BJ Penn Book Signing in Torrance!

BJ Penn finished his book tour signing in Torrance, California yesterday (Monday, April 19, 7pm). I got there about 3 hours early and ended up about 300th in line. BJ showed up about 10 minutes early and stayed until every single person got their book signed and picture taken (probably around midnite). He came off as really humble, was super nice and kept thanking all the fans personally. Thought the BE community might like to hear about it.

(photo by my girlfriend Leah Hollar, via bjpenn.com)

Shinya Aoki responds to Tatsuya Kawajiri's New Years Eve challenge seemingly insulted, saying he'd "consider" it:

"I was thinking, 'Why is he here?' I can't reply immediately," said Aoki, who goes on to mention he'd rather rest than take on the #1 contender in "Crusher."

"I don't even want to say anything about (New Year’s Eve). I've been fighting one bout after another, so I'm exhausted. I was thinking this was my last fight. I just want to rest. After that, then maybe I can decide on something. I'd like to fight B.J. Penn."

"I want to fight the best in the world, like B.J. Penn and Kenny Florian -- strong guys like that," said Aoki. "I want to take them out and prove that Japanese are truly strong. I was told by someone that 'you got the belt, now you're number one in the world,' but I don't think so. Being top of the world isn't something so trivial. If I could become like B.J. Penn, I could die (happy)."

source: Sherdog.com

Roger Huerta talks with MMAWeekly.com about his desire to continue to balance fighting and acting.

"My relationship with the UFC, I think is fairly well. I haven’t really spoken with them. Jeff (Clark, my manager) has."

When asked about if the doors to the UFC are closed to him, he said he was in the dark, but left DREAM and Strikeforce open as options

"Definitely. I’m open to anything right now."

The Sityodtong head coach, Mark Dellagrotte, tells FightersOnlyMagazine.com that Kenny Florian will no longer be training under him. Tensions between Dellagrotte and Florian's brother Keith seem to be the root of the split.

"There are no hard feelings. Me and Kenny have been good friends for a long, long time. We did good thing together. I think this is a good decision for both of us."

"I have to stress that I have nothing negative to say towards Kenny or his brother. Its not his brother’s fault, it’s not my fault, its just one of things that happens in sports like this," Dellagrotte says. "There has been a constant… ‘power struggle’ between me and his brother Keith. We never really got along - which is not anybody’s fault, some work well together and some don’t."

"We worked well together at first but over the last few camps and fights we put together, there were differences and I am just the type of guy that if I can’t steer the ship, if I can’t be the captain, I would prefer not to be onboard."

Luis "Banha" Cane has expressed displeasure with his opponent, Rogerio "Minotouro" Nogueira through the American Top Team manager Alex Davis:

"That was the last fight we wanted. When Joe (Silva) offered it to us, I asked to put his against any other American, Forrest, Rashad, Rampage, but they said you have to fight whoever they put in front of you," said Davis.

Davis and Nogueria have had a long standing relationship and considers him a friend.

"Rogério is my friend, Banha is his fan... They don’t train together, but they have an old relationship with me, I was the first to put him to fight outside Brazil, already train a lot of times on ATT and he’s everyone’s friend up there. Banha likes him a lot, we didn’t want this fight"

Davis goes on to say that though unhappy with the match-up, the fight will be epic and beating Rogerio puts Cane much closer to a shot at the title. Brazilians showing apprehension about fighting each other is disconcerting for a fan who wants to see the best fights possible. Not wanting to fight training partners is often understandable but outright asking for fighters from a specific country is unsettling.

source: TATAME.com

Without taking time off after his destruction of Keith Jardine, Thiago Silva is back in the gym and talking to TATAME.com about what's next...

"I want the belt and I’m working hard for it. I get rest one day and it’s fine, I’ll start the battle if, when UFC call me, I’ll be ready"

A full interview will be released tomorrow in which Silva talks about his wish to rematch Lyoto Machida, the next title fight at LHW with Machida and Mauricio Shogun Rua, Luis "Banha" Cane, Rogério Minotouro and more.

Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson breaks a door to pieces when angered on the upcoming season of TUF. This is quickly becoming a coaching tradition on the show.

Melvin Guillard talks his next opponent Nate Diaz to MMAWeekly.com.

"As far as Nate, there's been rumors that he's been begging Dana White and Joe Silva to get him somebody that he can stand up and bang with. I'm going to see if he's a man of his word," Guillard challenged. "If he really wants to get in there, we can get us the Fight of the Night, or hopefully I get a Knockout of the Night if he really wants to get in there and stand up and bang."

Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira talks to TATAME.com about Junior Dos Santos' training, and weighs in on Vitor Belfort v.s. Rich Franklin.

"He’s training well… He’s like monster, like a horse... He has a very heavy hand, he’s ready to do two fights in the same night. It’s unbelievable, he’s with a good ground game and wrestling too", says 'Big Nog' about the HW Brazilian prospect. Nogueira went on to joke about his return to the cage.

"I wanna fight this year again… If someone gets hurt in UFC 103, I wanna fight there too", laughs Nogueira. "I trained with Cigano after the (Couture) fight, but i cut my stitches so I realized that I really have to stop for a while (laughs). Now I’m gonna rest."

When asked about Belfort v.s. Franklin, Nogueira added "Rich is a tough guy, very resistant, but Vitor has more punch, is better on wrestling, has more ground game… He has everything to win."

photo: Marcelo Alonso

Sean Sherk provides a MRI video to Sherdog.com as proof of the recent injury he sustained before getting heat when he failed to show up for a random drug test by the CSAC.

Sherk's right shoulder suffered a "Grade II AC separation," which he says is the reason he missed the test and dropped out of his upcoming fight with Gleison Tibau.

"I’m not dodging a drug test . . . I just took a drug test three months ago. I know I’m going to get drug tested. I’ve been drug tested probably more than any other fighter in the world."

Gegard Mousasi talks with Sherdog about his recent win over Renato Sobral to gain the Strikeforce LHW title. Mousasi also talks UFC, DREAM 11 and Strikeforce's champions.

HT: Sherdog.com

Dan Hardy talks on countryman Michael Bisping's recent KO loss to Dan Henderson...

"I think one of the first things I thought as soon I saw him get knocked out, was, ‘Oh dear, everyone’s going to be back down on the U.K. again," said Hardy.
"I think all the British fighters will probably agree with me when I say I think that we feel we’re up against it as far as fan support goes," he said. "I think people expect less of us because we’re from the U.K., because they assume we don’t have the right kind of training and coaching in the U.K., which is why I spend so much time (in the U.S.)."