Light Heavyweight Division Heats Upin The Ultimate Fighting Championship
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From Zuffa/UFC: LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION HEATS UP IN THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP Ortiz Is Light Heavyweight Champion; Couture Is Interim Light Heavyweight Champ Las Vegas, June 13, 2003…The light heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship is heating up. After Randy Couture (8-4-0 in mixed martial arts) of Portland, Ore., won the interim light heavyweight championship with a technical knockout victory over Chuck Liddell (11-2-0) of San Luis Obispo, Calif., at 2:40 of the third round last Friday in the main event of UFC 43: Meltdown, the division instantly became one of the best in mixed martial arts. When light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz (13-2-0) of Huntington Beach, Calif., told the UFC he was injured and unable to fight in the last two events, UFC officials scheduled the Liddell-Couture fight because Liddell was the number one light heavyweight contender. Ortiz continues as the light heavyweight champion and UFC officials said they are working to schedule a fight between Ortiz and Couture for the undisputed UFC light heavyweight championship. "The UFC light heavyweight division is jam packed with some of the toughest fighters in the world. With Tito as the champion, Randy now the interim champ and with Chuck, Vitor Belfort and Rich Franklin as top contenders, fans should get ready for some amazing fights in our upcoming events," said Dana White, UFC president. Encore pay-per-view replays of UFC 43: Meltdown are continuing throughout June and early July on DirecTV, TVN, Dish Network, Echostar and Viewers Choice Canada. The suggested retail price is $29.95. DirecTV replays are scheduled on it All Day Ticket Service on June 19, 21, 24, 27 and July 2, 5. Dish Network will replay the show on its All Day Ticket service on June 14, 19, 21, 25 and 26. Replays on Echostar will be on its All Day Ticket service June 14, 19, 21, 25 and 26. TVN will replay it at 4:30 p.m. EDT/1:30 p.m. PDT, June 14; 1:30 p.m. EDT/10:30 a.m. PDT, June 19; 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT, June 21; 6 p.m. EDT/3 p.m. PDT, June 22; 11:30 a.m. EDT/8:30 a.m. PDT, June 24, and 7 a.m. EDT/4 a.m. PDT, June 28. Viewers Choice Canada’s remaining schedule is 2 a.m. EDT/11 p.m. PDT, June 14 and 22. |
 Super Brawl 30: Size Does Matter Weigh Ins 24-Hour Fitness Kapiolani July 12, 2003 – 1:00 PM By Michael Onzuka Super Brawl 30: Size Does Matter Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii July 13, 2003 Fights start at 7:30 PM The culmination of the search for the best unknown 185 pounder concludes tomorrow night at the Neil Blaisdell Arena as Super Brawl and Extreme Challenge complete their middleweight tournament. Two qualifying tournaments took place in Iowa and Salt Lake City and unfortunately, both finalists from the Salt Lake City show, Tim Kennedy and Cruz Chacon, are out of the tournament. They have been replaced with locals Kaipo Kalama Miller of Grappling Unlimited and Des Minor of 808 Fight Factory. The collaboration of Extreme Challenge and Super Brawl has been extremely successful in discovering new talent through their two heavyweight tournaments which sprung UFC heavyweight champions, Josh Barnett, Ricco Rodrigues, and Tim Sylvia as well as Pride and UFC veterans Heath Herring and Bobby Hoffman. Falaniko Vitale was almost assured of being in this tournament, except that the best unknown 185 pound fighter from Hawaii got his shot in the UFC and beat number one ranked Matt Lindland. Keep your eyes on these warriors because you may see any of in the UFC or Pride very soon. All middleweight contenders made the weight except for Joe Doerksen and Jonathan Goulet who were in flight at the time of weigh-ins. There seemed to be a bit of bad blood between Chicago’s Jay Buck, one of the tournament favorites, and Brendan Seguin who may meet in the finals. Buck already owns a win over Seguin and Seguin has to be looking for revenge, but will have to make it to the finals in order to cash in.
In addition to the middleweight tournament is Andre "The Chief" Roberts and Wesley "Cabbage" Correira, who is fresh off a huge win in the UFC over Sean Alverez. The Chief rocked the Blaisdell in his last performance against King Kong Seraille, Cabbage’s teammate. Roberts is slated to face a short, but stocky Jonathan Ivey. Ivey comes in with a lot of experience, but this will be a big step up in competition, and in weight differential, by taking on the Chief. Cabbage has shown national fans that he can not only take a punch, but also give them out in his last UFC appearance. Cabbage faces a well put together Justin Eilers from the Miletich Fighting Systems camp. Along with the knowledge gained from one of the best team of fighters put together anywhere in the world, Eilers was also a division one football player with a lot of natural talent. He said that he is not afraid to bang with Cabbage which should make this an interesting fight. Both Roberts and Cabbage need to win in order to secure an eventual showdown in a future Super Brawl. Both men are also heavier than their opponents so we will see if Size Does Matter. Move over bacon, here’s something meatier! Fight Card Jay Buck 181.2 lbs vs. Jason Miller 184.8 lbs Extreme Challenge/SuperBrawl Middleweight Tournament: B Bracket Semi Finals Denis Kang 183.8 lbs. vs. Brendan Seguin 183.5 lbs Feature bout: Superbout: |
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From Lee Theros: Ultimate Cage Warriors Results Maui War Memorial Gymnasium, Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii June 7, 2003 Dylan Clay (Brazilian Freestyle) def. Cruz Malaiakini (Koali Fighting Systems) 3:42 rd.1 – Rear naked choke Clay got the early takedown, delivered blows from the mount, Malaiakini gave his back and was promptly choked out via rear naked. Makana Albino (Grappling Unlimited) def. Vance Pu (Koali Fighting Systems) Sam Baff (Grappling Unlimited) def. Anthony Billianor (Lockdown Unltd.) Royden Demotta (Nova Uniao) def. Jason "Rukus" Walker (Freelance) Harris Sarmiento (808 Fight Factory) def. Shawn Boyler (Grappling Unlimited) Kauai Kupihea (808 Fight Factory) def. Ray "King Kong" Seraile (Grappling Unlimited) Ross "Da Boss" Ebanez (Nova Uniao) def. Tyson Coloma Nahooikaika (Brazilian Freestyle) |
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RN Vale Tudo 2 this Friday, Vitor Belfort Looking for Seminars, "The Axe Murderer" at PRIDE GP & Cacareco Out of RVT! The Brazilian Beat: Now that the two biggest events of June are already history, Brazil is now focusing on the next challenges to come up. UFC 43 brought plenty of joy for Brazilian fighters, as Pedro Rizzo and Vitor Belfort both scored great victories in their fights. Now, back in Brazil the two NHB fighters are as happy as ever and already planning their next steps. Speaking of steps, PRIDE superstar Wanderlei Silva is also taking a major step in entering the PRIDE Middleweight GP, and Alexandre Cacareco takes a delicate step leaving his long time team in Ruas Vale Tudo. Since NHB is now in a frenzy in Brazil, with new shows appearing all the time, June is no different as RN Vale Tudo comes in this Friday with its second edition, proving the sport is more than alive at the country’s Northeast. With no further delay, enjoy your share of news as Full Contact fighter enters June delivering its usual Beat, as the Brazilian Valentine’s day week comes to an end in Vale Tudo rhythm!
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