MMAWeekly.com reported Saturday that Japanese MMA promotion DREAM has reached an agreement with Pro Elite (parent company of EliteXC) on a broad-reaching partnership.
Tag: MMA News
UFC 84 Preview: Lyoto Machida
I’ve recently posted his fights with Sam Greco and B.J. Penn, so I’m only going to post a few more so folks who may not be familiar with him can get a better idea.
Personally, my main concern is how Lyoto will handle Ortiz’s physicality and wrestling. Machida has a very wide stance and while he’s got excellent movement in and out of range – and Ortiz has a tendency to reach on his takedowns out of desperation, e.g. third round of his fight with Forrest Griffin – you have to think at some point (especially early on) Ortiz is going to get the takedown with some sort of snatch single or double. From there, we know Machida has a good guard and underrated BJJ, but Ortiz has an excellent base, vicious ground and pound and good submission defense. I see this fight going Ortiz’s way early on with Machida doing well as the fight wears on. More fights after the jump.
Lyoto Machida vs. Stephan Bonnar
Lyoto Machida vs. Michael McDonald
Lyoto Machida vs. Rich Franklin Part 1
Lyoto Machida vs. Rich Franklin Part 2
Dream 3 Press Conference Highlights
SportsNavi had coverage of the Dream day-after Press conference:
Dream Event Producer Sasahara was asked about the possibility of Kimbo Slice possibly fighting on a dream card, despite him being unknown in Japan. He was also asked if EliteXC’s female superstar Gina Carano might be a possibility.
Dream Event Producer Sasahara: ” Certainly, now Kimbo Slice is perhaps namelessness. But, like Mayhem Miller yesterday, there is a possibility where it can grasp the heart of the fan with 1 appearance’
In regards to the woman fighter, at present time, no. Now ‘ DREAM ‘ is in the process of growing. When ‘ DREAM ‘ has reached maturity, we would think of adding women fighters at that time.”
Other Notes coming out of the day after press conference after the jump:
Jason Mayhem Miller seemed to be quite over with the Japanese crowd after his entertaining performance at Dream.3. Mayhem thanked the Japanese fans for embracing a strange guy like him. Miller said he considered it an honor to be in the same tournament as Sakuraba and love to be paired with him in the next round.
Kawajiri: Said he became hot-headed after Uno’s win and wanted to fight Uno in the next round, but that the pairings for the next round are not yet set. When asked to describe his other semi-finalists, he described Alvarez as aggressive and Uno as technical.
Eddie Alvarez: The staff of DREAM want to make this a fighting organization of the highest level, He would like to become suitable enough to become a regular fighter for them. We would like to continue to appear up to the last Dream and, as the person who participates from DREAM.1 til the end. In the tournament, He talked of being surrounded by Japanese superstars in the tournament, with himself being the lone American. He joked, At the finals he hoped that they wouldn’t throw tomatoes at him if he fought a Japanese fighter. Eddie described Kawajiri as powerful and Uno as perfect, in his performance against Ishida.
Uno: Happy to perform so well as the main event of the card. With much practicing and utmost effort, he would like to persevere in the next rounds. Described Kawajiri as Strong and Alvarez as the new style of fighter, able to do well both in stand up and on the ground.
Quote of the Day: Wanderlei Silva
Everybody likes my fight style but now I need to win… I’m working 24 hours a day for this fight.
Keith Jardine has a good style. He likes to fight standup and it’s good for fans. It’s more emotional. I love this. I think this is a good opponent for me. He has beaten many, he beat Forrest, he beat Chuck and he is a good name for me, a good match.
I?m going to prepare for his technique. I?m training a lot of Muay Thai. I’m training a lot of wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu. I’m prepared for every situation for this fight.
— ‘The Axe Murderer’ breaks down his fight for UFC 84.
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GSP A Casualty of Tito's Ego
In a recent interview with MMA Mania, Tito Ortiz decided to sacrifice Georges St. Pierre to his own ego:
Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): So are you saying that a lot of these fighters who we see on television as the faces of the UFC, do you think that behind the scenes, they are commenting on that type of thing but are just afraid to say it?
Tito Ortiz: Of course they’re commenting on it. There are all kinds of guys … Georges St. Pierre, I know he’s very disgusted with the UFC, but it’s just one of those things where they give him little small things that he thinks are great. He gets a brand new Hummer, like “Wow, I get an awesome new Hummer” (and it) costs 50 grand, and all of a sudden I gotta pay taxes on it, and I gotta pay for gas, and dutta-dutta-duh.
This is a pathetic tactic either way. If this is a lie, it really shows how low Tito is in general. If it’s true, Tito has no business outing it, and GSP is probably keeping the disagreement private for a reason.
Lift The Ban Watch: Tennessee Update Edition
So that controversial earmark that would direct proceeds collected not required to run the athletic commission to the state’s only collegiate Division I program? It was approved on the committee level:
A bill to legalize and regulate “mixed martial arts” competitions in Tennessee is headed for a full Senate vote.
The measure passed the Senate Finance Committee 10-1 on Monday. The companion bill was approved 95-2 in the House last week.
The measure would create a new commission to regulate amateur and professional contests beyond the boxing and kickboxing currently permitted in Tennessee.
The committee approved an amendment by Sen. Bo Watson that would direct some of the proceeds to Division I wrestling programs in Tennessee.