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In order to be more comprehensive source of mixed martial arts news and to accommodate our recent growth in traffic, mma-news.blogspot.com has now moved to http://www.mmapunch.com/

Although the design of our new site is still being modified, we are adding new MMA articles every day.

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Official StrikeForce EliteXC Fight Card

Sageera BMI Body Mass Index Calculator

Frank Shamrock on Jimmy Kimmel Live

It's a nice trend to see mixed martial arts fighters getting visability on the late night talk show circuit. Chuck Liddell was given a solid five minutes of face time on Late Night with David Letterman just a couple of weeks ago. This time around, Frank Shamrock will get his shot on network television as he will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live this Thursday.

This Week's Spotlight MMA Model

This is not a shameless plug for Brawl Fight Gear. This is Krysten, one of their apparel models, and I think I am in love.

I have never purchased or received product from Brawl Fight Gear, but if it is as good of quality as their girls then I think I wouldn't be disappointed.

Branded thong panties and baby Tee's, just another example of why the sport of MMA is so unique and fantastic.

Click on the image of Krysten to view her entire photo gallery.

Show me the Money - UFC Fight Night 10 Payouts

The Florida State Boxing Commission has released the fighter salaries for UFC Fight Night 10. Jon Fitch and pulled in the biggest payday of the event with $36,000. The total payout for the event, which do not include bonuses for the fight awards, sponsorships, or any other non-salary payments, was a reported $175,500. Here is a full breakdown of the night's fighter payouts:

Spencer Fisher ($26,000) def. Sam Stout ($6,000)
Jon Fitch ($36,000) def. Roan Carneiro ($5,000)
Drew McFedries ($14,000) vs. Jordan Radev ($5,000)
Nate Mohr ($6,000) def. Luke Caudillo ($3,000)
Forrest Petz ($8,000) def. Luigi Fioravanti ($8,000)
Tamdan McCrory ($8,000) vs. Pete Spratt ($12,000)
Gleison Tibau ($10,000) def. Jeff Cox ($3,500)
Thiago Tavares ($10,000) def. Jason Black ($6,000)
Anthony Johnson ($6,000) def. Chad Reiner ($3,000)

UFC Wants to Go Global

The UFC has dominated the U.S. market and has had great success overseas as of late and Zuffa owner Lorenzo Fertitta wants to ride the momentum as reported on Yahoo Sport's new MMA channel.

But that, Fertitta said, is only part of an international expansion that he sees taking the sport to Germany next year and, soon, to Italy, Spain and Australia, as well as points in between. “The cool thing about it, and the reason I like moving things around, is every time we go to a new place, we create new fans,” Fertitta said. “There are going to be a lot of people in the arena tonight who don’t know the UFC. Maybe they heard about us from a friend, but they weren’t sure. more

As a fan, I love the fact that the UFC is so active with its events. This is such a far cry from just a few years ago when only three or four events where held the entire year. These days it's not uncommon to have that many events in the course of 30 to 60 days. The real question is, is this expansion happening too fast? Will the quality of the production suffer as Zuffa tries to put the UFC on the world map? If you're looking for a job, I'm sure the UFC is hiring. How else could a company grow so quickly?

Bodog vs. UFC - Let's Get It On!

Billionaire owner of Bodog Fights has called out "Mr. UFC" Dana White by extending a very interesting offer. Here is a press release that was just posted on bodogfight.com. It's obvious these two don't care much for one another. This could turn into a rivalry the likes of Ortiz and Shamrocks. We'll have to keep on eye on this.

"In response to recent comments made by Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White, Bodog Fight founder Calvin Ayre is pleased to extend a once-in-a-lifetime offer to his mixed martial arts rival.

White’s unfortunate public diatribe included slanderous comments about the Canadian billionaire, referring to the online gaming mogul as a “criminal”. The notoriously bald UFC promoter goes on to liken Mr. Ayre to a Richard Pryor character, stating “he’s like that guy in Brewster’s Millions who is trying to spend all his money in 48 hours.

With July 14th’s Bodog Fight: Eddie Alvarez vs. Matt Lee marking Ayre’s first event on U.S. soil, the digital entertainment icon is referencing another Hollywood film, The Godfather, by making White “an offer he can’t refuse.”

"Sources tell me Dana’s a big Bodog Fight fan,” said Ayre. “He must be. He can’t stop talking about us. Personally, I love it when he keeps mentioning my organization in the media. He doesn’t seem to realize that each time he does, he only makes me more money, which is why I want to repay him by allowing him to experience the luxurious lifestyle I am fortunate to enjoy for 48 hours.”

“Since, regrettably, I am unable to attend the upcoming Bodog Fight event in New Jersey, I will offer to send my private jet - complete with an assortment of beautiful Bodog Girls - to pick up Mr. White, wherever he may be. I will then fly him to the east coast where he will enjoy a front row seat to our next event, followed by a VIP evening including a comfortable five-star overnight stay in a nearby Atlantic City hotel. After hitting the poker tables, Mr. White can retire to his lavish suite, sip the finest champagne and relax in the knowledge that all amenities and services are complimentary as my way of saying ‘thank-you’ for all the money he keeps making me.”

All Mr. White has to do is send his R.S.V.P. to pr@bodogfight.com and the wheels will be put into motion."

Chuck Liddell on Dave Letterman

I know this isn't the latest news in the MMA world, but nice to see The Ice Man in a coherent interview and one at such a high level as The Late Show with David Letterman. And as indicator of the Ice Man and the sport's popularity, this YouTube video has been viewed over 10,000 times.

Bonus: Letterman shows a video clip of Chuck getting KO'd by Quinton Jackson for those who many not have already seen (the UFC can't block this footage like they normally do form YouTube).

Fight of the Night - GRIFFIN vs. GUIDA

The fight of the night at UFC 72 wasn't the headline match between Rich Franklin and Okami, but instead was the Light Weight bout between Tyson Griffen and Clay Guida (at least according to Shawn Ennis, MMATorch Columnist).

"STAR RATING: (****+) I almost took something away from the fight because of the decision, but I can’t do it. That was absolutely amazing. Guida gets a big ovation during his post-fight interview, where he says that he dedicated the fight to the late Jeremy Williams."

For full coverage round by round of this fight check out Ennis' entire article here

UFC 72 - Fight Results

UFC 72 from Belfast is now in the record books:

Rich Franklin def. Yushin Okami Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
Forrest Griffin def. Hector Ramirez Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
Jason MacDonald def. Rory Singer TKO (Strikes) 2 3:18
Ed Herman Scott def. Smith Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 2 2:25
Dustin Hazelett def. Steven Lynch Submission (D'Arce Choke) 1 2:50
Eddie Sanchez def. Colin Robinson TKO (Strikes) 2 0:32
Marcus Davis def. Jason Tan KO 1 1:15
Tyson Griffin def. Clay Guida Decision (Split) 3 5:00

Yushin Okami in Action

Today Rich Franklin is a heavy favorite at UFC 72 with site visitors at UFC.com giving him a 76% edge over Okami.

Rich Franklin lives by this psalm (as plastered over his official webiste): Psalm 144:1 - Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. So does Yushin have much of a chance over the heavy favored man of god?

Current UFC Middle Weight Champion Anderson Silva has fought and dominated both of these fighters (although he official was disqualified in his match against Okami for an illegal kick). Most people have seen the dismantling he performed on Rich Franklin at the UFC but his fight against Okami at Rumble on the Rocks is a bit more obscure. Here is a look at how Okami did against the Champ. I'm not too impressed.

ROTR Anderson Silva vs Yushin Okami

Sam Stout looks like Elvis...

...or at least the guy who played Elvis on the 2005 TV mini series. UFC fighter Sam Stout has an uncanny reseblence to Hollywood star Johnathan Rhys Meyers.

Fight Odds for UFC 72

Fight odds as provided by Gambler's Paradise.

"-" means that you would need to bet that much money in order to win $100. (a $185 bet on Rich Franklin will get you $100 if he wins)

"+" means that with a $100 bet you will win that amount. (a $100 bet on Yushin Okami will get you $145 if he wins)

RICH FRANKLIN -185 YUSHIN OKAMI +145

HECTOR RAMIREZ +160 FORREST GRIFFIN -210

RORY SINGER +175 JASON MACDONALD -225

CLAY GUIDA +155 TYSON GRIFFIN -205

JASON TAN +245 MARCUS DAVIS -370

EDDIE SANCHEZ -205 COLIN ROBINSON +155

SCOTT SMITH +115 ED HERMAN -145

DUSTIN HAZELETT -270 STEVIE LYNCH +210

UFC 72 Weak Fight Card

Tomorrow night, UFC 72 will be aired live from Belfast. The event has some big shoes to fill coming on the heels of an entertaining and quality Ultimate Fight Night 10. Overall, the fight card is weak. Really, Forrest Griffin as a headliner? Sure he's a fun fighter, but the guy has lost the last 2 out of 3 fights. Even a big win tomorrow still doesn't bring him close to a title shot, espeicailly with the new Pride blood coming into the mix.

UFC 72 Fight Card

Rich Franklin vs. Yushin Okami
Forrest Griffin vs. Hector Ramirez
Jason MacDonald vs. Rory Singer
Tyson Griffin vs. Clay Guida
Marcus Davis vs. Jason Tan
Ed Herman vs. Scott Smith
Colin Robinson vs. Eddie Sanchez
Dustin Hazelett vs. Stevie Lynch

Bas Rutten talks about Kimbo

First off, if you're not aware of Kimbo Slice he's one bad ass street fighter who has become famous from the video clips of his fights that have been floating around the Internet. They guy is about as intimidating as an human I've ever seen.
Bas Rutten has been training Kimbo for his first upcoming MMA fight against professional boxer Ray Mercer. Kimbo obviously has real talent as a heavy hitter and can take a punch, but how about his cardio? Well, here is what Bas recently had to say on a MMA forum about Kimbo:

OK guys, I have to say something here.

I am training Kimbo right now, and I have to say that he is one of the BEST fighters I have EVER trained. He really listens to you and does what you say, do you know how hard that it? If he's dead tired, and I tell him five more rounds, he looks at me, but doesn't say anything, he just does it. I entroduced him to the Bas Rutten MMA workout, he was SO tired, he told me that he has never been as tired. Today I was teaching him again, he asked me in the beginning "Are we ging to do the Bas Rutten workout?" But he said it in a crazy way, so I asked him "Do you want to do it?". He said "Please, yes!" I asked him why, because all my PROFESSIONAL fighters don't want to do it. He said "Bas, I want to conquer this thing, I want to do it!" Man, he gets, Lots, and losts of respect!

All the shit that people write about him, I am telling you, and I hope you know I don't lie, he's a trooper! I wish that all my fighters would be like him. Even my wife loves the guy. He is SO respectful and uses NO bad language in front of kids (my two little daughters love him, and they don't like anybody!), I am REALLY, blown away.

He really deserves this, I think this. Can a boxer be a MMA FIGHTER? We all know the answer, but can a street fighter be an MMA fighter? We all KNOW the answer to that!

I would wish that all my fighters were like him, like I said, I can put him through every workout I give him, he WILL do it, no questions asked.

I hope you guys meet Kimbo one day, you will be blown away. I just came back from an MMA event and I brought him there, just see how he is with the fans, it's crazy!

You also know that I would NEVER train an asshole, so trust me, but he's got me, Shawn Tompkins (who trained him longer than I have,) and Randy Kathami (boxing coach for my gym) respect. I REALLY love the guy.

El Guapo says: Party one and Godspeed!!

-In case you haven't seen this monster in action, check out the fight that put him on the map (not for the squemish)

kimbo