SB Nation User Blog: RoyalB

Roger Mayweather helps MMA fighters with their Boxing skills at Wanderlei Silva Gym. H/T...

RoyalB — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:45:16 -0000

Roger Mayweather helps MMA fighters with their Boxing skills at Wanderlei Silva Gym.

H/T Mightygloves.com

ESPN during the Dana White Situation

RoyalB — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:01:05 -0000

ESPN during the Dana White Situation

"It was really cool," said Weaver, who was cornering for Las Vegas-based fighter Herman Scott. "I...

RoyalB — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:49:06 -0000

"It was really cool," said Weaver, who was cornering for Las Vegas-based fighter Herman Scott. "I think the fans really enjoyed the back-and-forth duality of both sports. I think this is probably the way of the future."

"I think everyone who was here loves the fight game, and I don’t believe there’s as much separation as some people think," said Silva, who has been training with Lopez for about a month. "People got to see a good show."

Mike Weaver and Wanderlei Silva talking about Fernando Vargas' World Collides event

Sharif Bogere makes his entrance at the Worlds Collide event last Saturday. The event went without...

RoyalB — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:40:56 -0000

Sharif Bogere makes his entrance at the Worlds Collide event last Saturday. The event went without a hitch and was graced with guest apperences from Former WBA Heavyweight Mike Weaver and Former Pride Middleweight Wanderlei Silva.

Vargas' "Worlds Collide" much better on paper then "March Badness"

RoyalB — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:49:45 -0000

In case you haven't known, former Pan-Am and IBF Light Middleweight champ Fernando Vargas has dipped his hand in the promoter pie and has formed a mixed card of Boxing and MMA for tonight in Las Vegas. Here's more from the Vegas Sun...

“Boxing and MMA together in such a unique format, I think people are gonna come out and support it. I know as soon as my fight ends, I’m gonna be watching all the other ones.”

That’s exactly the sentiment new promoter and former world champion boxer Fernando Vargas is hoping fans bring to the eight-bout show.

“St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. You got the best of both worlds,” said Vargas, who is co-promoting the event with Roy Englebrecht. “You got a boxing fight, then an MMA fight, a boxing fight, then an MMA fight.”

Now on paper, this looks like an okay card. It's amatuer boxing and MMA put together so even if something goes a bit sour, these guys are still just babies in their sports so there's not much to screw up. I think the big issue with this card is possibly set up for officiating. You'd have to have an army of officials to switch between the two. It also look kinda rediculous when a boxing judge scores a ground fight.

I think the only problem that is apperant is weither or not the MMA fighers have this count in their record. I haven't seen this event in Sherdog's schedules. It would be a shame if this is only counted as exhibition matches.

If this was on TV though and I had a choice between World's Collide and March Badness, I would choose World's Collide. While it does lack "star" power, it has a very solid set up. There is focus on different weightclasses and it does look like there has been some logical thought put behind matchmaking then just throwing two guys together. "Badness" is just a mess.

So, if your in the area around the Buffalo Bill’s Star of the Desert Arena, I'd say pick up a ticket just to see how it turns out.

I'd definatly look forward to the results.

Worlds Collide $175,000 Tournament Boxing & MMA Quarterfinals #1

7 p.m. Sat., Feb. 14, 2009
Buffalo Bill’s Star of the Desert Arena

Blue Corner Red Corner

MMA 3x3 – 180 pounds – Bout 8

Jorge Lopez; Las Vegas, Nev.; 3-1 vs. Brent Cooper; Irvine, Calif.; 4-0

Boxing 4 Rounds- 162 pounds – Bout 7

Herman Scott; Las Vegas, Nev.; 2-0 vs. Thomas Rittenbaugh; Las Vegas, Nev.; 3-2-2

MMA 3x3 - 155 pounds – Bout 6

Dustin Phillips; Las Vegas, Nev.; 3-1 vs. Jorge Molina; Las Vegas, Nev.; 2-0

Boxing 4 Rounds - 142 pounds – Bout 5

Ignacio Garcia; Riverside, Calif.; 2-0 vs. Isauro Tapia; Huntington Park, Calif.; 1-0

MMA 3x3 - 155 pounds – Bout 4

Dominic Verdugo; Victorville, Calif.; 5-3 vs. Fernando Bernstien; Aliso Viejo, Calif.; 2-0

Boxing 4 Rounds - 142 pounds – Bout 3

Horacio De Santiago; Riverside, Calif.; Debut vs. Yakub Shideav; Northridge, Calif.; Debut

MMA 3x3 Rounds - 135 pounds – Bout 2

Sidemar Honorio; Huntington Beach, Calif.; 3-0 vs. Martin Bautista; Irvine, Calif.; 6-4

Boxing 4 rounds - 132 pounds – Bout 1

David Yanez; Las Vegas, Nev.; Debut vs. Richard Ellis; Los Angeles, Calif.; 2-1

Blue Corner		Red Corner
MMA 3x3 – 180 pounds – Bout 8
Jorge Lopez; Las Vegas, Nev.; 3-1	vs.	Brent Cooper; Irvine, Calif.; 4-0
Boxing 4 Rounds- 162 pounds – Bout 7
Herman Scott; Las Vegas, Nev.; 2-0	vs.	Thomas Rittenbaugh; Las Vegas, Nev.; 3-2-2
MMA 3x3 - 155 pounds – Bout 6
Dustin Phillips; Las Vegas, Nev.; 3-1	vs.	Jorge Molina; Las Vegas, Nev.; 2-0
Boxing 4 Rounds - 142 pounds – Bout 5
Ignacio Garcia; Riverside, Calif.; 2-0	vs.	Isauro Tapia; Huntington Park, Calif.; 1-0
MMA 3x3 - 155 pounds – Bout 4
Dominic Verdugo; Victorville, Calif.; 5-3	vs.	Fernando Bernstien; Aliso Viejo, Calif.; 2-0
Boxing 4 Rounds - 142 pounds – Bout 3
Horacio De Santiago; Riverside, Calif.; Debut	vs.	Yakub Shideav; Northridge, Calif.; Debut
MMA 3x3 Rounds - 135 pounds – Bout 2
Sidemar Honorio; Huntington Beach, Calif.; 3-0	vs.	Martin Bautista; Irvine, Calif.; 6-4
Boxing 4 rounds - 132 pounds – Bout 1
David Yanez; Las Vegas, Nev.; Debut	vs.	Richard Ellis; Los Angeles, Calif.; 2-1

Albert Low, Head of Michigan's Unarmed Combat Commission, speaking at a meeting last month on the...

RoyalB — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:01:20 -0000

Albert Low, Head of Michigan's Unarmed Combat Commission, speaking at a meeting last month on the importance of a viable Amatuer scene. The meeting was about the possible repeal of 2007 PA 196. The rule states as follows:

(c) "Amateur martial arts sports or activities" mean exhibitions or contests in which martial arts skills are taught or demonstrated in a school or similar venue and for which there is no charge or fee for attendance by the public.

(d) "Amateur mixed martial arts event" means a mixed martial arts contest or show that is not promoted or intended to be a for-profit commercial enterprise.

More at Big House Boxing (mind the tin foil caps)

In response to the comments made by Merchant, Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio said...

RoyalB — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:37:01 -0000

In response to the comments made by Merchant, Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio said exclusively to MMAWeekly.com, "I think they’re completely ridiculous."

Merchant made no comment of where he got his information, but according to Atencio, the statement appears to be fabricated.

"I don’t see where they would get it from," stated Atencio. "But based on the comment I would say that yeah, he definitely had to make it up.

"I’m not him, so I’m not going to assume anything like possibly they would. I’m not going to make rumors; all I can say is that it’s completely false."

According to Atencio, De La Hoya was at the Honda Center event because his Golden Boy Promotions was truly involved with the event because of their interest in mixed martial arts, and not because of an alleged payday.

"We knew he was going to be there (because) he’s our partner," commented Atencio. "Being our partner – the good partner that he is – he honored and wanted to live up to his part of the bargain; that was being part of the show."

As it stands currently, Atencio confirmed that Golden Boy Promotions continues to have a partnership with Affliction and will be involved with the mixed martial arts promotion’s future endeavors.

Mick Hammond Interviewing Affliction VP Tom Atencio

Ultimate Challenge UK Crowns New World Champs

RoyalB — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:41:58 -0000

Grove, Watson and Radcliffe earn UCUK Heavyweight, Welterweight and Lightweight gold last weekend in London.

From The Mirror...

Neil ‘The Goliath’ Grove smashed James ‘The Hammer’ McSweeney on Saturday night to become the World Heavyweight Champion of the newly formed MMA organisation, Ultimate Challenge UK.

The 6ft 7in, 20-stone South African made life difficult for himself in the first round though after a feeble guillotine attempt allowed McSweeney to surprisingly gain ground control. The Muay Thai specialist from London was able to mount Grove and get his back to twice to pull off Rear Naked Choke attempts – the second and tightest just as the bell went for the end of the round.

Obviously buoyed by his success on the ground in the first, McSweeney recklessly went for a take down attempt early in the second. This time The Goliath made no mistake with a monster sprawl that flattened his 48lb lighter opponent. He followed up with heavy-handed ground ‘n’ pound that gave the referee no option but to step in and stop the fight to send the near partisan crowd wild.

Up until a couple of weeks ago, the event at The Troxy in the east end of London was billed as Cage Rage 29. But as their American parent company Elite XC became another victim to the current financial troubles, the British promoters behind Cage Rage quickly moved to form a new organisation. Ultimate Challenge UK was born and all the old Cage Rage titles were withdrawn.

In the Welterweight World Title fight, Tom ‘Kong’ Watson delighted his blow-up banana waving supporters with an easy victory over Norwich’s Danny Cubitt.

The nervous Norfolk boy, a late replacement for the experienced Matt Ewin, looked way out of his depth and managed to last two minutes only because of Watson’s initial cautious approach. When Tom Kong did finally let rip, he made short work of his opponent with some vicious uppercuts from clinch, knocking him to his knees then to his back before the ref stepped in to end the onslaught.

The biggest upset of the night came in the other World title fight when Jason ‘The Shotgun’ Young lost his undefeated record to the relatively unknown Tim Radcliffe.

The former Cage Rage Lightweight Champion was hoping to replace his now defunct belt with the new Ultimate Challenge UK one. Instead, it was Radcliffe who was crowned champ after dominating the fight from the outset. The BJJ brown belt looked in full control as soon as it went to ground, twice going for a Rear Naked, and making no mistake on the second attempt.

Nice guy Young looked absolutely gutted to have relinquished his record so easily. Radcliffe was of course jubilant.

While I'm not familar with Kong and Radcliffe, I am familar with Neil Grove. While I've only seen his KO win over James Thompson, I can tell you that Grove is a really fast Heavyweight. McSweeney, while a great striker, got cocky and got stopped by Grove's speed and experiance.

Congratulations to the winners and to Dave O'Donnell for starting this new venture in place of his old one. Best wishes to all.

British Boxing Champ Enzo Maccarinelli Interested in MMA

RoyalB — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:59:05 -0000

From The Sun:

ENZO MACCARINELLI has fuelled rumours he could quit boxing to move into Mixed Martial Arts after admitting holding talks with UFC president Dana White.

The 28-year-old faces Colombian Francisco Alvarez for the WBO cruiserweight title on Saturday but refused to rule out a switch to MMA later on in his career.

The Welshman revealed tentative discussions with UFC supremo White have already taken place regarding a bout inside the Octagon.

Maccarinelli said: "I went down to watch Michael Bisping against Chris Leben in Birmingham for UFC 89 and I had a chat with Dana there.

"A few things were mentioned and if there ever was an offer I wouldn't mind having a go at it.

"I enjoy the sport, the ground game and the fact that it's a one-on-one fight, so what better way to go?

"It's a long way off in my mind at the minute but I've competed in a couple of jiu jitsu tournaments, just to keep my fitness up and because I like the competitiveness.

"When I haven't got a fight and I'm not training properly, I still like to stay fit and I'm actually not that bad on the ground.

"I trained under a guy called Pedro Bessa, who is a great teacher, but I am a boxer first and foremost and I want to achieve my goals in boxing before I even think about anything else.

"But I'd never rule out putting a pair of the little mitts on and going in the cage.

"I do enjoy the UFC and the sport of MMA in general. I'm quite a big follower of it but boxing will always be my No1."

Fellow British boxing stars Ricky Hatton and David Haye both admit to being fans of MMA but Maccarinelli insists the sweet science is still top dog in the fight game.

He added: "The perception of the UFC is that the people fighting are always the best of the best.

"I think they do it in such a way that the fans think they're seeing the best in the world all the time.

"Most of the amazing fighters are already in the UFC but there are still others elsewhere, such as Fedor Emelianenko, who they would love to have.

"It's promoted very well and the way the show in Birmingham was put on, with the music and everything, was great and each fight is competitive.

"But I think it will be a long time before the UFC takes over from boxing, or even runs it close"

It's one thing to say that you've been rolling around on the mat, it'll a completely different thing to take Boxing and BJJ and make them work together into his own personal fighting style. You really need to be in a good school for that. If and when we see Enzo in a cage, it will be an interesting experience.

Make It Worth Their While HBO!

RoyalB — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:28:16 -0000

First of all, I'd like to apologize for sounding like a noob. I come as more of a follower of MMA then of Boxing, but I'm learning the game. If I do make some mistakes, feel free to correct me. Thank you.

While I am hyped for the upcoming match between Oscar and Manny, I can't help but feel that a lot of people will feel guilty spending $55 for something that might end in a couple minutes. In tough times like this, that's a lot of money. While Oscar does offer a rebate plan to recover most of that money, it's almost a joke seeing as you have to spend more money in order to get the rebate coupons. HBO doesn't offer any comfort either as the plan is to show the usual two fight card.

Here are some ideas I'd like to share which will not only help make the card worth while, but will make consumers come back for more cards and make promoters happy.

1. It's The Math Stupid.

If HBO is going to seriously go through with their usual two fight format, they are seriously gyping the consumer bad. Some people might not know it right now, but a lot of people have their internal calculators running overtime right now. If they hand over $55 bucks for two fights, they know their paying $27.50 per fight that could end at any time. This does not feel right. How can this be aleveated? Well, by using Mr. Christ's guide the Ortiz/Resto fight should be put on the PPV along with the two main fights. The reasons are simple. You're giving and up and coming fighter more exposure to those who aren't familar with them and helping grow his fanbase. You're also making the PPV seem like a more better deal by taking the price from $27.50 to $18.33 per fight. Sure, it's still a bit steep, but it at least looks more reasonable.

2. Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!

Y'know, this might be the MMA side of me coming out, but if it's going to take five minutes or more to analyze a fight in the middle of the card, you're either overanalyzing the fight or you're BSing. I know that Lampley, Stewart and Merchant/Kellerman want to create some kind of drama for the fights. I'm cool with that, but that can be done before or after the card. You can build the drama setting up the match before the card starts. In between fights however, you got to keep it simple. Use at least two minutes and then get to the fight. The only time five minutes can be wasted properly is if there is a one on one live with either the fighters of the headline bout or fighters of the upcoming card next month. Doing all this will save more time for fights and will help start fan followings for up and coming fighters so that when they do have their time in the sun, instead of having people say "Who?", you'll have them say "Dude! I know that guy! He looked real good in his last fight!" Now, I know there will be times where everyone does everything right, but there still is a bit more time left and we can't have dead air. What haapens then? Easy!

3. Let The Fighters Talk About Themselves.

It's great that Lampley, Stewart and Merchant/Kellerman know that these guys have the passion and the will to become boxers,but it's kinda hard to make that connection when it's coming from second hand sources. Now don't get me wrong. The 24/7 format is a huge step in the right direction and should continue to make strides. On the other hand, it does leave the undercard stranded. Johnny Off The Block isn't going to see two up and coming technical masters in the ring when he starts tuning in. He's going to look at them like two guys paid to get the crowd warmed up. Not going to give two knuckle cracks about them. Now, if you have them sit down and talk about their match and possibly show some fight footage of either competitor while they talk about their match, even if Johnny doesn't understand their style fighting, he can still connect with the passion or understand why a fighter is fighting. This is a decent stepping stone to help casuals get interested in the match.

If HBO follows these points and they do it enough times, I think they can create a steady growing fan base and get casuals more interested in the sport. Most of all, it'll make this card feel like it's worth the money.