Team Quest member Tyson Jeffries talks with The Fight Nerd about his upcoming match at M-1 Global Selection Americas 3 against Plinio Cruz on August 7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. We discuss his fight strategy, as well as if he thought the ref stopping his qualifying fight due to his opponent having a problem seeing was fair. Tyson also talks about if he likes this fast-paced tournament format, and gives us his thoughts on Team Quest teammate Chael Sonnen’s chances against Anderson Silva at UFC 117.

You can buy tickets to the event at Bally’s Casino in AC at this link here (where Fedor will also be making a special appearance to sign things for lucky Jersey fans), or if you can not make it to the show, you can watch it on M-1 Global’s website!

Coming up in a few weeks, TIm Sylvia returns to competition as he takes on “The Headhunter” Paul Buentello at “War on the Mainland“. We got an exclusive interview with the former UFC heavyweight champion as he prepares for this showdown that was years in the making!

When last we spoke to Big Tim… well, last time I did not speak with Tim, Bauzen did on my behalf and I showed up at the end to have a staredown with him. Now that it is months after Moosin and I have my voice back to do an interview, Tim and I discuss how he is training for this fight, as well as what he thought of his and Mariusz’s performance at the Moosin event (which I have a huge photo gallery of here).

We also talk about the heavyweight rankings and why Tim says that Fedor is still on top of the ladder, despite losing to Fabricio Werdum a few weeks ago in Strikeforce, then we get nerdy and talk some video games!

The Fight Nerd, with Tomopop.com, takes a look at the second wave of the “UFC Collector” series from Round 5 MMA collectibles. This line includes five-inch caricatured versions of UFC headliners BJ Penn, Randy Couture, Forrest Griffin, Michael Bisping, Tito Ortiz and Kimbo Slice. Are these vinyl figures worth your hard-earned cash or should you save your money for something more useful? Watch the vid and decide!

In part 2 of this exclusive interview with The Fight Nerd, MMA legend Ken Shamrock explains his side of the story on UFC 9, where he fought Dan Severn for 35 minutes and lost by decision in a dull match. Ken tells us if this match was strategic or just boring, and also gives his thoughts on Frank Shamrock retiring, why he thinks mainstream athletes are now fighting in MMA, and why he doesn’t watch MMA on TV. Plus, retirement – when will Shamrock hang up the gloves for good?!

If you missed part one, check that out at this link here, where Ken talks about his fight against Pedro Rizzo and clears up remarks about steroids he said on HDNet, as well as how he would regulate steroids and why the California State Athletic Commission always seems to have problems with their drug testing.

It’s time for another day in the life of a roaming MMA journalist, or whatever it is that I am. Last time, me and Peter Lampasona went to the M-1 Global Selection Americas 2 show in Jersey where we ran into Tom Lawlor and many others. This time, we are headed back to Jersey (specifically Sayreville) to check out Evolution MMA’s July Bash, which was the third installment in this amateur series that originated in NJ.

Peter and I trek to Jersey and document the harrowing journey to the venue, which turns out to be rather underwhelming. We also meet up with The Garv, Ed Talmo from “Asylum Fight League” and speak with the owners of Evolution AMMA, Steven Katz and Jose Suarez.

You can check out all the photos I shot of the fights from this vlog at this link here. You can also read Pete’s commentary at this link here.

Coming up on July 23 on Showtime, undefeated women’s MMA fighter Sarah Kaufman will make the first defense of her Strikeforce Bantamweight championship, five months after winning it. Standing in her way is an MMA veteran by the name of Roxanne Modafferi. The last time we met with Roxy was when we interviewed her after her huge win over Tara Larosa at Moosin, and here she is not long after that grueling three-round war preparing for a title fight. I caught up with Roxy via Skype to get the latest updates from her coming into this fight, as well as her thoughts on having a rubber match with Larosa and a few other tidbits of MMA curiousity.

The Fight Nerd: You are preparing for your title fight in Strikeforce for their 135 lb. title against Sarah Kaufman. How is training going?

Roxanne Modafferi: It’s going well, thanks!  (Even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t tell you that   ) Kiuma Kunioku is my personal trainer and is working the majority of my stand up, and Hiroyuki Abe is my primary grappling instructor.  I’ve been training a lot at the AACC or Abe Ani’s Combat Club. 
 
TFN: Are you doing anything special to prepare for Kaufman?

Roxy: Yes.  I’m developing super-attacks.  And my cardio is always good, but I read that she’s doing tons, which made me like “WHOA” so I upped my cardio training, too.  LOL  But it’s not going to go to decision anyway.

TFN: What is the name of your new super attack and does it involve balls of energy in any way?

Roxy: I have a few super attacks, but only those with a similar power-level are able to actually observe the energy waves.  One is called “Flower and Thorns.”

TFN: Kaufman has been undefeated in her career thus far, what are her strongest traits that you have seen to get her to that point, as well as her weaknesses?

Roxy: The ability to punch people in the face at will, and squishing people who try to shoot with sprawls.

TFN: Your last fight was at Moosin where you avenged your loss to Tara Larosa in a very exciting battle. Is there anything you decided to work on after that match?

Roxy: My super attacks.  In all seriousness, just continue to develop myself in all areas. I’m extremely happy with my performance at Moosin. I feel like I’ve cemented the growth in many aspects of my game.

TFN: You and Larosa have an odd friendship and rivalry that included helping her set up her twitter the night before you met in the cage! Have you spoken with Tara since then?

Roxy: Not too much lately, actually.

TFN: Do you want to have a rubber match with Larosa in the future to even things out?

Roxy: Yes, I do, but not immediately.  Some time in the future.
 
TFN: You have fought on two continents in both of the major surfaces, YAMMA pit excluded. Do you prefer to compete in a ring or cage and why?

Roxy: I prefer the cage because I can utilize it, like a tool.  For example, I can use it to help me stand up.  There’s a danger of falling out of a ring, getting tangled in the ropes, having it slice off your cauliflower ear (see Pancrase fight)  which thank goodness I don’t have because I was smart and wore head gear when I felt it developing…. excuse me, I digress.

TFN: It seems when I watch MMA in Japan, the fighters have less problems fighting in rings than their American counterparts. Is this because of a difference in fighters, fighting styles, or is it just my imagination?

Roxy: I’m not sure.  Japanese train in rings more than cages, although this is starting to change with the newly opened gyms and fighters who intend to compete overseas.

TFN: Bellator FC is preparing for a womens tournament at 115 lbs. with many well-known female fighters. Who is your pick to win the whole thing?

Roxy: Megumi Fujii!
 
TFN: I know you don’t look past your current fight, but I am hoping you can look past it just enough to tell us the first thing you will be doing after your fight (after Moosin, i hear it was milkshakes for 63)?

Roxy: I will….drink a milk shake.  LOL OF COURSE!

Roxy would like to thank her manager Shu Hirata, Fightchix, Sprawl, Tokyo 5,  Roland W. Coryell (artist/designer),Tussle Fight Gear, ifight athletics, Ryan and Jake from Fightlinker.com, Kirik from mma.tv, mmarising.com, Atsushi Watanabe (web designer) and all her fans!

You can follow Roxy on twitter @roxyfighter, and her main blog is blogs.myspace.com/roxyfighter. Her website is www.roxannemodafferi.net which has a lively chat room that she frequents around 4-7 PM EST! You can catch her fight on ShoMMA on Showtime on July 23!

Living legend in MMA Ken Shamrock talks with The Fight Nerd about his upcoming fight against Pedro Rizzo at Impact FC 2 in Australia on July 18. Shamrock discusses his strategy, if ring rust will be a problem and how he expects the fight to unfold.

We then talk about his recent interview on HDNet’s “Fighting Words with Mike Straka” and clear up some things he mentioned about steroids and who he thinks is really responsible for their use in MMA, as well as why steroids should be allowed to some extent.

Stay tuned for part two of this interview later this week!

The Fight Nerd caught up with UFC veteran Tom Lawlor at the M-1 Global Selection Americas 2 event in New Jersey to talk about his loss to Joe Doerksen, his entrances and what is next for him in MMA. Unfortunately, audio troubles from a combination of a bad external recorder and too much background noise forced a good portion of this interview to be scrapped. Nonetheless, the interview was too fun to not have online, so enjoy the salvaged bits of the first encounter between Tom Lawlor and The Fight Nerd. Personally, I think me and Tom need our own talk show but first we need to find someone who knows how to operate recording equipment, and that is definitely not me!

PART 1

PART 2

The Fight Nerd goes on a road trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the second M-1 Global Americas Show. Joining him is Peter Lampasona as they trek across two states to get to the event. In part 1, we document the perilous journey with the rest stops along the way, and once we arrive in AC, the fun really begins!

In part 2, we get a sneak peek behind the scenes, catch up with UFC veteran Tom Lawlor, and with the help of Peter Lampasona talk about the results of that event and a quick wrap of our immediate reactions after watching Fedor VS Werdum!

The Fight Nerd, in conjunction with Tomopop.com, takes a look at Wave 2 of the UFC Deluxe Action Figures from Jakks Pacific. This wave includes new figures of Mike Thomas Brown, Nate Marquardt, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and re-releases of Chuck Liddell, Royce Gracie, Forrest Griffin, and improved versions of Rashad Evans and Brock Lesnar. Are they worth buying? Watch the video to find out!