Sydney�s Luna Park is no doubt more accustomed to playing host to hyperactive,...
Paulo Filho Mirko Cro Cop Filipović Luiz Buscapé Firmino Spencer Fisher Jon Fitch Kenny Florian
Monday, 28 March 2011
Lombard Scalps Doerksen To Retain Title Belt At CFC 16 Sydney
Image: http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/188579_10150177641620915_18411220914_8842203_3497071_n.jpg
Sydney�s Luna Park is no doubt more accustomed to playing host to hyperactive,...
Sydney�s Luna Park is no doubt more accustomed to playing host to hyperactive,...
Mariah Carey Shows Off Her Butterfly Bump
Mariah Carey took to Twitter Monday afternoon (March 28) to share a new pic of her growing belly.
The expectant songstress posted a photo of her beautifully painted belly, boasting a colourful butterfly and the text ?dem babies? above.
Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/03/28/mariah-carey-shows-off-her-butterfly-bump
Amerie Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi
5 Reasons To Watch M-1 Challenge 24: ?Damkovsky vs. Figueroa?
Today, March 25, 2011, M-1 Global will hold its ?M-1 Challenge 24? event, featuring a main event for the Lightweight Championship and a co-main event for the vacant Middleweight Championship. Also, this will be the first event M-1 Global holds in conjunction with their new television home, the Showtime network. Still, some fans may be [...]
Mauro Galvao Arman Gambaryan Manvel Gamburyan Sean Gannon Edgar Garcia Leonard Garcia
Shanna Moakler Resigns From Miss California Pageant
Donald Trump announced yesterday that Carrie Prejean would be allowed to keep her crown as Miss California despite the semi-nude photos that have surfaced. Today, Miss California Pageant Director Shanna Moakler has resigned her post.
'Since the press conference yesterday, I had a chance to think about what has taken place, and I feel that at this time it is in my best interest to resign from the Miss California USA organization,' Moakler tells Us.
'I cannot with a clear conscious move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer believe in it, or the contracts I signed committing myself as a youth,' she continues. 'I want to be a role model for young woman with high hopes of pageantry, but now feel it more important to be a role model for my children. I am sorry and hope I have not let any young supporters down but wish them the best of luck in fulfilling their dreams.' "
Meanwhile, Katie Rees, who was stripped of her crown as Miss Nevada because of nude photos in 2006, is complaining of a "huge double standard."
'Semi-nude photos are semi-nude photos,' she told E! News.
'I don't know why I am the only one who was punished for their behavior,' she said. 'I was only 19 when those photos were taken of me, and it was me in my personal life, far before I was crowned Miss Nevada. Carrie actually posed for these professional semi-nude photos.
'I think that's worse.' "
And the saga continues...
Photos by Wenn.com
Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2009/05/13/shanna-moakler-resigns-from-miss-california-pageant/
Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido
Dan Miller Pre Fight vs Nate Maruardt - UFC 128
Dan Miller gets ready to take on Nate Marquardt at UFC 128.Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc-128/dan-miller-pre-fight-vs-nate-maruardt-video_67fab4b53.html
David Baron Phil Baroni Don Barr Pat Barry Vitor Belfort Robert Berry
Roundup: Soundgarden, Jane?s Addiction, Gomez, Plain White T?s?
Today’s roundup gets you psyched for upcoming albums and performances from a variety of different acts. Whether you dig the unbearably badass art-metal of Jane’s Addiction or the generally unbearable Plain White T’s, we’ve got a list of shows and sounds to look forward to in the near future. While they prepare for a spring [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/1vJpikrQG-Q/
China Chow Chloë Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian
Phil Davis Beats Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 24
Filed under: UFC
In a battle of youth and athleticism against experience and technique, the youngster Phil Davis defeated the legendary Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 24.But it wasn't easy.
Although Davis came into the fight as a heavy favorite and had been proclaimed by some as the man who would some day beat UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Nogueira made life difficult for Davis in the early going, and the fight turned into a 15-minute, back-and-forth battle that was closer than the judges' scorecards -- all of which gave Davis the fight 30-27 -- would suggest.
Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah Terrance Aflague
Nate Dogg Remembered With 'Positive Energy' At L.A. DUB Show
Singer's son helps DJ Quik celebrate Nate during car show and concert.
By Rahman Dukes
Nate Dogg
Photo: Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The spirit and music of hip-hop hook messiah Nathaniel "Nate Dogg" Hale was alive and strong at the 2011 DUB car show and concert on Sunday at Los Angeles Convention Center. Thousands of fans flocked to the trendy downtown district to catch a glimpse of the city's elite toys, brought out by automobile connoisseurs as well as a number of high-profile rappers, including Lupe Fiasco, the Game, Lazy Bone and Waka Flocka Flame.
The show took place the day after the funeral for Nate Dogg, who died two weeks ago following complications of two strokes. And though it wasn't an official memorial to the Long Beach singer, his music was celebrated during friend DJ Quik's set. The producer introduced Nate's son Nigel for a performance of his dad's smash record "Regulate."
"It's just a lot of positive energy in there, man," said Power 106 radio host Big Boy, who also spoke at Nate's funeral. "Of course, yesterday it was Nate's memorial service and that was Nate's 15-year-old son right there. It's paying homage, man. We shared Nate Dogg with everyone around the world, so it's definitely up to us to make sure that we honor him. He opened up a lot of doors, man; he gave the world a lot of music. He loved where he was from and we loved him. It's like our honor and duty to make sure that we continue to honor him."
Snoop Dogg's longtime mentor, Archbishop Don Magic Juan, also reflected on Nate Dogg's legacy. "One thing about it is, we gonna miss our hook man," Bishop said. "But we know he up in glory, doing some hooks for the lord. He gonna be at a better place. So we're thankful that we had the time to enjoy with Nate. That's what we should remember, the time with Nate. Not the time that he's gone. We gonna continue to uplift him. He gonna continue to live, not only in music but in our spirits. Snoop Dogg fainted at the funeral, right by his casket, but we can understand that 'cause that's what they call a real homeboy."
While Nate's passing was a consistent theme highlighted by patrons — some wore "R.I.P. Nate Dogg" shirts, and his music blared throughout the convention center — another West Coast legend was also remembered at the car show.
"We came out here to honor Eazy-E and his legendary legacy," said Bone Thugs N Harmony's Lazy Bone. "[I] came out here for Eazy-E, Nate Dogg and everybody just to tell them, 'Rest in peace.' It's been 16 years yesterday since Eazy-E passed. He gave us all this opportunity. We at the DUB Show, and I don't think it would be poppin' without Eazy, Eric Wright."
The showroom was packed wall to wall with jaw-dropping vehicles, ranging from an Escalade with "suicide" doors emblazoned with animations of the Hulk to a 1969 Chevrolet with a cut-out back that served as one half of a hot dog stand, and dozens of trophies were handed out to the auto stakeholders at the end of the event. As the cars exited the venue, the consensus was that the show's unofficial tribute to Nate Dogg was just the first of many events in his honor.
"Nate's legacy is gonna continue, 'cause Nate made great music, man," Big Boy said. "We got so many anthems, and there's so many people — not just with the music, but people that loved Nate — that's still here to make sure that we grab that banner and keep running up that mountaintop for him."
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660749/nate-dogg-dub-show.jhtml
Gisele Bündchen Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani
Paul Daley signs contract for Nick Diaz fight on April 9
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Have no fear Strikeforce fans, Paul Daley will still fight Nick Diaz on April 9 on Showtime.
Daley's participation in the card briefly came into question when Dana White announced Zuffa's purchase of Strikeforce a week and a half ago. Daley's contentious relationship with the organization since his release last May has been well documented, and Daley went online after the sale was announced questioning whether he'd want to fight for Strikeforce under Zuffa's control.
However, according to a report from MMAFighting.com, Daley has signed his bout agreement and the bout will take place as scheduled. The confirmation on Daley signing comes from Diaz's manager Cesar Gracie, who says the Brit signed on for the fight on Tuesday.
The fight headlines Strikeforce's April 9 event from San Diego, Calif., and airs live on Showtime.
Link to Original Source Article
Penick's Analysis: I think everyone assumed Daley would go through with the fight. It would have been a ridiculously short-sighted move on his part to pull out of this fight, and just because Dana White has continued to say he'll "never" fight in the UFC again doesn't mean that will absolutely, positively always be the case. White has buried the hatchet with several fighters he's had issues with over the years, and Daley could potentially be another one, but pulling out of this fight would have been a bad move and would have killed those prospects.
 |
Daley's participation in the card briefly came into question when Dana White announced Zuffa's purchase of Strikeforce a week and a half ago. Daley's contentious relationship with the organization since his release last May has been well documented, and Daley went online after the sale was announced questioning whether he'd want to fight for Strikeforce under Zuffa's control.
However, according to a report from MMAFighting.com, Daley has signed his bout agreement and the bout will take place as scheduled. The confirmation on Daley signing comes from Diaz's manager Cesar Gracie, who says the Brit signed on for the fight on Tuesday.
The fight headlines Strikeforce's April 9 event from San Diego, Calif., and airs live on Showtime.
Link to Original Source Article
Penick's Analysis: I think everyone assumed Daley would go through with the fight. It would have been a ridiculously short-sighted move on his part to pull out of this fight, and just because Dana White has continued to say he'll "never" fight in the UFC again doesn't mean that will absolutely, positively always be the case. White has buried the hatchet with several fighters he's had issues with over the years, and Daley could potentially be another one, but pulling out of this fight would have been a bad move and would have killed those prospects.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Affliction2/article_8846.shtml
Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans Urijah Faber Wagnney Fabiano Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson Paulo Filho
Mariah Carey rushed to hospital in the early this morning after she started having contractions
The pregnant singer, who turned 41 today, tweeted about how she almost gave birth to her twins on her birthday. She is now back at home after the false alarm. Taking to twitter, the singer posted: ‘So #dembabies really wanted 2 celebrate w/us/share the anniversary! ‘I started having contractions last night..went 2 the hospital. ‘Finally [...]
Carmen Electra Carol Grow Carrie Underwood Cat Power Catherine Bell Chandra West
Graham Earl chats with Ringnews
*How did you get into boxing?*
My older brother David boxed, so as all little brothers do I looked up to him and I followed in his footsteps.
*What was your amateur record?*
72 fights 63 Wins
...
My older brother David boxed, so as all little brothers do I looked up to him and I followed in his footsteps.
*What was your amateur record?*
72 fights 63 Wins
...
Source: http://ninjashoes.net/forum/showthread.php?73881-Graham-Earl-chats-with-Ringnews&goto=newpost
Dennis George Kultar Gill Allan Goes Takanori The Fireball Kid Gomi Akihiro Gono Gabriel Gonzaga
Beyonce May Work With Diplo, Sleigh Bells On New Album
Producer says he was 'in NYC tryin' to make tracks' for B and Bells' songwriter/guitarist.
By James Montgomery
Beyonce
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ WireImage
Over the years, Diplo has worked with everyone from Thom Yorke to Spank Rock (and, of course, M.I.A.) so perhaps it should come as no surprise that, for his next collaboration, he's chosen to work with none other than Beyoncé. Oh, and electro-slammers Sleigh Bells, too. It all makes sense, in some bizarre way.
This is according to Dip himself, who posted a message — and a remix of the Sleigh Bells track "Tell 'Em" — on his blog, in which he let it be known that he, his production partner Switch and Sleigh Bells' songwriter/guitarist Derek Miller just wrapped sessions for Beyoncé's follow-up to I Am ... Sasha Fierce. He wasn't quite sure what would come of the tracks they created.
"Me and Switch was in [the] studio in NYC tryin' to make tracks with Derek and Beyoncé last week after we played her team [Sleigh Bells'] album," Diplo wrote. "Dunno if we gonna manage to finish, but [it] was good times."
At the very least, you know Bey's husband, indie-rock fan Jay-Z, is pumped by the news. Diplo is just the latest in an ever-growing list of top-flight producers who have worked with Beyoncé in recent months. There's still no release date or tentative title for her upcoming album, but she's logged studio time with the likes of S1 (he of "Power" fame), Ne-Yo, Sean Garrett and Jim Jonsin.
A spokesperson for Beyoncé did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the Diplo tracks by press time.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656607/beyonce-diplo-sleigh-bells.jhtml
Jamie Lynn Sigler Janet Jackson January Jones Jennie Finch Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Gareis
Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald still on at UFC 129, Wednesday Twitter comments just venting frustration
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Nate Diaz caused a bit of a stir on Wednesday morning when he took to Twitter to vent some frustrations, and gave the impression his UFC 129 bout with Rory MacDonald was in danger next month.
"Can someone tell Canada to quit trippin and let me up in there I'm tryin to get paid," wrote Diaz. But while that comment could be construed as him having difficulties, his manager Cesar Gracie says he was simply venting about extra paperwork he's been made to fill out for the fight.
Diaz has a mark on his criminal record for disturbing the peace stemming from an incident in Reno, Nevada in 2006, but in comments made to MMAJunkie.com, Gracie said the UFC just found out about the charge recently and wanted him to make sure he had everything in line with the Canadian government and are having him fill out more paperwork to have everything in order.
"He was assaulted by a bouncer," Gracie said. "The UFC said, 'This might give you trouble going in (to Canada).' Well, he's been there eight times since then, and it's never been a problem for him."
"But just to cover all the bases, they want him to do a little paperwork. It's no big deal."
So there is nothing to worry about, and the fight is set to headline the Spike TV Preliminary Card portion of the UFC's record setting event at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The main pay-per-view card is headlined by the Welterweight Championship bout between Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields.
Link to Original Source Article
Penick's Analysis: Diaz vs. MacDonald is one of the fights I'm very much looking forward to on this card, so thankfully it sounds like this is nothing. The UFC is right to make sure they've got everything in line, especially with this event, and in the end a little extra paperwork isn't going to kill Diaz. It's only a slight inconvenience in the grand scheme of things, especially in being a part of a card like this.
 |
"Can someone tell Canada to quit trippin and let me up in there I'm tryin to get paid," wrote Diaz. But while that comment could be construed as him having difficulties, his manager Cesar Gracie says he was simply venting about extra paperwork he's been made to fill out for the fight.
Diaz has a mark on his criminal record for disturbing the peace stemming from an incident in Reno, Nevada in 2006, but in comments made to MMAJunkie.com, Gracie said the UFC just found out about the charge recently and wanted him to make sure he had everything in line with the Canadian government and are having him fill out more paperwork to have everything in order.
"He was assaulted by a bouncer," Gracie said. "The UFC said, 'This might give you trouble going in (to Canada).' Well, he's been there eight times since then, and it's never been a problem for him."
"But just to cover all the bases, they want him to do a little paperwork. It's no big deal."
So there is nothing to worry about, and the fight is set to headline the Spike TV Preliminary Card portion of the UFC's record setting event at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The main pay-per-view card is headlined by the Welterweight Championship bout between Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields.
Link to Original Source Article
Penick's Analysis: Diaz vs. MacDonald is one of the fights I'm very much looking forward to on this card, so thankfully it sounds like this is nothing. The UFC is right to make sure they've got everything in line, especially with this event, and in the end a little extra paperwork isn't going to kill Diaz. It's only a slight inconvenience in the grand scheme of things, especially in being a part of a card like this.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_8852.shtml
Karn Grigorian Karen Grigoryan Kendall Grove Clay Guida Jason Guida Melvin Guillard
UFC Fight Night 24 Live Blog & Chat
The live chat will launch at 9:00pm ET during the Facebook prelims. We’ll start the live blog at 10pm ET for the east coast Spike TV. To participate in the chat, simply click the “Comment Now” tab in the box below and either enter your name or click one of the icons to log in [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/oLEN3-CNNZI/
Takanori The Fireball Kid Gomi Akihiro Gono Gabriel Gonzaga Lyman Good Gary Goodridge Gerard Gordeau
Shane Carwin vs. Jon Olav Einemo scheduled for UFC 131
After months of speculation and various rumored opponents, Shane Carwin finally has his next bout scheduled. The former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion will take on jiu-jitsu black belt Jon Olav Einemo at UFC 131 Dana White made the announcement during a live chat with The Seattle Times. Carwin had been steamrolling everyone in his way [...]
Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/03/23/shane-carwin-vs-jon-olav-einemo-scheduled-for-ufc-131/
Andre Amade Dean Amasinger Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen Alex Andrade Jermaine Andrè
Britney Spears - Womanizer
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Zomba Label Group/Jive
- Director: Joseph Kahn
- Album: Circus
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=288244
Jenny McCarthy Jessica Alba Jessica Biel Jessica Cauffiel Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson
Some Early Thoughts On Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader
What does the UFC do with Tito Ortiz? ?The Huntington Beach Bad Boy? was at one time one of the most popular and also the most dominant Light Heavyweight fighter in the business. Whether it was his bitter rivalry with Dana White or his unstoppable Ground and Pound, everyone knew who Tito Ortiz was: one [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/24/some-early-thoughts-on-tito-ortiz-vs-ryan-bader
Ricardo Arona Noboru Asahi Marcus Aurelio Mikhail Avetisyan Luiz Azeredo Luciano Azevedo
Birthday Girl Kate Gosselin: Trash Duty
Today is her 36th birthday, and over the weekend, Kate Gosselin was spotted tending to some around-the-house duties.
On Sunday (March 27) the ?Kate Plus 8? babe took out the trash as a swarm of shutterbugs looked on from afar.
Kate has been getting less and less media coverage as of late, though that?s all about to change when the new season of her TLC show premieres next month.
The Gosselin gang will share their adventures traveling to places like Australia and Philadelphia, putting Kate back in the spotlight.
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/kate-gosselin/birthday-girl-kate-gosselin-trash-duty-491618
Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris
UFC Fight Night 24's Leonard Garcia brawling for fight fans, not keyboard warriors
SEATTLE - With four-straight split decisions on his record, UFC featherweight contender Leonard Garcia knows all about controversial results.His wild, brawling style has helped him steal a round or two along the way, and MMA fans and pundits have often criticized "Bad Boy" for a handful of perceived gift victories.
As he enters Saturday's Spike TV-broadcast UFC Fight Night 24 bout with Chan Sung Jung - a rematch of 2010's World MMA Awards Fight of the Year - Garcia knows all about the criticism. He just has yet for someone to say it to his face.
Dave Gomez Keith Hackney Matt Hamill Volk Han Joachim Hansen Antoni Hardonk
Lady Gaga Releases "Born This Way" Country Version
Lady Gaga might be a pop star, but that doesn’t mean Mother Monster can’t get a little bit country! In the wee hours of Friday morning, Gaga posted a link to a country version of her new hit single "Born This Way" on her official Twitter page.
The original song has drawn multiple comparisons to Madonna's 1989 hit "Express Yourself." Gaga's country version of the single has more of an acoustic sound, slowed down with harmonica played throughout. Mama Monster also added a lyric that says: "If I wanna make it contry, baby, it's OK! 'Cause I was born, I was born, I was born this way!" Listen for yourself below!
We're betting Gaga's new album, which she described in a recent Google interview as "avant-garde, techno rock," is a little bit country, a little bit pop, but mostly indescribable by a single genre!
The record, also titled Born This Way, drops in May.
Like This? Read These:
- Lady Gaga Hatches Plan to Sleep in an Egg Bed Every Night
- Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Banned for Pro-Gay Lyrics
- Lady Gaga Designs Bracelet to Aid Tsunami Victims
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/lady-gaga-releases-born-way-country-version/1-a-335140
Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel Anna Kournikova Anna Paquin
MMA Link Club: Top Stories For Week of March 20th
To ensure our loyal readers have access to all the latest mixed martial arts info, we will post the best stories, from the baddest MMA news websites, to make sure the 5thRound Nation won’t miss a beat. Enjoy this week’s top stories!? Now is Not the Time for Jones vs. Silva [Five Ounces of Pain] [...]
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/71709/mma-link-club-top-stories-for-week-of-march-20th/
Dan Hardy Lee Hasdell Musse Hasselvall Daiki DJ taiki Hata He Peng David Heath
Charlie Sheen Fired For Committing ?Moral Turpitude?
Well we told you already that CBS finally had enough of Charlie Sheen and fired him for good today, but TMZ has obtained the letter explaining exactly why Sheen was fired. The letter was sent to Charlie?s lawyer and claims … Continue reading
Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel Anna Kournikova
If the new champ only had a personality: Jon Jones ‘Tonight Show’ photos with Jay Leno and Kirstie Alley
The UFC's light heavyweight division has been a revolving door at the top. The promotion's glamour division hasn't had that guy to pitch to the mainstream because no one has been able to defend the title. Jon Jones may change that.
If Jones can put together a long title reign, the champ's starpower is limitless. He's a smart cookie and savvy. You'll see that on "The Tonight Show" this evening. Jones is a guest along with Kirstie Alley. From some early photos he's posted via Twitter, it doesn't look like he's nervous.
Jones is pictured with former "Cheers" star Kirstie Alley and Jay Leno, the host of the show.
Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo Kyle Bradley Jai Bradney Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan
Reese Witherspoon And Jim Toth Were Married Yesterday
Reese Witherspoon exchanged vows with talent agent Jim Toth in an intimate ceremony today at her lavish $7 million estate in Ojai, California. The Legally Blonde star, 35, who wore a custom-designed gown by Monique Lhuillier, walked down the aisle to the traditional Bridal Chorus. Toth, 40, had earlier arrived for the traditional service with [...]
Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard
PENICK: Step aside GSP, Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva the most intriguing super-fight after UFC 128
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Step aside, Georges St. Pierre, there's a new super fight in town for fans to think about and bandy over ad nauseum.
Following his absolutely dominating victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128 on Saturday night, Jon "Bones" Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history, and set himself up for a fight against teammate Rashad Evans for the belt later this year. But after that, the fight a lot of people will want to see is Jones against another man who has dominated competition throughout his UFC career: Anderson Silva.
"The Spider" hasn't had a desire to jump back up to 205 lbs. due to his dominance at middleweight, and the fact that some friends and teammates have been up at the top of the division. However, with Jones now on top, many will see that matchup as one of the most interesting the UFC could put together right now.
With Silva's destruction of Forrest Griffin and James Irvin at 205 lbs., he's already got a proven track record of success at the weight. And though he'd be giving up size to Jones much like GSP would to him, the difference wouldn't be as drastic as the potential Silva vs. GSP bout would be.
With GSP not showing a huge interest in going up for the Silva fight, and Silva having at least one real challenger left for his belt in the middleweight division in Yushin Okami, a Jones-Silva fight at the end of the year or in early 2012 is the way to go.
Jones needs to fight Rashad Evans next, but after that fight things are murky as all hell at light heavyweight. There are a lot of former champions hanging around the top of the division, and with no clear challengers in line after Evans, Silva jumping up after a win over Okami sometime this year would be excellent.
With the way in which Jones won the fight against Shogun, it's hard to see anyone at 205 lbs. that has a real chance at dethroning the 23-year-old phenom. With how unbeatable Silva himself has been inside the Octagon, this would make for an epic matchup for the UFC and for both fighters.
Georges St. Pierre doesn't have to make the move up in weight. He's a perfect size for the welterweight division and has reigned atop for the last several years. If he defeats Jake Shields next month, there's nothing wrong with him staying the champ at welterweight and continuing to exert his dominance over that division. Even though he'd end up in a number of rematches, there's something to be said for him having a long reign.
Jones-Silva simply now makes more sense for me, and though I'm at this point firmly entrenched in the belief that Jones may be as close to unbeatable as any fighter we've seen in the UFC. Barring injury, he may just be the man who crushes "The Spider." Though "The Machida Era" ended up being far too premature, Jones' era is truly just beginning. This would be an incredible opportunity for the UFC to put together a massive superfight that simply makes more sense than the one they've talked about with GSP.
 |
Following his absolutely dominating victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128 on Saturday night, Jon "Bones" Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history, and set himself up for a fight against teammate Rashad Evans for the belt later this year. But after that, the fight a lot of people will want to see is Jones against another man who has dominated competition throughout his UFC career: Anderson Silva.
"The Spider" hasn't had a desire to jump back up to 205 lbs. due to his dominance at middleweight, and the fact that some friends and teammates have been up at the top of the division. However, with Jones now on top, many will see that matchup as one of the most interesting the UFC could put together right now.
With Silva's destruction of Forrest Griffin and James Irvin at 205 lbs., he's already got a proven track record of success at the weight. And though he'd be giving up size to Jones much like GSP would to him, the difference wouldn't be as drastic as the potential Silva vs. GSP bout would be.
With GSP not showing a huge interest in going up for the Silva fight, and Silva having at least one real challenger left for his belt in the middleweight division in Yushin Okami, a Jones-Silva fight at the end of the year or in early 2012 is the way to go.
Jones needs to fight Rashad Evans next, but after that fight things are murky as all hell at light heavyweight. There are a lot of former champions hanging around the top of the division, and with no clear challengers in line after Evans, Silva jumping up after a win over Okami sometime this year would be excellent.
With the way in which Jones won the fight against Shogun, it's hard to see anyone at 205 lbs. that has a real chance at dethroning the 23-year-old phenom. With how unbeatable Silva himself has been inside the Octagon, this would make for an epic matchup for the UFC and for both fighters.
Georges St. Pierre doesn't have to make the move up in weight. He's a perfect size for the welterweight division and has reigned atop for the last several years. If he defeats Jake Shields next month, there's nothing wrong with him staying the champ at welterweight and continuing to exert his dominance over that division. Even though he'd end up in a number of rematches, there's something to be said for him having a long reign.
Jones-Silva simply now makes more sense for me, and though I'm at this point firmly entrenched in the belief that Jones may be as close to unbeatable as any fighter we've seen in the UFC. Barring injury, he may just be the man who crushes "The Spider." Though "The Machida Era" ended up being far too premature, Jones' era is truly just beginning. This would be an incredible opportunity for the UFC to put together a massive superfight that simply makes more sense than the one they've talked about with GSP.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/penickstake/article_8808.shtml
Dan Henderson Josh Hendricks Ed Herman Heath Herring Branden Lee Hinkle Tank Abbott
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Bellator season four featherweight tournament semifinal pairings set for Bellator 41 in Arizona
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Bellator's season four featherweight semifinal pairings are now set, and the bouts will take place on April 16 from the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Ariz. as part of Bellator 41.
According to a report from Sherdog.com, Patricio "Pitbull" Freire will once again meet Wilson Reis, while Kenny Foster will face off against Daniel Strauss on the card.
Freire made it to the finals in season two when he defeated Reis by decision in the semifinals. After losing to Joe Warren in the finals, Freire entered this season four tournament, finishing Georgi Karakhanyan in his quarterfinal bout.
Reis has won two straight fights since his loss to Freire last year. In his quarterfinal bout, he dispatched of Zac George in quick fashion, submitting him in the first round.
Kenny Foster also earned a first round submission in his quarterfinal bout, defeating Eric Larkin to earn his eighth win in nine fights. Strauss, meanwhile, defeated Nazareno Malegarie by decision in a hard fought battle.
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According to a report from Sherdog.com, Patricio "Pitbull" Freire will once again meet Wilson Reis, while Kenny Foster will face off against Daniel Strauss on the card.
Freire made it to the finals in season two when he defeated Reis by decision in the semifinals. After losing to Joe Warren in the finals, Freire entered this season four tournament, finishing Georgi Karakhanyan in his quarterfinal bout.
Reis has won two straight fights since his loss to Freire last year. In his quarterfinal bout, he dispatched of Zac George in quick fashion, submitting him in the first round.
Kenny Foster also earned a first round submission in his quarterfinal bout, defeating Eric Larkin to earn his eighth win in nine fights. Strauss, meanwhile, defeated Nazareno Malegarie by decision in a hard fought battle.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Bellator/article_8860.shtml
Wesley Cabbage Correira Patrick The Predator Côté Randy The Natural Couture Dan Cramer Alberto Crane Marcio Pe de Pano Cruz
Amy Adams Cast as Lois Lane in "Superman" Reboot
Garnering yet another high profile gig, Amy Adams is the latest addition to an already star-studded cast being put together for Zack Snyder's "Superman" reboot.
The redheaded actress with be playing the well-known role of journalist Lois Lane, a character having previously been portrayed by Phyllis Coates, Margot Kidder and Kate Bosworth.
Announcing the selection of Miss Adams on Sunday (March 27), director Snyder said, ?Second only to Superman himself, the question of who will play Lois Lane is arguably what fans have been most curious about. So we are excited to announce the casting of Amy Adams, one of the most versatile and respected actresses in films today. Amy has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois: smart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful."
Amy joins current cast members Henry Cavill, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane, with "Superman: Man of Steel" slated to be released in December 2012.
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/amy-adams/amy-adams-cast-lois-lane-superman-reboot-491524
Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow
5 Reasons To Watch M-1 Challenge 24: ?Damkovsky vs. Figueroa?
Today, March 25, 2011, M-1 Global will hold its ?M-1 Challenge 24? event, featuring a main event for the Lightweight Championship and a co-main event for the vacant Middleweight Championship. Also, this will be the first event M-1 Global holds in conjunction with their new television home, the Showtime network. Still, some fans may be [...]
Dan Hardy Lee Hasdell Musse Hasselvall Daiki DJ taiki Hata He Peng David Heath
Lovely In Green: Emmy Rossum Attends The Metropolitan Opera
I want this dress. I need this dress. I would kill for this dress… {Deep Breaths} Emmy Rossum was seen attending the Metropolitan Opera’s gala premiere of Rossini’s ‘Le Comte Ory’ last night in NYC. I mean MY GOODNESS. I’m … Continue reading
Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/03/25/lovely-in-green-emmy-rossum-attends-the-metropolitan-opera/
Ali Larter Alice Dodd Alicia Keys Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer
Hector Lombard cruises to cut-based stoppage at CFC 16
When a fight is stopped as the result of a cut it will occasionally be an unfortunate incident in an otherwise competitive bout and dismissed as an asterisk-laden victory for the gash-free fighter. However, in the case of Bellator 185-pound champ Hector Lombard?s recent rumble with UFC veteran Joe Doerksen at CFC 16 in Sydney [...]
Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/03/26/hector-lombard-cruises-to-cut-based-stoppage-at-cfc-16/
Per Eklund Jason Ellis Aleksander Emelianenko Fedor Emelianenko Yasubey Enomoto Mark Epstein
UFC 128 picks, Vegas-style: Iole and Cofield give out their winners
Where's the respect for the champ? Mauricio Rua has been run over by the Jon Jones hype-train. The 23-year-old Jones has been active the last year and posting big wins on Versus, while Rua was recovering from knee surgery. Jones also has the look of a champion towering over the shorter Rua. The public loves "Bones" and the sportsbooks have installed the challenger as a minus-190 favorite.
Can Rua pull the upset and leave the Octagon with his title? Yahoo!'s lead MMA writer Kevin Iole is in Newark and joined us on the phone to break things down using the Las Vegas lines.
My recommended plays include Rua (+160), Ricardo Almeida (-155) and Anthony Njokuani (+210).
Update: There's heavy action on Faber. He's been bet all the way up to minus-700. Jim Miller has also jumped thirty cents to minus-240. Lots of folks have also wagered on Jones to score a second round finish at 7-to-1.
You can watch UFC 128 right here on Yahoo!
UFC 128 betting odds (Courtesy Lagasse's Stadium):
Mauricio Rua (+160) vs. Jon Jones (-190) - Light heavyweight
Main event round prop bets:
Rua wins rd1 10/1
Rua rd2 12/1
Rua rd3 8/1
Rua rd4 7/1
Rua rd5 10/1
Rua win by dec. 5/1
Jones wins rd1 5/1
Jones rd2 5/1
Jones rd3 7/1
Jones rd4 8/1
Jones rd5 12/1
Jones wins by dec. 4/1
Eddie Wineland (+325) vs. Urijah Faber (-450) - Bantamweight
Kamal Shalorus (+190) vs. Jim Miller (-240) - Lightweight
Dan Miller (+280) vs. Nate Marquardt (-360) - Middleweight
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (+200) vs. Brendan Schaub (-250) - Heavyweight
Eliot Marshall (+135) vs. Luiz Cane (-165) - Light heavyweight
Anthony Njokuani (+210) v. Edson Barboza (-270) - Lightweight
Mike Pyle (+125) vs. Ricardo Almeida (-155) - Welterweight
Kurt Pellegrino (+140) vs. Gleison Tibau (-170) - Lightweight
Ian Loveland (+280) vs. Joe Benavidez (-360) - Bantamweight
Raphael Assuncao (+135) vs. Erik Koch (-165) - Featherweight
Constantinos Philippou (+200) vs. Nick Catone (-250) - 195 lbs.
Mikhail Avetisyan Luiz Azeredo Luciano Azevedo Ba Te er Ryan Bader Siyar Bahadurzada
Linkin Park? U2? Ke$ha? Behind MTV's Musical March Madness Selection
With the tipoff of our tournament set for Monday, Bigger Than the Sound breaks down your favorite band's chances of busting the bracket.
By James Montgomery
Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington
Photo: Frank Hoensch/ Getty Images
Last year, when we launched the inaugural Musical March Madness tournament, we did it largely on a whim.
As I wrote when I revealed my original (handwritten) bracket, the basic idea was to combine my love of college basketball, gambling and rock music (and superfluous lists) into one magical event, and it really didn't matter that I hadn't figured out how bands would advance in the tournament or even what they'd get for winning. All I knew was that it seemed like a fun idea (especially since I didn't have anything else to write my column about that week) and that somewhere, there had to be someone who cared about these seemingly disparate things nearly as much as I did.
As it turned out, there were a lot of people who cared, and when it was all said and done — thanks to the efforts of a whole lot of folks, including Newsroom blog editor Kyle Anderson, who basically decided "You know what? People should vote on this!" — not only was Musical March Madness a certified success, but we somehow even managed to get an actual trophy to present to the winners, Coheed and Cambria, too. So, really, everybody won.
Of course, given the success of the original MMM, attention quickly shifted to the 2011 tournament. Last year, I basically just threw together a list of 64 bands (65, actually; who could forget the epic Against Me!/ Creed play-in battle?). For the 2011 tournament, however, I did research, monitored album sales and basically became a Selection Committee of one. And, yes, it took way longer than I ever could have imagined.
So, with the 2011 Musical March Madness set to tip off Monday — when we reveal our full bracket of 64 bands and launch voting in first-round matchups — I decided to pull back the curtain on that selection process. Some teams have all but locked up their spots in the 2011 tournament, while others still have some work to do. In the spirit of all things bracketological, here's my up-to-the-minute look at where your favorite bands stand for this year's MMM:
The #1 Seeds
The biggest bands in the land. Last year, I gave out #1's to Nickelback, Coldplay, Blink-182 and the Kings of Leon. Somewhat surprisingly, three-quarters of them ended up losing in the opening round of the tournament (only Blink survived, making it to the round of 32 before losing to 30 Seconds to Mars). Obviously, I overestimated the popularity of some of those acts, which means that, in 2011, to be a #1 seed, you have to have proven yourself as not only a rock-solid commodity, but an actual threat to win the championship too. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to have an album either in stores or coming soon. So here are my latest contenders for top seeds:
» Foo Fighters
» 30 Seconds to Mars
» Linkin Park
» My Chemical Romance
» Arcade Fire
» Vampire Weekend
» Muse
» The Black Keys
» Blink-182
» Radiohead
» Coldplay
» Mumford & Sons
The Foos have a hotly anticipated album coming down the pipeline, as does Coldplay. Are expectations enough to make them #1's? Or will the committee recognize the breakout success of the Black Keys, Muse and Mumford? Does a #1 album and a shocking Grammy win earn the Arcade Fire a top seed? Linkin Park and MCR both scuffed a bit with their latest albums, but does that matter, especially since they're both legacy acts with loyal fanbases (and, in the case of My Chem, are tournament-tested)? And will the committee ignore the fact that, by most accounts, Radiohead's latest was a bit of a letdown or that Blink-182 may never actually release their new album? As you can see, there are still plenty of questions left to be answered.
The Old Guard
Legacy acts with something left in the tank. In 2010, time-tested faves like Slipknot, the White Stripes, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, Pearl Jam, U2 and the Dave Matthews Band all got invites to the big dance based largely on reputation alone (just think of them as the Dukes or Kansases of MMM). Of course, nearly all of them got knocked off in the first round, which means that this time around, reputation isn't going to be enough to punch their tickets. Shoot, some of these acts aren't even around anymore, which means that some deck-shuffling is in order. Here are the established acts that are still fighting for their tournament lives:
» Green Day
» Dave Matthews Band
» U2
» Red Hot Chili Peppers
» Rage Against the Machine
» Kid Rock
» Pearl Jam
» R.E.M.
Some (like the Chili Peppers and U2) have announced new albums this year, while others (like DMB) are planning to take 2011 off entirely. Still, whatever their status may be, the old guard remain forces at the cash registers and on radio, even if their latest albums didn't exactly light the world on fire. And ignoring that entirely just isn't possible. So how does the committee decide which make the field of 64? Good question. I'm still trying to figure out the answer.
The New Blood
Upset-minded young guns. The 2010 MMM featured up-and-coming acts like the Young Veins, 3OH!3, Owl City and MGMT. One year later, none of them are even on the radar. Picking new bands for MMM is always a challenge, though in 2011, there seem to be a handful who have all but secured their spots in the tournament, thanks to their breakout successes. I'm talking about the likes of:
» Mumford & Sons
» Florence and the Machine
» The Black Keys
» Cage the Elephant
» Sleigh Bells
» Adele
If the tournament started today, all of the above have been in (and some may even earn high seeds). But do any of them have enough to actually win the tournament? We'll just have to wait and see.
The Bracket Busters
Bands with solid, if not spectacular, résumés (weak out-of-conference schedules, etc.). Last year, this included eventual champs Coheed and Cambria, Final Four acts like Tokio Hotel, Elite Eight bands like Panic! at the Disco and Owl City, and even Patrick Stump, who rumbled all the way to the Sweet 16. In other words, the 2011 champion could very well come from this group. Here's my list of under-the-radar threats:
» Panic! (once again)
» Weezer
» The Decemberists
» Cake
» Paramore
» Avril Lavigne
» Crystal Bowersox
» Adam Lambert
» Death Cab for Cutie
» All Time Low
Two of the above — Cake and the Decemberists — have recent #1 debuts under their belts, while others have new albums on the horizon (DCFC, ATL, Avril). Others, like Bowersox and Lambert (who made the Sweet 16 last year), command insane fanbases, which make them dangerous on any day. Lavigne and ATL still have some work to do, but I'd consider all of the acts I just mentioned as safe for now.
The Bubble Bands
On-the-verge acts that need a little help to make it in. Maybe they win their conference championship, or maybe they PayPal the selection committee some cash, but these are the bands on the brink. In 2010, that included Panic! (no new album or single), the Gaslight Anthem (up-and-comers just learning to play together) and Coheed (largely ignored by mainstream radio). Most of those bands managed to do quite well in the tournament, while others, like Hollywood Undead, Lil Wayne, Them Crooked Vultures and the National, all flamed out in the tournament's opening round. Somewhat fittingly, it's a real feast-or-famine type of thing. Here's my updated list of bubble bands:
» Cobra Starship
» Ke$ha
» Tokio Hotel
» MGMT
» Train
» Adele
» Bret Michaels
» Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
» Taylor Swift
Right off the bat, neither Ke$ha nor Swift really rock (though Ke$h does use Jack Daniels as mouthwash), which makes them long shots. Tokio Hotel have done next to nothing since last year's tournament, but was their success enough to earn them a spot this year? Bret Michaels is basically indestructible at this point, so I'd consider him a lock. Cobra Starship are largely dormant but command a big enough fanbase to warrant consideration. MGMT's last album stiffed in spectacular fashion, which places them squarely on the soapy surface of the bubble.
So, will your favorite band make the cut for the 2011 Musical March Madness tournament? As you can see, the Selection Committee still has plenty of work to do — which means that, between now and Monday, I'll be burning the midnight oil, busting out the brackets and then re-busting them once again. It'll be a chore, but I bet it will be worth it. And I hope you'll be along for the ride. Your band needs you, after all.
MTV's 2011 Musical March Madness Tournament begins Monday, March 14, when we reveal the full field of 64 bands that will battle for the championship. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act makes the cut, it'll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM — but get ready, it's gonna be a war.
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659479/musical-march-madness.jhtml
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Chan Sung Jung Practiced Twister Over and Over Because It 'Looks Fun'
Filed under: UFC
Who says that all that time spent watching videos on the internet is wasted? For Chan Sung Jung, the videos he found online of Eddie Bravo's unconventional twister submission helped him defeat Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24 and add an extra $55,000 to his bank account in the process.
"It's something that I saw a long time ago on the internet on video," Jung said via a translator during Saturday night's post-fight press conference. "It's one of Eddie Bravo's techniques. It's something I practiced because it just looks fun, and so I do it quite a bit in practice. I always told people I was going to try it some time in competition and I wanted to do it in the UFC and I was able to."
Forrest Griffin Tyson Griffin Karn Grigorian Karen Grigoryan Kendall Grove Clay Guida
Keira Knightley: 2011 Jameson Empire Awards
Closing out the weekend on the red carpet, Keira Knightley turned up for the Jameson Empire Awards 2011 in London, England today (March 27).
Held at the Grosvenor House, the English actress quickly joined up with gal pal Lily Cole as the pair worked the press area ahead of the annual tribute to the best in film.
Having celebrated her 26th birthday the previous day, Miss Knightley is gearing up for a trip to the States to screen her upcoming movie "Last Night" at the Tribeca Film Festival in April.
Co-starring Sam Worthington and Eva Mendes, the Massy Tadjedin directed picture is a romantic drama that "follows a married couple, apart for a night while the husband takes a business trip with a colleague to whom he's attracted. While he's resisting temptation, his wife encounters her past love."
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/keira-knightley/keira-knightley-2011-jameson-empire-awards-491456
Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff
Video: Richard Hale's inverted triangle choke at Saturday's Bellator 38
Richard Hale punched his ticket to the Bellator light-heavyweight-tournament semifinals in flashy fashion.At Saturday's Bellator 38 event in Mississippi, the longtime Rage in the Cage fighter submitted former Michigan State wrestler Nike Fekete in a quarterfinal matchup.
To do so, he used an inverted triangle choke - a move Toby Imada popularized in a now-legendary Bellator season-one tourney bout.
Branden Lee Hinkle Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah
Ashley Tisdale Shows Off Shorter Hair Cut
Confession time. I've never really cared about Ashley Tisdale. I didn't love her or hate her. She's a lot younger than me and I'm not drawn to her personal life at all. Things changed a few weeks ago when I saw her on 'Extreme Makeovers: Home Edition'. A family in need had a little girl who simply adored the singer and Ashley came on the show, helped build their new house and performed for the town. I thought that was REALLY nice and now I love Ashley.Yes, it's that easy to change my mind like that.Here she is showing off a new shorter do and leaving a Beverly Hills hair salon. Do you prefer Ashley with her longer hair?Photos by FAME Continue reading
Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2010/07/09/ashley-tisdale-shows-off-short-hair-cut/
Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore
Family Photo: Julie Bowen?s Brood of Boys
The Modern Family star, 42, brought husband Scott Phillips and their three sons - Oliver, 3�, as well as twins John and Gus, 22 months, to the Milk + Bookies Second Annual Story Time Celebration
Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/5jws2NxSKFw/
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MMATORCH INTERVIEW: Jameel Massouh feels this is his time, out to win 5th straight against Roli Delgado at Bellator 37
By: Rich Hansen, MMATorch Columnist
Veteran fighter Jameel Massouh took a few minutes to speak with our own Rich Hansen on Thursday March 17. Massouh, who carries a 25-7 professional record, is scheduled to face former UFC veteran Roli Delgado at Bellator 37 this Saturday, March 19. Massouh went 0-3 in his only WEC stint, dropping consecutive decisions to Erik Koch, Leonard Garcia, and Raphael Assuncao. Since leaving the WEC, Massouh has rolled up a four fight winning streak, and is looking to extend that streak to five on Saturday night.
During the course of our 20 minute conversation, Massouh discussed Delgado, fight preparation, the Zuffa acquisition of Strikeforce, and much more.
RICH HANSEN: Tell me about Roli Delgado and how you match up with him, and also how and when this fight came together for you.
JAMEEL MASSOUH: The fight came together a few weeks ago, just sort of out of the blue. I thought it was an interesting matchup, just because I've never fought anyone as tall as Roli Delgado is. I think he's 6'3" and fighting at 145 makes him like a humongous giant. I don't usually fight people who are taller than me period.
RICH HANSEN: Who's the biggest guy you ever fought?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: Clay French was shorter than me, but he was solid and huge, kind of like a football player. So he was one of the bigger guys that I had to try and move around. He was strong, but he had a lower center of gravity. Other than that, I would say that Erik Koch was pretty big. I was surprised at how big Erik Koch was for his height. I consider myself a really big 145 [pounder], and I didn't feel big next to him.
RICH HANSEN: I know it's not always so simple, but would you rather be the bigger but slower fighter, or the smaller but faster fighter in a fight?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: I'd say smaller and faster.
RICH HANSEN: So you say that speed plays more into what you'd like to do in a fight than size?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: Yeah, I think so. I mean, it is speed and cardio combined. It does me no good to be fast if I can't continue to be fast the whole fight. But I think speed and cardio combined suits me better.
RICH HANSEN: What do you have to look out for most when you're fighting Delgado? Is there anything he might be able to take advantage of against you?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: You know, it's a really interesting fight because I haven't fought a lot of guys like him. Not even because of his size, but he's a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. I don't think I've ever fought a Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter before. And I know he's got a dangerous guard because he's so long. It's kind of like fighting Cole Miller. He's one of those long guys who can catch people in submissions from his back. I know I have to be careful. Not that I don't think I'm better than him; I think I'm better than him on the ground. I've got more than enough experience on the ground and more than enough knowledge to do well against him. But he's built well for his guard, so I have to keep that in mind. And likewise on the feet, I think I'm technically way more proficient a striker than he is. But at the same time he's got this long reach that suits him well to do Muay Thai with that reach. I saw his fight against Andre Winner. Even though Delgado got knocked out, he did some things that were good there too. I just have to keep his length in general in mind. For me, my strategy going in there is, obviously I want to knock him out. And a big part of that factor is being able to control the clinch and being able to control where the fight goes. That way, if I am having trouble for some reason I can really close the gap and keep him from getting the takedown on me too.
RICH HANSEN: Does his UFC notoriety give you a little bit of extra motivation, knowing that beating someone with a bigger name could do more for your career than beating someone with no name recognition?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: Well, his notoriety doesn't intimidate me in the sense that he was in the UFC and I was in the WEC. I've fought top-10 guys. I don't think he fought any top-10 guys. Like I said, Andre Winner?s one of the best guys he's fought. But I mean, Junie Browning beat him in a controversial decision on The Ultimate Fighter, and that's sort of the level that he's at. Not to take anything away from Junie because I like Junie as a person and as a fighter. But I don't think Roli is necessarily an A-level fighter. I think he's a dog in a fight. I think he's capable. I respect his capabilities but I don't think he?s A-level.
RICH HANSEN: With this fight being an unaired prelim give you extra motivation to go for a finish if it presents itself, one that you might not otherwise go for in an attempt to shorten the fight in hopes that it makes TV?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: No, because I'm always going out there as a martial artist to perform my best. So I mean if I can ever take control of a fight and finish it I'm going to. But in my experience, when you try and force things that's when you get yourself hurt. So I'm never out there to try and force a finish or force anything. That's how I wound up getting my shoulder separated before by Erik Koch. I tried to force an overhand right and ended up get getting my back taken and he dropped me on my shoulder. So, I do much better being more of a cerebral fighter, and just knowing when to go for my moves. And it's served me well. I mean I got my finish in my last televised fight for Bellator. That finish was the same thing. I was just waiting for my time and it came.
RICH HANSEN: Tell me a little bit about life during "Fight Week," specifically from when you get off the plane until you get to the locker room. There are a lot of things that people who don't fight don't know about. Where do you train once you've arrived? How and where do you cut weight on the road? How are you able to watch your diet? Do you go out and explore the town?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: You know, it's one of those things that changes depending on where I am at. Whenever I fight overseas, I'll land, get settled into my hotel room, and then I'll take a walk and try to know the city. I try to get rid of some of my energy from the jetlag so I'm tired when I need to sleep. And it's also nice to be familiar with what's going on mentally. Like this week, I checked out the Super WalMart, the shopping mall, and the movie theater. I happen to be by myself down here this week until [Dave] Strasser is going to join me. So right now I'm sitting in my room watching Netflix. But really I just try to relax and do whatever feels good until I start cutting weight and focusing on that. I really start focusing on cutting my weight about two weeks before the fight. I try to eat healthy before that, but not restricting calories or anything like that. The week of [the fight] I definitely start restricting calories to about 1300 calories. I have to find fresh produce and things like that which digest well. As far as my workouts go, I got out here [Thursday] and it's not a heavy workout day for me, or [Friday]. The only thing I really need to do is to rest everything so that I can peak on Saturday. When I cut weight out here right now it's more or less sweating it off, getting rid of water. To me it's so much more a routine now than it used to be. Like now I know exactly what to do. If my body is not reacting I know I have to put a little extra in. Before, cutting weight used to be really difficult.
RICH HANSEN: With Strikeforce being purchased by Zuffa, it seems like options might be shrinking for fighters. Do you think that the Zuffa acquisition of Strikeforce is a net positive or a net negative for fighters and how about for yourself specifically?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: I sort of have my own thing going on right now. I'm riding a four-fight win streak for me, so personally I think that if I do well [this weekend] and if I do well in the future, if I wanted to get back into Zuffa I could. I think it's a good move for Zuffa. [Strikeforce was] doing decent numbers. They had done stuff with Emelianenko and some of the best heavyweights. It sounded like from Dana White that he isn't really going to put his hand in it that much. It sounds like [Strikeforce is] pretty much autonomous, just owned by Zuffa. So we'll see what happens I guess. I think it could be good and bad. I remember he said something about Paul Daley not ever fighting in the UFC still, but he would allow him to fight in Strikeforce. Now, I have a good relationship with Bellator, and I feel like for Bellator right now the fewer competitors the better. They're building their brand name really well right now. Bellator doesn't make a lot of mistakes like Pro Elite and BodogFight did, which was to spend a ton of money that they didn't have. Bellator keeps it tight and they've made a lot of really good signings.
RICH HANSEN: Earlier you said, "If I wanted to get back into Zuffa I could." Is [getting back to Zuffa] not a top priority for you right now because you're happier with Bellator, or something else.
JAMEEL MASSOUH: You know, it has nothing to do with who I'm happy with and who I'm not happy with. The thing is I'm just a fighter. Just point me in what direction I need to fight. Obviously I fought for Zuffa before, and I didn't do as well as I necessarily wanted to. I lost three fights. And even if some of them were entertaining fights or whatever, I mean I lost three in a row. But I've had a good year this year, going on a four fight win streak against some decent opponents and some international travelling. It's not easier for anyone in my position, especially because I'm just from Kenosha, WI and people don't really know who I am. I fly under the radar even when I do win on national tv.
RICH HANSEN: Yeah. You're from a town of only 80,000 people and you're not even the most known fighter in that town, what with Ben Rothwell and all.
JAMEEL MASSOUH: I know; it's ridiculous! And no offense to Ben Rothwell but I feel like I'm more talented than he is even, at least as being an all-around fighter. But whatever, that's neither here nor there. The important thing is that I'm working hard. If I win this fight, it's a five fight win streak and that looks well for any fighter in any company in any situation. I feel like this is my time. I've been out to prove that I'm not done as a fighter. I mean, I got thrown in with the sharks [in 2009]. Koch is doing awesome in the WEC. He's had a really good run and he's impressive. And come on, Leonard Garcia was a close fight which went to split decision which was a little controversial.
RICH HANSEN: Losing to Garcia by split is pretty much the same as a win now.
JAMEEL MASSOUH: Yeah! And Raphael Assuncao, I mean he is a great fighter. If you look at who he's fought, and what his record is like, he's one of the top fighters in the world.
RICH HANSEN: Any thoughts on the Koch-Assuncao fight this weekend?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: That's funny; I don't even know who to root for. Based on my experience with them (pauses), I don't know. I would say Koch is going to win that fight. Even though I like Raphael, I think Koch's got too much size for him.
 |
During the course of our 20 minute conversation, Massouh discussed Delgado, fight preparation, the Zuffa acquisition of Strikeforce, and much more.
RICH HANSEN: Tell me about Roli Delgado and how you match up with him, and also how and when this fight came together for you.
JAMEEL MASSOUH: The fight came together a few weeks ago, just sort of out of the blue. I thought it was an interesting matchup, just because I've never fought anyone as tall as Roli Delgado is. I think he's 6'3" and fighting at 145 makes him like a humongous giant. I don't usually fight people who are taller than me period.
RICH HANSEN: Who's the biggest guy you ever fought?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: Clay French was shorter than me, but he was solid and huge, kind of like a football player. So he was one of the bigger guys that I had to try and move around. He was strong, but he had a lower center of gravity. Other than that, I would say that Erik Koch was pretty big. I was surprised at how big Erik Koch was for his height. I consider myself a really big 145 [pounder], and I didn't feel big next to him.
RICH HANSEN: I know it's not always so simple, but would you rather be the bigger but slower fighter, or the smaller but faster fighter in a fight?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: I'd say smaller and faster.
RICH HANSEN: So you say that speed plays more into what you'd like to do in a fight than size?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: Yeah, I think so. I mean, it is speed and cardio combined. It does me no good to be fast if I can't continue to be fast the whole fight. But I think speed and cardio combined suits me better.
RICH HANSEN: What do you have to look out for most when you're fighting Delgado? Is there anything he might be able to take advantage of against you?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: You know, it's a really interesting fight because I haven't fought a lot of guys like him. Not even because of his size, but he's a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. I don't think I've ever fought a Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter before. And I know he's got a dangerous guard because he's so long. It's kind of like fighting Cole Miller. He's one of those long guys who can catch people in submissions from his back. I know I have to be careful. Not that I don't think I'm better than him; I think I'm better than him on the ground. I've got more than enough experience on the ground and more than enough knowledge to do well against him. But he's built well for his guard, so I have to keep that in mind. And likewise on the feet, I think I'm technically way more proficient a striker than he is. But at the same time he's got this long reach that suits him well to do Muay Thai with that reach. I saw his fight against Andre Winner. Even though Delgado got knocked out, he did some things that were good there too. I just have to keep his length in general in mind. For me, my strategy going in there is, obviously I want to knock him out. And a big part of that factor is being able to control the clinch and being able to control where the fight goes. That way, if I am having trouble for some reason I can really close the gap and keep him from getting the takedown on me too.
RICH HANSEN: Does his UFC notoriety give you a little bit of extra motivation, knowing that beating someone with a bigger name could do more for your career than beating someone with no name recognition?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: Well, his notoriety doesn't intimidate me in the sense that he was in the UFC and I was in the WEC. I've fought top-10 guys. I don't think he fought any top-10 guys. Like I said, Andre Winner?s one of the best guys he's fought. But I mean, Junie Browning beat him in a controversial decision on The Ultimate Fighter, and that's sort of the level that he's at. Not to take anything away from Junie because I like Junie as a person and as a fighter. But I don't think Roli is necessarily an A-level fighter. I think he's a dog in a fight. I think he's capable. I respect his capabilities but I don't think he?s A-level.
RICH HANSEN: With this fight being an unaired prelim give you extra motivation to go for a finish if it presents itself, one that you might not otherwise go for in an attempt to shorten the fight in hopes that it makes TV?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: No, because I'm always going out there as a martial artist to perform my best. So I mean if I can ever take control of a fight and finish it I'm going to. But in my experience, when you try and force things that's when you get yourself hurt. So I'm never out there to try and force a finish or force anything. That's how I wound up getting my shoulder separated before by Erik Koch. I tried to force an overhand right and ended up get getting my back taken and he dropped me on my shoulder. So, I do much better being more of a cerebral fighter, and just knowing when to go for my moves. And it's served me well. I mean I got my finish in my last televised fight for Bellator. That finish was the same thing. I was just waiting for my time and it came.
RICH HANSEN: Tell me a little bit about life during "Fight Week," specifically from when you get off the plane until you get to the locker room. There are a lot of things that people who don't fight don't know about. Where do you train once you've arrived? How and where do you cut weight on the road? How are you able to watch your diet? Do you go out and explore the town?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: You know, it's one of those things that changes depending on where I am at. Whenever I fight overseas, I'll land, get settled into my hotel room, and then I'll take a walk and try to know the city. I try to get rid of some of my energy from the jetlag so I'm tired when I need to sleep. And it's also nice to be familiar with what's going on mentally. Like this week, I checked out the Super WalMart, the shopping mall, and the movie theater. I happen to be by myself down here this week until [Dave] Strasser is going to join me. So right now I'm sitting in my room watching Netflix. But really I just try to relax and do whatever feels good until I start cutting weight and focusing on that. I really start focusing on cutting my weight about two weeks before the fight. I try to eat healthy before that, but not restricting calories or anything like that. The week of [the fight] I definitely start restricting calories to about 1300 calories. I have to find fresh produce and things like that which digest well. As far as my workouts go, I got out here [Thursday] and it's not a heavy workout day for me, or [Friday]. The only thing I really need to do is to rest everything so that I can peak on Saturday. When I cut weight out here right now it's more or less sweating it off, getting rid of water. To me it's so much more a routine now than it used to be. Like now I know exactly what to do. If my body is not reacting I know I have to put a little extra in. Before, cutting weight used to be really difficult.
RICH HANSEN: With Strikeforce being purchased by Zuffa, it seems like options might be shrinking for fighters. Do you think that the Zuffa acquisition of Strikeforce is a net positive or a net negative for fighters and how about for yourself specifically?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: I sort of have my own thing going on right now. I'm riding a four-fight win streak for me, so personally I think that if I do well [this weekend] and if I do well in the future, if I wanted to get back into Zuffa I could. I think it's a good move for Zuffa. [Strikeforce was] doing decent numbers. They had done stuff with Emelianenko and some of the best heavyweights. It sounded like from Dana White that he isn't really going to put his hand in it that much. It sounds like [Strikeforce is] pretty much autonomous, just owned by Zuffa. So we'll see what happens I guess. I think it could be good and bad. I remember he said something about Paul Daley not ever fighting in the UFC still, but he would allow him to fight in Strikeforce. Now, I have a good relationship with Bellator, and I feel like for Bellator right now the fewer competitors the better. They're building their brand name really well right now. Bellator doesn't make a lot of mistakes like Pro Elite and BodogFight did, which was to spend a ton of money that they didn't have. Bellator keeps it tight and they've made a lot of really good signings.
RICH HANSEN: Earlier you said, "If I wanted to get back into Zuffa I could." Is [getting back to Zuffa] not a top priority for you right now because you're happier with Bellator, or something else.
JAMEEL MASSOUH: You know, it has nothing to do with who I'm happy with and who I'm not happy with. The thing is I'm just a fighter. Just point me in what direction I need to fight. Obviously I fought for Zuffa before, and I didn't do as well as I necessarily wanted to. I lost three fights. And even if some of them were entertaining fights or whatever, I mean I lost three in a row. But I've had a good year this year, going on a four fight win streak against some decent opponents and some international travelling. It's not easier for anyone in my position, especially because I'm just from Kenosha, WI and people don't really know who I am. I fly under the radar even when I do win on national tv.
RICH HANSEN: Yeah. You're from a town of only 80,000 people and you're not even the most known fighter in that town, what with Ben Rothwell and all.
JAMEEL MASSOUH: I know; it's ridiculous! And no offense to Ben Rothwell but I feel like I'm more talented than he is even, at least as being an all-around fighter. But whatever, that's neither here nor there. The important thing is that I'm working hard. If I win this fight, it's a five fight win streak and that looks well for any fighter in any company in any situation. I feel like this is my time. I've been out to prove that I'm not done as a fighter. I mean, I got thrown in with the sharks [in 2009]. Koch is doing awesome in the WEC. He's had a really good run and he's impressive. And come on, Leonard Garcia was a close fight which went to split decision which was a little controversial.
RICH HANSEN: Losing to Garcia by split is pretty much the same as a win now.
JAMEEL MASSOUH: Yeah! And Raphael Assuncao, I mean he is a great fighter. If you look at who he's fought, and what his record is like, he's one of the top fighters in the world.
RICH HANSEN: Any thoughts on the Koch-Assuncao fight this weekend?
JAMEEL MASSOUH: That's funny; I don't even know who to root for. Based on my experience with them (pauses), I don't know. I would say Koch is going to win that fight. Even though I like Raphael, I think Koch's got too much size for him.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Interviews_34/article_8789.shtml
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