White bans vuvuzelas for UFC 116 this Saturday

UFC President Dana White confirmed on Wednesday that vuvuzelas, the pesky noise makers used infamously by South African fans at this year’s World Cup, have been banned at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for this Saturday’s UFC 116 event.

Thus, when UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar enters the cage to battle interim beltholder Shane Carwin in the most important heavyweight fight since the Ali era, fans will have to rely on their voices, hands, and feet to root on their favorite athlete.

“This decision was pretty simple for me,” White said. “Vuvuzelas make the most horrific sound I’ve ever heard. I’d rather let Brock punch me in the face than hear 15,000 people blow on those things. This is the biggest heavyweight fight we’ve ever done. We’ll make enough noise this weekend when Brock and Shane finally step inside the Octagon.”

UFC 116 is available live on Pay-Per-View at 10pm ET/7pm PT on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com.

MOTD: Lawrence Knight vs. Primo Colon (FCW)

Lawrence Knight, who would later become Wade Barrett and win season one of NXT battles Primo Colon.

Real reason Wade Barrett wasn’t on Raw

According to several reports, Wade Barrett was not on Raw this past Monday due to being deported after his work visa expired last week.

Reports have also indicated Drew McIntyre‘s visa has also expired.

Barrett is said to be back in the United Kingdom, waiting for his situation to be resolved while McIntyre’s whereabouts are unknown, however it’s possible he is still in the United States as he’s married to an American citizen, WWE diva Tiffany.

What is Fedor’s legacy after loss to Fabricio Werdum?

Does Fedor Emelianenko‘s legacy change at all after losing to Fabric Werdum on Saturday’s Strikeforce show in San Jose?

Tough to say.

Fedor has long been considered the best in the business when it comes to MMA. But, his unwillingness to to sign with UFC and a loss to Werdum, a UFC vet who went 2-2 in the promotion, may prove that he’s just another heavyweight.

Before Saturday’s loss, Fedor knocked out Brett Rodgers, but Rodgers landed some heavy shots on Fedor and not only won the first round of the fight, but nearly knocked out Fedor in the first round.

How would Fedor fare against Brock Lesnar or even a polished Randy Couture? Frank Mir? Shane Carwin?

Unless he decides to fight the best in the world, we’ll never know.

But maybe Fedor’s shyness to UFC is to protect the aura that has been created. Until Saturday, he was invincible – his only other loss was a DQ due to illegal elbows.

If he weren’t to succeed in UFC – and right now he’s fighting heavyweights that Dana White doesn’t want – the legacy is tarnished forever.

Report: Batista’s Strikeforce deal not done yet

According to a report by TMZ.com, former WWE champ Batista jumped the gun earlier this week when he told the site that he had signed a deal with Strikeforce and would soon make his debut with the MMA company.

TMZ reports today that the deal, while mostly finalized, has not yet been sized due to a monetary dispute, as well as some scheduling problems.

Apparently the big hangup is still Batista’s salary. Also, he’s been booked heavily with potential television and movie deals since his WWE contract expired.

Batista presumably has a 90-day no-compete clause written into his WWE deal like nearly all of their talent does. It’s not known whether or not that clause prevents Batista from participating in other forms of entertainment (MMA) or just professional wrestling.

Report: Batista to fight for Strikeforce

TMZ caught former WWE star Batista over the weekend where the former WWE Champion said he will fight for MMA company Strikeforce.

Bobby Lashley, another former WWE talent, also fights for Strikeforce while former WWE champion Brock Lesnar is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Batsita implied that his first fight has already been lined up, but he wouldn’t name an opponent.

Fatal Four Way Results/Reaction

*I wasn’t surprised to see Kofi Kingston beat Drew McIntyre to retain the Intercontinental Championship, but I was surprised at how well the match came across. It’s no knock on the guys, but I didn’t expect to really be into this match. Vince starting the show really added that element of “something different” and the whole storyline with Teddy Long at ringside really kept me interested in the match.

*Alicia Fox going over for the Divas Championship was just a way to cement home the rules of Fatal Four Way matches, in my opinion.

*Evan Bourne over Chris Jericho was just another step up the ladder for Bourne, who is getting a push he absolutely deserves. He’s unique and brings an element to the ring that not many others can. The loss doesn’t hurt Jericho, who is over enough that he could come out on Raw tonight and still keep all of his heat.

*I’m not sure what to make of Rey Mysterio winning the World Heavyweight title. I don’t think taking the strap off Jack Swagger was a bad idea, but I also wouldn’t have been opposed by keeping it on him. It will be interesting to see what WWE does with Swagger now.

*Once again, The Miz and R-Truth delivered in a big way. These two just seem to have some chemistry about them. Miz has really solidified himself as a star, which I’ll admit I never saw coming – even when he was paired with John Morrison.

*The Hart Dynasty–Usos match was a nice added surprise. I really like the way this angle was built on television – very old school – and these youngsters went out and put on a helluva show for the time they were given. They took a match that they basically ran on an FCW show earlier in the week and put it on PPV. The match was entertaining, too. A solid built tag team feud that involves actual teams, not paired up singles wrestlers with nothing to do.

*The WWE title match was another surprise. Firstly, I never expected WWE to have Cena drop the belt. And if he did, I wouldn’t have expected it to go on Sheamus. Outside of a short stint in March-April, these guys have been intertwined with each other for a while. It hasn’t gotten to that point yet, but it’s starting to feel like the Cena-Randy Orton feud last year that fans quickly grew tired of.

Obviously, the NXT involvement was expected at some point, especially when they were not heard from during other parts of the show and I like that it was NXT that basically cost Cena the strap. The question is where they go from here? Wade Barrett still has that title shot – at least I assume he does – and a Barrett-Sheamus PPV, at this point, is not a wise choice.

Combat Zone 33 Results: Kattar goes to 10-2 with TKO win

Katter (white trunks) moves to 10-2 with a win at Combat Zone 33 (Courtesy Photo)

Calvin “The Boston Finisher” Kattar lived up to his nickname and used his consummate mixed martial arts skills to score a first round technical knock out over Chris Connor in the main event on Saturday night at “The Massacre in the Meadow” at the Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion.

In the intense battle until 3:40 of the first round, Kattar, who hails from Methuen, MA and trains with the Wai Kru Studio and IntenzeMMA, was the aggressor from the start and dominated Connor, an accomplished fighter who came in from Winchester, VA for the match promoted by Combat Zone MMA. But now he has dropped to 5-3-0 as a pro. While improving his record to 10-2-0, Kattar demonstrated once again that he is an extraordinary fighter with a complete and balanced set of mixed martial arts skills.

“He’s a tough kid and I didn’t take this fight lightly,” said Kattar. “I was ready to go the full three rounds with him and I’m happy it was over early. I’m also happy for Wai Kru as they really got me ready for tonight and I trained hard. This one was for my father, Jamie, and it’s to wish him a Happy Father’s Day.”

With another very impressive effort in the cage and another quick TKO, Kattar reinforced his reputation as one of the best fighters in the Northeast as he climbs the ladder of MMA rankings.

“Whatever is next is what my management wants me to do,” he said. “I’m going back to training hard and will be looking for my next opportunity.”

FULL RESULTS:

AMATEUR:
John Santos (3-3-0) of Derry, NH def. AJ Campell of Alexandria, NH (0-2-0); guillotine choke :30 Round 1
Ryan Plummer (1-0-0) of Stratham, NH def. Jason Feliciano (0-1-0) of Dover, NH; rear naked choke 1:48 Round 1
Bob Burton (2-0-0) of Malden, MA def. Garrett Morrow (0-2-0) of Plaistow, NH; rear naked choke :58 Round 2
Heath England (2-0-0) of Gilford, NH def. Jake Deignam (1-1-0) of Lomdonderry, NH; rear naked choke 1:31 Round 1
RJ LeTendre (2-0-0) of Rollinsford, NH def. Jamie Courtney (1-2-0) of Lawrence, MA; unanimous decision
Rob Goodwin (1-0-0) of Portsmouth, NH def. Nick Olson (1-1-0) of Amherst, NH; TKO 2:28 Round 1
Tommy Teixera (1-0-0) of Fall River, MA def. Ivan Sanchez (0-1-0) of Lawrence, MA; rear naked choke in 1:29 Round 1
Al Jamain Sterling (2-1-0) of Cortland, NY def. Taylor Trahan (4-4-0) of Lunenburg, VT; rear naked choke hold in 1:34 Round 2
Will Santiago (3-0-0) of Lawrence, Ma def. Lowell Zangri (2-1-0) of Manchester, NH; choke hold in 2:25 Round 1

PRO:
Nuri Shakur (14-16-0) of Nashua, NH def. Brent Kinberger (5-3-0) of Manchester, NH ; unanimous decision
Luiz Rodrigues (3-0-0) of Somerville, Ma (3-0-0) def. Jeff Anderson of Lincoln, RI (7-2-0); unanimous decision
Pat McGreal (6-0-0) of Boston, MA def. Bob Reardanz (4-4-0) of Bourbanais, IL ; unanimous decision
Travis Clark (7-0-0) of Medina, Ohio def. Jason Bonacorsi (0-1-0) of Chichester, NH; KO Round 1
Josh Hendricks (16-6-0) of Mansfield, Ohio def. Jesse McElligott (3-1-0) of West Roxbury, MA’ by unanimous decision
Calvin Kattar (10-2-0) of Methuen, MA def. Chris Connor (5-3-0) of Winchester, VA; TKO Round 1

Time for a legend to save his health

Let’s make one thing emphatically clear – Chuck Liddell is a mixed martial arts legend and no loss or losing streak is going to change that.

He became one of the first big-time, marketable and recognizable stars the sport had seen.

A sport that critics labeled as “bloodthirsty” and its fighters seen as “animals” in its infancy was transformed into a mainstream attraction thanks to UFC president Dana White and fighters like Liddell.

But with most legends, there comes a time when enough is enough.

At last week’s UFC 115, Liddell was knocked out for a third straight fight after a short right hand from Rich Franklin toppled the former World Champion, leaving him in a heap. With only one win in his last six fights and being knocked loopy in three straight, it’s time for
Liddell to step aside.

For his own safety, if for nothing else.

It’s not Liddell’s skills that have betrayed him – he was still quick in the cage and was fluently changing up his offense against Franklin – it’s the ability for the 43 year old to take a punch. His chin is as weak as Shaq’s game at the free throw line.

I know it’s not medically proven, but theories suggest that once a person received a concussion, the next one becomes easier to sustain and so on. When a fighter gets knocked out, he suffers a concussion. The Liddell of six years ago would have lasted through the short right that Franklin delivered to his chin. But the battered Liddell of 2010 simply can’t.
What he used to brush off now knocks him out.

And it’s White’s responsibility to make sure the Franklin fight was Liddell’s last. He needs to protect his fighters – White can’t afford a star of his company walking around with slurred speech and drooling thanks to too many knockouts – and the integrity of his product.
As much as it pains me to write it, Liddell is no longer competitive with today’s main event fighters. He’s a draw – for how much longer? – but he’s not a top fighter, thanks to his chin.

UFC 118, Fan Fest, head to Boston in August

UFC will hold its first event in Massachusetts at the TD Garden on Aug. 28. The event is headlined by a lightweight championship rematch with Frankie Edgar defending his new belt against B.J. Penn, who he upset for the title at UFC 112 in April.

UFC legend Randy Couture is also on the card against former boxer James Toney, who will make his MMA debut.
Local Kenny Florian (Dover) will fight Gray Maynard in what many believe will determine the challenger for the Penn-Edgar winner and the lightweight title.

UFC will also hold just its third fan convention in the company’s history at the Hynes Convention Center Aug. 27-28.
“I think everyone knows how much it means to me to bring the UFC to Boston and to give fans this two-day event packed with amazing UFC experiences,” said White, a New England native.

White also wants to hold an outdoor event at Fenway Park.
“We’re not going to do one fight there (in Boston),” White said. “We’ll be coming back. You’ve got Fenway Park and the Garden. It’s awesome.”

Tickets will go on sale next week and range between $75 and $600.

“Without a doubt, Aug. 28 will be one of the highlights of my career,” White said. “I’m thrilled to bring the UFC to Boston for the first time in our history. Boston is one of the world’s greatest fight towns. Fans only expect the best, and we are bringing it with the rematch between B.J. Penn and Frankie Edgar, and the octagon debut of boxing legend James Toney versus one of the greatest UFC heavyweights of all time, Randy Couture.”

Kattar returns to the on Saturday for Combat Zone

Methuen’s Calvin Kattar returns to the cage this Saturday, June 19, when he travels to Gilford, N.H. to battle Chris Conner in the main event of Combat Zone 33 at the U.S. Cellular Pavilion. The event is being held in conjunction with “Bike Week” in the Laconia region.

Kattar (9-2), currently the NABC Middleweight Champion, is coming off a TKO win over previously undefeated Jeff Anderson at XCFL 2 on March 26.

After his first eight fights ended in the first round, Kattar has gone three rounds in each of his past three fights.

Conner has won his last two fights, beating Brad Wright with a rear naked choke and Elijah Harshbarger by unanimous decision. The card, which totals 15 fights, is packed with locals, including Lawrence’s Will Santiago (2-0), who will face Lowell Zangri in a middleweight bout. Kattar and Santiago both train at IntenZe MMA Academy in Lawrence.

Lawrence’s Ivan Sanchez will make his MMA debut against Tommy Teixeira at 155 pounds and Jamie Courtney, also of Lawrence, will take on R.J. Letendra at 155.

Londonderry’s Jake Deignan will take his 1-0 career mark at 135 pounds into a fight with Heath England and Plaistow heavyweight Garrett Morrow will look for his first win against Bob Burton. Derry’s John Santos (2-3) will look to bring his career record back to .500 against A.J. Campbell.

Kattar’s manager, Jamison Kattar, has organized a bus trip for fans interested in attending the fight. Call 978-361-6772.