Issue 021
January 2007
NORTH AMERICA NEWS
UFC hold fight night on Marine base
Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez (18-0) faces possibly his toughest test to date against veteran UFC fighter Joe Riggs (28-8) on Wednesday December 13th. This special event will take place LIVE in an aircraft hangar at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, CA, and is the first ever live UFC event on a military base.
The audience will consist solely of three thousand United States Marines stationed at Miramar, except for five pairs of seats that are being auctioned off to the general public. All auction proceeds will benefit the Marine Corps Community Services Quality of Life Programs for the Marines and their families.
"We are holding this fight at Miramar as our way of saluting the brave men and women of the United States Military fighting oversees in the name of freedom," said UFC President Dana White and Spike TV General Manager Kevin Kay, in a joint statement.
Sanchez, fighting out of Albuquerque in New Mexico, is poised for a shot at the welterweight title. With wins over Karo Parisyan, John Alessio, Nick Diaz, and Brian Gassaway a victory over Riggs would bring him one step closer to the title shot he craves.
Riggs is a UFC veteran who has tangled in the Octagon with some of the UFC's best, including welterweight champion Matt Hughes at UFC 56. A recent victory over Jason Von Flue put Riggs back in the mix of contenders for the UFC welterweight crown.
Also appearing on the card are The Ultimate Fighter alumni Josh Koschek, Shonie Carter and Marcus Davis.
Team Extreme fighters to PRIDE?
Team Extreme manager Monte Cox has said on the Sherdog radio show that his fighters Josh Neer, Joe Doerksen and Travis Wiuff have all signed to fight on PRIDE events in 2007.
The three men have fought on events such as the UFC and IFL, and it is widely thought that they have been recruited to bolster further American PRIDE events scheduled for next year.
The Crow dropped by UFC
David ‘The Crow’ Loiseau has been dropped from the middleweight ranks of the UFC. In a statement on his website Loiseau sent a message to his fans to keep them updated of his position. “The UFC recently cancelled my contract following my decision loss at UFC63. It saddens me because I felt like the UFC was my home. But I guess I'll have to find a new place to call home” he said. At present Loiseau is in San Diego and is training with UFC fighter Brandon Vera and kickboxing trainer Rob Kaman.
What’s going on with the WFA?
The newly resurrected World Fighting Alliance promotion could well be no more. Even though they had announced the fight card for their next show, to take place December 9th in Las Vegas, the show is definitely off and has been postponed until 2007, although a new date is yet to be specified.
Although only postponed, this isn't a good sign for the WFA. Few industry pundits believed the promotion’s business tactics could be successful. Quinton Jackson was due to headline against old nemesis Marvin Eastman, while Heath Herring was looking forward to his return fight on American soil.
UK NEWS
Ian Freeman announced as new IFL coach
The International Fight League (IFL) has announced the beginning of expansion into Europe by naming Ian Freeman as the coach of the IFL’s English team, which will begin participation in the IFL in 2008. The English team will begin training and participating in IFL activities later this year.
”We are very excited that Ian Freeman has decided to become the first of what we expect to be several IFL entries from various countries in the next few years,” said IFL co-founder and commissioner Kurt Otto. “The United Kingdom has fervent support for fight sports in general and is a growing hotbed for MMA, and we are proud to be able to begin to establish our European base with Ian and his athletes.”
”Being a part of the team concept that the IFL has put together is an honour for me,” Freeman said. “The UK is the perfect starting point for the league in Europe, and I am looking forward to working with, and competing against, some of the sports greatest legends as well as training many of its future stars.”
The addition of a team in the UK now brings the total of teams outside the United States to three, with more teams expected to be named in the near future. The Sabres, based in Tokyo and coached by Antonio Inoki, and the Dragons, based in Toronto, Canada and coached by Carlos Newton, have already begun play and will be part of the IFL inaugural 12-team season that will begin in the first quarter of 2007. The final two entries for 2007, which will both be United States-based, will be announced shortly, with the full 11 date IFL schedule to follow.
For more info go to www.ifl.tv
Bisping to fight on Dec 30th
TUF season 3 winner Michael Bisping (11-0) was unable to make it to the US for his clash with Eric Schafer, but he has been given the go-ahead to appear on the undercard of Chuck vs Tito on UFC 66 on Dec 30th.
Regarding the cancellation of his fight with Eric Schafer (on the TUF 4 Finale in Las Vegas), Bisping said this: “My visa just didn’t come through in time, it’s just sheer bureaucracy”.
“I just want to apologise to my fans and assure you that no one is more disappointed than me,” said Bisping. “Apologies to Eric and I look forward to making a triumphant return in December.”
Cage Rage Championships to produce flagship show for The Wrestling Channel
The Cage Rage Championships (CRC) have announced that after weeks of negotiations they have signed a contract to be the flagship show of The Wrestling Channel (TWC).
The show "Cage Fighter", which is produced and presented by CRC promoters Andy Geer and Dave O'Donnell, will broadcast from 22:00 to 23:00, six days a week.
"We are absolutely thrilled and excited with the deal we have struck with The Cage Rage Championships," said Sean Herbert, head of programming for TWC. "This series of first run, brand new programming will secure TWC as the home of MMA in the UK."
The magazine format TV show will feature CRC footage, exclusive backstage access at events as well as studio interviews with the top MMA fighters and celebrity guests. It will be the daily injection of MMA for hardcore fans and accessible enough to expose the sport to a larger audience.
The series contract has been signed until 2007 with the first programmes already recorded. The first episode of the series broadcast at 10pm on Monday 4th December will be a "Super Card Show" examining world-class fighters such as Melvin Manhoef and Anderson Silva, both Cage Rage World Champions.
The deal will expose CRC to a larger market and will move the promotion from the most covered MMA event the UK to one of the largest in the World. It is hoped that the predominately family audience of TWC will become educated towards MMA as well as CRC fans being introduced to the channel. 'Cage Fighter' is hoped to add to the live event by offering an in depth look at the techniques of the sport, the personality of its fighters and explore MMA's indisputable rise across the world.
www.cagerage.tv
FX3 back on for Mar 07
FX3 have now confirmed their return to the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reading for Saturday 10th March 2007. With 11 MMA match ups on the card the event will see Paul Daley defending his welter weight title, Alex Owen competing for the vacant feather weight title and a great rematch between Nigel "Pitbull" Whitear and the "Bad Ass" Jason Barret (the last fight at Cage Rage Contenders was tought by many to be fight of the night).
For more info go to www.fx3.org.uk
Mills vs. Taylor ruled No Contest
A problem arose during the fight between Ch’e Mills and Paul Taylor at the latest Cage rage Contenders event. A spectator let off an air horn that sounded almost identical to that which would signal the end of round. Both fighters stopped for a split second and Mills reacted quickest, getting Paul Taylor via a rear naked choke. After having studied the footage the bout has been declared a no contest by officials. Both fighters have been informed of the decision and eagerly await a rematch.
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