by Jon Luther | Jan 18, 2011 | BLOGS
Welcome to the wacky world of mixed martial arts, where contradictory information bounces around the news cycle like the metal orbs in a pinball machine. Halo PR, the British Public Relations company who does work with Paul Daley, put out an odd press today release saying that Paul Daley was in advanced negotiations to headline a BAMMA card on February 26th at the Manchester Evening News arena in the UK, a venue with a capacity of nearly 23,000. This news arrived at approximately the same time as Daley’s facebook alarmed the world that he was signing his next fight contract and was very pleased with his opponent. He also stated he that the announcement would make fans “in the UK Division” very happy. MMAFA.tv contacted BAMMA officials, who claim that Paul Daley was a lock for the BAMMA card. However, officials declined to give the name of Paul Daley’s opponent. They assured that the opponent had been “penciled in” and no other names were being considered. In fact, an opponent had apparently been settled on nearly 2 weeks ago. BAMMA claims a press release is on the way. Strikeforce’s PR head Mike Afromowitz stated that Strikeforce officials had not heard a word about the proposed BAMMA bout. Paul Daley claims that he is not fighting for BAMMA and is instead remaining under the Strikeforce banner. Daley doesn’t know what prompted the announcement from the Halo PR team but assures that a correction will be made in the coming days. Still, sources in the UK MMA scene confirmed to MMAFA.tv that an agreement between BAMMA and Daley has been known...
by Jon Luther | Jan 13, 2011 | BLOGS
Finding a young fighter who anticipates the inevitable end to his combat career and acts accordingly is a rare thing. This is especially true when the fighter comes from a humble background and has to deal with the shock of newfound fame and fortune. Kendall Grove knows the story well. Winning the TUF3 season and looking invincible in his first two UFC outings propelled him to a position that would make anybody in the fight industry envious. However, Kendall describes it as a time where he could have acted more wisely. “I’ve been an idiot with my money ever since I got with the UFC up until only a few years ago. It wasn’t until I had my daughter that I said to myself, ‘Oh shit, this isn’t about me.’ I need to support my daughters, my son and a baby that is due in April. So I need my job with the UFC for two more years. After that, I can sit back and be a fan again.” Kendall admits that raising a family, running a gym and punching in a career with the premier Mixed Martial Arts organization is a tall task, and it is one he has done well with so far. Yet as time goes by and his family grows, Kendall eyes the prospect of retirement with increasing consideration. “A job is a job. I want to retire with the UFC because we have a fantastic relationship. But me, personally, I don’t want to do this shit forever. I love it because I love it right now. But once I get enough of a cushion...
by Jon Luther | Jan 10, 2011 | BLOGS
TUF 12 participant Kyle Watson is targeted to fight undefeated John Makdessi at UFC 129. Speaking with MMAFA.tv, Watson discussed getting the news this past week. “I was out of town and my coach sent me a message telling me I could breathe easier now. I was in. It is real now. I’m not fighting guys on the show. I’m fighting guys in the UFC.” Watson, with a record of 13-6-1, won consecutive bouts on TUF12, losing only in the semifinals against the season winner Jonathan Brookins. Watson won a unanimous decision over Sako Chivitchyan at the finale. Citing his involvement in TUF12 as an invaluable learning experience, Watson says it revealed holes in his game that he has since worked diligently on patching up in anticipation of his official debut in the octagon. Watson feels he has yet to show the fans what he is truly capable of. “I got too comfortable being on my back instead of using aggression in the fights. I could have thrown up submissions or gotten more takedowns but I didn’t. I’m capable of it and I’m working with my coaches on the mental aspect of my game. I’m super self-critical. For instance, finishes can be exciting, but sometimes the way I do it is not. I have to work on that but it is something I can do.” Being one of the more grounded and cool-headed participants on TUF 12, Watson intends to keep the same demeanor during his time with the UFC. It is an approach he likens to that of Georges St. Pierre (GSP), his coach on the show. “I...
by Jon Luther | Jan 8, 2011 | BLOGS
Mark Bocek got everyone’s attention when he tapped out Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Dustin Hazelett with a triangle choke from mount at UFC 124 in Montreal. Bocek, speaking with MMAFA.tv, explained why he went on to call out fellow lightweight George Sotiropoulos immediately following the fight. “I want to set the record straight. I’m not one to just call people out, but everyone looks at him as the Jiu Jitsu guy at 155 and I want everyone to look at me as that. I can beat Sotiropoulos and he is a great stylistic match-up for me. The upcoming fight with Benson Henderson might even be tougher for me. He’s not as technical as Sotiropoulos, but he has better conditioning and wrestling. Also, look at Sotiropoulos’ last fight: he really slowed down after the first round with Joe Lauzon.” Bocek also claims he shouldn’t be overlooked as one of the top lightweights in the UFC division. “I feel like I’m right up there and this next fight will put me right at the top. Everyone knows where Jim Miller stands in the division and I think I beat him. The problem was that we fought in New Jersey (where Miller is from) and I didn’t finish him. Look at Miller’s reaction, look at his interviews – he thought I won that fight, too.” At UFC 129 Bocek takes on former WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in his backyard at Toronto. “He is a tough match-up for me but I will be ready. I have the advantage in a few areas, too. Sure, he is hard to submit, but he doesn’t...
by Jon Luther | Jan 8, 2011 | BLOGS
It was not long ago that we saw Tim Kennedy fighting Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ de Souza for the Strikeforce Middleweight Title. Although the fight was a close one, Kennedy was upset with both the outcome of the fight as well as the nature of the fight: “My coaches and I sat down to see if there was any way we could have gotten him to fight more. There’s not much we could have done differently; we out-punched, out-kicked, out-kneed him, took him down more. Unless I was Nick or Nate Diaz and taunted him in the ring, and that’s not my style nor would I ever do that, there was no way to get him to actually ‘fight’ me in there.” In fact, other fighters declining to fight Kennedy has emerged as a theme over the past few months. Kennedy claims he has been turned down numerous times by other fighters in the Strikeforce middleweight fold. “It’s absolutely atrocious. Strikeforce approached me for the December and January card. I said, ‘definitely, just give me a name and I’ll take the fight.’ Benji Radach was the name, I said yes. Then they tell me he doesn’t want to fight me. Joey Villasenor was another name, but I understand him saying no because we trained at Jackson’s gym together. Matt Lindland was another guy who said no. Robbie Lawler has turned me down three or maybe four times. They asked Melvin Manhoef to fight me and he said ‘[expletive] no.’” Kennedy, who has taken three to four years off of his active military career in order to pursue a successful career in...
