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IRISH WHIP EXCLUSIVE: ANDREI ARLOVSKI INTERVIEW
2007-08-16 22:43:00
I got a chance to speak with former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei "Pitbull" Arlovski. Andrei Arlovski is ranked, by many around the world, as one of the top 10 MMA heavyweights in the world. Arlovski holds notable wins over a who's who of fighters, which include: former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, Ian Freeman, PRIDE veteran Fabricio Werdum, heavy hitter Paul Buentello, Vladimir Matyushenko and many others. Arlovski is best known for his incredible striking abilities, mobility on the feet, Sambo skills, dangerous submissions and even his unique mouthpiece, which contains two fangs, an accurate portrayal of his nickname, the "Pit Bull."See what Andrei Arlovski had to say about his current status with the UFC, Dana White, Fedor and much, much more! An interview by Masson LiangMasson Liang: First off, how are things between you and Patrycja shaping up? Are you guys thinking of marriage anytime soon?Andrei Arlovski: Everything is good with us, thank you for asking. We are in...
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Brandon Vera Returns to The Octagon
2007-08-16 21:43:00
According to a UFC.com report, Brando n "The Truth" Vera is finally making his return to The O ctagon.After a nearly 12-month hiatus from the UFC, due to management and contract issues, Vera is looking to make his UFC return perhaps in October.Here is what Vera had to say about his return:?I?m so excited to be back in the UFC, I have no words to describe the feeling. I realize the UFC heavyweight division is much stronger now, but I like having more challenges, and that just gives me more motivation to train. I feel that when I?m on top of my game, nobody can beat me. I have a plan to become the heavyweight champion, so I?m going to stick to the plan that my management team NCFC and both of my coaches set and win the titles. I want to prove I?m the best for my family, my friends and most of all my fans.?Vera's opponent? Well, right now it seems as if Vera's likely opponent will be UFC's former heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia . However, nothing is set in stone just yet.Vera was offer...
More About: Brandon Vera

Boxing Is Back!
2007-08-16 17:35:00
Just when critics claimed that boxing was all but dead, the unthinkable sees to have happened. The promoters, fighters, television executives, and seedy businessmen seemed to have come together in a valiant attempt to bring boxing back to its glory days. With the next six months stacked with great fights this could indicate a change in the trend of lackluster fights and sizzling scandal. This isn't the first time boxing has been against the ropes and like a cagey old veteran, you can never count out America's oldest sport. By Doug MacEwanNews late last week that welterweights Miguel Cotto and Sugar Shane Mosley have an agreement for a fight Nov. 10 in New York is another piece in a potential 2007 rebirth of a sport that was given last rites before and after Floyd Mayweather Jr .'s dull May 5 victory over Oscar De La Hoya . Finally, a well-worn metaphor taken from boxing by politicians during every campaign and sportswriters never seen at a ringside can be applied to the battered ga...
More About: Boxing , Back , Xing

Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive: Peter Goldman, Doctor Of The Stars
2007-08-15 23:44:00
Irish Whip Fighting spent some time with Dr. Peter Goldman, doctor of MMA stars the world over. He uses his special brand of "zone healing" to work on fighters such as BJ Penn and Bas Rutten. Check out his site at goldmanhealing.com and read more about Dr. Goldman's insights from the MMA scene below. An Interview By Ben Zeidler Ben Zeidler: How did you get involved with this field of study in the first place?Dr. Peter Goldman: After studying Economics for 4 years and working in the NYC business world for 4 more years I felt it was time to do something to help people. I enrolled in chiropractic school and the journey began.BZ: Do you have any formal MMA training?DPG: Black belt in Oyama full contact karate. Was one of the top middleweight fighters for Oyama in the early 1990's. Have been studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 5 years. I have also done some boxing and Thai boxing.BZ: Can you tell us what a typical session with a mixed martial artist is like?DPG: Just like any other ...
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BREAKING NEWS: Wanderlei Debuts Dec. 29 at UFC 79
2007-08-15 15:31:00
Wanderlei Silva, who recently moved to West Palm Beach, FL, is set to make his return to the UFC at UFC 79 on Dec. 29. Silva has been training with UFC Heavyweight Champ Randy "The Natural" Couture.According to the Xtreme Couture MMA blog, MMA superstar Wanderlei Silva has been helping Randy train for his upcoming bout with Gonzaga, set for UFC 74.Randy had nothing but great things to say about "The Axe Murderer":?It?s great to have him in the gym. I?m anxious to pick his brain. To explore his training tactics and techniques. I?m also looking forward to building a rapport with him going forward. We had some good goes today. We were working out of half guard and the mount. He?s very tough in both positions.?Wanderlei made the prediction in favor of "The Natural," stating that he has "very good boxing."Silva was also highly impressed with Couture's underrated jiu-jitsu skills, he said this:?He?s strong on the ground. He has very good jiu jitsu and excellent stamina. He?s stronger th...
More About: News , Breaking News , Chuck Liddell , Randy Couture , Wanderlei Silva

Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive Interview: Ben Rothwell
2007-08-15 01:36:00
Recently, Irish WhipFighting writer Doug MacEwan caught up with one of MMA?s most talented young heavyweights in Ben Rothwell . With an impressive 26-5 record including a recent streak of 12 straight victories, Ben has been tearing through the IFL as a member of Pat Miletich?s Silverbacks. Known for his devastating knockout power inside the ring and as one the nicest guys in the sport, Ben shared everything from his latest 13 second victory to his strange experience with a lady and her dog while in an elevator in Japan.Doug MacEwan: Ben,I have heard great things about how well the IFL treats their athletes. How did you get started with them and what is your relationship like with everyone there?Ben Rothwell: I got my start with the encouragement of Pat Miletich. He explained the team concept to me and after winning my first fight I really enjoyed the whole process. They have a great support system and all the people involved behind the scene make my life a lot easier. I wasn?t really ...
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Breaking News: Trinidad to Fight Roy Jones Jr. in January
2007-08-14 00:50:00
Today, Don King announced in a press conference a match up boxing fans have been salivating over for years. Some time in January , Roy Jones Jr. and Felix Trinidad will squre off in a fight between two of our generation's greatest champions.Felix "Tito" Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr., two of the era's greatest fighters, were on a collision course to meet in 2001. But Trinidad ran into Bernard Hopkins and was knocked out. Up in smoke went one of the boxing's potential megafights.Fast forward to today, when promoter Don King announced plans to match the future Hall of Famers in January at a venue to be determined, most likely New York's Madison Square Garden. TV details were also undetermined, but the fight will be on pay-per-view."It's the people's championship," King called it, flanked by both fighters at his South Florida headquarters."It's two titans, two legendary fighters coming together to fight," King said. "This is what the public has waited for for a long time, and now the...
More About: News , Breaking News , Fight

Top 10 MMA Beatdowns!
2007-08-12 18:05:00
"Styles make fights" seems to be the general consensus for cutthroat action and competitive fights. Well, the same cannot be entirely true for all fights. Every now and then, a poor clash of styles allows fights to be one sided, allowing one fighter to deliver a tremendous can of whoop ass to the other. After a valiant effort to scour for the best ass whoopings, here are my top ten beat downs in PRIDE Fighting Championships/Ultimate Fighting Championships. An article by Masson Liang Honorable mention:Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Yoshihisa YamamotoMirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Hidehiko YoshidaMirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Igor VovchanchynFedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianeko vs. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" NogueiraWanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva vs. Kazushi Sakuraba I, IIWanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva vs. Yuki KondoIgor Vovchanchyn vs. Enson Inoue10. GSP vs. SherkBefore this fight, I would've never imagined someone brutally overpowering Sherk (besides Matt Hughes). That is ex...

Three UFC Fights That (Almost) Changed The World Of MMA
2007-08-12 07:40:00
We usually don't publish stuff from other sites, but this article from Jesse Holland over at ufcmania.com is just too damn good. It just makes me upset that we didn't come up with this first. In case you haven't seen it, the following lists three fights that were extremely close to going a different way. Had they followed that alternate path, MMA would have been changed forever. A guest article (with permission) by Jesse HollandI remember ordering UFC 61: Bitter Rivals and telling a friend how excited I was to see Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia duke it out to finally see (once and for all) who was the top heavyweight in the UFC. Like most friends who have no concept of how exciting this sport can be, he nodded politely and feigned interest until he was rescued by our unconversant waitress who was about as interested in getting me another Mr. Pibb as my friend was about hearing me describe a bicep slicer. Now I can?t imagine how hard I might have laughed had he told me that a r...
More About: World , Fights , The World , Matt Hughes

Jorge Gurgel to Return at UFC 77
2007-08-12 04:37:00
Jorge Gurgel, former cast member from "The Ultimate Fighter 2," has been added to UFC 77 and will be facing Doug Evans.If you're wondering why Gurgel has only been seen cornering training partner and former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin, it is because of an injury Gurgel suffered at UFC 73. Along with a decision victory over Diego Saraiva at UFC 73, Gurgel also took with him a broken jaw and facial structure. Ouch.It appears that Gurgel is ready for action and will be returning to the Octagon at UFC 77, he had this to say:?To all my fans I would like to announce that I will be fighting Doug Evans at the UFC in Cincinnati on October the 20th. It?s a great honor to finally be able to perform in front of my home crowd, students and family. I would like to thank everyone in advance for all the support over the years. I will do my best."The California State Athletic Commission had issued Gurgel an indefinite medical suspension and asked Gurgel to get a doctor's clearance befo...
More About: Return , Jorge Gurgel , Turn , Jorge , Urge

Irish Whip Exclusive: Interview With the Girls Behind MMAgirls.net
2007-08-11 01:08:00
Here's Irish Whip Fighting, coming at you with another exclusive interview with the ever-so-popular girls of MMAGirls .net, Joanne and Lauren! Both born and raised in South Africa, both girls moved to Florida and currently attend UCF in Orlando, FL. Joanne and Lauren are best known for their incredible UFC prediction videos, found on YouTube.com, and more recently, their technique videos! Oh, and their stunning looks don't hurt either ;)IrishWhipFighting: How did each of you get started in martial arts? Would you consider yourself more of a striker of a grappler?Joanne: I starting watching UFC about 3 years ago. All my guy friends were really into it, and they would teach me submissions. I am definitely more of a grappler, but I am excited to start Muay Thai in the future and improve my striking.Lauren: My dad and little brother both trained in martial arts and that is how I initially became involved. I eventually decided that it was time to start training myself. Currently, I am...
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IRISH WHIP EXCLUSIVE: DAN HENDERSON INTERVIEW
2007-08-09 21:22:00
Irish Whip Fighting sat down with the one and only PRIDE FC Middleweight and Welterweight Champion, Dan "Hollywood" Henderson . We got his thoughts on PRIDE vs. UFC, Wanderlei Silva, his upcoming title fight with Rampage Jackson, if he plans to move down to Middleweight, and much more! An Interview By Ben ZeidlerBen Zeidler: You've mentioned that you felt Wanderlei Silva was disrespectful towards you in interviews? Recently knocking out Wanderlei Silva, do you still have any negative feelings towards him?Dan Henderson : I never really had negative feelings for him at all. I don't think he was that disrespectful, it was just?I always felt that we had mutual respect, especially after we fought the first time. BZ: Do you have any plans to capture the UFC MW belt or do you prefer to fight at 205lbs now?DH: Uh, I think it's up to me. The thing that I'm focused on right now is winning this fight, nothing else, whatever happens after that you know, happens.BZ: Who in the UFC w...
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IWF's Updated Pound For Pound Boxing Rankings
2007-08-09 08:34:00
As we continue to bring you the most comprehensive coverage in the world of combat sports, we put together the latest pound for pound rankings for professional boxing. For those of you who have missed out on some of the great fights that have gone in the last year or so we have included recent highlights for every boxer on our list. By Doug MacEwan Top Ten1. Floyd Mayweather Jr . (38-0, 24 KOs) Welterweight ChampionPlus: After a laughable retirement Floyd decided to lace them up one more time for a megafight with Ricky Hatton. Both champions come in with undefeated records and even if most see it as a one sided boxing clinic, expect it to be another huge PPV event.Minus: The Hatton fight is huge but if Floyd wants to cement his legacy he needs to fight someone that presents at least a minor risk. Matches against Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Paul Williams or Antonio Margarito would all be more competitive.2. Manny Pacquiao (44-3-2, 34 KOs) Junior LightweightPlus: Now that the contract ...
More About: Boxing , Bernard Hopkins , Pound , Xing

UFC 77 Card Updates
2007-08-09 04:24:00
Two new fights will be complimenting Silva-Franklin II at UFC 77 on October 20 in Cincinnati, Ohio.The first bout will be with Josh Burkman , which was confirmed by the UFC welterweight himself in a Myspace.com bulletin.Burkman's bulletin stated:Fighting October 20th My next fight is gonna be Oct. 20th in Cinncinatti @UFC 76. I learned alot agasinst Karo and i?ll be at a different level than i?veever been before. Thanks for the messages and support.Jburk ?peoples warrior"Although Burkman confirmed a fight for Oct. 20, he did not specify an opponent.Burkman most recently lost to Karo "The Heat" Parisyan at UFC 71 in May, by a unanimous decision.The second fight to be confirmed for UFC 77 is "The Ultimate Fighter 1" light-heavyweight runner-up Stephan Bonnar versus Eric Schafer.Schafer, who also made his announcement via Myspace.com bulletin, said this:Anyways, I got a call this morning from my manager Jeff Curran. Jeff, who justwon his WEC debut on Sunday, told me that the UFC wants ...
More About: Card , Updates , Rich Franklin , Anderson Silva

Irish Whip Exclusive: Blood Feuds Make For Bitter Showdowns
2007-08-08 06:04:00
While UFC 51: Bitter Rivals was cast as a classic match up of enemies, it turned out to be a lackluster night of fights between Ken Shamrock, Tito Ortiz, Andrei Arlovski, and Tim Sylvia. Had VP of Talent and Matchmaker Joe Silva been afforded the luxury of "fighting families" in the UFC at that time, surely he would have booked them against one another in a true display of bitter rivals. Now, with Nate and Nick Diaz together in MMA (although Nick is currently in EliteXC, not UFC) along with Manny Gamburyan and Karo Parisyan (they're cousins), both in the UFC, he's got just that. And if it wasn't enough that there are two families with fighters whose weights match up perfectly, they hate each other. (Originally published at martialbase.com)The bad blood started back at UFC 49 when Karo Parisyan beat Nick Diaz by split decision (pictured, credit: fightnews.com). Most said that this was one of the top ten UFC bouts of all time, and even more suggested that the decision could have go...
More About: Exclusive , Irish , Blood , Make

Demian Maia to Face Marvin Eastman at UFC 77
2007-08-08 03:56:00
Newly signed UFC fighter Demi an Maia is set to make his Octagon debut against UFC veteran Marvin Eastman in a middleweight showdown at UFC 77 on October 20 in Cincinnati, Ohio at the U.S. Bank Arena.Originally, Eastman was scheduled to fight Drew McFedries. However, McFedries had no choice but to back out after having surgery in his leg due to a severe staph infection.Maia, being the current Abu Dhabi Combat Club U87KG champion, will be looking to utilize his jiu-jitsu wizardry to gain the edge against Eastman.Marvin Eastman's last fight in the UFC was against current UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, to whom he lost to by a knockout in the 2nd round.Eastman is no slouch however, and should look to take advantage of his absurd power and size. Being the better striker of the two, Eastman will need to make use of his wrestling skills preventing him to engage in a jiu-jitsu confrontation, which is exactly what Maia will be looking to do.This is a classic match-...
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UFC Signs Submission Expert Demian Maia
2007-08-07 22:41:00
The UFC has signed undefeated Demi an Maia, who just happens to be the 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) World Submission Grappling Championship cruiserweight winner. One of the world's most celebrated submission tournaments, the ADCC was created on suggestion from Renzo and Royler Gracie, as has, over the years, played host to some of the top names in MMA.The tournament Maia won has included past competitors such as...get ready for it...Shinya Aoki, Ricardo Arona, Urijah Faber, Takanori Gomi, Gabriel Gonzaga, a million Gracies, Matt Hughes, Denis Kang, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tito Ortiz, and a partridge in a pear tree.Maia, while having fought less than the top competition, has only fought fighters with winning records. He'll offer a much-needed boost to UFC's Middleweight division (its weakest), while offering a contrasting style to that of Silva and Franklin. This is a good first step to both beef up the MW division and create some diversity of technique, two things that a...
More About: Signs , Expert , Pert

More Money, More Problems: Steroids in MMA
2007-08-07 18:43:00
With the latest steroid scandal giving MMA another black eye the time has come for self regulation. It is simply too easy to cheat the system. Now that Dana White has carried the sport to new levels its time to take action. There is no perfect solution but simply leaving the responsibility in the hand of the athletic comission is not enough.It doesn?t take a genius to realize that steroid use lurks in the shadows of virtually every competitive sport. With more scandals and positive tests than I care to keep track of these days I am almost ready to accept that as long as big money is on the line, athletes will do anything to gain that extra advantage. Recently Mixed Martial Arts has come under fire for an alarming host of positive tests and it?s not just how many, but also who has been caught. In the latest UFC title fight between Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca, both champion and challenger tested positive. This is just the latest incident in a string of positive tests that include ...
More About: Money , Problems , Steroids

Update: Franca's Suspension and Fine Upheld
2007-08-07 04:24:00
Despite an apology and a request for a lighter sentence, luck was still no where to be found for Hermes Franca . The CSAC suspended Hermes France until July 5, 2008 along with a $2,500 fine. Hermes Franca lost his title shot against Sean Sherk by a unanimous decision at UFC 73: Stacked on July 7.On July 19, 2007, the CSAC announced that Franca had tested positive for the steroid Drostanolone in a post-fight drug test.Sherk on the other hand, has filed for an extension on his hearing.The Lianger
More About: Update , Steroids , Fine

Update: Sherk Files For Extension on Appeal
2007-08-06 17:17:00
UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, who tested positive for steroids (Nandrolone Metabolite, has filed for an extension with the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), delaying his appeal to the steroid allegations.Sherk's appeal was originally set to take place today, August 6, as well as UFC president Dana White 's decision of whether or not to strip Sherk of his belt.It seems if everyone will have to wait till October for Sherk's hearing and possibilities of Sherk vs. Penn remain hazy.Sherk had this to say:?I don?t want this to take any longer than it has to, but I hired my lawyer just a couple of weeks ago. I want to get this done as soon as possible so I can fight B.J. [Penn] in November, but the next hearing wouldn?t be until October.?I will keep you posted on this prolonged drama series.The Lianger
More About: Update , Steroids , Extension , Files

Couture An Underdog, Great Pick For UFC 74
2007-08-06 09:15:00
As the events surrounding UFC bouts draw near, odds on the event typically settle down from their previously erratic manner. However, the odds on the Randy Couture -Gabriel Gonzaga fight have been relatively steady all along... and not in favor of "The Natural." Irish Whip Fighting breaks down the bout here and tells you how to best spend your betting money! (Originally written for Martial Base)I was surprised when I initially saw that Couture was a +105 underdog and Gonzaga was a -130 favorite (source: 5Dimes), but I assumed that this would even out as we neared the event and we got further away from the shock of Gonzaga's win over Cro Cop. Weeks later, and I stand corrected. It seems that a Cro Cop knockout carries my cache than I thought. As such, it appears that these will be the final lines heading into the event. And if they are, my suggestion is bet, bet, bet!Gonzaga is the younger fighter and he is getting better, but I just don't think he's anywhere nearly as skilled as ...
More About: Great , Underdog , Pick

WEC 29: Filho's American Debut!
2007-08-05 23:42:00
Tonight will be the airing of WEC 29, which will be feature the debut of top ranked middleweight Paulo Filho. Taking place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, the event will be placing the welterweight and middleweight titles on the line!Yeah, sounds appealing doesn't it? What's even better is that the event will be airing free of charge on the Versus channel starting at 9 PM/ET.The matches to be televised for your viewing pleasure are:MW: Paulo Filho vs. Joe Doerksen (for the MW title)WW: Carlos Condit vs. Brock Larson (for Condit's WW title)Jeff Curran vs. Stephen LedbetterJamie Varner vs. Sherron LeggetWEC has been whipping together some solid events. I just hope to see some of WEC?s top contenders have the opportunity to show their skills in the UFC Octagon (i.e. Filho).Filho has been criticized by many to Lay N? Pray on his opponents for boring decision victories and this is probably the same reason why Filho was placed in the WEC to see how his style wou...
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MMA Motivational Poster Contest
2007-08-05 21:53:00
Surely, you've seen these MMA Motivational Poster s, similar to the one above. Irish Whip Fighting is offering $20 for the funniest NEW poster in its first-ever poster contest! Head on over to Big Huge Labs to create your own and check out our past article on the topic for inspiration. Details inside...Well, I pretty much said everything in that little intro, but here are the more detailed...details. The contest will run from August 5th through August 12th. At that time, the Irish Whip Fighting staff will vote and decide which one is their favorite. The winners (and two runners-up) will have their poster put on our media page. Then, I'll paypal the money over to the winner of the contest. All submissions should be emailed (as a .jpg) to Benjamin.Zeidler@gmail.com and CCed to Masson.Liang@gmail.com. Thanks for reading and good luck!
More About: Contest

BJ Penn Pleads No Contest To Assault
2007-08-05 21:00:00
A guy pushes you at a bar. You get in his face and words are exchanged. Both of you agree to take it outside. You see him in the light and realize that it's former UFC Welterweight Champion BJ Penn . You are in trouble. This very scenario took place outside a nightclub in Hilo, Hawaii two years ago...Apparently, and according to the original article by UFCJunkie, Penn reacted to his brother's being into a fight by placing a police officer in an Americana. Just kidding... But he did see his brother involved in a fight and inadvertently pushed an officer. When the officer attempted to use pepper spray on BJ (which we all know he is immune to), BJ punched him in the face.Now, I find this a little bit puzzling. While BJ's striking is very decent, he's always been known for his prowess on the ground, his flexibility, and his dexterity. I'm surprised that he'd choose to simply punch the office rather than attempt a flying triangle or armbar of some kind. I doubt that the police offic...
More About: Contest , Arrested , Assault

Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive: The Top MMA Cities In America
2007-08-05 05:59:00
As MMA mania sweeps across the United States like a swarm of hungry locusts, you would be hard pressed to identify one city or geographical region as contributing more than another. Taking into account the relatively young history of the sport here in the states, I have attempted to do just that. Knowing that the majority of MMA fans share the same deep rooted passion for the sport as I do, I can already see the hate mail piling up. After consulting many of my contacts around the country, I have ranked the top ten MMA cities in terms of general interest of the population, number of MMA gyms per capita, and reputation for producing (or hosting) great champions. I encourage anyone who reads this to provide their own feedback. (Note that I have only highlighted numbers 1-5.) by Doug MacEwan Honorable mention: Hollywood, CA; Chicago, IL; Atlantic City, NJ; San Jose, CA10. Cincinnati, Ohio 9. Houston, Texas8. Anaheim, CA7. Albuquerque, New Mexico6. Sacramento, CA5. West Palm Beach/Ft...
More About: America , Exclusive , Cities , Fighting

Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive: Jon Fitch Interview
2007-08-04 00:57:00
IrishWhipFighting .com had a chance to speak to UFC Welterweight Jon Fitch. Fitch is quickly climbing up the welterweight ranks and has had much success in the UFC thus far. See what Fitch has to say about his experiences as a fighter and his upcoming fight against Diego Sanchez at UFC 76 on September 22.Hey Jon, thanks for taking the time to take this interview. We here at Irish Whip Fighting are huge fans and cannot thank you enough for your support! Irish Whip Fighting would also like to congratulate you for your dominating performance at UFN 10 and racking up another jaw-dropping victory over Roan Carneiro.General...Masson Liang: What influenced you to start a career in mixed martial arts?Jon Fitch: My assistant coach at Purdue University, Tom Erikson, was fighting in Pride at the time. He would have Gary Goodridge and Mark Coleman come into town and help him train. It looked like fun so I would get involved and help out. I?ve been hooked ever since. ML: Who are your biggest infl...
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Top-Ranked Filho Says Contract Only Included WEC
2007-08-04 00:05:00
Undefeated and highly-ranked Paulo Filho recently spoke on his contract with Zuffa, citing that it only included a deal with the WEC and not the UFC. Did Filho get screwed? Is he ducking current champ and friend Anderson Silva ? Find out more inside...Despite Filho's status as one of the top Middleweights, he was only offered a deal with the WEC. Many think that the WEC and UFC are technically the same organization, as they are both owned by Zuffa, but as this example shows us, that isn't completely true. However, Filho is just anxious to start making a name for himself in the U.S. and doesn't seem upset by Zuffa's lack of explanation.From CBS Sportsline:Q: When Zuffa first approached you, did they give you a choice between fighting for the UFC or WEC?PF: No. I wasn?t given a choice. I was offered a chance to fight in the WEC and that?s what I took. Q: Was any detail provided as to why they wanted you for the WEC as opposed to the UFC?PF: There was no detail given. The WEC i...
More About: Contract , Rich Franklin , Trac

UFC 76 Updates: Lyoto Machida vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
2007-08-03 03:29:00
A newly formed match-up between the ever so mysterious Lyoto Machida and UFC newcomer/PRIDE veteran Kazuhiro Nakamura has been added to the UFC 76 card, set for Sept. 22 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.Sources for the fight hail from UFC.com's Thomas Gerbasi in an article released today.Lyoto Machida most recently defeated David Heath at UFC 70: Nations Collide via unanimous decision and currently holds an undefeated record of 10 wins and 0 losses.Machida is quickly making a name for himself in the UFC and holds victories over UFC big timers such as: former UFC middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin, former UFC welterweight champion BJ Penn and Stephan Bonnar.Kazuhiro Nakamura, on the other hand, is not an opponent to be overlooked. Based mainly around Judo and training under Olympic Judo gold medalist Hidehiko Yoshida, Nakamura has faced top competition in MMA today, fighters like Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Josh Barnett, Yuki Kondo, Wanderlei Silva, and Dan "Hollywood" H...
More About: Updates , Chuck Liddell , Jon Fitch

Chuck Liddell Talks Keith Jardine
2007-08-02 16:03:00
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell speaks out about his upcoming opponent, Keith Jardine, for UFC 76. Liddell explains to MMA fans out there that he "never hand-picks his opponents."After numerous attempts of a dream match between Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell fell through, Keith Jardine was chosen to be Chuck's opponent for UFC 76. Rumors then began to surface about Chuck ducking UFC newcomer Hayato Sakurai and hand-picking Keith Jardine for UFC 76.Reports had also stated that Chuck was offered matchups against Mauricio "Shogun " Rua, Kazauhiro Nakamura, Lyoto Machida or Keith Jardine.Liddell spoke to MMAWeekly.com denying all allegations about hand-picking Jardine and/or ducking opponents.Liddell told MMAWeekly this:"I've never hand-picked an opponent. I'm not going to. There would be no reason to hand-pick Jardine. The only time I've ever asked for a guy is when I asked to fight Kevin Randleman because I wanted to fight a guy that had a name a...

Liddell-Couture Trilogy To Release on DVD!
2007-08-02 01:57:00
Fans will finally be able to have the ever-so-rare UFC 57: Liddell-Couture 3 DVD in a Trilogy DVD Set. All three Liddell-Couture feuds will be captured in this trilogy set, as UFC 43, 52, and 57 will be included.This may not be the biggest news, but I've been dying to have UFC 57, which has been sold-out in stores as well as the Internet. After a whopping 18-month hiatus, UFC has finally decided to release the event in a trilogy with a fourth bonus disc containing behind-the-scenes footage of the two and Frank Mir's return to the UFC after his motorcycle accident in 2004.The Liddell-Couture Trilogy is set to hit the stores on September 24, 2007 for a price ranging through $30 to $40 depending on where you buy it.Originally, UFC 57: Liddell-Couture 3 was nearly impossible to obtain in stores due to the UFC's former distributor, Ventura Home Entertainment. Ventura Home Entertainment had filed for a "general assignment," equivalent to a bankruptcy.UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture was an ...
More About: Release , Chuck Liddell , Randy Couture , Ease