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Shannon Briggs

K-1 announced that former heavyweight boxing champ Shannon Briggs will be fighting on their December 31st show. An opponent has not been announced at this time.

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Mike Tyson's videotaped message during the K-1 GP.

Former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson had a videotaped message displayed to the audience at the December 6th K-1 2003 GP Finals, in which he stated that he is signed to fight Bob Sapp in 2004.

Tyson also went on to say that the prime minister of Japan would not let him in the country (this may be true due to Japan's immigration laws regarding ex-convicts), and that he was looking forward to getting in there and knocking everyone out.

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Abidi vs. Botha

The following pictures of the December 6th K-1 2003 GP Finals event are brought to you courtesy of Sportsnavi.

To view the entire gallery, click here

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Remy Bonjasky (left)

K-1 WORLD GP 2003 FINAL
Saturday, December 6, 2003
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan


2003 GP Finals Tournament:

Quarterfinals:
Cyril Abidi defeats Francois Botha by unanimous decision.
Remy Bonjasky defeats Peter Graham by KO at 0:58, RD 1.
Musashi defeats Ray Sefo by majority decision.
Peter Aerts defeats Alexey Ignashov by unanimous decision.

Semifinals
Remy Bonjasky defeats Cyril Abidi by KO at 1:46, RD 1.
Musashi defeats Peter Aerts by majority decision.

Final:
Remy Bonjasky defeats Musashi by unanimous decision.



Reserve Match:
Carter Williams defeats Bjorn Bregy by KO at 2:06, RD 2.

Super Fights:
Yusuke Fujimoto defeats Mathias Riccio by KO at 2:34, RD 2.
Martin Holm defeats Jan Nortje by KO at 1:06, RD 1.

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Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Royce Gracie

Fightsport.com journalist Luke Beston was live at the Royce Gracie press conference in California. Luke reports the following exclusively to Fightsport.com:


"I just got back from the press conference. Actually it was a long string of
interviews from Japanese printed media and television. I was the only
representative of the western media I saw. Feel free to write this up or
edit it how you like.

Royce was asked a lot about his feelings about the screw-job when he last
fought in Japan. He called Yoshida a liar, and said he is going to torture
him in this fight. He is in excellent condition, citing that his pulse can
drop 60 beats in one minute of resting. When asked what he thought about
Yoshida saying he was a whiner, Royce said Yoshida can 'Fuck off' to the
Japanese television crew.

Royce will be accompanied to Japan by a number of his brothers and cousins
to Japan. His father Grandmaster Helio said he would love to go and support
Royce, but has said he will never return to Japan after what happened with
Royces last fight.

Royce was questioned about the BJJ and Jiudo rivalry, and said that he likes
Jiudo, has trained Jiudo as a kid, but this has nothing to do with Jiudo,
it's personal between him and Yoshida. When questioned about the difference
between Jiudo and BJJ, Royce clarified that Judo is a sport, and BJJ is for
the street. He said he even used to be a fan of Yoshida's from his Gold
Medal, but now had no respect for him. He said this fight is not about
whether BJJ or Jiudo was best, he had already proven BJJ is superior. He
asked for Yoshida to try and do three (real) fights in one night." -Luke Beston

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SuperBrawl 32
December 5th, 2003
Honolulu, Hawaii


Masanori Suda defeats Shannon Ritch by triangle choke at 1:02, RD 1.
Jason Miller defeats Egan Inoue by TKO, RD 2.
Justin Mercado defeats David Yeung by rear naked choke at 0:51, RD 1.
Ray 'King Kong Seraile defeats Tyler Lecky by keylock at 2:14, RD 1.
Brian Pardoe defeats Sam Bass by TKO at 3:40, RD 1.
Brandon Keene defeats Mike Bauer by rear naked choke at 1:58, RD 2.
Harvey Nakamura defeats Stephen Palling IV by unanimous decision.
Ryan Lee drew with Ivan Jennings.

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Fedor Emelianenko (right)

Todd Atkins reports from Japan that the matchup of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Kazuyuki Fujita has been announced for the Antonio Inoki show on December 31st.

This will be the second fight between the two fighters, with Fedor having beaten Fujita earlier this year.

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The following statement if from former TKO employee J.T. McCarthy:


This was copied from a thread on the US Forum from Stephane Patry.

'I never had a discussion with anyone from any athletic commissions out West ever since the controversial decision between Ulysses Castro and Yan Pellerin last year. I had no discussions at all with anyone from British-Colombia other than Lance Gibson, Bill Mahood and Greg Allen in the last 4 months.

Unfortunately, you guys will have to dig deeper to find who "Shut up" the show...'

Hmmm, that's funny, I remember you telling me last night that you had JUST gotten off the phone with the Vancouver Boxing Commission. You remember ? During the same phone call you made to me laughing out loud about how the event was cancelled ? You don't remember saying to me:


'...LOL !!! I hope you had a clause in your contract stating that you get paid even if the event doesn't happen LOL !!! This is comical J.T. COMICAL LOL !!!'

Ringing any bells yet ? Infact, how 'bout I go listen back to that conversation just to see if I perhaps am losing my mind and making things up. Then, on top of that you tell Joe last night in your message to him that you had:


'...just found out what was going on with everything, Mark woke me up and told me about the forum...'

When infact you had called me HOURS before that to rub it in my face that the event was cancelled, and that you thought it was "comical" Perhaps I'll find it comical to post in windows format the phone call that you and I had with you laughing out loud about the show being shut down, the same call where you said to me:


'...Leslie Dickens should have just "SHUT UP" LOL !!!'

...yeah, and everyone here is supposed to believe YOU LOL ?!? Give me a fucking break. The phone call that I have here is priceless. You come on here today and act as if you had nothing to do with it, and that you just want to help the sport, yet you fucking LAUGH at the hardships of others ?!? You fucking disgust me Stephane, you were NEVER my friend, you only wanted me to think that I was.


This is only the beginning, I have ALOT more to say, if you found this post interesting forum, you've seen NOTHING YET.

...the truth IS like a virus, and it's about to spread.

J.T.McCarthy

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Tabeira vs. Yvel

M-1: RUSSIA VS. WORLD 7 - 'WINTER STORM'
December 5th, 2003
Ledoviy Dvorets Sports Arena
St. Petersburg, Russia


Gilbert Yvel vs. Daniel Tabeira
Arman Gambaryan vs. Fatih Locamis
Sergei Kasnovsky vs. Slavomir Molnar
Mikhail Bogdanov vs. Kassim Annan
Bashir Guliev vs. Stefan Crnko
Andrei Semenov vs. Denis Kang
Alexei Veselovzorov vs. Brad Lynde
Dave Strasser vs. Ansar Chalangov
Denis Komkin vs. Yuji Hisamatsu
Alexei Prokophiev vs. Loic Pora
Musail Alaudinov vs. Yuji Hoshino
Karen Grigoryan vs. Roman Galako
Danila Veselov vs. Vasiliy Krilov
Magomed Magomedrasulov vs. Sergei Bal

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Fedor Emelianenko

In an interesting development, the Japanese media are saying that PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko will participate on Antonio Inoki's show on December 31st. No opponent has been named yet.

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Damien Riccio

The Fightsport.com 'Man of the Month' award goes to infamous French fighter Damien Riccio.

Ricco and his brother were at some english MMA event called UC 8, when a drunk woman who didn't know her place needed to put back into place. Riccio was there to do just that. As Riccio puts it:


"Just some explanations because i am tired of your posts.

First the girl is not a girl. it is just an histeric bitch who maybe thinks she is a man.

the story is that bitch was running around the cage (who was supposed to be forbidden...) at several time she put his ass hole in front of us and was yelling like a pig.

several time my brother ask her to move in order to see the fight because we really didn t want to see his ass.

She never answered and made like if we didn t exist.

So MY BROTHER ( and not me small histeric bitch) ask her a last time and she started to yell some words to my brother and didn t moved. so my brother tired of this dumb bitch take his arm to push her very clean on the side.

And that frustated histeric bitch began to push my brother ( very clever little girl...) my brother push her back and she tried to punch and kick hiM

Guys came to stop her because they saw she was completly histeric and we call security to put that bitch out.

even when the security was here she tried again to come back for fighting.

So security was putting her out and imagine how histeric and dumb and DRUNK she was because she came in front of me ( and not my brother ) and started to insult me . what could i do? hit her and just show her that she is just a girl and don t have balls between her legs?? To show him that when you try to punch someone you can be punch??

No i couldn t because she/he/it??? is just a female with some psychiatric trouble who beleive she is a man and a fighter. I so spat on his face.

So that the story. So just a message for this bitch. I m sorry for u that you didn t manage to excite us by putting your ass hole in front of our face several times but understand that i wanted to see the fight and not and dumb turkey ass hole.

I understand how frustated you must have been because we didn t want to see your ass but understand these things happen sometimes.

But please try to be a girl even it will be very difficult for a male/female/thing ( sorry i cannot choose )like you. And understand that putting your ass hole in front of men may not work sometimes.

Maybe deviant education??? I don t really know, but i know several depressive girls like you and i understand that it is very difficult to be in your situation.

Sorry for you to be frustrated not to be a man but try some surgery to make something between yours legs.

That is all. And instead of treat me of @#%$ little baby just take care of your ass hole and next time try to put it in front of other guys because i really don t like yours....

And please stop drinking.........................

Last thing next time stay at home and clean the house please... " -Damien Riccio

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The Canadian MMA promotion known as 'Shut Up And Fight', which was scheduled for December 6th in British Colombia, Canada, has been canceled.

SUAF promoter Leslie Dickens states that rival promoter Mark Pavelich was respoinsible for getting the British Columbia authorities to enforce their laws to the tee, thus getting MMA in British Columbia banned right before the big December 6th show.

Aside from the fact that Mark Pavelich is the promoter of rival Canadian MMA promotion MFC, Pavelich is also partners with infamous Canadian MMA promoter Stephane Patry.

Stephane Patry is also the promoter of the Montreal-based MMA promotion known as TKO, which was formerly known as the UCC before it ran into monetary and legal problems.


On a side note, any fighters still owed money by TKO president Stephane Patry, can contact him at:

Stephane Patry, President/CEO
TKO Communications Inc.
Tel: (450) 445-8886
TKOZone.tv

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By Todd Atkins

Phil Baroni (far right) after striking referee Larry Landless.

UFC president Dana White is lobbying for Phil Baroni's suspension to be reduced. He feels one year is a bit severe, and will even help Phil with his appeal. Word is that because of the money the UFC brings into the Mohegan Sun, along with Dana's statement that UFC will be back there with future shows, that it will be enough influence for the commision to reduce his suspension.

Dana White wants a six month suspension and a two year probation. Along with Phil Baroni agreeing to a LONG term suspension if he violates any rules during his probation.

Bottom line is that Phil Baroni sells tickets better than most UFC fighters. UFC and ZUFFA want him back as soon as possible. They all realize that Phil Baroni made a huge mistake in hitting Larry Landless. But he will take the Tim Sylvia route and act ashamed, contrite, and ask for forgiveness. His suspension WILL be reduced according to what Dana is saying in private.

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KING OF THE CAGE
December 6th, 2003
Soboba Casino
San Jacinto, CA


Main Events:
Jeremy Horn vs. Dean Lister
Larry Landless vs. Paul Castelloni

Also Featuring:
Valenzuela - Penalber - Layton - Gaskins - Taples
Stansell - Smith - Gallegos - Jaramitto - Martin
Seal - Ingram - Williams - Flynn - Breech
Pugsley - Barajas

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Genki Sudo

The Japanese media reports that a possible matchup between 400-pound boxer Eric 'Butterbean' Esch and 160-pound Japanese MMA star Genki Sudo may take place on the K-1, show scheduled for December 31st.

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PRIDE FC to be broadcast in 23 more countries.

LOS ANGELES, California - Dream Stage Entertainment has concluded an exclusive output deal with the Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network which now makes the PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS available to twenty three countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

Beginning in December 2003, PRIDE FC events will be exclusively broadcasted on pay television through satellite and cable within these territories, which includes the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia where the popularity of grappling and martial arts has seen a solid growth in recent years.

The Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network is the world's first fully digital, multi- channel, multi-lingual, pay television service, providing perfect sound and picture quality at all times. With digital technology able to support a total of 24 television and 24 radio channels, Orbit's premium package of television and radio services offers an unrivalled variety of choices for even the most demanding television viewers and radio listeners. Orbit was created with a sole purpose in mind: to provide a vast selection of world-class entertainment and information in English and Arabic to an audience hungry for greater program diversity.

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Dana White

UFC president Dana White made the following statement on the Underground forum:

'pride won't do a show in vegas in march. i can't believe people read that website!' -Dana White

The statement was in reference to what we reported on Monday, that PRIDE will do their Las Vegas show on March 26th, 2004. Dana must have obviously missed the news on the PRIDE press conference on Monday, as we were only reporting what PRIDE had already announced to the Japanese media.

Next time know your facts before speaking Dana!

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By Todd Atkins

Alistair Overeem

Antonio Inoki is negotiating for Allistar Overeem to face Vladimir Matyushenko on his December 31st show.

As I stated before, 6-6 330 pound ZERO ONE pro wrestler Sylvester 'The Predator' Terkay will also be on the card.

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Anderson Silva

Our sources in Brazil tell us that Anderson Silva, Paulo Filho, and Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos are all likely to be on the Antonio Inoki show on December 31st.

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Peter Aerts (right)

Fightsport.com first reported a few months back that 3-time K-1 champion Peter Aerts would concetrate full-time on MMA by the end of 2003, and that he would probably make his MMA debut at the end of the year as well.

Peter Aerts has just confirmed to Japanese newssite SportsNavi that this is indeed true. Aerts stated that he will retire from K-1 rules matches after the K-1 2003 GP on December 6th. He will then focus his attention solely on MMA. He is willing to fight MMA possibly as soon as the end of this year, and says that he wants to take part in one the big year end events.

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Stefan Leko

Antonio Inoki officially announced to the Japanese media today that K-1 veteran Stefan Leko will face Kazunari Murakami on his Decemeber 31st show.

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By Tape Lord

The Tank (bottom) vs. Cabbage (top) rivalry may continue, but in K-1 MMA.

Hello my friends, my postal connections in the K-1 organization tell me the following:

1.) K-1 MMA will have a heavyweight and lightweight division, just like the regular K-1 show.

2.) K-1 will begin competing with the UFC to sign the UFC's top talent.

3.) K-1 has already signed Kimo Leopoldo, Rich Franklin, Ivan Salaverry, Duane Ludwig, and Genki Sudo as a start. They will now go aggressively after the UFC's highest rated fighters when they finish their UFC contracts.

K-1 is currently in negotiations to sign Pedro Rizzo and 'Tank' Abbott. They will also tender offers to 'Cabbage' Correira and Ricco Rodriguez, and to Vitor Belfort when his UFC contract is finished after UFC 46. They are also taking a look at signing Andrei Arlovksi and B.J. Penn.

Beyond that, K-1 has plans to poach ex-UFC heavyweight Tim Sylvia when his contract is finished, as well as any current and future UFC heavyweight champions from now on in.

They pretty much want to poach the top UFC fighters on a regular basis much in the same way PRIDE used to do to SEG during the cable-ban years.

More news to come on this in the next week.

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Vanderlei Silva

PRIDE champion Vanderlei Silva recently spoke to Brazilian magazine 'Tatame', and stated the following (there are rumors in Brazil that Silva is referring in his statement below to a joint venture in training between Chute Boxe and Brazilian Top Team, but these rumors cannot be verified at this point in time):


"In the next month you will have BIG a surprise. A great vale tudo name is talking with us (Chute Boxe), and we are in negotiations to integrate the team. I invited the athlete, who is an athlete of reputation, and he said that he's thinking about it seriously. He said it would be an honor integrating with Chute Boxe. I believe that he will accept. Let's wait because it will surprise everybody, but I can say he is a heavyweight, and a top Jiu-Jitsu fighter" - Vanderlei Silva

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Rudimar Fedrigo and Assuerio Silva.

Brazilian magazine 'Tatame' reports that Chute Boxe manager Rudimar Fedrigo didn't agree with the contents of the open letter sent in to the Tatame website by Assuerio Silva's, regarding the reasons why half of the team left Chute Boxe. Rudimar guarantees that he has been always available to talk with his fighters.

"They werent men enough to discuss with me their questions. They earned a lot of money, and they should have conversed with me in person, not by writing letters. But, what can you expect from a man that sold himself for R$5,000 (approximately USD$1,500)? I'm open to talk with the group that left regarding their concerns. But to tell you the truth, we are just fine without them. The only one that I really feel bad about is Anderson Silva", commented Rudimar.

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Assuerio Silva

Ex-Chute Boxe member and PRIDE veteran Assuerio Silva sent the following open letter to Brazilian magazine 'Tatame', regarding the departure from the Chute Boxe team of himself, Anderson Silva, and half of the team:


"In reply to the request that was posted on your website by Mr. Rudimar Fedrigo that we return our black belts, his request is out of the question, as never in the history of martial arts has anyone had to return their black belts due to leaving a team - once a black belt, always a black belt!!

What really is in question is the contracts for past fights in PRIDE that Mr. Rudimar Fedrigo promised to show us when he heard that we were leaving the team.

We NEVER had access to those contracts. NEVER has knew anything about the negotiations or the value of our fight purses. That was the REAL reason why half of the team left.

Signed by Assuerio Silva and group."

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Stefan Leko (right)

The following statement below regarding K-1, Stefan Leko, and Semmy Schilt, was made by 'Golden Glory fight team manager Bas Boon:


The reason why Semmy Schilt and Stefan Leko are not fighting is:

K-1 got (Francois) Botha for an enormous amount, it is rumored that HBO is interested in him, for K-1 it would be their break-through in the States as long as they don't get any tax problems like they had (having) in Japan. However, we hear that K1 America may soon be involved in some tax dispute with the IRS due to underreporting of payments to fighters who participated in the K-1 USA events and if this happens, then there could be serious issues with K1 being able to do events in the US and also keep their PPV deals. Further more Botha signed a deal with K-1 for the future and also will do pro wrestling, perfect for K-1.

As they now have realized Sapp will never be a K-1 GP champion, they need to create new Bob Sapp, as he generated millions of Dollars for K-1. K-1 is becomming like Formula 1, the one who brings in the most money is qualified and all the tournaments are a joke!

That's why Leko and Schilt are not fighting, especcialy Leko, who is a big favourite for this year. Concerning negotiations and contracts, read the following:

K-1 promised Sem Schilt two fights for a set amount including participation in the last 16 because of his qualification in 2002. K-1however didn't follow that agreement, they made Schilt fight Bonjaski and paid him less then agreed upon.

They also didn't broadcast the fight on Japanese television and Eurosport (they wanted to promote Bonjanski who at that time wanted to sign (which he now did) for a number of years, so he can be the next champion, but of course Botha is preferred. As a reward K-1 sent Bonjanski to Las Vegas so he could still qualify (by the way congratulations Remy).

K-1 got Semmy and Stefan to come to Osaka and told Semmy a day before the fight to go home, without any excuse or payment! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! (they put injured Sem Greco in who had been away for two years and send the total prepared fighter Schilt home (of course if Semmy would have won from Peter Graham they had two golden glory fighters in the final and after Semmy destroyed Bonjanski, K-1 know this was not an option for them).

At that time an offer was made to Semmy and Stefan in writing (as I ask, I got sick of all their promises) Semmy could fight, but K-1 style, for less money than agreed of course. Stefan got also an e-mail with an proposal to participate in the GP finals on the 6th of December. This offer was accepted by the management and the fighters. K-1 confirmed this with an e-mail, they were happy the offer was accepted October 21st (believe me, It's managment didn't want to accept "it was a rediculous offer" ,but decisions are made together with trainers and fighters). It also said in that e-mail K-1 wanted to offer a contract to Leko for next year for four fights and a set amount.

That's when the problems started. K-1 started threatening; if you don't sign this offer for next year you won't fight the finals this year. At the same time they decided not to have Schilt because I would not sign Leko's 4 fight rediculous offer if he became champion and because Schilt vs. Botha is too much of a risk.

So K-1 sending an official message out to all K-1 parties saying Stefan/management and K-1 couldn't come to an agreement because of financial reasons is not true.

There is an agreement (and proove of it, by e-mail correspondence) that Semmy as well as Stefan/management had agreed on the amount to fight on the 6th of December. I even wanted to except their offer for the next year because Stefan wanted to fight so bad, he prepared like never before. Stefan made alot of costs by getting good sparringspartners and travling, vitamines etc, he even offered: after negotiating with me, to go to Tokyo without me (if this could help to bring him back in the tournament) and called K-1. But I told him before he called K-1, Stefan K-1 have their own agenda and you are to dangerous for them (you could win, it has nothing to do with me, this prooved even more that there was no managment dispute over money!). They underpaid Stefan for years and made a lot of empty promisses, if he would win and K-1 would not have a contract , they know they could expect though negotiations (they always try to work out the manger like this). Finally Daisuku should come to the Tokyo Hilton when I was in Japan with Pride, he should come with the papers for the 4 fight deal for next year, however when I was in the taxi, Daisuku called, he was sick and could not come. Nobody else could provide me with those contracts, so that was it!
K-1 knows all too well that after the drawing, nobody choose Leko, and in the current line-up, Leko stood a good chance to win. That's why they took this course of action, which has nothing to do with negociations of 'acting accordingly', but is very distastefull and has nothing to do with doing business.

K-1 did everything to find a way to get Francois Botha in (who maybe brings a tv deal with HBO and signed a longer deal with K-1 and will fight prowrestling ), unfortunately for K-1 does Leko had a good manager and a good business men, With K-1 threats threats and manipulation and no room or time for what they called "negotiations" and not honour their agreement, Bas Boon thinks that these two golden glory fighters are simply to good for K-1. They are both young, strong, very good conditioning with the right trainings methods both are potential K-1 winners.

had enough of all these strange ways of doing 'business', lies,threats and other not-business-and-sport-related things. That's why no one canaccuse me anymore of miss managing Leko. I had agreed to K-1 proposal and they acknoledge this. I wanted to wait till after the tournament as I have full confident in Stefan, but that is not possible with K-1.

I just want to promote manage and create good quality fighters, champions and believe me a whole new young generations is prepared by Cor Hemmers and other G.G. trainers you will hear from them soon!

I know Leko is in top shape en feels like winning. Why wouldn't hestand a chance of winning? (He beat Peter Aerts twice, Abidi and Bonjaski.) Win and earn the amount of $450.000.-!!! Do you really think management and fighters would refuse the chance to that for a few dimes? Or was K-1 looking for an excuse to get the two Golden Glory fighters out, who both had a good chance of winning? Could it be because both fighters would have no contract after this K-1?

And why didn't Schilt fight Peter Graham but an injured Sam Greco who'd been away for two years (were did Sam Greco qualify)? Bring some money, fight for almost nothing, or, bring a tv-deal and you automatically qualify for K-1. Now Botha who only fought for 90 seconds and got DQ, replace Leko who beat this year Mike Bernardo, Peter Aerts (tko), The Great Kusatsu (k.o), Fhilo and Bas van de Muisenberg (k.o) in the year 2003.

Stefan Leko fought hard fights against tough opponents and qualified trough a brilliant fight with Filho almost knocking him out in round three. Semmy Schilt who debuted his first stand up K-1 fight against Mushashi and won, the draw against Hoost (strange decision, Semmy won all rounds), then knock out in round three Mac Donalds and qualified in 2002. In 2003 he fought only once and he really gave Bonjaski a beating in Japan, his reward: no fights

Two golden glory fighters in top shape in the prime of their life, this would be their K-1. Now they are just reading the forums and gets millions of phonecalls of sympatised peoplewho think it is the biggest scandal after the tax problems from Mr. Ishii. Tv stations like Eurosport who planned a whole special on Semmy and Stefan, made months of preparation for nothing. All this because K-1 does not honour their agreement (and see more $$$$ signs in the person of Botha, were did he qualify, its is a shame a bloody shame.

Signed, Bas Boon

I could tell about a lot more dirt about K-1, but K-1 forced me to bring out the truth as I as a manager have been accused by many in having my own agenda and not acting in the best interest of the fighter. Herbey the truth of what really happend. Today one of my partners called and he had a phone call conversation with K-1. Even now on December 1 st , they still are trying to play games, they told my partner that Stefan was out now but that he and Semmy could fight next year, but that they did not want to work anymore with Bas Boon. (instead of blaming themself and making things right, they make it worse, K-1 style).

Bas Boon, Stefan Leko, Semmy Schilt, Dave Jonkers, Cor Hemmers and whole Golden Glory team!!!

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Kazuyoshi Ishii

Puroresu Power reports the following:

Prosecutors in Tokyo district court on Monday asked the judge in the case of former K-1 boss Kazuyoshi Ishii (accused of corporate tax evasion) to sentence Ishii for 3 years, 6 months of prison time. Prosecutors also are asking for K-1 to pay 90 million yen as a punishment against the company.

The judge will make a decision soon regarding Ishii's guilt and punishment on January 14, 2004. Ishii's defense team made a short closing statement on behalf of their client, saying "He wants to examine himself from the bottom of his heart and do his best from now on."

Ishii's defense team asked for a speedy trial conclusion and made the following argument (paraphrased): "If defendant Ishii, who is examining himself deeply, is isolated from society by an unsuspended sentence, the fire of K-1 will burn out and Ishii will betray the expectation of many (K-1) fans."

Prosecutors claim Ishii hid 900 million yen in corporate income and 300 million yen in corporate taxes. Prosecutors claim that Ishii's aides made false contacts and documents to cover up corporate tax evasion. In addition, Ishii is charged with destruction of evidence.

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K-1 WORLD GP 2003 FINAL
Saturday, December 6, 2003
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan


2003 GP Finals Tournament:
Peter Aerts vs. Alexey Ignashov
Ray Sefo vs. Musashi
Remy Bonjasky vs. Peter Graham
Francois Botha vs. Cyril Abidi

Reserve Match:
Carter Williams vs. Bjorn Bregy

Super Fights:
Bob Sapp vs. TBA
Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic vs. TBA

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Din Thomas (right)

Todd Atkins reports from Japan that Din Thomas is close to signing a contract with K-1. If signed, Thomas would compete in the K-1 Max division.

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Remy Bonjasky (right)

Monty DiPietro recently interviewed K-1's rising star Remy Bonjasky for the K-1 website. Bonjasky's trainer Andre Manaart was also present during the interview. Here's what Bonjasky had to say:


K-1: What do you think of Francis Botha's late addition to the card? How will he match up against Cyril Abidi?

Bonjasky: Well, Botha just fought once in K-1, I think Abidi wants revenge, and if he keeps his hands up, Abidi will win. otherwise, I think Botha will win.

K-1: If you did meet Botha, how would you approach that fight?

Bonjasky: Well, to box with a boxer would be stupid, he would do good. So, I would keep my hands up and start throwing knees and kicks, I don't think he has tasted them before so I think those would be difficult for him.

K-1: Did you get any advice from your fellow Dutch fighter Peter Aerts?

Bonjasky: (laughing) He told me, 'Don't train too hard!' No, because he is now my competitor, it would not be wise for him to give me advice!

K-1: In the second bracket, Sefo vs Musashi and Ignashov vs Aerts, which fighter do you think will get through to the final?

Bonjasky: Of course, it will be the winner of the Ignashov vs Aerts fight, no question.

K-1: If you met Ignashov in the final what would be your game plan?

Bonjasky: Alexey's a tough guy with the same style as me, he is also a Muay Thai fighter, so it would be a different fight from my first two, I'm sure.

K-1: How will the focus of your attacks change if you go through three fights?

Bonjasky: I think in the first two fights I won't use low kicks so I can avoid possible injury, but this also depends how match will go. But I think at first I'll use punches, knees, and flying knees.

K-1: If you do win it all, what will you do with the prize money?

Bonjasky: First, I will put it in the bank, then I will invest it in some big Japanese company.

K-1: Like K-1?

Bonjasky: Maybe, you never know!

K-1: Remy, you spoke about Alexy Ignashov. as you know, Alexy often says that he wants to win his fights artfully, with a beautiful KO. how important is to you to win with a beautiful strike?

Bonjasky: Of course, the most important thing is to win, but to win with a beautiful move is the most beautiful thing. Personally, I don't like the KO punch, I want to win with one of my kicks, of with a flying knee.

K-1: Andre Manaart, you have been training Remy for a long time, how would you describe the preparations for this Final?

Manaart: His confidence is good because of his win over Sapp, and his technique is growing. I don't want to speak too much about details because other people read these reports, but we will have some nice surprises for the audience Saturday night.

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SuperBrawl 32
December 5th, 2003
Honolulu, Hawaii


Masanori Suda vs. Shannon Ritch
Egan Inoue vs. Jason Miller
Ray 'King Kong Seraile vs. Tyler Lecky
Stephen Palling vs. Harvey Nakamura
Brian Pardoe vs. TBA
Mike Labuanon vs. Anthony Torres
Mike Bauer vs. Brandon Keene
David Yeung vs. Justin Mercado
Ryan Lee vs. Will Hagerty

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AFC 6
Saturday, December 6th, 2003
War Memorial Coliseum
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Open: 6:30 pm
Start: 7:30 pm

Card Subject To Change:


Dustin Denes vs. Adrian Serrano
Leigh Remedios vs. Mike Brown (AFC lightweight title)
Jeff Monson vs. Ron Faircloth
Jorge Santiago vs. Keith Wisniewski
Efrain Ruiz vs. Jason Veach
Julian Ortega vs. Jorge Masvidal
Thiago 'Pitbull' Alves vs. Derrick Noble
Davion Peterson vs. Anthony Rea
Charles McCarthy vs. Pat O'Malley
Robert Bailey vs. Michael Quinlan

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RITC 56
Saturday, Dec 6, 2003
Celebrity Theatre
Phoenix, AZ


Doors Open: 5:30 PM
Fight Time: 7:30 PM

Vince Lucero vs. Cory Timmerman
Drew Fickett vs. Greg Bell
Hans Marrero vs. R.J. Gamez
Herb Garcia vs. Mike Rainieri
Jack Austin vs. Lemuel Vincent
Rich Moss vs. David Canvas
Carlos Ortega vs. Brady Fulton
Pete Morales vs. Daniel Betzold
Israel Juarez vs. Adam Millican
Gabe Rivas vs. Travis Jordan
Adrian Leos vs. Danny Wren

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SHOOTO
December 14th, 2003
Tokyo Bay N.K. Hall
Chiba, Japan

Below is the developing card for SHOOTO's big year-end show on December 14th:

SHOOTO welterweight title:
Joachim Hansen vs. Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro

SHOOTO bantamweight title:
Yasuhiro Urushitani vs. Mamoru

Feature Fights:
Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira vs. Rumina Sato
Bao Quach vs. Hideki Kadowaki
Ryan Bow vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Robson Moura vs. Masatoshi Abe

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Fukumoto vs. Okada

World famous MMA photographer Susumu Nagao now has pictures up of the SHOOTO event that just took place on November 25th. To check out the pictures on Susumu's site, click here

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Randy Couture (pictured) to defend his belt at UFC 46.

UFC 46: Super Natural
January 31st, 2004
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Las Vegas, NV


Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC light heavyweight title)
Matt Hughes vs. B.J. Penn (UFC welterweight title)

Frank Mir vs. Wes Sims
Carlos Newton vs. Renato Verissimo
Lee Murray vs. Jorge Rivera
Javier Vazquez vs. Matt Serra
Josh Thomson vs. Hermes Franca
Karo Parisian vs. Geirges St-Pierre

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By Scoop McTroll

In an effort to help the sport, Fightsport are collecting market research data and will be forwarding the results to ZUFFA on a regular basis. Help Fightsport to make the UFC a better show by completing this short 10 question poll. If you do you will be supporting the sport.









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By Jake R

Matt Hughes

Multiple sources inside Team Miletich have informed this cyber reporter of the following:

Everyone involved in Team Miletich is extremely confident in Matt Hughes defeating B.J. Penn. In fact, no one is really giving Penn much of a chance and they believe Dana's idea for Penn/Hughes is a joke.

Also, Rich Franklin will be competing in Inoki's New Years Eve show on December 31. His most likely opponent at this time is Alistair Overeem.

Finally, Jens Pulver is set to make his pro boxing debut at 147 pounds this Saturday.

Stay tuned to the Jake R report for scoops and reporting you won't read anywhere else.

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Fedor Emelianenko

DSE held a press conference with the Japanese media today to discuss their December 31st show and a few future plans. Below are the announcements regarding their immediate plans for 2004:

1.) PRIDE 27 will take place on February 1st at the Osaka Castle Hall. Since Minotauro is fighting on December 31st, Fedor Emeilanenko vs. Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic will take place on PRIDE 27, in what will complete a round robin format between the three heavyweights. The winner will face 'Minotauro' Nogueira in the spring.

2.) PRIDE Bushido volume 2 will take place on February 15th at the Yokohama Arena.

3.) PRIDE will do their Las Vegas show on March 26th. A location has not been given yet.

4.) The PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix will open in June, with the finals concluding in August.

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Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Royce Gracie

DSE held a press conference with the Japanese media today to discuss their December 31st show and a few future plans. Below are the announcements made:

1.) Royce Gracie vs. Hidehiko Yoshida will be the main event of the December 31st show. It will be an MMA match, consisting of two 10-minute rounds.

2.) Kazushi Sakuraba will be on the show, but he will not be fighting Vanderlei Silva.

3.) Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira, Don Frye, Mario Sperry, Hayato Sakurai, Vanderlei Silva, Heath Herring, and Ryan Gracie are all signed up to participate on the show. Dos Caras Jr. has been told to prepare for training in case they need him the show as well. (It was reported in Brazil that Vanderlei Silva would miss this show, so it is not certain if he will indeed be on the show or not at this time).

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Carter Williams (right)

K-1 USA winner Carter Williams has been added to the K-1 2003 GP Finals card on December 6th. Williams will face Bjorn Bregy in a reserve match.

The winner of the matchup between Williams and Bregy will only be admitted into the GP tournament if one of the tournament fighters cannot continue in the tournament due to injury.

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By Tape Lord

Phil Baroni (far right) after striking referee Larry Landless.

Hello my friends! Welcome to Tape Lord's 'Monday Morning Mailbag'. Below are some of the more interesting e-mails I recieved as one of the editors of this newspage. Enjoy...

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Silva vs. Kondo
Kondo is finally the light heavyweight KOP, and now he wants a shot at Silva. This would be a great fight. What do you think the chances of this happening are?
-Tony
Schenectady, New York

Tape Lord's reply: In my opinion, Yuki Kondo has always been the only Japanese light heavyweight with the best chance of beating Silva. This matchup has never happened because of the politics between PRIDE and Pancrase, and to a minor degree because Kondo was never the KOP.

Now that Kondo has finally won the title though, this matchup may finally materialize if both sides can get together and work something out. Although I have to say that while Kondo had a very good chance of beating Silva in the past, I think Silva is just too good now and would win this fight. I see the fight being a war with Silva winning a convincing decision.


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BARONI OUT FOR A YEAR!! WTF??!
WTF is up with Baroni being out for one year?! That Larry Landless is a complete moron for fucking up that fight, he deserved to get bitch smacked! I think Baroni gained a legion of new fans with this and people will wanna see him when he gets back from his suspension, but I bet you that Zuffa drops the ball with this.
- UFC SUCKS
Boston, MA

Tape Lord's reply: UFC SUCKS, your sentiments are what pretty much 90% of the paying PPV viewer feels as well...Baroni has made new fans after he punched referee Larry Landless. The truth is that that incident was funny as hell, and in my opinion only a complete pussy would get upset at Baroni's actions. Let's be honest here, Larry Landless just has the kind of face you want to bitch slap. The guy looks like a bumbling oaf, and it's no wonder he's fucked up as many calls as he has over his officiating career.

When Baroni punched Landless, it was as if he was doing what almost every fan who watches MMA wanted to do to Landless. Especially if you're a fan who has witnessed all of Landless's fuck-ups in the past.

As for Zuffa (specifically Dana White), I'd say the chances of them (Dana White) dropping the ball with the marketing of Baroni are more then good.


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PRIDE just signed Royce Gracie. Why wasn't the UFC able to sign Royce for UFC 45?
I don't understand why it is that PRIDE can sign up Royce Gracie for their big New Year's show, but the UFC can't even come to terms with Royce to fight in their tenth anniversary show (UFC 45). Why does it seem that the UFC can never finalize these type of deals?
-Elian Rodriguez
Miami, FL

Tape Lord's reply: Two words: Dana White.

If it seems like Dana White is never able to finalize these type of deals, it is because he doesn't have the business expertise to do so. What you have is a former Boxercize instructor, with no background in big business, running a multi-million dollar organization/investment. I don't even know if Dana White has a college degree, let alone a business degree.

All these factors are basically why the UFC never gets these deals done.



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IS ZUFFA THE NSAC'S BITCH?
Why does the UFC always cow-tow to the NSAC when nobody else does?
-Andy Jordan
San Diego, CA

Tape Lord's reply: It is a pretty funny situation to be honest with you. You have Zuffa, who treats everyone they don't need like yesterday's trash, kissing up to an athletic commission who treats them as badly as Zuffa treat others. Call it karma or whatever you want, but the bottom line is that the NSAC is there to make sure Boxing is always number one in Vegas. Once you know this, then it is pretty easy to understand all the dubious judging decisions, bad calls, and positive drug tests that always seem to throw a wrench in the UFC's plans. Are these happenings just coincidence, or the result of the NSAC protecting their main interest of Boxing? That is a question that is up for debate, but the evidence certainly looks strong in favor of the second option.

As for the UFC and their continued effort to fight the losing battle of getting into the NSAC's good graces...well, in my humble opinion this has more to do with the mentality of the UFC's owners and management more then anything else. The Fertittas and Dana White have always been Boxing wannabes, and want to, and actually believe, that they can co-exist with Boxing in vegas. As if Vegas would just let the UFC eventually surpass Boxing (insert laughter).

I think the best way to describe it is by a quote from an anonymous mobster I once knew: 'Those guys (Zuffa) play American football as if it were a non-contact sport'.


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JOE SILVA IN THE HOT SEAT?
How much longer do you think Joe Silva will be the matchmaker of the UFC? What were his qualifications to get this job in the first place? Is he still illegally obtaining bootleg tapes of other events? Zuffa should make their employees "Support the Sport".
-Teabagger

Tape Lord's reply: Teabagger, Dana took over the matchmaking duties from him long ago, and just uses Silva as a scapegoat when things go wrong. When the matchmaking is good, Dana takes credit. When the matchmaking turns out bad, Joe Silva gets the blame. As it stands, Silva is definitely in the hot seat, as fighter agents know who's really pulling the strings and want to talk to Dana directly instead of Silva.

As for how Silva got his job in the first place...well he had no qualifications for the job at all. What he did do though, is make a mean coffee and kiss ass like nobody's business.


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Brazilian fighter Robson Moura and the Nova Uniao are upset at SHOOTO, and for good reason too.

The SHOOTO banatamwieght title has been vacant since it was created. Currently the number 1 and 2 ranked fighters in the bantamweight division are Japanese fighter Yasuhiro Urushitani and Robson Moura respectively. The number 3 ranked fighter in the division is Japanese fighter Mamoru, who Moura has already beaten.

Yet Japanese politics rears its ugly head once again, and it will be number 1 ranked Urushitani and number 3 ranked Mamoru (who has already lost to number 2 ranked Moura) who will be fighting each other for the inaugural SHOOTO bantamweight belt on December 6th.

Moura, who should be fighting for the title as the number 2 ranked SHOOTO bantamweight, will be fighting number 4 ranked Junji Ikoma instead.

Discuss this at Fightsport.com

By Josh Grossman

Dana White from his days as a Boxercise instructor.
Picture taken by Phelston Jones (c) 1999

It occurs to me that Thanksgiving is the only American holiday when the country celebrates in unanimity. What's not to like about the spirit of a day in which we give thanks for anything, really? Add in some football, enough food to sustain your average Ethipioan for a year and good times with family and friends, and you've got the makings of something special.

I'm not sure how the seating for your Thanksgiving dinner works, but there's one thing I know when I'll sit down sometime in the late afternoon, ready to gorge myself: Odds are I'll be the only one in the room who cares about mixed martial arts.

While continued growth has earmarked 2003 as a positive year for MMA in the United States, the sport has a ways to go still. Sometimes I think people forget that. Like a good turkey, MMA isn't something you can just pop in the microwave and nuke for 30 seconds until it's a delicious golden brown. It's going to need a long roast in a hot oven, constant basting and pretty damn good stuffing if it's going to turn out right.

Many of you reading this column are familiar with some of the tireless workers who ceaselessly promote MMA. While I'd like to use this space to identify each of them by name, I'd surely forget someone. To save myself the embarrassment, let me just offer thanks to everyone keeping the MMA turkey moist between the legs in hopes that the sport will soon become an accepted and welcome addition to the diverse American sporting landscape.

Though at times you may feel another way, your efforts are making a difference.

Next on the list is a maligned group. To you fighters out there: Thanks. Sure, several of you have been taken to task over the past 12 months (see 'Turkeys'), but take solace in knowing that you are pioneers. A century from now the best competitors of this generation will be subjects of inspired documentaries.

It's as if the sport is just escaping its pre-history, the past 10 years a prologue, or primer, to an exciting future.

Randy Couture. Mirko Filipovic. Vanderlei Silva. Matt Hughes. Lee Murray. The list could fill a thousand pages; the "thank you" needs but few lines.

Although I'm sure there are times when you feel under-appreciated, realize that somewhere in Rio de Janeiro or California or New York or Moscow or Tokyo, a child idolizes you. He or she has a dream. Fifteen years from now, other children will watch, and dream the same. By then the mixed-martial arts lineage will have firmly planted its roots. Rest easy Randy, Mirko, Vanderlei, Matt and Lee, you will be remembered. For that, I give thanks.


And now to mixed-martial arts' stuffing. There's something to be said for fanaticism, and a case study could be done on the legions who buy the pay-per-views, videos, DVDs, t-shirts, et al. You, the Mixed-Martial Arts Fan, are not easily fooled. More importantly, you refused to be easily deterred or led like sheep.

Remember, we're still less than three years removed from the UFC's return to cable pay-per-view. Boy, it sure feels longer than that, doesn't it? The fans' undying loyalty to everything MMA has created a rock-solid foundation. Promoters and fighters hoped to parlay that into big-money fights, yet the fans have not allowed it to happen at the expense of being fooled. We have Fightsport.com and various independant supporters of free speech to thank for that.

Unlike other sports, where millionaire athletes are coined role models simply for signing their names on the dotted line, participants and followers of MMA have a unique relationship. Though years and dollars (no matter how many colors they are) will erode the tight bond shared by fan and fighter, there will always be the common ground that linked struggles.

For the fans -- the true lifeblood of the sport -- 2003 marks 10 years worth of thanksgiving. It's time someone offered thanks to them. On a personal note, I'd like to express gratitude to all of you who read Fightsport.com. Thank you for the support.

And now on to the fun stuff ... what better time to list the five biggest turkeys of 2003 -- and we're not talking Butterball.


5) Ryan Bennett

There probably hasn't been an MMA media figure to have lost more face this year then Ryan Bennett. Not only did Bennett lose his job as the UFC broadcast interviewer, but he then was caught seemingly trying to get the current interviewer Eddie Bravo fired. It happened when UFC president Dana White and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta both received an e-mail from Ryan Bennett ratting on Eddie Bravo speaking about his casual marijuana use on an internet forum. Bennett then went on to say how such an act should be grounds for firing.

What Bennett didn't realize was that someone at Zuffa forwarded the e-mail to Eddie Bravo himself, and then the proverbial shit hit the fan. Bennett had already complained long and loud to many in the MMA industry that he longed for his old job back. This move to backstab Bravo has hurt Bennett's reputation within the industry according to MMA insiders. Not only that, but it has caused unnecessary in-fighting in an fledgling sport that needs all the teamwork it can get.


4) Clyde Gentry, John Pack, and other MMA hanger-ons

Ok, deep breaths. While I could point out a multitude of things that people like Clyde Gentry and John Pack have done wrong, the real problem is all the cookie cutter clones of Gentry and Pack that always seem to spawn and seep into the MMA industry. Gentry and Pack are but two examples of a breed of hanger-ons and wannabes that all too often try to cling on to industry, especially a fledgling industry.

Gentry and Pack offer two great examples of this breed.

Clyde Gentry, the guy who collected data and went to MMA events as some sort of post-collegiate groupie. He then slopped together all his thoughts from each event and called it a 'book'. Somehow he thought this made him an 'expert' on MMA and the MMA industry. It did fool some people however, as ex-convict John Pack then offered him a job as the editor-in-chief of Ultimate Athlete magazine.

Together they talked about 'Support the Sport' and all sorts of clownish catch phrases, only to try and damage the sport by turning on one of their sponsors, the UFC, and trying to usurp the 'Ultimate Fighting' name in court. Of course they failed and were rightfully blackballed as sneaky and unethical. Eventually Pack's backer would run out of patience and canceled his financial support to Ultimate Athlete magazine, thus spelling the end for the magazine.

Gentry abandoned ship right before the magazine's cancellation and then went on to the internet forums and started badmouthing the magazine and the people working there. Pack went on to start 'Bad Breed', which was a DVD-type of magazine. The name 'In Breed' would be more apt to describe the target audience these two clowns come from however. As it stands, Pack is now giving away 'Bad Breed' for free, no doubt in the hopes of collecting a large mailing list as a way to get a new sucker to invest in a future 'can't miss' idea of his.

Who knows what new 'can't miss' idea Gentry is even working on right now. Can anyone say 'Venom'? (insert laughter)

My opinion is that the MMA world needs to get rid of these wannabes. All too often the people who get involved in this side of MMA care nothing about the sport, only seeing MMA as a path to personal glory, and then trying to disguise that with the clownish catch phrase 'support the sport'. All too often MMA gets people just wanting to milk money out of this non-established industry, which has no money to milk.

MMA needs to work more with established and/or serious individuals who are qualified to take the sport further. The kind of people with the financial support and know-how who want to work into making it into a viable business.


3) Dana White's 250k bet, Chuck Liddell, and Murilo Bustamante

If nothing else, the summer of 2003 will be remembered for UFC president Dana White's failed predictions. First he proclaimed Chuck Liddell as the best light heavyweight in the world, until Randy Couture TKO'ed him in 3 rounds that is. Then Dana White confidently proclaimed that his boy Liddell would bring the PRIDE GP belt back to his desk in Vegas, only to see his hopes miserably dashed with Chuck Liddell's crushing TKO loss to Quinton Jackson in less then 2 rounds.

But what's even more embarassing is that Dana White inadvertantly put PRIDE over big-time with the American pay-per-view audience that witnessed the PRIDE GP, and who also witnessed Dana White's embarassing put-downs of Liddell during the telecast when White was in the booth for the Liddell-Jackson fight. White was the laughing stock not only in the American MMA scene, but also in the Japanese telecast as well from all accounts.

As for poor Murilo Bustamante, everyone knows he and the UFC (actually Dana White) did not come to terms on a new UFC contract, basically giving up his belt. Bustamante had not fought in over a year and then made his return to fighting in the PRIDE ring, on a few days notice, against Quinton Jackson. After losing a close decision, Bustamante seemed like he was back. Excuses were abound from Bustamante's camp that a prepared and in-shape Bustamante would do much better.

Bustamante would get that chance in the alternate bout against Dan Henderson. The fight would not last even one minute as Henderson caught Bustamante with a shot that pretty much KO'ed him. On the night where the UFC would be humiliated in the GP, their middleweight champion (I say this because Dana White still refuses to say the belt is vacant even though Bustamante is no longer with the UFC) gets humiliated by PRIDE stalwart Dan Henderson.

As for Bustamante, he embarassed himself further by refusing to accept the loss because he felt he was headbutted illegally, even going so far as to lodge a protest with PRIDE. Murilo, let it go my man, it's not helping your cause.


2) Tito Ortiz

How the overrated have fallen. I'm so tired of writing about Ortiz's flaps over the past 12 months I'll sum it up like this:

Chuck Liddell? Nah. Why? We're too good of friends.

Liddell again? No, I can't right now. Why? Injury.

Liddell for a third time? Not gonna happen. I'm in Utah shooting a movie right now. I might even retire and become an actor.

Randy Couture? He's 40, right? I'm there. And you'll fight Liddell next? Yeah, yeah, you got it buddy. I promise I'll fight Liddell next, even if I lose.

"And the new UFC light-heavyweight champion of the world, Randy 'The Natural' Couture..."

OK Tito, time to fight Liddell. Liddell? No, sorry, I won't be able to. My hand hurts.


1) Dana White

Please, will someone tell the UFC president to please take a course in basic marketing. And while he's at it, he should take a course on how to be decisive when faced with adversity.

For the second year running, there is still no champion in the UFC lightweight and middleweight divisions, and another UFC heavyweight champion has tested positive for steroids. That makes three divisions which are in flux. Thank God for Randy Couture and Matt Hughes at least, as they have brought stability and class to their respective divisions.

There are just too many things to list on why Dana White makes the 'Turkey of the Year', but here is a breakdown:

Failure to land a TV deal after 2 years plus of promises to do so. K-1 is now on ESPN, and PRIDE is soon to follow. The UFC could have been using these years on TV to establish an audience, but instead chose not to because Dana White thought he could do better.

Dana White always leaves too much to chance. Instead of crowning middleweight and lightweight champs right away, he let's it linger. He makes a lightweight tourney for the belt that ends up in a draw for the title. He then scraps the idea of a lightweight champ. Instead of making the second Baroni-Lindland fight into a title fight, he makes it into a regular fight, with preferred choice Baroni losing out to the time clock once again. Result: No champion in either division for almost two years.

After UFC 40 the UFC had a great chance to capture that cross-over audience from pro-wrestling. So what does Dana White do instead? He decides to can the idea of attracting the pro-wrestling crowd of course. Instead, Dana decided that going after a Boxing audience who could care less about MMA was the way to go. This constant failure to establish a brand awareness and core audience has been one of the biggest reasons in the UFC's failures

The there are the smaller problems aside from the big problems he has caused, such as bringing in old-time favorites such as Tank Abbott for big money, only to match him up against the worst possible matchup for him as a fighter, and have him lose his marketing appeal by losing that first fight. It essentially guaranteed that the almost half a million dollar investment in Tank would not be maximized.

Another example was not putting his foot down when Tito Ortiz decided to make a mockery of the light heavyweight belt by shamelessly avoiding Chuck Liddell. Then there was the idiotic matchups, which left way too much to chance (a recurring theme with Dana White) in ruining Dana's plans. The best example is that he matched Randy Couture against both his poster boys Liddell and Tito, only to see both of them lose badly to Couture, thus ruining Dana's plans once again.

Yet another example is the mismanagement of the investment known as Pedro Rizzo. They gave Rizzo a ridiculously overpriced guaranteed 6-fight contract that paid him around 200k a fight. They gave him this deal after the first Couture loss, which to Rizzo's credit he should have won. So what does Dana do after Rizzo loses to Couture again? Put him in fights against guys who are the worst kind of matchups for Rizzo of course. Not only that, but making Rizzo fight his way back up to a title shot for 200k a pop no less (insert laughter).

Nice way to take care of your bosses (the Fertittas) investment.

The list can go on and on, but you get the picture. As I already stated in Turkey number 3, White also made a fool of himself with his 250k bet and subsequent meltdown on the broadcast after seeing Liddell lose. It's just all too obvious to see that Dana White is a man in way over his head with his job as UFC president. He is a former Boxercize instructor who has no background or experience in big business. Does he even have a college degree, let alone a degree in business?

For all the reasons stated above, plus many, many, many more (which are too numerous to list) Dana White is the biggest turkey for 2003.

Discuss this at Fightsport.com

Ray Seraile

For those of you who haven't heard of him yet, Ray Seraile is one of the fastest rising heavyweight stars you've probably never heard of (don't let his fight record fool you). Fightsport.com decided to interview Ray and find out more about 'MMA's fastest rising star' (interview by Tape Lord):

TL: How old are you, and what is your height and weight?

Seraile: I am 24 years old, 6'3, and currently about 250.

TL: Where are you originally from and where did you grow up?

Seraile: Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans, Parish, not some neighboring city. I moved to the Colony Texas when I was 13, in the middle of my freshman year of high-school. I lived there for about 4 years, and then I joind the service.

TL: What branch of the military are you in?

Seraile: Navy. I'm getting out soon. I take the LSAT in February, so we'll see where that goes.

TL: Who's been your biggest influences in MMA?

Seraile: All the guys that are at the gym are a constant reminder to me of what is possible with hard work and discipline.

TL: How long have you been training/fighting, and who and where do you train?

Seraile: Everything I know, I learned at Grappling Unlimited. Never trained anywhere else. I also work conditioning with Wayne "Scrapper" Fisher. I have been training for five years now. I first started just to try and loose some weight, because I was stationed on a submarine when I first moved to Hawaii, and I ballooned up to about 315 pounds of almost all fat. After I started loosing weight, there was a period in between where I was not taking it very seriously, and then about two years ago I decided I wanted to become better. Started entering Naga, and doing O.K. in different divisions, and trying to guage my improvement from day to day, and week to week. Then around August last year, one of the guys from the gym knew somebody on Maui that was putting on an event and needed an inexperienced heavyweight for his card. They offered it to me, and I took it. And that's been it ever since.

TL: Do you like to watch any fighters in particular or no?

Seraile: I was a big fan of the sport way before I started fighting, and still am. I enjoy watching fights of Minotauro, Vanderlei, Quinton Jackson, Murilo Ninja, Heath Hearing, and Josh Barnett. And of course, any fight with a member of GU, Purebread, or FOKAI participating.

TL: How did you come to know Todd Atkins?

Seraile: Me and Todd were stationed on the same ship. We were both Yeoman on a fast attack submarine in Pearl Harbor. At first I'm pretty sure we hated each other. I think I borrowed twenty bucks from him or something, and got into an argument about it. After about a month of bickering, I think we both just said forget it and have been friends ever since. Todd took me to one of my first Superbrawls. Then from there, I was hooked on the sport.

TL: You seem to be a fan of the trolling sub-culture. Is this true?

Seraile: I wouldn't say that I am a fan of the trolling sub-culture, but I do believe that there are both positive and negative sides to a free speech forum, and anything that operates under the guise of being a free speech forum should be open to such truths.

TL: Do you prefer PRIDE rules or UFC rules?

Seraile: I'd have to say, that I prefer the PRIDE rules, just because of the whole elbow striking allowed in UFC. But seeing David Loiseau throwing elbows like punches is pretty cool.

TL: How long before we see you in either PRIDE or the UFC?

Seraile: I don't know. Hopefully sometime within the next two years.

TL: What is your fight record?

Seraile: 2-4-0

TL: Give us a run-down of your win against Travis Fulton?

Seraile: The bell rings, we come out of the gate swinging at each other, and I landed a stiff jab that surprised both of us. Then his game plan began to try to take me down. He had little sucess, ate a few knees and finally got me down. But what surprised me was my strength in the guard compared to his. I have been doing a lot of conditioning work with Wayne Fisher, and I think it showed. He couldn't get many punches off from my guard. I just sort of sat there because I was kinda worried about making a mistake. Travis is really experienced and I didn't want to give up anything. The second round he began trying to take me down even more. We ended up clinching, and I ended up with the takedown. I got half guard and started punching a lot to the body. Then I heard the 30 second warning and decided to try to go for a kimura. I got it locked in, but it was too much too late, and the bell sounded. The third period started similar to the second. I got a takedown, crawled him back to my corner, and punched from inside his guard for the rest of the period.

TL: What would you say is your style of fighting?

Seraile: I'm still developing as far as style goes, but I'd like to one day be seen as a fighter that has great versatility. Standing or on the ground, top or on the bottom.

TL: Do you have a fighting or martial arts background before you got into MMA?

Seraile: I started wrestling when I moved to Texas. That was about it. My Grandpa was a Boxer, my dad and uncles were into Karate and Gymnastics, and me and my brother both did wrestling and Track.

TL: Let's play the name game, I'll give you a name and you tell me the first thing you think: Vanderlei Silva.

Seraile: Nirvana. it's the music they play from that Sherdog highlight mpeg.

TL: Cro Cop.

Seraile: Ivan Drago from rockey 4. "I must break you!!"

TL: Minotauro.

Seraile: "Keep on rocking in the free world..." That's the song playing on his Sherdog highlight mpeg.

TL: Fedor Emelianenko.

Seraile: Hard punching gymnast. This dude punches flesh off of bones. That's pretty cool I guess, for a gymnast.

TL: Sakuraba.

Seraile: Classic. Inovative. Did things contrary to popular wisdom, and made them work.

TL: Hidehiko Yoshida.

Seraile: World Class, and underatted.

TL: Tito Ortiz.

Seraile: Victim of the fickle nature of the sport.

TL: Ricco Rodriguez.

Seraile: Anytime somebody says that name, That Ricco Suave music goes off in my head.

TL: Travis Fulton.

Seraile: Experienced. Very experienced.

TL: Randy Couture.

Seraile: I think of that ad in USA Wrestling with him in it smiling.

TL: Quinton Jackson.

Seraile: Tough as nails, and previously underrated.

TL: Todd Atkins.

Seraile: One of the most straight forward, honest people I have ever met.

TL: Bob Sapp.

Seraile: New Kids on the Block. I think of that because the way Bob Sapp attacked Japan with his multi-level marketing, reminds me of the days when New Kids on the Block were selling everything from albums to blankets.

TL: Dana White.

Seraile: UFC Guy. He's the man behind UFC.

TL: T.J. Thompson.

Seraile: Mr. Dakota. The man behind Superbrawl. Started with a small show in a club, to one of the largest MMA promotions out there.

TL: PRIDE.

Seraile: Blue gloves. They were blue gloves in PRIDE so that's what I think of I guess.

TL: UFC.

Seraile: The Cage and Bruce Buffer.

TL: Any last words you want to say to your legion of fans?

Seraile: Wow Legions!!! I still think of myself as a fan. One day...........

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Alexa.com just updated their internet ratings for this week. Below are the Alexa.com rankings for the top 10 MMA websites as of November 30th, 2003.

Fightsport.com has been the fastest-growing MMA website the last few months and have taken over the number 3 spot this past month, pushing Sherdog.net down to number 4. MMA.tv moved into the number one spot almost two months ago, knocking Sherdog.com down to number 2. MMAWeekly.com remains steady at number 5, while Subfighter.com has moved up to the number 6 spot.

The official site of the UFC fell down to number 7. The official site of PRIDE moved back into number 8, dropping Adcombat.com to number 9. IronLife.com knocked Maxfighting.com out of the top 10 to take the number 10 spot.



MMA RANKINGS:

1.) MMA.tv - Traffic Rank for mma.tv: 3,940

2.) Sherdog.com - Traffic Rank for sherdog.com: 7,163

3.) Fightsport.com - Traffic Rank for fightsport.com: 7,941

4.) Sherdog.net - Traffic Rank for sherdog.net: 9,694

5.) MMAWeekly.com - Traffic Rank for mmaweekly.com: 12,191

6.) Subfighter.com - Traffic Rank for subfighter.com: 16,662

7.) UFC.tv - Traffic Rank for ufc.tv: 20,964

8.) Pridefc.com - Traffic Rank for pridefc.com: 27,740

9.) Adcombat.com - Traffic Rank for adcombat.com: 29,247

10.) IronLife.com - Traffic Rank for ironlife.com: 42,369





Alexa.com tracks the internet ratings with the use of the Alexa toolbar, which is used by no less then 10 million people. Almost all of the Alexa toolbar users also use Amazon.com and Google, making the Alexa.com rankings very important with advertisers. Alexa.com is arguably the most respected internet ratings system in the business.

How to read the Alexa.com rankings: The traffic rank indicates the website's ranking amongst english-language websites. As the number goes lower, it indicates that the website is ranked higher.

For example:

a website with a traffic rank of '1', means that it is the number one visited english-language website on the internet, according to Alexa.com's 10 million users.

a website with a traffic rank of '10,221', means that it is the 10,221st most visited english-language website on the internet, according to Alexa.com's 10 million users.

a website with a traffic rank or '90,594', means that it is the 90,594th most visited english-language website on the internet, according to Alexa.com's 10 million users.

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Sean Sherk (pictured, left) provides us with this month's shady promoter.

The 'Promoters-Still-Owing-Money List' (PSOM List for short) is Fightsport.com's contribution to the MMA world in trying to expose and stamp out real shady promoters who still have outstanding debts, or cheated fighters and other people in MMA out of money.

UFC veteeran Sean Sherk gives us this edition's PSOM (pronounced SOM) candidate: Chad Mason.

Here's what Sherk had to say about Chad Mason:

I remember how proud I felt standing across Matt Hughes at UFC 42, fighting in the main event on pay-per-view after struggling to make a name for myself in smaller shows since 1999. I'm a very private person and have made MMA my full time career - it's in my blood, the subject never drifts far from my mind.

Today I'm working 15-hour days, holding down two jobs. This is certainly not where I expected to be after recently proposing to my girlfriend. When I choose to fight, there is nothing that is going to stop me - until I met promoter Chad Mason.

In mid-August, Chad contacted me about promoting a fight in my hometown here in Minnesota. After reaching an agreement with my manager, DeWayne Zinkin, Jr., I spent hours on the Net finding suitable venues to help him any way possible. I really want the sport to grow, and despite hearing things about Chad's storied past, I wanted to fight in front of my hometown fans, friends and family.

After settling on Spikers, a local bar that I had fought at before, I joined Chad in meeting with them to cut the deal for November 1st. Originally, I was going to be on two Chad Mason cards during the same month - one on the 1st (Minnesota) and one on the 28th (Iowa). On his word and supposed contract, I turned down other offers and put everything I had into training and assisting Chad with the promotion.

Unbeknownst to anyone, including Spikers, Chad changed the first date to November 7th. Spikers called me and read me the riot act, but I assured them the November 7th date was good as gold and not to worry. Though I had nothing to do with the promotion outside of fighting, I told Chad I could sell tickets and sure enough, I sold over 150 in less than two weeks. My family and friends were staying at nearby hotels and I was excited about fighting in front of my hometown crowd.

The Monday before the show, Chad called me and said everything was great and that he was going to finalize my deal with DeWayne, along with buying some airtime on a local radio station for advertising. I felt good about the situation and concentrated on my training, anticipating the inevitable. But as the days passed, I never heard back from Chad and my manager couldn't reach him.

The day before the show I received a call from someone who said the show had been canceled for two weeks. Promoter Monte Cox even called and said the same thing, as if it had been public knowledge. But how could this be? I had just spoken with Chad days before the show. After receiving two more calls relating to the same subject, I tried to reach him but to no avail.

Chad finally called Thursday evening, admitting the show was canceled. If not for that call, I would have shown up Friday night with all the people I sold tickets to, along with my family and closest friends, expecting to see me fight. I would have looked like an ass.

I told Chad I needed to be paid for the 12 weeks of training and keeping me off the market for three months with no fights and no money. He said he would personally come to Minnesota on Sunday to remedy the money. He never did.

As soon as I got off the phone with Chad that Thursday, I spent the rest of my night calling everyone I know, and everyone I sold tickets to, telling them the show was canceled, assuring their money will be paid back. I called Spikers as well and left a message with the manager telling him the show was canceled and what happened.

I got a call from Brad Kohler on Friday morning saying he talked with Spikers; they wanted to meet with me. He told me they were pissed off and rightly so. Brad went to the meeting to do some damage control. They blamed me for everything that happened. They said they were out a lot of money for chair and table rentals and whatever else.

Outside of losing money and other opportunities, I lost face in my own town and that's something I can never regain.

At the end of the meeting they asked if I would stay and meet people on the night in question to explain why there was no show. Along with Brad, I stayed at Spikers for five hours. I spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday returning people's ticket money. Chad Mason just disappeared and left me to clean up his mess.

He is a coward without a conscience.

Chad did not answer any of my phone calls or my manager's calls for several days. When we finally got a hold of him, he kept saying he would pay my show money which he said I was entitled to for all my work and training. Chad assured me he would pay the next day, but tomorrow never came. Of course the November 28th date came and went without a thought. Several fighters lost out on this opportunity as well.

The last time I talked with Chad was about a week ago. He said he was going to Western Union to wire the money and would call back 20 minutes later after everything was sent. He never called back.

I've called 30 times since then; he will not answer his phone.

So for the first time in nearly three years, I'm working full time and unable to concentrate on training 100%. Every night, no matter how tired I am, I still train with the same intensity I've always had. My name is mud in my own town, Chad Mason contends he is putting on a show (without me against my original opponent) on December 12th and refuses to acknowledge the people he's hurt in the process. To boot, the money owed to me was to pay for my wedding on January 24th, something Chad knew all along.

I'm not asking for sympathy, but I am asking the MMA community to permanently ban Chad Mason from promoting shows. He is taking advantage of a movement yearning to find its legs and I cannot allow this person to continue his practice of stepping on people for financial gain.

I urge everyone to strongly reconsider any dealings with this individual. This sport is still a grassroots community, one with a lot of hope to succeed. It's a shame bad apples have plagued what so many have fought for so I ask you to do the right thing and shun his unscrupulous practices.

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Murilo "Ninja" Rua

Meca World Vale Tudo 10
December 20, 2003
Curitiba, Brazil


Complete Card (Subject To Change):

Murilo 'Ninja' Rua vs. Alexandre 'Cafe' Dantas
Nilson de Castro vs. Carlos Baruch
Rafael 'Tatu' vs. Valdir 'Cabeca'
Marcelo Dourado vs. Ivan Batman
Delson 'Pe-de-Chumbo' vs. Marcelo 'Pitbull'
Gabriel 'Napao' vs. Claudio Godoy
Roberto Godoi vs. Daniel Acacio
Luis Brito vs. Jorge Patino 'Macaco'
Fabricio Morango vs. Junior Besouro
Jadyson Costa vs. Marcelo Nigue
Luiz Kbelinho vs. Adriano Nasal
Carmem 'Casca-Grossa' vs. Ana Carolina Pinho

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Vanderlei Silva (top)

Brazilian MMA journalist Eduardo Alonso reports that Vanderlei Silva will not be participating on the December 31st PRIDE show.

Silva just had minor surgery for bursitis in his elbow, and it was thought he'd be ready in time to compete by next month. But this surgery has been needed since before the PRIDE GP, and Silva's doctor wants him to rest his elbow for at least a few weeks.

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Kondo, Almeida, and Kunioku.

PANCRASE 2003 HYBRID TOUR
Sunday, November 30st, 2003
Ryogoku Kokugikan
Tokyo, Japan


Yuki Kondo defeats Sanae Kikuta by KO at 0:08, RD 2. (light heavyweight KOP title)
Ricardo Almeida defeats Nathan Marquardt by guillotine choke at 4:53, RD 1. (middleweight KOP title)
Kiuma Kunioku defeats Ken'ichi Serizawa by unanimous decision. (welterweight KOP title)

Akihiro Gono defeats Nilson Castro by unanimous decision.
Ron Waterman drew with Jimmy Ambriz.
Jake Shields drew with Kazuo Misaki.
Yoshiro Maeda defeats Barrett Yoshida by KO at 1:29, RD 1.

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TKO 14: Road Warriors
November 29th, 2003
Colisee Des Boisfrancs
Victoriaville, Quebec


George St. Pierre defeats Pete Spratt by rear naked choke at 3:40, RD 1.
Patrick Cote defeats Steve Vigneault by KO at 1:08, RD 1.
David Goulet defeats Shawn Davidson by TKO at 4:52, RD 1.
Ryan Diaz defeats Steve Claveau by triangle choke at 4:45, RD 1.
'Pain' Peters defeats Stephan Laliberte by rear naked choke at 4:00, RD 1.
Yan Pellerin defeats Cameron Brown by TKO at 1:54, RD 1.
Jonathan Goulet defeats Jeff Joslin by unanimous decision.
Thierry Quenneville defeats Kajan Johnson by split decision.
Kyle Sandford defeats Michael Lachance by armbar at 1:12, RD 1.


Any fighters still owed money by TKO president Stephane Patry, can contact him at:

Stephane Patry, President/CEO
TKO Communications Inc.
Tel: (450) 445-8886
TKOZone.tv

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