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Cage Rage 9: 'No Mercy'
November 27, 2004
London, England


Brad Picket Stuart Grant TKO 0:17 1
Mustapha al Turk Fereidoun Maghizadeh TKO 2:25 1
Sami Berik Abdul Mohamed TKO (Cut) 1
Alex Reid Tulio Palhares Submission (Triangle Choke) 1:17 1
Paul Daley Jess Liaudin TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 5:00 1
Robbie Oliver Dave Elliot KO 0:57 1
Sol Gilbert Ridas Vivada KO 3:42 1
Jean Silva Samy Schiavo Submission (Triangle Choke) 4:40 1
Renato 'Babalu' Sobral Cyrille Diabate Submission (Choke) 3:38 1
Michael Bisping Mark Epstein KO 4:43 3
Matt Lindland Mark Weir TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 5:00 1
Ian Freeman Ryan Robinson TKO 2:44 1

TKO 18: 'Impact'
November 26th, 2004
Pierre-Charbonneau Centre
Montreal, Canada


Donald Ouimet defeats Blake Fredrickson by decision.
Stephane Vigneault defeats Phillipe Lagace by decision.
Jacob Conliffe defeats Todd Gouwenberg by rear naked choke at 1:08, RD 2.
Jonathan Goulet defeats John Alessio by decision.
Sam Stout defeats Dave Goulet by KO at 0:59, RD 3.
Iccho Larenas defeats Yan Pellerin by TKO at 5:00, RD 1.
Ryan Diaz defeats Stephane Laliberte by armbar at 1:13, RD 1.
Thierry Quennville defeats John Fraser by armbar at 1:30, RD 2.
Alex Gasson defeats Antoine Coutu by choke at 1:06, RD 3.
Sonny Leong drew with Dave Parizeau.
Serge Lafond defeats Martin Tremblay by decision.




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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Pancrase: '2004 Brave Tour'
November 26th, 2004
Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan


Gustavo 'Ximu' Machado defeats Keiichiro Yamamiya by heel hook at 1:20, RD 3.
Yuki Sasaki defeats Yuya Shirai by unanimous decision.
Izuru Takeuchi defeats Seiki Ryo by TKO at 5:00, RD 1.
Daisuke Hanazawa defeats Osami Shibuya by unanimous decision.
Yuji Hisamatsu defeats Hikaru Sato by unanimous decision.
Kenji Arai defeats Hiroyuki Nozawa by KO at 3:33, RD 2.
Ken Orihashi defeats Taishiro Taishiro by TKO at 4:02, RD 2.
Daizo Ishige defeats Hidenobu Koike by TKO at 4:22, RD 1.

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Vanderlei Silva brutally knocking out Quinton "Rampage" Jackson once again.

The Brazilian media report that a cartoon based on Vanderlei Silva and the Chute Boxe team will debut in Japan.

Famous Japanese cartoon producers Shimada and Teppei Harashima, creators of a popular Japanese cartoon called 'Total Muscle', are currently in Curitiba, Brazil, to observe the Chute Boxe team in person and to get some ideas for the cartoon.

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SHOOTO Brazil: 'MMA New Generation'
November 28, 2004
Circulo Militar Gymnasium
Curitiba, Brazil


A-class bouts:
Jadyson Costa vs. William Casquilha
Katel Kubis vs. Julian Jaba
'Indio' vs. Aranha
Gildo Lima vs. Naja
Araribe Boi vs. Maicon
Divino vs. Fabio Silva
Wagner Tiburcio vs. Rodrigo

B-class bouts:
Fernando Vieira vs. Luis Afonso
Carlos Eduardo vs. Serginho
Wanderlei vs. Fernando Fefe

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By Josh Grossman

Royce Gracie (left) facing off to a cardboard cut-out of Akebono.

I am hearing over here in Japan that the Royce Gracie vs. Akebono matchup will have no time limit and no referee stoppage.

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Heath Herring

The Japanese media is reporting that K-1 has made a very good offer to Heath Herring to participate on their December 31st card.

It is not known at this time whether Herring has accepted the offer or not.

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Kazuyuki Fujita

Sources in the US are saying that Kazuyuki Fujita will prepare for his December 31st fight by training with Marco Ruas and his team in California.

Fujita's opponent has not been announced, but it is expected that he will most likely face Olympic wrestling gold medalist Karam Ibrahim.

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SHOOTO: 'Rookie Tournament 2004 Final'
November 25th, 2004
Kitazawa Town Hall
Tokyo, Japan

Atsushi Takeuchi and Kouetsu Okazaki won their respective rookie tournaments. The Yushi Shiori vs. Kentaro Maeda was cancelled due to an injury Shiori sustained before the match.


'Heat' Takeshi defeats Yusei Shimokawa by unanimous decision.
Tenkei Fujimiya drew with Sakae Kasuya.
Atsushi Takeuchi defeats Issei Tsurumi by unanimous decision.
Kouetsu Okazaki drew with So Tazawa.
Tomonari Kanomata drew with Kabuto Kokage.
Junji Ikoma defeats Homare Kuboyama by TKO at 3:57, RD 1.

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A source in Canada has sent us the following inside info regarding some faulty advertising that TKO president Stephane Patry is supposedly trying to pull once again:


"Regarding TKO 18 on November 26th, TKO had no intention of using David Loiseau on the card. It seems they just kept him on the poster and other advertising so they could sell more tickets without actually having him fight.

Steve Duquette, another huge ticket seller did not get his license from the athletic commission. Information about that was only announced two days before the show.

It is not the first time that Duquette could not get his license done in time.

Shane Rice is hurt. No announcement has been made yet about his injury."



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 Josh Grossman

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic vs. Kevin Randleman is a done deal for the PRIDE card on December 31st.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends.

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UFC president and "Turkey of the Year" winner Dana White.

Everyone at Fightsport.com would like to wish our loyal fans a happy Thanksgiving!

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Monte Cox, the manager of Tim Sylvia, announced that Sylvia is still scheduled to face Wes Sims on the Super Brawl 38 card on December 11th.

Cox's announcement was in response to rumors proclaiming that Sylvia may pull out of the card due to his surgically repaired broken arm not being fully healed yet.

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Jake Shields (top) enroute to a decision win.

Jake Shields, perhaps one of the most boring fighters competing today, described B.J. Penn's victory over Rodrigo Gracie as a 'boring win for Penn'.

It must be noted that Shields is a student of Ceasar Gracie, and therefore affiliated with Rodrigo Gracie.

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Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (left)

Brazilian journalist Eduardo Alonso announced the following info regarding a US seminar by the Rua brothers, Murilo 'Ninja' and Mauricio 'Shogun':


"Hi Everybody,

Pride fighters from Chute Boxe Murilo Ninja Rua and his brother Mauricio Shogun Rua are planning to hit the USA for small seminar tour this comming January/February.

Ninja has been doing successful seminar tours in Europe over the last two years, doing seminars in more than seven countries and its time to visit the USA as well with his seminar tour, and wouldn't be a better way than bringing his brother Shogun along, in the first time ever they minister seminars together. The seminars are MMA oriented and we got positive feedback in all the countries we've been to, always in a nice training atmosphere.

Those interested in taking the chance to hold the seminar in their cities/academies please contact us by email, to find out details at

edualonsomm@gmail.com

As we're still deciding our scheduele and what places to go to, since due to the training schedules of both we can't stay on the road forever. Both Ninja and Shogun are looking forward to it, as the first of many visits to the USA :-)

Thanks and see you all soon,

Eduardo Alonso."

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M-1
December 4th, 2004
Lujniki Sports Complex
Moscow, Russia


Heavyweight tournament:
Carlos Berreto vs. Martin Malkhasyan
Rodney Faverus vs. Ramazan Ahaddulaev
Ulysses Castro vs. Milco Voorn
Carlos Clayton vs. Ibragim Magomedov

Single fights:
Amar Suloev vs. Denis Kang
Andrei Semenov vs. Matt Edwin
Arman Gambaryan vs. Moise Rimbon

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By Coffee Guy

Tito Ortiz

Before reading any further, please read our disclaimer first.

The following exclusive report was sent to us by our Zuffa informant called 'Coffee Guy':


Tank Abbott vs. Ken Shamrock is OFF for this card. The UFC 51 card is now starting to look like this:

Vitor Belfort vs. Tito Ortiz
Evan Tanner vs. Dave Terrell
Tim Sylvia vs. Andrei Arlovski
Phil Baroni vs. Robbie Lawler
Joe Riggs vs. Patrick Cote
Nick Diaz vs. TBA
Karo Parisyan vs. TBA
Chris Lytle vs. TBA

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Fallen UFC Champion turned Journeyman, Tito Ortiz (left) with a friend.

Before reading any further, please read our disclaimer first.

A verified former training partner of Tito Ortiz sent us the following insight on Ortiz:


"Don't believe any of that shit Tito is saying on the forums. The more he talks about someone, the more he's scared of him. And believe me, Tito has ALWAYS been very afraid of facing Vitor Belfort. Tito's been scared of him ever since he saw Vitor destroy Tank. And we all seen Tank knock Tito all over the place in training.

Tito's afraid of Vitor's hands and doesn't want to stand with him under any circumstances. He's afraid he's gonna get lit up by Belfort and humiliated on national TV the way Liddell did to him.

Notice that the first minute Tito found out he was fighting Vitor, he ran all the way to Team Quest and begged them to train him for this fight. Imagine that, begging the guy who spanked you to train you Ha Ha. He wants to make damn sure he can take Belfort down so he doesn't have to stand with him. He try to stall for a JD, like he did with Cote.

One more thing, it's been eating Tito up that all his former training buddies flocked to Vitor to help him for his fight against Randy. That really got into Tito's head Ha Ha. Fuck Tito. The dude is a phony and a chickenshit, and people need to realize this. In fact, all of his ex-training partners that I know are all rooting for Vitor to kick his ass."

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By Tape Lord

Bob Sapp

Hello my friends, my postal connections in the K-1 organization are telling me that K-1 is seriously thinking about trying to sign a Bob Sapp vs. Wakanohana matchup for their card on December 31st.

Wakanohana is a former Sumo grand champion and the brother of Takanohana, who is also one of Sumo's most successful grand champions ever.

Last year's Sapp vs. Akebono fight drew record ratings in Japan. The thinking by K-1 is that having a main event line-up of Sapp against another popular Sumo grand champion in Wakanohana and Akebono against a Gracie, can possibly draw similar, if not better, record ratings.

More news to come regarding this in the next two weeks.

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Royce Gracie (left) facing off to a cardboard cut-out of Akebono.

Below is a possible partial line-up and a list of possible participants that the Japanese media is saying is most likely to take place for the K-1 show on December 31st:


Officially announced MMA rules matchups:
Royce Gracie vs. Akebono
Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Karam Ibrahim
Bob Sapp vs. TBA
B.J. Penn vs. Kaoru Uno
Mike Bernardo vs. Bobby Ologun

Officially announced K-1 rules matchups:
Masato vs. Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto

Possible MMA rules matchups:
Jerome Le Banner vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama or Sean O'Haire
Sean O'Haire vs. Gary Goodridge

Other fighters to possibly be on the card:
Don Frye
Tom Erikson
Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
Wakanohana

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Some of the announced participants for the PRIDE show on December 31st.

Below is the possible line-up that the Japanese media is saying is most likely to take place for the PRIDE show on December 31st. The final card is scheuled to have a total of ten matchups:


Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Rulon Gardner vs. Hidehiko Yoshida
Vanderlei Silva vs. TBA (possibly an Olympic Judoka)
Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic vs. Mark Hunt
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Kiyoshi Tamura
Takanori Gomi vs. Jens Pulver or Luis 'Buscape' Firminho
'Giant' Silva vs. Takashi Sugiura
Henry 'Sentoryu' Miller vs. Noaya Ogawa or Fabricio Werdum
Rogerio 'Minotoro' Nogueira vs. Dan Henderson
D. Mishima vs. TBA (possibly Luis 'Buscape' Firminho)

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DSE/PRIDE announced that their PRIDE US Try-Outs are now complete, and that announcements on who will win PRIDE contracts and MMA scholarships will be announced in approximately one month.

However, prizes containing PRIDE merchandise were given out to the winners of individual awrad categories. Those winners were:

Best Striker: Karl James Noons
Best Takedowns: Jake Draves
Best Grappler: Heath Simms
Best Looking Fighter: Nick Ring
Best Physique: Edwin Aguilar
Globetrotter Award: (Fighter who traveled the farthest to attend the auditions): Paul Colesby and Hakan Volkan (both came from the United Kingdom)
Gray Beard Award: (oldest fighter) George Koeing
Diaper Award: (youngest fighter) Zach Taylor
Bushido Award: (chosen by Nobuhiko Takada) Chael Sonnen
Grand Prize Winner: (random drawing for a trip to Japan to watch a PRIDE event) Dan "The Wolfman" Theodore

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Chris Brennan (bottom)

Tired of sticking his foot in his mouth and having his words come back to humiliate him over and over again, journeyman fighter Chris Brennan has officially announced that he will be taking a leave of absense from most of the internet.

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"Fatbody"

Fightsport.com exposed yet another internet warrior known as 'Fatbody'.

Fatbody openly stated that he would face Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter Andreh Anderson in any form of combat. Fatbody once trained with Anderson and openly made disparaging remarks regarding Anderson's line of part-time work as head of security at a gay night club.

When a mystery financier put up a winning purse of USD$2,500 for the winner of such a matchup (whether it be MMA, K-1-rules, or just a jiu-jitsu match), Anderson openly accepted, but Fatbody (who only lives approximately 10 minutes away from Anderson in Southern California) turned down the offer, citing car troubles as the reason.

Congratulations to Andreh Anderson for exposing yet another 'Internet Fighter'.

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Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin (top)

One of our correspondents in Australia sends us this picture of Steve 'The Crocodile Hunter' Irwin training in Brazilian jiujitsu.

Irwin and his family are trained in BJJ by Australian MMA fighter Dan Higgins.

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By the Predator

The Predator accepts the challenge of Sean Gannon (right)

A few days ago on Sherdog's site, illegal streetfighter, gambler, and law enforcement official Sean 'The Cannon' Gannon decided to continue his wreckless behavior. Gannon issued an internet challenge over the column I wrote attacking his endangerment of the cagefighting industry by participating in an illegal streetfight.

Gannon also wants to know more about my background and style, probably because he is hoping I am another untalented, untrained bum off the street like Kimbo Slice was. Even still, he was beaten into the hospital by an untrained streetbrawler, so I think Gannon realizes what a trained professional fighter would do to him. Rather than responding with words and debating the facts of the case, Gannon has chosen to settle this issue with brute force because he realizes I am right and what he did was both legally and morally wrong.

Can't you all just imagine Gannon arresting someone for doing the same sort of illegal streetfight for money he just participated in? A lame bullshit excuse about it really being a 'sparring match' wouldn't work in the real world either with a regular person, but cops get away with lying all the time.

Gannon, I would like to officially accept your internet challenge so long as the event is held in a legal, sanctioned event. I have news for you tubs, a fighter of my caliber doesn't travel to a lower level event like the third rate shows that are run up in the northeast by idiots like Kirik Jenness. No one has ever heard of Mass Destruction or the scrubs who fight there.

However, everyone knows about the Arizona cagefighting scene, and they also know about Rage In The Cage, which is one of the top shows in America, and also one of the most brutal and least restrictive rules-wise. If you want to fight me, you have to step out of the minor league shows like Mass Destruction and step up to the big leagues, which is what Arizona cagefighting is all about. I should let you know that I am an undefeated professional cagefighter.

In addition to being an undefeated professional cagefighter, I also have to disclose in the interest of your safety that I am an Arizona state Judo champ, and an Arizona state wrestling champ. Think about that while you are lying in your hospital bed, receiving taxpayer supported health care (at no cost to you) and remembering how easily Kimbo took you down and busted up your chubby face.

Normally, I am merciful on my opponents and just look to finish them via submission. Even though we all know this a life and death sport where fighters risk their lives every time they step into the cage, I try not to hurt anyone. But this time, your actions and the danger you may have caused to the legality of cagefighting will leave me no other choice than to take this personally. Just imagine what would have happened had you literally killed Kimbo in your 'sparring match'. The entire sport would have been banned in America and everyone knows it!

If you have the balls to actually fight a real fighter and step into the cage with me, I plan on making your face look twice as bad as Kimbo did. The difference though is that I am a highly trained professional athlete and will not get tired, no matter how many times I punch you when I have you pinned against the cage.

Think long and hard before you agree to fight me in an Arizona cagefighting event, do you really want to end up with another lengthy taxpayer funded hospital stay?

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By Josh Grossman

Jens Pulver

SHOOTO's ontract talks with Jens Pulver and Kaoru Uno have broken down.

Pulver is now headed to appear on the PRIDE card on December 31st against Takanori Gomi. PRIDE originally was looking at D. Mishima as the opponent for Pulver, but Gomi requested to face Jens.

As I reported earlier, Kaoru Uno is headed for the K-1: 'Dynamite' card on Decemebr 31st. Uno will most likely face B.J. Penn for a third time.

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Sean O'Haire (left)

The Japanese media is saying that former WWE wrestler Sean O'Haire (who just beat Shungo Oyama in ROTR 6) will face either Kazuyuki Fujita or Jerome Le Banner on the K-1 card on December 31st.

Discuss this at Fightsport.com

Karam Ibrahim (top)

Japanese website provided some pistures of Olympic wrestling gold medalist Karam Ibrahim in training for his upcoming MMA fight on the K-1 card on December 31st.

Aside from his world class wrestling skills, Ibrahim is expected to be very raw for his MMA debut. His opponent is rumored to be Kazuyuki Fujita.

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By Josh Grossman

B.J. Penn (top) wants to be the next "Gracie Killer".

Karam Ibrahim will likely face Kazuyuki Fujita on the K-1 card on December 31st in Osaka, Japan. This will pit the recent Olympic wrestling gold medalist Egyptian against a former Japanese national champion. Bob Sapp is also being looked at as a backup opponent, in the event that Fujita does not come to terms.

Jerome Le Banner has also signed on for this card, and will probably be making his NHB debut in the process.

B.J. Penn has stated that he will be fighting in K-1's New Years Eve show as reported in an earlier addition of the Grossman Insider. Both SHOOTO and K-1 are fighting heavily for the services of Kaoru Uno. K-1 wants to pit Penn against Uno in their show, while SHOOTO is looking to have him face Joachim Hansen. SHOOTO was trying to match up Hermes Franca vs. Kaoru Uno, but Uno decided to turn the match down due to the fact that Franca carried no rank in ShOOTO.

Next year B.J. Penn is hoping to emerge as the next 'Gracie Killer'. His plans are to face Ralph Gracie next. Penn originally started out under Ralph Gracie for several years in California before moving back to Hawaii full time. Penn is very confident that he will beat Ralph with little trouble. After this fight he will then look to a mega money fight against Royce Gracie.

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By Tape Lord

Once a Boxercise instructor, Dana White is now UFC president.

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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FOOL OF THE WEEK
Tape Lord, who is this week's "Fool of the Week"?
- Phil
Bayside, NY

Tape Lord's reply: Phil, this weeks "Fool of the Week" award goes out to UFC president Dana White. If Dana hadn't been so close-minded, stubborn, and petty during the time that B.J. Penn wanted to take a fight in K-1, Penn may have never went to K-1 on a permanent basis.

But because Dana stripped Penn of the UFC title and unofficially banned him from the UFC, he set the wheels in motion for Penn to partner up with K-1 (who wants take over the North American market from the UFC). K-1 is now helping to fund Penn's ROTR promotion, which combined with the smarts of K-1 and Penn himself, seems like it will become a major player and competitor of the UFC in the North American market.

As for K-1, they seem to want to build up a network of feeder shows in the US, with K-1 taking center stage within the next two years. Dana White will most likely and unwittingly send all of his competitors promotions their way, and further shoot himself in the foot in the process.


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WHAT'S WRONG WITH CABBAGE?
Wes "Cabbage" Correira lost again at ROTR 6 and hasn't looked good for a few fights now. Do you think he's still motivated?
- BJandCabbagefan
Hawaii

Tape Lord's reply: For what ever reason, Cabbage does indeed seem to have lost some motivation. To be honest, he was never that good to being with, but he does have one of the hardest heads in all of MMA, which kept him in so many fights.

He's a fighter who has some potential, and if he ever developed his striking to a higher degree, especially develop some legit power to his hand strikes, then he could be a major force in my opinion. He has not done this however, and his progress has seemed to stall. Whether he reaches a higher potential will remain to be seen.


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WILL PENN FIGHT RALPH AND OTHER GRACIES?
Now that B.J. Penn convincingly beat a Gracie (Rodrigo), everyone is saying that he'll start to face other Gracies as well, especially his old teacher Ralph Gracie. Did Penn and Ralph have a falling out, and what do you think of Penn turning on his teacher?
-Rodrigo
Miami, FL

Tape Lord's reply: The rumor is that Penn may indeed face Ralph next, but I really don't know whether they had a falling out or not. If they did have a falling out, then you can never know what's the real story, and there's always two sides to every story.

But if there was not a falling out and Penn is just wanting to beat his old teacher (who is a Gracie after all) to further boost his own name and career, then I don't agree with that one bit. One thing I have noticed in all my years in the fight business is that such a scumbag move does not pass without having it come back to you sooner or later (for example, Tito ducking Liddell for many years). If in fact there was no falling out, and Penn goes through with this fight, then I sincerely believe it will end up backfiring on him in some capacity, even if he does beat Ralph.


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I STILL THINK GANNON IS A PUSSY
It looks like the real loser in the Gannon/Kimbo fight was Gannon! Not only did that unsanctioned-fighting-on-the tax-payers-money-policeman make a mockery of modern MMA with his potentially scandalous unsanctioned fight against Kimbo, but now he is saying that the injuries he recieved from Kimbo may keep him out of action for a long time.

So he not only cheated Kimbo (by using the illegal guillotines) and the tax payers (who pay for his salary and health insurance), but he also cheated himself! Good for him I say.
-Andrew Bryant
Pheonix, Arizona

Tape Lord's reply: Andrew, I still don't understand where your bitterness and resentment towards Gannon stems from, but he was involved in a fight that brought back a lot of excitement for true NHB fans (myself included), and a fight that will go down in NHB folklore. Enjoy it for what it was and stop being a hater.


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BARNETT IN DENIAL?
Josh Barnett seems to be in denial over getting submitted by Cro Cop. Is he really in denial or is he just trying to save face?
- Rick
Oakland, CA

Tape Lord's reply: I believe it to be a little of both. Part of Barnett doesn't want to believe he was submitted by a striker, hence his denial. The other part knows he was submitted fair and square, yet he needs to save some face with the Japanese fans and his fans in general.


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Dean Lister (center)

American journalist Keith Mills recently interviewed aDCC champion Dean Lister. Here's what Lister had to say:


KM: First off please tell us about the new gym.

Lister: It's opening this Monday the 22nd. It's going to be a night gym right now; we are going to have night classes and Saturday mornings from 10-12. It's just starting out but I know I'm going to have a lot of members to start out with. It's the right environment, treating people right. People are not going to feel like a dollar sign walking through the door. Where they belong, part of the team…that is my focus. I also want to make sure they know that is where I'm staying. I might open another gym but I will never leave that gym. I won't have anybody over me controlling me. And free parking. The best instruction in the right environment.

KM: Where is this?

Lister: The address is 1020 Tierra Del Rey suite D, Chula Vista 91910. The contact number is 619-920-6719. That is Brent, he is the general manager. We're having a sign-on special. First fifty people that sign on will pay $99 a month for five days a week of grappling. That is a locked-in rate that won't go up. It's also entitled in the future when we have closer gyms to them, like central San Diego or North East San Diego. For the time being if they drive it will pay off in the end.

KM: What will you say about the gym out of which you used to teach?

Lister: It's a good gym, it's just that me and the owner had a difference of opinion. It also was a little expensive. My old assistant Brandon Verra is the head instructor now for grappling. Nothing bad to say about that gym, I'm just starting my own thing going on with my life.

KM: Would it be accurate to say you outgrew that gym?

Lister: Yeah, you could say that but sometimes you have to make up your own mind and do your own thing. I have to live by my wits right now. I have to have more freedom over what I do with my life. That is the main reason I did this. It will work out best for everyone.

KM: Hopefully everything there will settle down before the ADCC Worlds in May. How long do you anticipate getting settled and being able to concentrate on either Pride or ADCC?

Lister: I think a month or two. Same team, it's just that everyone will be at a different location. A few extra guys but it is in the same environment. My environment where I teach is not a cocky environment, it's basically guys that train hard, train right and we are a good team because of that.

KM: What are your goals between now and the ADCC Worlds?

Lister: Just basically focus on whatever I can do to become a better fighter. That includes right now mostly standup. I have yet to find an opponent that will try to take me down. Countering, guys put all their cards staying on their feet and it is opening a lot of doors for me to land things and I think with a little ore work in that area I'm going to open up whole new area of my game. I'm really excited about that so I'm working really hard and am focused right now.

KM: Are you going to take any grappling competitions or MMA between now and May?

Lister: Hopefully I'll fight one time in Pride. I don't know for sure. If they find somebody and they offer me a fight of course I'll take it. That would make me happy.

KM: You have four more fights left on that Pride contract. Any timeframe?

Lister: There is but I don't have the contract in front of me so we'll see.

KM: What are your thoughts on the possibility an injury sustained in Pride may affect your ADCC training?

Lister: I would not want to have a fight a month before Abu Dhabi. Three or four months before if I had an injury would be fine unless it was extreme but every fight you will have some kind of injury unless you are super lucky. It's very rare you won't have a scratch on you…finger that is hurt or something that is hurt.

KM: As far as Abu Dhabi what is your training schedule going to be like? Starting like three months out, two months out...

Lister: Yeah, about two months out should be good to change my focus to grappling. Right now I'm doing most of my work on kickboxing. It's gotten better even since my last fight. I feel really anxious to try that out.

KM: Let me ask about your first Pride fight (July 19th, loss to Amar Suloev). How do you look back at that?

Lister: Great learning experience. Type of guy that wanted to stay on his feet. I heard he trains with the Olympic team in Russia, trains a lot in wrestling, and also I heard the Asian muay thai champion. Very experienced fighter and he definitely had a gameplan. Did not want to go to the ground with me no matter what. It was a little frustrating for me but no excuses. I will say people still look back and say I won that fight. I got the "L" on this one. All of my losses so far, and I've had three of them, have been split decisions. I've never lost by unanimous decision, submission, or knockout. I'm not saying it couldn't happen. If I get knocked out or submitted then I've really lost the fight and straight out just say I lost. It was a learning experience and it made me stronger, made me better.

KM: What would you say you learned?

Lister: I did grappling tournaments in Brazil and different countries but that was the first time I fought out of country. Just the travel arrangements, resting on the plane…so many things once you do the first time it will help a lot. I did have a lot of problems with my gym, that personal difference of opinion, and now that is done. I know what to expect now. I handle the travel thing usually pretty well. I competed in Abu Dhabi in 2003. The first day I competed (in his weight division) I was off; I was terrible forcing every technique which is not like me. Second day I was on. It could be that extra day of rest, I don't think so. I was just relaxed.

KM: We're starting to hear about promoters looking into holding grappling tournaments open to the public to compete using Abu Dhabi rules. How do you look at that rule about first five minutes no points?

Lister: I love it because I take high risks. By taking high risks you get better at them and become a more effective submission fighter. I love the rules. If you are looking to be just a control fighter you aren't going to use those first five minutes to your advantage. If I get caught in a submission that is something I have to improve in my game. I gamble so much with those high-risk moves that are high-payoff also that they aren't really high-risk, they are low-risk but still high-payoff. Transition from one submission to another, that is my game. If somebody beats me by a point I don't really look at it like they beat me. They can wait for time to run out and hold on for their lives but they aren't going to really beat me. If they can beat me then my hat is off to them.

KM: I'm wondering how you would train for it differently than any other submission wrestling event that didn't use specifically that rule. For people thinking of competing in these rules what could you tell them?

Lister: Well, the position still comes before the submission. Most cases it does. You can also get better at high-risk submissions and get good at them and become more reliable because the rules permits it. You jump for something and miss and they pass your guard you don't miss points right away. I think it's good to work on submissions after position still but adding more combinations for submissions is how I would train for this kind of fight.

KM: Anything else to get across to the fans?

Lister: I look forward to building the best team I can possible build and be the best fighter I can possibly be.

KM: Sponsors to thank?

Lister: Osiris shoes, Bad Boy Fightwear, Marina Mortgage, and Sycuan Casino.

KM: And your lovely wife with you?

Lister: Flavia.

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The CBJJO announced that the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Cup will take place from July 21-23, 2005, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The competition will be open only to BJJ black belts, and will include prize money.

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"Hurricane" promoter, Anderson Silva

'Hurricane'
November 20, 2004
Curitiba Convention Center
Curitiba, Brazil


MMA matchups:
Sandrao Reni defeats Rodrigo Junior by TKO at 0:20, RD 1.
Rafinha Rodrigues defeats Jovi Lara by decision.
Frankney Rodrigues defeats Fabiano 'Cabecao' by TKO, RD 3.
Edival Pedroso defeats Cleverson Tocha by decision.
Alessandro Lenhador defeats Felipe Fortes by decision.

Muay Thai matchups:
Zanon 'Pit Bull' defeats Luis Bentrano by decision.
Guarabira Marucci defeats Marcos Vinicius by decision.
Ze Roberto Abage defeats Silvio Pedroso by KO at 2:07, RD 2.
Hermano Grisbach defeats Otavio Prado by KO at 1:35, RD 2.

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SHOOTO: 'Rookie Tournament 2004 Final'
November 25th, 2004
Kitazawa Town Hall
Tokyo, Japan


Kentaro Maeda vs. Sakae Niimi
'Heat' Takeshi vs. Yusei Shimokawa
Tenkei Fujimiya vs. Sakae Kasuya
Issei Tsurumi vs. Atsushi Takeuchi
So Tazawa vs. Kouetsu Okazaki
Yu Shiori vs. Takamitsu Oba
Junji Ikoma vs. Homare Kuboyama

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TKO 18: 'Impact'
November 26th, 2004
Pierre-Charbonneau Centre
Montreal, Canada


David Loiseau vs. TBA
Donald Ouimet vs. Steve Duquette
Shane Rice vs. Stephane Vigneault
Todd Gouwenberg vs. Rob McDonald
Curtis Stout vs. Stephan Potvin
David Beneteau vs. Icho Larenas
Johnathan Goulet vs. TBA
Sam Stout vs. TBA
Ryan Diaz vs. TBA
Phillipe Lagace vs. TBA



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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Pancrase: '2004 Brave Tour'
November 26th, 2004
Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan

The following matchup was officially anounced for the Pancrase show on November 26th. The final card is expected to have 8-9 matchups:


Gustavo 'Ximu' Machado vs. Keiichiro Yamamiya

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SHOOTO Brazil: 'MMA New Generation'
November 28, 2004
Circulo Militar Gymnasium
Curitiba, Brazil


A-class bouts:
Jadyson Costa vs. William Casquilha
Katel Kubis vs. Julian Jaba
'Indio' vs. Aranha
Gildo Lima vs. Naja
Araribe Boi vs. Maicon
Divino vs. Fabio Silva
Wagner Tiburcio vs. Rodrigo

B-class bouts:
Fernando Vieira vs. Luis Afonso
Carlos Eduardo vs. Serginho
Wanderlei vs. Fernando Fefe

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Karam Ibrahim

K-1 has signed Egyptian Olympic wrestling gold medalist Karam Ibrahim to participate in an MMA match on their December 31st show.

Ibrahim won the gold medal in the 96 kg (211 pounds) of Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

It's said that Ibrahim turned down an offer from the WWE because he wanted to compete in real fighting.

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Below is a partial list of all the fighters who attended the PRIDE US Try-Outs at the UCLA campus on November 20th. In all, about 150 fighters attended the try-outs:


Heavyweights:
Paul Buentello (KOTC Champion)
'Kadillac' Marshbanks (KOTC champion)
Bobby Hoffman (UFC veteran, former KOTC champion)
Patrick Smith (UFC veteran)
Mike Kyle (UFC veteran)
Jimmy Ambriz (former KOTC champion)
Wojtek Kaszowski

Middleweights:
Mike Seal (KOTC veteran)
James Lee (former Gladiator Challenge champion)
Chael Sonnen (Team Quest)
Tim McKenzie (Team Cesar Gracie)
Marcos Avellan (ADCC veteran)
Charles McCarthy
Buck Greer

Lightweights:
Heath Simms (Pancrase veteran)
John Alessio (KOTC/TKO Champion, PRIDE/UFC veteran)
Frankie Bollinger (former KOTC champion)
Steve Berger (UFC veteran)
Manny Reyes (AFC veteran, internet fighting legend)
Ricardo Nogueira (American Top Team)
Steve Bruno (American Top Team)
Thomas Denny (Team Oyama)
Robert Emerson (Team Oyama)
James 'Lightning' Wilks
Keith Wilson
Akbarh Arreola
Jake Draves
Mac Danzig
Stephen Haigh
Adam Lynn

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