Issue 078
August 2011
All the head-turning information every MMA fan needs to know.
RAMPAGE WILL RETIRE IN TWO YEARS, EYES MOVIE CAREER
Light heavyweight veteran Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson says he intends to retire from mixed martial arts at the age of 35. The 33-year-old told ESPN: “I don’t want to fight past 35. There are young guys coming in and doing good. I’ve been fighting for a long time and it’s no secret that I don’t fight the same way I used to.”
It followed comments from the former UFC 205lb champion where he stated he a willingness to switch to a film career following his successful turn in action blockbuster The A-Team. “As soon as movies start paying me more than I make to fight, I’m gone. It don’t hurt to make movies. It don’t hurt that bad. Everyday I train. Everyday I’m like, ‘Man, I can’t wait until I get another big movie.’”
Jackson also explained that he can’t match the career longevity of fellow superstars Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell. “I don’t have the type of blood Randy Couture has. I give it up to him. I take my hat off to that guy, but I’m not that guy. I don’t plan on fighting until I’m 40. And I’m not Chuck Liddell. I’m not coming to work inside the UFC office when I retire. That’s not me. I’m an entertainer; I like making people laugh.”
MACHIDA’S CRANE KICK THANKS TO HERNIA
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida says he mastered the Karate Kid-style kick that knocked out Randy Couture at UFC 129 whilst rehabbing after hernia surgery. The Brazilian karate fighter revealed to Tatame the strike is from his base martial art and part of the ‘kanku dai‘ kata. Machida said: “When I started my preparation, after I had hernia surgery, I couldn’t do everything in training, so my father (Yoshizo) told me to train three or four types of kicks and use them in sparring, but very carefully.”
During the post-fight interview Machida suggested Hollywood actor Steven Seagal helped him prepare the strike for his showdown with Couture. Seagal accompanied Lyoto to the cage and the weigh-ins at UFC 129, and has spent a few training sessions at Black House tutoring the likes of Anderson Silva. Machida revealed: “When I came to Canada I met Steven Seagal and he told me, ‘Lyoto, this kick will hit.’” The Under Seige star, who claimed he also taught Anderson Silva his KO front kick against Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 in February, said he was happy with Lyoto’s win. “He executed the hit very well.”
HARDY-LYTLE BARN BURNER CONFIRMED
Two of the welterweight division’s most exciting fighters, Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle, will clash in August. The pair have been matched up for a headlining showdown at UFC Live 5 in Milwaukee that each have suggested they would prefer remained on the feet.
Dan Hardy told ESPN: “I was very disappointed by my last fight and was in the gym almost immediately. I’ve got the summer to improve my game and I’m very aware that Chris is as good with his submissions as he is his strikes. But it is exactly the fight I wanted, Chris is trying to finish you throughout the fight, and I’m ready for a blaze of glory.”
Hardy (23-9 1NC) showed enthusiasm for the fight after his three-round decision loss to Anthony Johnson in March, adding he wanted to “win in a blaze of glory or go out on my shield.” “This is the kind of fight you can define your career around. You can guarantee Chris Lytle will bring it, that he will have an exciting fight. He’s someone I have always respected because of his attitude. Everyone loves to watch this guy fight: the UFC, the fans and I bet especially his bank manager with all those ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses he gets.”
Lytle (30-18-5) is coming off a decision loss to UFC newcomer Brian Ebersole at UFC 127 in February following four back-to-back wins.
ZUFFA SECURES FIGHTER HEALTH INSURANCE
In a monumental move for mixed martial arts, UFC and Strikeforce fighters will now benefit from out-of-fight health insurance. A deal three years in the making, for the first time mixed martial artists under the Zuffa banner will receive health coverage for injuries that occur in training or prevent them from competing, as well for those suffered in the Octagon.
UFC president Dana White said: “You always hear me talking about milestones and all the things we’ve accomplished. We’ve been trying to figure this one out since we started the company. To [announce] that we can finally cover these fighters... it’s a big day. Not only for this company, but for all of combat sports in general. It’s never been done. It’s a proud moment for us.”
The policy – which means the UFC joins the NFL, NBA and MLB in offering participants health cover – is underwritten by Houston Casualty Insurance Company and covers fighters up to $50,000 worth of medical expenses. The coverage took effect on June 1st.
HUGHES-SANCHEZ FOR UFC 135
UFC welterweight mainstays Matt Hughes and Diego Sanchez are expected to touch gloves at UFC 135 in Colorado on September 24th. Former 170lb champion Hughes had been rumored for a rematch with Royce Gracie, the winner of the first UFC tournament, at UFC 134 in Rio in August. Sanchez will be looking to build on wins against Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann despite losing a submission grappling Fan Expo final over the UFC 129 weekend.
STRIKEFORCE HEAVYWEIGHT RECOVERING AFTER CAREER-THREATENING CAR CRASH
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Shane Del Rosario may not return to MMA competition following a car crash in April. Del Rosario – who was last in action in February, submitting Lavar Johnson at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Silva – was waiting at a red light inside his car when an intoxicated female driver lost control of her vehicle and collided with his.
The 11-0 Strikeforce fighter’s trainer, Colin Oyama, told MMA Junkie: “He’s having some serious physical difficulties. He’s planning on [fighting again], but the injuries are serious enough to where it’s kind of in question whether he can or not. We’re hoping that he can. We’ll know more in six months.”
JON JONES DODGES HAND SURGERY
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will not undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right hand. The injury, which forced him out of a title defense against Rashad Evans at UFC 133 in August, instead requires the title holder to wear a cast for a few weeks. Jones’ manager Malki Kawa stated via Twitter: “Every doctor he saw said to have surgery. We went to meet with the surgeon on 11th May and after he looked at Jon he thought that surgery was a bit invasive and Bones didn’t have to have it if he didn’t want to.” Despite the treatment adjustment Jones and Evans will not be immediately re-matched.
JAPANESE MMA RECOVERS AFTER QUAKE, INOKI PLANS BIG EVENT
Fighting legend and one of MMA’s spiritual forefathers Antonio Inoki is planning a large MMA, kickboxing and pro wrestling event in Tokyo for the autumn. Due to be held at storied sumo wrestling venue Ryogoku Kokugikan, also known as Sumo Hall, it will be one of the first large-scale MMA events in Japan since the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country in March. It will follow a muted Japanese bantamweight grand prix event from the troubled Dream promotion in late May.
JIM MILLER AND BEN HENDERSON MEET AUGUST
Touted UFC lightweight Jim Miller will square off with former WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson at UFC Live 5 in August. Miller (20-2) is thought of by some as a potential contender for the UFC lightweight belt, while Henderson (pictured, 13-2) was the WEC lightweight champion until December when Anthony Pettis’ Matrix kicked his way to the title at WEC 53.
FORMER UFC LIGHTWEIGHT MCKEE UNAWARE OF MFC TITLE STRIP
Outspoken lightweight and former Maximum Fighting Championship 155lb champion Antonio McKee was unaware he’d relinquished his belt in the Canadian promotion upon fighting in the UFC in January. “I don’t know how my managers would speak on behalf of me without me being notified.” McKee told MMA Weekly. “It definitely sounds like a line of communication is in error there… By no means would I ever walk away from my title.”
$100,000
UFC president Dana White donated a generous $100,000 to his old high school in Maine for improvements to athletic facilities.
6-8
The concurrent injuries that foiled the Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard UFC 130 main event put both men out of action for six to eight weeks.
4:40
On the first day of the annual UFC and Strikeforce fighter summit, the organizations’ athletes sat through a combined four hours and 40 minutes of lectures covering everything from taxes to Twitter.
$5k
UFC and Strikeforce fighters will now benefit from a new Zuffa initiative that offers $5,000 rewards for most creative tweet, most new followers and highest percentage of followers gained.
16:14
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar has the longest average bout length of any UFC fighter at 16 minutes and 14 seconds.
$5.3m
Brock Lesnar is the best-paid fighter in MMA. ESPN estimated the UFC heavyweight’s combined pay-per-view and purse earnings net him $5.3m.
WHAT'S HOT. . .
Women’s MMA lives: Strikeforce women’s division is here to stay says the UFC.
UFC Undisputed 2012: Another instalment? We don’t mind if we do.
Nick Diaz: The Stockton bad boy’s never been more dangerous.
. . .WHAT'S NOT
Referee bashing: Regardless of how it looks from your sofa, split-second decisions ain’t easy.
Canceled main events: You get us all excited then leave us at the altar.
New York MMA teasing: They say the pleasure’s in the journey. Sure about that?
