KSW 27: Cage Time (Fight Card)

KSW 27: Cage Time
Date: May 17th, 2014
Ergo Arena, Gdansk, Poland
Stream : kwstv.com

Main Card
Mamed Khalidov vs Maiquel Falcao
Mariusz Pudzianowski vs Oli Thompson
Aslambek Saidov Borys Mankowski
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Jasminka Cive
Mateusz Gamrot vs Jefferson George
TBA vs Tomasz Nakun

Preliminary Card
Rafal Blachuta vs Luiz Ricardo Simon
Lukasz Chlewicki vs Lukasz Rajewski

Titan FC 28: Brilz vs Davis (Fight Card)

Titan FC 28: Brilz vs Davis
Date: May 16th, 2014
First Council Casino Hotel, Newkirk, Oklahoma

Main Card
Jason Brilz vs. Raphael Davis
Dave Herman vs. Kalib Starnes
Walt Harris vs. D.J. Linderman
Brian Foster vs. Gilbert Smith
Brock Jardine vs. Daniel Roberts
Ricky Legere vs. Todd Moore

Preliminary Card
Alvin Robinson vs. Gleristone Santos
Pedro Nobre vs. Dan O'Connor
William Joplin vs. Walel Watson
David Nelson vs. Gaston Reyno
John Bryant vs. Matt Foster
Archie Lowe vs. Robert Madrid

MFC 40: Crowned Kings (Fight Card)

MFC 40: Crowned Kings
Date: May 9th, 2014
Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Fight Card
 Anthony Birchak vs. Kevin Croom - for the MFC bantamweight title
Sam Alvey vs. Wes Swofford - for the MFC middleweight title
Tom Gallicchio vs. Kurt Southern for the MFC lightweight title
Sean O'Connell vs. Victor Valimaki
Andrew McInnes vs. Jonatas Novaes
Marcus Edwards vs. Aaron Gallant 

Superior Challenge 10: Reza Madadi vs Efrain Escudero (Fight Card)

Superior Challenge 10
Date: May 3rd, 2014
Helsinborg Arena, Helsinborg, Sweden
Superior Challenge Tickets

Main Card
Reza Madadi vs Efrain Escudero
Daniel Acacio vs Papy Abedi
Matti Makela vs Joachim Christensen
David Miekheden vs Besam Yousef
Yosef Ali Mohammed vs Christian Golcic
Diego Gonzalez vs Frodi Hansen
David Glasnovic vs Alan Carlos
Malik Arash Mawlayi vs Aron Jahnsen
Simon Skold vs Salih Kulucan
Abbe Joof vs Hermann Kungu
Sadibou Sy vs Alejando Ferreira Carrea
Pannie Kianzad vs Annalisa Bucci
Bilan Musa vs Craig Derbyshire
Michel Ersoy vs Jorge Landa Peirona

EFC Africa 27 Results

EFC Africa 27 Results

EFC AFRICA’s first event of 2014 kicked off in sensational fashion at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena last night. Lightweight champion Leon Mynhardt defended his title, Nkazimulo Zulu was crowned the inaugural bantamweight champion, and stand-out youngster Dricus du Plessis earned himself the middleweight top contender spot after a victory over the legendary Donavin Hawkey.

The bout between lightweight champion Leon Mynhardt and challenger Frederich Naumann had been billed as the ultimate showdown. Mynhardt entered the fight a tested legend of African MMA. In Naumann, however, he faced an opponent with an incredibly dynamic skillset. In 2013 Naumann had a dream debut year, winning a record four performance bonuses over four appearances. Tonight he was no match for Mynhardt. After immediately attacking with a series of kicks, Naumann was rocked by a right hand and four more punches that sent him reeling to the canvas. The 38 second knockout was Mynhardt’s quickest victory in the Hexagon, and another notch on the belt of an iconic athlete.

EFC AFRICA’s inaugural bantamweight bout was the spectacle many predicted. Former teammates Nkazimulo Zulu and Charlie Weyer engaged each other with fluid, sophisticated striking before Weyer scored a strong takedown. Zulu showed his grit however, working his way into full mount before putting Weyer away with ground and pound.

Donavin Hawkey against undefeated Dricus du Plessis was a classic veteran vs. young gun encounter. Hawkey entered the Hexagon with 32 professional MMA fights behind him. In contrast Du Plessis had only three, but also a world K1 title. The bout was aggressive from the start with Du Plessis taking Hawkey down early. The young man resisted both a guillotine and rear naked choke before forcing himself into top position, and finishing the legend with brutal elbows. Du Plessis is now pegged to fight for the middleweight title.

Fraser ‘The Omen’ Opie and Tumelo ‘The Truck’ Maphutha clashed at light heavyweight in a bout trailing huge hype. Opie, the current UK champion, decided to trade punches with Africa’s fastest knock-out record holder and paid for it. 4:43 into round one Opie verbally submitted. Afterward he revealed that Maphutha’s blows caused his vision to blur, forcing him to throw in the towel.

The night’s main card opened with a heavyweight matchup between the DRC’s Vandam Mbuyi and Cape Town’s Jiu-Jitsu expert Brendon Groenewald. The big men immediately careened to the fence and the clinch. Vandam delivered a knee that caught Groenewald in the groin, followed by another knee and a blow to the back of his head. Groenewald collapsed to the canvas. Referee Ian Pienaar immediately disqualified Mbuyi, to consternation from the crowd. EFC AFRICA president Cairo Howarth announced that the two would face each other again, as soon as possible.

The night’s prelim card was packed with action. Debutant teammates Keron Davies and Mark Hulme took solid victories, former title contender Alex Cheboub recorded his third straight, gritty victory, and Wesley Hawkey showed a spectacular return to form in a boxing clinic delivered to Gareth Buirski.

The knockout of the night award went to Leon Mynhardt’s unforgettable 38 second demolition of Frederich Naumann. Zimbabwean born Cape Town resident Temba Gorimbo earned himself both the fight of the night and submission of the night award, after fighting through a dislocated shoulder.

EFC AFRICA 27 full results:
Baldwin Mdlalose defeated Donnovan Wilken via submission (triangle) 1:50 into round 2.
Mark Hulme defeated Josh Muller via submission (rear naked choke) 4:18 seconds into round 1.
Keron Davies defeated Booto Guylain via TKO 3:25 into round 3.
Themba Gorimbo defeated Chaz Wasserman via submission (D’Arce Choke) 4:31 into round 2.
Cedric Doyle defeated Boney Bukaka via submission (rear naked choke) 4:08 into round 2.
Francois Groenewald defeated Pierre Botha via submission (triangle) 4:32 into round 1.
Alexander Cheboub defeated David van Schalkwyk via submission (kimura) 2:14 into round 2.
Wesley Hawkey defeated Gareth Buirski via unanimous decision.
Brendan Groenewald defeated Vandam Mbuyi via disqualification 2:22 into round 1.
Tumelo Maphutha defeated Fraser Opie via verbal submission 4:43 into round 1.
Dricus du Plessis defeated Donavin Hawkey via TKO 4:50 into round 1.
Nkazimulo Zulu defeated Charlie Weyer via TKO 4:34 into round 1.
Leon Mynhardt defeated Frederich Naumann via KO 0:38 into round 1.

Cris Cyborg Meets Jorina Baars for Lion Fight Welterweight Title March 28

Cris Cyborg Meets Jorina Baars for Lion Fight Welterweight Title March 28

Lion Fight will make an immediate return to action at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Friday, March 28 and as CEO Scott Kent announced tonight on AXS TV’s Inside MMA, he has already signed the best pound-for-pound female fighter in the world, Cyborg for a women’s welterweight championship fight on the card.

Kent stated to Inside MMA that LION FIGHT 14’s main event will be a fight between WBC Muay Thai Champion Gregory Choplin and European Champion Marco Pique in the main event, and that on tap for the co-main event is the first-ever women’s welterweight title fight between Cyborg and Hollander Jorina Baars, who holds rank as a European Muay Thai Champion.

LION FIGHT 14 will be broadcast live on AXS TV in The UFC starting at 10 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT) with play-by-play and commentary by Pat Miletich and “The Voice” Michael Schiavello. This will be the seventh LION FIGHT event on AXS TV, who renewed their broadcast licensing deal with the Muay Thai promotion earlier this year.

“We are excited to have ‘Cyborg’ back with us March 28 for LION FIGHT 14 in Las Vegas,” said Kent. “In her last fight, Cyborg absolutely dominated French Muay Thai Champion Jennifer Colomb, leaving no question that she is a legitimate two-sport athlete who can win impressively in both MMA and Muay Thai. She also showed she is an aggressive fighter who has the power and pace to finish fights. I think she won over a lot of new fight fans in our ring, and they can’t wait to see her in action again.”

“I am excited to be fighting for LION FIGHT again, and I am grateful for the chance to fight for the belt,” said Cyborg. “I had a great experience last time I fought for Scott Kent and I promise to bring it to my opponent again this time. Jorina Baars has a lot of experience but I am training very hard for the win and another knockout. I promise the fans this will be another exciting fight!”

“I’ve heard and seen a lot of good things about Cris Cyborg,” said Baars. “I’m very happy to be offered the opportunity to fight her with Lion Fight. I only know one way to fight and that’s to win.”

LION FIGHT 14 also features the return of Thai fighting legend Malaipet who will be facing American Shane Oblonsky. More bouts for LION FIGHT 14 will be announced soon.
- See more at: http://www.lionfight.com/news/2014/02/cris-cyborg-signs-with-lion-fight-set-to-fight-for-first-womens-welterweight-title-at-lion-fight-14/#sthash.74aNb4Xp.dpuf

15 European Fighters Who Could Sign for The UFC in 2014 (Part 1)

15 European Fighters Who Could Sign for The UFC in 2014 (Part 1)
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

2014 is set to be the busiest year in the UFC's history with between 40 to 50 cards planned for the year. The UFC are looking to expand in a big way this year, and with Garry Cook at the helm as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Europe, 2014 is set to be a huge year for European MMA.

With a minimum of 6 European cards planned for 2014, Joe Silva and Sean Shelby will need to book around 72 fights just for Europe - that's 144 fighters! With all of these cards expected to take place on the UFCs new online subscription service Fight Pass, its likely Silva and Shelby will be looking to add local talent to these cards, to not only sell tickets but to keep the cost of the cards down.

With so many talented fighters in European, we look at some of the names which the UFC could add over the next year. Starting with our first 5 names, in NO particular order.

Jan Blachowicz - Poland
The first of several Polish fighters on this list, 30 year old Jan Blachowicz has established himself as one of the best light-heavyweights in the world not signed to the UFC. At 17-3, Blachowicz has not lost a fight since 2011. Since then he has defeated four UFC vets in a row - Sokoudjou, Mario Maranda, Houston Alexander and Goran Reljić on route to earning and defending the KSW light-heavyweight title.

Popular in his native Poland, Blachowicz is no doubt on a far better contract than the UFCs standard 6k & 6k, but with the growing trend of light-heavyweights dropping to 185 - Machida, Mousasi, and Te Tuna all in recent months, and a proposed UFC debut in Poland this year, Blachowicz would be an excellent addition to the promotions 205lb division.

Max Nunes - Sweden
Had Max Nunes not lost to Jason Jones at Bamma 13 for the first pro loss of his career, it's likely the Swedish fighter would have already been signed to the UFC.

After suffering a set back against Jones, Nunes bounced back by dropping to middleweight and picking up a unanimous decision victory against Ion Pascu. With several Scandinavian's already booked for UFC London, the UFC may look to add to their roster for their annual return to Sweden. At 12-1 with 11 finishes, Max Nunes would be a worthy addition a UFC card in Sweden particularly if the 24 year old can pick up another win or two before then.

Mamed Khalidov - Poland
Easily the fighter most worthy of a place on the UFC roster on this list, Khalidov is a top 10 middleweight with an outstanding 28-4 record which includes an impressive 27 finishes. What's more 12 of those victories are over former or current UFC fighters.

A huge star in Poland, the KSW champion is Poland's equivalent of Conor McGregor, appearing on various national adverts and TV talkshows, and could easily headline a sold out arena when the UFC make their debut in Poland this year.

A stumbling block however  could be the reported $30,000 Khalidov earns per fight, and the sponsorship deal Khalidov could lose by joining the UFC, these were the reasons sited in 2012 when Khalidov turned down a UFC contract. With a card planned in Poland in 2014 though, it would be worth the UFC matching Khalidov's current contract just for the revenue he would bring to that card alone.

James Brum - UK
James 'Job Done' Brum has been doing just that - getting the job done for 2 years straight. Currently on an 8-fight win streak, Brum has not lost since Bamma 7 in September 2011 when he was defeated by current UFC bantamweight Erik Perez.

Currently Europe's highest ranked bantamweight not signed to the UFC, Brum has fought all of his Cage Warriors fights outside of the UK showing the ability to win and make weight around the world making James Brum a great addition to the UFC's Bantamweight division.

Neil Seery - Ireland
The UFC will make their long awaited return to Ireland this year and will no doubt be in the market for some of the finest local talent, and Neil Seery is one of the finest fighters Ireland have to offer right now.

While Seery may not have the best record in European MMA, Seery is popular, and has put together a 4 fight win streak on route to winning the Cage Warriors flyweight title; a division the UFC certainly could do with adding to.

Seery would be a popular addition amongst local fans to UFC Dublin 2014.

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 2 NOW

Mirko Cro Cop vs Remy Bonjasky Official for Glory 14

Mirko Cro Cop vs Remy Bonjasky Official for Glory 14
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Glory officials today confirmed that Mirko Cro Cop will take on Remy Bojasky at Glory 14, March 8th in Zegreb, Croatia. The bout will serve as the main event of the evening, and is a rematch of a 2002 bout which Cro Cop won by TKO in the 2nd round.


Hometown hero Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic (22-7, 12 KOs) fights for the first time under the Glory banner having most recently won the K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix in March.

Having fought MMA for Pride and The UFC, Cro Cop returned to kickboxing in March 2012, a sport where he began his professional fighting career with K-1. Since returning to kickboxing Cro Cop has since rattled off 6 straight victories.

A professional kickboxer since 1995, Kickboxing Hall of Famer, Remy Bonjasky (98-12-0, 36 KOs) has beaten a who's who of fighters including Ernesto Hoost, Melvin Manhoef, Gokhan Saki, Alistair Overeem, and Anderson Silva.

A three time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, Bonjasky originally retired from Kickboxing in 2009, only to returned to the sport in 2012. Nicknamed the flying gentleman which pays homage to Bonjasky's array of flying kicks and knee attacks, Bonjasky is 2-3 in since returning to kickboxing, losing his most recent fight by controversial unanimous decision to Anderson Silva at Glory 13. 

No other fights have been official announced for Glory 14, however a 4-Man Middleweight Contenders Tournament is expected, with Jason Wilmis, Sahak Parparyan, and Dustin Jacoby expected to feature.

Jan Blachowicz vs Virgil Zwicker Completes KSW 25

Jan Blachowicz vs Virgil Zwicker Completes KSW 25

KSW25 fight card is now complete with today’s announcement of Jan Błachowicz’s opponent for the December 7th show. KSW light heavyweight champion will face American Virgil Zwicker in the event’s co-headliner.

Zwicker, nicknamed Rezdog is a former Strikeforce and Bellator fighter. He won eleven out his fourteen professional bouts. He is one hundred seventy-seven centimeters tall , weighs ninety-two kilograms and trains in Team Quest Temecula along with such renowned MMA stars as Dan Henderson, Vladimir Matyushenko and Chael Sonnen. The American is thirty-one years old and is represented by the MC Hammer’s Alchemist management group.

The showdown against Zwicker will be Błachowicz’s third defense of his KSW World title. He won the belt back in November 2011. The popular “John” currently trains in Stockholm, Sweden where he prepares for the fight with the former UFC light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson.

With Błachowicz being a submission expert and Zwicker sporting heavy hands in his striking arsenal, this fight might not see the final bell. The three-five-minute-rounds contest with a possible five-minute overtime will decide who is the superior fighter.

Baghdad Iraq Set to Host Cage Warriors 61

Baghdad Iraq Set to Host Cage Warriors 61

Cage Warriors Fighting Championship is to sign off on its busiest year to date with a hectic December schedule which will feature three events in three different countries.

CWFC officials can today confirm that terms have been agreed to bring Europe’s leading MMA promotion to Baghdad for a ground-breaking event on Saturday, December 14.

The Iraqi capital will play host to Cage Warriors 61 just seven days after CWFC’s next scheduled event, which is set for Newcastle, England. Once again, the curtain will be brought down on the year in Dublin, Ireland, on December 31, when Cage Warriors will stage its fourteenth and final event of 2013.

However, the promotion’s visit to Baghdad next month is sure to attract worldwide attention, as Cage Warriors Fighting Championship continues to expand into previously uncharted territories with a view to satisfying the enormous appetite for mixed martial arts in the region.

While some small-scale shows have taken place in Iraq in recent years, Cage Warriors 61 will mark the country’s first taste of an internationally-recognised MMA event, which will feature some of the top talent on the CWFC roster.

Iraq will become the eleventh country to play host to a Cage Warriors event since the start of last year. At the outset of 2012, the promotion embarked on an ambitious international schedule, breaking new ground for the sport of mixed martial arts in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Ukraine.

That campaign of expansion has continued in 2013, the highlight of which thus far was an extremely successful and hugely significant event – Cage Warriors 58 – in the Russian republic of Chechnya this past August.

“Cage Warriors Fighting Championship is an international promotion, the biggest and busiest outside the USA, and this announcement further enhances that fact and that reputation,” said Graham Boylan, Cage Warriors CEO.

“We’ve shown our ambition for breaking through frontiers in the past so I’m sure it will come as no surprise to see us confirming an event in Baghdad. It has had a troubled past but we’re looking forward to visiting this fantastic city and giving the people there a taste of world-class MMA.

“The event will be one of three in December, which allows us to finish this year having staged 14 shows in the space of 10 months; that’s 26 in total across 11 different countries since February of last year. With 18 shows scheduled for next year, you can expect our international growth to continue at pace in 2014.”

Cage Warriors 61 was originally scheduled for Dagestan on November 16, but a number of logistical issues paved the way for the change of date and venue to December 14 in Baghdad, with a strong fight-card matched for the event which will be revealed in due course.

While the chronological order of numbered events has subsequently been impacted, officials have opted to continue with the December 7 event in Newcastle being billed as Cage Warriors 62, with Cage Warriors 61 following a week later in Baghdad.

Press Release: CES Sign UFC Vets Chuck O'Neil and Irishman Tom Egan

Press Release: CES Sign UFC Vets Chuck O'Neil and Irishman Tom Egan 

With a thrilling combination of top-rank veterans, up-and-coming pros and some of the best amateurs in the region, this is the type of event that, in a nutshell, captures the essence of Classic Entertainment & Sports' famous "something for everyone" edict.

"A November To Remember," coming to Foxwoods Resort Casino on Friday, Nov. 15th, 2013, is the latest installment of CES' wildly-popular mixed martial arts division, and it will be the promotion's second pro-am card this month at Foxwoods, including its recent boxing pro-am at the beginning of November.

This time, CES will bring heavy-hitters Chuck O'Neil (11-6, 3 KOs) of Bridgewater, Mass., and popular Irish middleweight Thomas Egan (7-3, 5 KOs) of nearby Dorchester to Foxwoods' venerable Fox Theater, adding two former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veterans to an already-stacked lineup.

Egan, who starred in UFC 93 four years ago in his native Ireland, will face the always-dangerous Bombsquad veteran Harley Beekman (4-2, 2 KOs) of Amsterdam, N.Y., in a three-round bout. Looking to continue his climb back up the ladder in the welterweight division, O'Neil will tangle with Atlanta's Chris Woodall (12-4, 5 KOs) in a three-round bout. A former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter reality television series, O'Neil is looking to a rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Brazilian Gil de Freitas in August.


The undercard of "A November To Remember" features more of the region's top talent as North Haven, Conn., bantamweight Blair Tugman (5-3) will face Eugene Barrett (3-6) of Toledo, Ohio. Also on the card, hard-hitting heavyweight Josh Diekmann (13-5 9 KOs), fighting out of TriForce MMA and Groton, Conn., will battle Chris Guillen (13-15, 1 KO) of Fort Worth, Tex., and Providence, R.I., flyweight Dan Cormier (1-3) will face newcomer Marvin Malonado of Latham, N.Y.

One of the most impressive up-and-comers in New England, light heavyweight Willie Brown Jr. (1-0) of Meriden, Conn., will return to face Pittsburgh newcomer Chazz Dowell, and Dorchester, Mass., featherweight James Murrin will make his professional debut against fellow newcomer Douglas Monteiro, fighting out of the Dragon's Lair in Framingham, Mass.

On the amateur side, welterweight Kyle Bochniak (3-1) of Boston's Broadway MMA will face Travis Demko (1-0) from Wai Kru, also out of Boston, and bantamweight Mike Piacentini (0-1) of Coondog MMA in Meriden will face Dashawn Robinson (1-1) from Ultimate MMA in North Haven, Conn. The amateur undercard also features welterweight bouts between Eduardo Conde (3-0) of Team Thunder MMA in Watertown, Conn., and Jose Quinones (3-1) of New England Combat in Johnston, R.I.; and Romulado de Freitas of the Dragon's Lair and independent fighter Angel LaBoy (0-1) of Hartford. All amateur bouts feature three five-minute rounds.

Shinobi War Adds 2 More Fights to Debut November Card

Shinobi War Adds 2 More Fights to Debut November Card

Amateur upstart promotion Shinobi War have added two more fights to its debut November card.

Craig Dransfield of Next Generation MMA in Liverpool will be taking on Fergus Williams-Tanton who is an independent fighter.  Dransfield is a BJJ Blue Belt under Head Coach, Paul Rimmer, and has a solid stand-up game to match.  Williams-Tanton has a very game fighter who has trained in many martial arts over the years including Muay Thai, Sambo and Wrestling.  

Igor Pusharskis of Team Elite has made a promising start to his MMA career and holds an amateur record of 4-0.  He will face another independent fighter in the form of Gary Tyrer.  Tyrer always comes to fight and is himself unbeaten having won both of his amateur bouts to date.

Unfortunately, as with Liam Bird has been forced to withdraw from the card leaving Bobby Pallet without an opponent. Again Team Shinobi have managed to find a more that suitable replacement in Jordan Barton from Team Elite.  Jordan has a strong striking background, which is a trademark of Team Elite and has rounded out his game by competing in and winning grappling tournaments.

Shinobi War takes place on Saturday 23rd November 2013 at the Deeside Leisure Centre, North Wales.  The full fight card is as follows:

Shinobi War Fight Card

Featherweight Bout - Wayne Hughes (HFFS) vs Reece Phillips (Beyond Black Belt)

Lightweight Bout - Paul Jackson (HFFS) vs River O'Callaghan (Silverback MMA)

Light Heavyweight Bout - Mario Data (HFFS) vs Piotr Chyska (Beyond Black Belt)

Middleweight Bout - Igor Puskarskis (Team Elite) vs Gary Tyrer (Independent)

Bantamweight Bout - Mak Mwanza (Silverback MMA) vs Jordan Chester (Reps MMA)

Welterweight Bout - Alan Hunt (Team Elite) vs Tony Hristov (Silverback MMA)

Middleweight Bout - Mark Sutton (Next Level MMA) vs Tom White (Beyond Black Belt)

Featherweight Bout - Lloyd Sweeney (ASW) vs Gav Samuels (Independent)

Lightweight Bout - Craig Dransfield (Next Generation) vs Fergus Williams-Tanton (Independent)

Lightweight Bout - Bobby Pallett (HFFS) vs Jordan Barton (Team Elite)

Catchweight 54Kg Bout - Adam Penketk (Sapphire MMA) vs TBC

Flyweight Bout - Ollie Harris (Next Level MMA) vs TBC

Featherweight Bout - Chris Pieroni (HFFS) vs TBC

Featherweight Bout - Jay Clay (Next Generation) vs TBC

Light Heavyweight Bout - Joe Cook (HFFS) vs TBC

Light Heavyweight Bout - Nathan Rigby (HFFS) vs TBC

Light Heavyweight Bout - Matt Clempner (ASW) vs TBC

Heavyweight Bout - Matt Allen (Beyond Black Belt) vs TBC

Former UFC Featherweight Junior Assuncao Re-signs with XFC

Junior Assuncao Re-signs with XFC

In 2010, Assuncao, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Black Rope in Capoeira, defeated John Mahlow to capture the XFC Lightweight Championship.  Before being able to defend his new title, Assuncao was offered the opportunity to return to the UFC, so with the blessing of XFC President John Prisco, Junior was let out of his contract and he respectfully vacated his belt.  Assuncao went 1-1 during his second run with the UFC, but was abruptly dismissed after his unanimous decision loss to Ross Pearson.  The company cited “an over crowded weight class” as the reason for his termination.  Junior took some time off following his release but is now refreshed , healthy, and ready to compete again.

Junior Assuncao (13-5)  has been fighting professionally since 2004.  A true veteran of the sport, Assuncao has spent time in the most recognizable organizations in the industry. He has been successful in the UFC, XFC, Shine and King of the Cage.  Before his loss to Pearson, Junior enjoyed a seven fight/three year win streak.  Assuncao holds seven wins by way of submission, two by knockout, and 4 by decision.

XFC President and Match Maker John Prisco had this to say about the Assuncao signing: “We are very excited to be able to welcome Junior back into the XFC.  Though he was only here for a short time before, I have always thought of him as a part of the XFC family; he was that pleasant to work with.  Even after Junior left us, I still kept communication open and a good working relationship with his team, not only to keep the door open for a possible return, but because I am sincerely a fan of his.  Junior is walking into an exciting time here at the XFC.  Our Featherweight “Tournament” will be held in September and October, and we will be crowning a champion shortly after.  Junior will, without a doubt, be right in the mix and waiting for whoever comes out of that tournament with the belt.  I also wouldn’t be surprised if he makes an appearance at Lightweight either.  He held our belt at that weight class before, so I can’t completely close the door on a possible return to that division. We will just have to wait and see.”

Tuf Contestant Jimmy Quinlan vs Luc Bondole Added to New England Fights X

 Tuf Contestant Jimmy Quinlan vs Luc Bondole Added to New England Fights X

New England Fights (NEF) today announced the addition of a middleweight feature fight between The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Jimmy “Crash” Quinlan (3-1) and undefeated prospect Luc Bondole (2-0) to the mixed martial arts promotion’s tenth event entitled “NEF X” to be held on September 21st at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.

“When I received the call that Jimmy was looking for a fight fresh off of his solid run in the TUF house, I jumped at the opportunity to book him,” stated NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “Quinlan’s grappling credentials are bulletproof and he forged his skills the old fashioned way—through hard work. He’s exactly the type of athlete we aim to work with here at NEF MMA and we can’t wait to watch him compete against a top prospect in Luc Bondole who we’ll be bringing in from California for the occasion.”

“Bondole and Quinlan is an interesting matchup,” stated NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “Jimmy is a menace for anyone on the ground, but Bondole has the size, strength and athleticism to avoid going there if he doesn’t want to. Jimmy’s wrestling will be substantial and a challenge for Bondole to deal with, but Luc is a massive middleweight and has never tasted defeat in any of his seven fights. This is an intense addition to a card that runs leagues deep with talent.”

Jimmy “Crash” Quinlan completed a successful four-year wrestling career at Bridgewater State College before he began exploring Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). Quinlan, who recently earned his black belt, is a world and multiple-time Pan Am champion in BJJ. His wrestling and BJJ hybrid style of fighting have proven lethal in the cage. He scored multiple victories in the TUF House during the most recent “Team Jones vs Team Sonnen” edition of the popular reality television show and was picked-up by the UFC for a fight in the season finale. Quinlan lost in his UFC debut, but is determined to notch some wins and earn his way back to the big show. His journey back begins with Luc Bondole on September 21st.

“NEF always showcases the region’s best talent, so it was an easy choice to fight for them and begin my climb back to MMA’s biggest stage,” stated Quinlan.

Luc Bondole amassed a perfect 5-0 amateur career before deciding to go pro in late 2012. Bondole made his NEF debut earlier this year at “NEF VI” when he took on a very tough Ryan Hodge (5-7). The 6’2” Bondole won a unanimous judges’ decision on the scorecards after a workman-like fifteen rounds of fighting. Originally from Portland, Maine, Bondole now lives and trains in California with aspirations of someday competing in the biggest promotions in the world. Bondole and his management team understand that a win over Quinlan will exponentially move him up the rankings and that much closer to a shot at Bellator or the UFC.

“I’m excited and honored to be fighting Jimmy Quinlan,” stated Bondole. “It will be a night to remember.”

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RFA & Double-D/Adidas Combat Sports Sign Multi-Year Deal

RFA & Double-D/Adidas Combat Sports Sign Multi-Year Deal

The President of Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA), Ed Soares, today broke news on several fronts when he announced organizational, promotional, and event plans for this year, including recently inking a landmark television distribution deal with AXS TV for 2013. Soares also revealed plans for up to 10 fights this year for the young MMA promotion, which is quickly earning a reputation as the ultimate proving ground for athletes who dream of fighting in an eight-sided cage.

"I am honored and excited to be in business with AXS TV and to have this national television deal in place for 2013," said Soares. "I'm already so far ahead of where I wanted to be at this time – we have plans to do up to 10 fights this year – and with this major TV deal in place, I think we have established that RFA offers aspiring athletes tough competition in fights that reach a national audience." 

"As one of the longest running live MMA series in the nation, we are always scouting for the best MMA promotions and athletes to feature on AXS TV Fights," said Andrew Simon, Chief Executive Officer, AXS TV Fights. "MMA fans and fighters alike have to be excited that Ed Soares, the long-time manager of the world's greatest champion, Anderson Silva, is in charge of RFA as well as recruiting and building new fighting stars for the promotion! There is no doubt in my mind that fight fans will be following all of RFA's AXS TV televised events in 2013."

With the size and scope of RFA rapidly escalating, Soares is forming a seasoned executive team to support his efforts. Today, he officially named Sven Bean as RFA's Chief Operating Officer (COO). Bean has 15 years of experience in fight promotions with over 100 successful kickboxing and mixed martial arts events to his name. With his record of achievement and his standing in the fight community, Bean brings the expertise, credibility and first-hand knowledge of the industry to RFA. Sven will work side-by-side with Soares to identify the best new talent for RFA and in all aspects of live event planning and execution.

"I am proud to announce Sven Bean as COO and lead executive in charge of fight operations for RFA," said Soares. "Sven is one of the most experienced and accomplished fight promoters in MMA. He is a trusted professional who shares my passion for MMA and my vision for the huge potential of RFA as a star-building league for the sport. With a TV deal in place and so many events planned this year, Sven will be central to RFA's success."

"Joining RFA with Ed Soares leading the organization is an incredible opportunity," said Bean. "Ed and I are very like-minded in business and in our goal to grow RFA as the best place for up and coming fighters to showcase their MMA skills. I look forward to bringing RFA 7 to my hometown of Denver on March 22, and to seeing so many rising fighters get the chance to compete on live national television."

Additionally, Soares named Jen Wenk to lead RFA's overall public relations efforts. Wenk worked as the PR Director for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) from 2005 to 2011. She was employed through UFC's rise as the fastest growing sport in the world and the most successful fight promotion in history. Two years ago, Wenk launched a PR agency specializing in fighting sports. She holds a BA in English and History from Hunter College, a PRSA Accreditation (APR) and over 20 years of public relations practice across government, network television, and fighting.

"I am pleased to welcome Jen Wenk to the RFA team," said Soares. "She is now handling public relations for RFA and our live events. I have known Jen since the first day she started work in this sport. The MMA experience that she brings to RFA is invaluable and I'm excited to have her on my executive team."

"I'm honored to join RFA and to be working with Ed Soares, someone that I have known and respected for years," said Wenk. "While Ed was managing the career for the most accomplished athlete in MMA, I was managing PR for the most accomplished fight promotion in the world. I am excited to join forces with Ed and to help build RFA into a vibrant MMA promotion and as a home for the sport's rising stars."

Soares stated that plans are set for RFA's second nationally televised event this year. He is working in conjunction with the Colorado-based Ring of Fire organization to present "RFA 7" at the 1stBank Center in Denver, Colorado on Friday, March 22.

Former UFC Fighters Simeon Thoresen and Peter Sobotta meet at MMA Attack 4

Former UFC Fighters Simeon Thoresen and Peter Sobotta meet at MMA Attack 4
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Former UFC fighters Simeon Thoresen (17-4-1) and Peter Sobotta (13-4-1) meet at MMA Attack 4 at the Ergo Arena in Poland, on October 26th.

One of the finest fighter to come from Scandinavia, Thoresen who holds a victory over John Maguire enters the bout against Sobotta having take 17 win in his pro career, 15 which have come by way of submission.

Part of a mass culling which saw the UFC release 16 fighters earlier this year, Thoresen fight first the first time since he was cut from The UFC following back-to-back losses to Seth Baczynski and David Mitchell. His one UFC victory came in his debut at UFC on Fuel 2 in Sweden, where he submitted Besam Yousef.

“I Can’t wait for the fight against Peter Sobotta." Thoresen Said.  "He’s a good fighter and an interesting challenge for me. MMA Attack is a large European gala and I am honored that I can participate in it. Last year was a little difficult for me, but now everything will be made ​​into a coherent whole, and I am optimistic about the future.” 

His Opponent Sobotta, a Polish native who now fights out of Germany fought for the UFC 3 time between 2009 and 2010, losing to Paul Taylor, James Wilks, and Amir Sadollah. Since his release he has has fought 6 times, going 5-0-1 with 5 submission victories, 3 of which saw Sobotta win the R2F Casino Fight Night 3 one night tournament. Sobotta only blemish since his release is a controversial draw which many had him winning.

Speaking on the upcoming bout with Thoresen, Sobotta said:

“Simeon is a good competitor with a similar to my skill set [to mine]. This is not the type of grappler who just wants to maintain its position, but also trying many tricks and looking for submissions, which heralds a great fight. But I am convinced that at the end of this my hand is raised, because I’m a better grappler, and the battle will be decided on the ground. After I went off the last MMA attack, I can not wait to come back and fight again before the Polish fans” Sobotta said.

Stay tuned to Kingdom MMA for all the latest on European MMA as it happens

UK Heavyweight James McSweeney Meets Paul Buentello at Legacy Fights 22

UK Heavyweight James McSweeney Meets Paul Buentello at Legacy Fights 22
by Chris Houten - @Mr Houts

 
UK Heavyweight James McSweeney will meet Paul Buentello in the main event at Legacy Fights 22 replacing the injured Marcus Sursa.

Former TUF 10 contestant McSweeney (11-10) enters the bout on the back on a impressive run of 5 wins in his last 6 fights, including a brutal headkick TKO of former Strikeforce contender Dion Starring after just 38 second of the first round. McSweeney has never been the distance in his 11 professional victories.

His opponent Paul Buentello(32-15) , is former UFC and Strikeforce contender, who will be looking for his fourth straight win against fellow UFC vet McSweeney. A native of Texas, Buentello has has shared the cage with Top heavyweight such as Stefan Struve, Cheick Kongo Alister Overeem, and Tim Sylvia, and holds notable victories over Gary Goodridge, Tank Abbot and Mike Kyle

Legacy Fights 22 takes place August 23rd, in Lubbock, Texas with form UFC and WEC bantamweight Damacio Page, and recent Bellator MMA "Fight Master" contestant Aretenas Young also on the main card.

Meet RFA's Latest Signings Including Justin Lawrence, Chris Spang, and Kevin Casey

In most European countries, the summer transfer window is the busiest time of year for premier soccer leagues looking to sign top free agent talent. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is no different and tends to get very busy during the summer months. Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) has been very busy entering its second summer in the business.

RFA's key acquisitions last summer included Sergio Pettis, Lance Palmer, Chris Holdsworth, Gregor Gillespie, and Steve Mocco just to name a few. This summer's signees show just as much promise. Meet the RFA summer class of 2013!


Kevin Casey   

Record: 5-3   Division: Middleweight   Hometown: Los Angeles, California   
Team: Black House MMA and Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

How You Know Him: UFC, TUF 17, Strikeforce, and K-1 HERO's. Kevin "King" Casey started training jiu-jitsu in 1999 after befriending Rockson Gracie during childhood. Rockson is the late son of MMA and jiu-jitsu legend Rickson Gracie. After Rockson died a year later, Rickson took a young Casey under his wing and Casey became a standout athlete on the competitive jiu-jitsu scene. Casey is perhaps best known for his time fighting on the most recent seventeenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. Before the show, Casey's only losses came in his pro debut to the incredibly experienced Ikuhisa Minowa (K-1 HERO's) and former UFC star Matt Lindland (Strikeforce). On TUF 17, Casey submitted Hawaiian fighter Eldon Sproat to gain entry into the house, but Casey's performance on the show was affected by acute renal failure (kidney failure) from the drastic weight cut he made after being selected for a wild card match. Casey nearly submitted Josh Samman early in his UFC debut in April, but again lingering conditioning ailments affected his performance. This has prompted Casey to revamp his entire health, nutirition, and conditioning program heading into his RFA debut.

Twitter: @KevinKOCasey

Keoni Koch   

Record: 5-0   Division: Bantamweight   Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa   Team: Hard Drive MMA
How You Know Him: Keoni "Evil Genius" Koch is the older brother of UFC star Erik "New Breed" Koch. After making his pro debut in 2007, he took 3 years off to focus on training his teammates at Hard Drive MMA. This is the gym in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that he co-founded with Dave Sherzer. The older Koch brother returned to action briefly in 2010 before taking another 3 years off. In April, Koch returned to competition once again. He picked up where he left off with another win. Koch then signed with the RFA to fight fellow unbeaten bantamweight Pedro Munhoz at RFA 8. Unfortunately, he broke his hand and was forced off the card. Koch expects to be ready to fight later this summer and in the meantime he inked a new multi-fight deal with the RFA. Now it's just a matter of time before RFA fans get to witness one of his epic entrances. His Major League themed "Wild Thing" walkout would have made Charlie Sheen proud.

Twitter: @HardDriveMMA

 




Justin Lawrence

Record: 4-2   Division: Featherweight   Hometown: Pacific, Missouri (Now in Los Angeles, California)   Team: Black House MMA

How You Know Him: UFC, TUF 15, and Strikeforce. Justin "The American Kid" Lawrence dove into the deep end when he decided to fight professionally. He made his pro debut in late 2010 on the undercard of Strikeforce - Henderson vs. Babalu II. After extending his record to 3-0, Lawrence decided to fight as a lightweight on the fifteenth season of the UFC's hit reality show The Ultimate Fighter. Lawrence made a name for himself worldwide as the #1 overall pick on the show due to his lethal striking ability. These are skills that helped make Lawrence a six-time IKF kickboxing national champion, two-time IKF kickboxing Pan-American champion, two-time Golden Gloves boxing champion, and two-time Diamond Gloves boxing champion. These striking skills also earned Lawrence stoppage victories of James Krause and Cristiano Marcello on TUF 15 and a brutal KO of John Cofer at the UFC - TUF 15 Finale. The win over Cofer earned Lawrence the UFC "KO of the Night" Award as well as the UFC "Fight of the Night" Award.


Twitter: @AmericanKiddMMA

Alan Jouban    

Record: 6-1   Division: Welterweight   Hometown: Los Angeles, California   
Team: Legends MMA and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu

How You Know Him: Shark Fights and Tachi Palace Fights. Alan Jouban made a name for himself in the now defunct Shark Fights and Tachi Palace Fights promotions. He competed twice for each organization in his first four fights. Jouban now sports an impressive 6-1 professional MMA record with his lone setback being against current RFA star Chidi Njoukani. Jouban won his pro debut in 2011 over UFC and RFA veteran Tyson Griffin's younger brother Kyle Griffin, who is a former NCAA Division I wrestler and ADCC veteran. Jouban supplements his powerful striking ability by training jiu-jitsu under the innovative Eddie Bravo. The professional fighter, who moonlights in Los Angeles as a professional model and actor, became a hot commodity and was heavily coveted on the MMA free agent market this summer. Needless to say, the RFA is pleased to add Jouban to its talented welterweight roster.

Twitter: @AlanJouban




Chris Spång

   Record: 5-2   Division: Welterweight   Hometown: Växjö, Sweden (Now in Las Vegas, Nevada)
Team: Fight Capital and One Kick's Gym

How You Know Him: UFC and Strikeforce. In a sentence: Chris "The Kiss" Spång was born to bang. His father was a professional Boxer in Sweden and his older brother Andreas is a fellow professional Mixed Martial Artist, who was a finalist in the Bellator season 6 middleweight tournament. Spång trains under the esteemed tutelage of Skipper Kelp in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kelp's influence via "Left Hook Productions" was on full display last spring. From March to May of 2012, Gilbert Yvel (RFA 2), Andreas Spång (Bellator 66), and Chris Spång (Strikeforce - Barnett vs. Cormier) all won high-profile bouts with devastating left hook KO victories. The younger Spång brother was then brought over to the UFC during the UFC-Strikeforce merger, but he dropped his lone bout for the promotion in his native Sweden via decision to the decorated Russian grappler Adlan Amagov who was making his welterweight debut. Spång is looking to build off of that experience, now that he is in the RFA, and has time to develop and add to his already impressive skill set.

Twitter: @ChrisTheKiss
 
Casey Ryan   
 
Record: 5-0   Division: Middleweight   Hometown: San Diego, California   Team: Alliance MMA

How You Know Him: Strikeforce. Casey Ryan has finished all five opponents he has faced in professional MMA. That includes a Triangle Choke submission win over the well-traveled MMA veteran Jesse Juarez in his pro debut in late 2007. Ryan would return to the sport three and a half years later on the undercard of Strikeforce - Diaz vs. Daley, where he submitted Paul Song with another Triangle Choke. Ryan has gone on to pick up three more wins, two via Arm-Triangle Choke and one via TKO. He currently trains alongside UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, UFC light-heavyweight contenders Phil Davis and Brandon Vera, as well as several other UFC stars at Alliance MMA in Chula Vista, California. Ryan is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and also teaches "the gentle art" at Alliance MMA.

Twitter: @CaseyRyanMMA




 

Video: Nick Diaz Promotions Release War MMA Promo

Nick Diaz Promotions Release War MMA 

WAR MMA 1 Trailer from Nick Diaz on Vimeo.
Stockton native and UFC headliner Nick Diaz will launch his new promotion, WAR, on Saturday, June 22nd at 5pm at the Stockton Arena. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 29th at 10am.
The card will be headlined by UFC veteran Daniel Roberts (13-4) facing off against Justin Baesman (13-3). The fight card will be co-headlined by Caleb Mitchell (4-3) against Evan Esguerra (7-5). The main card will also feature Roy Boughton vs. Liron Wilson, Mike Persons vs. Clayton “Money Shot” McKinney, Darin Cooley vs. Cody Gibson and Chris Quitiquit vs. Dominic Clark. More bouts will be announced in the upcoming days. (Card subject to change.)

Nick Diaz, a former WEC and Strikeforce welterweight (170 lbs) champion, has headlined three UFC PPV cards (UFC 137, UFC 143, and UFC 158) since his return to the organization in 2011. He has previously fought in Pride and Elite XC (including a fight at the Stockton Arena) amongst other MMA promotions. This experience with multiple organizations gave Nick an interest to start his own promotion.

Bouts in WAR will be fought under the Unified Rules of MMA, modified to use a ring instead of a cage and disallowing elbow strikes to a grounded opponent. These rules are in place to encourage grapplers on top position to advance their position or create space for punching, making fights more dynamic and entertaining. Regular matches will be three, five minute rounds, and future championship matches will five, five minute rounds.

For ticket and other information, please visit www.Stocktonlive.com and www.NickDiazPromotions.com. Fighters interested in competing in upcoming WAR events are encouraged to submit their contact information.

Jeff Curran Out, Dillard Pegg Now Meets Sergio Pettis in RFA 8 Title Fight

Jeff Curran out, Dillard Pegg now meets Sergio Pettis in RFA 8 title fight

RFA president Ed Soares announced today that due to personal reasons, Jeff Curran was forced to pull out of the RFA 8 main event. Soares also confirmed that Dillard "Smokin' Joe" Pegg (5-1) has agreed to step up as a late replacement to fight Sergio "The Phenom" Pettis (7-0) for the RFA flyweight title in the main event of RFA 8 - Pettis vs. Pegg. RFA 8 takes place on Friday, June 21st at the historic The Rave / Eagles Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

"It's unfortunate that Jeff Curran had to pull out of the fight on short notice, but this happens, even at the highest levels of MMA," said Soares. As an organization that models itself after the UFC, we had to move forward and find a worthy replacement to give the fans an exciting title fight that is just as compelling as the original bout. Luckily, we were able to find that in "Smokin' Joe" Pegg. Pegg has finished all four opponents he has faced in 2013 and brings an explosive striking arsenal that will clash well with Sergio Pettis. Pegg is in shape after winning a fight five days ago with a 42-second submission, and like Sergio Pettis, he’s also a second degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. He's fast, aggressive, and looks for the finish. This is a huge opportunity for Pegg and I believe this is going to be a great main event for the first ever RFA flyweight title."

Pegg fights out of Amelia, Ohio with Team G-Force MMA. Dillard has a total of six professional fights with three knockouts and two submissions with his most recent submission coming June 7 over Jeremy Pender at Absolute Action MMA. Pegg has been fighting professionally for the past six years. He holds a black belt in Taekwondo and is known for his striking and aggressive fighting style.

"I didn't hesitate when the RFA called me, because headlining this card and fighting for a title against Sergio Pettis is the chance of a lifetime," said Pegg. "I expect people to look over me, but they shouldn't. I'm going to give everything I have on June 21st. I don't care what your last name is, this is a fight, and you never know what can happen. If I beat Pettis, not only will my confidence be sky high, but it also shows that win on national TV. This is a huge opportunity for my career and I am excited, in shape. and ready to take on Sergio Pettis."

The co-main event of RFA 8 is also a title fight, as RFA featherweight champion Jared "Demon Eyes" Downing (10-1) attempts to defend his title for the first time against four-time All-American wrestler turned undefeated MMA fighter Lance "The Party" Palmer (6-0).

Downing is a standout fighter at Hard Drive MMA in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At RFA 1, he defeated TUF 14 alumni Eric Marriott. Three months later, he would fight and defeat highly touted Brazilian prospect Alessandro "Zoio" Ferreira at RFA 2. That win earned Downing a shot at the RFA featherweight title last November as the main event of RFA 5. He gave the unbeaten TUF 15 alum Jordan Rinaldi his first loss in a dominant five-round unanimous decision.

Downing is now ready to defend his title against one of the most talented featherweight prospects in the sport.

"I'm happy that I get to fight Lance, who comes from a great camp like Team Alpha Male. He is a really good wrestler, but he has to bring more to the table in this fight. This will be an exciting fight, but I'm bringing my belt back home to Iowa," said RFA featherweight champion Downing.

Downing's stifling wrestling base and relentless cage control will be put to the test against Palmer, who is one of the most decorated wrestlers in Ohio's state history. His time at wrestling powerhouse St. Edward High School, where he won four state titles, was the centerpiece of the award-winning documentary Pinned. Palmer was also voted one of the "Top 50 Athletes of the Decade" by JJHuddle.com, Ohio's leading source of high school sports. Palmer went on to become a four-time NCAA Division I All-American in wrestling at The Ohio State University.

The main card of RFA 8 - Pettis vs. Pegg will be televised live on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Friday, June 21. Taking place live from inside The Rave / Eagles Club in Milwaukee, this venue was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. RFA 8 will be the promotion's first event in the "Badger State" and will kick off a summer of festivities in the "City of Festivals".