Issue 066

September 2010

Your monthly guide to what’s been going on in the world of MMA

Dana hints at megafight – is it GSP vs Silva?

To compensate for Anderson Silva’s bizarre performance against Demian Maia at UFC 112, Dana White says he is putting together a “big, huge fight.” The UFC president states that, although the fight would usually be reserved for pay-per-view, it will now be shown on Spike TV. “I said I’d make up for… [UFC 112] …and, trust me, I’m going to,” promised White. 

In a separate interview, the UFC patriarch stated a fight between Anderson Silva and World MMA Awards 2009 Fighter of the Year Georges St Pierre will likely be made in the future. White said: “I believe my job is to put on fights that people want to see. I keep hearing [about that fight] and enough people want to see it. I guess I’m going to have to do it.” However, the UFC president added that he would rather Anderson move up to the 205lb division, saying he’s better suited to that weight.

‘Kimbo Killer’ claims EliteXC were $55m in debt

UFC light heavyweight Seth Petruzelli maintains his 2008 win over Kimbo Slice, star of then-troubled promotion EliteXC, wasn’t to blame for the company’s implosion and says it was already $55m in debt. Petruzelli knocked out Slice and caused controversy after the fight when he alluded that the promotion offered him money to keep the fight a stand-up affair. The subsequent backlash caused the operation’s downfall but Petruzelli believes their debt played a significant part. “I think they were doomed before I even got in the cage that night,” alleged Petruzelli. “Obviously it didn’t help that there was a little bit of controversy after I beat Kimbo, but even without that they would have gone under anyway.” 

Tito says he has “five fights” in him 

Mixed martial arts bad boy Tito Ortiz says that now his various injuries are healing he feels confident of many more bouts. “I have five fights left with the UFC,” stated Ortiz. “I started my career with the UFC and I’m going to end my career with the UFC. After these next five fights are over, maybe I’ll take a step back and see what I’m going to do. [Maybe I’ll] defend my world title after I win it.”

Hardy: “I wanted to kick Koscheck in the teeth”

British welterweight UFC star Dan Hardy has beef with current number one contender Josh Koscheck he’d like to settle. Hardy explains: “I just have different values than Josh Koscheck. No faking eye pokes or knees to the head. I don’t bitch and moan.” Hardy also said seeds of contempt were sewn after Koscheck’s November 2009 win over Mike Swick. “I went to UFC 106 feeling good about myself and having a great time. I sat right beside the Octagon, and as soon as Josh Koscheck won his fight he called me out. I wanted to kick him in his teeth right then, but I couldn’t. I’ve kind of stored this inside of me. I sound like I’m a little bitter, but I do have good reasons.”

‘Shogun’ would fight Anderson

The reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, says that, if the UFC wanted him to, he would fight Anderson Silva. “I’ve always admired Anderson in the gym, but we were never friends,” says Rua of his former Chute Boxe teammate. “Anderson is a very good guy, [he has] good technique and conditioning. He’s one of the three best pound-for-pound, but I’m used to challenges. It’d be a tough fight, but I like tough challenges.”