Issue 071

January 2011

Things we hear, things we see, things we know.

EA Sports MMA 2012 Edition In Production

The competitor title to the popular UFC Undisputed 2010 video game, EA Sports MMA has a 2012 follow-up edition already in the works, EA Sports have confirmed. The first game, released in October, received positive reviews; however, industry insiders predict that rumored low sales might actually nix a sequel. Meanwhile THQ, publisher of the UFC games, has extended its rights to the promotion’s fighters until 2018 – though a third game in the series won’t be released until 2012.

Emelianenko now a Russian politician

Notorious sambo-based heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko has been elected to the Regional Senate of Belgorod, Russia. News circulated in June that Fedor was looking to dabble in politics, and, although it was denied by his management at the time, a leaked document in October confirmed the reports. When asked by middleeasy.com at a media event why he wanted to become a politician, Fedor said: “Why not? I’m going to try it out. I want to enforce the people’s rights and make living [in Belgorod] better for the people.”

Arianny Celeste to embark on music career

UFC ring girl and 2009 Fighters Only World MMA Awards ‘Ring Girl of the Year’ Arianny Celeste has recorded a song called Fight to Love Me. According to UFC president Dana White, Celeste is “a really good singer,” and the Las Vegas promotion has also been helping market the track’s release. In fact Celeste shot a video for Fight to Love Me over the UFC 121 weekend in California. The recent Playboy cover girl said of the song: “I wanted to find something that would hit MMA fans but is also about love.”

Let Kazushi Sakuraba live inside your iPhone

Fight fans can now buy an iPhone and iPod app that chronicles the philosophies of Japanese ring legend Kazushi ‘The Gracie Hunter’ Sakuraba. The $3.99 ‘MMA Star Kazushi Sakuraba Sayings’ presents grappling techniques and exclusive photography alongside 178 curious quotes such as: “I fight both the match and the audience.” Sakuraba became famous in Japan by dominating the Gracie family’s jiu-jitsu fighters and entertaining fans through elaborate ring entrances and sometimes bizarre fight moves.