Fightlinker.com has the scoop via torontosun.com:

After UFC 115 on June 12, the thought of other organizations such as Strikeforce and Maximum Fighting Championship holding events in the Olympic city seemed like a distinct possibility.

Don’t count on it, says Vancouver Athletic Commission chairman Mirko Mladenovic.

"The City of Vancouver does not want to be in the sanctioning business," the frustrated chairman said. "After the UFC, we’re going to be at a major impasse."

Mladenovic says the cost of holding a professional MMA event in the city is "astronomically high" because of the insurance, taxes and other requirements the city demands from promoters.

"The UFC isn’t going to make any money off this," Mladenovic said bluntly.

With the UFC Canadian office working with the city of Vancouver a commission should be set up relatively shortly. With a commission set up, it would allow local promotions to flock there and be profitable. Then again this is government and government is very slow to change.

MMA Junkie is reporting that Strikeforce has signed JZ Cavalcante, and may fight as soon as August of this year.

JZ was a hot commodity in 2007, making many top ten lists, but he's been plagued with knee injuries for quite a while.  In more recent competition, he went 0-1-1 against Shinya Aoki at Dream.1 in Dream's lightweight grand prix, going to a no-contest in their first fight due to a questionable elbow, then losing a unanimous decision a month later at Dream.2.  He took time off after to rehab his knees, and was supposed to fight Joachim Hansen at Dynamite!! 2008, but Hansen was forced to pull out days after failing the medical examination.  Since then Cavalcante has fought once, losing a decision to Tatsuya Kawajiri at Dream.9.

Is JZ healthy enough to compete?  Will Strikeforce actually give him fights, or treat him like Shaolin?

Tonight, Saturday June 5th 2010 in Myrtle Beach SC at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, the first fight card of the Carolina Fight Promotions Sunfest Fight Series took place. As you can expect with CFP event, they effectively satisfy and exceed the standards of any consistent promotion in the local region with the expectation of being taken seriously.  An hour after doors open, I found the walls of the event already beginning to close in around the cage, a 6-sided monster, which is sure to hold the gaze of fight fans and fighter supporters alike.  At closer look you can see the swelling just below what would be typical hip height where two phantom competitors have been pressed against the cold and unforgiving chain link.  Interestingly, and in my opinion respectfully, I found the coloring of CFP’s canvas as interesting. Unlike many promotions, the mat wasn’t a royal blue or a stark white which would easily reveal any blood spilled more dramatically.  Instead, their mat is a cold gunmetal grey color with red decaling in the center, almost a sign of respect for the sport rather than creating a spectacle of accused barbarism and human cockfighting. 

30 minutes until fight time, people inside of the convention center a division has begun.  Two separate groups of people have formed between those who can feel the tension in the air, which is easily identifiable when you talk to them, and those who are cool and relaxed and can be identified as regular fightgoers.  I even find myself restless in my seat, anxious for the events to come.   Over the PA, the DJ is playing a variety; everything from "Sweet Home Alabama" to "In the Ayer".  The VIP tables around the cage continue to fill up with patrons hand delivered by hostesses dressed in outfits that make even the tamest imaginations run wild.  Looking around you wouldn’t believe that there is a 2nd MMA event going on just down the road in NC.  The employees, fans and fighters of CFP know that this is the most important place to be in this moment in time.  If one very important thing is evident by looking around at his promotion, it is that the community of MMA in this area has developed and grown into something very important to the region.  It is a welcome aspect of the sport in an area that as recently as less than half a decade ago didn’t even host the sport.

The night of fights started out with Pat DeFranco fighting Danny Huff at 170 lbs.  Straight out of the gate, DeFranco traded some short blows with Huff before wrapping up on him and throwing him.  During the short scramble after the toss, DeFranco helicoptered around to Huff’s back and cinched in a quick and tight rear naked choke while flattening his opponent out.  Pat DeFranco wins his second amateur match up at 52 seconds into the first round by rear naked choke.

The following fight was a bout between Jordan Davis and Steve Shattuck, both making their MMA debut.  Coming into the ring, Shattuck looked to be the bigger competitor and seemed as though he was going to have a more explosive approach to this fight.   After some short-lived gauging of one another, Jordan Davis short and achieved a takedown on Shattuck.  A short 20 seconds later the fight was stopped due to referee stoppage due to strikes.  Jordan Davis won his MMA debut by ground and pound in 42 seconds of the first round.

As the ring announcer began to call out the next fighters, one would have to identify Jon Lane for having a beefy Rampage-esque chain around his neck.  The day prior, at the official weigh-ins, Jon Lane was identified for antics towards his opponent, Andre Adams.  This didn’t stop tonight, as Jon Lane continued trash talking across the cage once Adams had climbed in.  Much like at the weigh-ins, Adams didn’t take very well to the behavior being exhibited by his opponent.  He proved this in devastating fashion by finishing his opponent in 14 seconds of the first round by ref stoppage due to strikes.  When I caught up with the winner, he said that he felt as though Lane’s actions were "disrespectful to (Adams) and to MMA". 

The following match-up was between Nivea Rivera and Jordan McDonald.  Rivera, after taking this fight on late notice, came in looking more loose and ready for the fight than McDonald who seemed to walk around stiffly and with her chin hanging in the air.  This didn’t seem to pay off in the end.  After spending some short time testing each other’s reach and feeling each other out, McDonald sprung in and finished the fight by stoppage due to strikes at only 1:47 into the first round.

In what was proving to be a trend for the evening, the following fight was short lived as well.  Straight out of the gate, Jason Dillon drops Jim Kiser with a big right hand.  Dillon instinctively moves in to swell on more punishment and is stopped by the ref after only a few strikes.  This fight ends at 14 seconds into the first round, though was instantly contested by Kiser. 

In the 6th event of the night, Drew Allen Stewart was slotted to face Joseph Greene who was making his MMA debut.  Once locked in the cage, these two heavyweights went straight to work.  Greene came out and threw a big right hand that made a sickening thud more than a smacking sound.  This must have given Stewart at least an amount of a shock because he very quickly shot in for the takedown.  In doing so he achieved full mount and proceeded to pound his opponent out.  Despite the high number of shots that he was throwing, they weren’t very accurate and very few were actually landing with any real purpose.  This, however, was enough to finish the fight because Greene couldn’t seem to gain his composure enough to defend himself intelligently.  The ref stopped this fight at 1:41 in the 1st round, declaring Drew Allen Stewart the winner. 

In what was declared the CFP Amateur Fight of the Night, local favorite Marvin Skipper faced off against Anthony Taormina in the cage.  When Skipper was announced, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center lit up like it did for no other fighter, though Skipper actually only has 2 amateur fights under his belt.  Very quickly after the bell rings, Taormina storms out and closes the distance with Skipper.  He throws combos in short flurries resulting in a cut being opened up on the back of Skippers head.  Skipper recovers and manages to fight off Taormina and survives the first round.  Coming out of the first round, a cut can be seen beginning to open up on a mouse that has developed over the eye of Taormina.   Coming out in the second round, Skipper is a new and rejuvenated fighter.  He very quickly works out a takedown and delivers some devastating ground and pound to his opponent.  For the majority of the 2nd round, Skipper rides in full mount but is unable to finish his opponent, and so we saw late rounds for the first time tonight.  Coming out in the 3rd round, Skipper has a fire in his eyes and seems to have a determination to finish what he started in the 2nd.  After a takedown scramble which results in Skipper riding on top, Taormina’s ear begins to open up due to the shots that are being targeted on it.  Once again, unable to finish his opponent, Skipper rides out the remainder of the round and beings home a unanimous decision and a plaque for fight of the night.

Coming out of the previous fight, the educated members of the crowd were in for a treat.  The following fight became a submission fighting expo which went the distance.  During the fight between Chris Cain and Nate Davis, the fans were able to see Nate Davis pull off some very impressive submission defense.  During this match-up, he successfully defended an omoplata, triangle choke, rear naked choke, armbar, and a kneebar.  In order to give him credit for being able to defend these, Chris Cain must receive some notoriety for being able to put himself in a position to be able to attempt these submissions.  At the end of the 3rd round, the judges’ scorecards read in a unanimous decision for Chris Cain.

With the previous fight being a grappling match of sorts, the crowd was beginning to become a little restless.  This should have been perfect timing to come out with the amateur title match between Amos Collins and Bradley Essick.  During this match, Essick was the recipient of two low blows, though they were unintentional.  There was no point deduction because they were unintentional, but after interviewing referee Dale "Sunshine" Frye, I was told that intentional or not, one more would have resulted in a point deduction regardless.  The fight spent a significant amount of time against the cage, much to the dismay of the fans in the crowd, with Essick trying to takedown a takedown defense savvy Collins.  The fight went the distance and Amos Collins became the amateur 155 champ for CFP despite much contesting from Bradley Essick.  After his fight, I caught up with the champ who told me that it was his game plan to stay on the feet and try to bang it out with him.  He said that even though he was able to stop the take down he feels that he still was unable to "let his hands go" and that he looks forward to being able to in his future title defenses.  He also said that he disagrees with the low blows that were called, stating that the first one is questionable but the second didn’t hit him in the cup at all.  The new champ said that the body kicks were an important part of his strategy and that is all that the second kick was.  When I later spoke with one of the judges, the judge with the best line of sight on the fight said the same thing.

After a short intermission, we came back for the beginning of the professional fights of the night.  In the first event, Franks Waszut faced off against Tony Cantrell.  This bout was short lived as 52 seconds into the first round Cantrell tapped out due to strikes while Waszut was on his back pounding him out with elbows.

The following event was between Keith Richardson and Frank Millsap.  The fighters came out of their corners tentative and measuring their distance and the speed of their opponents.  After a short minute and a half, Millsap threw an overhand right that put the lights out on Richardson, sending him to the canvas in a very stiff and slumbering fashion. 

At this point in the evening, Doug Muhle announced to us that the main event of the night, the CFP Championship Title fight between Cesar Llamas and Jon Owens had been cancelled due to a sickness experienced by Owens, resulting in him not being cleared to fight by the doctors.  The evening went on to the co-main event, the fight to decide who would hold the unclaimed CFP Light-Heavyweight Title between Tomas Washington and Rhomez Brower.  In the opening round, there was a big slam by Tomas Washington which seemed to wake Brower up.  Once, Brower was able to regain his feet, the majority of the remainder of the round was spent against the cage dirty boxing.  This is essentially where the fight remained for the rest of the event.  The fight went to the judges’ scorecards which resulted in a unanimous decision for the new Light-Heavyweight Champion for CFP, Tomas Washington.

After the event I caught up with Doug Muhle who said that he was very happy with how the event turned out.  He identified that there are areas that could have been better but that these are merely opportunities for growth and development.  Carolina Fight Promotions will be back in Wilmington NC on Saturday June 26th for the 2nd fight of their Budlight Summer Fight Series and back in Myrtle Beach SC on July 24th for their second event in their Sunfest Fight Series.

For more information check out www.CarolinaFightPromotions.com

by Tim Loy  photos by Mike Koran

Cage Brawl Fighting Championships returned to the Meadowview Convention Center in Kingsport, TN, for their sophomore effort last night.  The 12 bout card featured several close fights and the emergence of some new prospects.

In the main event, Chris Hall(3-2) won the ISKA State 145 lb. title with a first round submission of previously undefeated Casey Kerr(5-0).  Hall, fighting out of Integrated martial Arts in Lebanon, TN, locked in a shoulderlockafter a good scramble on the ground.  Kerr scored first with a nice takedown, but Hall stayed composed and quickly got the reversal.  The tap came shortly thereafter, at 1:05 of RD 1.

The event also featured three co-main events.  Tyrone "The Beast" Jackson(4-3) of Mountain Empire MMA, captured the CBFC Heavyweight Title with a 13 second KO of Bobby Heck(3-3).  Jesse Grissom upped his record to 10-0, with a guillotine submission of tough Josh Booher(7-2).  This was a war from the start, as both guys traded big blows on their feet, and also showcased several outstanding transitions andsubmission attempts on the ground.  The end came for Booher at 2:05 of RD 2.  The third co-feature saw two undefeated 130 lb. fighters put their unblemished records on the line.  Len Cook and Ned Spears both entered at 5-0, but it was Cook who left the cage with his record unscathed, as he secured a fight ending triangle at 2:16 of RD 1.

Full results are as follows....

ISKA 145 lb. State title

Chris Hall(3-2, IMA, Lebanon, TN) def. Casey Kerr(5-0, ClevelandMMA, Cleveland, TN) SUB Shoulderlock, RD 1 1:05

CBFC Heavyweight Title

Tyrone Jackson(4-3, Mt. Empire MMA, Bristol, VA) def. Bobby Heck(3-3, Highway MMA, Kingsport, TN) KO, RD 1 0:13

155 lbs. Jesse Grissom(9-0, Team Truth, Cleveland, TN) def. Josh Booher(7-2, Mt. Empire MMA, Bristol, VA) SUB RNC, RD 2 2:05

130 Lbs. Len Cook(5-0, Absolute JJ, Bristol, TN) def. Ned Spears(5-0, Iron Lock MMA, Big Stone Gap, VA) SUB Triangle Choke, RD 1 2:16

HVY David Bell(1-0, Independent, Kingsport, TN) def. Alex Brown(Debut, Independent, Charlottesville, VA) SUB Guillotine, RD 1 0:59

HVY John Davis(3-0, Chattanooga Fight Factory, Chattanooga, TN) def. Rob Horton(Debut, Gracie Tampa, Tampa, FL) TKO Ref Stoppage due to choke out, RD 1 0:48

155 lbs. Josh Ryan(Debut, Absolute JJ, Bristol, TN) def. Jordan Alvis(0-1, IMA, Lebanon, TN) UD, Alvis suffered an unintentional low blow in the 2ndround andwas unable to continue after several minutes of rest.  ISKA rep Todd Murray declared that the fight would go to the scorecards for the first completed round.

155 lbs. Jesse Shephard(3-2, Dawsonville, GA) def. Mike Anderson(4-2, Mt. Empire MMA, Bristol, VA) SUB Armbar, RD 1 0:44

170 lbs. Josh Best(1-0, Gracie Tampa, Tampa, FL) def. Thomas Tucker(Debut, World MMA Academy, Charleston, SC) SUB Strikes, RD 1 1:15

HVY Shawn Holston(0-1, Master's Studio, Mt. Pleasant, SC) def. Jesse Thomason(0-1, Mt. Empire MMA, Bristol, VA) TKO Ref Stoppage due to broken finger, RD 1 1:33

185 lbs. Brian Lewis(Debut, Highway MMA, Kingsport, TN) def. Jeremy Tharp(1-0, IMA, Lebanon, TN) KO, RD 1 0:21

155 lbs. Devin Rodriguez(Debut, Gracie Tampa, Tampa, FL) def. Garrison Phillips(0-1, Team Gattlin Gun, Johnson City, TN) SUB Head & Arm Choke, RD 2 2:16

Odds and ends......

The fighters that made the long trip from Gracie Tampa were all pretty impressive.  They all had trainer and UFC vet Matt Arroyo in their corner.  As there is no sanctioned amateur MMA in Florida, these guys have to travel to get experience before going pro.  Josh Best certainly looked the most ready, as he laid a brutal beating on Thomas Tucker.  Look for this guy to be making waves on the pro scene very soon.

Brian Lewis looked very good for it to be his first fight.  He was very intense and showed great accuracy in his striking, as he knocked out a tough IMA fighter in Jeremy Tharp.

Jesse Thomason either broke or severely dislocated his finger, not once, but twice in his fight.  He showed a lot of spirit to come back after having it reset the first time.

John Davis shocked the whole room when he choked Rob Horton unconscious.  Horton is an absolute giant of a man, and most of the crowd thought he would walk through Davis, who is a middleweight.  Davis showed that he was not intimidated, and the form UTC wrestler moved to 4-0.  The guys from Chattanooga Fight Factory have yet to fail to impress me.

Jesse Grissom will now make the move to the pro ranks after going 10-0 as an amateur.  He showed a lot of heart in this fight, escaping from a very deep armbar.  Booher has lost his last two, but they have both been against very tough opponents.

Len Cook has to be one of the best 125/135 fighters in the region.

Cage Brawl will return September 17.

KO of the night- Josh Best

Submission of the night-Len Cook

Fight of the night-Grissom vs. Booher

I actually had the pleasure of doing commentary for this event with UFC vet Brandon Sene.  It was a blast, and I look forward to trying my hand at this a bit more in the future.

 Devin Rodriguez

 Brian Lewis

 Josh Best

 Jesse Shephard

 John Davis

 Len Cook

 Jesse Grissom

 Tyrone Jackson

Carolina Fight Promotions will be having their first fight card for their Sunfest Fight Series tonight in Myrtle Beach, SC at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.  Doors open at 5:00 tonight and fights start at 7:00.  The event will consist of 4 professional fights and 9 amateur fights including a Featherweight world championship match between current defending champion Cesar Llamas and Jon Owens.  Also at the event will be a special guest ring girl 2009 Penthouse Pet of the Year, Taya Parker.  Online ticket sales are closed but can still be purchased at the convention center.  Check out www.carolinafightpromotions.com for more details.

If you are unable to make it, we will be having a live blog with fight results during the fights.  Make sure to check back on the front page of MMAforReal.com these live updates of fighters from all across the country. 

Fight Card

Professional Bouts:

CFP Featherweight World Championship
(Champion) Cesar Llamas vs Jon Owens

Tomas Washington vs Rhomez Brower

Keith Richardson vs Frank Millsap

Tony Cantrell vs Frank Wazsut

Amateur Bouts:

Bradley Essick vs Amos Collins

Chris Cain vs Nate Davis

Anthony Taormina vs Marvin Skipper

Joseph Greene vs Drew Allen Stewart

Jim Kiser vs Jason Dillon

NIvea Rivera vs Jordan McDonald  (Certain to be an extremely exciting women's fight)

Andre Adams vs Jon Lane

Steve Shattuck vs Gary Cook

Danny Huff vs Pat Defranco

The beauty of mixed martial arts for me as a spectator sport, apart from the raw, aggressive athleticism and skill is the unpredictable nature of the combative contests. Fighting in martial arts ranges from striking on the feet with perhaps lethal Muay Thai Boxing before muscling your opponent to the mat with brute wrestling and transitioning between sick Brazilian Jiu Jitsu positions to secure a limb or choke for a well earned W.  There are infinite combinations of the Arts that may lead to victory, as well as martial clinics in individual Arts that may alone decide a bout. Out of all this uncertainty on how a bout may end up playing out, there is one factor that remains constant. The unknowingness of who will win, there are so many times when I personally as a fan forget that every fight starts off even. There is a blank canvas for fighters to fight upon and express themselves. Whatever majesty they paint on the canvas with blood, sweat, tears and sheer determination of will, fuelled by a burning hunger, is their own doing. I have learnt one too many times to write any given man off at my peril.

So often in the young history of this fantastic sport have men, equals, being spoke down and begrudged their right to be given due consideration, and then some. It’s never enough to just look at a fight and its combatants on paper and construe what should play out using an MMA calculator. The essence of the sport, on which it thrives and breathes, is made up of so many intangibles. Heart, courage, will, belief, honesty and spirit are amongst the intangibles that are not always conventional buttons on one’s calculator. Sure every man is human and as such has his limits, but, when pushed to his limits man sometimes can overcome the most insurmountable obstacles with merit as easily as he can be crushed by said challenges. There are a fabled plethora of outcomes within the sport where great men fell to men who found their own greatness in the adversity that stood before them and that weighed upon them and against them before they ever set foot in an octagonal cage or squared ring.

Perhaps one of my most interesting bouts, especially when acknowledging MMA maths, is the recent tussle of Chael Sonnen v Nate Marquardt at UFC 109. Marquardt arrived on the scene after torching Demian Maia within a minute of the first round of their respective bout, who interestingly was a conqueror of his opponent Sonnen. If anything one could be forgiven almost, but not quite, for writing Sonnen off such was the class that Maia dispatched him with but yet could not replicate against Marquardt. Anyway, the odds were stacked in Marquardts favour and people decried that Sonnen had no business in the octagon with arguably the MW no. 1 contender. How true it was that he who laughs last, laughs hardest. Sonnen disproved all his doubters on route to a thoroughly dominating unanimous decision against a man he wasn’t supposed to beat.

The Todd Duffee hype machine rolled into Las Vegas last week at UFC 114 where his juggernaut was destined to face the articulated lorry of Mike Russow in a clash of monster proportions. Monstrous also were the expectations of the Duffman after he laid out Canadian primary school teacher Tim Hague in a historic UFC finish of 7 seconds at UFC. Even more monstrous though were the odds being levelled in Duffees favour, essentially Russow was been given no chance. How could he have a chance? This was one of the UFC’s breed of new hungry lions at HW where they go about killing fools within the first round for shits and giggles. And so the fight began to play out, despite progressing beyond the first round Duffee was owning him but just couldn’t find a finish. Boom! Russow sends him to earth with a thunderous shot found roaring in angst against all the naysayers, myself included.  

The former fight stuffed more than a Team Jackson game plan, it discounted what the general MMA enthusiast thought they knew would happen and gave a fairytale ending to the unlikeliest of men who himself believed. In contrast the latter played to many an MMA fans fantasy vision of proceedings before battering them into a miserable misprediction. What both share though is that a fight is there to be fought, it is never won before one enters the ring if you have the intangibles to compete. Trust not in the wisdom of others but in the work you put in, the fire in your belly and the fact that no man can bring more than his own body and mind to the cage. You match that and its game on, it is all to play for when you step inside these modern coliseums and if you realise this then you realise that everyone has a chance. However small. Never underestimate the underdog, broken, beat and scarred they may dog it out and prove you wrong. Once again.

I'm doing this as a fanpost because UFC 114 has been discussed to death.  Sorry I couldn't add in earlier but I had family in for all the weekend and very little internet time.  So, as the dust has settled many fans were underwhelmed by the latest UFC card and most importantly the massively hyped main event.  Me, myself, I was as well.  However, thinking back on the fight, the hype, the trash-talk and factoring in everything...most set their expectations too high.  These guys are professional fighters and not street brawlers.  Had this been a Yamma Pit event, I'd feel a bit cheated but seeing as how this was on the biggest stage in MMA, it was a great thing to witness. 

With that said, I did everything to defend Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson coming into this fight as I am a big time fan.  I didn't believe ring rust would be a huge issue as he's gone five rounds quite a few times in the last couple of years and never skipped a beat.  I also felt that the physically stronger Rampage would have no problems if the fight had long periods in the clinch, as I figured he was the better fighter in the clinch.  I also expected them to have one spurt reminiscent of the Korean Zombie/Leonard Garcia sometime during the fight and Rampage would be able to land something significant enough to get the win.  Through all that, I had to sit through a very different Rampage Jackson on Saturday night.  Now before I get into the things I saw wrong in Rampage's tactics, big time kudos to Rashad Evans.  I'm still not a fan of his but I am a believer that he is a big time player in the UFC light heavyweight division and will be for some time.  He used the perfect gameplan to throw off his opponent and stayed busy enough to not send this into the realm of a Randy Couture bout.  This brings me to my biggest gripe with Quinton Jackson...his camp!

Don't get me wrong, I do not harbor the disdain for Wolfslair that many fans across the web do, however, the fight camp is less beneficial and more detrimental to Rampage's career.  Although Rampage has fought basically the same style since entering the Octagon, it seemed Juanito Ibarra had the unusual ability to tame the beast that is Jackson.  He was able to map out gameplans that usually worked and when in trouble (Forrest fight) was able to motivate his fighter enough to weather adversity and almost pull off the victory.  It is that teacher/student relationship that is horribly missing in Quinton's fights these days.  Dissecting Saturday's fight, you would have thought that his coaches and trainers would have more than one strategy for the former champ especially when facing a fighter with the versatility that Rashad Evans exhibits.  Once they realized Rashad wasn't going to just simply rush at Rampage with sloppy strikes and double legs, their first words in his corner should have been 'attack'...especially going into round 2.  Unfortunately it seems that Rampage is content to stay with his crew over the pond for now.  Maybe, just maybe they'll realize their mistakes and right their wrongs in the near future and really get the potential out of their fighter.

My second gripe...Rampage himself.  Not even bringing up his weight issues coming into camp, his new found love for counterstriking is making him an easier and easier target.  Forrest Griffin mapped out that scenario, but in recent fights with Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine it seemed that he had found spurts of his former more aggressive self during those bouts.  On Saturday, he decided to play counterstriker with a wide defensive base?!  I'm far, far, far from an expert and probably not even a novice when it comes to knowing anything about boxing or any striking discipline but common sense would tell me that having your lead leg and back leg that far apart and attempting to power shot a guy that is quicker doesn't make the most sense.  It made him look slower than he actually is as he was having to pull power from his hips and legs too far out which gave Rashad ample time to stay clear of anything dangerous.  Also, seeing him in such a wide standing base, you had a feeling he respected Rashad's wrestling ability almost too much since it stifled his own offense...basically allowing Rashad to do whatever he wanted and Rampage just waiting for Rashad to do just that.  Thing is, when Rampage actually decided 'hey I can go after him!' he was literally one or two clean punches away from having his arm raised (kudos again to Rashad for not only surviving but coming back and putting Rampage down).  It was the most hesitant Rampage I think I've ever seen in any fight.  No I haven't seen every one of them but I've seen a good amount of them and he's never been the one simply waiting for his opponent to throw. All wasn't bad though, Rashad gets a lot of credit for his wrestling in the bout but Rampage should get a smidgen of credit for his takedown defense.  While Rashad pressed the action, he still only completed three takedowns, two of which I do believe came in the closing moments and Rampage was basically spent and surprisingly Rashad still fresh (guess we can't say he gasses when he wrestles anymore).

My last gripe...Rampage's true motivation.  It's one thing to be motivated to fight.  It's another thing to be motivated to train.  However, it's a big thing to be motivated to strategize.  I can guarantee you Rashad had mapped out several strategies on how to beat Rampage, guarantee it.  While I doubt Rampage even thought of anything other than beheading him.  Sure, he could and almost did...however, getting to the place to capture that knockout needed to be created.  I can never question a fighter's heart seeing as how they're man enough to step in the cage and actually do what they do, so I don't question Jackson's heart.  What I do question is his true motivation throughout this buildup.  Was it simply to get into fighting shape?  Was it to knock Rashad out?  Or was it to win the fight?  I think this is where Rashad's psychological games really proved to be the most effective.  In all the interviews Rampage's main goal was to 'destroy Rashad'.  However, Rashad's biggest motivation was simply to win.  He didn't care if he didn't knock Rampage out from listening to him talk, he didn't care about 'destroying Rampage', he simply wanted to beat him to make him eat crow.  He did exactly that and now Rampage looks more of the fool for not being able to 'destroy' his opponent while Rashad made good on his promises.  We all know Rampage isn't the most cerebral of fighters, but you have to think with the right group of guys around him, he could have easily pulled it all together and been successful Saturday.  With talks of Rampage's next opponent being Lyoto Machida, he had better get his mind and skills right or he'll be in for a complete embarassment.

Does this mean I concede that Rashad is the better fight?  On Saturday (well actually Sunday morning on the East Coast) May 29th, he was with no doubts about it.  Do I think if they met again the outcome would be the same?  Nope, I still think a more aggressive Rampage would have stopped Rashad in his tracks, had Rampage stalked Rashad like he did in the third to the point his back was so close to the cage he couldn't flee, he could have continuous success in the striking department.  It's all about whether Rampage can get the guidance and the true motivation to do so.  In the end, I had to watch my favorite fighter, who had promised black-on-black violence, seem more like Carlton Banks on a wrong backstreat.

UFC 114 Tidbits

- Was it me or did Diego seem kind of slow?  John Hathaway is a beast though, lanky and lethal!

- Jason Brilz got robbed...no more to say about it.

- Did Mike Russow smell some hot wings Dana had cageside and simply knock Todd Duffee out to get a peek?  That was one of the craziest come from behind wins ever and they guy has to be in the pound 4 pound chins discussion.

- So we got a bad boxing match between Michael Bisping and Dan Miller...woohoo

All in all I thought it was a good show, the prelims weren't too exciting but man Dong Hyun Kim is going to be that dude at welterweight, mark my words.

and I'm out!

Sponsored Fan pro fighters Byron Bloodworth (5-1; 135lb) and Marc Howe (0-0; 145lb pro debut) along with ammy fighter Daniel "The Lumberjack" Norton (4-0) will be fighting on the July 10th, SportfightX card at the Georgia World Congress Center.

via sponsoredfan.com

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by Tim Loy

Cage Brawl Fighting Championships returns to Kingsport for it's second show, Friday June 4.  The event takes place once again at the Meadowview Convention Center, located in the Kingsport Marriott Hotel.  Tickets are available now at www.cagebrawlfights.com, and will also be available at the door.  The show is highlighted by a battle for the ISKA 145 lb. title, as Cleveland MMA's Casey Kerr(5-0) takes on Chris Hall(3-2) of Integrated Martial Arts in Lebanon, TN.  Kerr will put his undefeated record on the line against the tough wrestler, Hall. 

The event also features three impressive co-main events.  The CBFC Heavyweight title will be awarded in a bout between Mt. Empire's Tyrone "The Beast" Jackson(4-3) of Bristol, VA and Highway MMA's Bobby Heck(3-3).  Two highly touted lightweights collide when Jesse Grissom(9-0) of Team Truth in Cleveland, TN battles Josh Booher(7-2) out of Mt. Empire.  Finally, two undefeated bantamweights will put their unblemished records at risk when Absolute Jiu Jitsu product, Len Cook(5-0) takes on Ned Spears(5-0) of Iron Lock MMA in Big Stone Gap, VA.

The undercard will feature four Gracie Tampa fighters as they make the long trip north to battle their Tennessee counterparts.  Fans will have a chance to meet UFC vet Matt Arroyo, as he will be on hand to corner his students from Florida.  The full card is as follows.

MAIN EVENT

ISKA 145 lb. Title

Casey Kerr(5-0) Cleveland MMA, Cleveland, TN vs. Chris Hall(3-2) IMA, Lebanon, TN

CO-MAIN EVENTS

CBFC Heavyweight Title

Bobby Heck(3-3) Highway MMA, Kingsport, TN vs. Tyrone Jackson(4-3) Mt. Empire MMA, Bristol, VA

155 lbs.  Jesse Grissom(9-0) Team Truth, Cleveland, TN vs. Josh Booher(7-2) Mt. Empire MMA, Bristol, VA

130 lbs.  Len Cook(5-0) Absolute Jiu Jitsu, Bristol, TN vs. Ned Spears(5-0) Iron Lock MMA, Big Stone Gap, VA

UNDERCARD

170 LBS.

Josh Best(1-0) Gracie Tampa, Tampa, FL vs. Greg Taylor(3-3) IMA, Lebanon, TN

Brian Mullins(7-6) Independent, Big Stone Gap, VA vs. Adam Albert(2-2) Evolution MMA, Kingsport, TN

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Danny Ramsey(3-4) Brawler University, Knoxville, TN vs. Shawn Holston(0-1) Master's Studio, Mount Pleasant, SC

David Bell(1-0) Independent, Kingsport, TN vs. Alex Brown(Debut) Independent, Charlottesville, VA

Danil Nitts(1-0) Iron Dragon Martial Arts, Pound, VA vs. Jessee Thomason(1-0) Mt. Empire MMA, Bristol, VA

Rob Horton(Debut) Gracie Tampa, Tampa, FL vs. John Roberts(3-0) Chattanooga Fight Factory, Chattanooga, TN

145-155 LBS

Aalon Cruz(1-0) Gracie Tampa, Tampa, FL vs. Shane Carroll(6-7) Iron Dragon Martial Arts, Pound, VA

Josh Ryan(Debut) Absolute Jiu Jitsu, Bristol, TN vs. Jordan Alvis(0-1) IMA, Lebanon, TN

Devin Rodriguez(Debut) Gracie Tampa, Tampa, FL vs. Garrison Phillips(0-1) Team Gattlin Gun, Johnson City, TN

Mike Anderson(4-2) Mt. Empire MMA, Bristol, VA vs. Matt Keller(1-0) Chattanooga Fight Factory, Chattanooga, TN

185 LBS

Brian Lewis(Debut) Independent, Kingsport, TN vs. Jeremy Tharp(1-0) IMA, Lebanon, TN

CHARLOTTE, NC – Members of the Durham MMA fight team Bull City Brawlers were looking top notch this weekend as they captured victories in the cage at Elite Championship Cage Fighting’s XII match up on Saturday, May 29th at the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo.

D’Juan "Dirty South" Owens (10-5) won a three round fight against Chris Smith (4-3). Owens dominated the first two rounds with superior striking skills and masterful footwork.  In the middle of round three, Owens was rocked by a haymaker from Smith, putting him on the defensive.  Smith tried to choke him out from behind but was unsuccessful.  Owens remained calm, defended the hold attempt and regained control of the position by the end of the round.

Chris "Sugar Bear" Crawford remains undefeated in his last five fights (7-2 total).  Crawford, currently ranked third in the amateur middleweight division, was scheduled to fight Ronny Huitt.  When Huitt cancelled because of the flu, Crawford stepped up and faced last minute replacement Chad Tyler, a light heavyweight.  Despite the difference in weight, Crawford dominated three solid rounds with his ring generalship, accurate punches and thundering leg and body kicks that echoed off the auditorium walls.  Crawford was awarded the "Beast of the Night" trophy from Beast MMA.

About the Bull City Brawlers

The Bull City Brawlers train at Danny Daniels Fitness Studio under the direction of Coach Danny Daniels.  Daniels competed as a professional MMA fighter and trained exclusively with MMA legend Frank Shamrock.  Daniels brings over 25 years of knowledge and experience as a martial arts and fitness instructor to the Bull City Brawlers. 

Contact Info:

Danny Daniels
Danny Daniels Fitness Studio
229 N. Gregson Street
Durham, NC 27701-2015

Phone: 919-699-6711
Email: Danny.Daniels.Fitness@gmail.com
Web: www.DannyDanielsFit.com