The Fight Nerd

April 23, 2013

Three title fights revealed with full card for Legend FC 11

Filed under: News — Tags: asian mma, legend fc — The Fight Nerd @ 12:21 PM

Legend Fighting Championship, the Asia-Pacific Championship of MMA, has finally released the confirmed fight cards for Legend 11 today. Legend 11 will take place on April 27 at the Chin Woo Stadium in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Featuring twelve action-packed fights including three Asia-Pacific title bouts, Legend 11 promises to be an unforgettable night of world-class martial arts.

LEGEND LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FIGHT

KOJI ANDO VS. JADAMBA NARANTUNGALAG

Undefeated for almost seven years, Legend Lightweight Champion Jadamba Narantungalag has cemented his status as one of Asia’s top pound-for-pound fighters by defeating elite lightweights such as Akihiro Gono, Adrian Pang, and Nam Yui Chul. But he faces his toughest challenge to date in Japan’s Koji Ando, a ground-and-pound specialist who will be looking to take the Legend Lightweight Title back to Tokyo.

LEGEND BANTAM WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FIGHT

LUKE JUMEAU VS. LI JINGLIANG

With former Legend Welterweight Champion Bae Myung Ho recently conscripted for South Korean military service, top contenders Luke Jumeau and Li Jingliang will now battle for the belt. Legend fans will remember Jumeau from his Fight Of The Night bout against Alex Niu at Legend 10 – the sort of performance he will be looking to repeat. And having narrowly lost a decision to Bae in his first attempt at the Legend Title, Li is determined not to let the belt slip through his grasp again.

LEGEND WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FIGHT

AGUSTIN DELARMINO, JR. VS. JI XIAN

The contest for the Legend Bantamweight Title will see a classic striker vs. grappler battle, as Filipino knockout artist Agustin Delarmino, Jr. squares off against Chinese submission specialist Ji Xian. Delarmino aims to become Legend’s first ever Filipino champion, avenging his brother Leonard’s loss to Ji in the process. But the China Top Team product plans to finish the fight in the same method as nine of his ten victories: by tapping Delarmino out in the first round.

UNDERCARD

Yang Hae Jun vs. Sam Brown

Yusuke Kasuya vs. Damien Brown

Hideto Tatsumi vs. Gareth Ealey

Choi Yeong Gwang vs. Ev Ting

Gugun Gusman vs. Sam Chan

Kai Kara-France vs. Danaa Batgerel

Ruel Catalan vs. Jo Nam Jin

Tenglige vs. Baasankhuu Damlanpurev

Rocky Lee vs. Muhammad Hanif Bin Zainal

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Mike Constantino previews UFC 159

Filed under: Interviews,Videos — Tags: alan belcher, chael sonnen, Cheick Kongo, dan miller, jim miller, jon jones, lead, michael bisping, mike constantino, roy nelson, sara mcmann, sheila gaff, ufc, ufc 159 — The Fight Nerd @ 8:21 AM

Head coach of AMA Fight Club, Mike Constantino, spoke with The Fight Nerd at Modell’s in midtown Manhattan, where Jim and Dan Miller were doing a workout for the fans to promote UFC 159.

Mike talks about Jim’s fight against Pat Healy and the implications of this match, as well as when Dan Miller will return to the octagon. Mike also looks back at UFC on Fox 7 to discuss the Nate Diaz VS Josh Thomson fight, and we also break down the other big fights on UFC 159 including Roy Nelson VS Cheick Kongo, Michael Bisping VS Alan Belcher, Sheila Gaff VS Sara McMann, and Jon Jones VS Chael Sonnen for the UFC light heavyweight title.

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“Take On Muay Thai XX” this weekend in New York, featuring full Thai Rules

Filed under: News — Tags: gaius ebratt, joe bastone, muay thai, sean fagan, take on productions, tim schmeier — The Fight Nerd @ 6:15 AM

On Friday, April 26th, 2013, TaKe On Productions will celebrate their 20th event by hosting “Take-On Muay Thai XX”, the first ever Full Thai Rules event in the state of New York. At last, Muay Thai fighters will be able to use their complete arsenal of punches, kicks, knees and elbows. This historic event will take place at the first ever Casino in New York City.

After kicking off the 2013 season with the first Resorts World Casino Muay Thai event on February 22, Take-On is proud to announce Full Thai rules bouts for 2013 kicking off April 26. “We are excited to give our fighters the opportunity to showcase their full range of skills in the ring the way Muay Thai bouts were meant to be fought” said Eddie Cuello, Take On President.

“Take On Muay Thai XX” will feature two Take On Titles on the line along with high octane bouts in a US vs. Canada series. Two time WKA Champion Gaius Ebratt will be making his long awaited return to the TaKe-On ring and is eager to show the NY fight scene the tools he sharpened will training extensively in Thailand. Ebratt will take on 2011 & 2012 TBA Super middleweight Champ and USACS CEC Super Middleweight Champ Nethaneel Mongonia for the vacant Take-On 165 lb. Title. Mongonia, all the way from Texas, brings an impressive record of 10W-4L, and will be making his long awaited TaKe-On Debut under Full Thai Rules.

Also on April 26th, Take On 145 lb. Champion Sean Fagan will look to make another title defense against explosive up and comer Tim Schmeier, who’s consistent wins have been causing a stir in the 145 lb. division.

“We are excited to celebrate our 20th event with Full Thai Rules in New York City’s first Casino. Take On Muay Thai 19 having been such a huge success, adding Full Rules will only take it to the next level” stated TaKe On CEO Mike Gasparski.

Other featured fighters competing on “Take On Muay Thai XX,” will include:

Jess Ng (8-1) – coming off an impressive victory in Thailand and has gone 7-0 in her last 7 fights to include a WKA and TBA title. Ng will step into the ring against tough candian Levi Christobal in a Full Thai rules WKA Title match.

Joe “Avatar” Bastone (4-0) – Bursting onto the fight scene in impressive fashion, Bastone has ended his last 3 fights with impressive knockouts.

Pawel Zawatowski (8-1) 7 KO’s – Zawatowski has been on a tear, devastating his opponents. A win at Take On Muay Thai XX will put him in line for a title shot.

Jason Van Oijen (6-0) – WKA 175lb. champ Van Oijen will step into the Take On ring against Pride MMA stand out Georgui Smaguin (6-2). The fast paced style of these two sluggers will make this bout a fight of the night contender.

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April 22, 2013

Jim Miller press-workout for UFC 159 at Modell’s

Filed under: Interviews,Techniques,Videos — Tags: dan miller, jim miller, lead, ufc, ufc 159 — The Fight Nerd @ 7:04 PM

Jim Miller and his brother Dan Miller were at Modell’s in midtown Manhattan on April 21, 2013, doing a workout for the press and MMA fans, leading into his fight against Pat Healy at UFC 159 in New Jersey this weekend. Jim warmed up with Dan with calisthenics and pummeling and wrestling, then hit the pads to show off his strikes, ending with an MMA match against his brother.

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Jim Miller previews UFC 159 fight against Pat Healy

Filed under: Interviews,News,Videos — Tags: benson henderson, dan miller, gilbert melendez, jim miller, josh thomson, lead, Nate Diaz, pat healy, ufc, ufc 159 — The Fight Nerd @ 6:57 PM

UFC lightweight Jim Miller spoke with The Fight Nerd at Modell’s in midtown Manhattan to discuss his fight at UFC 159 against Pat Healy. We discuss what he thinks of his opponent and what he brings to the table, as well as what implications there are in this match. Miller also talks about some UFC on Fox 7 fights, including Nate Diaz VS Josh Thomson and Benson Henderson VS Gilbert Melendez, and who he thinks won that close title fight and which of the two he would rather face for the belt.

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April 20, 2013

Ueda, Folayang, and Baroni added to “ONE FC: Rise to Power” card

Filed under: News — Tags: Eduard Folayang, kamal shalorus, masakatsu ueda, nobutatsu suzuki, one fc, phil baroni — The Fight Nerd @ 10:21 AM

ONE FC announced today three additional bouts for ONE FC: RISE TO POWER. Kevin Belingon will battle Masakatsu Ueda in the final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix. The winner will get a shot at the ONE FC Bantamweight Title. Plus, Eduard Folayang is back in action against MMA veteran Kamal Shalorus and fan favorite Phil Baroni will return to the famed ONE FC cage to take on the KO artist from Japan, Nobutatsu Suzuki. All the action takes place live on 31 May from the MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™ Victor Cui stated, “ONE FC: RISE TO POWER will feature some of the biggest names in Asian MMA as we return to the fight capital of Asia. I’m beyond excited to see Honorio Banario back in action in front of his home crowd at the state-of-the art Mall of Asia Arena. Bibiano Fernandes taking on Koetsu Okazaki has all the ingredients for a possible Fight of the Night with one of the world’s greatest pound-for-pound fighters squaring off against a Japanese submission artist who is known for his impressive grappling game. I know fans cannot wait to watch these warriors collide on 31 May.”

The Bantamweight Grand Prix Final is also set and both fighters are ready to showcase their skills in Manila to earn a shot at the biggest Bantamweight title belt in Asia.

Bantamweight GP Finalist Kevin Belingon is a Filipino MMA champion and one of the best MMA fighters ever to emerge from the Philippines. It took him a few fights to become accustomed to competing inside the ONE FC cage but once he found his rhythm, the result was spectacular as he blasted through Yusup Saadulaev and Thanh Vu in less than a round to earn a slot in the Bantamweight Grand Prix Final. Known as “The Silencer” because he prefers to let his fists and feet do the talking, Belingon is a Wushu specialist with fast hands and devastating low kicks. He says that he is in the best shape of his life and nothing can stop him from earning a shot at the coveted ONE FC Bantamweight World Championship Title. His opponent is a veteran who is not at all concerned about fighting on Belingon’s home soil on 31 May.

Masakatsu Ueda is a Bellator veteran and former Shooto Featherweight Champion, a belt he defended successfully three times. He has an outstanding 17-2-2 record which makes him one of the best Bantamweights in the world. He was a very successful college wrestler who won numerous national wrestling competitions in Japan as well as the all Japan Shooto Grappling Championship. A very well-rounded fighter, he submitted MMA legend Jens Pulver at ONE FC: KINGS & CHAMPIONS to earn a slot in the final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix. Ueda understands the magnitude of this fight and knows very well that Belingon will be the toughest test of his career.

A Lightweight bout that is sure to get the crowd on their feet will pit Filipino MMA legend Eduard Folayang against UFC veteran Kamal Shalorus.

Folayang is a legend in the Philippines where he is universally regarded as MMA’s equivalent to boxing phenomenon Manny Pacquiao. A former school teacher, he is renowned for being humble and respectful outside the cage but a determined and relentless competitor inside. The Baguio-born mixed martial artist is never in a boring fight and the sight of Folayang struggling in a tough battle, but somehow finding a way to win in the end, is one which fight fans have become accustomed to. Folayang will square off against the resilient submission specialist from Iran, Kamal Shalorus.

Shalorus was born in the city of Khalkhal in Iran. He began wrestling as a teenager before moving to the United States to train in MMA. He is a UFC and WEC veteran with notable wins over Justin Milles and Bart Palaszewski. Shalorus will need to bring it all when he steps into the ONE FC cage for the first time at ONE FC: RISE TO POWER.

Manila’s favorite slugger Phil Baroni will be back in action on 31 May when he battles up and coming Japanese mixed martial artist Nobutatsu Suzuki. Baroni has faced some of the toughest opponents in the world and is renowned for his one-punch knockout power. Despite being one of the hardest punchers to ever compete in MMA, it’s not just Baroni’s hard-hitting fists that the fans come to see. His brash and charismatic personality and inimitable swagger down the fighter’s entrance makes him one of the biggest showmen in MMA. Suzuki is the complete opposite in personality but identical in fighting style. Eight of his fights have been won via impressive KO. On 31 May, he will look to make Baroni number nine.

ONE FC: RISE TO POWER is headlined by a ONE FC Featherweight World Championship bout between reigning champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario against number one contender Koji Oishi and pound-for-pound king Bibiano Fernandes taking on Koetsu Okazaki for the ONE FC Bantamweight Interim Title. All the action takes place live from the MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines.

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Revgear “Haidate” Board Shorts Review

Filed under: Product Reviews — The Fight Nerd @ 10:00 AM

Revgear’s new “Samurai Series” of MMA training gear has been stirring some waves, with students of the sport wondering how this line holds up. With recommendations from UFC fighters Pat Barry and Ed Herman, the line has some legit credibility from them, but what about the average Joe? This series includes both MMA and boxing gloves, headgear, shinpads and, the item we will take a look at today, their board shorts.

Titled “Haidate”, the shorts are named after the thigh armor that Samurai’s wore with their armor when they went into battle. The design on them is mostly on the sides, and stretches onto the front and part of the back. The printing of the white part of the shorts, which is screened on top of the material, is pretty sturdy and did not scratch off when I attacked it with various sharp objects. The design on the sides is their signature “Samurai Series” armor plate design, which looks very cool and sleek, and gives you the illusion of being far more protected than you really are.

The “Haidate” Shorts are made from (quoted from their website) a super light weight weave of 88% polyester and 12% spandex treated with water-repellant for quick-dry action. This very flexible and stretchy fabric allows for a wide range of mobility for kicking, especially when you start aiming high for head kicks. It feels very loose and cool and is wider like a traditional martial arts pants rather than a tighter pair of board shorts. There are also slits on the sides to give you a little bit more range of motion with your legs. This is a great pair of shorts for someone that kicks a lot because of that flowing feel and heightened movement.

The waistband features their patented “Ultra-lock” hoop and loop system, with a drawstring allowing you to customize your fit with your waist size. The pants come in seven sizes, ranging from a male waist of 28″ – 40″ wide. On the right inside of your shorts is a pocket for your mouthpiece, which is a convenient way to make sure you don’t lose it while you are training. I love any shorts that have that bonus feature on them, and this is no exception. Thanks to the fabric of this being lightweight and pretty liquid-resistant, no need to worry about having a mouthpiece full of saliva moistening your pants as you train.

You can order these shorts from Revgear’s official site for $70 plus shipping and handling. This seems to be the going rate for very good board shorts, and you get what you pay for with this price. When you buy the “Haidate” shorts, you are purchasing a pair of shorts that are going to last you a very long time, and I do not just mean the printing on the shorts, but the entire item. High-quality design and construction that was made to take, and give, a beating – Revgear has done some great stuff with their “Samurai Series” and if you are a serious striker, these shorts were made just for you!

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Bellator Signs “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko To Light Heavyweight Division

Filed under: News — Tags: bellator mma, vladimir matyushenko — The Fight Nerd @ 1:20 AM

At 42 years old, Vladimir Matyushenko has seen it all. From earning three submission victories in one night, to taking down opponents like Antônio “Little Nog” Nogueira, Travis Wiuff, Pedro Rizzo and Jason Lambert. Armed with one of the best wrestling backgrounds in the sport, “The Janitor” has signed with Bellator MMA, and will debut soon live on Spike TV.

“Vladimir is a fighter I’ve watched for years. He’s an exciting fighter with an incredible wrestling background and a great pedigree in our sport. When the opportunity presented itself and we had the chance to have him join the Bellator family it was a very easy decision to make,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “With our Champion Attila Vegh sitting at the top of the mountain right now, and with guys like Emanuel Newton, Mikhail Zayats and King Mo coming on strong, the light heavyweight division for Bellator continues to evolve and Vladimir should fit in perfectly to that mix.”

“Bellator is one of the biggest promotions in the world, and to be associated with them is an honor,” Matyushenko said. “I am optimistic and excited to work with Bellator. The amount of respect and honor I felt from Bjorn and the entire Bellator team was tremendous, and getting into the Bellator cage and cementing my legacy as a Bellator World Champion is the only thing on my mind.”

Matyushenko will make his promotional debut live on Spike in a non-tournament fight that will be announced shortly.

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April 18, 2013

20 States Passing Resolutions To Assist Wrestling Return To Olympics

Filed under: News — Tags: wrestling — The Fight Nerd @ 9:53 AM

The Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) and USA Wrestling are working with no less than 20 state governments in the United States to pass a series of resolutions asking the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider its recommendation to drop wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games. This is the latest in a series of unprecedented moves by officials around the world to voice support for the re-institution of the sport to The Games.

Each resolution cites the strong ties of each state to the sport, makes note of the United States as a major contender and international player in the diplomacy of sport. These resolutions are being passed and signed as officials from various nations around the world issue similar announcements of opposition to their ruling.

In addition to the State proclamations, last month The U.S. Senate passed legislation urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reverse its decision to eliminate wrestling from the Olympic Games beginning in 2020. The bipartisan resolution, introduced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), cleared the Senate on March 25. The resolution was cosponsored by Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Al Franken (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), James Inhofe (R-OK), Carl Levin (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Roy Blunt (R-MO). Fellow Ohioan, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04), also introduced a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The overwhelming support of these state governments across the country has been tremendous for our cause,” said Bill Scherr, CPOW Chairman, Olympic medalist and World Champion. “It really is a great example of how deep the support from our country is, and we really appreciate the government officials taking this step.”

To date, five states have already passed resolutions, Kentucky, California, Minnesota, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. In the near future approximately 18 states will be passing resolutions of their own, with more states confirming for next month. Each state has been making the announcement in conjunction with prominent wrestlers from a variety of levels (high school to Olympians) from their home state.

Here is an overview of the states, government officials and wrestlers involved:
· Pennsylvania (April 15): Senator Bob Robbins, Rep. Brandan Neuman and Pennsylvania wrestling legends Cael Sanderson, Jake Herbert, Rob Eiter, Greg Strobel, and Pat Santoro
· Kentucky (April 3) : Representative Steve Riggs, All-American and KY native Kyle Ruschell, USAW State Chair Steve Smith, and KY high school coach Tim Ruschell.
· Minnesota (April 4): State Representatives Bob Dettmer, Speaker of the House Paul Thissen and Erin Murphy
· California (April 9): Senator Lou Correa, three-time National Champion Steven Abas, and high school national champion twin sisters Marina and Regina Doi.
Additional states with resolutions in process:
· Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama

The official website is http://www.KeepWrestlingInTheOlympics.com. You can find the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/officialkeepwrestlingintheolympics. The official Twitter location is @wrestlingvision.

The international links for FILA are http://www.fila-official.com/, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/fila.official and on Twitter @FILA_Official.

In addition to the efforts in the United States, senior leadership from Russia, Kuwait, India, Iran, Japan, Greece, Canada and a host of other countries have issued similar decrees to help overturn the decision.

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April 17, 2013

CFA 11 puts Valentjin Overeem and Fallon Fox into main-event spots

Filed under: News — Tags: allanna jones, cfa, fallon fox, mike kyle, valentijn overeem — The Fight Nerd @ 1:46 PM

Jorge de la Noval, Owner of Championship Fighting Alliance (CFA) today officially announced that his Miami-based MMA organization has closed a deal with AXS TV and that his May 24th event “CFA 11” will be presented live on AXS TV as part of its Friday Night Fights series. He also announced that heavyweights Valentjin Overeem vs. Mike Kyle will headline the card at Miami’s BankUnited Center and that the co-main event will feature Fallon Fox vs. Allanna Jones as the co-main event in the women’s 145-pound championship semi-finals.

Said de la Noval, “We are honored to be in business with AXS TV and look forward to working with them to present “CFA 11” live to MMA fans across America on national television. The main event is a blockbuster heavyweight matchup between Dutch fighting legend Valentjin Overeem and veteran of the UFC and Strikeforce Mike Kyle.

Valentjin Overeem (30-27) is considered one of the most talented heavyweight fighters in the world. Throughout his stellar career, he’s competed in major fighting organizations including PRIDE, K-1, Strikeforce, World Extreme Cagefighting, M-1 Global and is also a former Pancrase Champion. The brother of UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem, Valentjin trains out of JACO Hybrid Training Center with the Blackzilians in Boca Raton, Fla.

“I’m training to knock my opponent out; this fight is not going to be decided by the judges,” said Overeem. “I have among the best strikers in the world, and the best wresters in the world here at JACO Hybrid Training Center. Together, we are going to beat Kyle and bring another win home to the Blackzllians.”

Mike Kyle (19-9) is also a veteran of Strikeforce and is the former King of the Cage Champion at light heavyweight. He fought at the highest level of MMA with the Ultimate Fighting Championship from 2004-2005, and during that period defeated James Irvin at UFC 51 with a first round knockout.

“I feel reborn and ready to fight, and I want to thank all of my fans that have supported me through my career,” said Kyle. “I think Valentjin Overeem is the perfect opponent to showcase my skills and give the fans a great main event. On May 24, I’m going to show everyone what kind of fighter I can be.”

In the co-main event, Fallon Fox will take on Allanna Jones in the CFA 145-pound women’s tournament semi-finals.

“I am pleased to have Fallon Fox back in the CFA cage for this pivotal fight against Allanna Jones,” said de la Noval. “The winner of Fox vs. Jones will advance to the featherweight finals and the chance to become the new CFA 145-pound champion. This is going to be an exciting fight between two incredible fighters and that is what this sport, and this night is all about.”

“I am extremely excited about my next fight with Allanna Jones,” said Fox. “It will feel really good to step into the cage again on May 24th. I look forward to dealing with whatever Allanna will throw my way. It should be an fun, action-packed night for fans of MMA, Championship Fighting Alliance and everyone watching on AXS TV.”

“I’m thrilled to have this fight and this opportunity,” said Jones. “This is just another fight, and just another opponent for me. I am looking for the knockout and to make a statement on AXS TV and to advance to the finals to win that 145-pound CFA title.”

The 5’7” undefeated Fox (2-0) fights out of Midwest Training Center in Chicago. Both of her professional wins have come by first round knockout. She is also undefeated as an amateur (3-0) with all victories coming via submission. Fox’s last appearance was at CFA 10 when she finished Ericka Newsome in CFA’s first elimination bout for the 145-pound tournament championship.

The 5’4” Jones (2-1), fights out of Ionia, Michigan’s American Muscle MMA training center. The 26-year old Jones also competed at CFA 10, defeating her opponent in a three-round split decision. She has been competing since 2010 and has an amateur record of 6-2.

Also on the televised card on AXS TV, Friday May 24 is a lightweight matchup between Luis Palmino (20-8) and Robert Washington (15-7). Sean Soriano (7-0) and Elvin Brito (6-1) will fight for the CFA Interim Featherweight title. Alexis Vila (11-3) will take on Czar Sklavos (7-2) in a flyweight division matchup, and in the show opener will be a middleweight matchup between Mike King (5-0) and Oscar Delgado (6-2).

The Florida State Boxing Commission has approved all bouts on CFA 11 and has licensed all athletes on the CFA 11 card including Fallon Fox who is the first known transgender fighter to compete in professional mixed martial arts. All bouts are live and subject to change.

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