Week's end wind down, build up to 96

BREAKING POINT
Frank Mir has injured his knee and will not be able to compete in UFC 98 against Brock Lesnar. According to a report on MMAmania.com it is a minor injury that required surgery to repair. However, the rehab should be brief and he is expected back by summer's end. 101 maybe?

As I predicted in Monday, March 2nd's post, the UFC will be in PA -Philly- before the end of 2009. Will somebody PLEASE hire me already!!
They are still working -and hopeful for- on New York, but so far no progress has been made.

The NSAC meets Tuesday, March 17th to determine what, if any, action will be taken towards GSP and/or his camp for the "Greasing" incident from UFC 94 involving Phil Nurse, Greg Jackson and Baby J Penn's alligations. President White's thought: "...I honestly do not believe that Georges St-Pierre was in on some 'greasing' [pause] I don't think that they planned to go in there, grease Georges St-Pierre up to win the fight... I do think the cornerman had his hands where they shouldn't have been!"

INKED
Building their women's division, Strikeforce has signed 7-0 Canadian Sarah Kaufman to the ever-growing 135# class. The Brisith Columbian had signed with EliteXC just three weeks before their demise and was acquired when Strikeforce took over. However, in the time off she also began a relationship with PFC (Palace Fighting Championship) for their April 23rd card. In a recent interview she stated, "They're open, I believe, to working [with each other], so as long as Strikeforce is first and foremost... If [Strikeforce says] it's okay, I'm allowed to fight with PFC as well. As of yet they've allowed me to fight for PFC April 23 in Lemoore, CA."

Alan Belcher and ATT's Alessio Sakara at UFC 99 in Germany.

NO UFC: UNDISPUTED?!?!
It's a possibility. Not a likely one, but still, it's possible. THQ, publishers of the long-awaited game, are in HUGE financial trouble. In the last year their stock has fallen from $20/share to $2/share. I'm no math whiz but even I know that's bad. They are currently preparing to cut 600 jobs and are battling with bankruptcy. This means the game could A.) not meet the June 3rd release date B.) be released by another distributor C.)be rushed out and a lower quality than we are all expecting or D.)have all rights bought by the UFC who will then decide whether to complete it with another publisher/developer and release it or hold off.
Did I pay $5 at GameStop for the waiting list for nothing?

UFC 96 PRE-FIGHT PRESSER
Video of presser
Ohio Athletic Commission's Executive Director, Bernie Profato, to UFC Pres Dana White a huge proverbial "I heart you!" :-)
But seriously, Bernie is a huge proponent of MMA and has held the sport's hand in Ohio and gotten it very far. His comments at the press conference showed how just one state can grow so much in so little time; "We started in '04 with Mixed Martial Arts. Because of the UFC's influence, we had 6 events in '04. The final year in '08 we finished with 132 [events]." Looking at Dana, "So that's what you've done for Ohio and MMA in Ohio." Profato finished his speech by presenting Dana with a lifetime matchmaker's license so he never has to go through the pesky task of applying for one again.

Regarding the Jackson-Jardine fight White explained, "[this is a] very important fight for both these guys. Ever since Quinton's 'episode' he's been back on track and looked amazing in his last fights. He wants the title back. Obviously, if he wins this fight Saturday he gets the next title shot. Keith Jardine a win for him, moves him up the ranks when he will, eventually, have to fight Rashad Evans. If Rashad Evans keeps winning and he keeps winning. They say they wont, but I can guarentee you they will.

Ever the sportsman, Rampage took the podium exclaiming, "Man, I feel bad for Keith Jardine right here. Ya know, Dana said he gonna make him fight his friend and stuff like that. Ya know, I have friends that I train with, that I couldn't see my self fightin' 'em... I like Jardine and I like Rashad. Ya know what I'm saying? But, ya know, Dana's right, this is Mixed Martial Arts, isa isa isa business and a sport. So I'ma try to help you [Jardine] out baby boy. I got you back [fist pump]. So you wont have to fight your boy Rashad." Haha, so kind. Followed by Jardine breaking his normally hard-as-steel look "[with a smile] thanks for lookin' out for me man."
See, MMA isn't full of guys trying to kill each other. It's all about "helping" another guy out. *Loved Jardine's hat, by the way.*
On a more serious note, Rampage does believe his loss to Forrest was a blessing. He feels "it's very motivating to look at yourself and see yourself beat by a guy you know you can beat." Sounds like Forrest lit a little fire under someone's rump.
Mark Munoz and Matt Hamill are just two wrestlers colliding in a ring. Munoz is looking to keep his win streak going and views it as a good omen that the State wrestling championships are in town. Hamill (who, don't you just have to love?) offered to "forget about MMA" and make it "wrestler against wrestler". I have a feeling that's how it will go. But, don't count stand up out. Hamill has been getting better and better as of late and might be looking to show that off. The Ohio boy, who's movie is due out later this year, concluded, "I can't wait to feel the vibrations."

DREAM 7
DREAM 7 will be in Saitama, Japan this weekend. However, they are doing a 6-day tape delay to air it on HDNET next Sunday... but I'll have at least one outcome come Monday. Here's the card::
Non-Tournament Bouts:
Shinya Aoki vs. David Gardner
Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Daisuke Nakamura
Ross Ebanez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri

Featherweight Grand Prix Brackets:
Masakazu Imanari (15-6-1) vs. Atsushi Yamamoto (12-5-1)
Hiroyuki Takaya (9-6-1) vs. Jong Won Kim (0-0)
Yoshiro Maeda (23-6-2) vs. Micah Miller(10-2)
Chase Beebe (11-3) vs. Joe Warren (0-0)
Bibiano Fernandes (3-2) vs. Takafumi Otsuka (8-3-1)
Abel Cullum (13-2) vs. Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura (9-3-1)

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UFC 96 picks up tonight or tomorrow.

Miss something? Comments? Questions? E-mail me: samantha.lynn.johnson@gmail.com