over claims the company has created a monopoly in MMA and doesn’t fairly compensate its fighters. Are all of these occurrences related? It’s possible.

Pay-per-view buy-rates for the UFC are down, no question about it. UFC 177 – which was supposed to feature a rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao for the bantamweight title but changed at the last minute after Barao had to withdraw from the bout – received one the lowest buy-rates in recent memory.

What could the UFC do to bring in more fans besides signing pro wrestlers with no experience (though they don’t seem to be alone – Bellator is apparently courting former WWE wrestler Alberto Del Rio and has entered the Brock Lesnar sweepstakes) and bringing back controversial former stars who may have lost a step? The answer is simple, yet complicated.

The buy-rates for UFC PPVs are likely proportionate to the quality of the card being offered. Cards that seemed “stacked” with multiple fights featuring popular fighters (like UFC 181 earlier this month, that featured two title fights and fighters like Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez and Robbie Lawler) still fare pretty well.

But, due to what I believe is an increase in demand for programming from FOX and the presence of UFC Fight Pass, the company has to put on more and more live cards and stretch its roster thin in order to meet this demand. As a result, many live fight cards are headlined by fighters who would normally be on the undercard on PPVs and are supported by fights that wouldn’t even make it on to broadcast.

In layman’s terms, the UFC product as a whole feels very watered down, a sentiment shared by fans:

Haven't missed a UFC PPV since UFC 40 and UFC 149 was one of the worst ever! These weak watered down card HAVE to stop. #UFC 149
— Colin Hollett (@colinhollett) July 22, 2012

#ufc149 this Faber vs Barao fight blows the load UFC PPV's are getting watered down
— Manny (@MannyKicks) July 22, 2012

@danawhite Hey Danal, is the next @ufc ppv gonna be better than that last watered down POS event???
— Timebomb (@Timebomb_101) September 8, 2014

So while reducing the number of live cards is the simple answer, the trade-off for having your product on a platform like one of the big four networks is playing your role to help fill that network’s programming.

So maybe this is the new reality for UFC. Fight cards that feature only one “marquee” bout and several fights featuring unknown fighters. Bringing back fighters that may have lost a step but still bring name recognition. Signing professional wrestlers or other athletes that have no MMA experience, but can bring new viewers with them. While UFC has a future in 2015, it’s very much an unknown one.

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

Are The Diaz Brothers a Train Wreck Waiting to Happen?

By: Rich Bergeron

The UFC's Diaz brothers continue to offer their bosses one figurative "Stockton Slap" after another. From their now infamous refusal to sit through interviews and press events to their obnoxious, narrowly-framed demands for more money and better opportunities, Nick and Nate Diaz present a serious problem for the UFC brass. They cannot be reigned in, and punishment is futile.

Although I am only a recent convert to MMA fandom, I've watched plenty of fights featuring these two talented brothers. I've caught a few of their interviews here and there as well. At times they gained and lost my respect, taking rebellion to a pointed extreme and exposing their crude nature in a way that only taints the image of the whole sport. Nick sets a bad example for his younger brother in this regard with his long list of offensive actions. He's no role model, but so many people still love this scrappy and mysterious madman. He drives drunk, he smokes weed, he skips press tours, he flips people off, he talks trash to his opponents in the cage, and he continues to refuse to get with the program.

At first, Nate Diaz was humble and willing to remain in the UFC's good graces after his successful stint on The Ultimate Fighter. As if watching his brother struggle with meeting media commitments and staying motivated to fight had a profound impact on Nate, his recent interactions with management have been much more abrasive.

He bit the hand that feeds him repeatedly over the course of the week leading up to his UFC on Fox appearance Saturday night, even coming into the weigh-in heavy. He slept in instead of participating in an open workout, walked out of a pre-fight interview before answering the first question, and criticized the UFC's new Reebok deal and their signing of CM Punk to a fight contract.

"I could to be fired tomorrow. I hope not. I want to work for the UFC forever," Nate said at a recent UFC media event. "But I also would like to be treated like, you know, we're not caged animals. I feel like we're professionals." He went on to explain that "kissing ass" isn't going to help any fighter out there who wants to benefit from new programs like the Reebok deal.

It all only adds more insult to the injury Diaz caused his employers when he raked them over the coals in the press over the past few months for not paying him and other fighters enough. Even Dana White admitted seeing Diaz win Saturday night would make matters more difficult. White told FOX Sports 1, "I don't know what to do with him if he wins. There's a laundry list of problems there."

Rafael Dos Anjos improved to 23-7 with a one-sided beating of the younger Diaz brother, but even the ass kicking didn't humble Diaz. He spent the last few seconds of the fight slapping and smack-talking Dos Anjos. Instead of just proclaiming himself the best in the division, Dos Anjos proved his mettle by dominating Diaz and respectfully called for a title shot. 

Nick Diaz is surprisingly much more reserved than his younger brother these days, but the two still have one thing in common: a problem with financial stability. Both have the skills to turn to the fight game for an income, but both seem equally reluctant to continue on the fight path. Consider Nate's comments in a recent ESPN piece:

"I don't think I'll ever get the work and damage I've done to myself back -- and if I keep going, it's just going to get worse. So, what the f--- am I doing it for?"  

Nate also admitted to fighting Saturday because he needed the money, which is also why his older brother Nick is coming out of retirement to be the first fight on Anderson Silva's comeback trail. Some of Nick's most memorable interviews include him wondering aloud why he even bothers to fight. They both seem inherently discontent with their respective choices to turn fighting into something they now have to rely on to get by.  Both also have obvious issues with anxiety and possibly some deeper behavior problems that may be genetic in nature. Certain people just don't have shut off switches.

Though both brothers have made statements and taken actions I could never agree with, they also bring up some very legitimate and crucial points when they get their jaws flapping in front of a microphone. At times like these, they show a different side to their personalities.

Remember when Nick Diaz retired Frank Shamrock? Rather than rub Frank's nose in the loss, Diaz barked at Frank to get up and finish his career on his feet, even giving him a hand and pulling him up from the ground. It was one of the classiest tributes I've ever seen one fighter make to another even though Diaz flipped Shamrock off at the weigh-ins rather than shake his hand that day. There are also countless times I can recall seeing Nate or Nick all banged up in a fight and somehow continuing to just walk through punches. This is why they both have such a huge fan base despite their outlandish behavior and lofty overconfidence.

So, while these brothers may in some ways be severely misunderstood, the reality is they both became the way they are as a result of their experiences under the UFC umbrella. As much as it might seem disrespectful and wrong for them to be so vocal, their popularity is in many ways bolstered by that bravado and willingness to step forward and stand up for the fighter perspective.

I wish they had cleaner language, a better relationship with the media, and more respect for their opponents. I think maybe then their message would be taken more seriously. Though sometimes I can't imagine why anyone would really look to the Diaz brothers as genuine role models, I am equally impressed with their ability to piss off Dana White while also forcing him to employ their services at the same time.

For their part, the Diaz brothers really can't be faulted for their gritty and grating attitudes if you consider how White became so famous in the first place. Like the kid in that old 80s anti-drug commercial caught by his dad with a stash of weed, the Diaz brothers can always claim, "I learned it from watching you, Dana!" 

As much as their careers are bound to end badly with very little fanfare, these brothers will always be cult classics. Like that line of cars that always stacks up when there's an accident on the side of the highway, the fans of the Diaz brothers continue to wait patiently for the next F-bomb to drop. As long as this dastardly duo continues to treat the fight game as an easy paycheck and expect to be treated like royalty everywhere they go, they will have a hard time creating a solid future for themselves when fighting is no longer an option.

Ronda Rousey: A double standard?

Credit: USA Today Sports 

By Chris Huntemann, Columnist

Fewer fighters experienced a more rapid ascension in mixed martial arts than Ronda Rousey. She seemingly entered the spotlight overnight. Since she won the women’s bantamweight title in 2012, she’s been one of the most recognizable faces in all of mixed martial arts, if not the most recognizable. But, as with any entrance into the limelight, Rousey's fame also translates to her receiving extra scrutiny.

From the weigh-ins for her first title fight against Miesha Tate (starting at the 6:52 mark):



 To the pair’s stint as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter:







Rousey has displayed the attitude and demeanor that’s straight out of the Nick Diaz or Michael Bisping School of Villainy. With it came a flood of criticism both from her fellow fighters, fans and some media types alike:

I wish @MieshaTate would just unload a can of whoopass on Ronda Rousey. Ronda was such a poor sport on @UltimateFighter
— Igor Vovkovinskiy (@Igor2tall) June 30, 2014

I don't blame the fans who booed Ronda Rousey last night. No one likes a poor sport.
— Miss Giggles (@AndreaKcc) December 29, 2013

Also a shame to see Ronda Rousey, the best female fighter on earth by far, show absolutely no class after a great fight with Tate #UFC168
— Mark Heath (@mark__heath) December 29, 2013

Now, compare those tweets about Rousey to similar tweets about the previously mentioned Diaz:

#mma It’s Time to Face the Facts, Nick Diaz is Really F ***ing Awesome: First off I apologize for the spora... http://bit.ly/hBDBGb #ufc
— Travis McPherson (@TravisMcP) April 10, 2011

That said, here’s a tweet from a knowledgeable colleague I follow on Twitter:

So, at the #UFC175 workout session, Rousey received the most cheers and highest welcome from fans. Yet all these people allegedly hate her.
— Dizz - #WSOF11 (@TalkMMA) July 2, 2014

So it’s possible my belief is unfounded. But, Rousey has never made apologies about who she is or tried to be someone she’s not. So why is she on the receiving end of boos and venom from certain fans, while male fighters who exhibit the same demeanor are cheered and revered?

One argument is that Rousey showed poor sportsmanship when she refused to shake Miesha Tate’s hand after their fight at UFC 168 last year. While many fighters shake hands, hug, etc. after they fight each other, many don’t. Let’s not kid ourselves though. It’s called the Ultimate Fighting Championship for a reason. At its core, it’s about two individuals stepping into a cage with the intent to beat each other up. Many times, the two people stepping into that cage don’t like each other, as is the case with Rousey and Tate.

Is it possible that the only two people who bring this side out of Rousey are Tate and Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino? Perhaps. Leading up to her fights against Liz Carmouche and Sara McMann, Rousey was basically complimentary of her opponents. Carmouche even trained with Rousey and her team during her stint as coach on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

But overall, I still think some MMA fans hold Rousey to a different standard than male fighters. What is the cause of this? I don’t know. Is it a case of “too much, too soon” with Rousey’s unprecedented success? Is it based in some subconscious belief in so-called “traditional” gender roles - that men should be aggressive and women should be submissive?

If you’re not a fan of Ronda Rousey, that’s well within your rights. But for her to be criticized for the same reasons other fighters are celebrated doesn’t pass the smell test.  

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

Don't Miss GSP vs Diaz Live Tomorrow Night

Don't Miss GSP vs Diaz Live Tomorrow Night The time for talk is over - tomorrow night, UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre defends the title against Nick Diaz! Plus, Carlos Condit faces Johny Hendricks and Nate Marquardt returns to the Octagon to face Jake Ellenberger! UFC 158 live tomorrow night at 10pm ET / 7pm PT on Pay-Per-View andUFC.TV See The Prelims Live on Facebook and FX Before the action hits Pay-Per-View, see the first prelims on Facebook starting at 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT, followed by the rest at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on FX St-Pierre or Diaz? Make Your UFC Fantasy Picks Now The champ or the challenger? Decide now for a chance to win prizes!

UFC 158: St-Pierre vs Diaz on Pay-Per-View - Sat. March 16 - Montreal, Canada UFC on FUEL TV: Gustafsson vs Mousasi on FUEL TV - Sat. April 6 - Stockholm, Sweden

UFC 158 VIEWING PARTY with RUKUS THATCH!

 

Fresh off unifying the welterweight title in November following an 18-month absence due to injury, UFC® welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre returns to Montreal's Bell Centre on March 16, 2013 to face former STRIKEFORCE® champion Nick Diaz. 

St-Pierre (23-2) has scored 10 consecutive victories in his dominant reign atop the 170-pound division but no other opponent has motivated him as much as the fiery and unpredictable Diaz.   

"Georges St-Pierre asked to fight Nick Diaz because he knows they have unfinished business, and Nick Diaz agrees," UFC President Dana White said.

The always-diplomatic St-Pierre, 31, has defeated the likes of Carlos Condit, Matt Hughes (twice), Jon Fitch, BJ Penn (twice), Josh Koscheck (twice) and Jake Shields, but no other opponent has fueled him as much as the southpaw from Stockton, Calif. The pair was originally slated to meet at UFC® 137 but a series of events, including a St-Pierre knee injury, prevented the match up from ever taking place.

"There's been a lot of talk about who I should fight next but this was really the only choice for me," said St-Pierre. "He's made it personal and I personally can't wait."

During his reign as STRIKEFORCE® welterweight champion, Nick Diaz defeated archrival KJ Noons and finished both Evangelista Santos and Paul Daley en route to becoming the organization's best 170-pound fighter. He's since returned to the UFC® with an impressive win over former two-time champion BJ Penn before an interim title loss to Carlos Condit and a year-long disciplinary suspension. Diaz now, though, gets the fight he's so eagerly awaited.

"This is the fight I want," Diaz said. "I want to go out there and beat Georges St-Pierre in Montreal and show that I'm the best welterweight in the world."  

UFC 158 live Saturday at 8:00pm from your MMA Party headquarters: BOONES TAVERN.  

  

Full PPV card:

Georges St.Pierre vs Nick Diaz

Carlos Condit vs Johnny Hendricks

Jake Elleneberger vs Nate Marquardt

Nick Ring vs Chris Camozzi

Mike Ricci vs Colin Fletcher

The viewing party will be hosted by none other then Brandon RUKUS Thatch, Thatch spent the last month in Canada as part of Georges St.Pierre's training camp. 

RUKUS will be on hand signing RFA 7 posters for his upcoming March 22nd Main Event bout. 

Thatch will also have tickets available in special RUKUS FAN SEATING areas.

Come down, watch the fights, hang with RUKUS, and get tickets to RFA 7 on March 22nd!!

The Countdown to UFC 158 Begins Tonight

The Countdown to UFC 158 Begins Tonight
Only a few days away from UFC 158, Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz prepare for their championship showdown in Montreal! Plus, Carlos Condit gets ready to face Johny Hendricks, and Nate Marquardt readies himself for his UFC return against Jake Ellenberger! Countdown to UFC 158 - Premieres tonight at 11pm ET / 8pm PT on FUEL TV

Jones vs Sonnen, Plus The Last Preliminary Fight On An All-New TUF
Coaches Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen go head-to-head in a groundbreaking coaches' challenge, plus Dylan battles Zak in the last preliminary fight! The Ultimate Fighter - All-new tonight at 9pm ET/PT on FX

Team Jones or Team Sonnen? Make Your TUF Fantasy Picks Now
Dylan Andrews battles Zak Cummings tonight on FX! Make your Fantasy picks now!

Free Fight! Nick Diaz Wins Championship Gold
Nick Diaz squares off against Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight title this Saturday night.  Before they face off, see how Diaz won the inaugural Strikeforce welterweight championship in this heart-pounding free fight against Marius Zaromskis.  Catch a new free fight every Monday and Friday onufc.com

UFC 158: St-Pierre vs Diaz on Pay-Per-View - Sat. March 16 - Montreal, Canada UFC on FUEL TV: Gustafsson vs Mousasi on FUEL TV - Sat. April 6 - Stockholm, Sweden

Strikeforce on SHOWTIME: A Retrospective

With Strikeforce’s finale taking place this past Saturday night on SHOWTIME, here is a look back at some of the most unforgettable moments featuring some of the biggest names in MMA: Frank Shamrock, Nick Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, Cung Le, Fedor Emelianenko, Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and more!

Jake Shields signs with Paradigm MMA Management for full-service representation

November 26, 2012

(Irvine, CA)  Jake Shields, a professional MMA Fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has signed with Paradigm MMA Management for full service representation.   Jake is a former Strikeforce World Champion, holds a professional MMA record of 27-6-2 and is widely regarded as a top contender at welterweight.

Jake lives and trains in San Francisco, California with top fighters such as Gilbert Melendez, Nate and Nick Diaz and is coached by Tareq Azim.  Jake said that he was excited to sign with Paradigm and about the opportunities that lie ahead.  Shields went on to say:

“I am extremely dedicated to my career, improving as a fighter and once again becoming World Champion.  I feel that the support of Paradigm’s team will allow me to best accomplish my personal and professional goals.”

Paradigm President Audie Attar said the company is ecstatic to have the opportunity to work with a world champion like Jake. Attar went on to say:

“Jake is a household name in the sport of MMA, he’s battled through a lot of adversity in his career and is poised to make a huge come back in the welterweight division.”

Coalition Fight Music Partners with Shark Sports Management

(Sacramento, July 3rd) Coalition Fight Music announced earlier today the group has finalized a strategic partnership with Shark Sports Management. The new agreement will allow the Atlanta based sports agency to offer CFM's services to the companies growing list of MMA clientele. Specific services include producing custom walkout tracks for SSM athletes in addition to developing exclusive "comic book style" artwork for t-shirts, posters and various other forms of fighter merchandise.

Shark Sports Management Owner Tim Holman says: “We look forward to this new sponsorship relationship between SSM and Coalition Fight Music, it will allow both companies to expand our brand awareness and recognition while providing our clients with the variety of services that CFM has to offer.”

Tony Savo CEO/Producer of CFM says: “Shark Sports Management has a solid reputation of creating financial opportunities for the fighters they represent and a legacy of supporting our returning troops transitioning into MMA careers. CFM couldn’t be prouder to partner with them and we look forward to a very prosperous relationship.”

The deal is part of a growing trend of next generation sponsorships CFM has been pushing within the MMA community to increase fighter brand awareness, connect with fans and tap into additional revenue streams. Coalition is well known by sports pundits around the globe for profit sharing proceeds from digital downloads, TV/film soundtrack placement, as well as broadcast and streaming royalties with fighters they support.

In the past year, the band has sponsored Nick & Nate Diaz, Jake Shields, Jens Pulver and several British prospects. In addition, the group is an official co sponsor of Europe’s most noticeable promotion UCMMA. Shark Sports Management represents NFL and combat sport professionals and has several fighters currently in XFC, LFC (Legacy Fighting Championships), Bellator, and UFC

For more information contact Tony Savo statecyde@gmail.com or call (916) 756-5653

Coalition Fight Music on twitter: @KingsOfFM

Shark Sports Management on twitter: @SharkSportsMgmt

The Reincarnation of Judo in MMA with Luke Harris

Middleweight contender puts skills at test against Joseph 'Leonidas' Henle at MFC 34

By MFC Staff

Until very recently, judo never seemed to get its rightful place alongside other martial arts and tactics such as wrestling, striking, Muay Thai, and of course jiu-jitsu.

But many stars in mixed martial arts are demonstrating how valuable a weapon judo can be. One of them proponents is Luke Harris, who will certainly see his skill set put to the test at MFC 34: Total Recall when he faces Joseph “Leonidas” Henle in a featured middleweight matchup.

“Wrestling is certainly a cornerstone of MMA, but judo is kind of meld between wrestling and jiu-jitsu,” explained Harris, a black belt in judo who also boasts a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“Judo is a style that can work very well against wrestlers. And now we’re seeing more judokas competing in MMA at a higher level – people like the Nick and Nate Diaz and Ronda Rousey. But you still have to work on every aspect. No one skill is going to be enough.

“Right now, judo is a little bit of an unknown and it can be very effective so you’re going to see more and more of it.”

Harris (9-1) and Henle (7-0) will lock horns at MFC 34 taking place on Friday, August 10 at the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The HDNet (soon to be rebranded AXS TV) Fights card will air live beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listings for channel designation).

Modification is a key word in Harris’s fight vocabulary. It not only describes what must be done with his judo talents when it comes to mixed martial arts combat, it’s always the perfect way to describe his overall approach to game planning for each new opponent. There’s no one specific area that the Edmonton, Alberta, fighter is focused on when it comes to strategy for battling Henle. It’s more a matter of refining and adapting.

“I’m always modifying certain things,” explained Harris. “I dedicate a percentage of training on each area like striking, strength and conditioning, jiu-jitsu, and then just modify that percentage to whomever I’m fighting.

“For Henle, I’ll probably take the percentage of wrestling up a bit but I’m not going to discount the ground work either. He’s got a submission win over Constantinos Philippou so I can’t negate the jiu-jitsu, and I have to still keep working on wrestling and stand up.”

Harris utilized his judo to near-perfection in last bout, making short work of veteran Edwin Dewees at MFC 33. After taking a Dewees right hand to the face, Harris locked up his opponent and then ferociously put him on his back with a throw akin to an old-school wrestling hip-toss. From there, Harris put his submission skills to work and quickly forced a tapout via a guillotine choke.

“You definitely learn about yourself with each win ... you just believer in yourself more and it adds more confidence,” noted Harris. “That fight went as planned, not that I wanted it to go that fast but just the way it went. I had hoped to take him into deeper waters and drown him, but the opportunity was there and I took it.”

That win was Harris’s ninth straight – all coming via first-round submission. In those victories, Harris has averaged an in-ring time of 2:01.

While making quick work of his foes has become a routine thing for Harris, he isn’t expecting such an easy task ahead of him in Henle. And while the victory over Dewees did win over some of his critics, Harris hasn’t paid much mind to the negative comments. A win against Henle, however, would go a long way to muzzling the naysayers even more.

“Honestly, I’m never too concerned about what people say. I take it the same way Mark Pavelich takes it when people talk about him. If you’re in a successful spot, you’re going to earn a lot of critics.

“I kind of look at it like watching ‘TMZ.’ If you’re going to be a celebrity or the face of an organization or a front-runner, people are going to talk about you and some it is going to be negative.

“I do this because I love it. I love to train every day. I don’t care what those people say. I care only about the people around me and that’s it.”

Tickets for MFC 34: Total Recall are on sale now and are available exclusively through the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.

ELECTRIFYING FIGHT CARD FINALIZED FOR THIS WEEKEND’S SHOFIGHT 20 EVENT IN SPRINGFIELD

Event to be broadcasted live on The Fight Network in Canada, delayed PPV in U.S.

Springfield, Missouri (USA): ShoFIGHT, one of the rising MMA promotions in the Midwest, has finalized its fight card for this Saturday’s ShoFIGHT 20 event. Taking place at the O’Reilly Family Event Center in Springfield, Missouri, the event will feature twenty veterans of the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, WEC, and PRIDE, including Kendall Grove, Karo Parisyan, Lyle Beerbohm, Marcus Aurelio, and many others.

The main event features Karo “The Heat” Parisyan (20-8-0-1) in a welterweight title fight with fellow UFC vet John “Guns” Gunderson (33-13-2). Also showcased is for Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (14-10) as he battles new opponent in undefeated Strikeforce fighter Derek Brunson (9-0). Terry Martin, Grove’s original opponent, was pulled from the event due to licensing issues.

Tickets to ShoFIGHT 20 are now available for purchase at ShoFIGHT.com or at the O’Reilly Family Event Center Box Office. The event will be broadcasted via delay on PPV. In addition, ShoFIGHT 20 will be broadcasted live on The Fight Network in Canada.

Karo Parisyan (20-8-0-1) has been fighting professionally since 1999, and has faced many top welterweights during his time in MMA, including Sean Sherk, Antonio McKee, Georges St-Pierre, Shonie Carter, Nick Diaz, Chris Lytle, Matt Serra, Nick Thompson, Diego Sanchez, Ryo Chonan, Thiago Alves, Dong Hyun Kim, and Dennis Hallman. Few in the fight game can boast such a resume. At one point, he was right on the cusp of a UFC title shot, but after some tough losses, he is looking to right the ship and get back to the top of the mountain. Fighting in the main event of ShoFIGHT 20 provides “The Heat” with the opportunity to do just that.

Kendall Grove (14-10-0-1) grew up in Hawaii, and is the prototypical Island boy: a scrapper who is afraid of no man. The 6’6” middleweight made his pro debut in 2003, and soared to heights few reach in the fight game when he won the 3^rd season of the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter competition. Over the next few years, Grove became a mainstay in the UFC, gathering victories over Ed Herman, Alan Belcher, the late Evan Tanner, Jason Day, Jake Rosholt, and Goran Reljic during his time with the promotion. However, he also suffered several setbacks, and was released in 2011 after two straight losses. Since that time, he has downed both Joe Riggs and Ikuhisa Minowa, but then lost to fellow UFC vet Jay Silva in February. Now, he’ll look to get back in the win column with ShoFIGHT gold on the line.

Since its inception in 2009, ShoFIGHT has rapidly established itself as one of America’s top amateur fight promotions,quickly garnering a reputation for putting on exciting events that electrify Midwest fight audiences. With the primary goal of growing the sport of mixed martial arts in the central U.S., promoter JT Tilley has spent the past four years developing a network of top amateur talent from across the country. The organization has consistently maintained eleven active weight classes, helping develop some of the top pro prospects in the Midwest.

Here is the full finalized fight card:

Main Card

Main Event - ShoFIGHT Welterweight Championship

14. John ‘Guns’ Gunderson (UFC Vet) vs. Karo ‘the Heat’ Parysian (UFC Vet)

Co-Main Event - ShoFIGHT Middleweight Championship

13. Derek Brunson (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Kendall ‘the Spyder’ Grove (UFC Vet) 

12.  Lyle ‘Fancy Pants’ Beerbohm (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Marcus ‘Maximus’ Aurelio (UFC Vet) - 165lbs

11. Matt Kovaks (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Mike Wessell (UFC Vet) - Heavyweight 

10. Jonatas Noveas (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Drew Fickett (UFC Vet) - 160bs

9. Chris ‘Gritz’ Gruetzmacher (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Roli Delgado (UFC Vet) - 145lbs 

8. Lucas Lopes (Strikeforce Vet) vs. ‘Smilin’ Sam Alvey (Bellator Vet) - 185lbs

7. Chris ‘Crazyman’ McDaniel (KOTC Vet) vs. Charles ‘Kid Kaos’ Bennett (PRIDE Vet) - 150lbs

6. James ‘JP’ Reese (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Sevak Magakian (UFC Vet) - 155lbs

5. Alan Gibson vs. Dustin Phillips (Bellator Vet) - 145lbs

Undercard

4. Mike Brazzle vs. Karen Darabedyan (WEC Vet) - 170lbs 

3. Lucas ‘the Hillbilly Lightstorm’ Overcast vs. Matt ‘Luke Duke’ Lucas (UFC vet) - 205lbs

2. Rabert Saborudden vs. Jacob ‘Straight Jacket’ Ritchie - 125lb

1. Jason Ignacek vs. Gary Michaels - 135lbs 

For more information on ShoFIGHT, please visit http://shofight.com/. ShoFIGHT can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/ShoFight-MMA/113079148732416, and on Twitter @ShoFIGHT.