WHATS BEEN GOING ON WITH "EL GUAPO" BAS RUTTEN

Myspace.com,Lots of stuff going on in the crazy world from El Guapo, I have been
traveling a lot.
Last weekend I was in Vegas for the IFL, back and the
next day to NY for a meeting, next day back and I shot the Inside MMA
show, now I am in the plane to Mexico for a wedding of one of my
friends, some breathing time in the home of El Guapo.
When I come back I shoot another episode of Inside MMA, the next day a
whole day filming for the new infomercial that I am coming out with, day
later to Tulsa to attend an HD Net MMA show and do a seminar at Dale
Cook's school (great guy), from there to Boston to shoot an opening
scene for Kevin James's new movie, I play a drill instructor, small
part, couldn't take a bigger one due to my schedule.
Back from Boston
and another episode of Inside MMA and so it goes on and on in my life.
I am blessed lately with everything so although I am busy, you won't
hear me complaining.
How many people have their hobby as profession,
good stuff.
Concentrating on my Bas Rutten MMA system courses that I teach.
Thank
God for my head instructor Oneness Fish who helps me out tremendously
with this.
If you are interested to become an instructor, please find
his contact on my website.
The course is tough, I am not "selling" my system.
We did not have many
people pass the first time but when everybody saw that I meant business
they stepped up and the next test was way better and only a few didn't
make it.
Meaning, everybody can do it! If you are a blue belt with me,
you are already going to be really good, and I mean, REALLY good!
I will teach you everything that has to do with MMA, even how to tread
cuts, wrap hands, you name it.
Apparently the NatGeo episode was seen by a lot of people, I had great
feedback.
The kick to the dummy was great to measure the impact, I
wished I could have trained for it because I think I can do way better,
it was all technique now and less power.
I didn't kick for a long time
because of my knees.
Again, if you want to know exactly how to kick like that, or hit, I go
in dept about that in my courses.
Kimbo is getting better and better, for the people who think that he
doesn't train ground, HELLO, you are talking to me.
You think I let him
make the same mistakes that I did? Of course not.
So he trains ground
too and I am sure it will be shown once one of his next fights goes to
the ground.

The IFL is looking great, new teams coming in, individual matches, live
on TV, let's shoot for a great year.
If you never checked out "Inside MMA" on HD Net, please do so on Friday
nights.
It’s a great show and a lot of fun to do, we have great guests
on top of that.
If you don't have a high def TV, get one, I don't know if you ever
watched HD, it’s a whole new world and I believe soon everybody will go
over to HD, why? Because it’s the future.
You can see the individual
hairs on people's head, it’s that sharp!
OK, just checked into my hotel, like El Guapo always says; Godspeed and
party on!

Bas

1.6 MILLION DOLLARS FOR FEDOR, but he sued for 1.55 B(EE)ILLION!

South Korean prosecutors indicted the local chief of a Russian martial arts agency for fraud Monday after he allegedly used the publicity rights of Fedor Emelianenko,
the famed Russian mixed martial arts fighter, without consent.

Emelianenko filed the suit early this month over a "shoddy" honey commercial that went on air on Korean cable television featuring his image. The world heavyweight champion sought 1.55 billion won ($1.6 million) in compensation from the president of Korea Sambo Federation and the head of a local apiculture agency whose honey product the commercial promoted.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office charged that the local Sambo chief, whose name could not be identified because he is on trial, received 22 million won from the advertisers in 2006, claiming that he owned the exclusive right to locally use Emelianenko's identity for commercial promotion. He was only entitled to a one-year negotiation right with Emelianenko and was yet to sign the real contract granting him the fighter's publicity, prosecutors said. The man was indicted without physical detention, said Lee Tae-gwan, a prosecutor in charge of the case.

The beekeeper agency chief was not indicted.



The 19-second commercial starts with a victorious scene of Emelianenko in a wrestling ring, followed by footage of a bee landing on a yellow rape flower. Then the image of a plain, expressionless Emelianenko returns, as he drinks a bottle of the honey and says " Seonyu Honey is good."

In the complaint, his representative said, "Fedor is the sports star who commands the image of being the strongest fighter in the world... The defendants damaged Fedor's image by producing commercials that do not fit his powerful image and were made with shoddy footage."

Besides the compensation, his representative asked the advertisers to run an apology in mass-circulation newspapers in South Korea. (Yonhap)

CUNG LE NEW CHAMPION OVER FRANK SHAMROCK

Silicon Valley waited nearly 10 years for Frank Shamrock to face off against Cung Le.

When the two fought finally Saturday night in a battle for the Strikeforce middleweight championship, nobody was disappointed.

Le used his kicks to keep Shamrock out of good punching range, and wrestled to stay away from Shamrock’s submission skills for three rounds. The fight was stopped before Round 4 after Shamrock suffered a broken right forearm.

With the win, Le took his former training partner’s title and became the first person to defeat Shamrock by stoppage under modern MMA rules.

THE VID....

QUINTON JACKSON SPEAKS HIS MIND , AIN'T SKEERD OF NO CHUMP MURDERER

UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was a guest on the Opie and Anthony show today. Quinton has been on the show before and has good chemistry with the boys.

I did my best to transcribe some of the interview. It’s paraphrased, but not exaggerated. Quinton discussed the following topics with the boys: “The Ultimate Fighter: 8” , Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Brock Lesnar, Kimbo Slice, getting into fighting shape, and the shady operations of now defunct Pride organization.

Quinton mentioned he was out of shape, probably because he has been filming “The Ultimate Fighter 8” show . He mentioned that if he had to get into fighting shape, he could do it in 8 weeks flat while training around five and a half hours a day.

On being a fan friendly fighter:


After the fight where I knocked Chuck out, I got booed. I was devastated. I am a fan friendly fighter. I noticed after that fight [the Liddell fight] I wasn’t that fan friendly to American fans anymore. I’ve always been an international fighter because I fought in Japan and have been more friend family over there

Jim Norton brings up the topic of fighter styles, and how Rampage lost to Wanderlei Silva two times in Pride.
Rampage made some interesting comments about Pride. He starts of by stating that “he doesn’t know” how much he can say, but he makes suggestions about referees favoring fighters to induce desirable outcomes.


I think that if I fought Wanderlei Silva in the UFC I would have beat him. Wanderlei was the chuck Liddell of Pride. If you were beating Wanderlei on the ground, the referee’s would stand you right up. It happened to me. It happened to other fighters that fought him.

Interesting note. I’d like to go back to some of Wanderlei’s fights to watch for this.

Rampage goes on about potential shady goings on during his stint in Pride:


It’s tougher to fight in Pride . The UFC is ran by regular people… Pride wasn’t. I don’t know how much I can say. The UFC is real. The referee can kind of alter the fight in Pride.

He also mentions how the Japanese government, or “other” powerful organizations, might have favored certain fighters. The Yakuza? Who knows.

More on Wanderlei Silva:


Me and Silva don’t even talk to each other. Silva is the type of guy that thinks everyone should be afraid of him. The way I react around him is different. I am not afraid of Wanderlei Silva. They call him “The Axe Murder” because he destroys people in his fights. They threw him chumps and he murdered them. Look at his record of guys he fought. This guy is “The Chump Murderer”. I speak my mind around him and he looks at me all crazy like I shouldn’t be saying that. I think some of the referees took payoffs in Pride. In Japan, I promise you something was up.

On Kimbo Slice:


I heard Kimbo Slice is calling me out. Hold on dawg, you aren’t even in my weight class! You don’t even fight in my organization! Why don’t you call out the heavyweight champion?

On pro wrestlers and Brock Lesnar:


I think that it’s good that pro wrestlers can come over and do some real stuff. Brock Lesnar came and didn’t bring and WWE with him. He didn’t act a fool or nothing like that. He did a good job, he almost finished Mir.

Interesting side notes: – Says to look out for the “purple nurple” in his next fight, a title defense against Forrest Griffin – Was not the slightest bit phased by the infamous video “Two girls one cup” – Rampage thinks the video is fake.

WOW WTF??????

The Affliction Clothing people have spared no expense in their latest ad. The who's who of the fight world are featured in the 2 1/2-minute spot, including Canada's own Georges St. Pierre. The ad also features Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Couture, Fedor Emelianenko, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and others rocking out to a Suicidal Tendencies tune. To view the full ad, check out the scrapyard blog at canoe.ca.

FEDOR'S A WANTED MAN

It's official: Fedor is a free agent again. The bidding has already begun for Fedor Emelianenko as his deal with M-1 came to an abrupt end. Ever-growing fight club EliteXC is talking to the Russian heavyweight. No doubt the UFC is also whispering in his ear again.

NINJA GOES PRIME TIME

The lineup is coming together for EliteXC's fight card May 31 on CBS. The first-ever MMA event to be aired on prime-time network TV will feature Phil Baroni taking on Murilo "Ninja" Rua. Female fighters Gina Carano and Kaitlin Young will also square off. The main event will feature Kimbo Slice taking on a to-be-determined opponent.

FIGHT'S GONE TO POT

Nick Diaz has pulled out of tonight's Strikeforce/EliteXC event. Sherdog.com is reporting the California State Athletic Commission refused to allow Diaz to fight, citing his medical reports weren't filed on time. Diaz management says the commission has a problem with the fighter's prescription marijuana use to treat his Attention Deficit Disorder. The main event features Frank Shamrock taking on Cung Le. It is available on The Fight Network.

DEF LEPPARD KICKS IT OFF IN GREENSBORO,NC

DEF LEPPARD kicked off its North American tour last night (Thursday, March 27) at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina,A.K.A the above photo....

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Rocket
02. Animal
03. Let's Get Rocked
04. Foolin'
05. Mirror Mirror
06. Nine Lives
07. Love Bites
08. (Bass Solo)
09. Rock On
10. Two Steps Behind
11. Bringin' on the Heartbreak
12. Switch 625
13. Hysteria
14. Armageddon It
15. Photograph
16. Pour Some Sugar on Me
Encore:
17. Rock of Ages

I was supreised only one "new song" made it in ...they were right when Joe said they have to bring inthe new songs slowly ,,especially since the album isn't due out for five weeks ..even though some of us have a " real copy " not a radio rip of " Nine Lives " itsa awesome ...good song to pick to break em in....I heard all the rest of the songs on Rockline..sounded pretty good but its hard to jam out to songs you've only heard once,,, as for Nine Lives ...I hear it everyday cuz it grows on me ....later...

UMMM ,..OK WHO DID'NT SEE DON KING COMING ?

Well it was just a matter of time until more news on this huge story broke and here it is. Seems world famous boxing promoter Don King has stepped forward and offered to promote a boxing match between Roy Jones Jr. and Anderson Silva. It seems like Don King has contacted the UFC and made the offer rather then approaching Silva himself, which is probably a good idea because Dana White is bound to be fairly strict on how and where this fight will go down.

With the worlds biggest boxing promoter trying to get this fight to happen it seems like it’s only a matter of time now. There are really only two things that stand in the way of this fight happening. One, Roy backing out due to a pay cut in his match, boxers are paid a amazing amount of money for their fights especially when they are of Jones Calibre. It’s doubtful this would be an issue though because everyone is predicting this to be the biggest PPV event of all time. The other thing potentially standing in the way of the fight happening is Dana White and the UFC, he may be a bit wary of co promoting and dealing with all the problems that come with it, considering the headache that was the pride buyout. More information on this story as it develops.

URIJAH FABER VS JENS PULVER OFFICIAL! OOOOHHH YEAH!!!

World Extreme Cagefighting officially announced Wednesday morning that WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (20-1) will defend his title against former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver (22-8-1) on Sunday, June 1st at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

The event will be available on VERSUS, starting at 9 p.m. ET. The announcement means that speculation that the fight would possibly be shown on pay-per-view is incorrect.

Also officially announced is WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres’ first title defense, to take place in a bout against Manny Tapia, 10-0-1. Torres, 33-1, won the title from Chase Beebe following a guillotine choke submission in the first round at WEC 32 on February 13.

Former NCAA amateur wrestling champion Mark Munoz, 3-0, will also make his WEC debut on the card, according to the press release issued by the promotion. The highly-touted Munoz will be moving from light heavyweight to middleweight for his bout. An opponent has yet to be named.

MORE FEDOR RUMORS - GOOD SOURCES THOUGH

Elite Xtreme Combat has offered Fedor Emelianenko a four-fight, 18-month contract, according to a report by the website Nokaut.com.

According to the report, under terms of the proposed deal, Emelianenko's first two fights would take place on CBS with the final two fights taking place on pay-per-view. Financial terms have not been revealed, but it is believed that Fedor is being offered a portion of PPV revenue.

Officials from EliteXC have yet to comment on the report.

Fedor's true contractual status at this time is uncertain. It was announced in October that he had signed with M-1 Global as its signature star. However, according to a report by Sherdog.com, Fedor never signed a formal contract with the promotion and only signed a letter of intent. M-1 Global vice president Brian Patton was reported to have denied the Sherdog story, claiming that he watched the contract being signed.

It is interesting to note that according to the Nokaut report, Fedor would have to be announced as being from M-1 Global under terms of the EliteXC proposal.

While there is still much uncertainty, it is widely known within the MMA industry that Emelianenko's management has been soliciting proposals from various promotions over the course of the past several months. In addition to EliteXC, the UFC and Golden Boy Promotions/Affliction have reportedly expressed an interest.

We'll have more details as they become available.

Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

JOE ELLIOTT INTERVIEW NEW 3-21-08 CRASHED RADIO STATIONS WEBSITE

Here's what was posted on defleppard.com

WMMR INTERVIEWS JOE (posted 03.23)

Markus Goldman of Pennsylvania's 93.3 WMMR wrote in to tell us about an interview he did with Joe Elliott last week that is now available on WMMR's web site. The interview, lasting almost an hour, can be downloaded from this page

Well the demand was so high it crashed thier servers , so if you want to hear Joe tak you gotta new place to get it ...rapidshare its free , but it makes you wait a little ...


clickity click here!!!

FEDOR EMELIANENKO INTERVIEW

Complex: You shot a commercial for Affliction clothing last Friday with Randy Couture. Did you two discuss a possible fight between takes?
Fedor Emelianenko: We just took photos and did the commercial. We talked about different stuff - about our families, we invited each other to our homes. Randy talked about how he visited Russia to train one time. That’s about it.

C: Randy’s made it clear that you’re the one person left that he wants to fight. If it never happened, at the end of your career would you feel like you missed out on something special?
Fedor Emelianenko: If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. That’s it. But I think it’s going to take place because I think that everyone wants it.

C: Who do you think wants it more: You, Randy or the fans?
Fedor Emelianenko: The fans want it more.

C: Do you hear it directly from fans?
Fedor Emelianenko: I don’t hear it in person from the fans, but I know it from the questions that the media ask me and from the Internet, so I feel they want me to fight Randy.

C: What would a fight like that mean to you? What would you gain from it?
Fedor Emelianenko: If I win, I would be considered one of the strongest fighters ever.



C: Beside Couture, what other heavyweights you’d like to meet in the ring?
Fedor Emelianenko: (laughs) I don’t know who else would agree to fight me.

C: Would you ever consider dropping down to light heavyweight in order to find a good fight?
Fedor Emelianenko: I would never consider that because I feel comfortable where I am right now. Also, I’d have to diet a lot, and I don’t like that. (laughs)

C: On New Year’s Eve you fought Hong-Man Choi, one of the largest competitors (7′ 2″ and 350 lbs.) in MMA. What adjustments did you have to make to fight someone of his size?
Fedor Emelianenko: I didn’t have any adjustments or anything. Me and my trainer set up a strategy when we saw his fights on television. Then me and my team trained together, and they would try and copy some of his movements and actions.

C: What draws you to this? What got you involved in fighting?
Fedor Emelianenko: When I was little, my mom said, ‘Why don’t you and try (martial arts),’ and I did and I liked it. I fanatically started training and really got into it. It grew and grew each year. That’s how I got into sambo and judo first and then I decided to do MMA after that.

C: What made that decision for you, to go from practicing strict martial arts to actually getting in the ring?
Fedor Emelianenko: I needed money. (laughs)

C: If not MMA, where would you be?
Fedor Emelianenko: Probably I would be still doing sambo and judo. Maybe training younger fighters.

C: Vladimir Putin shows up to your fights on occasion, and the idea of our president showing up to support a fighter seems strange here in America. Have you talked with Putin?
Fedor Emelianenko: Putin once visited me after a fight. Our president is very athletic. He develops and tried to give more attention to sports in Russia right now, which is nice. We did talk.

C: So, would he take out President Bush in a fight?
Fedor Emelianenko: Our president is a black belt in judo and he is also a master in sambo. So if they did that … (laughs) But I think that our leaders should decide their issues in a different way.

C: In between fights, what else are you doing besides preparing for that next match?
Fedor Emelianenko: I have two sambo tournaments including the President’s Championship. The rest of the time, I’m just planning to be with family.

–Interview by Robert Spuhler Complex.com

DON FRYE OUT , PATRICK SMITH IN !

Don “The Predator’ Frye will not be competing in the March 21st MMA event, promoted by Yamma. Here’s the press release:
Don “The Predator” Frye withdraws Due to Injury; Will Provide Commentary for the Fight

New York, March 21, 2008 - Today YAMMA Pit Fighting (YPF), a new mixed martial arts (MMA) organization created by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) founder Bob Meyrowitz, announced that “Masters Superfight” participant Don “The Predator” Frye has withdrawn from the organization’s debut due to surgery on his shoulder. Frye injured his shoulder while training for the YAMMA Pit Fighting April 11 pay-per-view event, in which he was scheduled to face MMA legend Oleg “The Russian Bear” Taktarov. Frye will still attend the fight and will provide commentary.

Frye will be replaced by legendary MMA fighter Patrick Smith, an American mixed martial artist and professional kick boxer. Smith gained notoriety in the early days of the UFC with his commanding wins in several memorable fights, including his defeat of Ninjitsu practitioner Scott Morris in UFC 2. The Denver, Colorado native stands 6 ft 2 in tall and weighs 230lbs., and has won five of his last six MMA fights.

Smith had been scheduled to face Taktarov in the UFC 6 tournament, but had to pull out of the match due to injuries suffered in an earlier tournament fight. Taktarov went on to win the tournament and capture the UFC 6 championship. MMA enthusiasts that have wondered what the outcome would have been had Smith not suffered the injury just may get their answer. On April 11th in Atlantic City, Oleg Taktarov and Patrick Smith will finally meet in a fight 10 years in the making.

“We regret to announce that Don Frye has suffered an injury and will be unable to compete,” said Bob Meyrowitz, Rope Partners. “However, I am happy to say that Don will be joining us on April 11 and will provide expert commentary for the Masters Superfight between Oleg Taktarov and Patrick Smith. We look forward to Don competing in YAMMA Pit Fighting in the future.”

The YAMMA Pit Fighting event, comprised of an eight-man tournament for the title of YAMMA Heavyweight Champion and two ‘Masters Superfights,’ will air live from the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City on April 11, 2008. The other ‘Masters Superfight’ will feature Eric “Butterbean” Esch versus Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge. Tickets for the event went on sale March 8 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Trump Taj Mahal Box Office. The live pay-per-view broadcast is available in the United States and Canada through In Demand Networks, TVN Entertainment, Bell ExpressVu, Viewer’s Choice Canada and Dish Network.

The April 11th event will unveil “The YAMMA,” an evolution of the traditional fighting structure that will change how the fight is fought and the strategy the fighters must use to win. This new “ring” has been specifically designed to keep the fighting more explosive and continuous.

For the first time in over a decade, MMA will return to its origins by reviving the hugely popular tournament format, in which fighters will participate in multiple fights on their way to claiming the ultimate victory, the title of YAMMA Heavyweight Champion. The format will test the endurance and skill of each fighter, as victory in each round is rewarded not with extended rest, but with another fight. Tournament fighting has long been a huge draw for dedicated MMA fans due to the non-stop action provided by fight-after-fight formatting.

WHEN MMA GOES MAINSTREAM ON CBS, ROBBIE LAWLER & KIMBO MAY BE THERE !

CBS and ProElite, Inc. on Thursday announced that the first live primetime mixed martial arts event will be telecast on Saturday, May 31 at 9 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network. CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights will be telecast live from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

A number of top fighters are expected to be on the card including a main event featuring Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson against an as of yet unnamed opponent.

One fight that was officially announced for the card is “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler returning to action to defend his EliteXC middleweight title against Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Extreme Cagefighting middleweight veteran Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith.

Additional fights will be announced at a later date.

“We’re excited to introduce broadcast television viewers to America’s fastest growing sport with this prime time event,” said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, CBS Primetime. “EliteXC is putting together a line-up card that showcases the unique personalities, world-class athleticism, and raw power and emotion that characterizes mixed martial arts.”

The announcement about EliteXC’s partnership with CBS came a few weeks back. ProElite Live Events President Gary Shaw has been vocal about his excitement for the opportunity to present mixed martial arts on network television.

“I am very happy for the highly trained fighters, who will finally get the kind of exposure they deserve, and, of course, the viewers, who will get the opportunity to learn that MMA is truly a sport that requires an abundance of skills, both mentally and physically,” said Shaw via a press release on Thursday.

Showtime Sports will handle the production on the CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights, which are currently slated at four events per year in the two-hour primetime slot.

More announcements are expected to follow about the show including the broadcast team that will handle the announcing duties for the show.

PAT MILETICH FACT

Pat Miletich. His inspiration was his own uncle Johnny Miletich a member of the US Boxing squad at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. Pat trained at the Davenport Boxing Club there in his hometown in Iowa his trainer was Alvino Pena.

DEF LEPPARDS NEW NINE LIVES _ HEAR THE FULL SONG NOW !!

LISTEN TO NINE LIVES NOW CLICK HERE!!!!

OFFICIAL DEF LEPPARD SPARKLE LOUNGE COVER ART!!

After previously presenting two "teaser" covers (one with just the band logo and album title font, and one with a closed theatre curtain), we can now finally reveal what is behind the curtain and show you the final artwork for Def Leppard's new album "SONGS FROM THE SPARKLE LOUNGE!"
As you can see, the band went for a cover in the style of The Beatles' "SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND", by using a collage of photos of various people who have a connection with the band in one way or another. Apart from a number of pictures of the band members themselves (throughout the years), you'll find their parents, crew members, friends, and some artwork characters from the past.

RASHAD EVANS vs CHUCK LIDDELL AT UFC 85

Rashad Evans will replace the injured Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to face Chuck Liddell at UFC 85, according to a report from MMAWeekly:

“‘Ultimate Fighter’ season 2 winner, Rashad Evans, has signed on to face Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell as the main event of the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship show in London on June 7th as confirmed to MMAWeekly.

Evans has long been rumored to face Brazilian light heavyweight Thiago Silva as a part of the May 24 card featuring B.J. Penn vs. Sean Sherk as the main event. Now Evans will step in to face Liddell.”

“Sugar” Rashad Evans (11-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) remains undefeated, yet untested according to many in the MMA universe, so this fight should definitely help determine if Evans indeed has a place near the top of the UFC’s light-heavyweight division.

Evans will be giving up a significant height, reach, and experience to Liddell, who will likely be a heavy favorite going into the fight, especially after his recent win over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79. Rashad Evans last appeared inside the octagon at UFC 78, where he walked away with a very close split decision win over Michael Bisping.

MATTT LINDLAND.....

When Matt Lindland signed with Bodog Fight, he inked a three-fight, one-year deal. That deal expired with two of the three fights remaining.

He spoke with MMAWeekly.com recently about his tenure with BodogFight and his frustrations with the Calvin Ayre-owned promotion's business practices.

Lindland last competed in April of 2007 against Fedor Emelianenko in BodogFight: Clash of Nations in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has spent the last ten months expecting two more bouts and two more paydays. Neither came to fruition.

"I lived up to my end of the bargain," said the Greco-Roman wrestling Olympic silver-medalist. "I haven't fought since April, anticipating two more fights with Bodog.

"I was exclusive with them for that period of time. That's why I hadn't done any negotiations outside of that contract. I was upholding my end of the bargain and dealing with them with integrity and honesty. I was being forthright, but they weren't doing such. It was very difficult."

Explaining his contract situation with Bodog Fight, Lindland said, "My contract was with Sixth Row Productions. Bodog and Sixth Row intermingled funds. I mean, I could go after Bodog Fight, but they have no assets. They set up these shell companies and they're not paying their fighters. They don't honor their contracts. It was very disappointing."

Living up to his end of the contract, Lindland appeared frustrated with the situation. Realizing he wasn’t likely to get the fights promised him, he at least tried to come to some sort of settlement with Bodog Fight.

"Here I am asking them just to at least buy me out of this contract and they didn't offer me a single dollar. They owed me a lot of money. They owed me two more times in the ring too.” He continued, “I said, 'I don't want to just take your money, but if you're not going to put me in the ring could you guys pay me something for sitting out for twelve months?' That's ridiculous.”

Unfortunately, Lindland knows all too well that this sort of corporate behavior isn’t an anomaly.

"I run into that in this industry an awful lot … I used to be in the car business and there were a bunch of scumbags in that industry. I'm sure every industry has just these lying scumbags, but it seems like there's a lot in this business."

Regardless of what stipulations and fine print athletes have written into their contracts, Lindland doesn't believe a fighter can fully protect themselves against promoters.

"I don't think you can protect yourself entirely no matter what," said the Oregonian. "Dealing with the new company I'm signing with, we put in some upfront money and hopefully some guarantees, but I guess you can't (protect yourself). That's corporate America. You can't stop a company from going bankrupt and not having the funds, so it's just hard."

Lindland recently signed a three-fight, one-year contract with a start up promotion rumored to be a partnership between popular clothing company Affliction and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Productions. The as yet unnamed promotion is expected to debut in June in Las Vegas.

UFC 84 FIGHTERS ANNOUNCED !

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® ANNOUNCES

UFC 84: ILL WILL

UFC® WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

BJ PENN vs. SEAN SHERK

AND

TITO ORTIZ vs. LYOTO MACHIDA

WANDERLEI SILVA vs. KEITH JARDINE

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008

LIVE FROM MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA

Tickets Go on Sale Sunday, March 2 at 10am PST

Columbus, OH (USA) – The time for talking is over, and now UFC® Lightweight Champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn and former champion Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk will have the chance to settle their score. On May 24, both men will step into the UFC Octagon™ to determine, once and for all, who is the undisputed king of the 155 pound division. Also, in back-to-back light heavyweight superfights, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy”, Tito Ortiz, will take on undefeated Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida, and “The Axe Murderer”, Wanderlei Silva, will face “The Dean of Mean”, Keith Jardine. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization presents UFC 84: ILL WILL live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, May 24, 2008.

BJ Penn is a gifted athlete with great speed, flexibility and fantastic striking, and Sean Sherk is the best wrestler and likely the strongest fighter in the lightweight division,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Both believe they are the rightful 155 pound champion, and they’ve publicly traded insults about it – Penn has called Sherk a cheater and Sherk has stated he owns the belt – this should be a battle for the ages.”

HOW MUCH CASH WON IN UFC 82 ?? LET ME TELL YOU !

UFC 82: Pride of a Champion Fighter Payouts
Posted: 03 Mar 2008 03:57 PM CST MMA FEVER credits due....

Here are the results of the UFC 82 fighter payday...

Anderson Silva — $140,000 ($70,000 to show, $70,000 to win)
Dan Henderson — $100,000
Silva defeated Henderson via RNC - R2

Heath Herring — $140,000 ($70,000 to show, $70,000 to win)
Cheick Kongo — $30,000
Herring defeated Kongo via split decision

Chris Leben — $50,000 ( $25,000 to show, $25,000 to win)
Alessio Sakara — $17,000
Leben defeated Sakara via TKO - R1

Yushin Okami — $28,000 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 to win)
Evan Tanner — $25,000
Okami defeated Tanner via TKO - R2

Jon Fitch — $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)
Chris Wilson — $12,000
Fitch defeated Wilson via unanimous decision

Andrei Arlovski — $170,000 ($105,000 to show, $65,000 to win)
Jake O’Brien — $11,000
Arlovski defeated O’Brien via TKO - R2

Luigi Fioravanti — $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Luke Cummo — $16,000
Fioravanti defeated Cummo via unanimous decision

Josh Koscheck — $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)
Dustin Hazelett — $12,000
Koscheck defeated Hazelett via TKO - R2

Diego Sanchez — $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)
David Bielkheden — $8,000
Sanchez defeated Bielkheden via submission (verbal bitch tapout) - R1

Jorge Gurgel — $14,000 ($7,000 to show, $7,000 to win)
John Halverson — $3,000
Gurgel defeated Halverson via unanimous decision

*** In addition to the base payouts, Anderson Silva was awarded bonus monies for "Fight of the Night" and "Submission of the Night" = $120,000

Dan Henderson also received $60,000 for "Fight of the Night"

Chris Leben was awarded the 60K bonus for "Knockout of the Night

UFC 82 RESULTS !!

Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson
Cheick Kongo vs. Heath Herring
Yushin Okami defeats Evan Tanner via TKO (Knee) Round 2
Chris Leben defeats Alessio Sakara via TKO (Strikes) in Round 1
Jon Fitch defeats Chris Wilson via unanimous decision
Andrei Arlovski defeats Jake O’Brien via technical (strikes) in round two
Luigi Fioravanti defeats Luke Cummo via unanimous decision
Josh Koscheck defeats Dustin Hazelett via technical knockout (strikes) in round two
Diego Sanchez defeats David Bielkheden via submission (verbal tapout because of strikes) in round one
Jorge Gurgel defeats John Halverson via unanimous decision

TONIGHTS IFL RESULTS

Match One: Middleweights
Leopoldo Serao (11-6) vs. Josh Haynes (8-9)
Winner: Josh Haynes, Unanimous Decision

Match Two: Heavyweights
Alexandre Ferreira (15-5) vs. Lew Polley (9-1)
Winner: Alexandre Perreira, submission (standing guillotine) at 0:20 of Round One

Match Three: Welterweights
Jake Ellenberger (16-3) vs. Pat Healy (18-12)
Winner: Jake Ellenberger, Unanimous Decision

Match Four: IFL Lightweight Championship
John Gunderson (15-5) vs. Ryan Schultz (18-9-1)
Winner: Ryan Schultz, Unanimous Decision

Match Five: IFL Heavyweight Championship
Fabiano Scherner (7-5) vs. Roy Nelson (11-2)
Winner: Roy Nelson, TKO at 3:20 of Round One

Match Six: IFL Middleweight Championship
Ryan McGivern (11-5) vs. Matt Horwich (21-9-1)
Winner: And NEW, IFL Middleweight Champion, Ryan McGivern, Unanimous Decision