Tag: Breaking News

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture Teams with Bellator and Spike for Reality Series

Bellator MMA and SPIKE have just fired a massive shot at the UFC in their continuing war for television ratings and viewers.Sports Illustrated reported on Tuesday that UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture has signed a deal with the Viacom cable company to a…

Bellator MMA and SPIKE have just fired a massive shot at the UFC in their continuing war for television ratings and viewers.

Sports Illustrated reported on Tuesday that UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture has signed a deal with the Viacom cable company to appear in several projects, including a high-profile coaching stint on Bellator’s upcoming reality series:

Spike TV will unveil this industry-shifting announcement on Feb. 5 during a press conference in Los Angeles, where Couture and Spike TV president Kevin Kay will discuss details of the agreement and what the 49-year-old retired fighter’s role will be on the Bellator series and possibly other Spike-broadcasted projects. The series is expected to feature a number of current and up-and-coming Bellator fighters.

According to SI reporter Loretta Hunt, the deal was made back in December 2012. UFC president Dana White apparently knew about it and expressed “disapproval” over the issue.

With a historic career in MMA that covered over 13 years since UFC 13 in 1997, Randy “The Natural” Couture is one of the most prominent faces in the sport, as well as one of its most recognizable figures.

However, Couture has also had past issues with the UFC, including an infamous contract dispute (via Yahoo Sports) that led to his early (but temporary) retirement.

According to MMA Weekly, the UFC’s failure to arrange a bout with Fedor Emelianenko contributed to his split from the company in 2007, with additional spats including his pay:

I was offered to fight Fedor over a year ago when I wanted to come out of retirement for thee million dollars in Bodog. It’s more than I’ve ever been paid for a fight…The UFC has stated time and again that I’m the number two athlete on their books as far as my contract, what my base pay says on that bout agreement, but what happens is they pay you a visit in your locker room after your fight and give you a bonus check. It’s not on the books anywhere… [The UFC] offered [Emelianenko] more in a signing bonus than I had ever been paid in a fight. That was like the final slap in the face.

Couture did eventually return to the fold in the UFC, where he finished out his fighting career with matches against marquee opponents like Brock Lesnar, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and notable boxing champion James Toney.

Couture’s last bout ended in defeat at UFC 129, where he was knocked out in the second round by former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.

As a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, the 49-year-old Couture was also the promotion’s first two-division title-holder with a record 15 title fights.

Couture isn’t the first former UFC fighter to sign a deal with Bellator, as other former Zuffa employees such as Paul Daley, Ben Saunders and Roger Huerta have also left or been dropped from the UFC to join their rival.

Bellator has also recruited high-profile signees from the now-defunct Strikeforce promotion, with the most lucrative contract going to light heavyweight Muhammed Lawal.

Still, arguably no Bellator or Strikeforce fighter is anywhere near as famous as Couture.

As “The Natural” makes appearances on SPIKE, he should provide some critical fuel to the network’s aggressive MMA plan. With Bellator tournaments now airing on SPIKE and following TNA Impact Wrestling in a solid ratings block, the UFC’s top competitor has a sizable weapon in their growing arsenal.

UPDATE: Dana White has commented on the announcement via Twitter, simply stating that he “loves” the news of Couture’s deal with Bellator MMA and SPIKE.

 

McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist and FightFans Radio writer. His work has appeared in GamePro, Macworld and PC World. Talk with him on Twitter.

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Jamie Lowe: ‘I Want to Be the Best at Anything That I Pursue in Life’

Jamie Lowe makes her professional MMA debut on Saturday, February 2 in Atlantic City, N.J. as part of CFFC 19.Lowe was able to take a few minutes away from practicing her knees and elbows to shed some insight into her leap toward the professi…

Jamie Lowe makes her professional MMA debut on Saturday, February 2 in Atlantic City, N.J. as part of CFFC 19.

Lowe was able to take a few minutes away from practicing her knees and elbows to shed some insight into her leap toward the professional ranks.

Joe Chacon: Many consider Muay Thai to be the most exciting discipline of fighting because of the array of strikes that are available for somebody trained in it. What drew you to train in Muay Thai and what is your favorite aspect of it?

Jamie Lowe: Muay Thai was my first discipline, so it will always be my first love. I basically joined a gym because my friend was an instructor there, and not once did it cross my mind that I wanted to compete or even do it as exercise, it was just something that someone talked me into doing. After my first class I was in love—completely hooked.

As I started to grow into the sport and learned what Muay Thai was, and not as a sport, but as something that starts from within. My coach at the time, Maurice Travis used to tell me, “It’s in your blood.” My whole life I have been a ” fighter,” but Muay Thai brought out a true passion that I never knew existed. My favorite aspect of Muay Thai is the repetitiveness and putting combos together in your own unique way. It’s truly an art form.

 

JC: Do you remember the moment you decided to pursue a professional MMA career? How did that conversation go with the people who are close to you?

JL: Once I began to compete in Muay Thai and boxing my friends and siblings thought it was awesome, but mom wasn’t thrilled. After I transitioned to MMA she watched my first fight and she began to understand a little bit more, however she still was not thrilled. Haha. And mainly she didn’t understand or see it as a sport, and most people that have that perspective associate it with brutality and violence.

Now, as a professional, she sees all of the hard work that I put in and sees that fighters are some of the most healthy people, and rarely get injured. All in all she is happy and mainly because she knows that it’s my passion and I am pursuing something that I love and pretty good at as well.

 

JC: Many fighters I’ve talked to have described their feelings leading up to a fight as a nervous excitement. How would you describe your emotions as February 2 gets closer?

JL: I would say I am more excited and happy than anything else. This fight for me is long overdue. It’s my first fight in 3 years, so I feel very prepared and focused. And also, chasing after a 2 year old all day sort of takes the edge off, so I don’t really get a lot of time to sit and think about it too much. It’s finally happening and I couldn’t be happier.

 

JC: What do you think has been the biggest reason for the surge in Women’s MMA popularity and how far would you like to take your professional career?

JL: I really think it’s all about timing. We have a lot of amazing women in this sport that put themselves out there against all odds, and that’s what it takes. I could name a lot of fighters that I think have “paved the way,” so to speak, but considering how small the women’s division is, it takes all of us to get put there and make it known that we can make it in this sport—and we will.

As far as my career is concerned, I want to fight as long as God will allow me to. The way I look at it is that if I am going to do this, I’m going to really do it. I want to be the best at anything that I pursue in life.

 

JC: You are fighting Sumie Saka as part of  CFFC 19. What do you know about her fighting style and how has your training camp gone in preparation for your debut?

JL: I know that Sumie is very good on the ground. I haven’t seen her fight, but I’m not putting anything past her. We have covered all areas in this camp so that I am comfortable in any situation.

Jamie Lowe would like to thank her sponsors: EnergyNow, Delights By Dinah and Brocatos Italian Market.

 

 

Joe Chacon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.

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Costa Philippou Wouldn’t Mind Fighting Middleweight Star Michael Bisping

Costa Philippou has a wish for his next opponent, and he is not interested in making a small-fry request.The 33-year-old boxer from Long Island, N.Y., is ready for the big time, and he anxiously eyes a bout with British middleweight superstar Michael “…

Costa Philippou has a wish for his next opponent, and he is not interested in making a small-fry request.

The 33-year-old boxer from Long Island, N.Y., is ready for the big time, and he anxiously eyes a bout with British middleweight superstar Michael “The Count” Bisping.

Philippou told BJpenn.com radio he would like to fight Bisping in July, and the fight would ensure a standup battle of attrition.

Further stoking the flame, Philippou said he would take the fight in Bisping‘s home country of England. This, he said, would make the UFC’s job of marketing the fight easy and quickly fill the arena with fans.

“Being that it would be in his hometown, they wouldn’t have to try and sell the fight,” Philippou said. “The arena would be sold out in no time, all the tickets would be sold immediately. Bisping is a national hero over there and I wouldn’t mind beating him in his hometown.”

For Philippou, the bout would provide the stiffest test of his career both inside and outside of the cage.

Known for his trash talk as much as his fighting skill, Bisping is a master of getting under his opponent’s skin and hyping a fight, while Philippou generally shies away from verbal spats.

This, however, will not be a problem should the matchup come to fruition.

“I’m not the trash talking kind of guy,” admitted the 33-year-old New York state resident. “If he wants to trash talk and say things about me, I’m not that sensitive, I don’t mind. I’ll let him do his job and sell the fight. At the end of the day it will be me and him in the cage and if he says something that really gets to me then I’ll take it out on him inside the Octagon. I have too much respect for the guy, he is a great fighter. The more he keeps trash talking me the more I will keep giving him compliments! We’ll try a different approach this time, everyone keeps trash talking one another, I am going to give compliments to everybody.”

In a time where title shots and big fights are earned with the tongue more easily than with fists, shins and takedowns (you know, actual fighting stuff), Philippou made a smart move in calling out Bisping.

Even though Bisping is coming off a loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7, this matchup would be huge for Philippou, and he would definitely fall into title talks with a big win over the brash Brit.

Making this even sweeter for the Serra-Longo trained New Yorker, a fight with Bisping is very winnable.

Philippou, a former Golden Gloves boxing star, possesses vicious power and speed in his fists, and his all-around game is ever-improving under the tutelage of his coaches, Matt Serra and Ray Longo.

There is huge upside here for Philippou, and time will tell whether he gets his wish.

If he does, however, we are in for one fine standup battle between two of the sport’s finest 185-pound athletes.

Right now, I would favor Michael Bisping via unanimous decision in the fight, but anything is possible, and Philippou certainly has the ability to turn out The Count’s lights and emerge victorious.

What do you think? Who do you see winning if Philippou‘s wish is granted?

For fans of MMA, heavy metal or general absurdity,
.

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Best UFC Tweets of the Week

Not only did UFC on FOX 6 provide several entertaining moments this past weekend, but it set the Twitter world on fire. The Ultimate Show was following along to catch all of the action.Among the highlights were Glover Teixeira, fresh off his domin…

Not only did UFC on FOX 6 provide several entertaining moments this past weekend, but it set the Twitter world on fire. 

The Ultimate Show was following along to catch all of the action.

Among the highlights were Glover Teixeira, fresh off his dominant, unanimous win, tweeting his respect toward Rampage Jackson—the man he defeated—and Chuck Liddell’s wife returning that respect right back at the 33-year-old veteran.

Take a look at the video for all of the best tweets of the week. 

For complete coverage on UFC on FOX 6 and all other events, check out Bleacher Report’s MMA page. 

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‘Star Wars’ Creator George Lucas Talks MMA Career of Daughter Amanda Lucas

Although she could simply live an easy life as the daughter of a famous film legend, Amanda Lucas instead chose to take up the career of a professional MMA fighter.That journey will be chronicled in the upcoming film LUCAS, directed by T…

Although she could simply live an easy life as the daughter of a famous film legend, Amanda Lucas instead chose to take up the career of a professional MMA fighter.

That journey will be chronicled in the upcoming film LUCAS, directed by TapouT Films founder and noted combat sports videographer Bobby Razak.

A new trailer for the project was released on Sunday, as highlighted on Twitter by Razak himself.

Featuring interviews from Amanda and her father George Lucas, the legendary creator of the billion-dollar Star Wars franchise, the documentary will cover several years of Amanda’s life with a major focus on her entry into the women’s MMA circuit.

She’s only been active in the sport for a little over a few years, but 31-year-old Amanda has quickly compiled a 5-1 record as an openweight competitor since May 2008.

Still, none of her victories have come against any notable fighters.

Despite the fact that Amanda is currently ranked by FightMatrix as one of the top 15 women in the featherweight division, all six of her opponents have a combined record of 22 wins and 43 losses.

Moreover, her only “ranked” victory has come against 33-year-old Japanese veteran Yuiga Yuiga.

That’s not to say that Amanda hasn’t faced any real challenges, though.

During the 2011 Mundials BJJ Worlds in Long Beach, California (via MMA Prime), the young Lucas earned a grappling medal after battling former Strikeforce champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino in the purple belt heavyweight finals.

It took several slams, trips and suplex maneuvers, but the overmatched rookie still fought to the end in a gritty, exhaustive effort (and eventual loss).

Amanda’s charisma and name value have also drawn a following in the news, leading to several features in outlets such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN and U.K. publication The Daily Mail.

Currently, the biggest feat of Amanda’s career has been winning the DEEP Openweight Women’s Championship, which she pulled off with a keylock submission victory over 46-year-old Japanese pro wrestling star and fighter Yumiko Hotta.

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Cung Le Addresses Potential Title Fight with Anderson Silva

UFC middleweight Cung Le said Monday he would be open to a fight with middleweight champion Anderson Silva.”If the UFC wants me to fight him, I’m totally open for it,” Le told broadcaster Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour podcast. “I wouldn’t b…

UFC middleweight Cung Le said Monday he would be open to a fight with middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

“If the UFC wants me to fight him, I’m totally open for it,” Le told broadcaster Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour podcast. “I wouldn’t be ready for him tomorrow or in the next couple of weeks. But if I have the right amount of time to train and get in the right mindset, then let’s do it.”

Le found himself an unwitting member of the MMA news cycle last week when Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, mentioned him (via Cage Fanatic) as a potential challenger to “The Spider.” 

“When I think about it, like the only thing that comes to mind, and I don’t even know if that would be a possible fight is, you know, like Cung Le is coming off of three wins or something,” Soares said.  

On Monday, Le floated the possibility of coaching on The Ultimate Fighter, possibly opposite Silva.

“There are things that as a martial artist I would still like to do. One is coaching on a season of TUF,” Le said. “I love to teach. I still teach today at my gym.”

Le noted that other potential challengers, including Chris Weidman and Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold, were probably also in the mix. Le said he’d be willing to do whatever the UFC asks, but added that he also has three movie projects in the works. He declined to go into specifics on the film work.

“There are a lot of good fighters out there. Chris and Luke Rockhold are other names people should look out for. I’m open for whatever, whether it’s fighting, coaching or doing movies,” Le said.

In November, Le, 40, experienced a resurgence in his fighting career following a highlight-reel knockout of Rich Franklin in China. The longtime kickboxing champion and action film actor said he felt like he still had some gas in his tank.

“After a win like that, I still feel like I have some fight left in me, but I’m still taking it one day at a time,” Le said. “I’ve got some big movie projects lining up. I’m going to continue training and being prepared for a big fight, and if it doesn’t work out, I have movies to fall back on.”

Anderson Silva fought twice in 2012, winning a rematch at middleweight with Chael Sonnen and moving up temporarily to light heavyweight, where he defeated Stephan Bonnar. Silva has held the UFC middleweight championship since 2006.

Now 37 years of age, Silva only wants major fights with big-name opponents. Apparently, Le falls into that category for Silva and his management team.

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