Thing don’t seem to be getting any better for UFC middleweight fighter Chael Sonnen who was recently busted by CSAC for taking performance enhancing drugs. Now word has come out via SI.com that Sonnen actually let California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director George Dodd know of the use prior to his matchup with […]
Thing don’t seem to be getting any better for UFC middleweight fighter Chael Sonnen who was recently busted by CSAC for taking performance enhancing drugs. Now word has come out via SI.com that Sonnen actually let California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director George Dodd know of the use prior to his matchup with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Here’s the blurb:
Sonnen, 33, of West Linn, Ore., was apparently concerned enough about the possibility that he would render a positive test that he told CSAC executive director George Dodd he used an illegal performance enhancing drug leading up to the biggest fight of his life.
“He only indicated that he was taking it but he never indicated why,” Dodd said of a conversation he and Sonnen shared during drug testing conducted by the state a day prior to the fight.
Sonnen “just let me know he was taking [something] and that’s when I called over an inspector to get it documented. But when you do take it you still have to show a medical reason.”
Sonnen has been a constant mouth piece before and since his fight with Silva, but now he’s strangely silent and still hasn’t given his side of the story. Could it all be a misunderstanding or a medical use of testosterone. Sounds unlikely.
CHICAGO, Ill. (September 20, 2010) — Bellator Fighting Championships today announced that undefeated heavyweight Ron “The Monster” Sparks will make his Bellator debut in his hometown of Louisville when he takes on undefeated ground-and-pound specialist and fellow Louisville product Greg Maynard at Bellator 30, taking place at Fourth Street Live! on September 23.
“We’re thrilled […]
CHICAGO, Ill. (September 20, 2010) — Bellator Fighting Championships today announced that undefeated heavyweight Ron “The Monster” Sparks will make his Bellator debut in his hometown of Louisville when he takes on undefeated ground-and-pound specialist and fellow Louisville product Greg Maynard at Bellator 30, taking place at Fourth Street Live! on September 23.
“We’re thrilled to give the Louisville faithful a heavyweight match of this caliber,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Both fighters are beloved in Louisville, and will give the fans at Fourth Street Live! a great show.”
Both heavyweights enter the fight sporting perfect professional records, Sparks is 5-0 and Maynard is 2-0 in their respective fighting careers. The massive 6′5” 265 lb Sparks has notched 4 of his professional victories by knockout, while his Maynard has won both of his outings from submissions due to strikes. The pair of hard-hitting heavyweights has finished a combined 6 of their 7 fights, which makes the odds of this heavyweight showdown making it to the judges very unlikely.
“This fight should end with a knockout,” said a confident Sparks. “Although I wouldn’t mind it going to the ground either. Everyone sees me as a huge stand up fighter, but I have taken my ground game to a whole new level, and I want people to see that.”
The biggest struggle “The Monster” has faced hasn’t been in the ring, but finding someone who is willing to take him on. After having his previous two fights cancelled or postponed, Sparks is truly thankful to be given this opportunity in his hometown.
“I’m just excited to get back into the ring,” said Sparks. “Bellator is a huge promotion, and to make my debut in front of all my friends and family just makes it even more special. The fans know I always provide a great show, and this won’t be any different.”
Tickets for the event – which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net along with action-packed highlight shows that will air on NBC Saturday nights – are on sale now at ticketmaster.com
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.
Former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk may be past his prime, but he certainly doesn’t think that. The 37 year old fighter has faced some of the biggest names in the industry but seems on the verge of becomming nothing more than a gate keeper for a newer, faster style of lightweight division. […]
Former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk may be past his prime, but he certainly doesn’t think that. The 37 year old fighter has faced some of the biggest names in the industry but seems on the verge of becomming nothing more than a gate keeper for a newer, faster style of lightweight division. Sherk will have a tough test as he takes on undefeated fighter Evan Dunham at UFC 119 on Sept. 25 in Indianapolis but expect Sherk to be equally prepared for the fight which will be his first after returning from injury. Here’s his thoughts on how he stacks up with the division, via Sherdog:
I’m a force to be reckoned with. Anyone who thinks I’m not can step in the Octagon with me. I’ve got all kinds of stuff left to offer this industry and this sport. I’m not going anywhere for a long time. I haven’t lost any athleticism. I haven’t lost any of my ability. I’ve only gotten better, and I’ve only gotten smarter.”
“I trained so hard for years, and I felt like I had to train hard and train myself 100 percent for these fights because I was fighting a lot of tough guys. I really haven’t fought anybody who was outside the top 10 since 2005. I’ve had to train my butt off to get ready for these fights, and I did what I needed to do. Unfortunately, after training that hard for that long, your body will start giving out on you. But I took some time off and was able to get myself healed up.”
Always interesting to see how other high level MMA fighters think that the upcoming bouts are going to go down. This time it’s Jon Fitch, Javier Mendez, Maes Thomson and more as they discuss UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop.
Always interesting to see how other high level MMA fighters think that the upcoming bouts are going to go down. This time it’s Jon Fitch, Javier Mendez, Maes Thomson and more as they discuss UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop.
Goodbye Chael Sonnen, hello either Vitor Belfort or Yushin Okami. The UFC, via a press release let the word get out that the winner of the upcoming middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami will in fact get the next title shot. Here’s the blurb:
In the high-stakes main event, mixed martial arts […]
Goodbye Chael Sonnen, hello either Vitor Belfort or Yushin Okami. The UFC, via a press release let the word get out that the winner of the upcoming middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami will in fact get the next title shot. Here’s the blurb:
In the high-stakes main event, mixed martial arts legend Vitor ‘the Phenom’ Belfort will face Japanese powerhouse Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami in a three-round contest to determine who will challenge for the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2011.
Seems pretty logical, especially with Sonnen looking like he’s out of the picture. Mind you if Sonnen some how proves he’s innocent he could still fight Silva first and then one of the other two fighters would try for the title later in 2011.
