Tag: Andrei Arlovski

ProElite Notebook: TV Deal, Heavyweight Grand Prix and More

Filed under: MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, ProEliteProElite 2.0, as Vice President of Fight Operations T. Jay Thompson likes to call it, is set to get back on track on Aug. 27 in Hawaii. The organization is looking to reinvent itself after crumbling in…

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ProElite 2.0, as Vice President of Fight Operations T. Jay Thompson likes to call it, is set to get back on track on Aug. 27 in Hawaii. The organization is looking to reinvent itself after crumbling in 2008 following Kimbo Slice’s loss to Seth Petruzelli in Florida.

So with its first show in almost three years less than three weeks away, here are some news and notes about MMA’s newest — or not so new depending on how you view them — kid on the block.

* Thompson vehemently denied a Cage Potato report that the organization was close to signing a TV deal with Viacom to broadcast its events on CBS and Showtime in the near future.

“There is absolutely no truth to the report that we are close to a deal with CBS and Showtime,” he said.

Thompson said they are talking to “everyone” in the TV world but stopped short at saying who was the frontrunner. The organization’s Aug. 27 show will stream live on Sherdog.com, but Thompson hopes he will have a TV deal in place by the promotion’s second show.

* Speaking of its second show, Thompson said “early November” in Atlantic City, N.J., is when ProElite’s sophomore event will take place. No specific date or location has been finalized yet.

* One of the main attractions scheduled for the event will be the start of a heavyweight grand prix. But before you roll your eyes at the idea of another heavyweight GP, Thompson says this one will feature mostly “unknown” big men from around the world. Andrei Arlovski and Mark Ellis, who are scheduled to fight in different bouts in Hawaii, could be a part of it if they win their debut fights.

“It will outperform whatever people are expecting,” he said. “I’m very excited about that.”

* Ticket sales for the Aug. 27 event at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, HI, have been “strong,” according to Thompson. The long-time promoter says he expects to sell at least 5,000 tickets to the event. A sellout would be approximately 7,800 fans.

* When asked about the recent Golden Glory free agents, Thompson said he was “very interested” in having Marloes Coenen fight on the November show. And while he admitted that Alistair Overeem is probably out of his price range, he said Jon Olav Einemo could be the perfect fit for the aforementioned GP. According to Thompson, the lines of communication between himself and Golden Glory head trainer Martijn de Jong, who fought for Thompson in 2002, have just been opened. He sounded very excited at the prospect of signing Coenen.

* Don’t expect any title fights in ProElite any time soon.

“I hate when events do world championship fights with no world championship fighters,” he said.

That’s not to say Thompson is down on the quality of his fighters, but he explained that he needs to build the fighters first before putting them in title fights. And if you followed Thompson back when he was promoting SuperBrawl and ICON Sport, you’ll recall that title fights in those promotions were scarce.

Check out the full lineup for ProElite: Arlovski vs. Lopez and the organization’s new Web site here. A promo for the Aug. 27 can be seen below.

 

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Werdum Says Overeem Didn’t Beat Him, He Beat Himself


(Clash of styles = boring fight)

Fabricio Werdum has finally responded to Alistair Overeem’s claims that he should be ashamed of his performance on Saturday night in their Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinal match-up. According to Vai Cavalo, Overeem didn’t beat him; he lost the bout on his own by not listening to his corner and instead attempting time and time again to coax “The Demolition Man” into his guard.

“I don’t believe he won, I lost to myself. I could’ve won. The feeling I’m having now is worse than if he has smashed me up and if he was way better than me on the three rounds, winning with a large advantage,” he told TATAME today. “The guys is good, alright, so I’d have to keep my head down and train more. But it wasn’t like that and that made me choked. It was a [mediocre] bout, the fans expected much more, but he didn’t want to the ground at any cost.”


(Clash of styles = boring fight)

Fabricio Werdum has finally responded to Alistair Overeem’s claims that he should be ashamed of his performance on Saturday night in their Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinal match-up. According to Vai Cavalo, Overeem didn’t beat him; he lost the bout on his own by not listening to his corner and instead attempting time and time again to coax “The Demolition Man” into his guard.

“I don’t believe he won, I lost to myself. I could’ve won. The feeling I’m having now is worse than if he has smashed me up and if he was way better than me on the three rounds, winning with a large advantage,” he told TATAME today. “The guys is good, alright, so I’d have to keep my head down and train more. But it wasn’t like that and that made me choked. It was a [mediocre] bout, the fans expected much more, but he didn’t want to the ground at any cost.”

Werdum says that one thing he did succeed in doing was throwing Overeem off of his usually dominant striking game.

“You can see that end of the second and third round, when we went to the ground, on the half guard, he just laid there, he didn’t punch me at all, which is what he always does… He didn’t do it, he just held me. But many things happened,” he said. “But me, in particular, wasn’t ok. I trained a lot, I did wrestling trainings, muay thai trainings… I did everything I was supposed to do. But, the way I see it, I have to put much more effort for my next bout so I get stronger, really strong because it makes much difference.”

Pointing out that Overeem was able to use his strength advantage to dump him on his back and to break the clinch, Werdum says that the power disparity was the difference in the fight. He feels that if he had a few more seconds, he could have made The Reem tap out.

“And he used much strength just to hold me there. He followed his game plan and I made a mistake because I didn’t do what we have planned for me to do. When I pulled him to my guard, on the end of the third round, I almost applied a leglock, which was something we trained a lot: pulling him to my guard and grabbing his leg,” he explained.I” did it on the end of the fight, but it wasn’t the right moment. I had the chance to do that before, but it was too late for me to do anything, there were only 10 seconds left, and I couldn’t do anything more.”

A knee injury in the second round Fabricio says may have prompted him to try to pull guard more than planned, but he says that he was put off that Overeem didn’t want to engage with him on the ground.

“I don’t know if the guys really noticed me, but on the second round Overeem got my leg and tried to take me down. Since my leg was stuck on the floor, my left leg, my knee was dislocated. A MMA bout is not only about striking. When I call the guys to fight on the floor, nobody comes. When the guys want to fight me while standing up, I’d go, I’d stand up and try to launch how many shots I could,” Werdum pointed out. “I was doing fine striking, but I paid a high price for not listening to my coach, because that was not my game plan. To call him into my guard, I could do that like one, alright… But, the way I did, it made me tired. Calling him to my guard and standing… Keep doing that over and over again got me really tired.”

Although he didn’t win the bout, Werdum says the fact that he was never really in trouble against a dangerous striker like Overeem was a bit of a moral victory and that he would like a rubbermatch if and when Antonio Silva beats him. As far as who he is fighting next, he believes that it will be against either Andrei Arlovski or Brett Rogers on the same card as the SFHWGP semi-finals.

“Overeem said he’d knock me out and I didn’t see it coming at all. I wasn’t in danger fighting Overeem, he didn’t knock me down… I wasn’t hit by any strong shots, that could almost lead me to a knockout. He never came for me as he always does. There’s a long time since Overeem has been winning his bouts on the first round, on the first minute, right? It’s been a while… And against me he didn’t do it, he didn’t come for it, he didn’t work his ground and pound,” he explained. “I intend to fight on this next phase of the GP, not on the GP, but on the same event, against Arlovski or Brett Rogers, who have also lost. I guess it’d be a good thing for me to fight on this event because I felt I needed to fight more, I stayed without fighting for too long. I was a year off, and that’s a lot of time. I lost the rhythm… I was doing good on the training, but fighting is different. On the day of the bout it’s different.”

“In my opinion, Big Foot will defeat Overeem,. And I guess it’ll be striking. If Big Foot goes like he went went he was with Arlovski, he’ll defeat Overeem. I’d fight on the same event that they would, I don’t know against who, but in case Overeem loses, on the next event we could have a rematch worth the belt, because after this bout we’re even,” he said. “I won one, and he won the other, so we have to do this third match and check it all out. It’s 1×1, so we have to do this bout, because it’s not convincing anyone: not even for him because I made the first move all times, and neither for me because I lost it. ”

 

 

 

Video Tribute: MMA’s Eight Greatest Public Service Announcements

(Look, we only have this at the top because we couldn’t find that clip of Krazy Horse telling kids to “stay in school, and don’t f*ck with drugs.”)

By Matthew “The Fight Nerd” Kaplowitz

The public service announcement has been part of American culture for decades. Popularized by the perpetually foxy Nancy Reagan in the ’80s, the PSA has taught us everything from not smoking crack to not dumping a pot of boiling oil on your face, and a whole bunch of other not’s. It has also served as a way to punish celebrities and athletes who did something incredibly stupid and got caught.

MMA fighters eventually began to get roped into this as the popularity of the sport rose; some are good, while others should be avoided as much as strangers in pick-up trucks who offer to let you see their puppy. That is why today I present to you the top eight public service announcements featuring MMA fighters. Why? Because knowing is half the battle…

8. Randy Couture VS Crystal Meth

Just say no to drugs! Randy Couture enters the battle against Methamphetamines in this PSA, because when you think crystal meth, think Randy Couture. For a video that is meant to appear sad and claustrophobic, it comes off like an amateur snuff film and loses its impact with the soft-spoken UFC veteran.

Couture has done plenty of these ads, so don’t be surprised if he pops back up on this list. Am I saying he will for sure? No, but if I did, would you stop loving me? I can’t handle any more rejection…oh man, sinking back into that pit of despair. I need some meth. But if I do that, then Randy won’t love me either. Argh, what a vicious cycle! But seriously kids, don’t do drugs. If you feel yourself losing power to your addiction, go punch a hobo instead. It’s much more fulfilling, but don’t take my word for it.

Oh, and I lied. Randy does not appear again on this list. That was the crystal meth talking.


(Look, we only have this at the top because we couldn’t find that clip of Krazy Horse telling kids to “stay in school, and don’t f*ck with drugs.”)

By Matthew “The Fight Nerd” Kaplowitz

The public service announcement has been part of American culture for decades. Popularized by the perpetually foxy Nancy Reagan in the ’80s, the PSA has taught us everything from not smoking crack to not dumping a pot of boiling oil on your face, and a whole bunch of other not’s. It has also served as a way to punish celebrities and athletes who did something incredibly stupid and got caught.

MMA fighters eventually began to get roped into this as the popularity of the sport rose; some are good, while others should be avoided as much as strangers in pick-up trucks who offer to let you see their puppy. That is why today I present to you the top eight public service announcements featuring MMA fighters. Why? Because knowing is half the battle…

8. Randy Couture VS Crystal Meth

Just say no to drugs! Randy Couture enters the battle against Methamphetamines in this PSA, because when you think crystal meth, think Randy Couture. For a video that is meant to appear sad and claustrophobic, it comes off like an amateur snuff film and loses its impact with the soft-spoken UFC veteran.

Couture has done plenty of these ads, so don’t be surprised if he pops back up on this list. Am I saying he will for sure? No, but if I did, would you stop loving me? I can’t handle any more rejection…oh man, sinking back into that pit of despair. I need some meth. But if I do that, then Randy won’t love me either. Argh, what a vicious cycle! But seriously kids, don’t do drugs. If you feel yourself losing power to your addiction, go punch a hobo instead. It’s much more fulfilling, but don’t take my word for it.

Oh, and I lied. Randy does not appear again on this list. That was the crystal meth talking.

7. Rich Franklin wants you to support veterans and rock out

This one is actually very well-made, and I have no humorous or offensive comments to add to it. I will say that it made this top ten list purely because “She Sells Sanctuary” by The Cult is the background music. How many other PSA’s can claim that they have a soundtrack that is not a few sad piano notes with Sarah McLaughlin mournfully singing about Angels. Screw that. Rich Franklin, rock on!

6. Andrei Arlovski knocks out dog fighting

Have you ever wanted to hear Andrei Arlovski talking seriously with lullaby music in the background? I know you have, and this video finally delivers on that. “The Pitbull” talks about the dangers of dog-fighting accompanied by his actual pitbull, Maximus. Arlovski makes some great remarks about the topic and does his best to push through the dialogue, which probably had to be edited together very tightly to deal with his English-speaking abilities — hence all the b-roll footage — but it’s a good PSA nonetheless, and on an important topic.

Many other MMA fighters worked to fight against dog fighting, including Cung Le, Josh Thompson, “Razor” Rob McCullough and Brett Rogers. None were as incoherent as our favorite fighter from Belarus.

5. VOTE!

I am jealous of other states. Here in New York, MMA is the equivalent of two roosters pecking at each other while people place bets. In other places, it is widely accepted as part of the lifestyle and culture. Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller joined up with several UFC fighters in this 2008 campaign video to attract younger viewers to vote. Dan Henderson, Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, and even UFC President Dana White all have their voices heard in the video, although the fighters only say one line, which is a very forced “vote” muttered from each of them.

This one lands high up on the list just for having so many UFC fighters in it, as well as utilizing a ton of licensed Zuffa footage of those fighters pounding their opponents. Only in Nevada can we get awesome political ads like that, because according to New York lawmakers, this stuff is too violent and brutal. Frikkin’ stupid politicians.

Smack that “next page” link to learn about street-fighting laws, seatbelt usage, and…cigarette-eating?

MMA Video: Jon Jones Presents "This Is Sparta Kick" by Andrei Arlovski

If you have ever seen the movie 300, you are probably aware of the scene where Leonidas, King of Sparta, exclaims, “This is Sparta,” and then executes a push kick that sends a messenger plummeting into a deep, dark hole.Well, Jon Jones and several othe…

If you have ever seen the movie 300, you are probably aware of the scene where Leonidas, King of Sparta, exclaims, “This is Sparta,” and then executes a push kick that sends a messenger plummeting into a deep, dark hole.

Well, Jon Jones and several other members of Jackson’s MMA in Albuquerque, N.M. recently videoed Andrei Arlovski, who bares a striking resemblance to Leonidas, replicating the “This is Sparta” kick during some downtime at the gym.

As you can see in the video, Arlovski attempted the kick on the much smaller flyweight John Dodson, who was sent flying backwards by the Belarusian heavyweight.

Arlovski has lost four consecutive fights, three by way of brutal knockout, but the former UFC heavyweight champion has said that he will continue to fight against the advice of some of his personal trainers and outside medical professionals.

For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter here.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Top 10 Scariest Looking Fighters in MMA

MMA has some really scary-looking dudes. Before a fight, you have to stand across the cage, looking at a guy who wants to rip your head off.Some fighters don’t have a great staredown, and generally aren’t all that terrifying.But then there are oth…

MMA has some really scary-looking dudes. 

Before a fight, you have to stand across the cage, looking at a guy who wants to rip your head off.

Some fighters don’t have a great staredown, and generally aren’t all that terrifying.

But then there are others, whose simple stare can send shivers down the spine of the most intense and focused of fighters.

These fighters are big, scary, brutal, and have killer instinct.

Every list is subjective, but here, as far as I’m concerned, are the top 10 scariest fighters in mixed martial arts today.

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Ben Rothwell: I Need to Become a Contender or Find Something Else to Do

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse ExclusiveUFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell and Andrei Arlovski aren’t friends, exactly. Not in the strictest sense of the word. They spent a little over ten minutes in the ring together back in July of 2008. Since then the two hea…

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UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell and Andrei Arlovski aren’t friends, exactly. Not in the strictest sense of the word. They spent a little over ten minutes in the ring together back in July of 2008. Since then the two heavyweights haven’t talked much.

Still, Rothwell said, it was a strange feeling watching the latest stop on Arlovski’s precipitous decline last Saturday night. Watching his former foe laid out on the canvas after getting knocked out by Sergei Kharitonov in the first round of the Strikeforce Grand Prix, he felt sick to his stomach, though he’s not entirely sure why.

“Seeing him knocked out like that, it makes me feel bad,” Rothwell said. “I couldn’t even be like, hey, awesome knockout. It’s like seeing that happen to a friend, and I don’t even know Andrei all that well. I just know him from when we fought, and before he was really cool to me and after he was really cool to me. I haven’t really talked to him since, so I don’t know why I feel that way, but you just have that kind of connection with someone you fought a war with. I don’t want to see him like that.”