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Sefo vs. Sapp

K-1 'Beast 2004
June 26, 2004
Shizuoka Ecopa Arena
Shizuoka, Japan


Single fights:
Ray Sefo defeats Bob Sapp by KO at 0:49, RD 2.
'Montanha' Silva defeats Eric 'Butterbean' Esch by unanimous decision.
Ryo Takigawa defeats Tsutomu Takahagi by unanimous decision.


Japan GP tournament:

Quarterfinals:
Hiromi Amada defeats Noboru Uchida after three rounds by split decision.
Tatsufumi Tomihira defeats Mike Bernardo by KO at 1:30, RD 1.
Nobu Hayashi defeats Tsuyoshi Nakasako by unanimous decision.
Hiraku Hori defeats Shingo Koyasu by unanimous decision.

Semifinals:
Hiromi Amada defeats Tatsufumi Tomihira by KO at 0:58, RD 3.
Nobu Hayashi defeats Hiraku Hori by KO at 2:31, RD 3.

Final:
Hiromi Amada defeats Nobu Hayashi by unanimous decision.

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Mike Tyson

The AP reports that Mike Tyson was granted a boxing license Monday in the state of New Jersey.

Tyson failed to re-gain his NJ License six years ago after swearing at regulators during a licensing hearing regarding the ear-biting incident with Evander Holyfield.

Tyson manager Shelly Finkel added that they would like to see Tyson fight in New Jersey in the near future, and that Tyson's next fight will most likely be against former European champion Danny Williams on July 30 in Louisville, Ky., but that the date isn't official yet.

New Jersey governor James E. McGreevey disagrees with the decision of granting Tyson a boxing license this time around, and has said that he will ask the board to review the decision. But according to our own insiders, the decision will stand.

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Vanderlei Silva

Kakutogi World reports that Vanderlei Silva is scheduled to compete on the next three PRIDE show, so long as he doesn't get injured.

Silva's next three opponents will be Yuki Kondo in August, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson in October, and then an opponent-to-be-named on December 31st.

Silva's opponent for December 31st will be either Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira, Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic, or Fedor Emelianenko.

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Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

The Japanese media reports that PRIDE is planning a rematch between Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic and Kevin Randleman for later this year.

According to reports, the rematch may happen in August, but will most likely happen in October.

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Evan Tanner (left)

Inside sources close to the Team Quest camp are telling us that if the opportunity ever presents itself, that Evan Tanner would like to move back up to light heavyweight for another shot at Tito Ortiz.

These same sources also say that Evan Tanner and Matt Lindland would fight each other if the UFC asks them to.

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The UFC has been officially dropped from pay-per-view in both Japan and the United Kingdom.

WOWOW TV of Japan, and Setanta in the United Kingdom, both cited very low buy rates as the reason for dropping the UFC.

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Below is the official fight purses for UFC 49 according to the NSAC (all figures are in US dollars):


Ken Shamrock: $170,000 ($120,000 to show, $50,000 to win)
Matt Hughes: $110,000 ($55,000 to show, $55,000 to win)
Frank Mir: $90,000 ($60,000 to show, $30,000 to win)
Kimo Leopoldo: $55,000 ($55,000 to show, win would've been $0)
Tim Sylvia: $40,000 ($40,000 to show, win would've been $40,000)
Evan Tanner: $30,000 ($15,000 to show, $15,000 to win)
Phil Baroni: $20,000 ($20,000 to show, win would've been $20,000)
Frank Trigg: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)
Matt Serra: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Renato Verissimo: $10,000 ($10,000 to show, win would've been $10,000)
Georges St-Pierre: $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)
Trevor Prangley: $5,000 ($2,500 to show, $2,500 to win)
Dennis Hallman: $4,000 ($4,000 to show, win would've been $4,000)
Curtis Stout: $3,000 ($3,000 to show, win would've been $3,000)
Jay Hieron: $3,000 ($3,000 to show, win would've been $3,000)
Ivan Menjivar: $2,000 ($2,000 to show, win would've been $2,000)

Total Fighter Payroll: $586,000

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Frank Mir

Frank Mir talked with the media regarding Ian Freeman's recent derogatory comments about him.

Mir stated that he never talked bad about Freeman's deceased father as Freeman is claiming, and that he has enough animosity for Freeman without having to bring his family into it.

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Rich Franklin

The management of Rich Franklin have announced that Franklin will move down to the middleweight division from now on. Up until now, all of Franklin's fights have been at light heavyweight.

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By Todd Atkins

Renato "Charuto" Verissimo

My sources in in Japan and Hawaii are telling me that K-1 is planning to sign Renato 'Charuto' Verissimo. Look for this to be made official in the near future.

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UFC 49: Unfinished Business
Saturday, August 21, 2004
MGM Grand Garden
Las Vegas, Nevada


Vitor Belfort vs. Randy Couture (light heavyweight title)
Chuck Liddell vs. Vernon 'Tiger' White
Nick Diaz vs. Karo Pariysan
David Terrell vs. Matt Lindland
Mike Kyle vs. Justin Eilers
Robbie Lawler vs. Ronald Jhun
Joe Riggs vs. Joe Doerksen
Josh Thompson vs. Yves Edwards

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Yuki Kondo's 61 second war with Shannon 'The Cannon' Ritch

Pancrase 2004 Brave Tour
June 22, 2004

Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan


Yuki Kondo defeats Shannon Ritch by kneebar at 1:01, RD 1.
Nathan Marquardt drew with Eiji Ishikawa.
Izuru Takeuchi drew with Osami Shibuya.
Akihiro Gono defeats Tsuyoshi Kurihara by KO at 2:15, RD 1.
Katsuya Inoue defeats Hikaru Sato by KO at 3:53, RD 1.
Koji Oishi defeats Masakazu Kuramochi by TKO at 4:13, RD 2.
Masashi Kameda defeats Mitsuhisa Sunabe by DQ, RD 1.
Ken Orihashi defeats Iro Zeki by KO at 4:18, RD 1.
Motokazu Kobayashi drew with Kazuya Hirose.

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Atkins Insider

- 22 June 04, Japan Time.

BY TODD ATKINS



Fallen UFC LHW champion Tito Ortiz (pictured losing his title to Randy Couture) refuses to fight Ken Shamrock at Heavyweight.



UFC was pleased with the live gate and walk up ticket sales at UFC 48. PPV number's so far are not as good but they expect them to be solid because of Ken Shamrock.

Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz will fight at UFC 50. Ken Shamrock had the rematch clause in his contract and would like the fight to be at Heavyweight but Tito Ortiz wants to fight at Light HeavyWeight 205lbs. He has told Zuffa that's where he will fight Ken Shamrock or else.

Tito Ortiz was telling people all weekend that fighting Ken Shamrock again is a perfect deal for him, Great payday and super PPV exposure. He said Ken was an opponent he thinks he can easily dominate again. Here is the real kicker, if he wins he gets a title shot, thus leaving Chuck Liddell out in the cold yet again!!!!

Dana White and Lorenzo Fertita were pretty happy with the show. The biggest dissappointment for them was Evan Tanner beating Phil Baroni again. ZUFFA is praying that Dave Terrell will take out Matt Lindland to avoid 2 Team Quest fighters facing each other in the same weight class. Word is that ZUFFA will try to bring Jeremy Horn into this weight class if the money is not too high to sign him.


The Iceman is out in the cold again

Frank Mir's win sets up a nice fight with Andre Arlovski.

Dennis Hallman getting beaten was also a bit of downer for ZUFFA, but with Georges St. Pierre looking so good, UFC has a couple of options in the 170lbs Welterweight division . Frank Trigg and St. Pierre looked the best and got the live crowd pumped up pretty good. Those two would make for a nice matchup but UFC has to give Matt Hughes a title shot next. So the question for ZUFFA is, do they put Frank Trigg in there again so soon or feed St Pierre to Matt Hughes?


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Hidehiko Yoshida

The Japanese media report that Hidehiko Yoshida injured his left shoulder in his victory against Mark Hunt in last weekend's PRIDE show.

Doctors will examine it furhter this week to decide if surgery will be needed. Either way, it's been said that Yoshida will not be fighting until the end of the year at the earliest.

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Bob Sapp

Yomiuri Sports reports that Bob Sapp's fight against Ray Sefo on June 26th will be Sapp's last fight for a long while.

Furthermore, according to inside sources, Sapp will be taking the extended time off from fighting to concentrate on improving his fighting skills, and to work on a few movies in Hollywood.

According to these sources, Sapp is still with K-1, and will be returning to the ring some time next year, most likely in the spring or 2005.

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Ian Freeman defeated Frank Mir at UFC38 by brutal TKO


English MMA Fighter Ian Freeman directed the following statement to Frank Mir


LOL, Mir beats Tim and he is a champion.... yeah, like hell he is.

As long as there is a hole in my ass, I will always say your a paper champion. Why? because there is someone you will never submit or ko and thats ME! Yes, ME...you know the guy that schooled your ignorant ass in England.

Sorry to hear you lost Tim, but you just aint got the limbs to hold off submission guys like Mir. Your the real champ, you just played your game wrong.

Mir looked shabby against Sims, beat a worn out Tank and fought Tim who for some unknown reason took the fight to the floor?????????

You cannot claim to be the champ with a half assed record like that..... Washed out UFC fighters, 1st time UFC fighters or worn out UFC fighters and you get a title shot.... who's dick you sucking pal

Oh yeah, and you have also been beaten off a big dumb englishman, who you said "would never beat me." and if I did you said "I'll swim my ass back to USA if he does." ......you still swimming big boy?

And before all you Mir ass kissers diss me.... I'm just saying what is on most people's minds right now.

Does this make your blood boil Mir??? Sorry pal, but I don't give shit after the way you tried to diss me as a dumb fuck Englishman.

Ian 'The Machine' Freeman.


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Mike Tyson

Hirohito reports the following from Japan:

"I hear that K-1 is planning a Mike Tyson vs. Jerome LeBanner matchup for late July. The fight would take place under Western Boxing rules.

LeBanner told the Japanese media that he doesn't care about rules and will still throw leg kicks."

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BY KEITH SUTTON



Fallen Champion, Tito Ortiz after his humiliating loss to Randy Couture

FS 24-7's Keith Sutton witnessed the following incident at the UFC48 Post Fight Press Conference;

Ken Shamrock finished speaking and had sat down, then Tito from the back asked if he could ask a question. "So whats your answer Ken?"

Ken at first looked like he didnt know what Tito meant and then Ken blew up and they had a good 3 or 4 minute scene with Ken saying such things as "im going to hit you so hard it'll turn your hair black" and "lets go right now" and "dont let me see you out around tonight Tito".

Tito was just laughing most of the time and wanted to get up on the mic but Ken was too 'out of control'. Tito just said "I dont want to beat you up here" and "why should I do it for free?"

Tito also told Ken to come back down to 205 and Ken said he would.

It was pretty entertaining IMO. I'd count on them fighting again

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PRIDE Heavyweight GP
June 20th, 2004
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan


Heavyweight GP quarterfinals:
Fedor Emelianenko defeats Kevin Randleman by Kimura submission, RD 1.
Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira defeats Heath Herring by choke, RD 2.
Naoya Ogawa defeats 'Giant' Silva by TKO, RD 1.
Sergei Karitonov defeats Semmy Schilt by TKO, RD 1.

Single matchups:
Hidehiko Yoshida defeats Mark Hunt by armbar, RD 1.
Quinton Jackson defeats Ricardo Arona by KO slam, RD 1.
Kazushi Sakuraba defeats Nino Schembri by unanimous decision.

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BY TODD ATKINS




"Ken Shamrock will face Tito Ortiz next."


Word is now out from several sources that Ken Shamrock will face Tito Ortiz next. I broke this story a few weeks ago in a previous Atkins Insider column and now the wheels are in motion for the second installment of this fight to take place.

Dana White and Lorenzo Fertita continued to make future plans based on what they thought would happen. Dennis Hallman had already been approached about fighting Matt Hughes next, but with him losing to Trigg that fight has obviously been scratched.

Matt Lindland is signed to a ONE FIGHT deal (they think he will lose to Dave Terrell).

This is what Dana White was banking on for UFC 48.

Hughes to beat Charuto (Hughes won)

Hallman to beat Trigg (Trigg won)

Baroni to beat Tanner (Tanner won again)

Phil Baroni really suffered a major loss in this one because there was a new long term contract waiting for him had he won.

Ken to beat Kimo (Ken won)

ZUFFA is very happy that Ken won because they are hoping for another huge live gate, and PPV buys for the rematch of Ken Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz.

Dana and Lorenzo also felt very strongly that Frank Mir would beat Tim Sylvia by submission. Ricco Rodriguez is going to get a tune-up fight probably in UFC 50, and then he will get a title shot if he wins.


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