Issue 074
April 2011
Your monthly guide to what’s been going on in the world of MMA
Dos Santos and Lesnar Announced As New TUF Coaches
Colossal heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos are opposing coaches on the 13th series of The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC confirmed recently. Dos Santos will put his number-one contender status on the line at UFC 131 in June in the traditional coaches’ showdown. The 21-1 Brazilian was scheduled to challenge for Cain Velasquez’s title belt but opted to stay busy with another fight when the latter was forced out of action for eight months with a shoulder injury. UFC president Dana White, said: “It’s going to be a very interesting six weeks of filming.” The season will feature purely welterweight contenders and began shooting in late January.
Couture to Battle Machida in Toronto
Former UFC light heavyweight champions Randy Couture and Lyoto Machida will fight at Toronto’s UFC 129 event on April 30th. Couture, who has been toying with the idea of retirement for some time, will look to extend his winning streak to four, although has hinted at not having an interest in pursuing another title. Machida, however, will be trying to bounce back from the first two losses of his career and has stated that beating Couture would mean he’d “become a legend.”
Chuck Liddell Retires From MMA
UFC legend Chuck Liddell has finally hung up his gloves, retiring from mixed martial arts after a 12-year, 21-8 career. Liddell made the announcement late December over the UFC 125 weekend and will move into a new role as the UFC vice president of business development. Liddell, addressing the press, said: “I want to thank my fans and my family. I love this sport and I’m excited to go to this new stage in my life and keep promoting the best sport in the world.”
‘The Iceman’ was one of the most prolific fighters of the UFC’s post-2005 boom until a 2007 ‘Rampage’ Jackson loss sent the sprawl ‘n’ brawler on a 1-4 run in his final five fights. UFC president Dana White, said: “With his background and expertise, Chuck is exactly the guy we need to work with regulators in existing and new jurisdictions, and work with all of the UFC athletes as we grow this business around the world.”
Sonnen Charged With Money Laundering, Suspended by UFC
Quick-witted UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen has pled guilty to a charge of money laundering, and, as a result, his UFC contract has been frozen. In a detailed case, Sonnen admitted to an Oregon judge that while working as a realtor he submitted a false letter to a mortgage broker instructing it to pay a plumbing company for work to a home. In fact, Sonnen had agreed with a third party that the money would instead be passed onto the house buyers as a cash incentive, thereby disguising the ownership and control of proceeds and thus committing a crime. As part of the guilty plea Sonnen agreed to a $10,000 fine and the revocation of his realtor’s license. In reaction to the news, Chael’s manager, Mike Roberts, stated: “Chael Sonnen and the UFC have mutually decided that Chael will take some time off from his fight career to focus on the resolution of some personal issues.” The UFC 185lb’er is due to be sentenced March 28th and expected to receive two years probation.
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