American D’auguste Conquersjapan’s Smack Girl Dynamic 2005
American D’Auguste Conquers Japan’s Smack Girl Dynamic 2005 By Roxanne Modafferi
TOKYO, Aug. 17 — Halfway around the world, American Laura D’Auguste showed Japanese spectators what their American counterparts have known for some time — this mixed martial artist sure can fight. On minor notice, D’Auguste accepted all-female promotion Smack Girl’s invitation to join the ranks of their 4-Woman Middleweight Championship Tournament, kicking-off from the Yoyogi No. 2 Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. The feisty foreigner, a regular on the U.S.’s Northeast circuit, hardly disappointed, waging two battles in one night on route to the crown, while besting her overall record to a cushy 8-0-1. The first round of the tournament began with Megumi Yabushita from SOD women’s MMA dojo facing striking specialist Asako Sayuka, who had defeated Yabushita in SG Smack Legend 2002. They exchanged hearty blows and the fight went to the ground, Click here to continue the article |
Same Old Horn Set to Face Liddell? By Derek Callahan There’s not too much of a point in trying to get Jeremy Horn to admit that his fight with Chuck Liddell this Saturday for the UFC light heavyweight title is any big deal. Sure, he’s looking forward to it, but Horn’s got a one-track mind that won’t allow him to think of much else besides what he needs to do to win the fight. "The preparation is the same," says Horn. When he and Liddell first fought at UFC 19, Horn looks back and knows that, "I couldn’t box or wrestle." Now, he feels more prepared for what Liddell will bring. "I don’t plan on fighting him the way everybody else has fought him," says Horn, bringing back memories of Renato Sobral, Vernon White and Tito Ortiz all falling after trying to strike with Liddell. What fans will see when Horn locks up with Liddell is an interesting clash, because this is the first time in a long time that Horn is taking on a 205-pound fighter the caliber of Liddell. After campaigning at 185 pounds, Horn is on the upswing weight-wise and is feeling confident about where he will be come fight time. "When I fight at 185 I try to clean up my diet, polish things up a bit," says Horn. He walks around at about 200 pounds, which may make him smaller than Liddell who normally drops down to 205. "I’ve been training so much," begins Horn, "it’s hard for me to put on any weight." A consummate professional with over 100 recorded fights to his name, you can bet Horn will hit the scales on point though, possibly a fitter specimen than any eyes have seen to date. And while spectators might itch for a staredown that scorches the very stage they stand upon facing toe-to-toe for the first time in a long while, chances are the humble Horn won’t hold up his end of the bargain. A man of few harsh words, Horn was disparaged to learn an online interview inaccurately quoted him as saying he would knock Liddell out in their impending meeting. If Horn has anything negative to say about Liddell at all, it’s behind closed doors. "He didn’t get where he is by being terrible," he simply conveys. "He’s a talented, tough fighter. I’m expecting a real hard fight." |