SPORTSSHERDOG
Sherdog.com Home
News Blog Videos Sherdog Radio Pictures MMA Statistics Sherdog Forums Sherdog Store
Fight Finder

  First Name
  Last Name
  Nick Name
News Quicklinks
» Ortiz, Griffin Official for UFC 106
» Dana White on Karo, Gina Carano, Shane McMahon & More
» WEC Inks New Deal with Versus
» WEC 44 Payouts: Aldo Earns $36,000
» Ortiz: 'Forrest Doubts Himself'
» Forrest: ‘Losing is the Worst Thing in the World’
» Johnson Lacks No Confidence Against Koscheck
» UFC 106 Weigh-ins
» Strikeforce Books Jan. 30 Event in Florida
» Update: Licensed Parisyan Out of UFC 106
'Butterbean'-Smith Now Headlining Yamma
 Options: | Printer Friendly
'Butterbean'-Smith Now Headlining Yamma
Thursday, April 03, 2008
by Sherdog.com Staff

Things have gotten even more complicated for Yamma Pit Fighting.

After a whirlwind of replacements, Sherdog.com has learned that Pat Smith will face Eric "Butterbean" Esch (Pictures) on Yamma's April 11 debut card in Atlantic City. Smith's manager, Tommy Rojas, confirmed the bout to Sherdog.com Wednesday evening.

Smith replaces Gary Goodridge (Pictures), who was originally slated to face Esch. However, FiveOuncesofPain.com reported on Wednesday that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, which has oversight on Yamma's card in Atlantic City, revealed that Goodridge would not be approved to fight due to health and safety concerns stemming from his knockout by Mu Bae Choi (Pictures) in South Korea on March 30.

Smith, 44, was originally penciled in to face Oleg Taktarov. However, the UFC 1 veteran was arrested on March 21 in Bryan County, Okla., after leading police on a high-speed motorcycle chase at speeds of up to 130 miles an hour. Smith was reportedly charged with felony attempting to elude, possession of a prescription drug without a valid prescription, and reckless driving. Charges were reduced to misdemeanors, Rojas told Sherdog.com, salvaging his fighter's appearance on the pay-per-view card.

The NJSACB also revealed to FiveOuncesofPain.com that the proposed bout between Mark Kerr (Pictures) and Oleg Taktarov has yet to be approved.

Kerr is still under indefinite suspension by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation after failing prefight medical testing before a slated August 2007 bout with Sean O'Haire (Pictures). Kerr, named Taktarov's replacement opponent earlier this week, stepped in for Smith, who was himself a replacement for the Russian's original opponent, Don Frye (Pictures).
 

RECENT ERIC ESCH NEWS:
Saturday Etc.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Belly Laughs: ‘Tank’ vs. ‘Butterbean’ Set for Dec. 12
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Yamma Pit Fighting Pictures
Monday, April 14, 2008
Yamma Fighting Surface Described; Kerr, Rodriguez Added to Card
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Case of the Disappearing ‘Bean
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Cage Rage 22 "Hard as Hell" Pictures
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Search Sherdog Archive     
Sherdog.com, A property of CraveOnline, a division of AtomicOnline, LLC.
© 2009 CraveOnline Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | RSS | Mobile | Advertise
Not in any way associated with Crave Entertainment, Inc.