Darren Elkins Steps in For Injured Clay Guida, Meets Chad Mendes at UFC on Fox 7

Chad Mendes vs Darren Elkins set for UFC on Fox 7

Following his first round TKO victory over Antonio Carvalho at UFC 158 this weekend, Darren Elkins (16-2, 6-1 UFC) has agreed to quick return to The Octagon, at UFC on Fox 7 next month, where he will take on Chad Mendes, as a replacement for the injured Clay Guida.

Elkins win over Carvalho marked his first stoppage victory as a UFC featherweight after four straight unanimous-decision victories and improved his UFC Featherweight record to 5-0, the first fighter to attain such a mark in the UFC.

Prior to his victory over Carvelho, Elkins had scored decision wins over Steven Siler, Diego Brandao, Michihiro Omigawa and Tiquan Zhang in the UFC, which has seen him slip under the raider of title contention.

Mendes (13-1, 4-1 UFC) who enters the bout having bounced back from a TKO loss to UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo at UFC 142, with back-to-back TKO victories over Cody McKenzie and Yaotzin Meza, is widely considered the number 2 featherweight in the world, and may feel an impressive win over Elkins may be enough to put him right back in title contention.

UFC on Fox 7 Takes place on  April 20 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, featuring a lightweight title fight between champion Benson Henderson and final Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez, with UK stars Dan Hardy and Norman Parke also on the card

The latest UFC on Fox 7 card now includes:

Main Card
Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez - For The UFC lightweight title
Daniel Cormier vs. Frank Mir
Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson
Matt Brown vs. Dan Hardy

Preliminary Card
Norman Parke vs. Jon Tuck
Francis Carmont vs. Lorenz Larkin
Myles Jury vs. Ramsey Nijem
Francisco Rivera vs. Hugo Viana
Jorge Masvidal vs. Tim Means
Facebook Prelims
Chad Mendes vs. Darren Elkins
Roger Bowling vs. Anthony Njokuani
Clifford Starks vs. Yoel Romero
Joseph Benavidez vs. Darren Uyenoyama

Cage Warriors Announce 4 Man Flyweight Tournament

Cage Warriors to stage 4 man flyweight tournament at Cage Warriors 55 in Dublin

Cage Warriors Fighting Championship will host a four-man tournament to determine a new flyweight champion when the organisation returns to Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, June 1, for Cage Warriors 55.

As recently announced by Cage Warriors CEO Graham Boylan, one-night tournaments will be staged in 2013 to crown new title-holders in as many as three divisions.

The Facebook prelims at Cage Warriors 55 will commence with two semi-final bouts in the CWFC flyweight title tournament, consisting of two five-minute rounds. A third five-minute round will be contested in the event of a draw.

The final, made up of five five-minute rounds, will be one of the featured bouts on the main card, with the winner becoming the first ever CWFC flyweight champion.

“I’m a huge fan of the lighter weight classes and interest in the 125lbs division has skyrocketed since the UFC started theirs last year. I’m really excited about this,” said Cage Warriors matchmaker Ian Dean.

“The fights in this division are fast, skilful and exciting. Recently at Cage Warriors we’ve seen some impressive performances from the likes of Neil Seery, Kris Edwards and Phil Harris, who defeated two very skilled North American opponents before being signed by the UFC.

“With the number of promising flyweights in the UK and Europe increasing, it’s time these guys had a worthy title to aim for and I think this tournament will provide that opportunity. The winner of this tournament will be a worthy and legitimate title-holder in an up-and-coming and competitive division.”

Participants in the tournament will be revealed in due course.

For more on Cage Warriors 55, check out our Calendar section of our website.

Jeff Monson "I want to become a citizen of Russia"

Jeff Monson interview with Valetudo.ru

American Heavyweight has never made left wing belief secret, in fact he is know for his anarchist views and has even been arrested for expressing his views in 2009, when Monson was charged with First Degree Malicious Mischief, for vandalizing the Washington State Capitol by spray-painting "an anarchy symbol, a peace symbol and the words 'no poverty' and 'no war'".

Now speaking to Valetudo.ru two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Champion, who who hold notable MMA wins over Ricco Rodriguez, Roy Nelson, and Sergei Kharitonov, has expressed a desire the become a Russian Citizen.

Note - The excerpts below are via Google translate, and thus cannot be relied up as definitively accurate.

ValeTudo.ru: Rumor has it that you were not happy with something after the fight with Fedor? What?
Jeff Monson: I was not happy that I lost. (Laughs) I wanted to attack him. Straightforward, hard ... so the first thing I was unhappy with was myself.

VT: How long do you want to continue to figth in MMA?
JM: As long as I can. As long as I have a passion for fighting, and I am in physical condition.

VT: Do you have any contracts for the fights in the USA?
JM: No. I have now only deal with M-1.

VT: You have often been to Russia? What do you like here?
JM: Well, it's great that the audience here is very passionate. Now I have many friends here already. I feel there is very strong support. And I'm trying to come back, and I think it's good that relationship turned out. I really feel so.

VT: Why do you think the Russian public is so fond of you? And they loves you, believe me.
JM: Oh, thank you, I appreciate it very much. (Embarrassed) I do not even know. Probably because I am honest and sincere. Maybe it's because I'm always going to battle to the end, never give up, do not give up. I think it brings me to the Russian. I believe that you have the same mentality ... there is fighting spirit, you never give up. Maybe that's it.

VT: You have visited many cities in Russia conducting workshops now. What are your impressions of Russia? What do you like, not like?
JM: I don't like the traffic jams (smiles). It turned out that there are traffic jams in Sochi and St. Petersburg and Moscow. But more surprised that they are in Sochi.
I like the (pause) ... people. You know, I've heard the expression, that - "Russia is a riddle wrapped up in an enigma." It is Russia and Europe combined, and Asia - no other country in the world is sthe same. It is unique. There are people of different races, they belong together and are united into one great culture. Culture is not like the others. This is very interesting.
And another thing (starts talking enthusiastically) people here are very generous. I've got a lot of gifts piled on unfamiliar people. I was invited to the house, threw open its doors, were very welcoming to me.

VT: Is it a joke or the truth that you want to receive Russian citizenship?
JM: No, it's not a joke. I'm working on it. I am looking for an opportunity.

VT: Tell me, in your opinion, what are the main differences between the U.S. and Russia?
JM: This is of course subjective ... but ... I think that in Russia people are more stringent. Not in terms of rudeness or anything like that ... just have more difficult conditions in life. Maybe because of the weather. Maybe because of the history. You've had a lot of wars. A long history of the state. You had to fight a lot. And I think that you are more capable of something. America, it is more mild.
Russian are able to perform more complex actions, to pass more complex tests and move on. And another thing, the political stuff. America, she is trying to become an empire. We have military bases all over the world hundred pieces - one hundred and fifty. We are trying to control the world. In Russia, the army is not of this kind. It is not aimed at the world. This is also a big difference.

VT: How did you imagine the USSR? 
JM: Yes, I thought about it, during my childhood. I imagined this is what it was like in the Soviet Union. But in the U.S. there was a sea of ??propaganda, of course we did not know exactly how it was in reality.
I thought you had a government that suppresses the people ... Yes, in fact, all governments are all not give full freedom of citizens. We have the same problem actually.
We were told that in the Soviet Union were all starving, people stand in line for bread, that communism is bad ...

VT: Unfortunately, sometimes your propaganda is not lying.
JM: Yes, yes. I know.

VT: Do you have some great purpose in life?
JM: I want to make a change in my life, for a possible future in which the world would be more environmentally friendly, and there was more freedom for the people. And I know I'm not the person who will change the world, but maybe I can make some progress this ... in 1917, before the Bolsheviks came to power, the people somehow became, even for a time, but do without guards over them ... they had all things in order, starting on a new all ... during the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks came and took over and never gave it. Felt that people need leaders.

VT: But do you think that people do not need leaders, the government, the police?
JM: No, of course they are not necessary. What are they doing for us?

VT: But what about the crime? Bad people?
JM: And where does the crime come from? We are in such a system ... you, me, all around ... the rich, the government, corporations control 95% of all around, and for the rest of us have to fight. What happens if you put in a box of rats and throw them food that would be enough for only a few? They will fight for it. And what we're doing. The bad guys? And if they are bad? Maybe. And can they do something that pushes their authority and the corporation.

VT: But still, there's people with a "black heart."
JM: People can protect themselves. I'm talking about something else. No one should tell people what to do. No one should control others.

VT: But different societies, different cultures, very different laws and concepts. For example in their Christian and Muslims their own, with their Buddhist. How could that be?
JM: This is religion, not people. It's still laws and prohibitions. I'm talking about the laws of civilization. Tthe American Indians don't have such leaders. There are elders. They give advice, recommendations. And you know yourself that killing, stealing, and committing other crimes is bad. You just know it. And it's part of the civilized world. You will not do evil. You will not break these rules, as it is simple human standards of morality, and you can not break them. These laws are in you.
And we need change. We do not need terrible tyrants and dictators. We can make changes. We have the power to do so. I want to be a small part of educating people on the issues.

•••With time running short, the interview took a turn.***
VT: What qualities do you value in a woman above all else?
JM: Taking care of people.

VT: What qualities do you appreciate in a man?
JM: The same quality of caring.

VT: Your best main feature?
JM: I want to believe that I have the already mentioned quality.

JM: What is your main shortcoming?
JM: Selfishness probably. Sometimes. Not material things involved. Rather, it is something private ... I will say this, with women, I am selfish.

VT: What is happiness?
JM: To see the children happy.

VT: What would you have thought the biggest misfortune?
JM: That when I leave this world, I do not have time to do things. Such as talk enough with my children. To not bring the changes in the world, of which we spoke earlier.

VT: What do you hate most?
JM: Capitalism.

VT: Your hero (from the real world)?
JM: Mikhail Bakunin.

VT: Your favorite invented hero (from anywhere, books, movies, comics, cartoons, etc)
JM: Cookie Monster.

VT: You probably saw the movie "Fight Club." There was a dialogue between two characters. And one of them asked the other, who of real people, living or living on the Earth, he would like to fight. With whom you would like to? Give me some names.
JM: (Without hesitation) Hitler. George W. Bush, honestly. (After thinking) Maybe even with Julius Caesar.

The Winners & Losers of UFC 158!!

The Winners & Losers of UFC 158

by Tommy Strong - @strong_tea

 

It's been two days removed since we saw GSP retain his Welterweight title in dominant fashion at UFC 158 in Montreal Quebec Canada.
This event was meant to put the Welterweight division into some perspective, though Im still not sure we are any the wiser with the talent pool so deep in this weight class.
So where do the winners & losers of the Welterweight division, top contenders go from here? Lets start with the current champion GSP.

GSP  (24-2-0) v Hendricks (15-1-0):

We truly have a number 1 contender in Johny Hendricks that has earn't his title shot at George off the back of some very impressive wins against, Fitch,Koscheck, Kampmann & Condit. And not off the back of a failed drug test and a loss!

This fight really has my mouth watering! George won't be able to implement his normal style of take down , hold them down labour his way to a UD.
He will almost be forced to stand with Hendricks who is probably one of, if not the hardest puncher pound for pound in the UFC right at this moment.
I hope Hendricks hasn't sustained to much damage to his left hand after his fight with Carlos, so a Summer fight v GSP could take place.

Diaz (27-9-1) v Condit (28-7-0):

This to me makes perfect sense. Having fought each other at UFC 143 just over a year ago , where Carlos won in a close fought battle. Both coming off losses and Im sure Diaz would like to avenge his loss to Carlos in a fight that he and his fans thought he done enough to win.
Diaz talked about retirement straight after his loss to GSP, but I think thats just all spur of the moment talk and deep down doesn't really mean it.
Once he sits back and reflects on his career, I believe he will be back in the octagon again soon.

Ellenberger (29-6-0) v Rory Macdonald (14-1-0):

After a very impressive knockout out over Nate Marquardt on Saturday night, Ellenberger is fast becoming a top contender for the title. Like wise so is Rory. Having to pull out of his fight against Carlos Condit due to an injury, he will be itching to get back in the cage with a Top 5 fighter like Ellenberger to push himself further up the rankings, so this could be a perfect fight for both fighters.


Nate Marquardt (35-12-2) v The Dreaded Cut ( 98-0)?

With back to back loses and with his previous history of failed drugs test & suspensions he really must be looking down the barrel of the UFC loaded gun that has 98 bullets left to fire!
But winning the Welterweight title in his debut for Strikeforce in a very impressive manner over Tyron Woodley, he might be given one more chance in the UFC before they decide his time is up.

Paul Daley to Headline Dubai Fighting Championships 4 Against Rodrigo 'Ximbica' Ribeiro

Paul Daley takes on Rodrigo Ribeiro at DFC 4 in May

UK Welterweight star Paul 'Semtex' Daley will be returning to the cage in May, where he will take on BJJ Blackbelt & ONE FC Veteran Rodrigo 'Ximbica' Ribeiro, in the main event at Dubai Fighting Championships 4, at The Madinat Arena in Mina A' Salam, Dubai.

Dubai Fighting Championships released the following statement on their Facebook page earlier today:

It's OFFICIAL. Bellator MMA Superstar & ex UFC Contender Paul 'Semtex' Daley is headlining DFC 4 against BJJ Blackbelt & ONE FC Veteran Rodrigo 'Ximbica' Ribeiro.

This is a HUGE fight for MMA in the Middle East & pits a KO specialist against a Submission Master. Styles make fights & this promises to be EXPLOSIVE!

Fight fans & media do NOT miss this. DFC 4 promises to be the Biggest MMA event in UAE history since the UFC invasion.

Tickets on sale soon....

Friday 10th May 2013 - Madinat Arena - Mina A' Salam, Dubai 

Nottinghams Paul Daley enters the bout on a 2 fight win streak which include a spectacular flying-knee TKO over Patrick Vallee at Cage Contenders 16. 

A prized signing for Bellator Fighting Championships in 2012, Daley was expected to compete for the promotion in January as part of the Bellators welterweight tournament against War Machine, however a legal issue saw Daley unable to obtain a visa for entry in to the USA, and the bout was ultimately scrapped. He has since been given permission by Bellator to fight for other promotions, while he resolves his legal issues.

His opponent Rodrigo 'Ximbica' Ribeiro holds a 9-10 record and enters this having lost his last 2 fights to Rustam Khabilov and Phil Baroni both under the One FC promotion. 

For more on DFC 4, check out our Calendar section of our website.

Kingdom MMA Exclusive: Interview with Max Nunes

BAMMA's unbeaten star Max Nunes tells Kingdom MMA his next fight "should be for a title"

by Ben Heather @benheather

On Wednesday 12th March 2013 I had the privilege of interviewing BAMMA’s unbeaten rising star and my pick for the one to watch in the next 18 months Max Nunes. Max who now holds a 10-0 professional MMA record after his TKO win against Marcin Lazarz at BAMMA 12.

Ben: Hi Max, Thank you for taking the time out to do this interview for Kingdom MMA, it is very much appreciated.

Growing up in Sweden how did you first get in to MMA as a fan?
Max: I was never a MMA fan. I had never watched it or anything like that. I had never been a fan until I started fighting.

Ben: When did you first start training in MMA?
Max: It was about four years ago, something like that.

Ben: Why did you start training in MMA, especially if you were not a fan before?
Max: There was a MMA club in my gym and after seeing them train every day I just decided to come and try.

Ben: Had you trained in any martial arts before you started training in MMA?
Max: Nope, nothing I just went straight into MMA without any background in any combat sport.

Ben: I believe you moved to London to help progress your MMA career, what ultimately made you come to this decision and when did you move?
Max: Yeah I purely came to London to train MMA because back then MMA wasn't so big in Sweden. There weren't many shows in Sweden so it was going to be a move to the USA or UK and the UK was closer.

Ben: Did you ever have any amateur fights in Sweden/ England or did you go straight in to fighting as a professional?
Max: Yeah I did fight as an amateur but only in England, I went 3-1-1 as an amateur/ semi-professional.

Ben: Did you win your first amateur fight? Or was that your only loss?
Max: Yes I lost the first fight and haven’t lost a fight since.

Ben: That’s a great achievement, especially as you had done no training of any martial arts previously. How long had you trained before your first fight?
Max: About less than a year I think

Ben: You are now 10-0 as a professional stopping all opponents inside the distance. Do you pride yourself of this fact?
Max: Yeah I am very happy it’s like a dream come true. I always try and go for the finish. For me that is very important to get the stoppage. You never know what the judges are thinking and they are not really known for picking right all the time lol

Ben: Yes I agree if you have the ability to finish it go for it and make sure the judges can’t make a mistake.
Max: That’s how I see it.

Ben: With five wins by KO and five wins by Submission this proves you are a fully rounded mixed martial artist. Do you have a preference on where you like to keep the fight?
Max: Not really, anywhere I can get the stoppage is fine by me.

Ben: In your last fight you went in to the third round for the first time in your career (and past the first round for only the second time) but proved you still had the cardio to control that round before getting the KO finish with some brutal ground and pound. Do you pride yourself on being able to fight the whole fifteen minutes even though we have not seen this yet in your professional career?
Max: Yeah, you can’t expect to finish everyone in the first round, Marcin Lazarz was very well prepared and I think it is very important to be fit. I never want to lose a fight because I gas out. However, I do always do my best to finish the fight.

Ben: In your last fight it was the first time in your career that you looked in a bit of trouble getting rocked in the first round, do you remember much about it and were you hurt at that point?
Max: Yeah but in the fight I didn’t feel hurt or anything I just felt that he hit me. Looking back at the fight I can see that I got rocked.

Ben: Would you say you had any areas of weaknesses inside the cage that you need to develop?
Max: Yeah of course, I want to be better at everything. I’m always looking to improve my skills.

Ben: Who would you like to fight next and when? Also, do you think your next fight should be for a BAMMA title as both British and World titles are vacant at Light Heavyweight?
Max: I don’t care. I will fight whoever they put in front of me and yes I think it should be for a title.

Ben: Am I right in thinking you are now one fight into your exclusive three fight deal with BAMMA, if so would you like to fight two more times this year?
Max: Yes that is correct, I have two more fights left on my contract. If I could I would fight two more times before the summer.

Ben: By the sounds of it BAMMA can’t keep you out of the cage then….
Max: Ha-ha yeah I like to keep active.

Ben: Realistically how many times do you think you would be able to fight this year if BAMMA keep putting the shows on?
Max: If I could and was not injured about every eight weeks.

Ben: Are you fighting fit following the win on Saturday night or did you pick up any knocks?
Max: No I am really happy that I came out of that fight unharmed, my legs are just a bit sore.

Ben: Out of all of your fights do you think you have a win that was most satisfying for you?
Max: The last one, because it made me 10-0.

Ben: If you could fight anywhere in the world where would it be?
Max: Japan, I just love the culture.

Ben: As a fan now, do you have a favourite fighter?
Max: Yeah Shinya Aoki, I think he is amazing.

Ben: If you could put together a fantasy fight who would you want to watch fight and why?
Max: It would be me vs. Anderson Silva just because he is the best fighter in the world and it would be an honour to say that I had a fight with him.

Ben: One last question, if you had to pick a fight with two separate fighters other than yourself, who would you pick?
Max: Silva vs. Jones. I think everyone wants to see that fight.

Ben: I think you are right, that’s a brilliant fight and surely nobody would complain if that fight got made.

Ben: Thank you very much Max for your time and for answering all the questions for Kingdom MMA. I look forward to seeing you back in the cage and speaking to you again in the future.
Max: Thank you

Be sure to keep checking KingdomMMA.co.uk to find out the latest news on Max Nunes, BAMMA as well as the latest MMA stories from around the UK and the rest of the world.

Deep: Osaka Impact 2013 (Fight Card)

Deep: Osaka Impact 2013
Date: April 28, 2013
Matsushita IMP Hall, Osaka, Japan

Fight Card
Seichi Ikemoto vs Ryo Chonan
Naoyuki Kato vs Yuya Shibata
Yukinari Tamura vs Ryuichiro Sumimura
Yusuke Kagiyama vs Taro Kusano
Isao Terada vs Katsuyoshi Beppu