Author: UFC News

“During the rise of the famous Brazilian Chute Boxe camp, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Cristiano Marcello was at the forefront helping the careers of fighters like Silva and Rua as they made their way through the Japanese fight scene.

“Marcello was also working on his own fight career as he helped advance athletes at the Chute Boxe academy. He infamously had an incident at Pride in Japan in 2005 when he choked out former EliteXC fighter Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett in the backstage area after an altercation between the two competitors.”

Read full article 

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization President Dana White and Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright will be in Calgary on Wednesday, March 21 to make a major announcement.  Starting at noon, the pair will host a special press conference to be held at Flames Central in downtown Calgary. The event is open to the public.
 
Then, on Thursday, March 22, Alberta-based UFC® fighters Nick Ring, Jason MacDonald and Mitch Clarke will be taking part in an open workout from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at BDB Martial Arts. This event is open to the public and will give fans an up close look at mixed arts training and some of Canada’s best local talent. Calgary Stampeders players Eric Fraser and Corey Mace will also be on hand to learn some MMA training techniques first hand.
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (all free and open to the public):
 
UFC® PRESS CONFERENCE
WHEN:           
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – 12:00 p.m. MTN
(doors to the public at 11:30 a.m.)
WHERE:           
Flames Central, 219-8th Street SW, Calgary
WHO:       
UFC® President Dana White
UFC® Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright
 
UFC® OPEN WORKOUTS
WHEN:           
Thursday, March 22, 2012 – 11:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. MTN
WHERE:           
BDB Martial Arts, 3300 14th Ave NE
WHO:       
Jason MacDonald, UFC middleweight
Nick Ring, UFC middleweight
Mitch Clarke, UFC lightweight
Eric Fraser, Calgary Stampeders defensive back
Corey Mace, Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman
 

On a day full of upsets as Mizzou and Duke fell to lower-ranked teams in March Madness action, Team Cruz pulled off a third as lanky boxer James “The Executioner” Vick knocked out Daron Cruickshank with a big knee in the first round.

“I thought he [Vick] lost his fight to get into the house, and I think that’s a guaranteed win for us,” said Cruickshank’s coach, Urijah Faber, when announcing the fight pairing earlier in the week. Cruz admitted his fighter was the underdog – in last week’s elimination bouts, Vick had eked out a split decision in a tough scrum with Dakota Cochrane, while Cruickshank’s kickboxing had dominated Drew Dober.

Inside the TUF Gym in Las Vegas, the two started slowly, circling one another to test their distance. Cruickshank – a kickboxer trained by his father in striking and pro kickboxer mom – threw a few kicks, but struggled to connect on the fighter 7 inches taller and with a 6.5-inch reach advantage. Vick threw a some jabs and range-finding kicks, gaining confidence as the seconds wore on.

Cruickshank exploded with a big left kick to the body and a spinning-back foot. But the 6’3” Vick’s height spelled the end for the 5’8” “Detroit Superstar” as Cruickshank shot for a takedown at the same time that Vick launched another kick. Vick adjusted, threw low, and his right knee knocked Cruickshank out at 2:16 of the first round.

“That move was very planned, it was a right hand, left hook, two-three combination to a kick,” said Vick. “It was meant to be a full-on kick but I could not get it extended in time. He came in and hit the knee. He shot in and it hit him right on the button. He went out.”

Vick also credited Team Cruz with giving him the mindset and tools to win the fight. “I heard my coaches screaming throw this combination. As soon as I threw it it landed. Magic, you know?”

“I think Urijah completely underestimated this kid,” said UFC president Dana White after the bout. 

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced a sponsorship renewal with SafeAuto through 2012. SafeAuto, a leading auto insurance carrier headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, provides coverage to automobile drivers in 15 states.

Under this agreement, SafeAuto has a sponsorship presence in nine different UFC® events throughout the year, including Octagon® signage at select UFC on FOX®, UFC on FX® and UFC on FUEL TV® events.

SafeAuto will continue sponsoring individual fighters during UFC events in 2012. The company has its own “SafeAuto Fight Team,” complete with a website dedicated to information about its sponsored fighters.

“SafeAuto is happy to continue our sponsorship of the UFC,” said SafeAuto President Jon Diamond.  “Fans of the UFC appreciate all the hard work that these athletes put into mixed martial arts.  We look forward to continuing our support for this growing sport, as well as the athletes themselves.”

“SafeAuto has been a great partner for the UFC and we are excited to continue working with them as we get ready for some of the biggest years in UFC history,” Mike Mossholder, UFC Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships, said.

The SafeAuto Fight Team site includes exclusive interviews, previews, and videos of all the company’s sponsored fighters. There is also official UFC content available directly from the Fight Team website, which can be accessed at http://www.safeauto.com/mma.  The company is also covering UFC on its official blog, called “Play It Safe,” with additional news and information about members of the SafeAuto Fight Team.

The SafeAuto Fight Team can be followed both on Facebook as well as on the company’s “Legal For Less” YouTube channel.