UFC veteran Din Thomas, who runs an American Top Team school in Port St. Lucie, Florida was arrested for allegedly hosting unsanctioned MMA fighting events at the training center.

Din Thomas has been charged with “felony prohibited competitions” charge.

Officers in plain clothes were at American Top Team Port St. Lucie on Tuesday, according to a warrant application filed by officer Brian Kenny stated:

“Once on scene I observed… a large caged octagon ring with two men inside fighting. There was a third male in the octagon acting as a referee. Around the octagon there were several people (approx. 150 men, women and minors) sitting and standing on make shift stands and chairs facing the octagon cheering while watching the two men fight. Both fighters wore gloves but did not have any protective headgear on. At the front door to the location there was a table with a small sign stating ‘$10.00 per person.’ Also located on the table was a roll of raffle tickets.”

Ordinarily, this wouldn’t surprise me, because Florida doesn’t allow amateur MMA matches in the state, so it’s common for schools to have “smokers”, which are MMA fights used to get amateurs accustomed to fighting in front of a crowd, but according to the police report Din Thomas said these fights were primarily sparring matches. However, officer Kenny stated that each match had timed rounds, a referee that determined a winner, and that he saw fighters using “punches and kicks to the body, face and head of their opponents.”

Well, I would certainly hope he saw punches and kicks to the body, face and head, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been an MMA fight and Din Thomas wouldn’t have been arrested.

It also brings to mind the recent episode of “Human Weapon” on the history channel, where Jason Chambers and Bill Duff both fought MMA fights at John McCarthy’s school, and McCarthy acted as referee and judge. I suppose the primary difference is that Din Thomas was charging admission to the event and admittedly didn’t have any medical personell present.

I think the fact he was charging $10 admission at the door is what is going to cause him the trouble, otherwise, there is nothing unusual about fighting at a fight school. It happens all the time.

Fans have known about plans for the fight for awhile now, and Wanderlei himself confirmed a fight with Chuck Liddell earlier this week, although UFC representatives stayed hushed about it. The UFC website even had an advertisement up temporarily a couple days ago that listed the fight for UFC 79, but was almost immediately taken down. I suppose Dana White wanted to save the announcement for tonight’s “Scream” awards show on Spike TV.

This fight will not be the main event for UFC 79, as that place is held for the welterweight championsip fight between Matt Hughes and Matt Serra.

Today the new M-1 Global organization held a press conference to announce it’s new owners and CEO Monte Cox. The buyers of the new fight organization are Sibling Sports, LLC, part of the Sibling Entertainment Group. Monte Cox is well known in the world of mixed martial arts as a fighter manager, representing 60 pro fighters, and has represented 7 UFC champions.

Later in the day, Fedor Emelianenko held a press conference to confirm he had indeed officially signed with M-1 Global as expected. As part of his contract, Fedor will be allowed to fight outside the organization, which could make for some interesting possibilities.

M-1 hasn’t signed a television deal yet, but is expected to soon, and when they do they will announce the date of their first MMA event. The company expects to have it’s first fights in February of 2008, and the fight card will include Fedor, but his opponent is not scheduled yet.

At the press conference, CEO Monte Cox said “We’re looking for the best opponents available, there’s a couple guys who we heard became free. I don’t know. It’s just a rumor.“

Of course he seems to be referring to UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture. Randy has said he did not retire, but only resigned from fighting for the UFC, however, UFC President Dana White disagrees and calls Randy’s departure a “retirement.”

Ok, so it sounds like Dana White has no plans of letting Randy Couture fight for another MMA organization, but with Fedor’s contract allowing him to fight for other companies, will the UFC reach deep enough into it’s pockets to make this fight happen?

Fedor himself was translated today as saying (about Randy Couture): “These days, he’s the strongest fighter, it would be an honor for me to fight him… whether it’s in cooperation with the UFC or not.”

Finally, later this week on Thursday, Randy Couture will hold a press conference himself to discuss and answer questions about his departure from the UFC. The press conference will take place at Randy’s Xtreme Couture Martial Arts in Las Vegas. Whether or not he mentions Fedor, nobody knows. One thing is for sure though, it will be interesting to hear what Randy has to say. Also, sign up on our MMA Forums and help get some conversation going!

This is my review of how I remember the fight:

This was the main event of UFC 77, and Rich came out looking more confident than he did in the first fight, looked like he was ready to stand with Silva, then Silva almost immediately went for the Thai clinch and it went like this: knees, knees, knee, kick, shin to ribs, knee to ribs, double knees, punches to face, Rich Franklin breaks free and is ready to slug it out some more… Another clinch, Rich Franklin gets a takedown!!!1! They’re back on their feet, Anderson Silva delivers more knees and punches, Rich is knocked out but saved by the bell at end of round 1, he is helped to walk to his corner.

Round 2 starts and goes like this: Anderson Silva lands knees, double knees, kicks to body, knees, knee to face, knee to ribs, punches in face, more knees, and Rich Franklin is asleep unconcious. Anderson Silva by KO again.

Will Rich Franklin be able to redeem himself? He says it’s going to be a totally different fight this time and that “it’s gonna be exciting.”

We’ll also see Brandon Vera tested again, will he pass the test of 6’8″ Tim Sylvia, former UFC heavyweight champion? And what will their place be among the heavyweights now with Randy Couture no longer holding the title?

First fight is Alan Belcher vs. Kalib Starnes, LOL at Belcher saying Starnes “fights like a girl.” Belcher owned Starnes in round 1 with Muay Thai, and the  fight was stopped after the 1st round because Starnes had a vagina-like cut on his forehead.

Now my <ahem> “Pay-Per-View” went out so I don’t know what’s up for the next fight.

Ok back now, just in time to see Stephan Bonnar pick up a TKO victory over Eric Shaffer and then forget the name of the club who is sponsoring and hosting his after-fight party.

Next up is Jorge Gurgel vs. Alvin Robinson, Gurgel got owned in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and lost a unanimous decision.

Joe Rogan interviewed Brock Lesnar who is now officially signed with the UFC. Randy Couture should’ve stuck around.

Now it’s time for Tim Sylvia vs. Brandon Vera. Quite a boring fight actually, 3 round unanimous decision for Tim Sylvia. Brandon Vera is sporting a broken hand, and landed three or four decent strikes, but nothing that really hurt Sylvia a lot. During Sylvia’s post-fight interview with Rogan, he called out Cheick Kongo for his next fight.

Brandon Vera = don’t believe the hype.

And now the main event is finished, Rich Franklin vs. Anderson Silva. Rich looked good coming into the fight, and he survived (barely) the first round before having the fight end much the same way as their first fight. KO by Anderson Silva via Muay Thai and an array of various strikes. Still the middleweight champion.

I think the fact that Bisping and Rashad are fighting already is ridiculous, I think Bisping should’ve been forced to fight Matt Hamill in November, but the UFC matchmakers obviously had a different opinion. I’m not a fan of Rashad Evans or Michael Bisping, and I’d like to see both of them get their first loss. However, I don’t believe either of them deserve a title shot yet, and I think Matt Hamill is getting screwed over. Again.

The “Telegraph” in the UK is reporting that Dana White said “Dana White, the UFC President, says that the winner will gain an automatic world light-heavweight title shot”

If this is true, the UFC needs new matchmakers. Both Rashad Evans and Michael Bisping need to be built up more before they get title shots.

from FrankShamrock.com

FRANK SHAMROCK ON RANDY COUTURE
Q&A with a Legend about a Legend

By Mary Van Note

MV:  It’s huge news all over the internet and I’d love to hear you weigh-in on the subject.
       Was this a smart move for Couture?

FS:  This was the smartest move that Randy Couture could have made at this point in his career.  At his age, and with the level of athletes growing in the sport, he was smart to get out.  Also with the UFC only focusing on their brand and not the talent, his growth was always limited in that show.

MV:  What other opportunities does he have to fight in MMA while not with Zuffa’s Pride or UFC?

FS:  Randy Couture is a movie star and a household name.  He is a martial artist of the highest caliber.   He has diversified into everything from books, movies, shavers, clothing lines, and other endorsements.  I don’t think he will ever fight again nor does he need to.

MV:  What do you know about his allegations that he was most likely not paid as well or as much as other top fighters like Silva and Lidell?

FS:  I am sure that they are true.  The UFC is only concerned about their brand, not the sport of MMA.  It took them years to realize that Randy was an American hero.  It took MMA about 5 minutes.

MV:  How does this affect MMA in general?  And specifically the brand of UFC?

FS:  It hurts the UFC big-time; more than when I left the sport as they have no stars in their shows now.  The last is Liddell and his life span is short.
MMA will be fine as the new fans don’t know about the sport or its history anyways.

MV:  Any chance you would fight Couture?

FS:  Would love to have him kick my butt.  I have trained with him many times and he is the real deal.

MV:  I see similarities with your career with Couture’s.  He left the UFC at the peak of his career for “hollywood.”  Any thoughts?

FS:  He is smart and the jig is up with the UFC.  The threats from Dana and his retarded business practices are catching up with the company.  The truth always comes out and there it is.  This sport is about the martial way not his way.

MV:  What is the future of MMA?
FS:  Frank Shamrock.

MV:  What is the UFC doing wrong… to lose their top talent?
FS:  “U Fight Cheap” is their moniker.  MMA is about the incredible people who do it, not the company that shows it.  Stars drive the sport, not Dana.  He is an idiot who should go back to managing a gym where he came from and quit messing up our beautiful art form.

Finally for all the new fans, do some research on MMA and the sport.  Don’t believe what they sell you on TV and PPV.  This sport is amazing with some real history that should be appreciated.  The UFC makes their own history up for money.  Don’t be a follower be a fanatic!

Check out the forum at: http://mma-extreme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=109

I want Ace Franklin to win this time also. Too bad I don’t see it happening.

…but seriously, I doubt Dana White is going to let Couture fight for another MMA organization without a legal battle, considering Randy supposedly still has 2 fights left on his contract with the UFC.

From what I’ve been reading, it sounds like Randy Couture is really badmouthing the UFC, likewise, Dana White is talking about “bitch slapping” Hollywood agents…LOL. Didn’t he just give a speech on this weeks episode of “The Ultimate Fighter” about stuff like that? Anyway, I’m not necessarily opposed to bitch slapping a Hollywood agent, I just think Dana White’s ego and constant foul mouth are a bit ridiculous.

But regardless, here is a picture of Dana White boxercising.

WOW.

Supposedly, one of the main reasons he resigned from the UFC is because they failed to sign Fedor Emelianenko to a contract.

This is unbelievable news, and if it’s true, it’s rather disappointing.

The news comes from The Fight Network, who reports that Randy Couture resigned from the UFC leaving two fights he was contracted for as well as his commentator job, and of course he also vacates his UFC heavyweight championship.

The website is quoted as saying:

In South Africa shooting scenes for his lead role in the upcoming feature film “The Scorpion King – Rise of the Akkadian,” Couture made the announcement official in a letter to UFC president Dana White. The UFC’s inability to land PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko played a prominent role in the decision to walk away, according to Couture.

“I appreciate this opportunity the sport of MMA and the UFC has given me,” the UFC Hall-of-Famer said. “However, I’m tired of swimming upstream at this stage with the management of the UFC. It only makes sense at this point in my career to fight Fedor Emelianenko, and since he’s now signed with another organization, I feel like it’s time to resign and focus on my other endeavors.”

I’m still not sure I believe it. Until I see an interview with Randy Couture himself, it will be hard to believe. Also, if it’s true, Randy should figure out a way to fight Fedor in another organization.

…and in doing so let down a legion of MMA internet forum nerds across the world. It almost appeared as if Dorian Price was going to steal the spotlight from Blake during this episode by going apeshit on the camera crew, but fortunately Dorian was somewhat restrained and just let off with a warning from Dana White. Dorian Price then informs us that Dana White has love from the black community.

So yeah, I was already thinking Blake should have choked out Dorian just for taking up too much airtime on his episode.

Bowman entered the cage a lot taller than Richie Hightower, and was sporting an epic bird-chest. Blake was winning the first few moments of the fight by landing some decent strikes and a couple of good knees before clinching and ending up against the fence. From there, Hightower started throwing some uppercuts, but Blizake Bowman was blocking most of the fairly good. I think at this point Blake threw some more knee attempts and had Richie Hightower backing up, and when Blake came back down, his knee buckled and Hightower jumped on him, Bowman went fetal and was avoiding most of the punches, but ultimately wasn’t able to defend or regain any kind of good position, so the referee stopped the fight.

Richie Hightower by TKO.

-1 for Blake Bowman, although +1 for him staying in the house and provinding comic relief, perhaps he’ll be able to fight again, maybe at the TUF Finale in December? 

Oh yeah, and also on this episode we got to hear Mac Danzig call Richie Hightower a “turd” and ridicule him quite a bit (not to his face of course). However, next week it appears as though we get to hear Mac Danzig start insulting Blake Bowman by calling him a ”skinny hick from Georgia” (or something similar to that). Classy.

Molested, shot, stabbed, suicide attempts, etc…

What a shame, CFFC has been cancelled. I actually lost confidence in CFFC during their last event which had Kimbo vs. Ray Mercer as the main event, but that pay-per-view event was also garbage, it wasn’t available on most TV’s in the world. I had to resort to finding it after the fight was over when a friend emailed me the video.

So I can’t say I’m surprised that this fight has been cancelled, but I’m disappointed. Although I suspect this fight would’ve resulted in a similar outcome as the Ray Mercer fight. I think Kimbo would eventually take Tank to the ground and submit him. But it woulda been nice to see Tank knock Kimbo out.

This show looks like it’s going to be phenomenal. I think it’s a bunch of dudes travelling to different continents to fight native tribes. The previews show stick fights, grappling, etc… I believe it might be considered “extreme sports” because some of it looks like it may not be full-on fighting, but some kind of sport involved. Like maybe Croquet, except you get to hit the guy in the face with the stick.

I didn’t write about last weeks “Human Weapon” but it was great also, an MMA episode where the big dude fought a fat Rico Rodriguez to a draw in his first MMA fight, and the smaller dude (Jason Chambers) submitted Conor Heun with an Eddie Bravo Twister, that was nice.