Issue 091

August 2012

The sport’s strangest stories from around the globe

SEOUL, KOREA

KANG DANCING WITH THE (KOREAN) STARS

Following in the dance steps of Chuck Liddell, former UFC and Pride fighter Denis Kang is a cast member on the second season of the Korean edition of Dancing With The Stars. Kang’s participation was announced at a press conference in Korea in May and mirrors that of former UFC 205lb champ Chuck Liddell who competed on the US version in 2009.

Kang, who is of French and Korean descent, was once regarded as one of the best 185lb fighters in the world during a three-year, 23-fight unbeaten run. But he’s not the only MMA warrior who’ll be slipping on some dancing shoes this summer. Legend ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira has also put his samba skills to the test on Brazil’s Dance of the Famous. He told Sherdog: “It’s an opportunity to expose MMA to people who have never seen it. My grandmother, for instance, will attend Dance of the Famous, but she doesn’t watch my fights. With this, you can humanize the sport and show people who you are.”

SOMEWHERE, UNITED STATES MAN GETS NICK DIAZ TATTOO

A video has surfaced of a man showing off a chest tattoo depicting Nick Diaz’s Pride 33 gogoplata submission over Takanori Gomi. Unusual but true. The proud owner posted a video displaying his surprising body art addition and tells the camera: “Just going to show you the new tat’. We’ve got the sleeve over here going into the chest. We got Nick Diaz subbing Gomi, Pride 33. Favorite moment in MMA history. Nick Diaz, baby. Best fighter ever.”

Little is known about the male, who seems like a perfectly amiable chap, other than he goes under the username 2000dwrecked on YouTube which confirms his location as the United States. Is this man the most die-hard fan in MMA? More than the men with Bad Boy and even King of the Cage tattoos? Quite possibly.

TUF AUSTRALIA VS UNITED KINGDOM CONFIRMED

The Smashes, a United Kingdom vs Australia version of The Ultimate Fighter, will be recorded later this year. Following the success of the first localized version of The Ultimate Fighter, TUF Brazil, the UFC confirmed this long-speculated edition will film and air in 2012, with tryouts for fighters between 135lb and 170lb taking place in June. The title is a play on a biennial cricket competition (The Ashes) between the two nations. “Australia and the UK have a fierce, long-standing rivalry, and where better to settle the score than in the UFC’s Octagon?” said UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik.

FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL MMA FEDERATION FOUNDED IN SWEDEN

A long-discussed worldwide governing body for MMA is now a reality following the April launch of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. The Sweden-based non-profit organisation will seek to help the growth of mixed martial arts worldwide by providing a democratic community for current national bodies and working for MMA to ultimately become an Olympic sport. It will also support countries wanting to form MMA governing bodies where none exist at present.

UFC president Dana White said there were seven men escorting Chael Sonnen safely through Rio for his whistle-stop visit. All to announce the rescheduling of Silva vs Sonnen 2.

The International MMA Federation is seeking to grow its membership to 25 countries by the end of the year.