Is Fishkill's Brian McLaughlin the Next Ultimate Fighter?

Awesome Brian! I miss home and training and hangin.' Hope everyone is kicking ass.

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September 17, 2008


Is Fishkill's Brian McLaughlin the Ultimate Fighter?

Arlington grad debuts on Spike TV tonight

By Phil Strum
Poughkeepsie Journal

Brian McLaughlin would love to be considered the ultimate fighter.

Starting tonight, he'll have his shot.

McLaughlin, a 24-year-old Fishkill native, is one of 32 mixed martial artists who will compete on the eighth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which begins tonight on Spike TV after UFC Fight Night Live. The winner of the competition gets a guaranteed, multi-fight contract in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the top North American MMA promotion.

"This season is some of the highest level of competition you're going to see," said McLaughlin, unable to reveal whether he was one of the competitors to fight his way onto the show out of the original 32. "Everyone is well-rounded. Some of the lightweights have already defeated UFC veterans. In my weight class, everyone deserved to be there."

The coaches on this season of "The Ultimate Fighter" are UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. On Dec. 27, Nogueira and Mir will face in a title match that will also have a co-main event with the light heavyweight title match of Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans, both former champions of "The Ultimate Fighter."

Of the 32 men to start on the show, 16 make it onto the reality show. This season has light heavyweights (186-205 pounds) and lightweights (146-155 pounds). McLaughlin is a lightweight. The finals of the show are going to be live on Dec. 13 and will have an undercard featuring fighters on the show.

"All the guys there whether they made it far in the show or not, those guys are still fighting," said McLaughlin, an alum of Arlington High School and SUNY New Paltz. "The good thing about the show is that you get some marketability even if you don't get the UFC contract."

Yahoo! Sports mixed martial arts writer Dave Meltzer has covered the sport in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter since 1993 and said "The Ultimate Fighter" is the means for getting into MMA, but it isn't a guarantee that you'll be a star like Griffin, Evans or former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra.

"It can skyrocket the career," Meltzer said. "If they do really well, it's a door opening for you, but you still have to perform."

Meltzer added that most of the money in the three-year contract the winner gets are in bonuses and that the winner is really only guaranteed about $100,000 over three years. The good fighters, obviously, can do much better.

"As long as you're on the show and you don't make a complete fool of yourself, you can get booked on the final show, unless you can't fight at all" Meltzer said.

Although he lives in Fishkill and owns Hudson Valley Jiu-Jitsu in Fishkill, McLaughlin, whose professional record is 5-0 is listed on the UFC Web site as being from Tampa. The reason for this is that he trains at Gracie Tampa under Eastchester native Rob Kahn. Kahn received a jiu-jitsu black belt under former three-time UFC champion and MMA pioneer Royce Gracie.

"He's honestly one of the best submission grapplers in the country," Kahn said of McLaughlin. "Brian's beaten some of the best in the country already and has kind of made a name for himself. In 15 years of doing this, I don't know if I've worked with anyone with more drive than him. He's the hardest-working kid I've ever seen."

Kahn feels that even if McLaughlin did not make it onto The Ultimate Fighter, he still would have been under consideration to get some fights in the UFC, especially after he won the Ring of Combat Beasts of the Northeast Tournament last November.

"He turned a lot of heads when he did that," Kahn said. "He's part of that first generation who started as a kid and grew up with it. He's really ahead of the curve. Not even 24 and already a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He's still got so many years of competing."

McLaughlin said that his training philosophy for competing is simple: To constantly surround yourself with people who are better than you, so that you're always challenging yourself.

"It's night and day," McLaughlin said of his skills in boxing and wrestling, as opposed to his vast experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. "I look at my first fight and my skills back then going, 'If I could fight myself now, it would be a nightmare.' It's so challenging and so much fun. It's a new way of challenging myself and expanding my range of combat.

"It's made training more exciting," McLaughlin continued. "More exciting, more humbling. You're never the master and always the student."

McLaughlin tried out for the fifth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," but was ultimately rejected. This time though, plenty of friends knew about his tryout, but once he made the cut, he was not permitted to tell anyone he made it onto the show - until the UFC made it official.

"I had to come up with this whole phony story," McLaughlin said. "I had to disappear for six weeks and I couldn't tell people where I was going. And they couldn't get in touch with me. I told them I was leaving the country. I told them I didn't make the show, but when I was leaving was around my birthday, so I said my parents gave me a trip to Brazil. Some people actually bought it."

One thing McLaughlin said he would love is to fight a little closer to home. Mixed martial arts is banned in the state of New York and the closest he gets to fight is in Atlantic City, N.J.

"Every year, we get our hopes up," McLaughlin said. "It's always been a dream of mine to fight in the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. I would love to fight in my hometown. Ignorant minds are dictating the future of the sport."

McLaughlin said that in one meeting of New York lawmakers, he was told, that one asked if there was a referee present in the MMA bouts.

"If you're going to hold the future of the sport in your hands, McLaughlin said. "at least watch one of the shows."

Meltzer said while the launch of "The Ultimate Fighter" has been good for many MMA careers, it's not a guarantee.

"It made the sport and it made careers," Meltzer said. "But it's not a lock. When you're on guarantees you a place in the sport. From there, you either need to win or look good losing."

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RIP Evan Tanner

RIP Evan Tanner

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Update: Former UFC Champ Tanner Dead at 37
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Loretta Hunt
The body of former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner (Pictures) was found Monday in the Palo Verde mountain area.

Tanner, 37, was an apparent victim of heat exposure.

He had embarked on a camping trip on his motorcycle Sept. 3 into the desert-like region north of Brawley, Calif., approximately two and a half hours east of San Diego.

The native of Amarillo, Texas, was found approximately two miles from his campsite, said his manager John Hayner, of Driving Force Sports, who had known the fighter for four years. Hayner said Tanner went camping to undergo a spiritual and physical cleansing, which was not uncommon for the fighter.

Lt. George Moreno of the Imperial Valley Sheriff’s Dept. said his office was contacted last Friday by friends in Oceanside, Calif., where Tanner had moved about six months ago. Tanner’s friends told Moreno the fighter had contacted them via text messaging to say he was out of water and gas and needed assistance. A ground search and air surveillance began Friday to locate the fighter, said Moreno.

Tanner’s campsite was located Sunday by aerial search. His body was discovered Monday at 12 p.m. PST by a helicopter search conducted by the U.S. Marine base out of Yuma, Ariz. Moreno estimated Tanner was approximately 45-50 miles from the nearest town.

Tanner’s body was identified a couple of hours after coroners arrived on the scene, said Moreno.

“He had his I.D. on him,” Lt. Moreno told Sherdog.com.

Tanner’s older brother, Jeff, is expected to collect the fighter’s effects Tuesday afternoon. Tanner’s mother is also en route to Imperial Valley, said Hayner.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Moreno said circumstances like this were rare but not unheard of in the area.

“If anybody is going to go camping, it’s usually in the winter, not during this extreme weather,” he said. “Right now, temperatures are in the 110-degree index every day.”

Tanner had last been connected to the Compound Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness gym in Oceanside, Calif. Co-owner Claudia Ortega said she and her husband had reached out to Tanner a year ago after he had visited the facility. When Tanner moved back to the area, he visited the gym on a few occasions to train.

Ortega said Tanner told her he planned to “take a couple of trips,” then settle at the gym.

“He wanted to make it his home,” said Ortega. “”We really wanted to see him succeed in any way he could.”

Tanner’s battle with alcohol abuse was well known in the sport, but Hayner said he’d believed Tanner had stayed sober for about a year in an attempt to make a comeback.

“Evan did not kill himself,” said Hayner. “Evan did not go out in the hopes of doing a one-way ticket. He brought two guns out with him for target practice. They were not found with his body. In no way shape or form did he kill himself. He got in over his head, and exposure to the elements killed him.”

Tanner was a self-made mixed martial arts standout. A two-time state championship wrestler in high school, he made his professional debut on a whim with the Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation in 1997 and defeated three opponents in one night -- including eventual UFC title challenger Paul Buentello (Pictures) -- in one night to win a heavyweight tournament. He would later defend the title against Pride Fighting Championships and UFC veteran Heath Herring (Pictures), among others.

He enjoyed his greatest success in the UFC. Tanner won 10 of his first 12 fights with the promotion, losing only to Tito Ortiz (Pictures) and Rich Franklin (Pictures). His UFC run was highlighted by his upset victory over David Terrell (Pictures) at UFC 51 in February 2005, as he stopped the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt on strikes to capture the middleweight championship. Tanner relinquished the 185-pound crown in his rematch with Franklin at UFC 53 four months later, as he absorbed a brutal beating after knocking down the popular Ohioan with a right hand in the first round.

Tanner, the first American to win the Pancrase Neo-Blood tournament in Japan, lost four of his last five fights. He made his final appearance inside the Octagon at “The Ultimate Fighter 7” Finale in June, as he dropped a split decision to Kendall Grove (Pictures) in Las Vegas.

Tanner had recently started his own blog in association with SpikeTV.com.

“I've been sitting around this apartment, bored to tears, waiting on the last of the gear I need for the desert adventure to come in the mail. I've really been looking forward to getting out there,” wrote Tanner. “It seems some MMA websites have reported on the story, posting up that I might die out in the desert, or that it might be my greatest opponent yet, etc. Come on guys. This isn't a version of "Into the Wild". I'm not going out into the desert with a pair of shorts and a bowie knife, to try to live off the land. I'm going fully geared up, and I'm planning on having some fun.”

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What now?

Well, I remember complaining when they gave Keith Jardine a fight against Chuck. I understand that it was right after he lost to Rampage, and lost the title, but I didn't think that Jardine had anything on his resume that gave him a shot at the guy who just had the belt. Then Chuck lost, and got dropped in the process. Then when I heard that they were giving Evans a shot at Chuck, I had the same reaction.

Then, last night happened. Embarrassing, to say the least. So the question is: What does Chuck do now? He's in a worse position than Rich Franklin (the guy who seems to own the Middleweight division, but has nothing for Anderson Silva). Are we looking at the retirement of Chuck Liddell? Are the flaws in his style now something that a top level fighter can't afford to have? Will he ever protect his frickin chin?

Nate Marquardt looked good last night. I was hoping to see a slick sub from him, but he demonstrated his bad assness by beating up a kickboxing champ. I like him, I want to see him get another crack at Silva.

Anyway, the card last night wasn't too bad. I'm upset that they didn't air the Fight of the Night, but oh well. I can't complain because I didn't pay for the card. I will say, however, that I much prefer watching fights with people who know a little bit about what they're watching. Watching at a bar amongst people who just want to see someone get hurt isn't as fun. Plus I just miss my friends. Oh well.

Randy Back in the UFC

Wow. I kinda feel bad for Nog and Mir. Not too bad though. I'm glad we'll be able to see Randy fight again, whatever the promotion.

Couture Back in UFC Fold
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Sherdog.com Staff
Six-time UFC champion Randy Couture (Pictures) will return to the Octagon this November, ending an 11-month legal battle with the promotion he’s called his home for the last 11 years.

As part of a new three-fight contract with Zuffa LLC, parent company to the UFC, Couture (16-8) will face Brock Lesnar (Pictures) (2-1) at UFC 91 on Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. The bout will be waged over five rounds for Couture’s heavyweight championship title.

“As you all know, we’ve had problems with Randy over the last few months, but we’ve got them all worked out now. Randy has always been our heavyweight champion,” said UFC President Dana White.

A previously announced bout between UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) and Frank Mir (Pictures) scheduled for December will determine the next contender for the UFC heavyweight crown, said White. White described the scenario as a “heavyweight tournament.”

Under the new agreement, the UFC will also attempt to lock down a bout between Couture and No. 1 ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) in 2009. The highly anticipated bout has been heralded as the fight of the decade.

We’re gonna do everything we can to make that fight happen,” said White. "Emelianenko’s under another contract right now to another promotion and if he becomes available or something works out with that other promotion -- obviously everybody knows how crazy we are about protecting our contracts. Well, we would never do that to somebody else."

It is believed Emelianenko recently signed an exclusive U.S. contract with the rival promotion Affliction Entertainment. It is not known how many fights Emelianenko has committed to. White said he would not be open to a co-promotion effort with the rival organization.

“I think a lot of compromises were made on both sides,” said Couture, “but we’re both ready to try and move forward. We’ve cleared the air and we’re both in different places than we were a year ago. Spending the last year in legal fights is not some place that I've had a very good time.”

Couture’s abrupt departure from the UFC last October dealt a significant blow to the world’s most visible MMA promotion. Zuffa’s inability to land Pride heavyweight champion Emelianenko played a prominent role in the Couture’s decision to walk away, as did the fighter’s discontent with his pay and treatment by the Las Vegas-based company.

With his resignation, Couture left behind two contracted bouts, his UFC heavyweight crown, and a separate employment contract for on-air commentary services.

The 45-year-old Couture’s return to the UFC signals the end of arbitration proceedings over the fighter’s promotional contract that were underway in Las Vegas. A separate lawsuit filed last January against Couture for breach of his employment contract has also been squashed.

Couture called his return to the UFC “a step in the right direction” to getting a bout with Emelianenko down the line.

A three-time All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University, Couture won four national championships in Greco-Roman wrestling and made four attempts at qualifying for the Olympics. He made his MMA debut at UFC 13 on May 13, 1997, where, at age 33, he won its heavyweight tournament.

Over the course of the next decade, Couture emerged as one of the most decorated mixed martial artists in history. The UFC’s only six-time champion, he captured the heavyweight belt three times, the light heavyweight title twice, and an interim light heavyweight title as well. Couture was the first fighter to win UFC championships in two weight classes.

His run through the promotion included a memorable trilogy with light heavyweight rival Chuck Liddell (Pictures), the only opponent to beat Couture twice. Following his third bout with Liddell in February 2006, Couture announced his first retirement. Couture returned in March 2007 to topple 6-foot-8 giant Tim Sylvia (Pictures) for the UFC heavyweight crown.

Couture has not stepped back into the Octagon since his third-round pummeling of Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) at UFC 74 in August 2007.

"I'm certainly under time constraints too. I'm 45. I can't sit around in court rooms for very long. I want to fight."

See the original article at Sherdog.com by clicking here!

Rumors On Randy

I hope this doesn't end up turning out like the Chuch vs. Wandy fight where it took so long and people were looking forward to it so much that they lost their excitement. Well, once it came down to it, I guess I was excited as I could be for the Chuch Wandy fight. Anyway, here's some news I found. Enjoy.

Sources: Couture vs. Emelianenko targeted for early 2009
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Aug 30, 2008 at 5:30 pm ET
The long-rumored heavyweight superfight between UFC champion Randy Couture (16-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko (28-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is currently being discussed for an as-yet-unspecified date in January or February of 2009.

Sources inside Couture's Xtreme Couture camp today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the ongoing negotiations between the UFC and both fighters.

The fight is far from a done deal. Many of the same issues that prevented Emelianenko from signing with the UFC during previous negotiations must still be ironed out. But it appears that the UFC and representatives for both Couture and Emelianenko are working toward bringing the two legends together for a long-awaited bout.

Additionally, the same sources are reporting that Couture is currently "actively training for a fight."

Couture has remained in shape throughout his self-imposed 12-month layoff, but his workouts are now reportedly being geared toward an apparent upcoming bout.

Adding to previous speculation that Couture's return may be on Nov. 15 at UFC 91 against Brock Lesnar, Xtreme Couture is also reportedly making travel arrangements to bring in several "larger heavyweights" as sparring partners for Couture.

Sources indicate the Emelianenko bout is contingent upon Couture defeating Lesnar in November.

MMA Rated first reported the possibility of Emelianenko as Couture's second opponent after Lesnar. That report also stated that the UFC hopes to make an announcement regarding a new contract with Couture as early as Tuesday.

See the original post on MMAJunkie by clicking here!

Video: In The Gym with Brian McLaughlin

Video: In The Gym with Brian McLaughlin

Posted using ShareThis

GSP and His Riddum

Awwwwwww, yeeeeeeaaaaahh.

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Mandy Moore "Crushing Hard" on UFC Fighter Georges St-Pierre
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By Cathy Beers
May 2, 2008



Hollywood meets the Ultimate Fighting Championship. According to Star Magazine behind Mandy Moore's sweet-as-pie facade lies a fight fan and the " License to Wed" star has lots of reasons for taking in fight night. She has a very big crush on UFC fighter Georges St-Pierre, Star Magazine claims.

Mandy Moore "Crushing Hard" on UFC Fighter Georges St-Pierre (Image: Wenn)

According to the report, the singer and actress is crushing so hard on Georges St-Pierre, the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champ, that she often attends the 26-year-old's mixed martial arts bouts. She was in the crowd for UFC 83.


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At one UFC event in Montreal, "she was going crazy as Georges was beating his opponent," says an onlooker. "She was jumping up and down and having a great time." The two met up later - and not for the first time, says the insider.

"Georges was overheard saying that he would love to date her!" Mandy, 24, was last linked to actor-singer Greg Laswell.

Aoki Goes For A Carny!

...if that's how you spell it... I've never seen anyone in MMA go for it. I hope Karl reads this.




BTW, Aoki won by decision.

GSP Sets the MMA World Right Again.

See the original article here.

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St. Pierre Talks Win Over Serra
By Andy Cotterill

[4/22/2008] Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) spoke exclusively with Sherdog.com the day after his impressive second-round TKO over Matt Serra (Pictures) at UFC 83. With the win, St. Pierre reclaimed the belt that Serra had taken from him in his first title defense in April 2007.

"Yesterday was the most beautiful day of my life," St. Pierre said, his voice still raspy and full of happiness. "Everything worked out perfectly, and it is a dream come true."

To get the win, St. Pierre employed a very solid wrestling game that allowed him to stay on top of Serra and punish him with countless hard knees to the body. The style contrasted greatly to the standup that Serra had used so successfully the first time. Was St. Pierre worried the few times that Serra got back to his feet?

"No, I was in perfect control," he said. "My plan was to mix it up with him -- up and down and up and down to get him tired."

There had been some bad blood in the buildup to the bout, but after the win St. Pierre, now 16-2, was quick to praise his opponent. In fact, he pleaded with the Montreal crowd to treat Serra like a gentleman. St. Pierre acknowledged that any animosity that may have existed is now gone.

"He's not a friend because I would never fight a friend," St. Pierre said. "He's an acquaintance. How do you say … a ‘buddy.' Somebody that I respect in the sport."

St. Pierre was also very thankful to the Montreal crowd, whom he called the "noisiest I had ever heard in my life." During the pre-fight warm-up, he couldn't hear the crowd because he was deep within the bowels of the Bell Centre. However, St. Pierre said he felt the trembling in the walls.

"The place was shaking," he remarked.

Surprising perhaps to those who think fighters live like rock stars, St. Pierre only spent a short time at his after-party. The 26-year-old Quebecer's real celebration? A meal at McDonalds and an early trip to bed.

"That's because the stress of the fight makes you tired," he said.

Most followers of MMA agree that contender Jon Fitch (Pictures) will likely get the first crack at St. Pierre, followed possibly by Thiago Alves (Pictures), but only UFC brass knows who will be the Canadian's next foe. If the decision has already been made, St. Pierre doesn't want to know.

"They are both tough fighters, and I don't know yet," he said. "And I don't even want to know until one week, at least."

In the meantime, St. Pierre jetted to the Bahamas Sunday evening for four days in the surf and sun with friends and family. After that it's back to the gym, where he'll help Keith Jardine (Pictures) get ready for his May 24 meeting with Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) in Las Vegas.

Is that too little time to relax after such a lengthy training session and a big fight?

"My friend," St. Pierre said, "that's what I like to do with my life."

Fedor Carries the Olympic Torch

Sit on that, Sean Hannity.

Fedor Carries Olympic Torch in St. Petersburg
By Evgeni Kogan

[4/9/2008] In a traditional lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, the Olympic torch touched down in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday before heading off to England and France, continuing its world tour.

The torch was taken along a 12-mile route through the wide streets and boulevards of the historical river city by a relay of 80 Russian sporting champions, cultural icons and national heroes.

After starting at the Soviet World War II memorial, it passed Petropavlovsk Fortress and St. Isaac's Cathedral before finally arriving at the Palace Square in front of the State Hermitage Museum -- the setting for the beginning of the 1918 Communist Revolution.

The first carrier of the torch was Galina Zybina, 77, an Olympic shot put gold medalist at the 1952 Games, the first year that the Soviet Union took part in the competition. Zybina was a survivor of the 900-day German blockade of the city during World War II, during which approximately 2 million of the residents died from a lack of food and the harsh Russian winters.

The ceremony to light the torch was conducted by city governor Valentina Matvienko, flanked by soldiers in period uniforms and serenaded by a military orchestra. Zybina's starting of the relay was said to be "deeply symbolic."

Former Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) also carried the torch, and for the sport of mixed martial arts in Russia, it is perhaps also deeply symbolic that he was asked to participate.

The public profile of MMA has been rising steadily throughout the last 10 years, particularly in St. Petersburg due to the city being a base for the Red Devil Club and a continuing host of the M-1 Mixfight events.

Nationalism is a very important part of the Russian culture and psyche. Though its uptake of popular culture is on par with any Western country, Russia still holds in very high regard its national victories. The whole country, young and old, celebrates a variety of war and peacetime achievements.

Under a bright blue spring sky, Fedor, wearing an official Beijing Olympics training shirt and sporting the number 42, carried the torch alongside such national heroes as Zybina, Olympic figure skater Evgeni Plushenko, St. Petersburg soccer star Andrei Arshavin and the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova.

"The Olympics is the pinnacle of sporting achievement, and the torch is the game's symbol," said Emelianenko, who on Tuesday told Sherdog.com he'll fight Tim Sylvia (Pictures) this July. "It's therefore a treasure. I was very honored to be asked to participate and carry the torch for my part of its journey with such accomplished company, including a great number of world-class athletes, whom I hold in very high regard."

The carriers in each country were chosen by each nation's Olympic Committee representatives along with local authorities. The 31-year-old Emelianko's participation is perhaps the strongest sign yet of the sporting establishment's acceptance of MMA.

This is particularly interesting in Russia, where MMA does not have the broad audience it enjoys in the United States or Japan. That's not to say it is unknown. There is "Boets," a television channel dedicated to the fighting arts and, famously, Russian President Vladimir Putin is a big fan. However there aren't significant gate numbers, events are few and far between and pay-per-view does not exist.

This isn't only the case with MMA. All Russian professional sports have a long way to go before they are commercialized to the level that the United States enjoys.

Hence MMA in Russia has not forced itself on mainstream sporting consciousness purely through its economic might and the media presence that follows it. It has quietly done its own thing, appealing to the country's grass roots combat sports fans, slowly gaining acceptance and a following.

Sean Hannity and MMA

...and I'm not a fan of his brand of entertainment. I am a conservative, and I can't stand this guy. This video goes right along with the previous one I posted featuring Bill O'Rielly spewing the same kind of crap.

Listen... people get paralyzed playing hockey and football. You don't see people rushing to take their kids out of these sports, do you? If you can't handle seeing kids do MMA then don't fucking watch it.

However, I am sick of people like Sean Hannity and Bill O'Rielly (I can't stand either one of them honestly; I'm a Rush fan and Sean, who comes on right after Rush, simply can't compete. I'm sure he doesn't feel too bad about this; no one can compete with Rush), with whom I'd love to agree on so many things, spout off nonesense and do what they can to hurt the image of a sport that millions love and practice.

Sean, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt by thinking that you're not dumb enough to truly believe what you say about MMA. More likely you've simply found something else upon which you can go off because you think your audience will like hearing you bad mouth something they don't like. Well, guess what? I'm a conservative, and I like MMA. Yes, McCain has my vote but his previously stated positions on MMA are based on what the sport was and not what it is. Today those positions are wrong, and so are you. Stop bashing the sport I love.

Frank Edgar Makes Sherdog's Top 10 List!

See the rankings here! The NorthEast is bringing up some bad men.

UFC: Nemesis, and other UFC stuff

Just as I, and pretty much everyone else that I knew, had predicted, George St. Pierre beat Matt Hughes to become the Interim Welterweight Champion of the UFC. I still think the world of Matt Hughes, but St. Pierre is something different. Again, big respect to Hughes, but he said it best: "He's a better fighter." That was one slick armbar, George. You dominated the takedown game. My coach decided that in the next day's wrestling class we were going to be going over the simple knee pick that you did, and I love it. And once again, that was one slick kimura to armbar transition. I loved it!

The Liddell vs. Silvia fight was everything it was supposed to be but for some reason, now that I'm not in the middle of watching the fight, the excitement of the whole thing was kinda overboard. I mean, I was into it because Cliff was going to be into it no matter what. Plus he had had a few beers, heh. Anyway, we were watching the fights at Big John's house and Cliff and I were watching in separate rooms because there were too many people there to be watching in the same room. When Chuck vs. Wandy came on, I had to switch rooms to watch with him...I just had to. Anyway, I'm glad I did because Cliff was the reason I got pumped up during the fight. His yelling and screaming prompted me to yell and scream, and without him to get me into it, I would likely have been disappointed. I mean, honestly: that was a boxing by guys with little gloves who don't look like they box very well. The hype would have been lost on me if it weren't for Cliff. Moving on...

So those are the only important thoughts of mine about that night. The bigger thing is that now, according to the story on Sherdog.com, is that Serra's back will be healed up for a fight with GSP in Montreal on April 19th, at the Belle Center. Cliff and I may make plans to go to this one. I'm thinking that even if we go, we could save hundreds on the UFC tickets and watch at a local bar. I'm hoping everyone in Montreal will be watching. Hopefully, we'll also get into GSP's afterparty. Because he will win.

R.I.P Sammy Vasquez

The entire MMA community has suffered a great loss, but none so great as the Vasquez family. Condolences to the friends and family of Sammy. Read the article on Sherdog.com.

Ring of Combat XVII

Q: 20-25 people sat in a car for a round trip of around 8 hours for a minute and ten seconds worth of action?

A: You're damned right we did.

Be ye warned: This video will take several minutes to load. If you're that interested, go do something else and come back in a few.



There were many other fights on the card, but I'm not going to post anything concerning any of them. Congratulations to Brian for winning the Ring of Combat Beasts of the NorthEast lightweight tournament! Below are some pictures that came after the fight. Enjoy!

Mon Oreille

I'm done seeing the doc for now with regard to my ear. He did say that he wanted to see me in a month or so just to check up on it, but he's happy that it's as drained as it's going to get and it isn't infected. Infected has an entirely new meaning to me now since I've been watching 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. Great movies, although certainly not for the squeamish.

Anyway, the ear seems to be as good as it's going to get. The Doc says that I'm good to start working out again, but doesn't want me doing any sort of heavy lifting. As far as returning to the mat goes, he definitely doesn't want it getting hit or rubbed. After the slicing I went through my ear is so damned sore and throbbing that I whole heartedly agree with him. I may go to jiu jitsu just for the instruction, but I'm certainly not going to be doing any rolling for a while. Anyway, that's my blogging update for today. Be safe out there...

Cauliflower Ear

So, I just had the nastiest case of ear madness so far. My father who is an E.R. tech at Vassar Hospital took a look at it after I asked him if he could drain it for me (I've never done it before, and I also don't have needles or syringes with which to do it), and he said "I'm not touching that." I didn't really think that it was that big of a deal, but he convinced me to come into the ER to get a referral to an eye/ear/nose/throat guy. So I did, hoping that they would just drain it there and I wouldn't have to go through the entire referral process and all. When I got the cut on the back of my head, the guy who put the staples in for me was into martial arts; I was hoping to get him as my doctor and have him treat me, but that wasn't the case. I did see him, and he was morbidly impressed. I was hoping that he'd tell the doctor I had that he'd do it himself if my doc wasn't confident about it, but even he told me that he wasn't going to mess with it either.

Anyway, I guess I can understand it...along with all the fluid built up in there, I was loosing circulation. I didn't realize it, but parts of my ear were turning white, and other parts still had bruising. There was swelling that not only wasn't going down, was getting worse. I met my Dad for his birthday dinner on Sunday evening, and met him again when I went into the ER Monday night. He noted that the swelling was worse, and I hadn't been training at all in between. The swelling had increased, and was cutting off circulation. Crap.

So, today I went to the specialist and he wouldn't drain the damn thing either...he sliced my ear open in three different places. He put holes in my ear! He then proceeded to wrap my head in gauze as tightly as he possibly could; he had put some stuff in the cuts he had made so that they wouldn't close and the ear would continue to drain on its own. Great.

Now, I look like a Crypt or Blood who accidentally put his bandana in a bleach load. Obviously I can't train, but he warned me against sweating or showering, as this would make the bandaging fall apart. Also, increasing my heart rate would only bring more crap to my ear that would have to drain as well. This means I can't even go for a run if I want to.

So on Thanksgiving Day, I'll be meeting up with him in the morning to take off the bandages. No training, no running, no nothing. I really don't even want to go outside looking like this, heh. I do have plenty of homework to catch up so I'll be busy, but this really, really sucks.

Bill Mahood Loses Big Time

Basically what's going on here, is Bill Mahood got paid only $1,000 to fight and is being fined $2,500 for testing positive, along with a full year suspension. Not only that, but broken ribs and another loss. Classic.

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See the original article here.

From MMA Junkie:
The California State Athletic Commission has issued Bill Mahood a one-year suspension and $2,500 fine due to a failed drug test. Mahood suffered a first-round submission loss (due to a rib injury) to Bobby Southworth during a Sept. 29 Strikeforce show at the Playboy Mansion. Bill Douglas of the CSAC today stated Mahood tested positive for Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid. Mahood, a one-time UFC fighter, earned just $1,000 for the fight, according to paperwork filed with the CSAC.

Ring of Combat: Opponent for Brian McLaughlin?

For those who haven't heard, Eddie Fyvie had to pull out of his fight with Brian McLaughlin on October 26 due to a knee injury. As of last night when I last spoke to Brian, he didn't know who is opponent was, but he was sure that he was going to be provided one. The confusion lies where none of the fighters described as alternates in his contract are medically cleared to fight, as he understands right now.

Janicik Industries will keep you informed as to what's going on, as soon as we hear about it. Again, as of right now, Brian is fully anticipating a fight a week from Friday. See you all there!

Randy Leaves the UFC

First off, let me say that I'm a Randy fan - who isn't? But WTF, didn't you sign a contract? When you sign a contract you enter into a business relationship. If you sign the dotted line and agree to get paid X amount of dollars for X amount of fights, then that's what you do. If you start arguing about not getting paid enough money to fight, then its nothing but crying like a little kid who doesn't get his way. YOU signed the contract. Why would you expect to get whatever you want whenever you want? No, not even Captain America gets to do that. Your contract is your contract and you signed it. It is really none of your damn business what other people's contracts show.

The reason that seems more understandable to me for Randy having left is the fact that he won't likely be fighting Fedor. Randy wants to fight Fedor, fine. Fedor signs with M1, and now they can't fight. I can understand a fight with Fedor being one of the biggest reasons that Randy is still competing as a professional athlete at 44 years old. If that is what was driving me, I'd probably retire too.

Randy, please get off of the money and respect issues. You signed your contract, you agreed to the money. If a lack of respect is what you're calling Zuffa's lack of desire to pay you more than you agreed to, just stop it. Don't let your career end with an image like this. I hope we haven't heard the last of this issue.

For source links, see the sports column at the Janicik Report.