“Mayhem”” Miller Fighting Aaron Simpson in July 2nd UFC Return

Saturday, April 23, 2011

By FCF Staff

In a move that likely would have ignited plenty of discussion regarding the landscape of MMA, provided Strikeforce hadn’t recently been purchased by Zuffa, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced that it has signed Jason “Mayhem” Miller. In Miller’s Octagon return, the charismatic Strikeforce vet will take on renowned wrestler Aaron Simpson, July 2nd at UFC 132. (Pictured: Miller choking out Falaniko Vitale)

Miller (24-7) has gone 12-3 with 1 no contest, after losing by unanimous decision to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 52 in August, 2005. Since exiting from the UFC, the 30 year-old-middleweight has scored wins over notable fighters like Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy and most recently Kazushi Sakuraba, while competing for various organizations like Icon Sport, Strikeforce and Dream.

Over the last few years Miller has increased his profile substantially through hosting MTV’s “Bully Beatdown” reality program.

Simpson (8-2) is coming off a UD win over Mario Miranda at Fight Night 24 in March, after dropping back-to-back losses to Chris Leben and Mark Munoz. The 36 year-old, former All American wrestler, has also earned wins over Tim McKenzie, Tom Lawlor and Ed Herman while competing for the UFC.

UFC 132 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be headlined by a bantamweight bout between champion Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber in the main event.
READ MORE - “Mayhem”” Miller Fighting Aaron Simpson in July 2nd UFC Return

Bellator 42 Weigh-In Results

By FCF Staff; photo courtesy Bellator FC

Bellator Fighting Championships held the official weigh-ins yesterday in preparation for its forty-second event in Concho, Oklahoma tonight. The card, which will feature semi-finals from the promotion’s ongoing, light-heavyweight tourney, will be hosted by the Lucky Star Casino. (Pictured: Richard Hale submitting Nik Fekete)

Here are the official weigh-in results for Bellator 42. The card will be broadcasted live on MTV 2.

Light-Heavyweight Semifinals

Christian M’Pumbu (201.4 lbs.) vs. Tim Carpenter (205 lbs.)
D.J. Linderman (205 lbs.) vs. Richard “Rare Breed” Hale (205.2 lbs.)

Main Card

Josh Arocho (147.4 .lbs.)* vs. Ronnie Mann (145.6 lbs.)
Jerod Spoon (135.8 lbs.) vs. Luiz "Terrier" Nogueira (133.2 lbs.)

Undercard

Chris Bell (190.6 lbs.)* vs. Jared Hess (185.6 lbs.)
Owen Evinger (144.2 lbs.) vs. Brandon Shelton (145.8 lbs.)
Shane Howell (134.2 lbs.) vs. Mark Oshiro (135.6 lbs.)
Tracy Willis (226.5 lbs.) vs. Mark Holata (260.5 lbs.)

*Fighters who did not make weight have two hours to make weight
READ MORE - Bellator 42 Weigh-In Results

Line-Up for Bellator 44 Complete

Friday, April 22, 2011

By FCF Staff

Bellator Fighting Championships has completed the line-up for the promotion’s upcoming May 14th event in Atlantic City, which will be hosted by the city’s Caesars Hotel & Casino.

Today’s confirmations include lightweight Sam Orepeza (4-1) vs. judo black belt Giedrius Karavackas (4-1), featherweight Anthony Leone (8-2) vs. former TUF competitor Jeff Lentz (6-2), former WEC bantamweight Anthony Morrison (16-9) vs. Bryan Goldsby (13-13), heavyweight prospect Azunna "Zu" Anyanwu's debut vs. Randy Smith (11-7), and middleweight Jay Silva (6-4) vs. Armin Mrkanovic (2-0).

Bellator 44 will also feature middleweight champion Hector Lombard fighting Falaniko Vitale in a non title bout, the Season 4 lightweight tournament final between Michael Chandler and Patricky "Pitbull" Freire, as well as, Dan Hornbuckle versus former welterweight champ Lyman Good.

The event will be broadcast live on MTV 2.


READ MORE - Line-Up for Bellator 44 Complete

Robert Drysdale vs. Mike Nickels Confirmed for AFC 6

By FCF Staff

Renowned jiu-jitsu stylist Robert Drysdale will look to extend his pro MMA record to 3-0 against UFC veteran Mike Nickels. The British Columbia based promotion, Armageddon Fighting Championship, has announced that the two will meet at its upcoming June 18th, “Conviction” card, which will be hosted by Victoria’s Bear Mountain Arena.

Drysdale (pictured) has won both of his fights since he signed with the AFC last year. At AFC 3 last July, the 2007, ADCC Absolute Champion tapped out Bastien Huveneers with a first round, arm-triangle-choke, and more recently at AFC 4 in November, he submitted Clay Davidson in the opening round with an armbar.

Nickels (9-4) is coming off a first round, submission win over Kyle Seals in December, after dropping back-to-back bouts to Dwayne Lewis and Vinny Magalhaes. The former “Ultimate Fighter” competitor is 3-2 in his last five bouts.


READ MORE - Robert Drysdale vs. Mike Nickels Confirmed for AFC 6

New FCF Radio: TUF Review, UFC 129 Preview & Ivan Menjivar

On this episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio, host Jeff Meszaros and co-host James Kellaris banter about the latest episode of The Ultimate Fighter, where Brock Lesnar is in the running for worst coach in the history of the show.  Who is the only man keeping Lesnar out of first place for last place?  Listen and find out.  Hint: it involves hard sparring and birthday cake.  Who would play the role of Lesnar if The Ultimate Fighter was a movie?  What about Junior Dos Santos?  Hint: someone is played by Zach Galifianakas.  As you can guess, we go off on a few tangents this week, but it is all highly relevant, we promise.  Has Lesnar done enough to warrant nearly an hour of chatter about his poor coaching skills and bizarre usage of seemingly out-of-date and mildly insulting catch-phrases?  Did he learn how to speak by watching Al Pacino movies and hanging out with old farmers?  It's an interesting possibility.  Speaking of possibilities, what is going to happen when Georges St. Pierre clashes with Jake Shields next weekend?  Or what about Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami at the UFC in Rio De Janerio, Brazil?  Which country is more likely to riot if their hometown hero loses?  The answer might shock you. 

Hold on, home slice.  We're just getting warmed up as we welcome Ivan Menjivar (pictured) to the show to chat about his upcoming fight in the UFC.  Hear all about "The Pride of El Salvador" and his upcoming match, plus get his opinions on the rest of the card.  For someone so nice, he sure is opinionated!  But that's good, because so are we, dammit.  All this, plus a passing reference to cats watching the Northern Lights.  If that's not enough, you're just unpleasable.

To check out the show click here.
READ MORE - New FCF Radio: TUF Review, UFC 129 Preview & Ivan Menjivar

After Year without Fighting, Nick Denis Set to Return in May

Thursday, April 21, 2011

By Kelsey Mowatt; photo credit World Victory Road

After winning back-to-bouts to close out 2009, the 2010 campaign for Nick Denis did not go accordingly to plan, as the bantamweight competed just once at Sengoku Raiden Championship 12 in March, before incurring year ending injuries. After having a busy, four fight campaign in 2009, however, Denis conceded to FCF that there were some positives that stemmed from his injuries, rather than just negatives.

“I was injured last year, March 2010,” said Denis, who hasn’t fought since he was submitted by Yuji Hoshino at SRC 12. “I had a sprained ankle and compressed nerve in my neck - all from the same sparring session. I couldn't even lift 15 pounds over my head with my right arm. I had to take time off, do physio, and let my body heal. It was good at first cause I could live a 'normal' life, have some beers. I drove across the country, enjoyed life outside of MMA. Today my health is one hundred percent.”

While some fighters are concerned about developing ring rust after going months without fighting, Denis clearly believes that maintaining both physical and mental health, are of much more value.

“Meh, it hasn't been that frustrating really,” said Denis, while discussing whether or not he grew frustrated with his predicament and the prospect of developing ring rust. “There are pros and cons. I enjoyed my time off and now enjoy training full time and getting back at it. I am definitely not worried about ring rust. We go hard here in training, always with really great guys. I think taking some time off sometimes is good for you. Whether my last fight was a month ago or a year ago, I always have the same mindset when I'm ready to fight.”

Now having finally recovered, Denis will make his return at MMA Live’s upcoming premiere event, which will take place May 16th, at London, Ontario’s John Labatt Centre. Denis (9-2) will square off with WEC veteran Kyle Dietz (5-2), who hasn’t fought since December, 2009, when he was tapped out by the veteran Brad Pickett.

 I think there was talk about getting fights in Ontario starting around late March. Robin Black originally approached me, and worked everything out. At this point
“What I know about Kyle Dietz is that he is a part of my plan to get myself to the UFC,” said Denis, when asked what he knows about his upcoming opponent and how he is preparing for the fight. “There is a plan in place and I am going to work hard at achieving it. I moved to Montreal to train under Firas Zahabi at Tristar, as well as Howard Grant at Grant Brothers Boxing. I'm also working with Jonathan Chaimberg for my conditioning. There are tons and tons of great guys out here to train with everyday, so it has been really great. I plan to fight as often as possible once I get back in the ring next month.”

The upcoming MMA Live 1 card is just one of many MMA events that have been scheduled to take place in Ontario this year, after the Province finally signed off on the sport last year. For Denis, who before relocating to Montreal lived in Ottawa, getting the chance to finally compete in the Province is an exciting event.

“I think there was talk about getting fights in Ontario starting around late March,” Denis mentioned when asked how he came to signing with the Jones Entertainment Group that is promoting MMA Live 1. “Robin Black originally approached me, and worked everything out. At this point I am not sure if it is a multi-fight deal or not, but we do have plans to do multiple fights with MMA Live.”

“I am excited for Ontario to finally be regulated and legal,” added Denis. “There are a ton of new promotions starting up there, and I think it's great for fighters to get more opportunities to get fights close to home. On the other side, from what I've heard the medicals seem a bit more annoying and strict.”




READ MORE - After Year without Fighting, Nick Denis Set to Return in May

Yasubey Enomoto Replaces Rashid Magomedov at M-1 Challenge XXV

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

By FCF Staff; photo courtesy Iron Forges Iron

M-1 Global has announced today that it has signed Sengoku veteran Yasubey Enomoto to an exclusive contract, and that the Swiss fighter will step in for the injured Rashid Magomedov, at the promotion’s upcoming April 28th event. Enomoto will make his promotional debut against welterweight champion Shamil Zavurov at M-1 Challenge XXV, which will take place in St.Petersburg, Russia.

"M-1 is extremely excited about this signing. Yasubey Enomoto is proving himself as a rising prospect in the sport and has been facing top-tier competition,” said M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan in the official announcement. “With Magomedov’s unfortunate withdrawal, we offered the title shot to Enomoto based on his credibility and legitimacy as top contender and he was quick to accept. The stylistic differences between Zavurov and Enomoto make a combination for a highly explosive fight.”

The 27 year-old Enomoto (6-2) is coming off a submission loss to Keita Nakamura at Sengoku’s “Soul of Fight” event in December, after the decorated kickboxer won three straight fights with the promotion.

Here is the line-up to date for M-1 Challenge XXV, which will be streamed live on the official M-1 Global website.

M-1 Challenge XXV Main Card (Streaming Live):

Maxim Grishin (7-5) vs. Vladimir Kuchenko (4-8-1) Heavyweight

Mikhail Zayats (13-5) vs. Malik Merad (10-6) Light Heavyweight

Arsen Temirkhanov (8-1) vs. Juanma Suarez (6-0) Welterweight

Murad Magomedov (6-6) vs. Ramzan Algeriev (1-0)   Middleweight

Alexander Volkov (10-3) vs. Denis Goltsov (2-2) Heavyweight

Alexander Yakovlev (10-3)  vs. Christian Eckerlin (6-0) Welterweight

Andrei Semenov (29-9-2) vs. Luigi Fioravanti (22-8) Middleweight

Additional bouts to be announced

Welterweight Championship Bout:

Shamil Zavurov, M-1 Challenge Champion (19-1) vs. Yasubey Enomoto (6-2)

Light Heavyweight Championship Bout:

Vinny Magalhaes (7-5) vs. Viktor Nemkov (10-2) for vacant title
READ MORE - Yasubey Enomoto Replaces Rashid Magomedov at M-1 Challenge XXV