Fighters Only

Issue 098

February 2013

Morsels of Fighters Only musings on everything MMA.

3 ROUNDS OF ACTION

UFC TO CREATE WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION

The UFC will hold its first-ever women’s bouts in 2013, after dissolving sister promotion Strikeforce and absorbing some of the San Jose company’s female bantamweight fighters.

Strikeforce 135lb champion Ronda Rousey has automatically become the first female UFC champion, and is set to be joined by longtime foe Miesha Tate, and former Olympian Sara McMann under the company’s banner. Rousey will defend her title against Liz Carmouche in the UFC 157 headliner in February.

FO SCORE: It’s fantastic women finally have as prestigious a fighting platform on which to perform as their male counterparts. Not only will it bring more eyes to what is a heavily underrated arm of the sport, but opens up new demographics and marketing doors, and thus growth, for the UFC. Although currently more of a series of feature fights, rather than a full-blown division, hopefully the 135lb female class can become a UFC fixture.

STRIKEFORCE CLOSING ITS DOORS

Long-standing promotion Strikeforce will hold its final event in January before ceasing operation. The organisation was bought by Zuffa, parent company of then-rival UFC, in March 2011. A number of the promotion’s leading fighters, such as Nick Diaz and Alistair Overeem, later jumped ship to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

FO SCORE: Strikeforce’s dismantling appeared on the cards for a while. Although it would have been good to see the promotion flourish and create even more stars via it and TV partners Showtime’s brand of MMA, the potential of seeing Strikeforce’s best competitors mix it up in the UFC’s Octagon is thrilling.

JOSÉ ALDO CONSIDERING MOVE TO LIGHTWEIGHT

UFC featherweight champion Aldo recently said he would consider a move 10lb north to lightweight should he beat former UFC lightweight titleholder Frankie Edgar. Aldo said he felt Edgar was his “last biggest challenge” at 145lb, and that “as soon as my trainer decides that I can go up, then I will.”

FO SCORE: While Aldo at 155lb is mouthwatering and inevitable, his recent inactivity (injuries and whatnot meaning he’s only fought three times in two years as UFC champ) has allowed room for newer challengers at 145lb, like ‘The Korean Zombie’ and Erik Koch. Unlike in 2011, Aldo hasn’t cleared his division entirely.

ON THE RADAR

Three red-hot prospects worth keeping an eye on...

Shintaro Ishiwatari, 14-4-4

For all those who’ve lost faith in Japan’s modern crop of MMA fighters, there’s Shintaro Ishiwatari. The Osaka bantamweight King of Pancrase hasn’t lost in over two years, and recently decisioned UFC veteran Caol Uno. Of his 22 bouts, 13 have gone to decision but with the UFC Japan-bound in early 2013, don’t be surprised to see Ishiwatari on the prelims.

Rashid Magomedov, 15-1

Not only has Magomedov only lost once in 16 appearances, he’s M-1 Global welterweight champion, winning it from the well regarded Yasubey Enomoto by decision. Plus, in 2011 he demonstrated his toughness winning a three-night, eight-man tournament. He’s a powerful, fearless and aggressive striker, traits which could endear him to a spot on the roster of a high-profile Western promotion.

Xian Ji, 10-2

A 10-2 bantamweight standout for Hong Kong-based Legend FC, China’s ‘The Executioner’ has won and lost all his fights by submission – including a 34-second guillotine (his favourite) over promising Australian Jack Gooderham in 2012. Despite that being bookended by losses, a UFC return to China could see him with the Vegas promotion.

QUOTES

“I guess that’s part of the fun with him is the way he responds to certain things, and the antics that he pulls in the Octagon. It’s entertaining like the Jersey Shore is entertaining, or Honey Boo Boo is entertaining.”

We don’t think Nick Diaz will appreciate fellow UFC welterweight Mike Pierce likening him to reality TV’s most talked about

“I failed my office safety test. Apparently when asked, ‘In the event of a fire, what steps do you take?’ F**king large ones, is not correct.”

Makes you wonder how Wall Street worker and UFC lightweight John Cholish fills out his fight medicals

“Every one of those fans turns on the television to hear what is going to come out of (Chael’s) mouth next. I’ve always thought he could have his own reality show because he’s a pretty interesting cat.”

UFC welterweight legend Matt Hughes has a fantastic idea

“The fact (Strikeforce) is coming to a close is a little bittersweet, but now that it’s done and we know that it’s done… there’s not going to be more of this back-and-forth trying to figure out what’s going on with your job. It’s done, we’re moving on and we’ll be in the UFC, hopefully we’ll be kicking ass (and) taking names.”

Josh Thomson, Strikeforce lightweight, promises UFC fans fireworks

“When I came up, my trainer was a boxing guy. If my guy was in UFC, I’d probably go that way.”

Somewhere in an alternate universe MMA is very interesting indeed thanks to boxing legend Mike Tyson

“You might as well put skirts on most of those guys (and) high heels. It’s just political nonsense. It’s not, in my opinion, real fighting… Anybody that wrestles in a weight class or fights in a weight class, to me, should be wearing skirts.”

UFC pioneer Tank Abbott has a unique opinion of today’s mixed martial artists

STAR SIGHTING

Who: MC Hammer, rapper and CEO of Alchemist MMA Management

Where: UFC on Fox 5, Seattle

The successful ‘90s rapper turned MMA management CEO was in Seattle to watch client Rory MacDonald defeat BJ Penn.

INSTAGRA MMA

SUGAFLY79 (RASHAD EVANS)

“Last few days of #movember & I’m looking scruffy! I had alot of fun growing this mustache this month but I think might keep it! Let me know what u guys think! Should I keep it? ”

MIKE_SWICK

“This has been w/ me for every @UFC fight & every training session since I joined #UFC in 2005! ;) #Best”

COWBOYCERRONE (DONALD CERRONE)

“Out shootin clays”

THIS MONTH AT FO WE’VE BEEN…

LEARNING

…Portuguese! Not really, but we probably should, what with Brazil virtually being the MMA superpower.

ENJOYING

...Your tweets and letters. Some of you are mental; most of you are cool.

DISCUSSING

...How exciting the UFC on Fox 5 card was. We needed a good lie-down.

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