by admin | Jan 13, 2011 | BLOGS
KJ Noons, on the mend after sustaining a broken left hand in his rematch with Nick Diaz, expects to return to the cage in April against undefeated American Kickboxing Academy product Billy Evangelista. Speaking with MMAFA.tv, Noons reflects on his loss to Nick Diaz. “I’m sure [Diaz] and I will fight again. Everyone wanted the rematch and it was voted Strikeforce’s most exciting fight of the year out of twenty some-odd shows. There are changes I could have made, but to be honest me and my corner thought it was two rounds a piece going into the final so I didn’t change it up. I fought at a weight class I’ve never fought at before and I did great. I moved forward the whole time, threw and landed more punches. I think the rubber match will definitely happen.” Noons was recently called out by Strikeforce welterweight Paul Daley following an impressive knockout of Scott Smith. Words were exchanged between both fighters in the press and accusations of ducking the match-up were waged against Noons. Not only does Noons claim to be open to the fight, but he expects it. There are conditions, however. “Paul is a great, exciting fighter and I think he’ll fight for the 170 lbs. world title soon. He deserves it. Am I afraid to fight anybody at any weight class? No, because I am a fighter, but my real weight class is lightweight. I only fought Diaz at 170 lbs. because we have history. I am not scared of Paul and I am definitely interested in the fight, but he would have to come down...
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...
by Jon Luther | Jan 6, 2011 | BLOGS
Tim Lueckenhoff was recently consulted by the promotion regarding the legality of Josh Barnett, who is currently without a license and undergoing an appeal in California following a positive test for banned substances, fighting in their heavyweight tournament. Speaking with MMAFAtv, Lueckenhoff states that there is nothing in place saying that other States should respect California’s decision to deny him a license. “For boxing we have specific laws and procedures in place, at the federal level, for things like this. In Mixed Martial arts there really is nothing.” While the sport of boxing has the Mohammaed Ali Boxing Reform act to go by, the sport of Mixed Martial Arts is virtually lawless on the federal level. Some have referred to it as the ‘Wild Wild West.’ It is up to each individual athletic commission to determine what is required of Josh Barnett in order to achieve licensure. Barnett may be issued a license without probation of the license or testing for steroids and other banned substances. Additionally, the fact that Barnett’s license was denied for re-approval instead of suspended could play a huge role in achieving licensure in a state other than California. This allows Barnett’s name to remain off of the widespread suspension database that athletic commissions use as a reference in determining a fighter’s eligibility for licensure. It is doubtful there is currently anything on that database to indicate he is undergoing any licensing problems in California. Lueckenhoff states the following: “Say Josh [Barnett] applied for a license in some random State, they don’t know him and they didn’t do any research on him – he would...
