| 09/03/2010 04:15 PM |
| Alex Karalexis vs. Tiequan Zhang official; WEC 51 card complete with 11 bouts |
 Tiequan Zhang will soon become World Extreme Cagefighting's first-ever Chinese fighter.
As MMAjunkie.com first reported in August, China Top
Team fighter Tiequan Zhang has signed a multi-fight deal with the
organization and will debut at WEC 51.
The hard-hitting Alex Karalexis has been booked to welcome "The
Mongolian Wolf" to the cage at the Sept. 30 event, which takes place at
the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colo.
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| 09/03/2010 03:00 PM |
| Bellator 28 main card official, includes Horwich vs. Schambari, Andrusia vs. Larkin |
 One day after holding a thrilling featherweight title fight in San
Antonio, Texas, Bellator Fighting Championships officials are now
turning their attention to "The Big Easy."
Bellator today announced the four main-card fights for next week's
Bellator 28 event, which takes place Sept. 9 at the Mahalia Jackson
Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans.
The contests include Rich Clementi vs. Carey Vanier and Georgi
Karakhanyan vs. Anthony Leone, a pair of "tournament qualifier" which
were previously reported by MMAjunkie.com, as well
as two new bouts in Matt Horwich vs. Eric Schambari and Marcus Andrusia
vs. Eric Larkin.
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| 09/03/2010 01:50 PM |
| "Inside MMA" preview: New York's Bob Reilly discusses his opposition to MMA |
 Hardly a day goes by that UFC president Dana White isn't asked about his
promotion's progress on helping the sport of mixed martial arts gain
regulation in the state of New York.
One of the few remaining North American outposts that doesn't regulate
MMA, New York has appeared close on several occasions to reversing its
position on the sport, but ultimately, the legislature has yet to act.
Much of the opposition has been led by New York Assemblyman Bob Reilly, and he doesn't appear to be softening his stance.
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| 09/03/2010 12:05 PM |
| No Olympics, no problem - UFC plans to create its own international tournament |
 For years, many mixed martial arts fans have wondered aloud why their favorite sport isn't a part of the Olympic Games.
After all, with boxing, judo, wrestling and tae kwon do already slated
as modern Olympic events, what's the problem with adding the arts together?
That's an argument for another time and place. UFC president Dana White
has far more pressing concerns on his mind. And besides, he envisions an
international tournament staged far more frequently than every
Olympiad.
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| 09/03/2010 11:00 AM |
| Montreal official as host of Dec. 11 "UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck II" event |
 If UFC contender Josh Koscheck thought he had it
bad in his first trip to Montreal, imagine how it will feel fighting
hometown hero Georges St-Pierre.
On Thursday, the UFC's "Ultimate Insider" series officially announced
that previous reports of a return trip to Montreal's Bell Centre were
indeed true, and the massive arena will play host to UFC 124 on Dec. 11.
Early reports had suggested the fight would take place in Las Vegas, but
UFC officials looked to capitalize on St-Pierre's popularity in his
hometown. Ticketing information for the event has yet to be released.
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| 09/03/2010 09:30 AM |
| Getting UFC opportunity is only half the fight for lightweight Yves Edwards |
 Veteran lightweight Yves Edwards has been around the block enough to
know that a UFC contract isn't an achievement in itself. It's what you
do when you're inside the octagon that counts.
Edwards fights John Gunderson at UFC Fight Night 22 on Sept. 15 in Austin, Texas. Don't get him
wrong, he's happy to be back. But don't expect any big proclamations
about how he's going to take over the 155-pound division.
"I've only tied my shoes," Edwards recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio. "I haven't even left the house yet."
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| 09/03/2010 08:20 AM |
| MMAjunkie.com Radio: Cruz, Escudero, Karakhanyan, Vanier, Kawa |
 MMAjunkie.com Radio today concludes another week of programming with a stacked lineup of guests.
WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, UFC lightweight contender
Efrain Escudero and Bellator contenders Georgi Karakhanyan and Carey
Vanier will all call in to discuss the latest happenings in their
careers. First Round Management's Malki Kawa will also join the program
to update us on his rapidly growing cast of clients.
MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from 12-2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from the
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and
watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.
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| 09/03/2010 07:45 AM |
| Rob Kimmons vs. Kyle Noke meet at UFC 122 in Germany |
 While the UFC has yet to officially announce its return to Germany, the evening's planned fight card continues to take shape.
The latest addition the the UFC 122 lineup features a middleweight
matchup between Rob Kimmons and Kyle Noke.
MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with sources close to
the bout, which was first reported by MMAWeekly.com, that verbal
agreements are in place and bout agreements are expected to be finalized
shortly.
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| 09/03/2010 06:30 AM |
| "UFC Primetime" returns to Spike TV for "UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez" |
 In anticipation of their UFC 121 main-event fight, UFC heavyweight
champion Brock Lesnar and undefeated challenger Cain
Velasquez will be featured in the latest edition of
Spike TV's three-part "UFC Primetime" special.
The series debuts Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Subsequent episodes air in the timeslot on Oct. 13 and Oct. 20.
UFC 121 takes place Oct. 23 at the Honda Center in Newark, Anaheim, Calif., and airs on pay-per-view.
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| 09/03/2010 06:28 AM |
| "The Sunday Junkie" deadline reminder, win a free Fighters Only subscription! |
 As a reminder, submissions for the upcoming edition of "The Sunday Junkie" are due Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.
All topics, including Thursday's Bellator 27 event and the numerous events on the horizon, are open for
discussion. The person who sends in the submission we deem the best -
based on timeliness of subject, clarity and overall persuasiveness -
will be invited onto MMAjunkie.com Radio to discuss the topic.
Each winner will also receive a free year's subscription to "Fighters Only," the world's leading MMA and lifestyle magazine!
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| 09/03/2010 03:00 AM |
| Trainer says James Toney back to MMA after IBA title defense, with or without UFC |
 James Toney is set to defend his IBA heavyweight title on Nov. 5 in New Orleans, but he's not done with MMA.
Toney made that decision in the locker room of Boston's TD Garden
moments after UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture tapped him out with an
arm-triangle choke three minutes into his first real taste of the sport
at UFC 118.
"They might have won the battle, but the war ain't over yet," recalled
John "Pops" Arthur, Toney's trainer of 12 years, of the boxing
champion's words after the fight.
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| 09/02/2010 06:50 PM |
| Bellator 27 recap: Joe Warren claims belt with stunning knockout win |
 For the opening five minutes of Thursday's Bellator 27 main event, the
self-described "baddest man on the planet" looked like anything but.
Then came round two.
After getting tagged throughout the first round with lead left hands and
nasty right uppercuts, Joe Warren uncorked a
powerful barrage of strikes that left former champion Joe Soto unconscious on the floor.
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| 09/02/2010 04:05 PM |
| "Rhino" vs. Uscola heads Tachi Palace Fights 6; MMAjunkie.com's Morgan broadcasts |
 Former WEC light heavyweight champion Doug "Rhino" Marshall
returns to the venue that gave birth to his MMA career to take on "The
Ultimate Fighter 11" cast member Kyacey Uscola under the Tachi
Palace Fights banner.
Marshall and Uscola meet in the main event of "Tachi Palace Fights 6:
High Stakes" on Sept. 9 at The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore,
Calif.
The card also features a co-main event between former WEC lightweight
champ "Razor" Rob McCullough and "The Ultimate Fighter 5" cast
member Corey Hill, as well as a middleweight title fight between dual challengers Anthony Ruiz and Leopoldo Serao.
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| 09/02/2010 02:15 PM |
| Thiago Alves vs. John Howard targeted for UFC 124 |
 Well, you can't always get what you want.
One day after Thiago Alves welcomed a fight with
Mike Pierce, who on Tuesday called him out on MMAjunkie.com Radio, the former contender is now expected to meet
John Howard at UFC 124.
Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that verbal agreements are in place and contracts will be sent out shortly.
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| 09/02/2010 01:10 PM |
| Fight Path: With 10 titles to her name, Germaine de Randamie starting over |
 If an early childhood choice had gone another direction, Germaine De Randamie might've become a dancer.
Instead, she turned to something no less focused on movement but a touch more violent.
"When I was 8, my mother said I could choose between dancing and
kickboxing," De Randamie told MMAjunkie.com. "I went
to the first kickboxing class, and I never even made it to dancing. I
told her I had found what I wanted to do."
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| 09/02/2010 12:00 PM |
| Karo Parisyan vs. Dennis Hallman slated for UFC 123 in Michigan |
 As it turns out, UFC president Dana White believes in second, or maybe third, chances.
Nine months after White gave Karo Parisyan his
walking papers, the welterweight veteran is octagon bound once again for
a meeting with Dennis Hallman at UFC 123.
Although not officially announced by the promotion, UFC 123 is expected
to take place Nov. 20 at Palace of Auburn Hills in suburban Michigan.
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| 09/02/2010 11:35 AM |
| Brian Bowles vs. Wagnney Fabiano likely for WEC 52 in Las Vegas |
 A bantamweight contest between former champion Brian Bowles and Nova Uniao submission ace Wagnney Fabiano
has been targeted for WEC 52.
MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with sources close to
the event that verbal agreements are in place for the contest and bout
agreements are expected to be finalized shortly. News of the matchup was first reported by SportsNet.ca.
While the event has yet to be officially announced, MMAjunkie.com has
learned that WEC 52 is expected to take place Nov. 11 at The Pearl at
the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
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| 09/02/2010 11:00 AM |
| New Bellator signee Chris Lozano targeted for Bellator 31 fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida |
 Undefeated welterweight prospect Chris Lozano was
recently announced as the newest member of the Bellator Fighting
Championships' roster, and it appears his first matchup has already been
determined.
MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to the
fighter that Lozano has agreed to meet five-time UFC veteran Yoshiyuki
Yoshida at Bellator 31.
Bellator officials have yet to officially announce the contest, which
takes place Sept. 30 at L'Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake
Charles, La.
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| 09/02/2010 10:05 AM |
| UFC 118 medical suspensions: Nate Diaz and John Salter out for up to six months |
 While this past weekend's UFC 118 event concluded without a single
knockout, that doesn't mean the night's competitors escaped without
issue.
The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission today emailed the list of UFC 118 medical suspensions to MMAjunkie.com.
The evening's four main-event and co-main-event competitors were each
cleared to return immediately, though Nate Diaz and John Salter's
six-month orders led a list of 10 fighters suspended by the commission.
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| 09/02/2010 10:00 AM |
| MSAC: UFC 118 draws 14,168 spectators for $2.8 million live gate |
 This past weekend's "UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn II" event at the TD Garden
in Boston drew 14,168 spectators for a live gate of approximately $2.8
million, according to the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission.
MSAC officials today emailed the preliminary figures to MMAjunkie.com.
Of the 14,168 fans in the arena, 11,205 purchased tickets and 2,963 were
issued complimentary admission, according to the report.
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| 09/02/2010 09:10 AM |
| UFC 118 salaries: Toney ($500K), Couture ($250K) top $1.428 million fighter payroll |
 Co-headliners James Toney ($500,000) and Randy Couture ($250,000)
garnered the most attention heading into this past weekend's UFC 118
event, and they also walked home with the evening's largest disclosed
checks.
MMAjunkie.com recently requested and today
received the list of officially disclosed paydays from the Massachusetts
State Athletic Commission.
The total disclosed payroll for the Aug. 28 event was $1.428 million.
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| 09/02/2010 08:20 AM |
| MMAjunkie.com Radio: Bellator's Bjorn Rebney, UFC 120's Mike Pyle, TSJ winner |
 MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes Bellator Fighting Championships CEO
Bjorn Rebney to the program, as well as UFC 120 competitor Mike Pyle.
Rebney calls in to preview tonight's Bellator 27 event, which features a
title fight between featherweight champ Joe Soto and challenger Joe
Warren. Pyle, re-scheduled from Wednesday's show, discusses his bout
with John Hathaway at next month's Spike TV-televised UFC 120 event.
"The Sunday Junkie" winner David Quan also calls in to discuss his
winning entry.
MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from 12-2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from the
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and
watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.
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| 09/02/2010 07:05 AM |
| Thiago Alves answers Mike Pierce's call, eyes UFC 123 meeting |
 Well, that didn't take long.
UFC welterweight Thiago Alves is more than willing
to fight up-and-comer Mike Pierce this fall. Alves plans to text UFC president Dana White for a possible booking at UFC 123 on Nov. 20.
"I would be more than happy to beat [Pierce's] ass if the UFC allows me," Alves told MMAjunkie.com. "I will show him some love, definitely."
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| 09/02/2010 05:30 AM |
| Late replacement Gabe Ruediger promised another UFC fight |
 Despite a less-than-impressive return to the organization, Gabe Ruediger will get another fight in the UFC.
Ruediger, who failed to make weight and then flamed out of "The Ultimate Fighter 5" cast back in 2007, posted a six-fight win streak to earn his way back into the UFC.
But this past weekend as a replacement for injured Terry Etim, Ruediger suffered a one-sided beatdown and eventual submission loss to Joe Lauzon at UFC 118.
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| 09/01/2010 06:00 PM |
| Although UFC title shot looms, top contender Gray Maynard as patient as ever |
 UFC Gray Maynard jokes that he doesn't even know his professional fighting record; maybe, he says, he should write it in the "Notes" application of his iPhone.
The lightweight contender used to keep score of such things. As a wrestler, he put a heap of pressure on himself to take home a new accolade in every season.
But as an MMA title shot with champ Frankie Edgar looms, Maynard has taken a much more relaxed approach to the fight game.
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| 09/01/2010 04:30 PM |
| Bellator 27 weigh-in results: Champ Soto (144.8), Warren (143.6) set for headliner |
Bellator Fighting Championships today hosted official fighter weigh-ins for Bellator 27, and all 20 event competitors successfully made weight for the show.
The weigh-ins took place at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel in San Antonio.
Bellator featherweight champ Joe Soto (144.8 pounds) and season-two tournament winner Joe Warren (143.6) had no issues making weight for their main-event fight, which takes place Thursday at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio.
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| 09/01/2010 01:35 PM |
| Lyman Good vs. Ben Askren welterweight title fight added to Bellator 33 in Philly |
 October's Bellator 33 fight card has another big addition.
A week after the organization announced a headlining non-title fight between lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez and Roger Huerta, a five-round title fight has been added to the mix.
Welterweight champ and season-one tourney winner Lyman Good meets former NCAA Division I national wrestling champ and season-two tourney winner Ben Askren.
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| 09/01/2010 12:25 PM |
| Once fighting for survival on plantation, Rousimar Palhares now fights for better life |
 When Brazilian submission ace Rousimar Palhares
steps into the cage against Nate Marquardt in the
main event of UFC Fight Night 22, he'll be competing in perhaps the most
high-profile contest of his career.
But don't for one minute believe that the Spike TV-broadcast bout is the toughest fight of Palhares' life.
No, the UFC middleweight contender's biggest struggles came well before
he ever set foot in the octagon - when a 10-year-old Palhares and his
brothers and sisters worked 13 hour days on Brazilian
plantations while (usually) making just enough money to live just
slightly more luxuriously than the animals to which they tended.
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| 09/01/2010 11:00 AM |
| UFC 125 slotted for Jan. 1 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas |
 The UFC's traditional year-end show will be a first-of-the-year event with UFC 125 tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 1 in Las Vegas.
A source close to the pay-per-view event today told MMAjunkie.com that the 2011 event tentatively is scheduled to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The event kicks off a new year for the UFC, which hosts an annual high of 24 events in 2010.
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| 09/01/2010 09:35 AM |
| Detroit suburb to host UFC 123 on Nov. 20, "Rampage" vs. Machida headlines |
 For the first time in more than 14 years and 150 events, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading to Michigan.
UFC 123, which takes place Nov. 20, will be hosted by the 23,000-seat Palace of Auburn Hills in a suburb of Detroit.
The "Detroit Free Press" first reported the plans, and MMAjunkie.com since has confirmed them with sources close to the show. A light-heavyweight fight between former champs Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto Machida headlines the show.
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| 09/01/2010 08:45 AM |
| MMAjunkie.com Radio: Title challenger Gray Maynard, UFC 120's Mike Pyle |
 With his title shot already promised and a meeting with champion Frankie Edgar on the horizon, UFC 118 winner and still-undefeated lightweight Gray Maynard today joins MMAjunkie.com Radio.
Veteran Mike Pyle, who fights John Hathaway at next month's UFC 120 event, also joins the show to discuss his preparations for the Spike TV-televised fight.
MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from 12-2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.
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| 09/01/2010 08:00 AM |
| Following UFC 118 loss, ex-champ B.J. Penn looking for quick return to action |
 B.J. Penn wants to return to the octagon sooner rather than later.
This past weekend at UFC 118, the former champ fell short in a rematch with Frankie Edgar, the same fighter who defeated Penn and took his belt in April at UFC 112.
Rather than sulk about the loss or rethink his approach, Penn simply wants to get back in the cage as soon as possible.
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| 09/01/2010 07:45 AM |
| WEC vet Anthony Leone replaces injured Alvin Robinson at Bellator 28 |
 Recent WEC fighter Anthony Leone (8-1 MMA, 0-0 BFC) has replaced injured Alvin Robinson and now meets fellow featherweight Georgi Karakhanyan at next week's Bellator 28 event.
Karakhanyan confirmed Robinson's injury via Twitter, and a source close to the event told MMAjunkie.com Leone has been tapped as a replacement.
Bellator 28 takes place Sept. 9 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans.
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| 09/01/2010 07:00 AM |
| Replacement Conor Heun not joining Shine Fights tourney field (Updated) |
 (Update: Shine Fights officials today told us Conor Heun has not
joined the tournament as an injury replacement. A post on what appeared to be the
organization's official Twitter account mentioned the change earlier today, which prompted our report. However,
the switch apparently wasn't official.)
With Josh Shockley scratched due to injury, Strikeforce and IFL veteran Conor Heun has stepped in as a replacement.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt now joins the eight-man field for next month's "Shine Fights: Lightweight Grand Prix" tournament.
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| 09/01/2010 06:00 AM |
| UFC's Mike Pierce aiming for Ireland, Thiago Alves for future challenges |
 Mike Pierce says he'll stand and bang when he gets the right match-up.
The UFC welterweight earned his third octagon victory this past Saturday when he submitted newcomer Amilcar Alves at UFC 118 with a straight armbar.
So far, he's chugged forward by keeping his opponents on the mat. But he's only graced the main card of one event - a short-notice meeting with perennial contender Jon Fitch. But Pierce knows just the opponent who could provide an exciting televised matchup.
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| 08/31/2010 04:00 PM |
| UFC's Nate Diaz has unfinished business at 155, but trainer sees future at 170 |
Nate Diaz established a strong foothold in the UFC welterweight division this past Saturday when he submitted Marcus Davis at UFC 118.
It was Diaz's second victory at 170 pounds after serving most of his six-year career in the lightweight class.
And though Diaz wants to avenge his losses there, trainer and manager Cesar Gracie thinks he should stay at welterweight - at least for the time being.
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| 08/31/2010 02:40 PM |
| Fickett vs. "Krazy Horse" set for Sept. 10 Shine Fights tourney, Shockley scratched |
 The first tournament matchup has emerged from Shine Fights' fan-driven matchmaking.
Organization officials today announced UFC veteran Drew Fickett will meet the always-entertaining Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett in an opening-round matchup of Shine Fights' single-night eight-man lightweight tournament.
Officials also announced that an injured Josh Shockley has been scratched from the field and that a replacement will be announced soon.
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| 08/31/2010 01:00 PM |
| DREAM rep on FEG future: "We need investment money; that's the bottom line" |
 PUJI Capital is conducting an internal review of Fighting and
Entertainment Group's (FEG) assets and liabilities in advance of a push
to attract investors to the struggling fight promotion.
"The actions they're taking are similar to an audit," FEG's U.S.
representative, Mike Kogan, told MMAjunkie.com on
Monday.
Kogan said the Japanese investment bank hopes to raise $230 million for
FEG, which operates MMA's DREAM promotion and the K-1 kickboxing
organization, over the next five years. But with the company's current
financial condition, that timeline may need to be shortened.
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| 08/31/2010 12:45 PM |
| Strikeforce's Brett Rogers meets "Warpath" Villareal at Oct. 23 W-1 event |
 Strikeforce fighter Brett Rogers will meet fellow heavyweight Ruben "Warpath" Villareal at an October event in Canada.
The W-1 MMA organization hosts the show, "W-1: New Ground," on Oct. 23 at the Halifax Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The organization recently announced the 11-bout fight card for the show, and a Strikeforce official confirmed with MMAjunkie.com that Rogers received permission to compete at the event.
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| 08/31/2010 12:00 PM |
| UFC 118 "UFC Prelims" special draws series-low 1.1 million viewers on Spike TV |
 This past weekend's "UFC Prelims" special on Spike TV drew a series-low 1.1 million viewers, officials today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com via email.
Nevertheless, the one-hour special drew a 0.83 household rating and was
the highest-rated cable program in its timeslot among men 18-49 and men
18-34.
However, in a rare occurrence, the ratings actually diminished throughout the broadcast, which could be blamed at least partially on a lackluster bout between Nik Lentz and Andre Winner that opened the Aug. 28 broadcast.
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