Issue 111
February 2014
3 rounds of action
FO scores MMA’s hottest stories
1 TOP 115LB FEMALES SIGN TO UFC FOR TITLE-DECIDING TUF
The UFC announced in December the acquisition of 11 elite strawweight female fighters for the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter. They and five more females, set to be decided at a tryout, will compete to become the first-ever UFC 115lb champion – the most prestigious prize of any TUF to date.
Invicta FC strawweight champion Carla Esparza (9-2) is joined by Claudia Gadelha (11-0), Felice Herrig (9-5), Joanne Calderwood (8-0), Tecia Torres (4-0), Rose Namajunas (2-1), Bec Hyatt (5-3), Emily Kagan (3-1), Alex Chambers (4-1), Julianna Lima (6-1) and Paige Van Zant (3-1).
All were under contract with leading all-female promotion Invicta FC prior to the UFC’s announcement, with the young company assigning the fighting rights of the 11 to the UFC.
Coaches are yet to be confirmed but filming will begin in Las Vegas around May, and it has been reported all will receive $32,000 prior to joining the program, with Invicta champ Carla Esparza earning $40,000.
FO SCORE: As we mentioned on these pages last month, we suspected a 115lb women’s TUF was on the way. It’ll be fascinating to see the pecking order of a new UFC division get decided on TV every week, and see how both the cast and public react to the first Ultimate Fighter to have a UFC title belt on the line. No doubt Invicta FC’s strawweight class will bounce back with top talent.
2 ‘BIGFOOT’ SILVA FAILS DRUGS TEST DUE TO HIGH TESTOSTERONE LEVELS
Brazilian heavyweight ‘Bigfoot’ Silva failed his post-fight drugs test following his ‘Fight of the Night’ draw with Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night 33 in Australia due to elevated testosterone.
In a statement, Silva, who has been suspended for nine months and forfeits his $50,000 ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus, said a doctor misadvised him when to administer shots as part of allowed testosterone replacement therapy.
Silva was suspended in ‘08 for a failed drugs test said to be due to a testosterone booster to treat his growth disorder.
FO SCORE: It’s likely Silva’s memorable bout with Hunt will now be tainted somewhat, but perhaps history will choose to forgive and forget.
3 UFC 135LB’ER KEDZIE RETIRES TO BECOME INVICTA BOOKER
Women’s mixed martial arts veteran Julie Kedzie has retired from the sport. ‘Fireball’ made the decision shortly before fighting to a split-decision loss against Bethe Correia at UFC Fight Night 33 in December.
Only days later, Kedzie accepted the position of matchmaker at all-female promotion Invicta. She will continue commentary duties with the organization.
The 32-year-old finishes with a 16-13 record that includes the first women’s MMA bout on US TV, versus Gina Carano.
FO SCORE: It’s unfortunate that after two split decision losses in a row Julie Kedzie finishes her career without a UFC win. Known as a talented trailblazer for women’s MMA, it’s great ‘Fireball’ has another opportunity to leave her mark.
ON THE RADAR
Three red-hot prospects worth keeping an eye on...
Marcin Tybura, 9-0
Having recently won the M-1 Global heavyweight grand prix might mean big 28-year-old Marcin Tybura is off limits to the likes of Bellator and the UFC. But with the latter looking at a 2014 event in Poland, Tybura’s home nation, you have to think the 250lb, 9-0, stoppage-inclined fighter will be on the wish list. An ability to execute under pressure, with an educated ground game, comfortable (if limited) striking and a respectable punch resistance, would make him a nice addition to the heavyweight division.
Scott Holtzman, 6-0
‘Hot Sauce’ has the kind of explosiveness required to hang with big-league lightweights, although a few more outings might prove whether he possesses the necessary technique, toughness and ability. The 6-0 XFC 155lb champ, who had been due to fight the dangerous one-armed Nick Newell last June, has finished two thirds of his pro scraps, and all of his amateur bouts. He’s not the flashiest of fighters – powerful ground ‘n’ pound dropped while standing in his opponent’s open guard is his preferred route to victory – but he looks likely to continue his winning ways until the UFC, Bellator or World Series of Fighting offers him a contract.
Kailin Curran, 2-0
Reign MMA’s Kailin Curran may only be two fights into her undefeated pro career, but with well-regarded veteran Emi Tomimatsu being the second of those ‘W’s it adds undoubted legitimacy to the Hawaiian’s young record. She has good striking, reliable takedown defense and an improving ground game – all honed during her 4-1 (1 NC) amateur stint. There are far more experienced 115lb women for the UFC
to add to its soon-to-come women’s strawweight division first, but Curran mightn’t be far behind.
LEONARDO DI CAPRIO - STAR SIGHTING
Who? Hollywood actor
Where? UFC 167, Las Vegas, Nevada
The 39-year-old actor, best known for films such as Titanic, Inception and Django Unchained, is actually a bit of a stealth MMA obsessive, so it was little surprise he was ringside for the UFC’s 20th anniversary event in Las Vegas.
QUOTES
“If you don’t have the motivation to do it, don’t do it. You’re just going to go out there and get hurt. You’re going to cut corners and be miserable.”
Georges St Pierre’s head trainer Firas Zahabi on wanting the UFC 170lb champ to back up his retirement talk prior to ‘Rush’s announcement
“No more back flip for me. Unless I am told OK by my manager after the fight.”
UFC featherweight Maximo Blanco with a lesson for us all
“Rory MacDonald is a guy who really irks me. He bugs me. It was really nice to see him get knocked off his pedestal.”
If someone mixed the fighting talk of Ben Askren – ex Bellator champion, and current One FC 170lb’er – with the outward appearance of UFC 167 loser Rory MacDonald they’d be onto a welterweight winner
“Since when is kicking, elbowing, kneeing, punching and stomping an opponent classified as sport?”
Asks veteran Australian journalist Phil Rothfield. MMA clearly isn’t mainstream fodder ‘Down Under’ just yet
“It might be the worst decision of all time... It just makes me realize even more that I have to go for the finish no matter what.”
So let’s get this straight, after watching Georges St Pierre’s debated decision win over Johny Hendricks, ‘The Korean Zombie’ wants to end fights even more than he did before? This can only be a good thing
REWIND / FAST FORWARD
Legend reborn: linking two combatants – one past, one present
Two big Brazilian dudes with mythical nicknames
‘GIANT’ SILVA
Gained worldwide notoriety: Fighting in Japan
Heaviest known weigh-in: 385lb
‘BIGFOOT’ SILVA
Heaviest known weigh-in: 298lb
Gained worldwide notoriety: Fighting.in Japan
...
