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Wednesday, Aug 09, 2006

August 10, 2006


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New episode of FCF Radio

In our latest broadcast,
we talk with Chris Leben and Jeff Curran.

Click here to listen/download.
 



Arona vs. Overeem? Ninja Getting Ready for Cage Rage, Shogun USA-bound, PRIDE Las Vegas Possibilities Galore, MMA Super Challenge Debuts Oct. 7

The Brazilian Beat:

Recent happenings in Brazil, such as PRIDE being broadcasted live by a cable channel, are certainly helping to cull interest for MMA in the country. With that, some new promotions are appearing, as well as some old ones improving their standards and coming back to the scene. Now, one may think that it has been a while already since Brazil had a wave of new fighting shows developing around the country. Although that is true, the difference is that this time a number of quality shows are appearing, adding to other famous promotions that had already established themselves as interesting and quality ones, like Jungle Fight, Meca, Storm Samurai and Heat. Maybe the finest example of this is the coming of MMA Super Challenge, which is taking the local market by storm with interesting purses at the local levels, as well as bringing some very good fighters and a nice format to the table in times where fights in the country were somewhat limited to beginners searching for a place in the spotlight.

Obviously, FCF is aware of the process and comes up with news and developments about this "new scene" in Brazilian MMA, with hopes that it will find resources to sustain itself and add a new market for all involved in the sport in South America.

But that’s not all, of course, as the main shows are always causing buzz. PRIDE is taking some crucial steps for its first U.S. show, as well as the finals of the Open-Weight GP in Japan before that, and needless to say, plenty is happening in the country related to those shows. So, let’s head to the news so you can get your serving of info on Brazilian MMA, as Full Contact Fighter bounces with the Beat loud and clear!

  • With the finals of the PRIDE Open-Weight Grand Prix coming up, things are busy in the Brazilian Top Team camp with Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira training hard for his coming bout with Josh Barnett, but that’s not all the reason for activity going on with the top dogs of the team in Rio de Janeiro. On extended vacation since his loss to Wanderlei Silva at PRIDE’s December 31 show, Ricardo Arona is finally on the verge of coming back to action and is training hard for a likely participation at PRIDE’s September 10 event. Although nothing has been determined as of yet, chances are good that his opponent may be Dutch fighter Alistair Overeem. In the meantime, Arona just made his debut as a writer. The PRIDE veteran is now writing his own column for a Rio de Janeiro newspaper called "O Fluminense," where Arona speaks about fighting and sports in general.
  • Speaking of BTT, patriarch Mario Sperry is still recovering from injuries sustained from his last PRIDE bout against Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Kosaka. Sperry had a knee injury and a broken hand from the bout, which led him to surgery on both body parts that forced him to the sidelines. However, while he was recovering the "Zen Machine" had osteomyelitis (a bone infection) diagnosed in his hand and had to go though surgery yet again. Now, after 44 days of heavy medication Sperry is recovering fine, and is expected to get back to training soon. Sperry’s knee is already in perfect condition, and it’s only a matter of time before his hand is healed as well.


Click here to continue The Beat

posted by Full Contact Fighter @ 8:00 pm
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