Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers

For those of you that missed this last weekend's Strikeforce event on CBS here is a quick video of Fedor and Rogers in the second round of their match up.



Shields vs Miller


Werdum vs. Silva




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Georges St-Pierre signs deal with Under Armour

Photo courtesy: UFC.com

Press release
I'll "highlight" the interesting parts

PRESS RELEASE — Under Armour, (NYSE: UA) the Baltimore-based leader in performance apparel and footwear, announced today it has signed Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre to a multi-year endorsement deal. Under the terms of the agreement, St-Pierre, the 2008 Sportsnet Canadian Athlete of the Year, will serve as the face of Under Armour’s Underwear, one of the company’s most popular items, and will be featured in its multi-platform media campaign beginning this holiday season.

St-Pierre, known by his fans as GSP, will be featured in imagery displayed in Sporting Goods stores across North America, outfitted in Under Armour’s ColdGear, performance apparel designed to protect athletes in cold temperatures. Beginning in spring 2010, St-Pierre will become the face of Under Armour’s long-time top-selling BoxerJock and BoxerBrief Underwear and will serve as one of the primary faces for Under Armour’s Recharge suit, a suit designed to re-energize your body, promote muscle repair and reduce swelling following a workout.

“It is quite an honor for me to represent Under Armour. I have always appreciated the quality of their products, and to be partners with them is a dream come true,” said St-Pierre.

“Not only is Georges one of the biggest stars in one of the fastest growing sports in the world, but his dedication to training and making himself the best at what he does aligns perfectly with our Brand’s mission to make all athletes better,” said Steve Battista, Under Armour Senior Vice President, Brand. “When we found out that he was a fan of ours, we jumped on the opportunity to bring him into the Under Armour family.”

“Georges St-Pierre’s continued success in MMA, his character and integrity, and his wide-reaching fan base make him a terrific brand ambassador for Under Armour, which, much like GSP, has become one of the foremost brands in sports in a short period of time,” said Howard Nuchow, Co-Head, CAA Sports, which represents St-Pierre in conjunction with Shari L. Spencer, President of GSP Enterprises. “Pairing GSP with Under Armour is a testament to the explosive growth of MMA, and the popularity and cultural relevance of its top fighter, among consumers worldwide.”

New for spring 2010, Under Armour has joined forces with Coretection Products Ltd. to bring state-of-the-art patented technology to athletes for all sports around the globe. St-Pierre will be prominently featured in in-store imagery highlighting the new Coreshort compression product. The Coreshort product works to stabilize the core without obstructing movement. The unique technology creates efficient movement through the core, activating stronger motion and more explosive propulsion. Available in two styles; the Coreshort product will retail for $44.99 and the Coreshort Pro product will retail for $59.99.

Under Armour, the originators of performance apparel, has transitioned athletes into moisture-wicking apparel since 1996. Under Armour products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe.

St-Pierre rounds out an impressive roster of NFL, MLB, NBA and Olympic stars, including Super Bowl Champions Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens) and Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants); one of the world’s most accomplished downhill skiers, Lindsey Vonn; in addition to Devin Hester (Chicago Bears), Santana Moss (Washington Redskins), Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals), Nick Markakis (Baltimore Orioles), Alfonso Soriano (Chicago Cubs), lacrosse superstar Paul Rabil, and U.S. Olympian Lindsey Jacobellis. ###

Press Release Source: MMAFrenzy.com

Starting spring of 2010 GSP will be jock-clad and representing Under Armour in sporting goods stores through out North America. Men want to be like him, women just want him, and both he and Under Armour are poised to make a profit.


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

MMA in Beantown possible by 2010.

Massachusetts is home to several mixed martial artists, professional and amateur. Some of the country's top gyms are located in or around Boston; though the fighters that train at these gyms are unable to compete in their home state. That could be changing soon as House bill no. 94290 to legalize MMA was just passed and now only awaits the signature of Gov. Deval Patrick to become law.

The bill, originally filed by Sen. James Timilty (D-Walpole.) Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), was recently passed with a 144-10 vote in the House of Representatives. The Senate version was passed earlier this summer with a 34-1 vote; Senator Marian Walsh (D-Boston) was the only senator to vote against the bill.

House Docket number 94290 (the MMA bill) was passed through both the house and senate with only a few changes; however, the changes made do stand out. For example: Section three of the bill states that, "(c) Any persons holding, conducting, promoting or participating in a match or exhibition held without a license, as provided in section 33, or a toughman or similar type match or exhibition, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of corrections for not more than 3 months or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both such fine and imprisonment." Though Section 4 goes on to strike out the amount of $5,000 and up the possible fine to $50,000.

Promoters are required to pay the commission 4% of total ticket sales, and an additional 2% if the event is broadcast via "television, pay-per-view, motion picture or other broadcasting rights, regardless of whether the event is broadcast live or in the future." For pay-per-views a "broadcasting fee imposed under this section [sect. 46] shall be not more than $75,000 per event."

Once Gov. Patrick signs the bill into law, the boxing commission will take over the duties of regulating mixed martial arts and become a general athletic commission known as the State Athletic Commission. The Athletic Commission will "consist of the commissioner of the department of public safety, or his designee, and 4 persons
to be appointed by the governor who shall serve for terms of 3 years," per bill H-94290. The bill goes on to specify, "At least 1 member shall have a background in the sport of boxing and at least 1 member shall have a background in the sport of mixed martial arts."

After the commission is formed, the state will adopt the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that most states who legalize MMA use. However, the difference in the Massachusetts bill is an amendment that allows towns and cities the option to vote down MMA licenses in their community. Each municipality has seven (7) days to vote down (or "opt-out") an event that has been granted a license by the state commission. To prohibit an event from taking place the municipality must gain a majority vote of either its city council or board of selectmen.

The passing of H-94290 makes Massachusetts the forty-first state to legalize mixed martial arts. UFC President, Dana White, has expressed interest in holding an outdoors event at Fenway Park in the summer of 2010 if the bill is made effective into law by that time.

From the press release issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
"Our committee worked with the Department of Public Safety to ensure that when these mixed martial events do occur, they are regulated by both state and local officials,” said Rep. Michael A. Costello, chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “This bill ensures that the events will be conducted in a safe and responsible manner.”

You can read House Docket No. 94290 HERE.



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

A-Team, Rampage on the Set

While initial reports from various MMA sites got us worried that Rampage Jackson would not be sporting the signature B. A. Baracus fro-hawk and gaudy jewelery collaberation, ET proved them wrong when they visited the set of the new A-Team movie yesterday.

Mr. T as B.A. Baracus in the original A-Team

Jackson is the spitting image of a modern Mr. T. The 2009 Baracus is depicted as sporting a chin strap and goatee as well as some cheek-bone-framing-chops that are more Rampage than Kimbo. Along with the facial hair is the fro-hawk only minus the 20-pounds of gold around his neck.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

(Courtesy ET via MSN.com)

The original A-Team was a little before my time, but with Rampage Jackson, Bradly Cooper, and Jessica Biel in the cast, I'm looking forward to the twenty-first century edition.

Shawn Tompkins leaves Xtreme Couture for Tapout TC

Canadian import, Shawn Tompkins, has decided to leave his position as lead trainer at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas and move over to the Tapout Training Center. Several rumors have emerged as to why Tompkins is leaving, some state it's for "financial reasons" others speculated Tompkins and XC founder, Randy Couture may be on the outs. No official announcement has been made, and thus, no official reason was given for the switch.

Several fighters training at Xtreme Couture just to train with Tompkins. It's not clear which of the massive lists of fighters XC boasts will switch gyms to stay with Tompkins, though the few he has a "personal" or long history with are assumed to be moving. Fighters such as Chris Horodecki, whom Tompkins has trained since he was a teen, and Sam Stout, who is Tompkins' brother-in-law, are among those who most assume will jump the XC ship and take anchor at Tapout TC.

Another fighter who most are speculating will be leaving his new training home is Yoshihiro "Sexy-ama" Akiyama. Akiyama recently joing XC to train specifically with Tompkins; with Tompkins setting up shop down the road with TCT most are guessing Sexy-ama will join him.

Shawn Tompkins joins XC cast-out, and Randy's soon-to-be ex-wife, Kim Couture who moved gyms earlier this year after she and husband Randy Couture split.


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

Memo to BJ Penn: GET OVER IT

I know I've been on a bit of a rant lately attacking various MMA figures. It's all in good fun...just getting some heat off my chest.

In a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports, Light weight title holder BJ Penn accused Georges St-Pierre of using steroids.

"In my opinion he doesn’t play by the rules when it comes to steroids and growth hormones and that stuff. Look at him. He’s the worst. He looks like that every day. That’s cheating. There is a reason why there are rules against using steroids. The rest of us, we get fat, then we train and get skinny and the cycle goes over and over again. He looks the same way all the time. Come on."

Is it just me or does BJ sound like the "chubby" chick that's jealous of the model-type so she constantly talks about how ugly and bitchy she is?

Click image to enlarge

It makes perfect sense... BJ is jealous. Georges has beat him-twice. Both times it wasn't really what you would call "close." BJ is a hero in his native Hawaii, Georges is like a god to the Canadians... It's like Zeus and Kronos all over again... the younger, more developed, up-and-coming generation won the battle.

It's easy to look like that all year if you train all year. Firas Zahabi recently proclaimed to FightHype.com that Georges is a "trainaholic." So, if 2/3 of the year you're training and not sipping mai tais or playing in the pool it's probably pretty easy to maintain good-if-not-great physical conditioning.


Even this guy (Poland's Mariusz Pudzianowski, 5x World's Strongest Man) has his down days... but he doesn't get that Penn-gut we all know too well.

Semi-related:According to Fighters Only Magazine, Mariusz Pudzianowski will be fighting in his native Poland on December 12, in the KSW Fight show. He is a green belt in Kyokushin Karate (GSP is a black belt in this discipline.) He normally walks at 285# so he will have to cut to make the 265# heavyweight limit.






Disclaimer: The above statements and opinions are that of Samantha L. Johnson and she alone. MMAGirls is not to be held responsible or liable for her words.


Comments? Questions? E-mail me:

samantha.lynn.johnson@gmail.com

Fedor Proved He is Vadim's Puppet

Rasputin Vadim Finkelstein, Fedor's manager, has proven once and for all he is Fedor's puppeteer. After a week of intense talks with multiple organizations-some offering more than others- the duo ultimately signed with the one offering what Vadim truly wanted...Co-Promotion.

Let's draw some comparisons...
Vadim Finkelstein is like Grigori Rasputin and Fedor Emelianenko is like Tsar Nicholas II. The comparison might be a stretch, but bare with me.



If you do a quick wikipedia.org search of Rasputin you will see from the picture that the guy was F*N crazy, but aside from that, you will read many accused him of controlling the Tsar and his Romonov family. Many in the public referred to him as "Mad Monk" for the fact that he was a holy man-a monk- but many suspected he was a mystic/sorcerer and controlled the Tsar through magic...though resent historians suggest the family simple trusted him a great deal due to the fact that he helped young hemophiliac Tsarevich (Prince) Alexei.

Alright kids, now that we've had our quick history lesson on who Rasputin is we can continue... Vadim is evil. Maybe that's a little harsh, but he is controlling Fedor's every move (well, Fedor may wipe his own bum).

Rasputin was born a peasant, Vadim was... well, there is no information about him before he began handling Fedor- but I assume like most pre-cold war Russians he wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Rasputin swooped in when the Romanovs needed him most and helped them in a way they felt forever indebted to him. Vadim swooped in when Fedor's career was picking up and he was having a "dispute" with his former club, Russian Top Team, and helped him in a way that made/makes Fedor feel indebted to Vadim.

Rasputin was a mystic and had been accused of raping a nun. The jury is still out on what powers Vadim holds and he's sure as hell raping Fedor because that boy could have gotten PAID from the UFC if Vadim didn't insist on co-promotion.

All I'm saying is, there are some similarities. Think about it. The below image was released recently. This is an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Vadim and Fedor in a training session at Red Devil Sport Club in Russia (sources indicate the image was taken sometime late last week).


Click image for a larger view.




Want to add to the Vadim roast? Comment below OR e-mail me:

samantha.lynn.johnson@gmail.com