Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community.
***
This week’s MMAterial Facts:
Courtesy of MMA Fighting and Esther Lin
– UFC Officially Announces Return to Australia (MMA Fighting)
“The organization officially announced its return to Sydney, Australia, Wednesday night. UFC Sydney, as it’s being called, will take place on Saturday, March 3, at the Allphones Arena, formerly Acer Arena, in Sydney.
…
The event, headlined by Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann, will air on FX in the United States on Friday, March 2, due to the time difference in Australia. “
– In ridiculous NSAC hearing, Alistair Overeem is granted a conditional license (Fight Opinion)
“Alistair Overeem participated at today’s NSAC meeting via phone. Keith Kizer stated that out-of-competition drug testing for both Brock Lesnar & Alistair Overeem was established on November 17th. Overeem’s drug test did not occur, as his camp replied back on November 21st (he left for Holland). Brock’s drug test was done at a hospital. Overeem ended up taking a blood test on November 23rd. It was not the test NSAC was looking for but the blood test came back clean. Overeem ended up taking the test the NSAC wanted on December 7th and the results haven’t come back yet. Overeem was quizzed about why he needed to go to Germany for testing instead of doing the testing in Holland. At this point, the commission put Overeem under oath during his testimony.
…
(Keith Kizer believes urine tests are more accurate than blood tests for doping.)”
– Interview with undefeated one-armed fighter Nick Newell (MMA Mania)
“I don’t have the same reach-around for a grip so when I actually do get a grip on you, it’s that much tighter but it is harder for me to get it because I have to reach further. I have to commit more and I think me committing when I fight, I take a lot of risks and it’s been paying off for me because I’m 6-0 as a pro with six first round stoppages and going back to my amateur fights, I’m on an eight fight winning streak all in the first round.”
– Junie Browning Claims The Thai Mafia Is After Him (MMA Convert)
“Im officially the biggest American patriot there is now. These other primitive countries are all about money, mafia and corrupt law enforcement. Regardless what you believe I never touched a female in theses events that occurred and my girlfriend was there from start to finish to vouch. Hitting Thai women was an excuse for them to demonize me and get some baht out of me. You all don’t understand with my name, people will use it against me. I acted like an idiot on a reality show for publicity so they are using that against me. Im sorry and I care about people more than you thank and I appreciate all the support from the intelligent people that understand that these primitive countries are trying to kill me ( Literally ) . I need help BAD! please call the US Embassy in my regards. Thank you very much everyone.”
– Whoa Sean Sherk was ambushed by machine gun wielding UK police (MiddleEasy)
“As he was being ferried into the area, the car he was travelling in was stopped by a roadblock and armed police swooped on the vehicle. Police had the vehicle on their database as being linked to a local man who they believe to be a key gangland figure. Sherk thought the car was being subjected to a routine stop until it turned out to involve several carloads of police officers carrying automatic weapons, including Hechler and Koch MP5 machine guns – the UK police do not normally carry guns. Having remained sat in his passenger seat because he had not understood an instruction to exit the vehicle, Sherk was dragged out by tense officers. They cuffed his hands behind his back and pulled him away where he was none too gently searched before being dumped on the floor. When a search of the car had been conducted – the officers were looking for firearms – Sherk and his driver were allowed on their way.
“
– Sonnen And Muñoz Will Suspend Friendship For The Sake Of Competition (FightLine)
“This is competition between Mark Munoz and me,” Sonnen said. “We competed before, we will compete again. And when it is done, it will be one more in the win column, one more trophy above the mantle, and one more for the bad guy.”
…
Muñoz echoes his sentiment, saying that whatever friendship he and Sonnen have maintained since their college days will be left at the cage door.
…
“Chael and I are friends and will remain friends long after this fight,” said Muñoz. “But make no mistake, when that cage door closes we will not hold back. We will show the world why we are the best at what we do.””
– Exclusive: Brittney Palmer Talks UFC Return, Her Fans and Fighter Twitter Beefs (Cage Potato)
“The UFC Octagon Girl, who will return from a brief hiatus from the sport at UFC 140 Saturday night, spoke to us about a variety of topics including art school, her fans, fighter Twitter beefs and how she felt about winning the “2011 CagePotato Hottest Women in MMA Grand Prix”
– Heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga returning to the Octagon at UFC 142 (Five Ounces of Pain)
“Former UFC title-contender Gabriel Gonzaga has won his way back into the promotion after being announced as an injury replacement for Rob Broughton. Gonzaga will face Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes on January 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In his last bout, Gonzaga (12-6) downed Parker Porter via submission in the third round.”
– Brett Rogers Denied Visa, Fight with Tim Sylvia Off Dream’s NYE Card (5thRound)
“According to Heavy.com, Brett Rogers (Pictured) has been denied a visa and won’t be allowed to enter Japan to face Tim Sylvia in Dream’s end of the year extravaganza.
…
Because the former Strikeforce heavyweight was turned away so close to showtime, Sylvia has also been removed from the star-studded card.
…
Rogers was released from a Minnesota prison on Tuesday after serving roughly two weeks behind bars for beating his wife at their home this past June. “
– Ovince St. Preux: I’m not scared of going toe-to-toe with Gegard Mousasi (LowKick)
“It’s definitely safe to say that Mousasi is the biggest name I fought in my career,” said St. Preux. “Everyone knows he’s one of the Top 10 guys out there. He’s a great challenge for me as a fighter. He will try to impose his will with striking, but he’s one of those guys who also has a very good ground game too. With him I have to be prepared for a war in both stand up and on the ground.”
…
According to St. Preux, 31-3-2 “Dreamcatcher” has every required attribute to live up to the expectations of being his toughest test to date. However, OSP promises not to give Mousasi any extra credit inside the cage:
…
“I’ve been in some wars and what not, but I learned that there are also veterans out there who will give you a hell of a fight,” admitted Ovince St. Preux, who will mark his sixth fight under the Strikeforce banner against Mousasi. “I fought Benji Radach and went to distance with him. It was a very tough fight. Mousasi comes forward and throws a lot. With this being said, I’m going out there to show him I’m not scared of anyone.”
– Check out the original call for fighters UFC ad from 1993! (TheFightNerd)
“Two months prior to that ad, W.O.W. and SEG put out an application to discover fighters to compete in their event, and here is that ad! Stuffed all the way in the back of the magazine on the bottom left corner of page 69, this quarter-page ad summons the eight “toughest punchers, kickers and grapplers in the world” to compete in the “full contact, no holds barred” event.”
– Brock Lesnar Facing Hunting Related Charges from 2010 Visit to Alberta (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
“Lesnar and another man, according to Sportsnet.ca, were cited for offenses related to the Alberta Fish and Wildlife Act.
…
The offenses that the duo were charged with were the alleged improper affixation of tags, spoilage of skin and edible flesh, and possession of a controlled animal.
…
In short, according to twincities.com, the pair failed to tag their game, left a mule deer carcass to rot and were in illegal possession of a deer. The maximum penalty for each charge is $50,000 and a year in prison.”
Leave a Reply