Archive for January, 2012

McKee and Cobb officially released from MFC, Haddad also cut for missing weight. Here’s the MFC release

MFC Staff
The Maximum Fighting Championship has released Antonio McKee , Brian Cobb, and James Haddad from their contracts
McKee and Cobb were both slated to compete for the MFC lightweight title at MFC 32: Bitter Rivals on Jan. 27, but both fighters came in over the contract weight at the official weigh-in – defending champ McKee by seven pounds and challenger Cobb by one-half pound.
“I was thoroughly disgusted by the lack of professionalism that Antonio McKee showed towards the belt  he was scheduled to defend as well as the Maximum Fighting Championship as a organization,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.
“It was unacceptable behavior for a champion to demonstrate. On top of that, Antonio never really apologized for missing weight that badly. That was the end of things for him with the MFC. That’s why he was stripped of his belt immediately and told that he would never fight in the MFC again. I hope it’s a message to all the other fighters in the MFC.”
Cobb, who was coming off a win over Drew Fickett at MFC 30, lost a narrow decision to McKee at MFC 32.
“It’s disappointing to have to release Brian as he is a tremendous character person,” added Pavelich. “Everyone in the MFC has a great deal of respect and admiration for Brian, but unfortunately he admitted to making an error in preparing for the weigh-in and was over the limit. For a title fight that is a big mistake.”
Haddad, who lost via decision to Dan Ring at MFC 32, was over by two pounds for his lightweight bout.




Again, our man Jordan Cieciwa breaks down tonight’s MFC 32:Bitter Rivals for us.

Here it is Folks, a prediction blog designed to get you more than excited.  MFC 32 Bitter Rivals.  I have been waiting for this card for 2 solid months.  In fact, the second Mark Pavelich announced this bad boy I called him and booked him for my Radio Show on TSN 1290.  Headlined by Wilson Gouveia vs  Dwanye Lewis, this card will be one for the ages.
Here is how it plays out, well at least 4 of the fights I want to see.
First is Diego Bautista vs Ryan McGilvary.  You want explosive welter weights, watch this fight.  Diego has won his last 7 fights convincingly.  3 of those by choke, 1 TKO, and one very very clean KO.  Diego has a lot of hype behind him.  He has a solid all around game, and comes in ready for a war.  Why does that matter? Because we the fans what guys like Bautista in the MFC ring.  He will bring a solid show.  Now flip to the other side of the ring.  Ryan McGilvary brings all the same game, with more experience, and the hometown.  What does hometown me to fighters? Same thing it means to all the other athletes in the world.  GIRLS TO IMPRESS.  I am kidding, but with family and friends in the audience that extra little bit in the tank comes out.  Ryan has a 10 fights in the MFC, he will have the comfort to bring his game.  His game seems to tend more to the submission world.  So if Ryan can score the take down, and keep his adrenaline under control we are in for a show.  My money is on the Veteran, Ryan McGilvary.  Expect to see a first round that is on the feet, Diego will take the points on that round.  Round 2 will go to the ground and finish with McGilvary taking the points.  Round 3 will end half way through with McGilvary finding and taking home a solid submission win.
After  a solid Welter Weight fight what do you want to see?  How about another even more explosive Welter Weight Fight.  I have been waiting to see Dheigo Lima vs Bruno Carvalho with baited breath since they announced this one.  In fact, this is the fight to watch.  Bruno Carvalho has the skill to take this one either on the mat or standing.  He can definitely make this fight exciting, as he has done in all of his 18 fights.  He is coming in off a loss, that loss ended an 8 fight win streak.  Why did he have an 8 fight win streak going? Because he is really good at fighting.  With that said, he is coming in to fight Dheigo Lima.  Dheigo is right in the middle of a monster hype machine.  He has the talent to back it all up, and right now people in the MMA world are talking about him.  Why not, he has 6 fights and 6 wins.  Of those 6 wins, none went to decision.  That’s right fight fans, Dheigo Lima ends fights.  That’s the reason Mark Pavelich tossed him in the Ring with Bruno Carvalho.  Before the hype machine gets going on full speed, we are going to see Dheigo tested.  My prediction on this fight is a quick Dheigo TKO due to punches.  He has had enough time to work hard on sharpening those already impressive skills.  From what I can see, and what I hear in the fight world, he is coming in to this fight to make sure he makes big money for the rest of his career.  To do that, you have to be fight of the night potential.  Expect Dheigo to enter the MFC ring with bad intentions and the skill to end this one quick.
So once Dheigo has impressed the MMA world, we get to see the light weights go at it.  Brian Cobb vs Antonio McKee.  This is no typo combined age is 70 for these two fighters.  Antonio has the MFC light weight belt and that means the always impressive Brian Cobb has to win if he wants it.  Brian has the skill, and he has proved it with a 4 fight win streak.  His last win was against a very talented Drew Fickett.  The problem Cobb is going to have is that McKee has the wrestling skill to minimize the threat of submission.  Antonio always comes to fight, and he comes as fit as anyone in the MMA game.  I would love to see Cobb win this, but I don’t think he will be able to get around the wrestling of McKee. Expect this to go the distance, and McKee will win on points.
The Main Event of the MFC card has my favorite weight classes going at it.  Light Heavy Weight division always has the best fights.  Athletic, fit, and talented.  Power in the punches to end it quick, and the speed and agility to make the ground game interesting.  This Light Heavy Weight bout has Wilson Gouveia vs Dwayne Lewis.  Gouveia has been around the MMA game a long time,  and has fought some of the best.  He has lost close battles with top talent, and he has won some real barn burners.  Most of his big wins have come from submissions.  Wilson finishes fights, and that’s what promises to make this a great fight.  Of his 12 wins, only 1 is a decision.  Dwayne has a similar record, of his 12 wins only 2 have been by decision.  Dwayne doesn’t have the impressive resume like Wilson, but he does have the home town advantage.  Lewis also has a very heavy hand, which means any mistake from Gouveia and this one ends quick!  I really think that Wilson Gouveia takes this on the ground in the 4th(that’s right this one promises to be a 5 rounder).  His submission skills and the fact that he has been in with top talent gives him the edge.  This will be a fun one to watch knowing that at any minute a heavy right hand from D-Bomb can end this one.
Big thanks to Mark Pavelich and the whole MFC family.  This card promises to make Friday night very exciting.  Yet another great card from a top organization in MMA.  Did I mention, it’s in a ring?  I can’t wait for MFC 32 bitter rivals!

This piece of food for thought comes compliments of MMA writer/broadcaster Jordan Cieciwa of Winnipeg. Stay tuned for more from Jordan in the near future.

Is anyone else out there a little heart broken that Mark Munoz has been replaced by Mike Bisping?  In case you have missed it, Mark Munoz was set to face Chael Sonnen.  A match that I think the quiet and soft spoken Munoz would have won.  I had the pleasure of meeting and training with Mark when I filmed a feature in March’s UFC magazine.  Mark is an amazing coach, awesome family man, and a fantastic role model.  Chael Sonnen is not.  What does that matter, absolutely nothing, it’s a fight.
Mark has already had his surgery and is on the road to recovery.  With a solid team around him at Reign training center, he will back in no time.  Which is good, because someone has to beat Chael, and then Anderson Silva.  If it was up to me, and Joe Silva if you are reading, I would have put Chael against Dan Henderson.  Why? My thought is that Dan beats Chael, then gets his shot at Anderson… again.  I want Danny to go in the Octagon and run wild on the Spider.   No offense to Anderson Silva, he is one of the most impressive fighters ever.  He doesn’t lose because he is really just that good.  So there you have it Anderson Silva is good, Dan can beat him, but he has to get through Chael first.
Wait, I am missing a step.  Chael has to beat Michael Bisping first… currently laughing a little that I even wrote that.  All though, I would love to see a UFC 100 all over again.  I was up at Dan’s ranch after that fight, we ate Mako Shark and laughed a lot about how good it was to “Knock out a Deuche bag”.  So the Count doesn’t really get to be a factor in my Chael, Anderson, Henderson story.  He gets to be the comic relief.  With that said, he is really improving his stand up and working with the right people.  He will have an awesome career… He just isn’t quite ready for the league he stepped in with Chael.  Although, I would love to see what Anderson would do with him.  IE Leben and Forrest Griffin.
So the reason I went down that path was Mark Munoz.  I was excited to see how he did with the high level competition.  It would have been by far his best test.  I personally think he would have been more than ready for the challenge, but so would Chael.  Who wins a battle when class and sportsmanship don’t matter? Tough to say, would have been a great match.  It’s going to be fun watching another great wrestler plant a solid shot on Bisping.

Whatever the outcome, I wish Mark Munoz the fastest and most complete recovery possible.  The sport needs him.  He is a fantastic role model in any sport.  I also want to say it one more time.  Dan Henderson vs Anderson Silva.  Someone make it happen… preferably before Danny turns 50. Tick Tick Tick.

Embarrassing, unprofessional and, quite honestly, unexpected.
Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson made a big deal about being bigger and stronger now that he was leaving the 170 lbs.-class to fight at 185 lbs.
He talked about how much easier it was to keep a smile on his face during fight week knowing he didn’t have to cut as much weight.
He joked about sneaking in a gummy bear or two.
It now looks like Johnson may have sneaked in a few too many gummy bears prior to his co-main event battle against Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort at UFC 142.
When the fighters hit the scales Friday, Johnson weighed 197 lbs.
UFC rules state that fighters are allowed to come in one pound over the allowable weight limit and those that are close, are given an extra hour to make weight.
With no chance of him shedding a full 13 lbs. in the allotted time, Johnson will forfeit 20% of his purse to Belfort and can’t weigh any more than 205 lbs. on fight day.
Belfort, came in at the allowable limit of 186 lbs.
Earlier in the week, Johnson had spoken quite boldly about his plans in the 185 lbs. class.
He said having the extra weight on his frame was a welcome change.
“At 170, I guess you can say I looked like ‘Skeletor.’ At middleweight, I guess you should call me ‘Big Foot,’” said the 27-year-old.
“The move to middleweight has been great so far. I’m still eating healthy and getting my body ready. I mean, I still eat my gummy bears from time to time.”
The 6-ft-2 former welterweight has an impressive 10-3 record with 70% of his wins coming by (T)KO.
The Georgia-born fighter now trains one state down in Florida with a stellar cast of training partners.
“I train with (former light heavyweight champ) Rashad Evans every single day,” says Johnson.
“He’s the guy I train with the most. It’s helped me a lot. Then, I’m working with guys like (kickboxing champion) Tyrone Spong and (former UFC contender) Jorge Santiago. It’s been the best thing for my career. The training down there has really helped me become a better fighter.”
He says he is fully aware of Belfort’s arsenal.
“It’s always interesting fighting a jiu-jitsu black belt, but we don’t fight in gis in UFC anymore,” says Johnson.
“You can’t judge a black belt in the cage until the punches start flying.”
Johnson seriously sullied his chances at being taken seriously as a middleweight.
Earlier, he said he planned to begin a rise up the ranks with Belfort.
“Vitor has done a lot in this sport, but I’m not thinking about that,” he said.
“I’m thinking about beating this guy up.”
UFC 142 goes Jan. 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro and also features a featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
London Ont.’s Sam Stout will take on Thiago Tavares in a preliminary fight.
The event is available in Canada on pay-per-view.
jose.rodriguez@sunmedia.ca <mailto:jose.rodriguez@sunmedia.ca>
twitter: @joser403