***spoilers*** UFC News and Discussion Thread

[Enter Blue Guy]

Update on Shogun...

MMAWeekly has received word from our Brazilian connection, Denis Martins, that his contacts at Chute Boxe are telling him that Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has signed a new four-fight contract with Pride Fighting Championships.

There has been some speculation that the new contract is structured as two fights for Pride FC and two fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. That appears to be information that may have been jumbled because of the recent swirl of controversy surrounding the possible sale of Pride FC to Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, whose company Zuffa LLC owns the UFC.

Shogun’s new contract is with Pride FC, but if the company is indeed going to change hands (especially with everything pointing in that direction lately), it is likely that his new contract was structured so that it would be part of the Pride sale, and thus we could eventually see Shogun in the UFC. But until an actual sale does take place, Shogun is a Pride fighter.

The 25-year-old Shogun is currently the world's #2 Light Heavyweight in the MMAWeekly Rankings. Shogun won Pride's 205-pound Grand Prix in 2005 by defeating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, and Ricardo Arona.

Credit: MMA Weekly.com

[Enter Blue Guy]

All credit to MMANews.com and whatnot.

The Tito Ortiz vs. Dana White three-round exhibition boxing match is scheduled to take place tomorrow at the official UFC gym. The idea is to try and keep the result of the bout quiet until it airs on April 14th on UFC.com.

We received a press release for the Countdown to the Ortiz-White special on Spike TV, which was listed to air on April 12th. We were then asked to take the release down due to some of the facts in it not being confirmed yet, and was told we'll have another release on Monday with all of the details.

We'll keep you updated on this one as more comes in.

Edited March 24, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[ACCBiggz]

And Ryland is coming out with a MMA game at GDS.... so more MMA News.

[JoeMimic]

Ryland is making an MMA game? *nuts in pants*

[JoeMimic]

Link

Tito ducked Dana! No showed the weigh-ins...

[Gene Kiniski]

Wait, are UFC starting to do storylines?

[Enter Blue Guy]

UFC president Dana White told Sherdog.com Saturday night in Las Vegas that there is not a concrete deal in place for Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta to purchase PRIDE at this time.

When questioned about reports claiming PRIDE president Nobuyuki Sakakibara had informed his American staff that PRIDE was in the process of selling to the Fertittas, White quipped: "I ran Wanderlei Silva out there and said he was going to fight Chuck Liddell because Mr. Sakakibara said it was done. So take that for what its worth."

White was adamant about the lack of a deal despite the flurry of reports claiming an agreement had been reached.

"Like most things," he said, "about 70 percent of what you hear is bullshit."

White, who was scheduled to box former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz in an exhibition bout Saturday, declined to comment on the record about the circumstances that prevented the bout.

credit: Sherdog.com

[ACCBiggz]

Hero's/Strikeford/EliteXC

Yeah, going for the Coliseum is a stretch, but it has the possibility to be a good card. Strikeforce can throw in Frank Shamrock and Cung Le most likely. Elite XC has Joey Villasenor, Silva, The Crow, and some others. Depending on how they peice the card together it could provide as a decent spectacle, especially if it is offered on Showtime instead of PPV.

Fedor

I heard that yesterday and a few days ago I heard he was training and said one of the things he was training for was, "The Octagon has many sides" but that was translated so maybe something got lost in it. I'm going to assume the bodogFIGHT contract is legit, and it's a shame. I'm with you on the Cro Cop about to be #1 thing. And I may go to a casino and bet on Lindland, not because I expect a good fight, but he should have amazing odds.

[Troy Maskell]

And people wonder why I wish someone would break Tito's neck....

[VerbalPuke]

Did I really just see Johnnie Morton's name mentioned as a MMA fighter? Wow, that's absolutely random.

He was a good WR for the Lions for a few years, so I hope he does well.

[SeanDMan]

A lot of other sport stars, and not stars, are looking to make the jump to MMA. Earlier this year, two Edmonton Eskimos fought at an MMA show, and I know an ECHL player is training to do it now as well.

[ACCBiggz]

FERTITTAS BUY PRIDE

The Japanese newspapers reported today in Tokyo, Japan that the UFC has bought Pride. The UFC/Pride rumor has been circulating for awhile, but the deal appears to be done. One of the newspapers in Japan, SportsHochi, reported that the Fertittas, who owns Zuffa which operates the UFC, will start a new company thus disbanding DSE(Dream Stage Entertainment, which has been the company that Pride has operated under). DSE/Pride President Nobuyuki Sakikabara, who brought Pride to the United States and was successful in making the Pride brand one of the most compelling MMA promotions in the world, is reportedly resigning from his position.

The new company that Pride will operate under apparently will not be run by UFC or Zuffa, but will be it's own entity owned by the Fertittas. Thus Pride and the UFC being run separately. But, it is being reported that the two promotions will do a joint super show once a year. SportsHochi reports that Pride 34 on 4/8 will be the last Pride show run by DSE.

So will Pride be a Japanese or a United States promotion? Apparently, Pride looks to continue to do shows in both Japan and the United States. Intentions are to still have the Light Weight Grand Prix starting in May. The GP being made up of 3 shows, all taking place in Japan. And, the New Years Eve show is still in the plans to take place in Japan. There are also plans to do 2-3 more shows in the United States this year.

There will be a press conference held in Tokyo, Japan at the Roppongi Hills Arena on Tuesday 3/27 which will be open to the press and fans alike.

[Maxx]

Well this just about changes everything in the world of MMA now doesn't it?

I guess Chuck can finally fight Wanderli now

Edited March 27, 2007 by Maxx

[Enter Blue Guy]

The following is from the official MySpace blog of UFC fighter Tito Ortiz:

So, everyone is giving me shit for the Dana fight... No one knows what really went on.

Let me tell my side of what real went on. Me and Dana had this argeement to box eachother. I told Dana we should put it on video and sell it. He said "yes that a good idea". So Spike came to Big Bear before the Chuck fight for two days. Used my time from training to shoot for the Spike special. I said that was fine. I took two week off after the chuck fight. Then started my boxing training. You all have to understand that Dana was almost a pro boxer. I was going to take this fight serious. Jenna was helping me with the deal because I seen this as a big money maker. She ask if there was a contract for the fight? She made call's to dana to get the deal done. Craig from Spike called Jenna back to discuss is deal. She asked for executive producer rights for me. Since it was my idea. Help to promote Punishment Athletics for the fight and other deal points. Craig said he would talk to Dana and get back to us. After that I cancel a few appearance's that I had to do. Alot of money that was givin up. So I could train for the fight. I had to get all of my medicals done as a normal fight. I got my eye done then we got a call from Craig. He said that Dana say that they are not going to shoot the fight or cover it in anyway. So this was a real lose,lose situation for me. I lost out on money for appearances. Now I was losing out on promotion and big dollars for the PPV. He didn't want to cut me in on the deal. So as a business man I couldn't do the fight. I have a very big fight with Evans. Why would I risk my health and that fight for free? I wasn't going to make anything for it? I was not going to get taken advantage of as a fighter or a business man. You tell me if I made the right decision? Hopefully this will get ironed out and will be done right the next time. Just trying to do business.....

Tito Ortiz

Credit: MMA News.com

[Javs]

A few thoughts.

What's the big fucking deal about no more soccer kicks/stomps in Pride? I agree with Dana whenever he said they really don't take much skill to pull off. And generally they are far less effective than they look(and they look fucking brutal), and at least in the US would put pretty give the media something to complain about. I think making the sport more proffessional by coming up with a universal set of rules is far more important than watching Wanderlei or Shogun to stomp someone's head in.

EBG you saw that Brandon Vera post on sherdog? Got me pretty excited as I've always been a big Vera fan. I was really hating the idea of him heading over to Showtime, especially now.

Edited March 27, 2007 by Javs

[ACCBiggz]

Well, the thing is they aren't totally illegal, just to the head. And to me, Stomps are dirty.

Here are the Brandon Vera comments for you all:

"When someone lies to you... it becomes a fu*ked up thing. Then they start talking sh*t about your cuz thier wrong? It becomes something else. It is what it is... I've left City and am in process with the CSAC for my managerial contract. I WILL be fighting soon, and it WILL be a good one. Hope everyone the best. Yeah.......... I'm training."

"Ima still be with UFC."

" I'll try fight 205 this year."

"Thanks for the support...... don't hate the haters though i neeeeed them. Who do I want to fight now? Too many to name... All the big dogs are here now!! Time to start climbing the ladder again."

When asked who he would like a crack at...

"CroCop........ soon. I wanna see what happens"

Edited March 27, 2007 by ACCBiggz

[Javs]

Yeah, that's what I meant. I think the general backlash is due to the hard-on the half the MMA fan base gets for Chutebox. Never really understood it, but oh well I'll rejoice when I get to see Shogun/Chuck and so forth.

[Guest Takayamanofear]

I am happy to see the ring stay while I don't like Elbows and I hate Knees being left out the Soccer kicks was probably a necessary sacrifice.

BTT might be better than chuteboxe but I always thought I saw some interesting management issues at Chuteboxe while they probably are good for training it seems like a lot of their good fighters seem to leave. But they do train a lot of good fighters. Also the BTT rivalry and the Chute Boxe is the most intense rivalry in MMA both get a good amount of attention from this rivalry. They might not be the top two camps but the rivalry helps with the attention they get.

[Enter Blue Guy]

The Chute Boxe/BTT rivalry is tremendous, the history of it is more than just two angry groups of Brazilians, it's Muay Thai vs. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. They are Brazilian, though, so even if they didn't have rivaling camps, they'd still be fighting, just not with as much pride and passion. They put together some great fights, Shogun vs. Nog and Sperry vs. Ninja are two of the greatest fights of all time. The Arona/Silva rivalry overshadows the whole thing, especially in 2005... Those guys hate each other with a passion. By the end of the year, both ending up at one win a piece against each other. It'll be intense when they finally meet for the third and deciding time, it will heat up again.

The whole thing took a backseat because of the issue between Chute Boxe and Hammer House and the whole rivalry thing, though it's still there, isn't as publicized right now.

I personally don't mind the elbows, I know a lot of Pride fanboys want to see them outlawed, but I can't see why knees aren't allowed. I don't think the UFC has even bothered to bring it up with NSAC. You can use knees standing up, but not to the head on the ground? With the logic that knees to the head are too dangerous, why not just ban knees all together then? Not that I want that to happen. The elbows, to me, are worse than the knees. The elbows are vicious, it's like being smacked in the head with a nightstick. They open you up something vicious too. So can knees, but not as bad as elbows. The thing with elbows that differ big time from knees is the knee has a more blunt striking point, while elbows have a more defined, sharper striking point. Some guys have such razor sharp elbows, they can open up crazy gashes that looks like his opponent was cut with a knife. It's brutal. If you feel the point of your elbow and follow the bone down to where it gets hidden by muscle, it really does feel like a police baton. People who don't watch the sport underestimate just how dangerous the elbows are.

Edited March 28, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[ACCBiggz]

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...cop-punks-mauro

Some one posted this at GDS, I got a good laugh from it.