Issue 025
May 2007
Ortiz vs. White – literally a ‘no contest’!
The three-round exhibition boxing match between UFC President Dana White and former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz failed to go ahead due to a no-show by Ortiz!
A UFC spokeswoman said neither White nor Ortiz would comment about the cancellation.
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer said White told him Ortiz had left a voicemail for the UFC president, informing him, “I decided to let you off the hook.”
White attended the weigh-in on Friday 23rd March, weighing in at 197 pounds. Ortiz failed to appear within the allotted hour, so the commission cancelled the fight.
“Tito's always been the consummate pro in his mixed-martial arts events,” said Kizer. “I'm surprised he didn't show up. I'm surprised he didn't tell us he wasn't coming. I told Dana not to waste his time asking the commission again for something like this. We were very disappointed.”
Ortiz negotiated the boxing exhibition into the multi-fight promotional contract he struck with UFC after previous contract talks had left him estranged from the organization and White, Ortiz's former business manager.
FEG and Pro Elite join forces
Fighting Entertainment Group (FEG), owners of the K-1 series of events, have teamed up with the fledgling promotional company Pro Elite with the intention of co-presenting a MMA event in Los Angeles.
This will mark the North American MMA debut of Japan-based company FEG, the parent company to K-1 HERO’s. FEG has put on kickboxing events in Las Vegas for some years, but as yet has not featured any MMA bouts.
Pro Elite, working in collaboration with TV channel Showtime, held its first live event Elite XC in February in Mississippi. An official press release says that the event planned by FEG and Pro Elite will be available on the Showtime network.
Names bandied about for the event include many K-1 stalwarts. The 7’2” Hong Man Choi, Royce Gracie, former pro wrestler Brock Lesnar and American football player Johnnie Morton have already been announced to appear at a press conference, possibly hinting at their in-ring involvement.
UFC Vet Gilbert Aldana drowns in accident
UFC veteran Gilbert Aldana has died aged 29 in a boating accident. He leaves behind a wife and two boys.
The 6'2" 245-pound Aldana drowned at Lake Pleasant in his native Arizona. It is believed he was on a boating trip with friends when he entered the water to retrieve a shirt he had dropped. He encountered difficulties and slipped under the water. Efforts to save him were unsuccessful and at the time of going to print emergency services had not yet found his body.
“Gilbert Aldana was a real fighter and he always gave 100% in every bout he was in,” said UFC President Dana White. “He will be sorely missed by everyone in the mixed martial arts community and the thoughts and prayers of our organization are with his family and friends.”
Known as “El Peligroso”, which translated means “The Dangerous One”, Aldana built a reputation as a crowd-pleaser with his aggressive style and eagerness to stand toe-to-toe with his opponents. He won his first five MMA bouts by KO or TKO in a combined three minutes and 43 seconds, earning him a shot at the UFC.
He would lose bouts in the Octagon to Paul Buentello and Cheick Kongo, but was back to winning ways in January with a 26-second submission win over Rich Beecroft in Arizona.
“He was an extremely devoted family man,” said Roland Sarria, Aldana’s trainer and manager. “He came up the hard way in life, but he did really well for himself as far as his profession. Fighting was kind of like a hobby for him, but it eventually started to grow into something that he wanted to make a living at someday. But the most important thing about Gilbert was that he was a family man.”
Silva to defend title
Brazilian middleweight Anderson Silva will make the first defence of his UFC title against Nathan Marquardt on the 7th July.
Silva, who defeated Rich Franklin to take the belt, fought once earlier this year against Travis Lutter, winner of TUF series 4. Lutter’s inability to make weight meant the fight went ahead as a non-title bout.
Marquardt, a King of Pancrase title holder and rising star in the UFC, has won his last six fights. He defeated PRIDE welterweight GP champion Kazuo Misaki in 2004, and holds victories over Ivan Salaverry , Joe Doerksen and Dean Lister.
Largely unknown to US fans until his arrival in the UFC, 27-year-old Marquardt has been active since 1999 and has a career record of 25-6-2.
Arona out for revenge against Sokoudjou
The surprise defeat of Antonio Rogerio ‘Minotoro’ Nogueira in PRIDE 33 sees an interesting twist with the involvement of another Brazilian Top Team member.
Though it has been six months since his last fight Ricardo Arona will return to the ring to face Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, the man who KO’d his teammate.
Arona has not fought since October of last year, when he defeated Alistair Overeem. The 28 year-old will face Sokoudjou, a judo player and member of Team Quest, in Japan.
UFC Fight Night to feature three Brazilians
Due to take place on April 5th, the UFC Fight Night series will once again showcase talent not available for its PPV spectaculars.
Three Brazilians will appear on the event: Roan ‘Jucao’ Carneiro, an elite grappler who has fought in Japan and the UK, Thiago Tavares, who was until recently based in Holland, and light heavyweight Wilson Gouveia, who is a member of American Top Team.
Headlining the event will be a lightweight contest between Joe Stevenson and Melvin Guillard.
Lightweight Wander Braga was meant to fight but is said to be having trouble entering the country. He was due to fight Kurt Pelligrino, who as yet does not have a replacement opponent.
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