UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has looked unstopable in his last 7 fights but he faces, what is in his mind, the toughest challenge of his fight career when he rematches with Josh Koscheck after their stint on TUF. GSP was very complimentary when speaking of his opponent, something you can’t really expect […]
UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has looked unstopable in his last 7 fights but he faces, what is in his mind, the toughest challenge of his fight career when he rematches with Josh Koscheck after their stint on TUF. GSP was very complimentary when speaking of his opponent, something you can’t really expect to be reciprocated by a usually trash talking Kos, when he spoke to Tapology:
It’s going to be the toughest challenge. He’s very skilled and he’s the kind of fighter that is very well rounded. A lot of the guys that I have fought are good on the ground or on the feet, but they have holes in their game. Koscheck is like me; he’s not the best striker, not the best wrestler, not the best Jiu-Jitsu guy, but he can do it all so it’s going to be interesting. You’re going to see a mix of different things; it’s going to be good.
The interview is quite interest and a great read on a variety of topics related to GSP and his view on how traditional martial arts play into MMA today. Click here to check it out.
Fresh off his TKO win in Strikeforce Challengers last week, SportFight founder and MMA superstar Matt “The Law” Lindland has put together yet another adrenaline-pumping night of mixed martial arts action at the Theater of the Clouds on Saturday, July 10th at 7p. SportFight XXVIII: Boiling Point will offer up a stacked fight card featuring […]
Fresh off his TKO win in Strikeforce Challengers last week, SportFight founder and MMA superstar Matt “The Law” Lindland has put together yet another adrenaline-pumping night of mixed martial arts action at the Theater of the Clouds on Saturday, July 10th at 7p. SportFight XXVIII: Boiling Point will offer up a stacked fight card featuring some of the most skilled and exciting athletes from both the Northwest and beyond.
This installment of SportFight will also have a distinct international flavor, featuring two top Brazilian fighters: the nephew of Hermes Franka—Lucca Franka taking on Japanese sensation Eddie Matsuura.
There will be two belts on the line at Middle Weight, Casey Manrique takes on Damian Dantibo.
For the Heavy Weight Title, Daniel Stewart of Team Quest Faces the California sensation DJ Linderman.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had this much talent on a card before,” says Lindland, President of SportFight, LLC. “We’re flying in some top international fighters, in addition to some of the best free agent fighters out there. We’re talent deep, and we’re heavyweight deep. On paper, this could be one of the better shows that we’ve had.
“Top Matchups: Main Event – Heavy Weight Championship
Daniel Stewart (5-1), Team Quest/Newport, OR vs. DJ Linderman (7-1), Yreka, CA
“I like this heavy weight match-up – both these guys have power in both hands and they can both wrestle,” noted Matt Lindland. “This fight will be action packed. It’s scheduled for five rounds but don’t plan on this fight going to the judges’ card.”
Co-Main Event-Middle Weight Championship
Casey Manrique faces Damian Dantibo in this action-packed match-up as these two undefeated fighters meet up for the SportFight Middle Weight title
Fight Card: Main Event – Heavyweight Championship Heavyweight
Daniel Stewart (5-1), Team Quest/Newport, OR vs. DJ Linderman (7-1), Yreka, CA
Co-Main Event–Middleweight Welterweight
Casey Manrique (5-0), Springfield, OR vs. Damian Dantibo (5-0), Eugene, OR
Lightweight
Lucca Franka, Fortaleza-Brazil VS Eddie Matsuura, Omiya Japan fighting out of Fisticuffs Gym
Middle weight
Ray Armstrong, Battle Ground, WA VS John Clift Milwaukie, OR
More fights TBA
About SportFight
Founded in 2003 by Matt Lindland and Randy Couture, SportFight is the leading mixed martial arts promotion in the northwestern United States. Together with its subsidiary brands, “Proving Grounds” and “Clash at the Casino,” SportFight has produced more than 30 live MMA events in Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.
SportFight was Oregon’s first sanctioned mixed martial arts promotion and has served as a showcase for many of the sport’s emerging stars and best-known veterans, such as Sean Sherk, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Jeff Monson, Chris Leben, Ed Herman, Gesias “JZ” Calvancanti, Paul Daley, Chael Sonnen and Dennis Hallman. Furthermore, SportFight has graduated fighters to every major MMA organization, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride FC, K-1, the International Fight League, BodogFIGHT and Elite XC.
Check out SportFight TV every Saturday at 10 pm on Comcast SportsNet. SportFight has an extensive library of event footage and highlight compilations that are available on DVD at Wal-Mart, Hollywood Video and many other retail locations. For more information, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.sportfight.tv.\” www.sportfight.tv.
Tickets are priced at $132, $48, $35 & $20. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the Rose Quarter Box Office (M-F 10a 5p), all participating Safeway/ TicketsWest outlets, by calling 877.789.ROSE (7673), or at ComcastTIX.com. For more information please visit RoseQuarter.com. Prices do not include service charges. For Groups of 10 and more please call 503.963.4400. To receive event notices, pre-sale opportunities, discounts and prizes join our free Rose Quarter CyberClub at RoseQuarter.com.
Tom Watson has a unique opportunity within the Maximum Fighting Championship.
Already a top-ranked contender for the MFC’s middleweight title and one of the most-potent strikers in the entire organization, Watson is in position to become something that the MFC has never had before – a truly international star.
Because of his mass appeal and social media […]
Tom Watson has a unique opportunity within the Maximum Fighting Championship.
Already a top-ranked contender for the MFC’s middleweight title and one of the most-potent strikers in the entire organization, Watson is in position to become something that the MFC has never had before – a truly international star.
Because of his mass appeal and social media accessibility, Watson has become a popular figure in his native England and in both countries where he trains – the United States and Canada. His Canadian fan base in particular has grown exponentially thanks in large part to his appearance at MFC 24: Heat XC but Watson is far from forgotten in his homeland or in the U.S.
While the MFC has featured countless fighters over the years in prominent roles and as home-town favorites, Watson has the chance to become the first fighter to have international drawing power.
“I’ve always had a bit of a following in the U.K. due to the fights I’ve been involved in,” explained Watson, who will sport a 12-3 record going into his expected clash at MFC 26 in September.
“It was great to see the Canadian fans appreciate the humor of my (ring) entrance at MFC 24 and I hope to give them more of the same in September. I have been training in America for over three years now so that has helped my exposure in the States as well.”
At MFC 24, Watson strutted to the ring to funky soul music all while sporting a gorilla mask in homage to his nickname “Kong.” But what’s a stylish ring entrance worth if you don’t back it up with some substance when the bell rings? Watson certainly did that, scoring a near-lethal head-kick knockout of Travis Galbraith. The first-round sudden stoppage is most definitely a candidate for the MFC’s Knockout of the Year and instantly put Watson on the map as a contender and budding star.
That convincing win was Watson’s seventh straight positive verdict and was a resounding debut, both in the organization and on North American soil. Watson will get his chance to show the world his talents at MFC 26 when he steps into the ring for the first time on HDNet Fights.
“(Against Galbraith) I remember being thoroughly prepared for a jiu-jitsu battle and didn’t really train too much striking too be honest,” recalled Watson. “But years’ of hard work is always there and as soon as it landed I knew it was over. No one can take my kicks clean on the jaw and not get knocked out. My coach Eric O’Keefe put together a great game plan. We knew what Galbraith’s moves would be and the rest fell into place.”
And so did Galbraith, with a crashing face-first thud to the canvas. Should Watson come away from MFC 26 with another victory tucked securely into his back pocket, he has been assured of a crack at the MFC’s middleweight crown – an emblem that has only been worn once before when Patrick Cote took the honor way back at MFC 9 in March 2006.
“Of course it won’t be easy but nothing worth doing in life is easy. I came into the MFC with the belief that I would become champion. I will achieve this goal,” declared Watson, who is hoping the road to the title goes straight through Drew McFedries – his potential opponent at MFC 26.
“I really hope it is McFedries as for sure he will come and stand and bang with me. I have never been knocked out in 50 fights but he has big power so for the fans that is a great fight. I have no doubt I can do whatever it takes to win and put myself forward to fight whoever the MFC decides.”
One thing for sure with Watson, whatever fights await him, he will undoubtedly do his best at creating as much hype as possible and even fire off a few verbal jousts at his foe. It’s just ingrained in British fighters that part of their job is to heat up the pre-fight antics with some ribbing – good-natured or not. While some in the martial arts world frown on that behavior, it’s a necessary part of the business both for the fighter and the organization to stand out in the crowded world scene.
Like his good friend Paul Daley, Watson isn’t shy about tossing out the quote-worthy lines, shooting them out like a stiff jab.
“Not all British fighters are like that … just the good ones!”
On Monday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission released the medical suspensions for this past weekends “UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin” event. All four headlining fighters were issued with medical suspensions.
UFC 116 went down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
The full medical suspensions are as follows:
– Brock Lesnar: Suspended until Aug. […]
On Monday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission released the medical suspensions for this past weekends “UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin” event. All four headlining fighters were issued with medical suspensions.
UFC 116 went down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
The full medical suspensions are as follows:
– Brock Lesnar: Suspended until Aug. 18 with no contact till Aug. 3 – Right eye and left eyebrow lacerations.
– Shane Carwin: Suspended until Sept 2 with no contact till Aug. 18.
– Chris Leben: Suspended until Aug. 3 with no contact till July 25. – “Tough fight.”
– Yoshihiro Akiyama: Suspended until Aug. 18 with no contact till Aug. 3. – “Tough fight.”
– Stephen Bonnar: Suspended until Aug. 18 with no contact until Aug. 3. – Facial lacerations.
– Krzysztof Soszynski: Suspended until Sept. 2 with no contact until Aug. 18. – Left thumb must be cleared by a physician or suspension will extend until Dec. 31.
– Kurt Pellegrino: Suspended until Aug. 18 with no contact until Aug. 3 – Left knee must be cleared by a physician or suspension will extend until Dec. 31.
– Chris Tuchscherer: Suspended until Sept. 2 with no contact until Aug. 18. – Right cheek laceration. Must receive clearance for left ear with a specialist or suspension will extend until Dec. 31.
– Ricardo Romero: Suspended until Sept. 2 with no contact until Aug. 18. – Broken left lower jaw must receive clearance by specialist or suspension will extend until Dec. 31.
– David Branch: Suspended until Sept. 2 with no contact until Aug. 18.
With UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen up next on the schedule, it’s interesting to get a point of view from UFC welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre on how UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva performed in his last fight against Demian Maia. Pierre, as is usual for him, chooses not to talk to negatively […]
With UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen up next on the schedule, it’s interesting to get a point of view from UFC welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre on how UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva performed in his last fight against Demian Maia. Pierre, as is usual for him, chooses not to talk to negatively about Silva, as he answered the questions for Tapology:
You know, it’s a question of style, you know what I mean? I think it was up to the other guy to put on more pressure than Anderson Silva. For sure Silva was tired—he did a lot of fakes and stuff like that—but I don’t know what happened. For the first two rounds I think it was a great display of Muay Thai and Capoeira, but I heard he said some bad things in the fourth round and that was not nice. I don’t know what happened between these two guys before, but for me it’s not my style to talk like this.
GSP will be out of the Octagon until the end of the upcoming season of TUF, and then he will face opposing coach and number one contender Josh Koscheck. UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen will take place August 7 and most MMA fans are hopeful for a good showing from The Spider.
Clay Guida is set to take on Rafael Dos Santos as part of the upcoming UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen card and Guida thinks that this fight is huge as far as pushing his momentum forward into a fight streak. Despite his crazy look, Guida is a very smart fighter and has an easy […]
Clay Guida is set to take on Rafael Dos Santos as part of the upcoming UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen card and Guida thinks that this fight is huge as far as pushing his momentum forward into a fight streak. Despite his crazy look, Guida is a very smart fighter and has an easy time breaking down both his matches and those of other elite fighters. Expect plenty of crazy hair and tons of energy on August 7, 2010.
