Tag: Josh Thomson

*UPDATED* Gil Martinez Says Maynard is Likely Leaving Xtreme Couture to Train at AKA; Gray Says He’s Undecided


(Plan “B”: Boy band — PicProps: MMATKO)

Gil Martinez appeared on Mauro Ranallo’s “The MMA Show“ radio program today and the head boxing trainer and coach at Xtreme Couture dropped a bombshell about one of his highest profile students.

According to Martinez, he’s pretty sure that  former number one UFC lightweight contender Gray Maynard has decided to cut ties with the Vegas gym and is planning a move to the San Francisco Bay area where he will train American Kickboxing Academy moving forward. There, Maynard will join a top-tier team that includes notables like Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, Cain Velasquez, Daniel Cormier, Josh Thomson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.


(Plan “B”: Boy band — PicProps: MMATKO)

Gil Martinez appeared on Mauro Ranallo’s “The MMA Show“ radio program today and the head boxing trainer and coach at Xtreme Couture dropped a bombshell about one of his highest profile students.

According to Martinez, he’s pretty sure that  former number one UFC lightweight contender Gray Maynard has decided to cut ties with the Vegas gym and is planning a move to the San Francisco Bay area where he will train American Kickboxing Academy moving forward. There, Maynard will join a top-tier team that includes notables like Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, Cain Velasquez, Daniel Cormier, Josh Thomson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.

Martinez told Ranallo that he was hurt and disappointed that Gray decided to move without discussing it with his Xtreme Couture stablemates and coaches, but wishes him the best at his new gym.

Besides his recent knockout loss to Frankie Edgar, part of the reason for Maynard’s departure could be comments Martinez made about his camp for the bout. He revealed in his Fighters.com blog after the bout that he wasn’t involved as much in Maynard’s camp as he has been for previous bouts.

“In the corner I was just playing it by ear and looking for certain things since I wasn’t exactly sure of everything he had been doing since I wasn’t completely involved with his camp this time around, though I wish I had been,” he explained

Martinez  also mentioned in the weeks after the fight that he didn’t agree with Gray’s decision to not train every day at Xtreme Couture for the camp.  Instead, “The Bully” decided it would be best if he he rented out a gym closer to home and bring in training partners to train with so he didn’t have to travel to XC every day for the eight weeks before the bout.

Although he says that no official decision has been made by Gray, from what he is hearing, it’s all but a done deal.

Attempts to reach Maynard for comment have been unsuccessful. We’ll have more updates as we receive them.

*UPDATED at 7:30 pm ET on Monday, November 21, 2011:
Gray texted us the following statement regarding his supposed switch in camps:

“Nothing for sure yet. Just training, getting new looks. I love [Xtreme Couture], but there’s a lot to learn out there.”

So it seems that he is strongly considering a change of scenery, however he’s taking his time and putting a lot of consideration into where he’ll eventually land.

UFC: "King Mo" vs. Matyushenko and 3 Fights to Schedule Post-Strikeforce GP

Strikeforce hosted the semifinal round of the heavyweight grand prix in Cincinnati on Saturday night and fight fans were treated with an exciting night of action.The event was headlined by Josh Barnett (31-5) and Sergei Kharitonov (18-5) to determine w…

Strikeforce hosted the semifinal round of the heavyweight grand prix in Cincinnati on Saturday night and fight fans were treated with an exciting night of action.

The event was headlined by Josh Barnett (31-5) and Sergei Kharitonov (18-5) to determine who would advance to the finals.

Kharitonov was no match for the far superior Barnett and with the victory, Barnett advances to the final round of the tournament and extends his win streak to nine that dates back to 2008.

Former Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier (9-0) stepped in on short notice against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (16-3).

A huge four-punch combination by Cormier dropped Silva, and two devastating hammer fists later, the AKA-trained heavyweight finished the fight.

Barnett and Cormier were both impressive in claiming first-round victories and now face each other in the finals later this winter.

With that being said, we take a look at the fighters who don’t have their next fight set and determine the matchups that should be booked next.

So, if you’d like to hear why Strikeforce should be folded and merged to the UFC, read E. Spencer Kyte’s column on Heavy.com.

Begin Slideshow

Injury Knocks Josh Thomson Out of Strikeforce Bout With Maximo Blanco

Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsA foot injury has sidelined Strikeforce lightweight Josh Thomson, forcing him out of his September 10 matchup with Maximo Blanco, MMA Fighting has learned.

Thompson hurt himself within the past wee…

Filed under: , ,

A foot injury has sidelined Strikeforce lightweight Josh Thomson, forcing him out of his September 10 matchup with Maximo Blanco, MMA Fighting has learned.

Thompson hurt himself within the past week, and tests revealed damage that left him unable to complete his training camp and compete. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed the worst-case scenario for a fighter who has had several injury problems in the past.

The Thomson-Blanco match had been scheduled as a main card bout of Strikeforce’s upcoming show in Cincinnati, an event that will feature Heavyweight Grand Prix fights pitting Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Silva vs. Daniel Cormier.

The 32-year-old former Strikeforce lightweight champion hasn’t fought since December 2010, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Tatsuya Kawajiri. He hasn’t competed in the Strikeforce cage since last October, when he defeated Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante via decision.

He is 18-4 with one no contest overall.

Strikeforce officials could not immediately confirm Thomson’s injury, and it is not known if the promotion will seek a replacement fighter to face Blanco (8-2-1, 1 no contest), who was set to debut after six straight wins in Japanese promotions.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Hump Day Headlines with Stephanie Ann Cook

Dana White tweets: GSP vs. Nick Diaz is on for UFC 137. UFC 133 fight card to include: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Rich Franklin vs. Antonio “Lil’ Nog”.


Dana White tweets: GSP vs. Nick Diaz is on for UFC 137.

UFC 133 fight card to include: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Rich Franklin vs. Antonio “Lil’ Nog” Rogerio Nogueira set for August 6th.

Jon Fitch doesn’t want fight with Rick Story and will wait for either BJ Penn or Georges St. Pierre.

Brian Foster cleared by doctor to fight again after brain hemmorrhage.

Brock Lesnar‘s surgery goes well, plans 2012 comeback.

Josh Thomson back in action against Maximo Blanco for Strikeforce in September.

Roy Nelson claims he had “walking pneumonia” going into his UFC 130 bout/loss against Frank Mir.

Attention Strikeforce: JZ Cavalcante Needs to Eat, Wants to Fight

(Despite not being able to afford a shirt, JZ remains upbeat about the situation.)
When you’re a fighter and your income is dependant on how often you fight, it’s understandable that you might get a bit upset when your employer, without explanation, ke…


(Despite not being able to afford a shirt, JZ remains upbeat about the situation.)

When you’re a fighter and your income is dependant on how often you fight, it’s understandable that you might get a bit upset when your employer, without explanation, keeps you out of work for an extended period of time.

Such is the case with Gesias Cavalcante.

"JZ" has been sitting on the sidelines waiting since October for Strikeforce to call to tell him when he would be fighting next. Unfortunately for the American Top Team lightweight his phone has been silent the past three months so he decided to take matters into his own hands and contacted the San Jose-based promotion to see what was up.

Not surprisingly, he was given the runaround.

“I’m basically in the dark. I wanted to fight on either the December or January Strikeforce card. I was told they were full, so I was told I’d be fighting in the February show," JZ, who signed a four-fight deal with SF prior to his last fight explains. "That got full, so I heard March would be it. But that’s coming up quickly. I don’t know when or who I’m fighting.

read more

Video Evidence: Maynard Trains, ‘The Reem’ Finale, Thomson Talks, Bas Shows Off Holiday Beard

(Propers: YouTube/UFC)
Would it surprise you much if we told you Gray Maynard’s UFC 125 video blog wasn’t – how do we put this – the most exciting thing in the world? Nope, the No. 1 contender for the UFC lightweight title …

(Propers: YouTube/UFC)

Would it surprise you much if we told you Gray Maynard’s UFC 125 video blog wasn’t – how do we put this – the most exciting thing in the world? Nope, the No. 1 contender for the UFC lightweight title just kind of grinds this one out. Give Maynard some credit for tooling around Vegas in a black-on-black Caddy with dark tinted windows and retiring to what appears to be his very sweet condo to play with his dogs, but that’s about as exhilarating as this one gets. At one point, dude makes a sandwich. Open-face. Peanut butter and banana on a rice cake. In a four-minute video, it takes about a minute. And that’s sort of a metaphor for the whole thing.

Anyway, we know it’s still officially the holiday weekend and you’re still trying to ease back into this thing, so after the jump you’ll find a smattering of weekend videos to keep you entertained. Think of it as like our Xmas gift to you. Our Xmas gift for you that we stole from other places without so much as a tremor of good conscience. Hey, we never said we were nice guys.

read more