Vladimir Matyushenko

Escudero Blasts Miller in UFC 103 Prelims

“Ultimate Fighter 8” lightweight winner Efrain Escudero kept his perfect record intact on Saturday night, scoring a devastating first-round stoppage of fellow “TUF” alumnus and skilled grappler Cole Miller during the preliminary portion of UFC 103.

Both Escudero and Miller opted to spend the first couple minutes of their Spike TV-televised attraction feeling each other out on the feet. Miller used a substantial reach advantage to land a number of jabs and stiff right hands while Escudero timed some of Miller’s leg kicks and put Miller on the mat on two separate occasions.

Continue reading "Escudero Blasts Miller in UFC 103 Prelims"

UFC 103: “Franklin vs. Belfort” Live Results

We will be going live at 6:00 PM ET with live results of UFC 103: “Franklin vs. Belfort”, which will take place at a sold out American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The event’s televised main card will be broadcast live on pay-per-view starting at 10:00 PM ET. An additional hour of preliminary bouts will also be shown on Spike TV starting at 9:00 PM ET prior to that.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort headlines the event, returning to the UFC in a 195 lb catchweight bout against former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin. A heavyweight contenders clash between formidable strikers Mirko Cro Cop and Junior Dos Santos serves as the co-main event.

Continue reading "UFC 103: “Franklin vs. Belfort” Live Results"

Matyushenko Beats Lambert at “Call to Arms”

Seasoned veteran Vladimir Matyushenko used superior wrestling to earn a unanimous decision over fellow UFC alumnus Jason Lambert and snap a one-fight losing streak in the featured attraction of the first-ever “Call to Arms” show in Ontario, California on Saturday night.

With the win, Matyushenko rebounds from a disappointing knockout loss to rival Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” event in January. Meanwhile, Lambert has now lost his last four professional bouts.

A number of notable fighters were featured on the card. Tiki Ghosn earned a decision over former Strikeforce fighter Brian Warren in the night’s co-main event. Former WWE wrestler and American Kickboxing Academy product Daniel Puder was also victorious in his return to action, albeit via an injury to opponent Jeff Ford.

Continue reading "Matyushenko Beats Lambert at “Call to Arms”"

Fedor KO’s Arlovski at “Day of Reckoning”

Quick results for Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” show last night are below. Fedor Emelianenko scored a first-round knockout of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski to retain his WAMMA heavyweight belt in the main event. More coverage to come.

Brett Cooper def. Patrick Speight - TKO (Strikes)
Albert Rios def. Antonio Duarte - Unanimous Decision
L.C. Davis def. Bao Quach - Unanimous Decision
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Vladimir Matyushenko - KO (Knee)
Dan Lauzon def. Bobby Green - Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Paul Buentello def. Kirill Sidelnikov - TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
Renato Sobral def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Submission
Vitor Belfort def. Matt Lindland - KO (Punches)
Josh Barnett def. Gilbert Yvel - Submission (Strikes)
Fedor Emelianenko def. Andrei Arlovski - KO (Punch)

Affliction’s Day of Reckoning Shaping Up

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Affliction Entertainment’s second PPV effort, Day of Reckoning.  The fight card will feature Fedor Emelianenko defending his WAMMA Heavyweight Championship against former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Andre “The Pitbull” Arlovski.  The event is set to take place on January 24, 2009 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. 

Main Card live on Showtime PPV
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski
Josh Barnett vs. TBA
Matt Lindland vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral
Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon
Vitor Belfort vs. TBA

Undercard live on HDNet
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Paul Buentello vs. Kiril Sidelnikov
Brett Cooper vs TBA
Albert Rios vs Antonio Duarte
Mark Hominick vs LC Davis
Jay Hieron vs. Jason High

Cooper-Speight Finalizes Affliction II Card

A welterweight bout between IFL veteran Brett Cooper and undefeated prospect Patrick Speight will reportedly finalize Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” card, which will take place on October 11th at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV according to a report by MMA News.

Affliction VP Tom Atencio was said to have confirmed Cooper vs. Speight as the final bout to be signed for the event yesterday. Both fighters were originally scheduled to be part of Affliction’s “Banned” show on July 19 but were removed from the card due to unknown reasons.

Continue reading "Cooper-Speight Finalizes Affliction II Card"

Surprises and Switches at Affliction Presser

Affliction Entertainment held a press conference earlier this afternoon at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to confirm a quartet of fights and reveal broadcast details for the promotion’s scheduled “Day of Reckoning” event, which will take place on October 11th at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.

Among the bouts officially announced today by Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio included two previously reported bouts: a rematch between IFL light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko and longtime divisional contender Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and a middleweight contest between former UFC standouts Vitor Belfort and Matt Lindland.

Continue reading "Surprises and Switches at Affliction Presser"

Matyushenko-Nogueira Likely at Affliction II

A potential rematch between IFL light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko and longtime divisional contender Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is reportedly likely to take place at Affliction Entertainment’s recently announced “Day of Reckoning” event, which will take place on October 11th at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas.

The news comes from Brian Knapp of Sherdog.com, who has learned from sources close to the organization that the bout has been offered to both fighters and is expected to be accepted on both sides as well.

Since suffering a highlight reel knockout loss to Andrei Arlovski over five years ago, Matyushenko has reeled off nine straight wins, most recently a successful IFL title defense against Jamal Patterson this past April. Nogueira scored a first-round TKO of Edwin Dewees at Affliction’s “Banned” show last month. The two originally faced off at a Universal Fighting-Arts Organization show overseas in 2002, where Matyushenko scored a unanimous decision over Nogueira.

Report: Matyushenko to Defend Against Ferreira in July

It seems that IFL light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko may already have an opponent for his next title defense as he will likely take on Brazilian Top Team product Alexandre Ferreira at a yet to be announced event in July.

Brazilian magazine Tatame confirmed the potential bout with Ferreira’s IFL coach, Mario Sperry.

“Ferreira was great and impressed a lot in his last fight,” Sperry said in the report. “He’ll fight for the belt. We received the proposal and already accepted it.”

Matyushenko was successful in his first title defense last weekend at an IFL event in New Jersey, stopping light heavyweight prospect Jamal Patterson with strikes in the second round. The win extended the Russian’s winning streak to eight straight fights.

Ferreira was victorious in his IFL debut in February, submitting American Top Team’s Lew Polley. The veteran’s career stretches back all the way to 1998 and includes wins over Heath Herring,  Bob Schrijber, and Brandon Lee Hinkle.

Live from Ringside: Observations from the IFL 4/4 Show

The International Fight League returned to the Izod Center in New Jersey tonight, presenting what may very well have been the deepest fight card in the promotion’s history.  It turned out to be very exciting night of fights that included some massive knockouts along with a vicious submission toward the end of the night. 

With the IFL just opening up the lower level of the Izod Center while curtaining the upper, it looked like a great venue.  It was set up a bit differently than the last time the IFL was in town for the League semi-finals last August.  And while the crowd ended up filling 2/3 of the bottom bowl, it was a good deal less than last year’s.  The theme of the night within the crowd seemed to be cheering for the underdog, as each had some very vocal supporters in the crowd.  To my happiness, I had the pleasure of sitting next to some extremely knowledgeable fans who really knew and appreciated the sport.  Thankfully, I didn’t have to sit next to the guy 3 sections over screaming “use the elbows!”, something that is illegal in the IFL.  I’d like to thank Drew and friends for their conversation and knowledge of the sport.  On to the action!

 

 

Continue reading "Live from Ringside: Observations from the IFL 4/4 Show"