SB Nation User Blog: JA Yount

UPDATED: Din Thomas Signs With Shine; Showdown With Mayorga Confirmed For March 2010

JA Yount — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:13:57 -0000

Promoted To Frontpage From Fanpost By Kelvin Hunt And Slightly Edited For Update

MMA Spot confirmed today that nine-fight UFC veteran Din Thomas has signed a deal to join Shine Fight Promotions. Thomas recently made headlines when he called out professional boxing star Ricardo Mayorga in advance of Mayorga’s MMA debut this coming March. Thomas' pointed words for the slugger may have lead to the signing, and it now looks like Shine may have decided to put Mayorga’s will to fight top competition, and Thomas’ chin, to test.

Shine officials would not confirm a Thomas vs. Mayorga bout, although an earlier report from The Sporting News seemed to indicate otherwise. Shine Fights media official David McKinney did state that Thomas, who last fought at featherweight, had been signed to fight at lightweight and that the organization is looking forward to having Thomas as part of their tough lightweight division. McKinney did not disclose the terms or length of the contract, but it is likely that Thomas will make his debut for the company at their next show in March 2010.

Din Thomas' Quotes

If the fight materializes, it could easily be seen as a win-win scenario for Mayorga and the organization. Debuting in MMA against a fighter of Thomas’ caliber is nearly unheard of, not even UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar took on such a test in his first professional bout. The bout would also give the organization a pay-per-view caliber main event.

Thomas (24-8) last fought on the Roy Jones, Jr. promoted “March Badness” card in the spring. He was set to fight WEC’s Javier Vasquez at “Ultimate Chaos” in June, but had to pull out of the fight after issues with Mississippi commission officials caused Thomas to be unable to make weight.

Since then, Thomas has been engaged in various projects, including an acting role in the critically acclaimed independent film “Loren Cass” and releasing a comprehensive set of instructional DVDs. The 52 volume 22 DVD set “1001 Submissions” was released this past November.

[Note by Kelvin Hunt, 12/16/09 4:05 PM EST ]From MMAMania:

Former UFC lightweight Din Thomas will welcome former boxing champion Ricardo Mayorga to the world of mixed martial arts when the two clash at the upcoming third event from the Shine Fights promotion, which is expected to go down in March 2010 at a venue to be named.

Din Thomas Signs With Shine; Showdown With Mayorga Coming?

JA Yount — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:06:31 -0000

Din Thomas' Quotes

IFL Vet John Gunderson Set To Replace Sean Sherk At UFC 108

JA Yount — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:16:18 -0000

Promoted to the Front Page by Zak Woods.

With Tyson Griffin having to pull out of his UFC 108 bout with Jim Miller and Sean Sherk getting the nod to take his place, Rafaello "The Tractor" Oliveira was left without an opponent. According to sources close to Oliviera, the fighter stepping into Sherk's place will be submission artist John "Quick Guns" Gunderson.

Gunderson (22-6), an IFL veteran, has won five out of his last six fights with four of them coming by way of submission. He last fought at "MMA Xplosion: Gunderson vs. Sharp" on Oct. 10, 2009 where he defeated Steve Sharp by kimura. Gunderson will look to make an impressive debut for the world's premier fight organization on Jan 2 at "UFC 108: Silva vs. Evans."

Standing in his way is new AMA Fight Club member Rafaello Olivera (9-2), who is coming off a hard fought decision loss to Nick Lentz at "UFC 103 Franklin vs. Belfort." Oliveira is looking to pick up his first win inside the cage and avoid losing two in a row for the first time in his career.

Full Article

Gerald Harris To Debut At UFN 20

JA Yount — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:39:50 -0000

It has been a long wait for Gerald 'Hurricane' Harris, but one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity to shine. With Tim Credeur out (undisclosed injury) of "Ultimate Fight Night: Maynard vs Diaz" in Virginia, on January 11, Harris will get his long awaited chance to step inside the Octagon. When he does, he will be stepping in against Mike Massenzio.

Harris (13-2) is no stranger to the UFC, having competed on season seven of "The Ultimate Fighter". He won his way into the house by putting on a Rampage-esque show of slams. He lost to eventual winner Amir Sadollah after a dominating first round saw him bully Amir all over the cage. Unlike most cast members, Harris did not appear on the finale, meaning his dream to fight in for the UFC would have to be put on hold.

courtesy of MMA Spot

Main Card

Nate Diaz vs. Gray Maynard
Brad Blackburn vs. Amir Sadollah
Evan Dunham vs. Efrain Escudero
Tom Lawlor vs. Aaron Simpson

Prelims

Chris Leben vs. Jay Silva
Jesse Lennox vs. Rick Story
Nik Lentz vs. Thiago Tavares
Mike Guymon vs. Rory MacDonald
Kyle Bradley vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Gerald Harris vs. Mike Massenzio
Nick Catone vs. Steve Steinbeiss

Din Thomas Wants First Shot At Mayorga

JA Yount — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:09:39 -0000

The list of fighters lining up to welcome former pro boxer Ricardo Mayorga is growing longer and more distinguished by the day. Today, nine-time UFC fighter Din ‘Dinyero’ Thomas had some very strong words for the recent Shine Fights signee. Thomas did not hold back when sending his message directly to Mayorga, his managers, and Shine Fights matchmakers.

”Ricardo Mayorga just signed to fight in Shine. I think he is afraid of me. If he does accept the fight I will put him into retirement and send him back to his fruit stand in Nicaragua. He will be wearing a straw hat, smoking cigarettes, and selling bananas once and for all. This is MMA and I will beat him standing or on the ground. I will let him pick how he wants to lose his first MMA fight.”

MMA Spot Article

Din Thomas Wants First Shot At Mayorga

JA Yount — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:01:23 -0000

Interview w/ Dr. John Fitzgerald ~ The Blood Doctor

JA Yount — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:10:56 -0000

Long read, so here are a few exerts from it, but this Blood Doc has guys like Couture and Vitor Belfort swear by the anti-aging affects of this guys' work.

I'm really interested to see what kind of feedback comes from other supplement companies and nutritionists.

Randy Couture was asked in a recent MMA FanHouse interview how he maintains such a good physical condition that allows him to fight twice in three months at the age of 46. "The last couple years I've spent a lot of time getting my blood chemistry evaluated, taking the supplements and eating the things that my blood chemistry says I should be. That's been the biggest thing the last couple years, age 45 and 46," Couture replied. So, who is evaluating Randy’s blood, and who is choosing his supplements and telling him what to eat? The answer is Dr. John Fitzgerald. Dr. Fitzgerald, who has come to be known as Blood Doc John, works not only with Randy Couture but also other Xtreme Couture athletes such as Gray Maynard and Martin Kampmann. Along with Randy, Dr. Fitzgerald is now offering the same supplements his athletes take to the public through Xtreme Couture Athletic Pharmaceuticals, or XCAP.The partnership with Randy and Xtreme Couture all started when the doctor got a new patient named Phil Friedman, who happens to be one of Randy’s training partners.

Blood Doc John: Phil told others at Xtreme Couture the great results he got and things took off from there. What is crazy about this is that I was really burned out from seeing patients and wasn't interested in seeing patients anymore, but this relationship has been good for us both and I have a renewed enthusiasm from the fun I have had working with athletes again. Spot: What kind of results did Phil Friedman have? BDJ: His energy returned, resting and recovery heart rate returned to normal, he could sleep again, and his episodes of dizziness left. Spot: How long did it take Phil to see these results? BDJ: Four days, the adrenal glandular works very fast.

Spot: What are some common nutritional mistakes you see your athletes make? BDJ: Too many to list. Eating junk food and drinking pop is devastating to most that choose to do it. Spot: In your experience what are the most common deficiencies in athletes? BDJ: Mineral deficiencies are very common. Soil is depleted of minerals from farming methods, so the food we eat is typically depleted in minerals. Athletes make the problem worse by losing minerals in sweat and not replacing them. I generally have athletes take 4 Natural Mins (XCAP) after each workout and have them take Zinc Clutch every meal until they can taste it, which means they can take less Zinc Clutch.

Spot: How much does the blood testing usually cost for a new patient and how long does it take to get the results? BDJ: Some athletes bring me blood work and others I set up appointments for them to get their blood drawn. They pay for the lab work with cash or insurance and then pay me $300 per hour to help them. Some athletes want me for one hour and then another 30 minutes every now and then, while others ask for substantially more time. So the cost really depends on them and what they want. Some blood work I get back in two days and some takes two weeks depending on what tests are ordered.

Spot: We’ve talked about how supplements and nutrition can effect recovery and endurance, are there strategies for increasing speed or strength? BDJ: Yes there are. That is why we do blood work and hormone testing. There are many nutritional deficiencies that cause glandular hypofunction which lowers hormone levels. We check these and then address the cause.

Spot: With supplementation being an unregulated industry how can a person protect themselves from taking a product which may contain mostly filler or worse, be harmful to their health? BDJ: This is very hard to do unless you really limit what company you are buying from. People are always thinking I am overly cautious because I only recommend XCAP and Biotics Research made products for pro athletes. I do this because they have a pharmaceutical license and are therefore strictly regulated. Other nutrition companies are not regulated like this. Full Article

Interview w/ Dr. John Fitzgerald ~ The Blood Doctor

JA Yount — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:03:32 -0000

Long read, so here are a few exerts from it, but this Blood Doc has guys like Couture and Vitor Belfort swear by the anti-aging affects of this guys' work.

I'm really interested to see what kind of feedback comes from other supplement companies and nutritionists.

Randy Couture was asked in a recent MMA FanHouse interview how he maintains such a good physical condition that allows him to fight twice in three months at the age of 46. "The last couple years I've spent a lot of time getting my blood chemistry evaluated, taking the supplements and eating the things that my blood chemistry says I should be. That's been the biggest thing the last couple years, age 45 and 46," Couture replied. So, who is evaluating Randy’s blood, and who is choosing his supplements and telling him what to eat? The answer is Dr. John Fitzgerald. Dr. Fitzgerald, who has come to be known as Blood Doc John, works not only with Randy Couture but also other Xtreme Couture athletes such as Gray Maynard and Martin Kampmann. Along with Randy, Dr. Fitzgerald is now offering the same supplements his athletes take to the public through Xtreme Couture Athletic Pharmaceuticals, or XCAP.The partnership with Randy and Xtreme Couture all started when the doctor got a new patient named Phil Friedman, who happens to be one of Randy’s training partners.

Blood Doc John: Phil told others at Xtreme Couture the great results he got and things took off from there. What is crazy about this is that I was really burned out from seeing patients and wasn't interested in seeing patients anymore, but this relationship has been good for us both and I have a renewed enthusiasm from the fun I have had working with athletes again. Spot: What kind of results did Phil Friedman have? BDJ: His energy returned, resting and recovery heart rate returned to normal, he could sleep again, and his episodes of dizziness left. Spot: How long did it take Phil to see these results? BDJ: Four days, the adrenal glandular works very fast.

Spot: What are some common nutritional mistakes you see your athletes make? BDJ: Too many to list. Eating junk food and drinking pop is devastating to most that choose to do it. Spot: In your experience what are the most common deficiencies in athletes? BDJ: Mineral deficiencies are very common. Soil is depleted of minerals from farming methods, so the food we eat is typically depleted in minerals. Athletes make the problem worse by losing minerals in sweat and not replacing them. I generally have athletes take 4 Natural Mins (XCAP) after each workout and have them take Zinc Clutch every meal until they can taste it, which means they can take less Zinc Clutch.

Spot: How much does the blood testing usually cost for a new patient and how long does it take to get the results? BDJ: Some athletes bring me blood work and others I set up appointments for them to get their blood drawn. They pay for the lab work with cash or insurance and then pay me $300 per hour to help them. Some athletes want me for one hour and then another 30 minutes every now and then, while others ask for substantially more time. So the cost really depends on them and what they want. Some blood work I get back in two days and some takes two weeks depending on what tests are ordered.

Spot: We’ve talked about how supplements and nutrition can effect recovery and endurance, are there strategies for increasing speed or strength? BDJ: Yes there are. That is why we do blood work and hormone testing. There are many nutritional deficiencies that cause glandular hypofunction which lowers hormone levels. We check these and then address the cause.

Spot: With supplementation being an unregulated industry how can a person protect themselves from taking a product which may contain mostly filler or worse, be harmful to their health? BDJ: This is very hard to do unless you really limit what company you are buying from. People are always thinking I am overly cautious because I only recommend XCAP and Biotics Research made products for pro athletes. I do this because they have a pharmaceutical license and are therefore strictly regulated. Other nutrition companies are not regulated like this. Full Article

Facts Concerning Brock Lesnar’s Illness

JA Yount — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:34:33 -0000

UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar has fallen on rough times as of late. The UFC president, Dana White, recently confirmed to the Associated Press that Lesnar has contracted a digestive disease known as diverticulitis, along with his previous diagnosis of mononucleosis, commonly referred to as “mono.” The question on every MMA fan’s mind is, “What does this mean about Brock’s immediate and long term future?” We will attempt to describe both of these illnesses and the potential damages they may have on Lesnar’s mixed martial arts career.

According to MedicineNet, diverticulitis is a digestive disorder found commonly in the large intestine that stems from diverticula in the colon rupturing and becoming infected. Diverticula form when the lining of the colon thickens and pressure within the colon pushes the lining through cracks in the muscle wall creating sacks along the muscle wall of the colon. When someone has diverticula along their intestinal muscle wall it is called diverticulosis which usually has no symptoms. Diverticulitis then occurs when one (or several) of these diverticuli become infected and rupture causing bacteria to be released.

Common symptoms of severe diverticulitis include: abdominal pain, feeling feverish, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and collection of puss in the pelvis. If not treated, severe diverticulitis can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as peritonitis which is inflammation of the entire abdominal lining. Antibiotics, along with surgery to remove the part of the colon that has been infected, are the treatments used to derail severe cases of diverticulitis like Lesnar’s.

For more information about Lesnar's possible recovery time and potential obstacles CLICK HERE.

Add Gerald Harris To The List Of Veterans Applying For TUF

JA Yount — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:23:06 -0000

Put Gerald Harris’ name among the other established MMA veterans that want a shot to earn their way in to the Octagon by going through "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series. While other names being rumored to be applying for the next season of the show are coming off of disappointing stretches in their careers or periods of inactivity, Harris is one of the hottest middleweights in the sport at the moment.

Harris (16-2), a contestant on season seven of the show, lost to Amir Sadollah during his stay in the house, was only one of a few fighters from the show not to compete at the finale.

Since the show wrapped, Harris has gone 6-0 with five of his wins coming by first round stoppage. His most recent bout saw him become the Shark Fights middleweight champion, destroying former UFC signee Nissen Osterneck in just 46 seconds. ‘Hurricane’ has also greatly improved his grappling over the last two years, winning one of the largest NAGA grappling tournaments earlier this year.

All of this success has lead to a stack of offers sitting on Gerald’s desk. He has recently received, or currently has, offers from Strikeforce, Dream, Sengoku, not to mention the many regional promotions that would like to see him in the cage. However, Gerald has repeatedly held on to his dream to one day fight in the Octagon.

With some luck, UFC officials will take note of Harris' desire and sacrifice and give him another shot to live his dream.

MMA Spot