Southwest Scene: The Desert Digest
Tommy Messano Jul 18, 2007
Mixed martial arts is growing in all quarters, nowhere more than
the harsh terrain of the American Southwest. With Rage in the Cage,
one of the country's longest running promotions, and fighters that
have starred all over the world, Sherdog.com's Tommy Messano takes
a look at the latest news from that region of the world.
Fitch confirms fight with the "Nightmare"
First it was Hayato "Mach" Sakurai in August then it was B.J. Penn (Pictures) at UFC 74. Now it appears
Albuquerque's Diego
Sanchez (Pictures) has finally found an opponent.
Jon Fitch (Pictures) the former captain of the Purdue
University wrestling team will take on Sanchez in the crowded with
talent division of 170 lbs. According to Fitch the contract was
signed on July 17 to take on Sanchez at UFC 76 in Anaheim,
Calif.
"Yes, it is confirmed," said Fitch. "I signed the bout agreement yesterday."
"The Diesel" is back in action. After surgery to repair the bugling disc in his lower back as well as two ankles surgeries, Joe Riggs (Pictures) returns to the ring this Saturday north of the border in Edmonton's Hardcore Championship Fighting. Riggs' opponent is light heavyweight Dan Chambers (Pictures), who is dropping weight to fight at 185. The fight was requested by Riggs to stay active between WEC competitions.
"He's training full time again," said Riggs' manager Ken Pavia. "The WEC wanted him to jump back in but they allowed him to take a tune-up fight prior to returning to the WEC."
As far as the back injury that forced Riggs to pull out of his WEC debut against Hiromitsu Miura (Pictures), Pavia said: "Joe has been rehabbing very diligently."
Thug-Jitsu Falters
After a 2006 to forget, Yves Edwards (Pictures) returned to the ring Saturday night for Bodog's fight card in Atlantic City. The Texan, who had one win in four fights last year, suffered a broken jaw during a sparring session back in early February. The injury prevented Edwards from participating in any contact drills until May 19.
Rising American Top team star Jorge Masvidal dropped Edwards with a right high kick at the 2:59 mark of round number two. In the very competitive 155-pound weight class Edwards will look to bounce back in his next bout for Bodog Fight. With 18 months left on his bodogFIGHT deal, expect Edwards's next contest to be in late September.
From Art of War to the Underground
SUN Sports & Entertainment Inc., the producers of Texas's Art of War promotion, announced that the company is launching a new division called "UNDERGROUND Cage Fighting."
The promotion designed for smaller arenas, casinos, and sports venues will look to the premier showcase for upcoming MMA fighters.
SUN president J. Buckeye Epstein, stated in a press release to the media, "Our UNDERGROUND brand is completely different than our ‘Art of War' series that is created for large arenas and world-wide audiences. The UNDERGROUND program is a raw, more aggressive program specifically created to allow the venue owners the opportunity to offer mixed martial arts in small regional markets."
SUN Sports & Entertainment will unveil its first multi-city tour in a series of events in Texas as early as September 2007 and will begin producing a national program thereafter.
"This program will allow the new generation of young fighters to build a track record and get exposure," said Epstein.
Texans and their stand-up game
Kickboxing legend Maurice Smith (Pictures), American kickboxing Academy's Paul Buentello (Pictures), and El Guapo himself, Bas Rutten (Pictures), are all holding seminars in the coming weeks in the Lone star state.
Smith's seminar is July 29 in Corpus Christi at the American Muay Thai and Submission Center. Buentello will take the stage from 1-4 p.m. on August 5 at the Mohler Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing in Irving. While, Rutten grabs the mic at the Fit and Fearless Penn Location on August 11.
Crossing the gender barrier in MMA
Mollie Frye and Rhonda Ver Halen have lived and breathed MMA for the past 10 years. Their husbands, Don Frye (Pictures) and Matt Ver Halen (Pictures), have been competing in and out of Arizona's border throughout their fight careers.
Rhonda and Mollie have recently taken a prominent behind the scenes role in promoting the Tucson, Ariz. based Cage Supremacy fight cards. Cage Supremacy provides another outlet for the growing legion of Southwest MMA fighters and fans.
Cage Supremacy's next show is July 22 at the Wildcat House in Tucson.
Miscellaneous News and Notes
First it was Hayato "Mach" Sakurai in August then it was B.J Penn at UFC 74. Now it appears Albuquerque's Diego Sanchez (Pictures) has finally found an opponent. Jon Fitch (Pictures) the former captain of the Purdue University wrestling team will take on Sanchez in the crowded-with-talent welterweight division. According to Fitch's manger Bob Cook, "no contracts have been signed yet." …
Rage in the Cage's Matt Lucas will make his King of the Cage debut on Showtime's MMA after dark series ShoXC as part of Showtime's partnership with Elite XC. Lucas goes head ups with Brazilian light heavyweight Jefferson "Tanque" Silva. …
MMA events to grace the Southwest in the coming weeks include Arizona's Rage in the Cage 98: "Step Up or Shut Up," featuring two title fights. The heavyweight title is up for grabs when Richard Hale and Steve Sayegh square off. Also the interim lightweight title is on the line in the Austin Pascucci-Carlos Ortega match up. …
On July 28, New Mexico's Fight World presents Rumble at the Route 66 Casino, just west of Albuquerque. The card features a main event of former KOTC lightweight champ Thomas Schulte (Pictures) versus Steve Schneider. The undercard features undefeated Coty "Ox" Wheeler a bantamweight sensation at 135 pounds, whose submission game is worth the price of admission.
Crossing the gender barrier in MMA
Mollie Frye and Rhonda Ver Halen have lived and breathed MMA for the past 10 years. Their husbands, Don Frye (Pictures) and Matt Ver Halen (Pictures), have been competing in and out of Arizona's border throughout their fight careers.
Rhonda and Mollie have recently taken a prominent behind the scenes role in promoting the Tucson, Ariz. based Cage Supremacy fight cards. Cage Supremacy provides another outlet for the growing legion of Southwest MMA fighters and fans.
Cage Supremacy's next show is July 22 at the Wildcat House in Tucson.
We welcome your questions, comments, or gripes. Shoot me an e-mail about the Southwest scene at t.messano@yahoo.com
Fitch confirms fight with the "Nightmare"
Advertisement
"Yes, it is confirmed," said Fitch. "I signed the bout agreement yesterday."
Joe
Riggs (Pictures) asks for warm up in
Canada
"The Diesel" is back in action. After surgery to repair the bugling disc in his lower back as well as two ankles surgeries, Joe Riggs (Pictures) returns to the ring this Saturday north of the border in Edmonton's Hardcore Championship Fighting. Riggs' opponent is light heavyweight Dan Chambers (Pictures), who is dropping weight to fight at 185. The fight was requested by Riggs to stay active between WEC competitions.
"He's training full time again," said Riggs' manager Ken Pavia. "The WEC wanted him to jump back in but they allowed him to take a tune-up fight prior to returning to the WEC."
As far as the back injury that forced Riggs to pull out of his WEC debut against Hiromitsu Miura (Pictures), Pavia said: "Joe has been rehabbing very diligently."
Thug-Jitsu Falters
After a 2006 to forget, Yves Edwards (Pictures) returned to the ring Saturday night for Bodog's fight card in Atlantic City. The Texan, who had one win in four fights last year, suffered a broken jaw during a sparring session back in early February. The injury prevented Edwards from participating in any contact drills until May 19.
Rising American Top team star Jorge Masvidal dropped Edwards with a right high kick at the 2:59 mark of round number two. In the very competitive 155-pound weight class Edwards will look to bounce back in his next bout for Bodog Fight. With 18 months left on his bodogFIGHT deal, expect Edwards's next contest to be in late September.
From Art of War to the Underground
SUN Sports & Entertainment Inc., the producers of Texas's Art of War promotion, announced that the company is launching a new division called "UNDERGROUND Cage Fighting."
The promotion designed for smaller arenas, casinos, and sports venues will look to the premier showcase for upcoming MMA fighters.
SUN president J. Buckeye Epstein, stated in a press release to the media, "Our UNDERGROUND brand is completely different than our ‘Art of War' series that is created for large arenas and world-wide audiences. The UNDERGROUND program is a raw, more aggressive program specifically created to allow the venue owners the opportunity to offer mixed martial arts in small regional markets."
SUN Sports & Entertainment will unveil its first multi-city tour in a series of events in Texas as early as September 2007 and will begin producing a national program thereafter.
"This program will allow the new generation of young fighters to build a track record and get exposure," said Epstein.
Texans and their stand-up game
Kickboxing legend Maurice Smith (Pictures), American kickboxing Academy's Paul Buentello (Pictures), and El Guapo himself, Bas Rutten (Pictures), are all holding seminars in the coming weeks in the Lone star state.
Smith's seminar is July 29 in Corpus Christi at the American Muay Thai and Submission Center. Buentello will take the stage from 1-4 p.m. on August 5 at the Mohler Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing in Irving. While, Rutten grabs the mic at the Fit and Fearless Penn Location on August 11.
Crossing the gender barrier in MMA
Mollie Frye and Rhonda Ver Halen have lived and breathed MMA for the past 10 years. Their husbands, Don Frye (Pictures) and Matt Ver Halen (Pictures), have been competing in and out of Arizona's border throughout their fight careers.
Rhonda and Mollie have recently taken a prominent behind the scenes role in promoting the Tucson, Ariz. based Cage Supremacy fight cards. Cage Supremacy provides another outlet for the growing legion of Southwest MMA fighters and fans.
Cage Supremacy's next show is July 22 at the Wildcat House in Tucson.
Miscellaneous News and Notes
First it was Hayato "Mach" Sakurai in August then it was B.J Penn at UFC 74. Now it appears Albuquerque's Diego Sanchez (Pictures) has finally found an opponent. Jon Fitch (Pictures) the former captain of the Purdue University wrestling team will take on Sanchez in the crowded-with-talent welterweight division. According to Fitch's manger Bob Cook, "no contracts have been signed yet." …
Rage in the Cage's Matt Lucas will make his King of the Cage debut on Showtime's MMA after dark series ShoXC as part of Showtime's partnership with Elite XC. Lucas goes head ups with Brazilian light heavyweight Jefferson "Tanque" Silva. …
MMA events to grace the Southwest in the coming weeks include Arizona's Rage in the Cage 98: "Step Up or Shut Up," featuring two title fights. The heavyweight title is up for grabs when Richard Hale and Steve Sayegh square off. Also the interim lightweight title is on the line in the Austin Pascucci-Carlos Ortega match up. …
On July 28, New Mexico's Fight World presents Rumble at the Route 66 Casino, just west of Albuquerque. The card features a main event of former KOTC lightweight champ Thomas Schulte (Pictures) versus Steve Schneider. The undercard features undefeated Coty "Ox" Wheeler a bantamweight sensation at 135 pounds, whose submission game is worth the price of admission.
Crossing the gender barrier in MMA
Mollie Frye and Rhonda Ver Halen have lived and breathed MMA for the past 10 years. Their husbands, Don Frye (Pictures) and Matt Ver Halen (Pictures), have been competing in and out of Arizona's border throughout their fight careers.
Rhonda and Mollie have recently taken a prominent behind the scenes role in promoting the Tucson, Ariz. based Cage Supremacy fight cards. Cage Supremacy provides another outlet for the growing legion of Southwest MMA fighters and fans.
Cage Supremacy's next show is July 22 at the Wildcat House in Tucson.
We welcome your questions, comments, or gripes. Shoot me an e-mail about the Southwest scene at t.messano@yahoo.com
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