Issue 014
June 2006
Brazil News
By Denis Martins
WCFC champions back in the fray
Leonardo Lucio "Chocolate" Nascimento and Luciano Azevedo, who were seen by UK fans on March 18th performing in Manchester at WCFC-"No Guts No Glory", are already back in the action.
Azevedo, who beat American Din Thomas in a super fight, could have fought in Jungle Fight, but he declined this idea and put his name forward for Cage Gladiators in Liverpool for May 21st. An opponent is yet to be announced. Azevedo has a 8-2 resume and his chances of featuring PRIDE Bushido still this year are strong.
His team mate Nascimento, the winner of the 8-man middleweight tournament at WCFC, has a submission match lined up against Cro Cop's training partner Rodrigo "Riscado" Gripp at the end of May. Gripp informed us two months back that he'd move to Gracie Barra Combat Team, but he didn’t move and he makes up part of Cro Cop's squad.
Hermes Franca conquers his 4th title belt
Former American Top Team member and UFC competitor, Hermes Franca has started 2006 with a successful game-plan. In 2005 Hermes had been through a year of hell, with three consecutive losses on his record. Everyone began to doubt his game.
It was a huge upset to Hermes, who heard from an internet forum that he wasn't qualified to be a contender for WEC's lightweight title last March 17th, against then-champion Gabe Ruediger. Franca gave a perfect answer to the jibes, sending Gabe to the canvas in 26 short seconds of Rd1 via KO.
Still fresh from this title dispute, Franca was booked to compete on Florida's most popular MMA show, the AFC. Once again Hermes used his fists instead of his ground game, knocking out the highly rated Ryan Schultz inside the first round, capturing his 4th title belt in USA. He now holds the title belts in WEF, Hook n’Shoot, WEC and AFC.
Pequeno's brother in and out of K-1 HERO'S Japan!
A lot of people did not understand why Leonardo Nogueira's name was featured to compete at next edition of HERO'S Japan at May 3rd, when he would meet tough Ivan Menjivar.
Leonardo has had rough times recently, being overwhelmed in last three times he fought, with defeats by decision, KO and TKO. Even so his name is very well regarded in Japan due to the fact he is the brother of Shooto lightweight champion Alexandre Franca Nogueira, but the injury that Leonardo sustained last time he fought (a defeat to Claudionor Fontenelle at ShowFight 4) blocked his intentions of fighting in Japan for while.
My personal opinion is that the chances of Leonardo debuting well in Japan are remote. Leonardo has a good game, but he isn’t ready to face a fighter like Menjivar. Just to mention, Menjivar is known as one of the toughest fighters current Cage Rage lightweight champion Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro ever faced. In that contest Ribeiro had to use his all strength and technique to beat this tough athlete by decision, back in 2003.
More K-1 HERO’S news- Gesias "JZ" Cavalcanti to feature
Gesias ‘JZ’ Calvancanti, one of the American Top Team’s hottest young fighters, will also appear on K-1 HERO’S. Facing off against Hidetaka Monma, who weighs around 80kg and has a record of 12-4-3, with wins over Jess Liaudin and Dave Strasser and a draw against Rodrigo Gracie.
Tony De Souza – Peru’s busiest fighter?
The Peruvian former UFC fighter Tony De Souza will have a busy month here in Brazil. His first commitment is at Jungle Fight 6 in next April 29th versus the Muay Thai specialist Katel Kubis. Kubis was mentioned in this column a few editions back, when he used his ground game to finish a fight in Shooto Holland. Known as a tough striker, Kubis will be a hard match for De Souza, who is known as a wrestler.
Less than a month later, Tony will return to the rings in the event Gold Fighters Championships, against the tough Fabricio Monteiro. If Tony surpasses his two opponents, his reputation will get a huge boost. The fame of Kubis (6-2-1) and Monteiro (11-3) in Brazil is strong, and any fighter who beats them will get a lot of respect.
Europe News
By Darragh Creamer
2 Hot 2 Handle tournaments, June 18th
The rumoured tournament to be held at 2 Hot 2 Handle has been confirmed. The 18th of June tournaments will take place at -63, -73, -83 and -93kg, pitting some of the best fighters in each weight class from across Europe against each other.
The prize to the winner is not only the title of European champion but also a place in a PRIDE-affiliated show, most likely either Bushido or Deep. Fighters are expected to come from France, Russia, Holland, Scandinavia and maybe the UK.
The French team is almost completed, Emmanuel Fernandez and David Baron have been confirmed while Gregory Bouchelaghem and Antony Réa are rumoured to take the remaining places.
Europe V Russia Results
The European team made up of fighters from France, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Czech republic and Holland was soundly beaten by the Russians in the M-1 Mixfight event held in St Petersburg on April 8th. The final result was 7-2 for Russia with only David Baron from France and Junior Barata who represents the Swiss Top Team winning for the European team.
2 Hot 2 Handle Amateur Event
The World famous Dutch show, 2 Hot 2 handle held an amateur event on April 16th. The event was MMA amateur rules with no head strikes on the ground. It marked the debuts of two emerging French talents Christophe Daffreville and Karl Amoussou who won by KO and Kimura, both in the first round.
MMA in Belgium
Thai boxing federation the B.K.B.M.O held their first MMA event called “The Night of the Gladiators” on Saturday 22nd of April and will hold a second in May. Surprisingly, the rules of the event are the same as Pride with stomps and head kicks to a downed opponent being allowed. Ludovic Boulvin, head of ADCC Belgium, will be fighting for the -80Kg and the -85Kg titles.
EVT Fight Card
The Fight card for European Vale Tudo on May 6th has been announced and includes some top fighters from Scandinavia including CageWarriors veterans Jakob Løvstad and Thomas Valentin as well as 5 French fighters including European Shooto Champion David Baron against highly rated Per Eklund, Pierre Guillet and Jim Wallhead will represent the UK contingent. The full card can be found on www.europeanvaletudo.com
Snake Team back in Japan
On the back of Cyrille Diabaté and Xavier Foupa-Pokam’s success in Japan, the Snake Team has negotiated a deal with DEEP. 4 or 5 members of the team will fight in Japan on Real Rhythm 4 on July 4th and DEEP the following week. Cyrille and Xavier’s places have been confirmed and middleweight Xavier is expected to take on a former DEEP champion and Pride Bushido veteran.
BJJ stars in France
Marcelo Garcia is holding seminars for a week in Paris and Cannes the first week in May. The ADCC veteran will be teaching BJJ on the first day and Grappling on the second of the two seminars to be held on April 29 & 30 in Paris and May 6 & 7 in Cannes. Ronaldo Jacare is due to compete in a grappling superfight in Paris on June 10th at the VIC open, his opponent will be Karl Amoussou who he already met in Rickson Gracie’s event last year.
Department of Corrections: French MMA film
Concerning the MMA themed film starring Jerome Le Banner and Clovis Cornillac, the correct name is ‘Le Scorpion’ not Le Serpent. Jean François Lenogue and Bertrand Amoussou will play supporting roles while other French MMA fighters including Damien Riccio will have roles during the fight scenes.
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