Official MMA News/Discussion Thread

[CaptainCharisma]

i honestly dont know if theyve even finished filming it yet, if anything i would guess they would have it up late may - early june, but thats just my estimation

 

[CaptainCharisma]

an interesting post i read that explains why Cro Cop was kind of an asshole after the fight

About an half an hour ago there was a interview with Mirko on Nova TV in Croatia.
He said that it was pretty cool in Las Vegas, he liked the ambient and the american crowd. Amongst other things he said that it was the hardest fight to him. Not because of Eddie though. He had multiple injuries. His doctor even told him he should cancel the fight, but Mirko said no way. Few days before the trip to LV he had liquid drained from his lef leg (I don't know the right medical term). He was dead tired afther the fight and in pain.

So to all you who said that Mirko was an asshole afther the fight, that he felt shame being in Vegas – you turned out to be assholes.

Mirko rejected medical advice to cancel the fight so that you could enjoy the fight. You just saw injured and tired Mirko and you were amazed.

He said he was fighteing in Manchester (England) on April 20. He does not know who his opponent will be, and he will get the title shot in his 3 or 4 fight, but probably in 3rd fight. So, I hope you appreciate him even more now.
He was terrifying now, just wait when he gets better!

And yes, he said he almost hit Sanchez with a knee on the ground, and good thing he remembered not to, and that UFC can't have influence on the song his opted. When asked why did he choose the pride song, he said, with a smile, that there are some things he wouldlike to keep for himself!

I Love Cro Cop, hes a true warrior

 

[CaptainCharisma]

Cro Cop interview from above post

So... Mirko landed in Zagreb not long ago and he did an interview with Nov@ TV (Croatian)

Here it is (ignore my gramatical errors ... no need to thank me, just stfu about CC conspiracy theories ffs)

R: Congratulations. Your first "cage" fight went great. How did all that look to you?

CC: Well, it's a bit unusual in comparisson with Pride's ring, and the rules are a bit different so i had to be careful not to be disqualified. All in all, everything went ok.

R: When you took Sanchez to the ground, Slaven shouted "don't use your legs!"?

CC: I remembered that rule just in time, 'cause i wanted to kick him with my knee. But it's ok, those are the new rules of the game and i'm ok with that. Pride rules are better suited for my fighting style, but it's ok.

R: Eddie Sanchez is a guy who, before your match, had a perfect score of 8-0 but he was mostly running away. A few times it looked like he could get to you, but at the end you won kinda routinely.

CC: Yes (smile)

R: How 'bout some comment?

CC: Evidentaly, Sanchez was scared and he ran away from me the whole time. I had to run after him all over the cage that is huge in comparisson with pride's ring but ok. It's a new experience for Sanchez.

R: Your introducing song wasn't Wild boys but pride's hymn. Was it your choice or...?

CC: Organiser has no influence in my intro music choice, it was my choice to use Pride's hymn.

R: Any special reason why?

CC: I'll keep some thing to myself (smile)

R: Every fan is expecting to see you in the title fight, do you have any estimation when that could happen?

CC: In some informal conversations i had, it was mentioned to be the 3rd fight, possibly the 4th, against the winner of Couture vs. Sylvia fight. We'll see.

R: Your second fight should be in London or Machester, is that right?

CC: Yes, Machester.

R: And when exactly?

CC: April 20th. Very soon.

R: Do you know who you're about to fight?

CC: No, still don't know.

R: How did your meeting with Americans and US Croats go?

CC: It was nice. The atmosphere is a bit different than one in Japan... The hall is smaller, more compact... it's kinda interesting. They are louder audience than the Japaneese one... there were many Croatian fans there and...all in all, i had a great time there.

R: They even boo the fighters, if they don't like the fight?

CC: Well that's the American style...they won't forgive anything

R: Have you talked to the organisers after the fight? They were happy, 'cause they got what they wanted out of your first fight?

CC: We met shortly after the match... i went to my room as soon as i could. I was exhausted and i had a tough time preparing for this match. I was full of smaller injuries, wich had no influence on the fight, but they were enought to influence my concentration. I'm draging'em around for more then 20 days... on that (injuries) side, this was the worst fight i had in my career. I really had a number of injuries... just had my leg puctated a few days ago. Dr. Bucan even sugested to postpone the fight, but that wasn't an option. Eventually we came to a compromise. I went to fight Sanchez under sedatives...it was really hard for me... i've never had so many injuries before.

R: Are those injuries going to make problems for you in the future?

CC: No, i'll get better in about 10 days and i'll start my preparations for Manchester.

R: Well, Mirko, Machester after Tokyo and Las Vegas, we can't wait. We wish you all the best in your upcoming carrer days

CC: Thanks

 

[CaptainCharisma]

I feel it was an amazing showing for the lightweight division itself. I'm really excited to see how TUF5 went; is there an official air time slated for that yet?

theres actually a new Dana White interview on Sherdog.com, in which he says that theyv'e had a few fights into the season, so i guess at the earliest we could see TUF5 my late march or early april

 

[Kanav]

"CC: Organiser has no influence in my intro music choice, it was my choice to use Pride's hymn.

R: Any special reason why?

CC: I'll keep some thing to myself (smile)"

 

[CaptainCharisma]

According to the Wrestling-Observer Newsletter, Elite Xtreme Combat offered undefeated UFC Heavyweight Brandon Vera a $1.5 million signing bonus to begin fighting for the Showtime-broadcast MMA group.

Upon receiving the offer, Vera's management asked UFC to match the offer (and also guarantee Vera a seven-figure purse for his fights) and was met with instant rejection.

The failure to come anywhere close on financial terms of a contract extension prevented UFC and Brandon Vera from extending their relationship. Because Vera's deal with UFC could not be extended beyond the one contracted fight he has remaining, UFC opted not to give Vera his originally scheduled title shot at UFC 68.

The story from that point is well-documented: the role of Tim Sylvia's opponent, left vacant by the contract trouble, was assigned to Randy Couture, who plans to use UFC 68 as a springboard for his full-time return to mixed martial arts competition.

I like Vera, but 7 figures gaurenteed? Come on now, he hasnt really faced anyone to prove himself besides a washed up Frank Mir.

 

[fallen]

yeah I like Vera but damn thats a lot of money

 

[onebigeric]

'Elite Xtreme Combat'? Lamest name EVER. If they want to shell out seven figures for Vera, they can go right ahead.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

Matt Hughes on why he lost to GSP

I went to the UFC and had a great time. I was surprised at the outcome of the Anderson fight. I knew he would win, but I didn't think it would end like that. Went to my brother-in-law's for the Super Bowl when I got back from Vegas. All in all a good weekend.
Well, I believe I finally got some answers about the loss from the St. Pierre fight. I went into that fight mostly on faith and I believed that it was my destiny to win that fight. I now realize that it takes more than faith to do anything in this world. Faith is still #1, but it also takes #2 knowledge and #3 physical practice.
So, my mistakes were:
1. Knowledge - I should have watched more tape of Georges' fights and come up with a better gameplan instead of going out there and finding a way to win one way or the other.
2. Physical Practice - I think I should have gone in stronger and in better shape, even though it never went past the middle of the second round, I think I could have been in better shape.
My faith was very positive and I did believe, before the fight, that I was supposed to win. Maybe that's why I didn't put as much training into it as I could have. So, now I will begin training harder than I ever have before on the road to fighting Georges again.
Thanks to everyone for their support. -Matt

i see it didnt take long for Matt to become a dick again

 

[onebigeric]

He sounds a little deluded, but at least he's admitting to being unprepared. What makes you put him in the dick category CC? Other than the fact that he can't admit that GSP is superior in speed, striking, and pacing?

 

[CaptainCharisma]

He sounds a little deluded, but at least he's admitting to being unprepared. What makes you put him in the dick category CC? Other than the fact that he can't admit that GSP is superior in speed, striking, and pacing?

just that fact that right after the fight and the few weeks afterwards he gave GSP credit for beating him outright, and with this interview he comes off as giving GSP pretty much no credit and instead insisting that he lost because he had "too much faith"

 

[PUMBA]

just that fact that right after the fight and the few weeks afterwards he gave GSP credit for beating him outright, and with this interview he comes off as giving GSP pretty much no credit and instead insisting that he lost because he had "too much faith"

Bro don't read to much into it. It's the natural process for a fighter to start rebuilding thier self confidence after a defeat.
As a fighter if you lose that air of invinsabillity you will continue to struggle, that's why so many boxing champions continue to decline after one loss, even the really dominant champions.
One year I knocked out four guys from the same gym, I think they ended up convincing themselves it was the water supply or the pipes in thier gym or something. They never thought it was because they had the defence as pourace as a fishing net.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

Bro don't read to much into it. It's the natural process for a fighter to start rebuilding thier self confidence after a defeat.
As a fighter if you lose that air of invinsabillity you will continue to struggle, that's why so many boxing champions continue to decline after one loss, even the really dominant champions.
One year I knocked out four guys from the same gym, I think they ended up convincing themselves it was the water supply or the pipes in thier gym or something. They never thought it was because they had the defence as pourace as a fishing net.

i guess thats true, but in my opinion for Matt to downplay GSP is gonna cost him in the 3rd fight too, if he keeps just believing that he could easily beat GSP if he really tried like that, hes gonna get killed again

 

[fallen]

I think Matt is a redneck and just can't deal with the fact that he might not be the best.

 

[onebigeric]

He can attribute his loss to anything he likes, but if he doesn't reinvent his previously off game, none of that will matter. GSP will set another pace he can't match and pound him into a loss if he doesn't take a more correct angle on his second outing with the current WW champ.

 

[TJ]

Dana White will be fighting Tito Ortiz in a boxing match.

You heard it here first.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

Evan Tanners new blog

February 3, 2007

1:35 am

Listening to CCR, reading Tennyson, thinking, writing late at night. It seems some truths come only in the night, in the dark, when the world is quiet, and one is alone. Maybe it is then that a man can truly hear, or is truly willing to hear.

Last night I had dinner at the Italian restaurant at the bottom of the hill. I sat there eating pizza, drinking beer, listening to some CCR, Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Doors, Rolling Stones, Eagles on my headphones. It was a night for that. I sat there listening by the back window watching the trains rolling by.

I've grown a great beard. Maybe I have done it because of laziness, maybe it is an experiment in social perceptions. I do not get treated the same anywhere I go. I am now an outcast of sorts. I don't quite fit the mold. The reactions are expected, but still disappointing. I always hope for more from us. It's not about appearances, having just the right clothes, the right car with the right rims, the right job, the right money. There is so much more to us than that.

My opinion.

Evan

damn it Evan, just when you think he cant lose his mind anymore, hes gonna be ranting about fighting the system and how the governments coming to get him soon

 

[fallen]

he is a drunk nothing more.

 

[templar1987]

mm

 

[CaptainCharisma]

The deepest cut
Travis Lutter speaks after missing weight and losing to Anderson Silva
By Mike Chiappetta
NBCSports.com
Updated: Feb.8, 2007, 11:52 am ESTTravis Lutter won the opportunity of a lifetime when he bested seven other middleweights to win The Ultimate Fighter 4, giving him an opportunity to shoot to the front of the pack and challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight championship. It seemed like a Rocky Balboa-type story, but real life doesn't always get its happy ending.

Instead of defeating Silva for the title, Lutter lost his chance to even compete for the belt when he failed to make weight for their scheduled Feb. 3 matchup. It was a devastating development, and one most fans couldn't understand.

How could he make such a mistake given the chance of a lifetime? Just like a fighter, Lutter didn't hide from a difficult situation. In this exclusive interview with NBCSports.com, Lutter explained what went wrong and what he learned from the mistake.



(c) 2007 Zuffa LLC
Despite missing weight, Lutter appeared focused in the opening minutes, actually winning the first round.Q: How are you doing following the controversy and fight?

A: I'm doing a lot better. I've recovered from the weight loss, and looking back, I know I lost but I felt like I was winning the fight up until I got caught. Anyone can get caught. I'm sure Anderson has been in that situation before, winning the fight but then getting caught and submitted. It happens.

Q: In the days leading up to the fight, did you at any point think you were in trouble as far as making weight?

A: I really didn't think I was too heavy until about four hours beforehand. I knew at that time I was in a lot of trouble. I told the guys, this is not good. And the weird thing was, I was ahead of schedule on paper. We keep track of weight cuts from fight to fight. And as compared to my fight against Patrick Cote (in November 2006), we were 1.5 hours ahead as far as time.

But that's when I got into trouble, as I began to quit sweating. The weight just quit coming off. We knew we were in trouble at that point. Once you stop sweating and your body says it won't give up anymore, it's very hard to lose weight. It's painful and sucks but you keep trying.

Q: So there came a point where you physically couldn't lose any more weight?

A: Yes. At some point, your body stops sweating. So it's like, I'd be completely and totally dry in the same sauna that everyone else is dripping in. I just wasn't sweating. We tried a wet sauna, too, but that didn't work, either. I got out after 45 minutes and my weight was exactly same. It's a very miserable, helpless type feeling.

Q: Did you know you were over when you got to the weigh-ins?

A: At 9 a.m. on the morning of the weigh-ins, you have access to the official scale, so you can weigh yourself and then compare your own scale to the official one.

So I knew I wasn't making weight. I told [UFC President] Dana White I wasn't making it.

Q: What was his reaction?

A: Dana was like, 'Hey, you know what this means, right?' You could just tell he wasn't happy. But there was no one more disappointed than I. I don't want to be the bad guy.

Q: When you weighed in at 187, what did you do to try to take off the final two pounds in two hours?

A: We went back in the sauna. I was arguing with my guys, because I knew I couldn't make the weight. I told them I couldn't because I hadn't lost any weight in the last two hours and had only lost a total of one pound in last four, so how can I get any more water off? I sat in the sauna, the hot tub and went to the bathroom, and that led to a 1/2 pound loss. There's not much else you can do. You don't want to do something that will harm yourself.

I mean, as fighters trying to make weight, we're trying to force ourselves within reason. It sucked, but there was nothing I could do. I was supposed to get two hours, but they only gave me 1.5 hours. It didn't matter anyway. I wouldn't have made weight.

Q: Did you start your cut too late?

A: I was 24 pounds down from when I started. It's unfortunate. Generally, you try to come in as big as possible. I followed the same routine I'd followed before. In the Ultimate Fighter house, we had to be ready to make weight within a day, so I kept my weight lower. So this time I knew I was little heavier than normal, but didn't think it was out of reason. Cutting weight isn't an exact science. It's hard to judge. There's a fine line and I crossed over the line.

I fought six times in the last 12 months and had to make 185 each time. And I did it. Cutting weight isn't something I love. It's difficult and I made a mistake. We'll change directions from now on. I consulted a nutritionist and I'll do it differently in the future. I'll probably start making the cut from 12 pounds out.

Q: Many people took umbrage with your comment about having trouble "finding the motivation" to cut weight. What did you mean by that?

A: I think that was taken out of context. I meant that six weeks before the fight, I was having trouble with motivation, and that's only because I'd been cutting weight all year. With six fights in a year, I'd fought on average once every two months, so it was like spending the whole last year in training camp. I admit that in the beginning of this training camp, it was difficult to eat perfectly.

So six weeks out, yeah I was finding trouble with motivation. But in the last four weeks leading up to the fight, I didn't. I need to talk to guys like Rich Franklin about his diet. It takes a lot of discipline. He seems to have it down to a science.

Q: Coming down to the octagon, you appeared visibly upset. At that point, were you 100 percent focused on the fight?

A: I was focused on the fight. I was having some stomach problems leading into the fight since I'd never quite cut that much. I was a bit depleted and tried to come back from that. So I was a little uncomfortable, but I was focused on the fight.

Q: You had a very strong first round, taking Silva down and eventually getting full mount. Did the extreme weight cut have you feeling sapped of energy while trying to finish him?

A: I didn't feel sapped, but I didn't feel as strong as I normally feel. What percentage was I off? I don't know. I'm not going to claim that's why I lost the fight. I felt good enough to beat him and was beating him. But I got caught in second round. I made a mistake and he capitalized.

Q: While you were in the triangle, did you tap due to the choke or to the elbow strikes?

A: I tapped because of the choke. I was good for a long time, but then I started to go out. With the strikes, I was on my way out and he hit me with strikes so I might have moved my body positioning a little because of them. But I tapped because of the choke. I was going to sleep. I'm not beat up at all.

Q: What effect do you think this will have on your career, if any?

A: As far as my career, someone asked Dana White if I'd be punished, and he said losing the fight was punishment enough. I take that to mean I'm still fighting in the UFC. I hope I am. If they say I'm not, I'll fight somewhere else and make my way back. I'd rather fight here; I want to fight here, but I'm sure I'll never make some fans back. But for every fan I lost, I have 20 or 30 e-mailing me, saying I did great.

Q: What's in your immediate future?

A: I'm going to take a few months off. I don't want to fight for five or six months. I fight better when I have a bit longer break. I'll re-focus and see what the UFC has to say. I don't know what they'll do. I want to fight here, so the ball's in their court. But five months off for me is reasonable. That'd be perfect for me.

The bottom line is I made a mistake. I'm not the first to miss weight, and I won't be the last. I'm sorry I disappointed everyone and hopefully they'll support me in the future.

Lutter tapped cause of the Triangle not the elbows, interesting...