Issue 075
May 2011
Showtime To Screen M-1 Global Cards
Premium cable channel Showtime has signed an agreement with M-1 Global to broadcast four events in 2011. Showtime, which currently televises Strikeforce cards, will screen the Russian promotion’s M-1 Challenge series which started with M-1 Challenge 24 on March 25th. M-1 Global’s biggest fighter is hardcore-fan icon Fedor Emelianenko, although the Russian heavyweight exclusively fights via co-promoted Strikeforce cards. It is understood Showtime will continue to broadcast Strikeforce events as normal.
Kenny Florian And Tyson Griffin Drop To Featherweight
Lightweight standouts Kenny Florian and Tyson Griffin have both confirmed moves from the lightweight division to the featherweight class. Florian, who has contested for the 155lb title twice, says he made the move after careful consideration. “I’m very motivated,” explained ‘Ken Flo’, who once fought at middleweight. “For me it’s first things first. My goal is to get the 145lb belt, and then go up to 155 and challenge for that belt as well.” Xtreme Couture fighter Tyson Griffin has confirmed he will also move down from 155lb to 145lb for his next UFC bout. The promising wrestling-based fighter, who was at one point being talked about for lightweight title contention, has gone 0-3 in his last three bouts.
MMA Fan Takes Down Multi-Murderer
A quick-thinking mixed martial arts fan used a takedown he learned from watching the sport to help apprehend a knife-wielding multi-murderer in New York. In mid February, Joe Lozito tackled Maksim Gelman on a New York subway train after the latter brandished a blade and shouted at Lozito: “You’re going to die.” Lozito – who has watched MMA since UFC 1 – said it was “instinct” to go for the takedown which helped apprehend Gelman and credited his choice to watching mixed martial arts for so many years. In the days prior, Gelman had killed four and injured five in a furious rampage that included stabbings and a hit and run. UFC president Dana White met with Lozito, who suffered several lacerations during the struggle, and praised the Philadelphian’s heroism as well as giving him VIP tickets to UFC 128 in New Jersey. Lozito’s act comes during a struggle to legalize the sport in New York, and the man told MMA Fighting: “If the UFC or MMA needed me to be a face and a voice for the fans, I’m all for that.”
WWE Reportedly Blocking Connecticut MMA Legalization
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) are said to be lobbying against the legalization of mixed martial arts in Connecticut. The state houses WWE headquarters and, along with New York, is one of a handful of US states where the sport is still outlawed. According to local news sources, State Representative Matthew Lesser, the man introducing legalization legislation, said WWE were directly lobbying against the MMA bill. In response, however, WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman said the company was not opposed to the move or “anything else the state wants to do with regards to sports or entertainment.”
