Thiago Santos Accepts Responsibility For Missing Weight, Apologizes To Bellator Officials


Bellator Fighting Championships heavyweight Thiago Santos (10-1 MMA, 2-0 BFC) claims he is a changed man.

After making the trip from the U.S. back to his native Brazil, Santos has reflected on his Bellator 62 weight gaffe, and "Big Monster" takes full responsibility.

While Santos' camp was initially critical of Bellator brass, the fighter and his team now admit not making weight is nobody's fault but their own. And while the mistake cost Santos a chance to fight for Bellator's heavyweight belt, he's positive it will never happen again.

"First, I'd like to apologize to the entire Bellator team, to my fans and to MTV2," Santos told MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com) in his native Portuguese. "I take responsibility for my error and promise that starting today, all will see a new Thiago 'Big Monster.'

"I thought I could cut weight two weeks in a row. I didn't manage to do it. I tried everything but couldn't lose a single gram."

Santos earned his way into Bellator's season-five tournament final with impressive submission wins over Neil Grove and Josh Burns. He then faced Eric Prindle in the finals of the tourney only to see the fight end in a no-contest after kicking his opponent in the groin. The controversial ending set up a rematch at Bellator 61, but that fight was delayed one week when Prindle was stricken with "flu-like symptoms."

Santos then failed to make weight for the rescheduled rematch at this past Friday night's Bellator 62 event, he was pulled from the fight, and his opponent was awarded a season-five tournament victory.

Santos' manager, Josef Borges, initially put some of the blame on the promotion, claiming that the need to cut weight in two-consecutive weeks made it impossible for his client. However, now that he's had a chance to reflect, Borges is also changing his tune.

"I would like to publicly request Bellator's forgiveness," Borges said. "I was emotionally stunned by all that took place. Thiago arrived from his trip home and spoke to me. He helped me see that the blame for what happened is ours only.

"Bellator has always treated Thiago well, and Thiago had every chance to become the champion. As such, I withdraw my previous statements and apologize to Bellator. I admit our error, and we'll make changes to make sure it does not happen again."

Santos currently walks around at more than 300 pounds and cuts to the heavyweight limit of 265. However, after this incident, he's going to trim down in an effort to avoid future issues. He also promises to make Bellator proud of their decision not to release him from his contract.

"Starting now, I'll follow the advice of my manager Josef Borges and my teacher Cezar 'Casquinha' Guimaraes, and I'll remain at 118 kilograms (260 pounds) for my next bouts," Santos said. "I wish to thank Sam Caplan, who took good care of me and gave me his full support. Thank you, Sam.

"I wish to put an end to all controversy. I admit my guilt and exempt Bellator. I received good advice from my team, but I did not listen, so I wish to publicly admit my error, and I ask for the forgiveness of the fans and others I've disappointed. I promise to do things differently going forward.

"I owe a debt to Bellator and plan to pay it with exciting fights. I hope they call me to fight soon because I'll be very motivated."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28029/thiago-santos-accepts-responsibility-for-missing-weight-apologizes-to-bellator-officials.mma

Bellator 62 Ratings Up 61 Percent, Event Scores 175,000 MTV2 Viewers


After one of its worst weeks ever, ratings rebounded for the latest Bellator event.

This past weekend's Bellator 62 show averaged 175,000 MTV2 viewers, which was a 61 percent increase over the 108,000 viewers who tuned in a week prior for the lowly-rated Bellator 61.

MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the figures with industry sources.

To date, MTV2 has aired 28 Bellator events. A week ago, Bellator 61 outdrew only Bellator 53, which drew 103,000 viewers this past October.

Bellator 62, which got the organization back in the normal range for ratings, took place at Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. In addition to the MTV2-televised main card, prelims streamed live on Spike.com. Although officials don't reveal the total number of viewers, Bellator 62's streaming audience more than doubled (up 110 percent) compared to the previous week, an official told MMAjunkie.com.

Bellator 62, which was the third show of Bellator's sixth season, featured the opening round of an eight-man lightweight tournament. The star of the show was Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard, who scored an upset of tourney favorite Patricio "Pitbull" Freire in the night's headliner (which replaced a scratched Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle main event). In addition to Woodard, Brent Weedman, Rick Hawn and Thiago Michel also won at Bellator 62 and advanced to the tourney's semifinal round, which takes place next month at Bellator 66 in Cleveland.

Bellator's Friday-night competition, "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" on FX, also saw a ratings increase. "TUF: Live" saw its audience increase slightly from 1.1 million viewers to 1.2 million this week. Like the UFC's reality show, Bellator again faced heavy competition from the NCAA men's basketball tournament on Friday night.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/27996/bellator-62-ratings-up-61-percent-event-scores-175000-mtv2-viewers.mma

Bellator Fighting Championships Signs Brazilian Heavyweight Vinicius Queiroz


Brazilian giant Vinicius Queiroz (5-2 MMA, 0-0 BFC) is the latest addition to the Bellator Fighting Championships roster.

MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed with sources close to the promotion that "Spartan" has agreed to a deal with the promotion and could make his Bellator debut in an upcoming season-six event.

A member of Brazil's famed Chute Boxe academy, Queiroz hasn't fought since a UFC 120 loss to Rob Broughton in October 2010.

The 6-foot-7 Queiroz has never fought in the U.S. He competed six times in his native Brazil before signing with the UFC in 2010. He then competed at UFC 120, which took place in London, where he was dominating Broughton before ultimately slowing in the final frame and succumbing to a come-from-behind submission.

Following the loss, Queiroz tested positive for the banned substance Stanozolol and was released by the promotion.

All five of Queiroz's career wins have come via knockout, including four in the opening round.

Queiroz's first appearance for the promotion has yet to be determined.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28045/bellator-fighting-championships-signs-brazilian-heavyweight-vinicius-queiroz.mma

Bellator 63: Amassou vs Lozano Live Blog And Play By Play


As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Bellator 63. Our live coverage will start with MTV 2 broadcast (8 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. We will not be doing play-by-play of the undercard, but you can discuss those fights in the comments as well.

The Welterweights get into action tonight with the opening of the Bellator 170 lb tournament. The card is headlined by the quarterfinal match featuring Chris Lozano (9-2), an Ohio based fighter who lost to last year's winner of the Welterweight tourney. In his way is the French Judoka "Psycho" Karl Amoussou (13-4-2).

Just before the main event Bloody Elbow community member and UFC veteran Ben Saunders (12-4) will faced off against the undefeated Raul Amaya (9-0). Another undefeated prospect David Rickels (9-0) will take on short notice replacement Jordan Smith (17-2), who got the call when UFC veteran Brian Foster failed him medical exam.

The first match of the night will be between Brazilian Carlos Alexandre Pereira (33-9) and Bellator veteran Bryan Baker (16-3), who is dropping down from Middleweight to take part in the welterweight tournament.

Join me here in the comments and let's have a rollicking good time tonight.



Ben Saunders vs Raul Amaya

Season 6 Welterweight Quarterfinal

Ok getting things started with BE favorite Ben Saunders facing undefeated prospect Raul Amaya. Saunders is the much taller and experienced fighter.

Round 1: Ben gives a BE shout out and the bell is rung. Saunders throws a kick, Amaya clinches and has Saunders against the cage. Saunders defends the single leg by working for a kimura. Saunders has the arm but can't get it behind Amaya's back. Saunders lets it go and gets an underhook and throws a nasty knee. Now it is Amaya against the cage, Saunders looking to work knees. Another big knee and Amaya goes for another single, Saunders sweeps him over with a kimura and is in Amaya's guard. Amaya gives up his back and Saunders has him turtled. Saunders keeping weight on Amaya and kneeing to the body. Amaya trying to stand, Saunders keeps the ground and pound coming. Amaya stands and Saunders has him against the cage again and the knees keep coming. Amaya keeps driving for takedowns and Saunders defending well. Saunders steps over trying to take the back, as Amaya rolls out Saunders goes for an armbar. Saunders goes belly down, as Amaya attempts to roll out and rolls right into a triangle. The bell rings right as Amaya escapes and attempts to move to side control. Awesome round. Saunders 10-9

Round 2: Amaya comes out with a straight right hand, Saunders slips and they clinch. Amaya drives Saunders back to the cage and eats a knee that buckles him. Amaya drops for single leg, attempts to come up to take the back. Saunders gets an underhook and lands another big knee that drops Amaya. Saunders takes the back, goes for armbar but ends up in guard. Saunders escapes back to standing, Amaya driving for that double leg and gets Saunders down. Saunders goes for a triangle and now working for omoplata and back to triangle. Saunders locks up the triangle deep, Amaya swings his leg over and sits back to escape triangle and after scramble he is back in Saunder's guard. Amaya able to stand, strike and move to north-south but Saunders gets him back to guard. Big right hand inside guard by Amaya. Saunders locks up body triangle from the guard and moves in for another armbar. Amaya rolls out and back into guard. Big strikes from the top by Amaya, Saunders pulls him down and playing rubber guard. Amaya starting to pass and Saunders throws little strikes as bell rings. Saunders 10-9

Round 3: Saunders stalking Amaya at the start of the round. Amaya throwing wild hooks, tagging Saunders hard and slips, in a scramble Saunders gets on top. Saunders mounts, attempts a triangle and now working for kimura. Amaya escapes and takes Saunders' back, Killer B rolls to mount and gives up his back again. Saunders grabs Amaya's head and rolls him over into guard. Saunders in halfguard now, Amaya escapes to his knees and Saunders takes the back. Saunders locks on body triangle from the back and looking to choke throwing strikes to try to create space. Amaya goes belly down and is eating strikes, the ref is taking a close look. Amaya rolls to mount to stay alive, Saunders looks for a keylock. Amaya attempts a buck escape but gives up back. Amaya is running on fumes at this point and Saunders is clearly in control. Amaya's left eye has swollen shut, our first good look at it. Saunders 10-9

Official Decision: Ben Saunders defeats Raul Amaya by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Ben Saunders advances to the semi-final round.


David Rickels vs Jordan Smith

Season 6 Welterweight Quarterfinal

Prospect Rickels taking on Jordan Smith, who took the place of Brian Foster on short notice. The MTV2 ads between fights have actually made me miss the old Spike Blue Mountain State ads, which is something I never thought I'd say.

Round 1: Fighters touch gloves and trade leg kicks. Rickels lands a hard hook that wobbles Smith. Rickels runs him down, landing punches. Smith collapses as Rickels lands more punches as the ref steps in to stop the fight. Rickels wins by TKO.

Official Decision: David Rickels defeats Jordan Smith via TKO at 0:22 of Round 1

David Rickels advances to semi-final round.


Carlos Alexandre Pereira vs Bryan Baker

Season 6 Welterweight Quarterfinal

Going to be very interested in seeing how Baker looks at 170 lbs as he is a pretty thickly built guy and the cut could have an affect on his gas tank.

Round 1: Pereira takes the center of the cage as Baker circles on the outside. Baker throwing kicks from the outside, Pereira throws a hard outside leg kick. Baker switches stances and throws a sidekick and another outside leg kick from Pereira. Baker shoots in on another outside leg kick, Pereira uses a whizzer to defend and gets slammed. Baker on top in halfguard. Pereira gets a nice reversal, Baker backs up to cage and attempting to wall walk back to his feet. Peieira throwing big punches as Baker stands. Baker using a closed stance and throwing side kicks, Pereira throws a head kick that is just barely blocked. Another side kick from Baker and another outside leg kick from Pereira. Baker hit hard on the way in by a right hand, Pereira goes for a headlock choke, but Baker backs out. Baker holding the Brazilian against the cage, and Pereira throws Baker. Baker scrambles back to feet and they are clinched again against the cage. Baker throwing short knees to the thighs as the bell rings. Close round but I give the nod to the Brazilian. Pereira 10-9

Round 2: Baker keeping his distance early, Pereira working that lead leg again with the outside kick. Baker throwing more thai kicks now instead of side kicks. Now Baker is throwing side kicks to knee and face. Another leg kick landed by Pereira, and he lunges forward with punches. Back in the center Baker lunges in to clinch, Baker goes for throw but Pereira uses whizzer to stand. Strong knee from Baker drops Brazilian. Leg kick by Baker this time. Baker is slowing down slightly on the outside. Weak leg kick by Baker as Pereira is content to counter. Now Pereria pushes forward with punches. They are standing at range, but Periera is starting to control distance with those leg kicks. Baker shoots in for takedown right into an uppercut. Periera turns Baker over and into guard, Baker going for an armbar but Pereira posturing up well. Baker uses the omoplata sweep to escape to the feet as the bell rings. Baker was the more active fighter that round but Pereira the more effective. Pereira 10-9

Round 3: Baker staying on the outside again and Pereira throws another outside leg kick. Baker lunges in and eats a hard counter right hand and then another leg kick. More leg kicks from the Brazilian as Baker throws measuring jabs. Pereira pushing forward with hooks, Baker pushes him away with a hard jab and then an inside leg kick. Pereira lands two leg kicks to the lead leg. Spinning back kick catches Baker in the midsection. Baker getting a second wind as he pushes forward with combinations, clinches and goes for a hip toss. Pereira refuses to be taken down and they battle in the clinch. Baker has double underhooks, slips around to back and attempts to slam but Pereira hooks the leg to stop the slam. Another slam attempt and Pereira catches himself. Now Brazilian working for a kimura from clinch as Baker kneess the legs. Pereira gets the hands connected for kimura but ref separates them. Baker throwing from outside again and drives in for a takedown. Baker gets side control, traps the arm and starts landing punches. This round Pereira did next to nothing while Baker was clearly generating offense. Baker 10-9

Official Decision: Bryan Baker defeats Carlos Alexandre Pereira by Split Decision (29-28 Baker, 29-28 Pereira, 29-28 Baker)

Brian Baker advances to semi-final round.


Chris Lozano vs "Psycho" Karl Amoussou

Season 6 Welterweight Quarterfinal

Round 1: The fighters jaw a little at the center of the as the ref goes over the rules, this is going to be a war. Both fighters come out with intensity on their faces. Amoussou takes the center of the cage and fighters are trying to find their distance. Amoussou throwing kicks from range, Lozano is waiting. Amoussou lands an head kick to Lozano's face, who charges forward and takes the French man down. Amoussou gets a sweep from the guard and takes the back. Amoussou throwing strikes and as Lozano attempts to roll out, Amoussou locks on rear naked choke. Lozano taps as the choke sinks in deep. Karl Amoussou defeats Chris Lozano by Rear Naked Choke.

Official Decision: Karl Amoussou defeats Chris Lozano by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:05 of Round 1

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/3/30/2914802/bellator-63-amassou-vs-lozano-live-blog-and-play-by-play

Ben Saunders: 'The Saunders/Lima Rematch Is A Very High Possibility'


With Bellator 63 just a few more hours away, the quarterfinals of the welterweight tourney will be kicked off with some great matches. Of particular interest is the one between Raul Amaya and crowd favorite, Ben Saunders. With his last fight but a distant memory, Saunders hopes to get back on track in impressive fashion. I recently got a quick interview with Ben, and was able to get his thoughts going into this season's tournament.

SD: What do you know about your opponent?

BS: I don't really know too much about him. He seems like a brawling wrestler, so I'm going to be watching out for overhand rights and the takedown, for the most part.

SD: With this being Amaya's first fight on a big stage, how big a factor do you think cage jitters or stage fright will be for him?

BS: There's no doubt in my mind that this is going to be the fight of his life, and the fight of his career. Not only that it's the biggest stage for him, but I'm definitely going to be the biggest name and most experienced fighter he's ever gone against. Hopefully his training camp went well and prepared for me so we can get out there and put on a show for the fans.

SD: What do you like best about Bellator?

BS: I love Bellator. They're 100% top notch, and they treat me well. To be honest, I love their cage. I think their cage, and above all, their canvas and flooring is the best there is. The grip that I get on it...I just feel that their cage is the best that I've ever fought in.

SD: With most MMA fighters, their ultimate goal is to get into the UFC or get back into it's fold, but you seem to have found a really comfortable groove with Bellator. Is it not so much a priority as it once was for you to find your way back to the UFC?

BS: When i first started with Bellator, I wasn't sure what direction I was going to be going in or how I felt. Now, I've been with them for so long, and they've treated me so well, that at this point, I'm 100% down to work and stay with Bellator. I'm only getting older, so when I look at it, and ask myself what's really relevant, and what's really important, and that's being able to make a living. Being able to pay my bills. I'm able to do that with Bellator, and I'm down to build and grow with them.

You just never know. I can't be stupid enough or naive enough to not look at the what ifs of potential career ending injuries that could plague me down the road. I'm living in the now, and just doing the best I can to create a financial plan for myself for when my career starts to go a little downhill, or when I start losing my prime.

SD: How do you think you'd do in rematches against the guys you lost to, and is it important to you to avenge your losses?

BS: As far as the Lima fight goes, I felt I won the first round, and the second round, we both threw for the fences, and his landed. It is what it is. But hell, I'm always down to defend any of my losses. I expect him to win the title, and I'm expecting myself to win the tournament, so the Saunders/Lima rematch is a very high possibility. That fight doesn't get to me as much as the others, because it was a competitive match that I felt I was winning. We both put it all on the line, and it's something that I believe anybody can look at and say, 'Hey, on any given day, either one of those guys could have won that fight, in any kind of fashion.'

As far as the other three rematches, without a doubt, I know, for sure, that I could win. I felt that I wasn't able to showcase my skill and my talent, the way I was able to with Lima. With these fights, there's no doubt in my mind that I didn't perform to my abilities, and I think a rematch with those guys would be 100% different.

Everybody that I've ever lost to has had more experience and more fights than me. I think that has been a big factor that worked out well for them, because they put the time into their career and their skills to get to where they are. At this point in time, in my career, I've done the exact same thing. I feel I'm kind of breaking into my prime now, and I believe that I have the confidence and skills to finish anybody in a rematch.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/3/30/2913756/ben-saunders-bellator-interview-lima-rematch

After Bellator Tourney Win, 'Cupcake' Woodard's No. 1 Desire Is Chandler Rematch


MMA super fan Lloyd Woodard thinks Michael Chandler is a swell guy – a talented fighter, a hard worker and a great representative of the sport.

But following a weekend win over Patricky "Pitbull" Freire and now two more tournament victories away from a rematch with the Bellator lightweight champion, Woodard has a single goal.

"I want to beat him up really bad," he told MMAjunkie.com Radio (http://www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "The No. 1 thing I want to do in life right now is beat up Mike Chandler."

Woodard (12-1 MMA, 2-1 BFC) took the first of three steps toward that opportunity when he submitted season-six lightweight-tournament tourney favorite Freire (10-3 MMA, 3-2 BFC) in a dazzling performance at this past weekend's Bellator 62 event on MTV2. Woodard traded fire in a grueling back-and-forth first round before submitting the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with a crippling kimura in the second. (Watch the Woodard vs. Freire fight.)

Before the bout, Woodard told Chandler the fight would play out that way.

"I talked to him, and I told him, 'I'm going to put it on him, and I think he's going to break, and when he breaks, I'm going to be on top of him,'" Woodard said. "And that's how it happened. That's how I want to fight everyone from now on."

Woodard's next fight comes against Olympian and fast-rising Rick Hawn at Bellator 66. It's obviously a tall task, and Woodard – an admitted fight junkie who watches nearly every televised MMA event – isn't looking past him (or Thiago Michel and Brent Weedman, who meet in the tourney's other semifinal). But he knows he's two wins away from avenging his only career loss, which came to Chandler in a season-four Bellator tourney.

"He's a really nice guy," Woodard said. "He comes to the MMAjunkie.com studio, and I hear him on your station all the time. He's a really tough dude. I'm glad to say I lost to a really tough guy with a hard work ethic like him, but I can't wait to fight him again and beat him up."

Aside from avenging his loss, Woodard simply wants to fight guys who put on exciting bouts. It's a big reason he campaigned for the fight with Freire, and it's the primary reason he's anxious for a Chandler rematch.

Sure, any knucklehead can go into a cage and swing for the fences. But when you combine that type of aggression with good game-planning and quick thinking, fans are the winners.

"We need guys who fight and are able to think at the same time and put on a good show and put in the work," he said. "I'm going to do that and make MMA fans very happy."

In fact, he voiced that belief to UFC president Dana White this past weekend. Woodard, in fact, is a UFC fan – "I spend a lot of money on fights, and I order every UFC event," he said – but he hated knowing his fight was facing competition from "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" on FX.

And what irked him most was in the previous "TUF" episode, Urijah Faber's entire time had a chance to step up and volunteer for a fight with Team Cruz's No. 1 pick, Justin Lawrence. No one answered the call.

"The guys in the UFC didn't want to fight last week," Woodard said. "Why would you want to watch that fight? Watch my fight on Bellator. I wanted to fight, and [Freire] wanted to fight. And that's exactly what we did.

"If I had a choice between watching Bellator that night and the caliber of fights we had that night, and the caliber of the fights they had on the UFC, I'd watch Bellator every time. I want people to realize that. I even tweeted Dana that night and was like, 'I think we upstaged you guys. What did you think about that fight?'"

http://mmajunkie.com/news/27994/after-bellator-tourney-win-cupcake-woodards-no-1-desire-is-chandler-rematch.mma

Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal‘s day on Tuesday went from bad to worse after receiving his punishment from the Nevada Athletic Commission as he was then released from his Strikeforce contract.

Lawal confirmed the news to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday. The release was originally reported by MMAJunkie.com.

The details surrounding his release involve a series of Twitter messages that Lawal put out after his hearing with the Nevada Commission this afternoon.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker made a statement regarding the release of King Mo Lawal after today’s events.

“Following the outcome of today’s hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his subsequent reaction, Strikeforce has released Muhammed Lawal from his contract,” said Coker in the statement.

While the messages have since been deleted, Lawal was referencing a line of questioning from Commissioner Pat Lundvall during Tuesday’s hearing.

“I honestly feel like Lundvall was a racist (expletive) asking me if I can read or speak English. Go on somewhere with that bull (expletive),” Lawal wrote.

Following that message, Lawal released another explaining his earlier statement directed at Lundvall.

“It’s funny how people are trying to say that I’m calling the commission racist. No! They aren’t. But there was one person on the panel that was out of line with the question she asked me. I found it insulting, prejudice, and a lil’ racist. I say racist from past experiences,” Lawal stated.

It didn’t take long for the powers that be at Zuffa to take notice, and soon after Strikeforce matchmaker Sean Shelby notified Lawal’s manager Mike Kogan that he had been released from his contract.

The line of questioning that Lawal was referencing from Commissioner Pat Lundvall involved the supplements the former champion took that he believes caused a positive drug test following his bout with Lorenz Larkin in January.

Commissioner Lundvall was quizzing Lawal and his manager Mike Kogan on the drugs and supplements he was on, and a pre-fight questionnaire that was filled out regarding any medications the fighter was taking prior to his bout in Strikeforce earlier this year.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/king-mo-lawal-released-from-strikeforce

Sarah Kaufman Lays Out A Plan To Build Women’s MMA In Strikeforce


Former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight titleholder Sarah Kaufman has a vision for how the organization should promote the female 135-pound division.

Kaufman faces newly crowned champion Ronda Rousey later this year in an effort to reclaim the belt. She laid out a blueprint to MMAWeekly.com on how to best promote female mixed martial artists.

Kaufman earned her title shot by defeating Alexis Davis in a hard-fought majority decision at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March, 3.

The fight card was headlined by two women and featured a No. 1 contenders’ bout on the undercard. That fight was between Kaufman and Davis. The fight was a display of all facets of mixed martial arts. Kaufman feels that weekend in Columbus, Ohio, was huge for women’s fighting.

“It was a really positive step forward. I think the fact that the fight with Alexis and I was so exciting really cemented the fact that there are more than just one or two females in the sport,” Kuafman told MMAWeekly.com.

“And I hope to see Strikeforce bringing in more and more females and getting a division really running kind of smooth and having contenders all the time,” added the former champion.

Kaufman is worried about having a viable contender following the bout with Rousey, should she win. In a division that’s shallow with contenders, Kaufman would like to see Strikeforce showcase more female fights on the main cards to build the women to the public.

“From that point on, I want to have another fight set up right way. You don’t just want to have super fights. You want to have super fights because the division is awesome,” she said.

Kaufman doesn’t see many contenders after her bout with Rousey.

“It would be great if we could fight in May. The only problem with that is there aren’t any fighters coming up to challenge after that point,” stated Kaufman.

“I think what would be perfect is to have on the next card, which I think is in May, have another contender-type fight or another fight or two for the females to see some more of the ladies in the 135-pound division and really get the division going.

“On the next fight card, have me and Ronda fight. Have another female fight on that card, and again, that sets up the next title fight. So you’re having this continual stream of female fights that the fans can get behind,” she continued.

“That’s the reason Strikeforce is different. They have the females, so let’s get this going. Let’s get this division really rolling and have people interested in so many more fighters than just myself and Ronda and Miesha, and not Alexis.”

http://www.mmaweekly.com/sarah-kaufman-lays-out-a-plan-to-build-womens-mma-in-strikeforce

“Dear Tim Sylvia, shut the hell up, win fights and stop begging, it’s (expletive) annoying!”
~ Patrick Cote via Twitter.

Patrick Cote wants to get back to the UFC, and he’s made no bones about that in past interviews, but there’s one thing he wants to make clear: he’s not going to beg for the UFC to take him back via Twitter, Facebook, or any other social network.

Since exiting the UFC in 2010, Cote has picked up three wins in a row. This weekend in Brazil he’ll go for No. 4 against Gustavo Machado, and if that’s not enough for Joe Silva to call him up, then he’ll go on and win another fight, and then another, and then yet another, if that’s what it takes.

“I don’t have a lot of control about the decision who is going to put me back in the UFC. My only power I have is be in shape and win fights and that’s what I’m doing. Three wins in a row, and I’m going for a fourth one. The UFC asked us to go to somebody better than my last two opponents, and with a winning record, so that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Cote explained when speaking to MMAWeekly Radio.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia recently took to Twitter to try and get the UFC’s attention, and get a call back to the big show. Cote’s anger at the tactic erupted via his own Twitter account, but he promises it wasn’t necessarily targeted at Sylvia.

Cote was targeting any former UFC fighter that was going the social networking route as opposed to fighting to get back to the Octagon.

“Maybe that was a little bit out of control because that wasn’t a personal attack to Tim Sylvia, but that was just begging to have a chance to go back to the UFC, for me, it’s just a shame. You can’t beg the big organizations like that,” said Cote.

“You’ve been a champion in this organization; you know how things work. You’re not going to go anywhere by begging like that. I was just annoyed about begging, a lot of the begging, and I said loud what a lot of people was thinking. I have nothing against Sylvia. He’s been a great champion. He did a lot in the sport. He did a lot in the UFC. I hope he’s going to be back in the UFC. That’s not the point. The point was just about the begging thing.”

The way back to the UFC is to win fights and impress the likes of UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, who is the man offering the contracts and bout agreements for anybody coming into the promotion. It’s also interesting to note that Silva is not on Twitter or Facebook.

That’s what Cote wants to get across to Tim Sylvia or any other fighter trying to return to the UFC. Fight your way back, that’s it, and that’s all.

“The only thing you have to do is shut your mouth, win fights, and prove you deserve to be back in the big show by winning fights and by your performance,” Cote stated.

“It’s the only way to get back. You have to prove yourself again to deserve the chance to get back in the big show; that’s what I’m doing.”

Cote will try to do that very thing this weekend as he travels to Brazil to face Gustavo Machado for his fourth win in a row. Will the UFC come calling if he’s victorious?

There’s no telling, but count Patrick Cote as one of the fighters who won’t be begging the UFC for another shot if he does.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/patrick-cote-tells-ex-ufc-fighters-to-stop-begging-to-get-back-go-earn-it

Three Canadian MMA Promotions Merge To Form One Giant League


The landscape of MMA in Canada has just shifted course with three dominant MMA organizations in Western Canada merging to create the single largest MMA organization in Canada, which will now be known as Aggression Fighting Championships.

Aggression MMA, Armageddon Fighting Championships, and AX Combat have now pooled their efforts in providing the best shows available to Canadian MMA fans under this new banner, which will now hold between nine and eleven fight events per year, with shows taking place in Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, and Victoria, British Columbia - with expansion plans slated for the latter half of 2012.

The newly formed AFC will unveil its new branding shortly. Fight fans will get to see the new promotion in action at AFC 8 in Victoria on April 14th, AFC 9 in Edmonton June 8th, and AFC 10 in Calgary on June 15th. More details on these and upcoming events will be released shortly.

“Darren Owen of Armageddon and I have been seriously discussing the idea of merging for some time, and in the process reached out to AX Combat and determined that we had the same goals moving forward. We established that all three brands have similar philosophies of making sure that our fan base gets to see the best up-and-coming domestic and international fighters. So it made sense to offer fans across Canada a national brand, ultimately resulting in AFC,” stated Aggression Co-Founder Moin Mirza.

“This is by far the largest deal in Canadian MMA history, and I’m ecstatic to be a part of it,” said Armageddon Co-Founder Darren Owen. “It just makes sense to standardize matchmaking, contracts, logos, and production. Contracted fighters now have the opportunity to fight more frequently than they did before, which we are confident they will be happy about. With Armageddon’s current TV deal, the AFC will readily be available in 70 million homes, and now with increased content and expansion, the sky is the limit for AFC opportunities.”

“When AX was approached with this opportunity, I knew that I had a chance to be involved with something special,” explained AX Combat Co-Founder Steve Fader. “With partners like these, we all bring different strengths to the table and more importantly, this is a group that you can trust - a situation where you don't need to be looking over your shoulder at all times. The deal makes sense for fans, fighters, and everyone involved, and I can’t wait to see how far the AFC can go.”

http://www.mmacanada.net/news/news/three-canadian-mma-promotions-merge-to-form-one-giant-league-0404

Resurrection Fighting Alliance held its second event on Friday night in Kearney, Neb., headlined by a showdown between Houston Alexander and Gilbert Yvel.

The bout marked Yvel’s second start at light heavyweight. The 35-year-old Pride and UFC veteran has rejuvenated his career thus far by moving down, scoring back-to-back victories.

After a slow start, Yvel knocked Alexander out in the waning moments of round one.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/rfa-2-results-gilbert-yvel-resurrected-at-205

Don Frye is one of MMA's biggest personalities. His tendency to speak his feelings as honestly as anyone in the sport along with his sense of humor and a history of being a "go for broke" fighter have turned Frye into one of the most beloved figures around the sport.

Of course, talking about UFC fighter pay in any negative way is a quick way to change that. The question of "Are UFC fighters underpaid?" was asked while Frye was on the "Savage Dog Show" on Sherdog and this was his response:

Oh my God, it's a crime. It's a crime. You see some of these guys only getting two or three or six thousand dollars and you've got Dana bragging about having 30 Ferraris. Come on. You have a sponsor and he charges a sponsor what, a hundred and fifty grand to have your stuff on the fighter? That's money he's stealing from the fighter. Then he goes and he pays them two or three thousand dollars. That's crazy.

While it's not a particularly new stance, and despite my feelings that there is a slight pay issue in the UFC, this seems to miss a bit of the point. What Dana makes off the UFC should have no bearing on what the bottom level fighters should make.

Simple business sense would suggest that Dana White is far more important to the success of the UFC than an opening level fighter (who seems to make no less than $6,000) and is therefor worth more money.

My issue with pay is less about the bottom rung fighters and more about the gap between the current "middle class" which tends to average somewhere around $30,000-50,000 (with win bonus) and the top end which is generally well over $100,000. But that's all in flux and something that may well correct itself in the next year or two.

Frye also thinks that Dana White has "ruined the sport":

I do. I really do. I had a lot of fun. The fans are fantastic. Fantastic fans. But the thing is, Dana White's just ruined the sport. I got to thinking about it today and you know, he ruined it for me. I thought, ‘Why am I letting that asshole dictate my life and take all of the fun out of it for me?' I just ignore him and go on with my life. I might climb back in the cage just because I finally say, ‘F--k it. Why let him ruin it?' I just ignore him and go on with my own business.

Even if I disagree with him, I'm firmly in the camp of people who'll never be able to get too mad at Don. The man is a national treasure.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/4/2/2919639/ufc-dana-white-don-frye-fighter-pay

Is it me, or does don look like an older brother of tom selleck?

Diego Sanchez Considering Lightweight Return, Likes Anthony Pettis Matchup


While healing from recent surgery, Diego Sanchez had an idea.

Unable to lift weights due to shoulder surgery and slowly trimming down because of it, the current welterweight today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (http://www.mmajunkie.com/radio) he's seriously considering a return to the lightweight division.

And he even has a few potential matchups in mind.

"I'm probably going to be going down to 155 for the next fight," he said. "And there are some possible opponents I'm looking at."

Sanchez has been on the mend since his UFC on FUEL TV 1 loss to Jake Ellenberger in February. After two years of dealing with a torn labrum, he decided to go under the knife and is now on the mend following successful surgery.

The time off has given him plenty of time to think about his immediate future.

"We'll see where I end up, but I'm still kind of a lighter welterweight," he said. "I really try to lift weights, but the shoulder injury sort of set me back. As I heal up, my body's going to get a little smaller, so I might just go down to 155."

Prior to the Ellenberger loss, Sanchez picked up welterweight wins over Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. All three bouts won "Fight of the Night" bonuses, and the past two came in main-event fights.

Sanchez has had recent success at welterweight and could continue getting big fights. Yet his three-fight lightweight run ended in a lopsided TKO loss to then-champ B.J. Penn.

So why consider a move back there?

"The last time I was at 155, I was just a wreck," he said. "Mentally, I was still young and partying a lot, and I was still smoking weed. I was just a wild child. Now that I'm grounded and have my life together and am married, I'm just focused. So maybe 155 might be a better weight for me.

"Like (UFC president) Dana White said, maybe I can jump from either weight class as long as I do it professionally. And I will. If I have to go down to 155, it's only going to make me more strict with health and nutrition and diet. That's my hardest part (of training). But at 155, there's no messing around. You've got to do it right."

In the talent-rich lightweight and welterweight divisions, Sanchez knows he can get a good fight at either weight. But at 155 pounds, he sees one matchup he likes more than others: former WEC champ Anthony Pettis, who recently was skipped over for a title shot so the organization could book champ Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar in a rematch.

Like Sanchez, Pettis recently underwent shoulder surgery.

"We'll be recovering about the same time," Sanchez said. "I think he got the same surgery as me, so it'd be an event playing field. I told Dana I really liked that fight.

"I want to fight a guy who's a fan favorite and who has a lot of fans and is a big draw. It'd make us both better, the sport better. Plus, the guy has a win over the champ, so that'd bump me up right to the top (of the division)."

If not Pettis, Sanchez also likes the idea of fighting Nate Diaz. He met the cantankerous fighter's older brother way back in 2005 at The Ultimate Fighter Finale 2, where Sanchez won a unanimous decision. Nick Diaz has made no secret of his disdain over the decision, so little brother Nate could look to avenge it.

Sanchez, though, isn't worried so much about the bad blood as the matchup itself.

"Them Diaz brothers are just scrappers," he said. "It'd be a 'Fight of the Night.' You're going to get the ground game, standup. You're going to get it all. You're going to get a real fight with a Diaz."

Some point to that Penn loss a reason Sanchez shouldn't go back to lightweight. After all, Penn has suffered through tough times recently (and may be retired for all we know). Additionally, since the Sanchez win, Penn has won just one out of five fights.

Sanchez, though, said he got a vintage Penn in their December 2009 fight, which was stopped in the fifth round as Sanchez's face gushed blood.

"I fought the best B.J. Penn ever that night," he said. "That was the best B.J. Penn ever. Anyone who knows MMA knows that. That was the legend. That was the epitome of the legend of B.J. Penn.

"I went in there and got caught early in the fight, and I never recovered. He beat me down in that first round. I watch it now, and I'm like, 'How did I survive that?'"

Of course, Sanchez isn't considering a return to lightweight simply because Penn is now out of the picture. He's no more likely to get a title at 155 pounds than he is at 170 pounds. He just thinks he's better suited for lightweight, especially now that he has his personal life and training in order.

But yeah, priority No. 1 is a title.

"No doubt about it, it's a title shot," he said. "That's what you want. You want to be the champion. I'm 30 years old. I'm coming into my peak. More than anything, mentally and spiritually, I ain't that foolish young kid anymore.

"I'm turning a corner with my striking, and I really feel at my best. On the right night and the right opponent, I could put the belt around my waist. That's my dream."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28110/ufcs-diego-sanchez-considering-return-to-lightweight-likes-anthony-pettis-matchup.mma