Issue 022

February 2007

BodogFight hits Russia!

Bodogfight, the next big thing to hit the MMA world, descended upon St Petersburg throughout December for filming of their second TV series. 

Brainchild of Calvin Ayre, described as the Richard Branson of MMA, BodogFight, secured some of the world's top combatants for Bodog Fight: St Petersburg. Season 2 of the hit series will culminate in March 2007 with BodogFight's second live pay-per-view event, headlined by none other than Fedor Emelianenko. .

"MMA fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating BodogFight's next television production," says Bodog.com Entertainment founder and billionaire media mogul Calvin Ayre, whose digital empire includes Bodog Music, an international record label.

"As BodogFight takes the sport further into mainstream media, we are unrelenting in our commitment to produce the world's finest MMA attractions. Fans and fighters are reaping the reward of phenomenal events and associating with the most recognizable brand in digital entertainment."

The American competitors who earn victories in St. Petersburg will whittle the field from 16 to the elite eight who will forge Team USA. Fighters such as American lightweights Mike Brown and Yves Edwards will meet to see who will represent their country. 

While American fighters are battling head-to-head, the World Team will be chiselled to eight as well. International fans can expect to see one of the greatest female bouts to date as top-ranked athletes Rosi Sexton from the UK and Carina Damm from Brazil meet in a highly anticipated clash.

Also among the 16 bouts will be the contest between heavyweights Roman Zentsov, a two-time Pride veteran who many view as one of the sport's hardest hitters, and Kristof Midoux, an incredibly strong boxer / kick boxer. Fans will likely see an action-packed stand up war in this one.

All eight episodes of the TV show will deliver fans incredible elimination battles, behind-the-scenes training, fighter interviews and lifestyle segments, with the finale leading into the PPV main event scheduled for March. The finale will be headlined by Superfights that feature some of the most prominent MMA competitors in the world.

Biographies of all BodogFight: St. Petersburg fighters, exclusive footage, and unedited interviews from the filming in Russia will soon be available at BodogFight's official web site, www.bodogfight.com, with additions added to "The Latest" section as MMA news happens. Each episode will air simultaneously on the BodogFight.com broadband network and in more than 43 million homes across the United States.

Fedor vs Monson to headline BodogFight in March

“It’s a done deal. It looks like I will be fighting Fedor March 3rd in Russia” Jeff Monson has said of his fight with Fedor Emelianenko. 

PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor had featured heavily on the first series of the show, pictured alongside Red Devil team mates in the USA vs Russia themed-show. 

No longer exclusively contracted with Japanese promotion PRIDE, Fedor has said he would prefer to arrange one-fight deals and fight for whoever offers him the best deal. 

The Russian’s first fight outside of PRIDE in three years will see him face UFC heavyweight contender Jeff Monson, a champion grappler. 

“My manager approached Bodog about fighting Fedor. We asked the UFC if we could get out of our contract because there was an opportunity to do this. Now we are out of it” said Monson. “The UFC can’t lose. If I win they can say ‘here’s this guy who lost to Tim Sylvia, our champion, and he just beat the number one guy in the world’.

“I mean, what were they going to do with me now? Have me fight a few more guys and work towards another title shot? This is a good opportunity for me, and if I win, it would be a quick way back to another title shot in the UFC” says Monson. 

Greg Bouchelaghem to retire

French fighter Gregory Bouchelaghem is to hang up his MMA gloves following his loss to Gegard Mousasi. 

The PRIDE veteran lost to the Dutch fighter in a contest for the Cage Warriors middleweight title in December. Stopped by strikes in the first round, it is said Bouchelaghem feels that if he doesn’t have what it takes to compete at the highest level, then he would prefer not to fight at all. 

Red Devil travel to Korea

The president of the Korean sambo federation has announced he will be holding a major MMA event in Seoul, South Korea. A mix of A and B class bouts, the event will happen on January 10^th. 

Expected to compete in the A class bouts are fighters such as Roman Zentsov, Sergei Kaznovsky and others from the Red Devil Fighting Team.

Belfort fails to show for NSAC hearing

Vitor Belfort has failed to appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission to answer charges of steroid usage. 

The Brazilian fighter was charged with failing drugs tests post Pride 32 in Las Vegas. Belfort was scheduled to face a NSAC panel via a conference call from Brazil but the former UFC Champion did not ‘show’ up for the hearing. 

Belfort has admitted to having 4-hydroxytestosterone in his system, but claims the substance entered his body was taken inadvertently via a commercial training supplement. 

NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer said he believed that Belfort had intended to attend the conference call. The NSAC have agreed to reschedule the hearing for some time in December. 

Shaolin with K-1

Grappler extraordinaire and Cage Rage World lightweight champion Vitor ‘Shaolin’ Ribeiro has signed with Japanese mega-promotion K-1 HERO’s. 

The Nova Uniao team member has signed with K-1 following a string of victories in events such as Shooto and Cage Rage. The former Shooto champion has said “This is compensation for my efforts.” 

A three-time world Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion, Shaolin claims his newborn son brought him luck. “I was supposed to have fought in HERO’s last year, but I got hurt. Now everything will turn out well. He his my good luck charm.” 

Nino Schembri leaves Chute Boxe

PRIDE veteran and BJJ star “Elvis” Schembri has left the Chute Boxe academy. 

The talented Brazilian left the noted MMA team after a period of two years, yet he claims the split is totally amicable. He leaves the gym in Curitaba to return to his hometown of Rio.

Schembri has been recruited by upstart MMA team Black House, which features fighters such as Vitor Belfort, Assuerio Silva, Ryoto ‘Lyoto’ Machida and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. 

“My departure from Chute Boxe was friendly. I haven’t had a fight for a long time, so I chose to go back living close to my family that is in need of me as much as I am in need of them,” said Nino.

Paulo Filho in heavy rehab

Brazilian Top Team star Paulo Filho is currently undergoing intensive daily sessions of post-knee surgery physiotherapy. 

The surgery took place on November 23^rd, as the grappler had injured it during his fight in the PRIDE welterweight tournament. He won his first fight but was unable to progress to the finals. 

The Judo and BJJ black belt believes that by the end of December he could be back in training. “I was walking three days after the surgery and I believe that in about two or three weeks I will be back”, said the BTT athlete just before Christmas, who spent the holiday period at home with his family. “I spend this time with my family. I always eat a lot after the fights and in the party period”, said Filho. 

Minotauro eyes up Roger Gracie

BTT black belt and former PRIDE heavyweight champion Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira said that he liked the debut of the latest Gracie family member to fight MMA.

“I have watched Roger fighting with gi sometimes, he is clever and good, and I think he chose the right time to debut and he has a brilliant future”, said Nogueira, writing in a column for a Brazilian newspaper.