Tag: WSOF

And Now He’s Fired: Cody McKenzie Sent Packing After Bizarre UFC on FOX 9 Performance Against Sam Stout


(Stout, seen here fighting off a beach bum who snuck his way past securi-what’s that? The man in basketball shorts *is* Cody McKenzie? My sincerest apologies. Photo via Getty.)

Aside from being one of the most unique people to ever pass through the TUF house, Cody McKenzie might be the least intimidating-looking guy to *ever* fight in the UFC, Fred Ettish excluded (all due respect to both men). With his mangy appearance and general “No fucks to give” attitude, McKenzie was a fighter who made his name as one of the most prolific one-trick ponies in the game, scoring 11 out of his 14 career wins by way of his patented McKenzietine choke.

Unfortunately, McKenzie was on borrowed time from the very moment he made the transition to the big leagues, and today brings word that he has been released by the UFC following his disastrous performance against Sam Stout at UFC on FOX 9. The announcement was made by none other than McKenzie himself via Twitter, and immediately followed up by a request to fight Shinya Aoki. Additionally, McKenzie informed us that he already has two fights lined up — one at 180 lbs and one at 170 — and would like to fight for the WSOF in the near future. Personally, I’m all for the idea of seeing McKenzie vs. Palhares with the stipulation that both men can attempt their signature submissions and nothing else for the entirety of the contest. Any takers?

Despite being shut down in the TUF 12 quarterfinals by Nam Phan, there’s no denying the resounding impact McKenzie had on the show, mainly thanks to his pair of McKenzietine wins over Amir Khillah and Marc Stevens and constant needling of Josh Koscheck. That’s what won him over in my eyes, at least.


(Stout, seen here fighting off a beach bum who snuck his way past securi-what’s that? The man in basketball shorts *is* Cody McKenzie? My sincerest apologies. Photo via Getty.)

Aside from being one of the most unique people to ever pass through the TUF house, Cody McKenzie might be the least intimidating-looking guy to *ever* fight in the UFC, Fred Ettish excluded (all due respect to both men). With his mangy appearance and general “No fucks to give” attitude, McKenzie was a fighter who made his name as one of the most prolific one-trick ponies in the game, scoring 11 out of his 14 career wins by way of his patented McKenzietine choke.

Unfortunately, McKenzie was on borrowed time from the very moment he made the transition to the big leagues, and today brings word that he has been released by the UFC following his disastrous performance against Sam Stout at UFC on FOX 9. The announcement was made by none other than McKenzie himself via Twitter, and immediately followed up by a request to fight Shinya Aoki. Additionally, McKenzie informed us that he already has two fights lined up — one at 180 lbs and one at 170 — and would like to fight for the WSOF in the near future. Personally, I’m all for the idea of seeing McKenzie vs. Palhares with the stipulation that both men can attempt their signature submissions and nothing else for the entirety of the contest. Any takers?

Despite being shut down in the TUF 12 quarterfinals by Nam Phan, there’s no denying the resounding impact McKenzie had on the show, mainly thanks to his pair of McKenzietine wins over Amir Khillah and Marc Stevens and constant needling of Josh Koscheck. That’s what won him over in my eyes, at least. After making the leap to the UFC and scoring a debut win over fellow TUF 12 castmate Aaron Wilkinson, McKenzie would drop a pair of submission losses to Yves Edwards and Wagner Rocha, leading many to believe that he would receive his walking papers right then and there.

Luckily, McKenzie was given another shot against four-time NCAA Division III championship wrestler Marcus LeVesseur at UFC on FUEL (remember those?) 3: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier. Clearly at a strength disadvantage, the “AK Kid” was outmuscled and outgunned by Levesseur in the early going, but only needed the smallest of windows to latch onto his signature guillotine and force the tap at just over 3 minutes into the first round.

McKenzie would make the drop to featherweight for his next fight. In what would become known as one of the most cruel matchmaking decisions in UFC History, McKenzie would be paired off against Chad Mendes, who had just challenged Jose Aldo for the featherweight title in his previous contest, at UFC 148. The fight lasted 31 seconds and saw McKenzie defeated via a brutal body shot TKO. Years later, matchmaker Sean Shelby would attempt to explain the circumstances that led to the booking of that slaughter, but has yet to outright apologize for it. A decision win over Leonard Garcia at UFC 159 would follow; the last of McKenzie’s UFC career.

Perhaps it’s appropriate that McKenzie’s final UFC fight would become memorable for all the wrong (also, bizarre) reasons — he was after all, one of the most peculiar, least “fightery” guys to ever step foot in the octagon. And although McKenzie may never rise to the level of a UFC or even a WSOF contender, he always came off as a friendly, heartfelt, and truly genuine guy at his core. And like we said, it’s hard to hate someone who never backed down from a fight, especially when that fight was with a loofah-haired, angry lip balm-applying, dickhead coach of a reality show competition.

We would like to wish Cody the best of luck wherever the road takes him, and to honor his equally memorable and improbable run in the UFC, we will pay tribute the only way we know how: With a grainy TV-recording of his TUF 12 fight against Team Koscheck’s #1 pick, Marc Stevens. We don’t think he’d want it any other way.

Shine on, you crazy son of a bitch.

–J. Jones

The Beaten Path: Prospect Ozzy Dugulubgov and the MMA Hotbed of North Caucasus

It’s the North Caucasian Invasion. 
Easy enough to label it something else. You know, slap it with the Russian Revolution moniker, then tie it up in a neat collection of archetypes involving bears and Aleksandr Karelin and nursery rhymes wit…

It’s the North Caucasian Invasion. 

Easy enough to label it something else. You know, slap it with the Russian Revolution moniker, then tie it up in a neat collection of archetypes involving bears and Aleksandr Karelin and nursery rhymes with huntsmen in them.

It’s easy, but it’s like a lot of easy things in that it’s not correct. Ozzy Dugulubgov, for one, wants to make that clear.

“I’m not Russian.”

Yes, Ozzy (born “Azamat”) Dugulubgov was born in Russia. But he was also born in the North Caucasus region, an area that was annexed by the Russians in the 19th century and has remained politically turbulent more or less ever since.

Like most fighters from that part of the world, Dugulubgov draws a bright dividing line between his homeland and the nation that controls it. Their common ground stretches to fighting, too; Dugulubgov is the latest in a string of elite North Caucasian MMA prospects.

In Dugulubgov’s case, the mark is being made in the lightweight division of the World Series of Fighting promotion. He fights Jonathan Nunez Saturday at WSOF 9, and if he wins, he’ll be 6-1 as a pro, five for his last five and 3-0 in WSOF. That’s title contender territory.

“This is the third fight in WSOF for me, and if I win it, it will bring me closer to a new stage and closer to the title shot,” Dugulubgov said.

The 25-year-old Dugulubgov (6-1) is certainly focused on that fight. Nunez is a former D-1 college wrestler, and will test Dugulubgov in that phase. But it’s Ozzy’s homeland that really gets him talking.

It isn’t exactly front-page news that misconceptions exist about places like the stridently Muslim North Caucasus region, which includes the republics of Chechnya and Dagestan and has recently turned out MMA phenoms like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Rustam Khabilov and Frodo Khasbulaev, among others. With mild manners but clear conviction, Dugulubgov addresses those misconceptions, comparing the ethnic groups of North Caucasus with one that might be more familiar to the Western world.

“We’re almost like Native Americans,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report. “We were natives of that area. At the end of the day, now we’re part of Russia. But we’re still a different people…I used to get so pissed when people called me Russian. But now I understand that’s just the way it is a lot of times. People don’t always understand what goes on, and I get that.”

It has been five years since Dugulubgov left his parents, friends and hometown of Baksan, located in the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, for the United States. He ultimately settled in New Jersey with his two younger siblings, for whom he is now the legal guardian.

“Family is important,” Dugulubgov said with the kind of gravitas that you probably don’t have unless you’ve done something like move half a world away from your parents and assume legal guardianship of your two younger siblings. “I miss my parents and my extended family. I would love to have them around me. When I have a day off, I love to spend time with my younger brother and sister. They live here, but I don’t see them much because I’m training all the time.”

That’s about all the softness you’re going to get out of Dugulubgov (6-1), especially if you’re another fighter. Although he touts a well-rounded skill set—honed in part by a wrestling-champ father and training with Renzo Gracie for the past three years—his bread and butter is taekwondo-based striking, an unusual weapon among the North Caucasian contingent. But unlike other MMA fighters with a deep background in the karate branch of martial arts, Dugulubgov doesn’t nibble around the edges. He maintains distance but pounces on openings with extreme prejudice. The approach has netted him two knockout victories as a pro and a reputation as a precise headhunter. 

He also attacks with a combination of calm and ferocity that’s probably unique to the North Caucasus and Russian contingents. What about the region’s warrior combat poet spirit people are always referencing? Turns out that’s more than just an abstract nod to a fable or the region’s recent military history.

“Fighting and being an athlete and being able to defend yourself was so important growing up. You have to know how to wrestle, and you have to be athletic,” Dugulubgov says. “Everyone who was even a little chubby, it was a big deal. In first grade, on up through the grades, people are always separating you out based on your level. You always had to face the challenge from your friends and those around you. Almost every day, you’d go back to the train tracks and there would be someone fighting each other. Sometimes in the early years, you fight your friend, but then you build a bond. All my friends, I fought them all.”

And he’s not done shedding light on the area. What about that quiet attitude of fighters from the region?

“Sometimes people say while I’m sparring or fighting, they say ‘Ozzy, kick his ass!’” he said. “But one of the things I grew up on was a style on the street where you really watch what you say. You say ‘your mother is this or that,’ and they will cut your head off. We don’t threaten each other. If I tell someone else I’m going to kill them tomorrow, you have to go do what you say.”

Dugulubgov may not be inclined to talk, but he says he doesn’t miss it.

“The way I see it is, why do you have to have so much thunder in your mouth if you have God in your heart and lightning in your hand?”
 

The Beaten Path series highlights the top prospects in MMA. For the previous article in the series, click here. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Scott Harris writes about MMA for Bleacher Report. For more, follow Scott on Twitter.

 

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WSOF Announces Free Online Streaming for Future Cards, Starting with WSOF 9

The World Series of Fighting is setting a new standard for the way MMA fans across the globe consume their events online. 
In a recent press release, the organization announced that WSOF 9—and all future events—will be streamed for fre…

The World Series of Fighting is setting a new standard for the way MMA fans across the globe consume their events online. 

In a recent press release, the organization announced that WSOF 9—and all future events—will be streamed for free internationally on NBCSports.com. 

There will be no validation for a television subscription to NBC Sports; users will simply select whether they are international or U.S. viewers, and the card will be open for their enjoyment, according to WSOF publicist Danny Brener. 

In addition, Brener told Bleacher Report via text message that, while the vast majority of the card will be seen online, the first two bouts of the night will not be available for streaming. That means that bouts Nos. 3 through 11 will be shown, which includes the co-main and main events. 

This is huge news for us, as well as for our fans in the U.S. as well all around the world, World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said. I am constantly receiving emails and tweets from fans who are eager to be able to watch our fights, and I’m so proud to finally offer them this opportunity. It’s been my mission since day one to have these amazing fights playing in homes all around the world, and this is a massive step in that direction!

World Series of Fighting 9 will be the first card to test this new means of consumption, and the WSOF brass assembled a nice slate of fights for its inaugural run. 

The welterweight championship will be on the line, as champion Steve Carl faces ex-UFC fighter Rousimar Palhares in the night’s main event. 

In addition, Marlon Moraes will battle Josh Rettinghouse for the inaugural WSOF bantamweight championship, and ex-UFC middleweight Yushin Okami makes his promotional debut against Svetlozar Savov. 

The event takes place March 29 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and the stream will begin at on NBCSports.com at 7 p.m. EST. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Nick Newell to Challenge Justin Gaethje for WSOF Lightweight Title in July


(Well that’s pretty much the greatest photo I’ve ever seen. / Props: Nick’s Facebook page.)

World Series of Fighting executive vice president Ali Abdel-Aziz confirmed with Yahoo! Sports yesterday that undefeated lightweight Nick Newell will finally get his shot at the WSOF lightweight title this July, when he faces incumbent champion Justin Gaethje. The exact date and venue for the match are still TBA. MMAFighting adds that “The promotion is expected to make its NBC debut this summer, but Abdel-Aziz wouldn’t disclose whether the title fight would air on the broadcast network.”

On paper, Newell and Gaethje have identical records of 11-0 with 10 wins by stoppage. Arguably, Gaethje’s level of competition during his WSOF stint has been higher than Newell’s, as the champ’s list of TKO-victims has included Gesias Cavacante, Brian Cobb, and Dan Lauzon (i.e., guys you’ve actually heard of). Of course, finding decent opponents has always been a challenge for Newell, who left the XFC and signed with WSOF last May specifically to fight world-class opponents — but has only been able to squash journeymen so far.

Still, it’s better late than never. Newell’s fight against Gaethje is the big opportunity that the one-handed fighter has been begging for, and could lift his already-expanding profile in a major way, especially if the event is indeed aired on NBC. It’s also simply one of the greatest lightweight matchups you’ll see outside the UFC, and we’re psyched for it. Your predictions, please.

Semi-related: In case you forgot, Rousimar Palhares is fighting Steve Carl for the WSOF welterweight title this Saturday at WSOF 9. Ray Sefo says people are underestimating Steve Carl, which is surprising, because I had no idea that people had any opinions about Steve Carl whatsoever. Anyway, RIP that guy’s ankles.


(Well that’s pretty much the greatest photo I’ve ever seen. / Props: Nick’s Facebook page.)

World Series of Fighting executive vice president Ali Abdel-Aziz confirmed with Yahoo! Sports yesterday that undefeated lightweight Nick Newell will finally get his shot at the WSOF lightweight title this July, when he faces incumbent champion Justin Gaethje. The exact date and venue for the match are still TBA. MMAFighting adds that ”The promotion is expected to make its NBC debut this summer, but Abdel-Aziz wouldn’t disclose whether the title fight would air on the broadcast network.”

On paper, Newell and Gaethje have identical records of 11-0 with 10 wins by stoppage. Arguably, Gaethje’s level of competition during his WSOF stint has been higher than Newell’s, as the champ’s list of TKO-victims has included Gesias Cavacante, Brian Cobb, and Dan Lauzon (i.e., guys you’ve actually heard of). Of course, finding decent opponents has always been a challenge for Newell, who left the XFC and signed with WSOF last May specifically to fight world-class opponents — but has only been able to squash journeymen so far.

Still, it’s better late than never. Newell’s fight against Gaethje is the big opportunity that the one-handed fighter has been begging for, and could lift his already-expanding profile in a major way, especially if the event is indeed aired on NBC. It’s also simply one of the greatest lightweight matchups you’ll see outside the UFC, and we’re psyched for it. Your predictions, please.

Semi-related: In case you forgot, Rousimar Palhares is fighting Steve Carl for the WSOF welterweight title this Saturday at WSOF 9. Ray Sefo says people are underestimating Steve Carl, which is surprising, because I had no idea that people had any opinions about Steve Carl whatsoever. Anyway, RIP that guy’s ankles.

WSOF Has a ‘Backup’ for Steve Carl If Palhares Drug Test Comes Back Dirty

The World Series of Fighting 9 main event between welterweight champion Steve Carl and newly acquired ex-UFC fighter Rousimar Palhares is in jeopardy. 
On a conference call Tuesday afternoon, WSOF senior executive vice president and matchmaker Ali…

The World Series of Fighting 9 main event between welterweight champion Steve Carl and newly acquired ex-UFC fighter Rousimar Palhares is in jeopardy. 

On a conference call Tuesday afternoon, WSOF senior executive vice president and matchmaker Ali Abdel-Aziz confirmed that the Nevada State Athletic Commission requested additional drug testing for Palhares before the showdown. 

He failed a drug test after his UFC on Fox 6 loss to Hector Lombard, and while Abdel-Aziz believes the test will come back clean, he is preparing for the worst. 

“We’ll get the result the Wednesday before the fight [March 26],” Abdel-Aziz said during the conference call. “We wish we had more notice, but I’m not worried about Rousimar not being clean. He was clean for his last fight. I’m very sure he’s a clean fighter, but if anything bad happens, I have a backup for Steve Carl. Steve Carl will fight regardless.”

While Abdel-Aziz said he is thankful that the NSAC is strictly testing fighters, he admitted that this last-second decision on their end caused a bit of tension for the organization and for the WSOF 9 main event.

“I’m almost 100 percent sure he [Palhares] is going to come back clean,” Abdel-Aziz said. “To be honest with you, I support that they test 100 percent. I think all fighters should be tested. But please give me a heads up or a notice.” 

Regarding this matter, Carl said that he is ready for anything that comes his way. If he’s fighting Palhares, that’s fine, but if Palhares fails his drug test, Carl is prepared to step into the cage on March 29 and put on a show.

“On short notice, you can’t really prepare for anything,” Carl said. “You just have to be ready for anything, and that’s what I am. If it comes down to where Palhares can’t fight and Ali has a backup plan for me, then it looks like I’m going to fight the backup plan, no questions asked.” 

As for Abdel-Aziz’s backup plan? 

Welterweight contender Tyler Stinson, who fights Josh Burkman in a featured bout on the WSOF 9 card, chimed in during the call, saying that he was next in line for Carl if Palhares cannot compete.

“Yesterday, I woke up, and there was an article on Sherdog, and it says on there that—I think it was Ali—said that if Palhares’ things don’t go through, then I get bumped up,” Stinson told Bleacher Report. “In this whole mix-up with the drug testing, I think I’m the guy that it doesn’t affect at all. Either I fight the guy I’ve been training for or I get to fight for the title against a guy I almost beat. Either way, I make out the best.” 

Stinson and Carl previously fought at Bellator 26 in August 2010, when Carl won via first-round technical submission due to a guillotine choke. 

Despite Carl’s decisive victory, Stinson found success in the bout, nearly cinching up a fight-ending triangle choke on multiple occasions. On top of that, both fighters have evolved since that time, and Stinson feels that no matter what the WSOF decides for him come March 29, he is ready to capitalize on the moment. 

“The first time I fought Steve, we had about four days notice, so this won’t be any different,” Stinson said. “The fact that I might get bumped up is so exciting. This sport’s too dangerous to look for some fights here and there. I’m trying to be the best in this world…Either I get to knock out Burkman, or I get to win the title, so either way, I make out the best out of all of us.” 

Stinson said that he did not speak directly to Abdel-Aziz or WSOF president Ray Sefo about the shuffle, but he mentioned that he is mentally preparing for the moment and will be ready if they call his name before March 29. 

Stay tuned as more details emerged regarding Palhares’ drug test and the WSOF 9 main event. 

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WSOF President Ray Sefo, 43, Wants to Return to Kickboxing

Ray Sefo has that itch again.
The 43-year-old former kickboxing champion, ex-MMA fighter and current president of the World Series of Fighting MMA promotion said in an interview Friday that he may return to professional kickboxing as soon as this year….

Ray Sefo has that itch again.

The 43-year-old former kickboxing champion, ex-MMA fighter and current president of the World Series of Fighting MMA promotion said in an interview Friday that he may return to professional kickboxing as soon as this year.

“I just got a text not too long ago from Ernesto Hoost,” Sefo said in an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report. “He’s looking to fight again. He asked me if I was interested and I said, ‘Yes, 100 percent.'”

As it happens, Hoost, 48, recently came out of an eight-year retirement, announcing on his personal Facebook page that he will face Thomas Stanley March 23 at a Japanese event known as the Hoost Cup. Sefo may join him later this year, though according to Sefo, the two will not face each other.

In February, Hoost broached the idea to Sefo on Twitter, and Sefo reciprocated with his own expression of interest:

According to Sefo, nothing is official, but informal conversations are ongoing. Sefo guessed that such a fight might happen later this year in Japan, potentially as part of a Hoost Cup event. 

Sefo has not entered the kickboxing ring since 2012, and he hasn’t competed extensively since 2008. In August 2013, he returned to the MMA cage to face Dave Huckaba, a bout he lost by TKO. The fight happened under the banner of Sefo’s WSOF and helped foster interest in the card, particularly among hardcore combat sports fans.

Sefo is only 2-2 in MMA, but he’s 56-22-1 in his kickboxing career, during which he captured several world titles. He is also a multi-time World Muay Thai champion.

Questions of safety and competitive validity will inevitably arise whenever an older fighter returns to the cage. Sefo, for one, is undeterred, emphasizing that he never officially retired and would like to fight two more times, once in Japan, where he first became a celebrity and earned many of his biggest kickboxing wins, and once in New Zealand, where he was born and raised.

“I’d like to fight in Japan one more time and New Zealand one more time,” Sefo said. “I’ve never said I was done. We’ll see how I feel. I know we can’t do this forever. But I’m in the gym every day, either coaching or training. I feel good. I live very healthy. I still have the hunger and the itch and the passion to compete. I definitely would like to fight again.”

UPDATE: This report previously stated that Sefo would be fighting Hoost. While the two have been discussing Sefo’s return to fighting, there are no plans for the two to fight.

Scott Harris writes about MMA for Bleacher Report. For more, follow Scott on Twitter. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. 

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