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Wednesday, Sep 24, 2003

It’s On … Almost Slyvia And Loiseau Miss Weight,ortiz-couture Main Event Is A Go


Randy Couture Tito Ortiz

It’s On … Almost
Slyvia and Loiseau Miss Weight,
Ortiz-Couture Main Event Is A Go

By Loretta Hunt

Tim Sylvia and Wee-Man
Sylvia and Wee-Man

      From a promoter’s viewpoint, today’s UFC 44 weigh-ins were a rip-roaring success. At Mandalay Bay’s House of Blues, its two level nightclub was packed to the gills with fans and the press. ESPN News broadcast a highlight of the affair at 4:10 this afternoon, while evidence of various other media outlets in attendance were also apparent. Among them, a positively elated Wee-Man, of MTV’s Jackass Fame, was on hand to interview some of the fighters for Fox Sports Net’s 54321. If this afternoon’s turnout is not an indication of the great strides the UFC has made in past weeks with regards to mainstream coverage, then this reporter doesn’t know what is.

      For some of the fighters, however, the weigh-ins must have been more of a nightmare. UFC Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia came in at 267 pounds, failing to make the cutoff. In disbelief, he explained to NSAC rep Marc Ratner that he had weighed in ten pounds lighter that morning, but to no avail. The Maine native was given two hours to lose the two pounds which he did amply, eventually coming in at 262 pounds. Opponent Gan McGee rang in 264 pounds on his first go, making this a match-up of astronomical proportions.
      Not to leave the heavyweight champion without company, Canadian middleweight David Loiseau seemed a little surprised when he was the second fighter of Undisputed’s card to miss weight. "The Crow" came in at 189 pounds and was also given the requisite two hours to comply. He eventually came in right on the money at 185 pounds, while Northeast brawler Jorge Rivera made the 184 pound mark. Two hard-hitters at heart, this fight should yield some fast-paced leather flying.
      The inevitable showdown between light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and his interim title counterpart Randy Couture reached a fevered pitch today as both men finally met eyes. Surrounded by their sizable camps, both fighters were kept at separate ends of the stage till their intros were made. Couture was first to the scale at 205 pounds, much to the approval of the raucous crowd. Ortiz stepped up next to a mix of cheers and boos and came in at a cut 204.5 pounds. There was even a bit of animosity between the two in their staredown, especially on "The Natural’s" end, who almost tauntingly challenged his adversary on the stage with his confident looks.
      Heavyweight Belarussian brothers-in-arms Vladmir Matyushenko and Andrei Arlovski had the largest weight differential of any bout going into tomorrow night. Matyushenko weighed in a light 219 pounds, while the "Pit Bull" clocked in at 243 pounds. With this the last fight on his contract, will Matyushenko be out to please the fans hoping to see him stand and bang with Arlovski? "I’ll do anything possible to keep my fans happy. They want me to stand up? I’ll stand up, but most the thing is I want to win."
      Light-heavyweight prospect Rich "Ace" Franklin came in at a ripped 204 pounds, as compared to opponent Edwin Dewees’ 198 pounds. With Franklin the heavy favorite going into their bout, the Ohio native says he is feeling a bit pressed to make a good showing. "It puts some added pressure on me to win," he commented, "’cause if I end up losing this fight, this could be a career ruiner. That’s why I trained harder for this fight than I did with Evan Tanner."
      In the welterweight division, master judoka Karo Parisyan weighed in at 169 pounds. Returning opponent Dave Strasser was a svelte 170. Headstrong Parisyan is expected to push the action in this match-up versus his experienced opponent. At one and one apiece, fellow Californians Nick Diaz and Jeremy Jackson will square off for the third time to determine who moves on in the UFC. They came in 169.5 and 170 pounds respectively, with Diaz the victor of their last encounter. "I was looking forward to fighting Dennis Hallman, " admitted Diaz of his original opponent for this bout, "but that’s okay. I don’t think Jackson could do anything else to me."
      Rounding out the stacked nine-fight card that looks to be a sell-out affair, undefeated lightweight Hermes Franca will meet one of his idols in Japanese superstar Caol Uno. Both athletes weighed in at 155 pounds on the dot, and while Uno is looking to stay in title contention yet a third time, Franca is a newcomer on the rise.

Hermes Franca vs. Caol Uno
Franca vs. Uno


      Live from Mandalay Bay tomorrow night, eighteen fighters are ready to strut their stuff and put on a show like no other — and quite a show it might undisputedly end up being.

From DSE/PRIDE:



BUSHIDO: CRO COP ADDED TO THE FIGHTCARD!

Bushido logo
LOS ANGELES, California – Pride FC superstar Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has been added to the Bushido fight card and will battle a yet to be announced opponent, known currently in Japan only as "X."

Also added to the card—Pride FC veteran Akira Shoji against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (younger brother of Murilo "Ninja" Rua), Chute Boxe heavy-hitter Assuerio Silva going head to head with Alexander Emelianenko (the younger brother of Pride FC heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko), and Sergey Kharitonov of the Russian Top Team versus kick boxer Jason Nobunaga.

This includes the previously announced "Team Japan versus the Gracie Family," headlined by Renzo Gracie against Japan’s adopted son, Carlos "The Ronin" Newton.

FIGHTCARD:

"Team Japan versus the Gracie Family"

Renzo Gracie vs. Carlos Newton
Ryan Gracie vs. Kazuhiro Hamanaka
Rodrigo Gracie vs. Daiju Takase
Daniel Gracie vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
Ralph Gracie vs. Dokonjonosuke Mishima

Sergey Kharitonov vs. Jason Nobunaga
Akira Shoji vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
Alexander Emelianenko vs. Assuerio Silva
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. "X"

(Card Subject to Change)

The live event is scheduled for October 5, 2003 from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
Bushido will be available on U.S. pay per view (delay) on December 21, 2003 at a special reduced rate of $19.95.

Don’t miss the show!

PPV INFORMATION:

Premiere date: Sunday, December 21, 2003
Premiere time: 9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST
Count Down show: 8:30pm EST, 5:30pm PST
PPV price: US $19.95
Run time: 3 hours (approximately)
Availability: iNDEMAND, DirecTV

posted by Full Contact Fighter @ 8:00 pm
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