Just found this article on the local Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph.

Some interesting quotes from Dana White but it's mainly PR. Goes into the Boxing vs. MMA excitment/value for money story. How Dana swears and does fight bonuses - used the Pat Barry example - so the UFC aint all that bad, right? Also goes on the quote MMA as the fastest growing sport in North America, how the events always sell out...

It's just interesting that Paul Kent has taken a different point of view with this article from the eye gouging, biting and kicking-like-girls the Telegraph usually write about CFC (the local MMA promotion). Makes you wonder what happened. Did someone get flown over to the USA as part of junket, that the UFC paid for, to get the local media on side? Either way, good luck to Paul, I'm just jealous.

At last count the article had 122 comments. Some are in favour, some not.

Just got the press release from CFC today and it appears to be all about the main event. Hector Lombard will return to the CFC and defend his middle weight title against Kalib Starnes on the 20th of November in Sydney, Australia. Remember him? Been a while since Starnes bothered anybody over at the Sherdog Figthfinder too. By their records it looks like Starnes hasn't fought this year.

The undercard so far includes:

Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne Vs Willie Moon,

Matt Cain Vs Jade Jordan,

Robert Lisita Vs Tony Ourico

Hugh Cameron Vs Ashley Powell.

I'll update if they send through anymore fight-card details or if I can get their poster to load properly.

You can get tickets at the door or buy online with Ticketek.com.

You gotta love Jackson. Nobody, apart from maybe Tito, can keep himself in the media spot light for a longer period of time. From dancing in the street on YouTube, dry humping a young lady during an interview to trash talking with Evans. You get it all with Jackson.

So start at the beginning: Jackson is a coach of the TUF Series 10, going to fight Evans in his hometown then he is going to get his belt back by winning a title fight against Machida (depending on injuries). Everybody understand, everybody happy? Good. The UFC is going to make money so White is ecstatic, Jackson is going to fight in front of his hometown so he's happy and Evans is over the moon because, finally after all the trash-talk, he'll get the opportunity to spoil Jackson's plans and win.

Then comes the rumors about the A-Team which throws everything against the wall.

Continue reading this post »

via www.cfcworld.com.au

CFC have announced their next instalment of MMA will take place for the first time in Queensland, on the Gold Coast. It's going to be held at the Carrara Indoor Stadium on July the 11th which I've never attended however it looks like it holds 3000 seats and can only imagine is a decent venue. Once again, looks like a decent fight-card including the semi-finals in the LHW tournament and the LW title fight on the line.

So far it's shaping as -

Main Event - LW Title fight:

Rob Hill vs Adrian Pang.

Main Card - LHW Tournament:

Priscus Fogagnolo vs Jamie TeHuna

Anthony Perosh vs Dave Frendin

Undercard:

Jai Bradney vs Rodney Rhoden

Shane Wudenberg vs Evan 'Insert Surname when CFC update their Homepage' (Yes, I meant that.)

I have been holding off posting because I was waiting for CFC to update with more fights but at this stage it would appear they only have 5 confirmed fights. Not to worry, they will have more so if your are in the area check it out. CFC usually put on good shows and will be worth a look if you are an avid MMA fan. For the record CFC # 10 will take place on August the 21st back in Sydney which will feature the final for the LHW tournament

via www.cfcworld.com.au

Cage Fighting Championship has release their fight-card for CFC #8 which will take place on the 22nd of May, this Friday. Interesting that the LHW Tournement seems to be shaping up quite well too.

I have to admit - I honestly thought the promoters where going to stack the card in the favour of the local boys but that doesn't seem to be the case with only one Australian guaranteed of making the second round. Plus, it has me trying to remember when was the last time Australian MMA fans could possibly see four very decent fights on the one night. Might catch the flight up to Sydney after all.

Preliminary Fight card

Fight 1 - U84kg	Tony Ballout Lion’s Den Academy	Vs	TBA
Fight 2 - U77kg 3 x 5 min	Tony Ourico Roots	Vs	Ian Bone Body Torque Fitness, QLD
Fight 3 -+ 105kg 3 x 5 min	Lucas Browne Penrith Elite	Vs	Tui Wright SKAMMA Gym, VIC
Fight 4 -U77kg 3 x 5 min	The Bull Lion’s Den Academy	Vs	Jon Leven Team CFS
Fight 5 -U77kg 3 x 5 min	Luke ‘Duke’ Picklum Black Belt Gracie Jiu Jitsu	Vs	Matt Cain Integrated/ Fairtex MMA QLD

 

Light Heavyweight Grand Prix

Fight 6 -U93 kg 3 x 5 min	Matthew Dwight Black Belt Gracie Jiu Jitsu Australia	Vs	Dave Frendin Central Coast Australia
Fight 7 - U93 kg 3 x 5 min	Priscus Fogagnolo Cazalay’s Fitness Australia	Vs	Antonio ‘Samuray’ Mendes Europe Top Team Brazil
Fight 8 - U93 kg 3 x 5 min	Jamie Tehuna Penrith Elite N.Z.	Vs	Antony Rea Team Quest France
Fight 9 - U93 kg 3 x 5 min	Anthony Perosh SPMA Australia	V	Nate Carey KOTC U.S.A

CFC has announced their next upcoming event will take place on the 22nd of May. This time they are running with a 8 man Light-Heavy Weight tournament featuring some pretty decent fighters. It's going to be a elimination style system to take place over 3 events with the final to be completed August the 21st.

The fighters competing will include: Anythong Perosh, Jamie Tehuna, Priscus Fogagnolo, Matthew Dwight, Dave Frendin. There are a few internationals coming in as well: France's Antony Rea, Brazil's Antonio Mendes and from the USA Nate Carey.

The tournament will take place over three events with the final to take place August the 21st. CFC #8 will include a few other fights featuring: Matt Cain vs. Luke Picklum, Jon Leven vs. Lucas Browne and apparently a few more which they their haven't figured yet or it all got too hard for them to write on their webpage.

Gotta say I'm happy to see the return of Perosh, TeHuna and Fogagnolo. Personally depending on the draw I think one of those three should win the final.

Every once and a while I come across a piece of media that makes me smile. First, because it shows the Australian mainstream media for the bunch of hypocritical people they are and secondly, because it's all one can do when faced with the obstacles that MMA (as a sport) face in Australia.

Bit of background for you: Howard Sattler (don't worry the contact details are at the end) is a radio commentator in Perth, Australia on a News Talk station called 6PR. Justin is the promoter for XFC, a reformed MMA promotion company that has been 'double booked' at local stadium on the 14th of March. Long story short, Howard gets given enough rope by Justin, and Howard hangs himself with it. Gets interesting at the one minute mark. That makes me smile.

Now the helpless, bitter smile i was talking about. The same Justin as above sent me an email yesterday explaining/asking for help because one of his Co-main event fighters gym was fire-bombed. Yep you read it correctly. Some person fire-boomed Brian Ebersole's training facility 11 days before he had to fight.

If you got a minute to send Howard Slatter and is radio station a friendly email.
And I know this is a long shot: but if you are in the Perth, Australia Metro area and think your training facilities might be of help Brian out. Drop me a line and I'll be happy to pass them along to Justin/Brian.

Howard Backpedals

Lawrence KO's Howard Sattler

CFC have posted their official fight results on their homepage along with some fight photos and fight breakdowns.

CFC # 7 Official Event Results.

Middleweight World Title Fight

Hector ‘Shango' Lombard def Ron Verdadero

Rnd 2 Stoppage due to Strikes   

Lightweight World Title Fight

Rob Hill def Bernardo Trekko

Rnd 2 Referee stoppage strikes

Main card

Adrian Pang def Denis Kelly
Rnd 1 Referee stoppage due to strikes

Richie Vas def Ross Macleod
Rnd 1 KO

Jon Leven def Chris ‘White Sniper' Johnson
Rnd 1: Submission

Jason Harris def Tony Ourico
Unanimous Decision

Lucas Browne def Jeff King
Round 1 Referee stoppage strikes

Kian ‘Karnage' Pham def Phil Lai
Round 1: Submission

Rawdon Lee def Hohepa Ngarimu
Round 1: Submission 

Some great action was seen the other night and forgive the late posting. Been on the road.

Interesting things to note: Lombard demonstrated some new-found wrestling skills from ATT. He picked up Verdadero in huge suplex and slammed him like a rag doll. Coupled with Lombard's size and strength he is going to be dominating this weight class for as long as he wants in Australia. Be interesting to see how he goes in the USA or Japan.

It got ugly with the Light Weight championship fight. A KO that didn't look like a KO from my angle, some corner men waving their arms and a ref saying 'flash KO' but a web-page saying TKO... does anyone else smell rematch?

Richie Vas has a huge right hand. Opponent was down within 15 seconds. Like to see if he can fight or if it was a fluke. But yeah, huge over-hand right.

While Leven looked at home on the ground Johnson looked bad. I know Johnson's thing is kickboxing but he gave up his back twice in the first round. Someone please send him to BJJ class soon.

Lucas Browne is a beast. Big guy that works well in clinch and seems to have a good clue about the ground game. Message to other fighters: Browne will spike you to get out of an armbar. If it works, Browne is going to be dropping some bombs on your head.

The show was to a good standard, great crowd good venue. As usual, little time between the fights and all but one of the fights even made the third round.

Keep you posted on their next event.

Couple things you should know. First the conversion for fighters weight divisons is Kg = pounds X 2.2. Second, UFC 17 is about to start in Australia and I know if I don't post this soon i won't get it done before the weekend ends. 

There will be a total of nine fights - including two title fights - ranging from HW to LW. Nobody jumps out at me, if anything a few people are missing, from this care besides Hector and Bernardo I'm surpirsed. Maybe the XFC have made some signings...

CFC #7 Fight Card

Middleweight World Title Fight

U84kg Hector ‘Shango' Lombard   Vs       Ron Verdadero

Lightweight World Title Fight

U70kg    Bernardo Trekko   Vs       Rob Hill

U70kg    Adrian ‘The Hunter' Pang Vs       Denis Kelly

U65kg    Richie Vas  Vs       Ross McCleod

U77kg    Jon Leven   Vs       Chris ‘White Sniper' Johnson

U70kg    Tony Ourico            Vs       Jason Harris

105kg    Jeff King      Vs       Lucas Browne

U62 kg   Kian ‘Karnage' Pham       Vs       Phil Lai

 U93kg   Rawdon Lee           Vs Hohepa Ngarimu

Saturday the 14th of March will see the return of XFC and the Soa ‘The Hulk' Palelei to the Australian MMA community. Apparently the event is the result of collaboration between XFC and the Department of Sport & Recreation (DSR) in Western Australia which could be very good news for the long term future of MMA in Australia. 

The fightcard so far includes: UFC veteran, Soa Palelei vs. New Zealand  champion & former K1 star, Leamy Tato. While American Brian Ebersole will take on a Muay Thai champion Shannon Forrester from Queensland. Jamie Tehuna looks to be on the card as well but no opponent has yet been named. I'll keep you guys updated as the news comes though.

It's unclear if XFC are going to eventually try their hand in the East but as a fight fan (living on the East coast) it sucks that they have their first event in Perth. Sure the Co-main events are excellent but the cost to make the trip across the country will be too much for most fight fans.

Couple things to note: Ebersole usually fights with the CFC so he might have just penned a new contract with the XFC and Ebersole is meant to be dropping a weight division for his fight. If` he can make the cut and not gas he will be a very dangerous fighter at 155.

If you have been living in Perth and haven't seen these guys fight before I would highly recommend it. The event will be held at the Challenge Stadium and the promoter is expecting tickets to go on sale next week with Ticketmaster.

Until then: Fingers crossed XFC can make it to the East coast soon.