Chuck Liddel off UFC 85 Card

Posted today on UFC.com, Light Heavyweight superstar tore his right hamstring and is off of the UFC 85 card.



Full Story:
http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=11489

Nogueira and Frank Mir your next TUF Coaches?

Update 1:30 PM ET: MMAJunkie is reporting that according to a source from the show itself, the coaches have not been chosen yet. However, while the coaches have not been picked, Big Nog and Mir are among the finalists for the coaching slots. - Bill Reger

Frank Mir has already made it known that he’d love to be a coach during a future season of “The Ultimate Fighter”. He wanted it to lead to a rematch with Tim Sylvia, but now that the Miletich Fighting Systems product has been released from the UFC, it looks like it isn’t going to happen, at least with Sylvia as his counterpart.

According to a report from our friends at Cage Potato citing an unidentified source, Mir has been tapped to serve as one of the coaches for the eighth season of the show along with current interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

It will be the first time that the reality show has ever featured two heavyweights as coaches. While it seems that Nogueira would ultimately defend his belt against Mir at the conclusion of the show, Mir is currently scheduled to face McCully in July. Filming for the show apparently starts in June.

Sam Caplan also points out that Mir and Nogueira aren’t exactly the most personable fighters to ever coach the show and I’d tend to agree. While Mir might be marketable because of his Lesnar win and WEC color commentating job, fans outside of the hardcores aren’t all that familiar with Nogueira.

These are interesting picks for coaches indeed. I think just the fact that Zuffa is bringing back the heavyweights to the Ultimate Fighter venue proves that is some serious concern within the organization over the departure of two of their top heavyweight contenders (Tim Sylvia and Randy Couture).

Fedor Confirms Tim Sylvia Fight

Reports of potential July fight between Fedor vs. Sylvia are beginning to surface.

April 08, 2008 By: Sam Caplan Category: Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia

According to a published report, a heavyweight clash between former Pride Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia to take place on July 19 is in the works.

Greg Savage and Evengi Kogan of Sherdog.com first reported the news on Tuesday afternoon.

The Sherdog report, which quotes Emelianenko as a source, goes on to indicate that the fight is tentatively scheduled to take place at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. One of the primary promoters for the event appears to be the clothing line Affliction, while Mark Cuban’s HDNet could be involved in some capacity.

MMAWeekly.com later issued a report of their own, which included a quote from Sylvia’s manager, Monte Cox. Cox would not confirm or deny the report, however, he did say Sylvia was open to the idea of a bout against Fedor but that nothing has been signed.

The MMA Weekly and Sherdog reports vary slightly, as Sherdog quotes Fedor as confirming the fight while MMA Weekly quotes Sylvia’s camp as saying nothing has been signed.

As of Tuesday evening, all indications made to FiveOuncesOfPain.com (www.FiveOuncesOfPain.com) were that a deal had yet to be signed but could be finalized shortly. Sources also indicate that while HDNet could be involved, the initial airing of the event would most likely take place on pay-per-view. We have also learned that a very strong undercard is being planned for the event as well.

Sherdog Article:
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
by Evgeni Kogan and Greg Savage

Top ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko will fight Tim Sylvia on July 19. The Russian mixed martial arts champion confirmed the bout to Sherdog.com on Tuesday.

"[Sylvia] is a good fighter, a strong fighter, the former UFC heavyweight champion, which is important," Emelianenko said via telephone from Stary Oskol, Russia. "I am looking forward to fighting him and training hard for this fight."

While Emelianenko was short on details, Sherdog.com has learned through sources close to the negotiations that Fedor-Sylvia would headline a card tentatively scheduled for the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the home base of HDNet Fights.

HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon declined to comment on the report, however sources indicate the bout will air on the Mark Cuban-owned network and is rumored to be promoted by Affliction, a clothing brand closely tied to MMA.

Affliction had been connected with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, however a June 28 Las Vegas date has since been discarded.

Emelianenko, a 31-year-old sambo practitioner, has faced criticism from media and fans alike after a string of fights against less than stellar competition. Sylvia would represent the Russian's first ranked opponent since his unanimous decision over Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic nearly three years ago.

Widely regarded as the top heavyweight fighter in the world, Emelianenko (27-1-0, 1 NC) was recently freed from a letter of intent binding him to the now-defunct M-1 Global promotion.

Sylvia, 32, is coming off a submission loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in February at UFC 81. After a spirited performance that saw him batter his foe at will with strikes, Sylvia (24-4-0) eventually fell victim to a classic Nogueira come-from-behind performance and succumbed to a guillotine choke early in the third round.

Kurt Angle says match with Couture is signed

Kurt Angle was a guest this week on the Showgram, hosted by Jim Kozimor and Henry Turner on KHTK Sports 1140AM in Sacramento, California. Here are some notable mma-related highlights:

-Angle said TNA has been great to him. They're very flexible and supportive in allowing him to try different things such as movies, TV shows and training for an MMA fight with Randy Couture in the fall.

-Angle said he and Couture have both signed with a promotion but won't say who. Angle said they will be looking for more promoters to help make the event something big and special. Angle said the fight would more than likely take place in California but did not mention a city.

-Angle is training twice per week and will intensify his training program as the fight gets closer

-Angle said his neck is 100 percent and is glad he didn't do the fusion surgery.

-Angle said he talked to UFC's Dana White two weeks after signing with TNA. Angle said White would only sign him to a deal if he didn't wrestle for TNA. Angle said he couldn't do it and wanted to be loyal to TNA as TNA was flexible and supportive in other ventures Angle wanted to pursue.

-Angle said he would fight Brock Lesner, but only if the money was right as they are very good friends.

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2008...1207240235.php

Tim Sylvia vs Fedor?

Rumors out of Russia are swarming that a match between Fedor and Tim Sylvia is confirmed. I’ll be the first to say that this is a welcomed change in Fedor’s roster as of late. I think The Maniac has more of a chance to beat Fedor than any opponent since the last Nogueira fight. I suppose the question is will the Russian fighter sign and deliver for the fans?