“Heat” a Success
Posted by Selina Wong on October 6th, 2008EliteXC: Heat, which took place 4 October at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL, and aired on CBS, drew a live gate of $826,433 and a total attendance of 9,414 (7,723 paid).
EliteXC’s Jeremy Lappen revealed the numbers at a post-fight press conference Saturday night.
Headlining the event was Miami’s “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1), who was TKO’d in 14 seconds by “Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (10-4).
It was a solid improvement over their last CBS event in July, in which only 2,871 ticketholders (of 6,572 attendees) paid for their seats for a total gate of $269, 000. EliteXC had to give away 3,701 tickets in order to fill the seats for the cameras.
Initial television ratings also point to a successful rebound. According to Sherdog, 4.31 million viewers tuned in to Saturday Night Fights.
CBS Primetime Senior Executive Vice President Kelly Kahl said, “In total viewers, we matched our first event in May and the male demos look like they were top-rated for the night. Given the extreme competition from college football and Major League Baseball playoffs, we think it’s a terrific performance.”
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Late Replacement Petruzelli Hands Slice First Loss
Posted by Chad Edward on October 4th, 2008
“Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (10-4) TKO’d “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1) in 14 seconds Saturday night in Sunrise, north of Miami.
“Everyone said what it was. It was an opportunity for me to step up,” said Petruzelli after the win.
Petruzelli and Slice agreed to fight just 40 minutes before CBS EliteXC Fight Night went live after Slice’s original opponent, “World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock (26-13-2), bailed with a cut over his eye suffered while warming up Saturday.
Shamrock’s brother, EliteXC broadcaster Frank Shamrock (23-9-2), called Ken “a discrace” on air.
“Honestly, man, it was a crappy situation for both us,” Petruzelli said. “It was unfortuante what happened to Ken. This is professional fighting. It’s not supposed to be like it is on the streets.”
But, if it was like a street fight, Slice, the “YouTube street fighting sensation”, should’ve had the advantage.
Slice pressed Petruzelli at the bell and ate a front kick immediately. Petruzelli followed with a straight right that sent Slice to his hands and knees. Slice never got back up as Petruzelli rained right hooks, then lefts to Slice’s skull. The referee stepped in to end the fight; and, Slice, stunned, grabbed the referees leg.
After his first MMA loss, Slice told his hometown crowd, “It’s all good. It’s all good. It was unexpected.” Then Slice plugged his sponsors and after party.
For MMA aficionados, Slice’s loss wasn’t so much an upset as a confirmation that mixed martial arts can’t be picked-up by any fighter off the streets in a year.
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Shields Defends EliteXC Title From Daley
Posted by Chad Edward on October 4th, 2008Fighters.com’s third-ranked welterweight Jake Shields (22-4-1) tapped challenger for his EliteXC title “Semtex” Paul Daley (18-7-2) in an armbar at 3:47 of the second round Saturday night in Sunrise, north of Miami.
“He gave me hell,” Shields admitted. “I haven’t been passed the first round in about a year.”
Shields was humble. He dominated most of the fight by taking Daley to his back and effortlessly passing to full mount.
At the end of the first round, Shields was swept as he attempted to wrap Daley in an armbar from full mount. Daley rolled into Shields’s full guard and landed big elbows to the bell.
But, in the second round, the scenario replayed with Shields cinching the armbar. Daley tried to roll free; but, Shields was relentless and forced the tap.
After the “W”, Shields announced his interest in becoming a two-title holder, saying, “I wouldn’t mind moving up to 185 and going for two belts.”
EliteXC’s middleweight champion is fourth-ranked “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4).
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Arlovski Right Hook Puts Away Nelson
Posted by Chad Edward on October 4th, 2008Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked heavyweight “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-5) knocked out the last IFL titlist “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-3) with a right hook that landed flush at 3:14 of the second round Saturday night in Sunrise, north of Miami.
Arlovski landed a stiff left that turned Nelson’s jaw in line with the right hook that prompted the referee to end the fight.
Nelson rolled over on the mat and threw his hands in the air in protest of the stoppage, then stomped around the cage and tossed his mouth guard in the air.
Nelson won round one by closing distance and putting Arlovski on his back. Nelson passed Arlovski’s guard and worked an Americana and Kimura, but was never close to closing the deal.
In the second, Arlovski’s crisp striking proved the decider, landing a right hook and an uppercut before the fight finisher.
Arlovski has won five straight.
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Almeida Out, Miller In
Posted by Selina Wong on October 4th, 2008An injured “Cachorrao” Ricardo Almeida (9-3) has withdrawn from his middleweight bout with “Suave” Matt Horwich (23-10-1) at UFC 90 on 25 October, according to MMA Weekly.
Former IFL Middleweight Champion Dan Miller (9-1) has agreed to replace him, although no official announcement has been made.
Miller won his UFC debut in September, submitting “Rosedale Reaper” Rob Kimmons (21-4) in the first round via rear naked choke.
Horwich was the IFL’s first-ever Middleweight Champion and will be making his UFC debut. He most recently scored a unanimous decision over “Coyote” Joey Guel (13-7) in May.
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Radach Pounds “Ninja”
Posted by Chad Edward on October 4th, 2008American Top Team middleweight Benji Radach (19-4) knocked out “Ninja” Murilo Rua (16-9-1) at 2:31 of the second round Saturday night in Sunrise, north of Miami.
Radach is expected to earn an EliteXC title shot versus fourth-ranked “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4).
“Man, I hit him so hard a lot of times,” Radach said after the referee pushed him off of Rua after landing four unanswered punches to Rua’s head as he lie on the mat.
“Ninja” had stumbled after launching a flying knee and Radach fed him a straight right, then three right hooks.
The finish resembled the entire fight: Radach landing sledgehammers to Rua’s head.
Rua was most successful on the mat in the first round when he worked a Kimura, then nearly locked in a heel hook until Radach rolled free.
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EliteXC Heads to Reno in November
Posted by Selina Wong on October 4th, 2008EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw has confirmed that the organization’s 8 November event will take place in Reno, reported MMA Junkie Friday.
Shaw said, “We’re going to have a huge card in November. We’re going to be in Reno, Nevada. It’s going to be fantastic.”
Shaw also confirmed that “Feijao” Rafael Cavalcante (7-1) will be on the card and may face “Snake” Cyrille Diabate (12-6-1), although whether it will be a title fight is yet to be determined.
“[We've] spoken about Cyrille Diabate, but it’s not definitive that that’s going to be his opponent,” Shaw said.
“Until we have a definitive opponent, we do not know if we will introduce the light-heavyweight title. When we are ready to introduce the light heavyweight title, there is no doubt that ‘Feijao’ will be in a fight for that title. He’s without a doubt the No. 1 fighter that we have in the light heavyweight division.”
Cavalcante last fought in July, TKO’ing “Gladiator” Travis Galbraith (15-6) in round one.
Diabate won a unanimous decision over Jaime Fletcher (6-4) in August.
Another bout under consideration is “Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (13-5) versus “Shango” Hector Lombard (17-2-1).
Shaw said, “We have a tentative agreement for Scott Smith to take on Hector Lombard. I think that would be a fantastic fight.”
Smith is coming off a second-round TKO loss to Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight and EliteXC champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) in July.
Lombard last fought in September versus Brian Ebersole (36-15), who verbally tapped in the fourth round.
One fighter who may not make it onto the card is “Grim” Brett Rogers (8-0).
“Brett Rogers hasn’t been decided yet,” Shaw said. “We’re still talking with his camp. He had a couple of personal issues, and we’re just making sure that he has enough time to be prepared. We spoke, and it’s nothing else. It’s not contracts, it’s just a couple personal issues.
“We want to make sure we get the best possible Brett Rogers at all times. If we’re able to go with him, then he’ll be there.”
Rogers TKO’d Jon Murphy (4-3) in 1:01 in May.
The event will be headlined by Lawler in a title fight with Joey Villasenor (26-6) and also features a 160-pound title bout between Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (15-1) and Nick Diaz (18-7). It airs on Showtime.
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Ludwig Taps Morgan With Strikes
Posted by Chad Edward on October 3rd, 2008“Bang” Duane Ludwig (17-8) tapped “The Squeeze” Sam Morgan with strikes at 2:01 of the first round Friday night in Broomfield, northwest of Denver.
“I’ve got to thank Sam, man,” said a gracious and elated Ludwig who avenged a 2005 knockout with the win. “He came in and did his job last time. But, much respect to that warrrior because he gave me a second shot.”
Ludwig staggered Morgan with an uppercut to the body and followed with a right hook that dropped Morgan.
“I’m such a technical striker,” Ludwig said. “I finally let it go.”
Ludwig hammered strikes until Morgan tapped in pain from the initial body shot.
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Trigg Musters UD Over Vitale
Posted by Chad Edward on October 3rd, 2008Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked middleweight “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (18-6) won a unanimous decision over Falaniko Vitale (26-8) Friday night in Broomfield, northwest of Denver.
Judges’ scores were 29-28 twice and 30-27 once.
After the unimpressive performance, Trigg talked retirement: “I’ve got a few fights left. I’m not ready to retire yet, but we’ve started preparing for that.” Trigg plugged his clothing line, Triggonomics. “I’ve got a passion for fashion.”
Trigg landed a straight left in the first round that forced Vitale to the fence. Trigg closed distance and hammered elbows, mostly grazing Vitale. Vitale exploded from the fence with a combo of punches.
But, that was as exciting as the fight got. Twice in the third round, the crowd booed when it appeared the fighters had mutually agreed to take a break.
“It wasn’t the altitude,” Trigg contended. “It was the fact that I have a one-month old child at home. It’s hard to be an MMA family.”
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Liles Upsets Spratt in Rear Naked Choke
Posted by Chad Edward on October 3rd, 2008Welterweight Donnie Liles (12-5) upset veteran “Secret Weapon” Pete Spratt (18-15) with a rear naked choke submission at 1:59 of round three Friday night in Broomfield, northwest of Denver.
“This is definitely my biggest victory,” an emotional Liles said after the victory. “I’m just looking to the future and see what that brings.”
Neither Lyles nor Spratt stood out until the end of the second round; but, by then, Spratt had pieced together an advantage with the occasional punch landing crisp to Lyles chin or body.
“Honestly, all the coaches and everyone told me don’t stand with him. Take it to the ground” Lyles revealed.
At the end of round two, Lyles finally followed his coaches’ advice.
Lyles took Spratt down into half mount with 20 seconds remaining in the round and passed to mount. Spratt rolled to his stomach, right into a rear naked choke, but right at the round’s final bell.
“I knew I was tired, but I knew but he was more tired than I was,” Liles said.
In the third round, Liles had broken the code to the “Secret Weapon”. Liles repeated the takedown to half mount and pass to mount. Again, Spratt rolled into a rear naked choke, but there was no bell to save him in the third round.
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