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Aleksander Emelianenko

Aleksander Emelianenko was recently interviewed by a Russian website. Here's what Aleksander had to say (translation by Igor S.):


Interviewer: Who would you like to fight if you go to the UFC?

Aleksander: Whoever is the best there.

Interviewer: Would you like to fight in the UFC?

Aleksander: As far as I know there are negotiations in progress for me to fight in the UFC to set up some fights there. I want Fedor to stay the best in PRIDE, and I'll go try to take the belt over there.

Interviewer: Has PRIDE ever ask you to fight Fedor ?

Aleksander: No, but I hear people talk about it all the time. He is my brother and we will never fight in a competition, but there were showcase-like sambo matches where we did fight.

Interviewer: What did you say to Sergei Kharitonov after the fight?

Aleksander: Nothing. I just shook his hand.

Interviewer: Did you talk with Kharitonov afterwards?

Aleksander: No. He never came by to talk to me after the fight.

Interviewer: Do you ever play cards ?

Aleksander: Yes, sometimes.

Interviewer: Does it bother you that everyone percieves you only as Fedor's little brother rather then Aleksander Emelianenko?

Aleksander: No. Fedor and I have the same goal, which is to proudly carry our name on for years to come. First with Fedor, then with me, and then when our younger brother Ivan grows up he will take over. He is going to college right now, and is training in grappling, sambo, and boxing. We are trying to help him as much as we can, and you will see Ivan in the ring very soon.

Interviewer: What do you think about steroids, especially in PRIDE where there is not drug testing?

Aleksander: A lot of fighters take them. Pretty much everyone with big muscles is using them. It is impossible to grow such big muscles without steroids. My brother and I take vitamins here and there, but that's all we take.

Interviewer: Which fight was your favorite, and why?

Aleksander: It's hard to say. There are many.

Interviewer: Did it affect your game when Pawel Nastula started sweating profusely after the first minute of your fight with him?

Aleksander: No, not really. All fighters sweat in every fight.

Interviewer: Are you happy with your tattoos, and are you thinking of getting another one on on your chest?

Aleksander: Yes. Nothing comes to mind as far as what tattoo I should get, but I'm thinking about it.

Interviewer: Who do you think has the best chance to beat Fedor right now?

Aleksander: After Fedor leaves there will be a new champion, but while he is fighting... No one. (laughs)

Interviewer: In your opinion, can you beat Tim Sylvia ?

Aleksander: Tim is a good fighter, but... let's just say that if I get the opportunity to fight him, I will take his title away with pleasure.

Interviewer: Is ther anything that you do better then Fedor in a fight?

Aleksander: I think it is better to ask this question to the trainers or the fans.

Interviewer: Who are you plan to fight in the near future? CroCop, Barnett, Nogueira... ?

Aleksander: For some reason, Barnett does not want to fight me again. Nogueira has turned me down three times, and to be honest there are barely any fighters out there that want to fight me at all.

Interviewer: Are you going to fight on the PRIDE card on December 31st?

Aleksander: I don't know yet. I am getting ready to fight on November 12th.

Interviewer: American fans are asking when will they be able to see you fight in the states?

Aleksander: I hope very soon.

Interviewer: What happened with Antonio Silva turning down an upcoming fight with you?

Aleksander: I don't get involved in promoter politics and don't know what happened.

Interviewer: Despite the fact that you are a sambo fighter, everyone notices that you like to fight standing. Why is this?

Aleksander: I feel very comfortable striking with opponents, especially with my hands. I might fight professional boxing matches soon. Oscar De La Hoya is guiding me in this direction right now, and I will fight professionally soon.

Interviewer: Do you drink a lot of vodka?

Aleksander: No, not a lot.

Interviewer: What does the tattoo on your back mean ?

Aleksander: It's simple. It's from the imagination of the artist who did it.

Interviewer: Who is your favorite fighter?

Aleksander: Fedor.

Interviewer: Who do yhou think would win this time around, Mirko Cro Cop or Rodrigo Nogueira?

Aleksander: Nogueira has gotten worse since they first fought, and Mirko has improved himself.

Interviewer: When are you planning to end your fighting career?

Aleksander: Not anytime soon. Maybe in ten years.

Interviewer: How do you think Fedor's career will continue to develop?

Aleksander: We don't talk about those things really. We just fight.

Interviewer: Do people in Russia know who you are?

Aleksander: Not really. I am mostly recognized in Japan.

Interviewer: What qualities should a modern fighter have to be the best?

Aleksander: All of them. If you lack in even one, then it is a weakness and you will eventually be beat by a fighter who will exploit this weakness.

Interviewer: Do you spend time on the internet and in the chat forums?

Aleksander: Yes, I do go to fighting forums and read all kinds of things.

Interviewer: What would you like to say to your fans?

Aleksander: My fighting career is in its very beginning and I hope to show my fans a lot of progress in the future. Thank you very much for your support.

Ken Shamrock

The IFL announced that they have signed Ken Shamrock to be the coach of their 'Northern California Lions' team in the upcoming 2007 IFL season.

Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira

Sources in the Japanese media are reporting that the matchup of Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira vs. Josh Barnett will most likely take place on the PRIDE card on December 31st.

IFL: 'World Championship Semifinals'
November 2nd, 2006
Memorial Coliseum
Portland, OR


Mike Whitehead defeats Mark Kerr by TKO at 2:40, RD 1.
Allan Goes defeats Daniel Gracie by TKO at 1:03, RD 2.
Krysztof Soszynski defeats Devin Cole by armbar at 1:14, RD 2.
Aaron Stark defeats Alex Schoenauer by guillotine choke at 2:43, RD 2.
Matt Horwich defeats Mike Pyle by rear naked choke at 1:02, RD 2.
Chris Wilson defeats Jay Hieron by unanimous decision.
Chris Horodecki defeats Ryan Schultz TKO at 0:24, RD 2.
Ben Rothwell defeats Wojtek Kaszowski by keylock at 3:14, RD 1.
Mike Ciesnolevicz defeats Brent Beauparlant by guillotine choke at 2:31, RD 1.
Joe Doerksen defeats Ryan McGivern by rear naked choke at 3:04, RD 1.
Rory Markham defeats Keith Wisniewski TKO at 4:00, RD 3.
Bart Palaszewski defeats Ivan Menjivar by split decision.

Chris Brennan (bottom)

MMA journeyman Chris Brennan recently made the following comments regarding his admitted use of anabolic steroids. Here is Brennan's quote:


"Who cares if I said I have done them before? I have. Was a long time ago in a sport where more then 90% of the athletes are doing it. Should I lie like everyone else and say I have never done them? Then test one day and pop positive?" -Chris Brennan



Here are some past quotes made by Chris Brennan regarding his use of anabolic steroids:


"I have jucied in the past. I was a 220-pound bodybuilder. I fight at 155 now and could never cut from 180 to 155 juicing. Sorry to disapoint you. I am however not against it." -Chris Brennan

"Well to cut to the chase, YES, I have taken steroids before. I was a bodybuiler in the past and took a lot more than Winstrol." -Chris Brennan

"They were correct in saying Pride does not test, as they do not" -Chris Brennan

"Anyway to answer your question, I have juiced" -Chris Brennan

"Hopefully I will be fighting in the UFC coming up" -Chris Brennan

Vanderlei Silva addresses the audience during the PRIDE card in Las Vegas.

Vanderlei Silva was recently interviewed by Brazilian magazine 'Tatame'. Here's what Vanderlei had to say (interview by Andre Araujo, translation by Ricardo Alonso):


Interviewer: What was your impression of the first PRIDE event in the US?

Vanderlei: It was one the best PRIDE shows I've seen. PRIDE showed all its potential. The UFC is a traditional event in the US, but in my opinion, PRIDE has better fighters, better cards, and a better show. I think the UFC will have to spend more money from now on. The UFC puts on many weak mathcups. The rematch between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell should be a good fight, however.

Interviewer: Who do you think will win the rematch between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell?

Vanderlei: It's a very even matchup. I don't usually give predictions, but in my opinion Liddell will win.

Interviewer: You challenged Chuck Liddell during the PRIDE Vegas card. Do you think that this fight will realistically take place?

Vanderlei: For sure it would be a great fight. I am in the mood to fight him, and he has said for some time now that he would fight me anywhere. However, I think Dana White is scared to risk having his champion lose to me. He knows I can knock him out.

Interviewer: What do you think would be the way to make this belt unification fight happen, then?

Vanderlei: I think it's a question of finances. Perhaps if PRIDE and the UFC split the Pay-Per-View revenue, then maybe they could reach a deal. But in my opinion, the easiest way to make this happen would be to fight in the octagon. It would be more difficult to convince Liddell to come over to the PRIDE ring.

Interviewer: What did you think of the American public?

Vanderlei: I saw that the Americans are crazy about the fight game, fanatical about MMA. They like aggressiveness and violence, and I know they like to see my fights very much. I have 40 fights and over ten years of experience, but in the US it feels like a debut for me. I hope for the best.

Interviewer: Chute Boxe recently inaugurated a new affiliate in the US. What are Chute Boxe's plans for the American market?

Vanderlei: It was a great acquisition for Chute Boxe. The new gym is run by Roberto and Van Damme. We believe very much in the potential of the US because it's a very big country. To tell you the truth, I have plans for the next four or five years to open a training center in Los Angeles and to also live there. It's not going to be just an academy, it will be a big training center where I can pass on my experiences as a fighter to my students.

Interviewer: Why did you pick Los Angeles?

Vanderlei: The climate and the area is nice, and it has beaches. But it's still open to change. I'm still studying different proposals, and it could be any location.

Interviewer: When is your next fight?

Vanderlei: I'll be fighting on the PRIDE card on December 31st. I don't have a confirmed opponent at the moment, but there is much speculation that my opponent might be Rogerio Minotoro. In my opinion, it'd be a great fight for me because he is a high quality opponent. I will most likely also be fighting on the PRIDE card on February 24th in the US.

Interviewer: How has your training been going with the new equipment your trainer has introduced?

Vanderlei: It has been very hard training. He's transformed my house into a torture center! (laughs) He's introduced some new things such as a sand box that simulates running on the beach, and a few other things. We've been training a lot... out of the 100 sessions we've done so far, we haven't repeated a single routine. It's been very good!

Ian Freeman wearing a generic title belt.

The IFL announced plans to expand into Europe and have named Ian Freeman as the coach of the IFL's British team, which will begin participation in the IFL in 2008.

The addition of a team in the United Kingdom now brings the total of teams outside the United States to three, with more teams expected to be named in the near future.

The IFL's two other international teams are based in Tokyo, Japan, and Toronto, Canada, and are coached by Antonio Inoki and Carlos Newton respectively. They will begin their participation in the upcoming 2007 season.

The IFL announced that it has added Sandals Resorts as its latest strategic partner. Sandals will be participating in on-line contests and in-arena giveaways and promotions with the IFL, starting with the IFL's card on November 2nd.

Sandals Resorts is one of the worldwide leaders in the luxury resort industry, currently operating 12 resorts throughout the Caribbean.

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

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White was recently interviewed for an article that appeared in the July issue of 'Playboy' magazine. Here's what the former Boxercize instructor had to say (interview by Jason Buhrmester):


Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: "You also get to learn about the characters and see that these guys aren't a bunch of f*cking gorillas who just rolled in off a bar stool. You can see how hard they train and that they have real lives and families."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on Senator John McCain's opposition to the UFC: "I'll tell you what about Senator John McCain. He's a boxing fanatic and he went after the UFC, and thank god he did. I credit Senator McCain with our having this sport today. The bottom line is this sport needs to be regulated...If it weren't for McCain, we wouldn't be where we are today."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on how Mike Tyson would do in a UFC fight: "He would get destroyed. I know it. He's been getting destroyed in boxing lately. I'm not trying to slam Mike Tyson, because I'm still a huge fan. I like real fighters."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on why he didn't become a pro boxer: "I found out early in my career that I didn't have it. I was about 26 or 27 when the window started closing. For a long time it really messed with me that I hadn't fought a pro fight. But to fight pro is a lot of work, a lot of money, and a lot of sacrifice. I didn't take that step. I always felt I didn't have the balls to turn pro."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on why he hates golf: "I happen to f*cking hate golf. Golf is the most useless f*cking sport of all time. It's a waste of f*cking time. It's a waste of f*cking land. It's a waste of everything. Homeless people are sleeping in the streets, and these rich dicks are out there golfing. Give me a f*cking break. They ought to build houses for the homeless on all the golf courses."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on why the UFC is better than the WWE: "...Because it's real. I think the WWE is fantastic. It's amazing when you're 12 to 15 years old. But when you hit 16 or 17, you realize it's fake, and you want to see something real. I was a huge WWE fan as a kid. I got to an age when I got tired of the sh*t. It was just acting."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on why he doesn't want his kids to be fighters: "I love my kids so much. Do I want them to be fighters? No way. But I don't want them to be football players, either. And I don't want them to stub their toes. I don't want them to get hurt at all. This is how f*cked up I am, that I sit around and think about this, but I dread the day when they get into a fight at school. I have two boys, so it's inevitable, but I dread that day."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on the most vicious thing he's ever seen during a UFC fight: "Nothing really makes me cringe. I love fighting. But when Frank Mir broke Tim Sylvia's arm with that arm bar, it was pretty crazy. Hell, we have four f*cking DVD's of Ultimate Knockouts, so there have been some awesome knockouts."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on what makes a guy want to become a UFC fighter: "It's the competition. These guys are real athletes and real fighters. It doesn't matter if they used to be schoolteachers or accountants. They love to compete. It's great when you're part of a team and you run out onto the field and the crowd is cheering. But when you walk into a f*cking arena with 17,000 people and your music is playing and everybody is looking at you and going crazy, it's an amazing feeling. It's a high you can't even imagine."

Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White on whether someone will inevitably get seriously injured or killed in the UFC: "I fear it. I really do. To be honest, I don't know how I would deal with something seriously happening to one of these guys I f*cking love and care about."

HEAVYWEIGHT


1.) Fedor Emelianenko Russia
2.) Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic Croatia
3.) Josh Barnett USA
4.) Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira Brazil
5.) Alexander Emelianenko Russia
6.) Mark Hunt New Zealand
7.) Sergei Kharitonov Russia
8.) Fabricio Werdum Brazil
9.) Tim Sylvia USA
10.) Antonio Silva Brazil


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT


1.) Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua Brazil
2.) Vanderlei Silva Brazil
3.) Ricardo Arona Brazil
4.) Rogerio 'Minotoro' Nogueira Brazil
5.) Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson USA
6.) Chuck Liddell USA
7.) Alistair Overeem Holland
8.) Renato 'Babalu' Sobral Brazil
9.) Randy Couture USA
10.) Vitor Belfort Brazil


MIDDLEWEIGHT


1.) Paulo Filho Brazil
2.) Kazushi Sakuraba Japan
3.) Kazuo Misaki Japan
4.) Dan Henderson USA
5.) Denis Kang Canada
6.) Anderson Silva Brazil
7.) Murilo Bustamante Brazil
8.) Rich Franklin USA
9.) Matt Lindland USA
10.) Murilo 'Ninja' Rua Brazil


WELTERWEIGHT


1.) Matt Hughes USA
2.) Georges St-Pierre Canada
3.) B.J. Penn USA
4.) Diego Sanchez USA
5.) Karo Parisyan USA
6.) Sean Sherk USA
7.) Jake Shields USA
8.) Carlos Condit USA
9.) Shinya Aoki Japan
10.) Akira Kikuchi Japan


LIGHTWEIGHT


1.) Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro Brazil
2.) Mitsuhiro Ishida Japan
3.) Marcus Aurelio Brazil
4.) Takanori Gomi Japan
5.) Hayato Sakurai Japan
6.) Joachim Hansen Norway
7.) Tatsuya Kawajiri Japan
8.) Gesias Cavalcante Brazil
9.) Koutetsu Boku Japan
10.) Kaoru Uno Japan


FEATHERWEIGHT


1.) Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto Japan
2.) Gilbert Melendez USA
3.) Ivan Menjivar El Salvador
4.) Hideo Tokoro Japan
5.) Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira Brazil
6.) Hatsu Hioki Japan
7.) Mark Hominick Canada
8.) Jeff Curran USA
9.) Tyson Griffin USA
10.) Jens Pulver USA



AFP fighter rankings can be viewed at AFP TOP 10

Discuss this at Fightsport.com

Pawel Nastula (left)

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has announced that in addition to testing positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone after his PRIDE fight on October 21st in Las Vegas, Pawel Nastula has also tested positive for the banned stimulants phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine.

The banned stimulants test results come a week after the banned substances tests. All of the other tested fighters passed their tests for banned stimulants, including Vitor Belfort, who tested positive for anabolic steroids last week with Nastula.

Vanderlei Silva

Sources in Japan are reporting that the matchup of Vanderlei Silva vs. Rogerio 'Minotoro' Nogueira will most likely take place on the PRIDE card on December 31st.

Renzo Gracie

The IFL announced the matchup of Renzo Gracie vs. Carlos Newton for their card on December 29th.

The IFL championship ring

The IFL recently announced that it will award the five team members and the coach of their annual season championship team with custom-designed championship rings.

The rings were designed by IFL co-owner Kurt Otto. Each ring includes ten diamonds in 10-carat gold surrounding the IFL logo in gold inlay in the center. The winning team, athlete name, and championship year will be featured on each side.

The complete schedule for the 11-event 2007 IFL season is expected to be announced in a few weeks.

The IFL recently announced the following:


NEW YORK, October 23, 2006 -- The International Fight League (IFL) today announced that it has signed with the William Morris Agency. The partnership will begin with a focus on securing new, expansive television and venue opportunities for the IFL and its athletes. The first full IFL season will begin in the first quarter of 2007.

"This is a landmark partnership for the IFL and the sport of Mixed Martial Arts," said Gareb Shamus, IFL co-founder and CEO. "Working with an organization as prestigious as the William Morris Agency will go a long way in exposing the sport and our athletes and coaches to a much wider audience of potential fans and new business partners and opportunities."

"We are very excited about this partnership with the International Fight League," said Marc Geiger of William Morris. "The sport of Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fastest-growing properties in sports and entertainment, and we think that the IFL has put together a solid, strategic plan to be successful as both a sports property and a business entity for the long term."

Founded in 1898, the William Morris Agency (WMA) is the largest and most diversified talent and literary agency in the world, with principal offices in New York, Beverly Hills, Nashville, London, Miami Beach and Shanghai. The Agency represents clients in all segments of the entertainment industry, including Motion Pictures, Television, Music and Personal Appearances, Broadway Theatre and Theatrical Touring, Book Publishing, Commercial Endorsements, Sports Marketing and Corporate Consulting. Industry breadth and diversity form the foundation of WMA's success. With the Agency's worldwide entertainment presence it is uniquely equipped to provide its clients with a global, cross-cultural perspective, introducing them to new and exciting opportunities in virtually every area of the media and entertainment industries.

Founded in 2005 by Kurt Otto, a real estate investor and a life-long martial arts participant and Gareb Shamus, chairman of Wizard Entertainment Group, the International Fight League (IFL) was created to establish a centralized and structured organization that brings the power and influence of the mixed martial arts industry together. On August 25, 2006, IFL entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Paligent, Inc. (PGNT:OTCBB), pursuant to which IFL would emerge as the surviving entity. For further information regarding the merger, contact Paligent at (212) 755-5461.For more information on the IFL, go to www.IFL.tv.

Chris Brennan (bottom)

MMA journeyman Chris Brennan recently posted on an internet forum regarding his admitted use of anabolic steroids. Here is Brennan's quote:


"I have jucied in the past. I was a 220-pound bodybuilder. I fight at 155 now and could never cut from 180 to 155 juicing. Sorry to disapoint you. I am however not against it." -Chris Brennan



Here are some past quotes made by Chris Brennan regarding his use of anabolic steroids:


"Well to cut to the chase, YES, I have taken steroids before. I was a bodybuiler in the past and took a lot more than Winstrol." -Chris Brennan

"They were correct in saying Pride does not test, as they do not" -Chris Brennan

"Anyway to answer your question, I have juiced" -Chris Brennan

"Hopefully I will be fighting in the UFC coming up" -Chris Brennan

Anderson Silva holding his UFC middleweight belt while Former-Boxercize-instructor-turned-UFC-president Dana White (right) looks on with a seemingly forced smile.

Before reading any further, please read our disclaimer first.

The following was sent in by the MMA insider known as 'POOPCHUTEBOXE':


"I talked to a rock solid a source in Iowa and they are telling me that Rich Franklin desperately tried to pull out of his UFC middleweight title fight with Anderson Silva.

He was terribly sick, vomiting non-stop, shitting water, and very dehydrated. People around him said it looked like he was dying, they were afraid he wouldn't even be able to make the walk to the cage without passing out, or throwing up. But Dana White supposedly put the pressure on him, and supposedly made it known that Rich would have a VERY hard time making payments on the new house and couple hundred acres he just bought, if he ruined his main event.

Zuffa has a nice little set up going for themselves there. They have the guys signed to low guarantees, and basically, they only make real money if they sign their lives over to Zuffa. (Such as Matt Hughes, who is basically bought and paid for, and an indentured servant to Zuffa for the rest of his life, after a recent situation they supposedly bailed him out of.) They control all the sponsorship deals, the Xyience contracts, and who gets the PPV back-end points.

Dana could have had the Xyience deal taken away, and started putting Rich in the 1st fight of the night, where he would only make the USD$21,000 downside.

Sometime in the future, most people in the business feel this is going to blow up on them in a big way."