AWESOME. It’s been more than 13 years since the UFC put on an event in Japan. They’re hoping to use Saitama Super Arena, the famous home of the legendary Pride Fighting Championships. Now if they’d allow old Pride rules, such as soccer kicks and head stomps, that would be GREAT.

GREAT article about two of my favorites.

By Jonathan Snowden

Royce Gracie was a legend of the sport, seemingly unbeatable. In 2000, after five years on the sideline, he returned to mixed martial arts to battle the world’s best. Could Kazushi Sakuraba, a pro wrestling jokester and undercard standout, possibly compete with the mythic Gracie? The answer to that question changed MMA history forever.

READ MORE via 52 Things I Love About MMA: Kazushi Sakuraba And Royce Gracie Make History – SBNation.com.

I have nothing against Kimbo Slice, but I would love to see James Thompson run right out and smash Kimbo in this fight. However, I don’t think that is going to happen. Both fighters are exciting to watch, I predict James Thompson will rush out and try to trade punches with Kimbo, and inevitably Kimbo will connect on Thompson’s chin, ending the fight. I bet the staredown will be tremendous, though. In the meantime, here is video of James Thompson’s epic fight with Don Frye in Pride. Also, sign up on our MMA forums, we need new conversation and MMA expert fans.

This should be a great event. I’m watching Dream III right now. I’ll do Play-By-Play as long as I’m awake and feeling like it. Maybe Jason Miller will have an awesome ring entrance. Also, it has the old PrideFC lady announcer with an awesome voice. I’m hoping to Nick Diaz, Jason Miller, Kawajiri, and Caol Uno win their fights. I also think I’d like to see Eddie Alvarez get a win. Wanna say something? Sign up on our MMA Forum and start a conversation!

1. Shoji Maruyama vs. Takeshi Yamazaki
   Round One: Some ground n pound (mostly slapping) from Yamazaki in round one. Bas saw some liver shots. He mentioned the Liver Shot drinking game. Every time he says “liver” someone should take a drink. Shoji Maruyama has some decent defense, and he hits back once in a while. They’re back on their feet and Shoji Maruyama takes down Yamazaki now and kneed him in the face, but now it was reversed again and Yamazaki is back in side control, and now full mount. Wow, now a strong reversal by Maruyama and he’s on top in Yamazakis guard, Shoji hits hard and they’re back on their feet for now. Yamazaki is holding Shoji in the corner and hoping to take the fight back down to the mat, and he is successful, now in Shoji Maruyama’s half guard. The referee drags them to the middle of the ring. Back to their feet for a second and Maruyama lands a nasty knee to the body (or as Bas Rutten says again, the liver). Dude that round ended nicely, Maruyama ended up in an armbar somehow and fought his way out of it, his arm looked like it would be over but he escaped. Bas said “no beer drinking with the left arm tonight.” — Round 1 is over.Round 2: starts and Shoji Maruyama goes for a flying knee but misses. He is now in Yamazaki’s half guard and looking for strikes but lets Yamazaki reverse, and now Yamazaki is in Shoji’s half guard. Yamazaki is took a kick to the face, and is taking several punches to the face in an attempt to score a takedown by clinching with Shoji. As the fight ends, Yamazaki scored some good takedowns and a good submission attempt, but ate alot of hard strikes from Maruyama. The judges score the fight with Yamazaki as the winner.
2. Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. Katsuyori Shibata
   Round 1: Jason Miller comes out showcasing his breakdancing skills. I think he already used up alot of his cardio during the ring entrance. he came out with a fat gold chain and hip hop style. The dude he’s fighting is wearing Dan Severn’s underwear. Jason Miller begins the fight in a karate stance, and at one point while in full mount lands a mongolian chop with a KIA sound I think. Also, HOLY SHIT this fight is brutal. Jason Mayhem Miller just totally destroyed homeboy. I even heard Shibata groan in pain after a few of the strikes. The dude’s face took a severe beating via hard knees and undefended punches, and Shibata wouldn’t tap out or be knocked out. I felt sorry for Shibata, it was painful to watch. The referee finally stepped in and stopped the fight (TKO) in round 1. Mayhem Miller spoke after the fight and said in Japanese “I am a demon, I am a ghost, I am a Super Monkey”.
3. Melvin Manhoef vs. Dae Won Kim
   Round 1: Dae Won Kim presses the action against Manhoef and and looks for a takedown. The ref breaks it up and theyre on their feet. Manhoef throws blows but gets knocked upside the dome by a right hand from Dae Won Kim. Manhoef eats some more punches and ends up on the ground and gets mounted. Manhoef escapes and gets side control. OUCH a hard knee to the head of Kim. Follwed by hammerfists, the referee stops the fights at 4:08 of round 1. Melvin Manhoef winner.

**I’m starting to get sleepy. It’s nearly 5am here. I might lay off the PBP for now and just sit back and watch the fights until I fall asleep.

4. Daisuke Nakamura vs. Bu Kyung Jung
   Round 1: Jujitsu, dawg. Chess. This fight will probably go to a decision. These dudes are working hard, going for all kinds of armbars and submissions, sweet takedowns, leglocks and stuff, i’m sleepy, kick to da face. side control.
   Round 2: More of the same, but wow, the fight ended by KO, Nakamura is the winner by punch upside the chin.
5. Nick Diaz vs. Katsuya Inoue
   Round 1: I wonder if Nick Diaz is able to score weed in Japan? Inoue says he’s going to beat Diaz with Ground ‘n Pound. Nick Diaz is wearing an EliteXC shirt to the ring. THE FIGHT STARTS, fast paced, a lot of punching and kicking from Nick Diaz, although he does get hit himself at times. Inoue is bleeding from his nose now. Nick Diaz is liking to throw body shots tonight, and it’s working for him. Ouch, he just nailed homeboy with 5 or 6 good shots to the body. Now he is on top in a weak Inoue half-guard, and Diaz is throwing blows down. Back to their feet now and against the ropes. Referee breaks them up for the doctors to look at Inoue’s nose. Action continues and they start hitting each other again. Back against the rops and now this is weird, Inoue was doing a handstand while Nick Diaz held his feet in a wheel-barrow position. The ref just handed a penalty out for something, I have no idea what. These dudes are slugging again now. Diaz got nailed by some punches but I think he’s OK. Nick Diaz continues to go for body shots. A lot. Uh oh now he’s landing shots to Inoue’s head and it looks like the fight is almost over. Inoue is out on his feet and getting tagged over and over. This is target practice for Nick Diaz now. Here comes the towel. Inoue’s corner threw in the towel.
6. Luiz Firmino vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
   Kawajiri by decision
7. Eddie Alvarez vs. Joachim Hansen
   Round 1: The fighters are just kinda feeling each others gameplans out right now, Eddie Alvarez lands a good low kick and a right hand, uh oh Joachim Hansen hits the mat. He seems to be ok and pulls guard, looking for a submission, gogoplata? Alvarez is back to his feet. More punches, Hansen tries a takedown unsuccessfully, he seems to be punching well now. Hansen pulls guard for a second but both fighters are standing up agai, Hansen got hit again with the right hand! Hitting each other in the body now. Eddie Alvarez has a bloody nose, another good right hand from Alvarez to the body of Hansen.. both dudes are hitting each other now and Alvarez gets another takedown, hetakes an upkick from Hansen, Hansen lands a straight left hand to Alvarez jawpiece, more punches are traded and Joachim Hansen actually looks to be in better shape right now.
   Round 2: Joachim Hansen lands a knee to the body and trips Eddie Alvarez to the mat. Eddie gets back to his feet but is stuck in a guillotine. He’s out of the choke but Hansen is looking for armbars and submissions from his guard. Damn Eddie Alvarez’ arm is bending he might be in trouble, he escapes though. Joachim Hansen still trying submissions. They’re back to their feet, Eddie Alvarez pushes Hansen against the ropes and tries for a takedown. BIG right hand from Eddie Alvarez at the end of the fight. This is a tough one to call, Eddie Alvarez clearly got the best strikes though. The ringside judges give Eddie Alvarez a unanimous decision victory, even though Joachim Hansen won round 2.
8. Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Caol Uno
   Caol Uno by submission (Rear Naked Choke)

Russow eyes biggest test in debut of Adrenaline MMA

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — As a Chicago policeman, Mike Russow has become accustomed to dangerous situations.

So, it is understandable when Russow only smiles and refers to fighting veteran Jeff Monson in a professional mixed martial arts bout as a “great opportunity.” Russow, 9-1 in his pro career, takes on Monson, 23-7, in the heavyweight main event of Adrenaline MMA on June 14 at the Sears Centre.

A total of 13 pro bouts are scheduled in the inaugural Adrenaline event. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and fights begin at 6 p.m.

“Monson is far more than just a veteran,” said Adrenaline CEO Monte Cox. “He has fought in every major event in the world and competed for countless titles, including the UFC heavyweight title. He comes into the event having won 18 of his last 20 bouts and is looking to prove Russow is not yet ready for the big time.

“Russow, on the other hand, has been crushing opposition and has been tested twice in major events… losing to then No. 6 ranked Sergei Kharitonov in Pride, then crushing Roman Zentzov in Japan’s Yarennoka event last New Years Eve. He’s ready to show he should be considered among the world’s best.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Sears Centre Box Office, online at www.searscentre.com or by calling 1-888-SEARSTIX.

A foursome of UFC veterans make up the two feature bouts. Chicago’s Terry Martin (16-4) will face Japan’s Daiju Takase (7-11) while Chicago’s Brian Gassaway (25-17) takes on Las Vegas’ Tony Fryklund (14-9).

Martin is a knockout artist, but will need to be cautious of the submission ability of Takase, who owns wins over UFC champion Anderson Silva and former UFC champ Carlos Newton.

Gassaway and Fryklund are two of the sport’s true veterans and both prefer the standup game, which should make for an exciting bout.

The International Fight League has allowed two of its standouts with Chicago ties — Bart Palaszewski and Mark Miller — to compete on the card as well as Zac George. And EliteXC provided striker Aaron Rosa and all-around standout Hector Urbina.

Other Chicago area fighters include Rory Markham, Herc Hayes, Kerry Schall, Clay French, Mike Stumpf, Ryan Williams and John Hosman.

For more about Adrenaline MMA, check out their website at: www.adrenaline-mma.com.

This was posted on our MMA Forum, and I thought it was good enough to be on the front page. Great highlight video of various fights from PRIDE‘s “Ref Cam” view.

Mirko CroCop annouced today at a press conference in Japan that he has resigned from the UFC and joined a new fight organization called DREAM. It is said that his first fight with the new organization will be on March 15 in Japan.

The company behind the new fight promotion is the Fight Entertainment Group, which is the also the company behind K-1, and employs former executives of extinct PRIDE Fighting Championships, which was sold to the UFC last year.

Mirko has had a tough time in the UFC, losing two out of three fights. This gave new arguments to the “Pride vs. UFC” debates that had been raging for years.

This new DREAM company also announced a few other big name fighters that will be part of the organization, including Shinya Aoki, who will fight Gesias “JZ” Calvancante at the March 15 event. Other popular MMA fighters competing for the company are rumored to be Kazushi Sakuraba and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt and veteran PrideFC fighter, Ryan Gracie has long had troubles with the law. It seems as if those troubles are over now, as he was found dead in his jail cell according to GracieMag.com.

Ryan Gracie was grandson to Carlos Gracie, one of the original founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When Ryan Gracie fought for PrideFC in Japan, he was billed as the “bad boy of the Gracie family” because of his reputation for getting into trouble.

MMA-Extreme.com

Supposedly, Ryan has been arrested before for various troubles, and was recently arrested for stealing an automobile (carjacking) and injuring a 77 year old man. He was later found dead in his prison cell.

From the GracieMag website:

News to make the fighting world tremble. According to news carried by Globo TV, the black belt Ryan Gracie was found dead in the cell where he was being held at a police station in Sao Paulo after having been accused of car theft yesterday in the city of Sao Paulo. According to the Sao Paulo State Secretariat of Public Security, Ryan was alone in the cell.

GRACIEMAG.com sympathizes with the Gracie family and should be back shortly with further information as to Ryan’s death.

10:24

According to the G1 news website:

“Ryan was sent to the 91st PD, after having toxicology exams done at the central IML at around 2:30 am. He arrived at the police station in Vila Leopoldina at 3 am. According to the officer on call of the 15th Police District police officer Daniella Ranna, where the athlete’s case was registered for having tried to steal a motorcycle, he was sent to the 91st DP because it is a traffic station. From there, he would have been seen to the “most recommendable” location.

According to the Secretariat, at around 7am, when policemen at the station were checking the cells with their detainees, they found the fighter fallen in a corner. They entered and confirmed that he was dead. At around 10 am, coroners were already at the location to do the necessary exams and send the body to the institute.

The UFC and Pride Light Heavyweight Belts are now unified, both belong to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson after he defeated Dan Henderson by unanimous decision after a 5 round battle at UFC 75 that saw both land some good punches and score a few takedowns, but ultimately Rampage got the best of Dan Henderson.

The guy LeBanner is fighting is Nicholas Pettas

Oh well, I didn’t 100% expect it to happen anyway. I dont think Wanderlei Silva is the same fighter he once was, plus he would have to be roid-free to fight for the UFC. Well, I guess he would, unless his piss test didn’t show up until after the fight.

Anyway, UFC president Dana White said Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva will not be fighting Septempber 22 in Anaheim, California. He also told Yahoo!’s Kevin Iole that the fight between the former champions would probably never happen now.

Dana White is quoted as saying “I have done everything in my power I could do over the last six years to make this fight and it’s still not happening, I just don’t see it happening now.”

According to Dana White, he was informed by someone representing Silva that he didn’t want to fight Chuck Liddell. I believe it, too.

Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva has been a fantasy match-up for MMA fans for a long time, but if it ever happens, I have a feeling Silva will be just a fragment of what he once was, and Chuck Liddell is not getting any younger either, although I suspect he’ll be around the sport a lot longer than Wanderlei Silva. Whether or not Chuck Liddell will still fight in September has not been decided.

Discuss Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva on our new MMA Forum!

This is HUGE news. This year is definitely shaping up to be the biggest breakout year that MMA has ever seen. Zuffa reportedly bought Pride for just under $70 million.

“We have been talking to Pride for probably about 11 months,” Lorenzo Fertitta (co-owner of Zuffa, UFC) said. “It’s been a long, drawn out process but we finally we were able to put the two brands together.”

The Fertitta brothers created a new company named Pride FC Worldwide Holdings LLC. The new company will take over the old Pride assets, including trademarks, video library and roster of high profile fighters, from Dream Stage Entertainment.

The sport of MMA belongs to the UFC now. Sure, there are a couple of start-up organizations that seem really interesting, but UFC is setting the standard right now. This is just the latest in a series of acquisitions by Zuffa. They already bought World Extreme Cagefighting and World Fighting Alliance last year.

I believe MMA is destined to be the world’s most popular sport in the future.

I think this may be a tough fight tonight for Nick Diaz, and I have nothing against Gomi, I just want to see Nick Diaz win. Diaz is more entertaining to me, his smart-ass attitude is a plus.

I also would like to see Dan Henderson win his fight against Wanderlei Silva. Hopefully this will be another war.