Issue 060

March 2010

Movers and Shakers

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

Mo fined for celebrating like a ‘Rockstar’ 

The California State Athletic Commission takes a dim view of fighters going over the top in their celebrations. Back in 2006 they suspended Josh Thomson for six months for wearing a T-shirt proclaiming ‘Frank Glamrock is my bitch’. 

Continuing their run of heavy punishments for trivial offences, they fined Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal 10% of his purse for spraying a couple of cans of Rockstar energy drink shortly after he KO’d Mike Whitehead on Strikeforce’s December show. Mo grabbed two cans of Rockstar and smashed them together, spraying the sticky red drink over himself and the cage floor.

CSAC officials said the fighter was fined 10% of his purse for the act. Lawal earned just $20,000 for the fight, half of which came in the form of a win bonus. 

Lawal expressed surprise that he was fined, but promised that the fine will not curb his behavior and has promised similar celebrations in the future. “They don’t want to see me have fun and whatnot. Why not? I was just out there having fun. I just celebrated. It’s not a big deal. It’s not like I kept on hitting him after the bell rang or when the referee stepped in. Let’s keep it real – it’s not that big of a deal. 

“I’m going to do something. I don’t care. They can fine me. I’m going to be doing something after every fight just for them – they created a monster by fining me. I’m just going to be creative and find ways to celebrate. If they want to fine me for the way I celebrate, that’s cool.”

Rampage vs Rashad likely for May 

UFC president Dana White has said that he hopes to make the long-awaited fight between Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson, with a date tentatively penciled in for May. Jackson was meant to fight Evans back in December 2009 but took a sabbatical from MMA to film the new A-Team movie, in which Jackson plays the cult hero B.A. Baracus. 

Bellator announce 2010 WW tourney 

Bellator has signed some big names for their 2010 welterweight tournament. At the time of writing, fighters including Dan Hornbuckle (19-2), Jacob McClintock (6-0), Ben Askren (3-0), Jim Wallhead (18-5) and Steve Carl (10-0) are lined up to fight in the competition, along with returning Bellator Season 1 champion Lyman Good. The tournament will start in April.

Gomi signs with the UFC

Japanese lightweight superstar Takanori Gomi has signed to fight for the UFC. Gomi, 31, was a marquee star in the now-defunct Pride organization, and held their lightweight title. With a record of 31-5-0, Gomi was considered to be among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world until a couple of years ago. Though he has suffered back-to-back losses in late 2008 and early 2009, Gomi is on a two-fight win streak. A southpaw with solid wrestling ability, Gomi will be brought in to the stacked lightweight division. His first opponent is expected to be Kenny Florian.

Kyra Gracie to try MMA? 

Top female grappler and member of the massive Gracie clan, Kyra Gracie always said she had no intention to ever try MMA, but she seems to have softened her stance. Appearing on the Brazilian television show Sensei SporTV, Gracie told of how she has been training stand-up with Claudio Coelho and takedowns with Leo Leite. “I’ve already received offers to test myself in MMA, but I can’t yet reveal in which event it will be,” said the three-time BJJ world champion. “I want to be to women’s jiu-jitsu what Rickson is to men’s jiu-jitsu,” she says in finishing.

Alves and Fitch to rematch at UFC 111 

Thiago Alves and Jon Fitch will meet in a rematch at UFC 111 in March. American Top Team representative Alves (16-6) was expected to fight Ricardo Almeida but will face American Kickboxing Academy fighter Fitch (21-3) instead. UFC 111 takes place on March 27 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. They met in 2006 with Fitch winning by second-round TKO. They were scheduled to meet at UFC 107, but Alves was forced off the card with a knee injury.