Knuckle Down: Ohio Fighters Facing Stiff Tests
Mike Fridley Mar 12, 2008
After a year on the shelf, Kevin Randleman (Pictures) can't wait to step back in the
ring.
Legal and health problems, commission issues and tough-to-swallow defeats have littered the former UFC heavyweight champion's thoughts since he last competed in October 2006.
No stranger to adversity, Randleman is confident that the next year
and a half will be different for the man his peers call "The
Monster."
"I signed non-exclusive contracts with [World Victory Road and Global Fighting Championships], so you can expect to see a lot of Kevin Randleman in the next 20 months," revealed the Ohioan. "I've been out of action for over a year, so I'm hungry to get back in there and climb up the rankings."
That journey will begin May 18, when Randleman returns to Japan for a bout against a yet-to-be-decided opponent.
"I don't care who I fight there," he said. "I'll be ready. I'm 220 [pounds] now, hitting the weights and working on my flexibility with yoga. I'll hook up with Frank Trigg (Pictures) and Xtreme Couture here in Vegas soon. The next 40 days will be the hardest."
Three weeks after his WVR contest, Randleman, a two-time national champion wrestler at Ohio State University, will set his sights on former UFC heavyweight challenger and grappling-circuit standout Jeff Monson (Pictures).
"Monson is good, but I'm a strong motherf-----. No more joking, no more playing. I'm trying to be a warrior."
‘The President' Mum on Yamma
Is Yamma Pit Fighting's new surface a secret that even "The President" can't get security clearance on?
"I have no idea what the pit's specs are," declared Columbus-based mixed martial artist George Bush (Pictures) (5-0), who will take part in YPF's eight-man heavyweight tournament on the promotion's April 11 debut card in Atlantic City, N.J.
"I hope to be informed of exactly what we'll be fighting in as we get close to April, but as of now I have been told nothing."
The brainchild of UFC co-creator Bob Meyrowitz, Yamma Pit Fighting claims its new fighting surface will "change the face of the sport and will challenge the relevance of the fighters' trademark tactics, as methods that were previously successful may be rendered useless with the new ring."
"What we fight in doesn't matter," Bush said. "I assume my opponent doesn't know what it is either. Either way, with both of us inside, it poses no advantage to me or him. A fight is a fight."
George Bush (left) vs. Vinicius Magalhaes (Photo by Dave
Mandel)
While his adversary has not been officially announced, Bush informed Sherdog.com that he will most likely be fighting UFC veteran Sherman Pendergarst in the tournament's opening round.
"It's a big step up for me," stated Bush, who outboxed Team Quest's Vinicius Magalhaes in his most recent bout at a Gracie Fighting Championships event last May.
Bush, 26, is training for his pay-per-view debut with recent UFC signee Mark Coleman (Pictures), former Pickerington high school wrestling standout Brad Harris, Ohio Muay Thai's Master Lek and the Angelo Dundee-mentored Steve Gregory.
Pro Elite Announces ShoXC card
Pro Elite this week announced the bill for its Showtime-broadcasted card to be held at the Chumash Hotel & Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif., on March 21.
Formerly known as Malaipet MTA (Pictures), Thailand's Malaipet Sasiprapa will confront "Wildman" Thomas Denny (Pictures) in the main event.
On the televised undercard, Mark Oshiro (Pictures) will take on Chris Caraiso; Marlon Matias duels Conor Heun (Pictures); and Analu Brash (Pictures) tangles with Shane Del Rosario.
A female match pitting Jen Case (Pictures) against undefeated Cristiane Cyborg rounds out the main card.
New Blood, New Battles at IFL
The International Fight League's April 4 East Rutherford, N.J., event is a step up from its season debut in February. Three title fights are scheduled as well as the return of "The Polish Hammer," Chris Horodecki (Pictures).
Welterweight champion Jay Hieron (Pictures) will put his belt up against Mark Miller. Featherweight ace Wagnney Fabiano (Pictures) takes on challenger Shad Lierley (Pictures), and Jamal Patterson (Pictures) will vie for Vladimir Matyushenko (Pictures)'s light heavyweight crown.
Horodecki, four months removed from a loss to Ryan Schultz (Pictures) that was his first professional defeat in 12 bouts, will square off against upstart Nate Lamotte (Pictures) in a lightweight clash.
In addition, the event will feature the IFL's usual brand of team bouts, as Midwest Combat's Bart Palaszewski (Pictures) and Brad Blackburn (Pictures) compete against Team Renzo Gracie (Pictures)'s Deividas Taurosevicius (Pictures) and Delson Heleno (Pictures), respectively.
American Top Team's Rafael Dias (Pictures), Emyr Bussade and Carmelo Marrero (Pictures) will step across from Team Miletich Fighting Systems' LC Davis (Pictures), Rory Markham (Pictures) and Mike Ciesnolevicz (Pictures).
Wrestler Relocates to Team Quest
Muhammed "Mo" Lawal, a 2008 U.S. wrestling gold medal hopeful has relocated from Colorado Springs' Olympic Training Center to Team Quest's Murrieta, Calif., complex to cross-train in mixed martial arts, Sherdog.com learned Tuesday evening.
"He's the most phenomenal wrestler I've ever worked with," stated Team Quest's Ryan Parsons, who has trained several collegiate grapplers turned MMA champions.
Hailing from Murfeesboro, Tenn., Lawal wrestled at Oklahoma State and Central Oklahoma, where he captured the Division II national championship in 2002. More recently, "Mo" won first place at the 2006 U.S. Open and the 2007 Pan American Games.
"Mo is an incredibly gifted athlete. He has a 42-inch vertical leap, a work ethic second to none and learns extremely fast," Parsons said. "His experience competing at the highest level in wrestling and his passion for the sport of mixed martial arts are great assets in his quest to become a champion."
Lawal, 27, will make his MMA debut after the Beijing Summer Games.
Legal and health problems, commission issues and tough-to-swallow defeats have littered the former UFC heavyweight champion's thoughts since he last competed in October 2006.
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"I signed non-exclusive contracts with [World Victory Road and Global Fighting Championships], so you can expect to see a lot of Kevin Randleman in the next 20 months," revealed the Ohioan. "I've been out of action for over a year, so I'm hungry to get back in there and climb up the rankings."
"Everything has changed," Randleman said. "I want nothing more than
to come back with a bang and get back to the top."
That journey will begin May 18, when Randleman returns to Japan for a bout against a yet-to-be-decided opponent.
"I don't care who I fight there," he said. "I'll be ready. I'm 220 [pounds] now, hitting the weights and working on my flexibility with yoga. I'll hook up with Frank Trigg (Pictures) and Xtreme Couture here in Vegas soon. The next 40 days will be the hardest."
Three weeks after his WVR contest, Randleman, a two-time national champion wrestler at Ohio State University, will set his sights on former UFC heavyweight challenger and grappling-circuit standout Jeff Monson (Pictures).
"Monson is good, but I'm a strong motherf-----. No more joking, no more playing. I'm trying to be a warrior."
‘The President' Mum on Yamma
Is Yamma Pit Fighting's new surface a secret that even "The President" can't get security clearance on?
"I have no idea what the pit's specs are," declared Columbus-based mixed martial artist George Bush (Pictures) (5-0), who will take part in YPF's eight-man heavyweight tournament on the promotion's April 11 debut card in Atlantic City, N.J.
"I hope to be informed of exactly what we'll be fighting in as we get close to April, but as of now I have been told nothing."
The brainchild of UFC co-creator Bob Meyrowitz, Yamma Pit Fighting claims its new fighting surface will "change the face of the sport and will challenge the relevance of the fighters' trademark tactics, as methods that were previously successful may be rendered useless with the new ring."
"What we fight in doesn't matter," Bush said. "I assume my opponent doesn't know what it is either. Either way, with both of us inside, it poses no advantage to me or him. A fight is a fight."
While his adversary has not been officially announced, Bush informed Sherdog.com that he will most likely be fighting UFC veteran Sherman Pendergarst in the tournament's opening round.
"It's a big step up for me," stated Bush, who outboxed Team Quest's Vinicius Magalhaes in his most recent bout at a Gracie Fighting Championships event last May.
Bush, 26, is training for his pay-per-view debut with recent UFC signee Mark Coleman (Pictures), former Pickerington high school wrestling standout Brad Harris, Ohio Muay Thai's Master Lek and the Angelo Dundee-mentored Steve Gregory.
Pro Elite Announces ShoXC card
Pro Elite this week announced the bill for its Showtime-broadcasted card to be held at the Chumash Hotel & Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif., on March 21.
Formerly known as Malaipet MTA (Pictures), Thailand's Malaipet Sasiprapa will confront "Wildman" Thomas Denny (Pictures) in the main event.
On the televised undercard, Mark Oshiro (Pictures) will take on Chris Caraiso; Marlon Matias duels Conor Heun (Pictures); and Analu Brash (Pictures) tangles with Shane Del Rosario.
A female match pitting Jen Case (Pictures) against undefeated Cristiane Cyborg rounds out the main card.
New Blood, New Battles at IFL
The International Fight League's April 4 East Rutherford, N.J., event is a step up from its season debut in February. Three title fights are scheduled as well as the return of "The Polish Hammer," Chris Horodecki (Pictures).
Welterweight champion Jay Hieron (Pictures) will put his belt up against Mark Miller. Featherweight ace Wagnney Fabiano (Pictures) takes on challenger Shad Lierley (Pictures), and Jamal Patterson (Pictures) will vie for Vladimir Matyushenko (Pictures)'s light heavyweight crown.
Horodecki, four months removed from a loss to Ryan Schultz (Pictures) that was his first professional defeat in 12 bouts, will square off against upstart Nate Lamotte (Pictures) in a lightweight clash.
In addition, the event will feature the IFL's usual brand of team bouts, as Midwest Combat's Bart Palaszewski (Pictures) and Brad Blackburn (Pictures) compete against Team Renzo Gracie (Pictures)'s Deividas Taurosevicius (Pictures) and Delson Heleno (Pictures), respectively.
American Top Team's Rafael Dias (Pictures), Emyr Bussade and Carmelo Marrero (Pictures) will step across from Team Miletich Fighting Systems' LC Davis (Pictures), Rory Markham (Pictures) and Mike Ciesnolevicz (Pictures).
Wrestler Relocates to Team Quest
Muhammed "Mo" Lawal, a 2008 U.S. wrestling gold medal hopeful has relocated from Colorado Springs' Olympic Training Center to Team Quest's Murrieta, Calif., complex to cross-train in mixed martial arts, Sherdog.com learned Tuesday evening.
"He's the most phenomenal wrestler I've ever worked with," stated Team Quest's Ryan Parsons, who has trained several collegiate grapplers turned MMA champions.
Hailing from Murfeesboro, Tenn., Lawal wrestled at Oklahoma State and Central Oklahoma, where he captured the Division II national championship in 2002. More recently, "Mo" won first place at the 2006 U.S. Open and the 2007 Pan American Games.
"Mo is an incredibly gifted athlete. He has a 42-inch vertical leap, a work ethic second to none and learns extremely fast," Parsons said. "His experience competing at the highest level in wrestling and his passion for the sport of mixed martial arts are great assets in his quest to become a champion."
Lawal, 27, will make his MMA debut after the Beijing Summer Games.
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