Ohio MMA Update - June 21, 2010

NAAFS: The NAAFS put on Fight Nite in the Flats VI  on June 5th in Cleveland, Ohio. The event saw Chris Lozano from the highly-popular Strong Style Fight Team defeat UFC veteran Jason Dent in the main event and the pro debut of popular women’s prospect Jessica Eye.

Bellator 23: The Bellator Fighting Championship comes to Louisville, KY on June 24th.  Cincinnati will be on full display as natives Chad Hinton and Daniel Straus will do battle in the lightweight division.  The local flare will also include Ron Sparks vs. Dave Hess and John Troyer vs. Brent Weedman in what should be great battles.  The Middleweight and Featherweight tournament finals are the feature match-ups.  In the middleweight division Bryan “The Beast” Baker will battle unorthodox Alexander Shlemenko for a title shot and $100,000.  Although Shlemenko is hard to handle, Baker will be too much.  With a victory Baker would face the incredibly talented Bellator Middleweight Champ Hector Lombard.  The Featherweight final is a fantastic match-up between Pitbull Freire and Joe Warren.  Pitbull is very good but Warren is a top of the food chain wrestler.  His skills on the ground will be the difference.  A victory by Warren will get him a title shot against the undefeated Joe Soto.  Bellator 23 can be viewed on Fox Sports Net live on June 24th.  If you cannot view the event follow my live blog at ProFighting-fans.com.

UFC 115: UFC 115 took place on June 12th featuring Cincinnati’s Rich Franklin in the main event against another MMA legend in Chuck Liddell. With Liddell diving in to try and finish Franklin after trapping him against the cage, Rich connected with a short right to the chin of Liddell for the KO victory despite having broken his left arm a minute into the fight. The complete UFC 115 results are available online.

UFC 115 is underway in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada tonight with former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin facing for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell in tonight’s main event. Franklin, the former math teacher from Cincinnati, makes his first appearance inside the Octagon since his UFC 103 loss to Vitor Belfort, just the 5th of his career in 33 career fights. Liddell meanwhile has not fought since his UFC 97 loss to Shogun Rua. Fans can follow the UFC 115 fight results online as well as a live UFC 115 blog at ProFighting-fans.com.

Cincinnati star Relentless Roger Bowling (7-0) will make his Strikeforce debut on May 21st live on Showtime where he will battle Bobby Voelker.  Voelker is a grizzled veteran with a record of 21-7.  Although Roger has only competed in the tri-state area, rest assured he has worked as hard as any professional fighter in any organization.  He also possesses rare-explosive athletic ability and no doubt will push the pace against Voelker.  It should be an exciting night.  If you cannot watch the event follow a live blog at www.profighting-fans.com/blog.

Profighting-fans.com Senior Writer Nick Russell interviewed Bowling as her prepared for his highly anticipated Strikeforce debut:
NR - How did you get involved in MMA?

RB - I had some amateur boxing, and always loved MMA watching the pioneers of the sport, but I heard about a fight team opening up and began with some amateur bouts. I did well in that bout and after some more amateur fights, I didn’t think the amateur fights were challenging enough for me so I turned to professional fighting.

NR - You train in Cincinnati, Ohio with Team Vision. How did you get in contact with them?

RB - It was me and Dustin (Winterhalt) that came up together. I then was introduced to Rod Housley, who put the money up for the gym, and then started to train with Team Vision. We now have something like twenty professional fighters including Victor O’ Donnell, who was just on The Ultimate Fighter and over 40 active amateurs.

NR - You have had an impressive beginning to you career stopping all seven of your opponents (six in the 1st round). How have you developed since you began and what do you credit for that development?

RB - I can credit that to all of my teammates. I am lucky to be surrounded by great teammates who help me and support me. Also, I am still young and realize that I still have a lot to learn in this sport, but I love it. I really believe that to be a fighter, you either have it or you don’t, and I believe that I have it.

NR - You were signed by Strikeforce awhile back and I know that injuries have been a factor in the past, how do you feel less than 2 weeks out from your Strikeforce debut?

RB - I have actually fought since I signed with Strikeforce back in November. They just have a lot of fighters and it took some time getting a few things worked out.

I feel great. My hand, which I broke awhile back, is now 100% and I can honestly say that this is the best I have ever felt (physically) going into a fight.

> Buy Strikeforce tickets & be sure to check out the great MMA clothing & merchandise and check out the Strikeforce Challengers May 21 fight card & results online at ProFighting-fans.com.

NR - You have finished a couple of notable opponents, TUF 11’s Seth Baczynski and Strikeforce’s Shamar Bailey included. Do you view your May 21st opponent, Bobby Voelker (28 fight vet), a step up in competition?

Roger Bowling sporting Intimidation Clothing’s Spartan t-shirt after his win in February 2010.

RB - I am not taking Bobby lightly at all. I mean, he is up there with Shamar and Seth, and definitely a recognizable opponent, but not really a step up. He is one of those guys that is a grinder, someone that will be there in the last round ready to fight. I actually look at him a lot like me.

NR - What kind of problems does Voelker posses? On the other hand, what holes do you look to expose?

RB - He possess a big heart and is definitely a fighter, he has it. He is also a fighter that I respect totally, but, I do think that I am better than him everywhere. No matter if we are in the stand-up or if the fight is on the ground, I feel that I am better. Wherever this fight goes, I definitely see my hand raised at the end.

NR - I know that you are concentrating on your next fight (Voelker), but, with a victory over the veteran, what do you see as being next for you?

RB - I am focusing on Strikeforce and my next fight for right now. I mean, I am signed for six fights over the next couple of years. They put on an awesome show and are a great organization. I just look to hopefully grow with the company and for now, I’m not going to worry about the UFC or anything else.

NR - Well Roger, I for one look forward to your upcoming bout on the Strikeforce Challengers 8 card on Showtime, and would like to wish you good luck and thank you for the opportunity.

RB - No problem, thanks for the interview and the exposure. If you want another interview later, or after the bout would like to interview, just give me a call. Thanks.

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer

Ohioans are no strangers to the world of Mixed Martial Arts as seen by the many big-name fighters who have come out of the state of Ohio. But to get to the top of the sport and fight in the main event at a UFC or Strikeforce event you really must be a big deal. Recently, Ohio MMA fighters have been featured in several main event fights.

UFC 99 & UFC 103 both saw Cincinnati’s Rich Franklin, the former UFC Middleweight Champion, fight in the main event for both events. Franklin defeated Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99 before suffering a KO loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC 103.

Strikeforce Challengers: Jorge Gurgel, despite being a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt, chose to once against and and bang as he lost a decision to Billy Evangelista in a 155 pound battle at Strikeforce Challengers4.

In the UFC 108 co-main event featured Cincinnati’s Dustin Hazelett versus Paul Daley. Unfortunately for Hazelett, the submission specialist did not get a chance to show off his jiu jitsu skill as Daley scored a 1st round KO.

Spike TV featured a free night of fights on January 11, 2010 as former Cleveland St. Edward’s wrestler Gray Maynard defeated badboy Nate Diaz by Spilt Decision in the night’s main event. Maynard, still undefeated in his pro MMA career, is now being mentioned in discussions for a UFC Lightweight title shot.

Fighting atop the UFC 109 fight card is former Miami University and Ohio State wrestler and UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman facing Randy Couture, another member of the UFC Hall of Fame.

The UFC returns to action with their second event of 2010 as fans will be treated to a free UFC event with UFC Fight Night 20 taking place on Monday, January 11th. Coming off their wins at UFC Fight Night 19 in the co-main events, Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard will now face off with each other in the UFN 20 main event. As always Pro Fighting Fans, the UFC news leaders, will provide the official UFC Fight Night 20 results after each fight is complete. Below we preview one of the many fights set for the January 11 UFC Fight Night event. Also be sure to look to UFCFightNightResults.com for historic UFC Fight Night results dating back to the first UFN event in 2005.

Gray Maynard vs Nate Diaz

In a bout that could have title implications, undefeated TUF 5 contestants Gray Maynard (9-0 1 NC) and Nate Diaz (11-4) will meet in the main event at UFC Fight Night 20 from Fairfax, VA.

Maynard, a former Michigan State wrestler, had only three bouts under his belt before his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter 5. Although he didn’t win the TUF 5 tournament and had a bizarre ending in his debut that resulted in a No Contest, “The Bully” reeled off six consecutive victories to get his current main card position. Five of his six victories have ended in decisions and only his Fight Night victory over Joe Veres (TKO) ended early. His latest victory came against Roger Huerta at Fight Night 19 in September via decision.

Nate Diaz came into the organization with a little more experience than that of his main event counterpart. Prior to winning TUF 5, Diaz compiled a 5-2 record with his most notable fight being a WEC 24 lightweight title loss against Hermes Franca. He put together five straight victories to open his UFC career that saw him rest toward the top of the 155-pound division. However, after dropping back-to-back bouts to Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson, he had lost his position as a top contender for the belt. He has taken one step closer to regaining contender status with a September Fight Night victory over Melvin Guillard.

Prediction – Maynard over Diaz via decision

Former St. Edwards wrestler and Ohio state wrestling champ Gray Maynard will be back in action in January when he will headline the UFC Fight Night 20 event. Maynard, coming off his split decision win over Roger Huerta in September, looks to continue his climb up the UFC’s Lightweight Division ladder as he faces the brash Nate Diaz in Fairfax, Virginia. Maynard improved his MMA record to 9-0 with one no contest with the win at UFC Fight Night 19 over Huerta, and with a win could begin to start thinking about a title shot. The UFC Lightweight Championship belt is currently held by MMA legend BJ Penn and Penn will defend his belt atop the UFC 107 fight card.

Diaz comes into the fight 10-5 in his MMA career after a win over Melvin Guillard the same night that Maynard defeated Huerta. While Diaz is 3-2 in his last 5 fights, he has won the Submission of the Night or the Fight of the Night honors in each of those 5 fights. His trash-talking style makes him a favorite for fans to hate, but he is a very dangerous fighter, especially on the ground.

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UFC Fight Night 20 will take place on January 11, 2010 on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. The entire UFC Fight Night 20 fight card & results can be found online with the event to be broadcast live on Spike TV.

Matt Brown will face James Wilks on November 14th at UFC 105 in England.  The fight will be broadcast on SpikeTV.

Matt spent some time with www.profighting-fans.com Editor-in-Chief Scott Dryden to discuss the bout and his training - Matt Brown UFC 105 interview.

For full UFC 105 fight results and the latest MMA & UFC news, look to the expertsat Pro Fighting Fans.

November is set to be one of the most exciting month’s in MMA history, and the state of Ohio will be well represented on big stages throughout the month. Action begins on Friday night November 6th as former UFC fighter Jorge Gurgel takes on undefeated Billy Evangelista at Strikeforce Challengers 4. The fight will be Gurgel’s second for Strikeforce and a win could vault him into to the Strikeforce Lightweight title discussion.

On Saturday, November 14, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns with UFC 105 in Manchester, England.  Xenia, Ohio native and The Ultimate fighter 7 participant Matt Brown will face off with TUF 9 Welterweight winner James Wilks. Brown has won 3 of his 4 UFC fights to date and Pro Fighting Fans will feature the UFC 105 results for those unable to view the free Spike TV broadcast.

A week after UFC 105 on November 21st, UFC 106 will take place in Las Vegas featuring TUF 9 participant and Mentor, Ohio’s own Jason Dent.Dent won his first UFC fight at the TUF 9 finale in defeating Cameron Dollar and getting the Submission of the Night bonus, and a win over his UFC 106 opponent George Sotiropoulos would surely open some eyes in the UFC’s Lightweight division. Those who will not be buying the Pay Per View event can find the UFC 106 results online.

As always, MMA content here on the Ohio Sports Time blog is brought to you by the owners of Intimidation Clothing, makers of affordable MMA clothing & apparel and based here in the great state of Ohio. Intimidation features unique, edgy designs on high quality materials that are all Made in the USA.

Jason Dent to Face George Sotiropoulos

ProFighting-Fans.com Editor-in-Chief Scott Dryden reports that The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 participant and Ohio’s own Jason Dent will battle The Ultimate Fighter Season 6 participant George Sotiropoulos at UFC 106 on November 21 in Las Vegas.

Dent performed well on the show then squared off against nemesis Cameron Dollar at The Ultimate Fighter Finale 9 in Las Vegas.  Dent dominated the fight winning submission of the night by finishing Dollar 4:46 into the 1^st round via his patented Anaconda Choke.  Dent has a career record of 19-9.

Sotiropoulos is on a 3 fight winning streak within the UFC Octagon.  George defeated Billy Miles at The Ultimate Fight Night 6, then defeated Roman Mitichyan at The Ultimate Fight Night Florian vs. Lauzon and recently defeated George Roop at UFC 101. George owns a career record of 10-2.

This should be a great matchup in the 155lb division. 

The Triangle Choke

Rich Franklin Preps for Vitor Belfort

UFC megastar Rich Franklin will battle “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort at UFC 103 in Dallas, TX.  Belfort is making his long awaited return to the UFC.  Franklin fought at 185lbs for the majority of his career which included a stint as the UFC Middleweight Champion.  Franklin, still considered by many to be the 2^nd ranked Middleweight on the planet, couldn’t get by what appears to be the indestructible Anderson Silva thus he moved up to 205lbs.  In his first bout at 205 at UFC 88 in Atlanta, Franklin picked apart Matt Hamill with precise leg kicks and powerful punches.  He then took on two legends in the sport, Dan Henderson and Wanderlei Silva.  Dan Henderson defeated Rich via a controversial decision in a very close fight at UFC 93.  Rich, in what was a very entertaining fight, got the “W” via a unanimous decision at UFC 99 over Wanderlei at a catch weight of 195lbs. 

I spent some time with Rich as he made final preparations for Belfort:

SD- You are now fighting at higher weights (195 & 205), talk about how you feel in terms of your energy level and preparation

RF- I can make 185lbs but it is such a stretch for me.  I almost have to cut off a limb.  Making the 195lb weight is so easy to do for me.  I’m going to be fighting stronger guys, especially at 205lbs but I feel a lot stronger at that weight as well, strength is a relative issue.  I feel much better there than I did at 185lbs.

SD- What do you typically walk around at

RF- Around 210lbs

SD- Talk about how your last bout against Wanderlei Silva prepped you for this bout against Belfort, both are strikers who sometimes fight with reckless abandon

RF- Yeah, similar styles in the fact that they are both strikers.  I wouldn’t go so far with the reckless abandonment.  Wanderlei is one of those guys who gets inside and just throws punches and punches.  With Vitor, he is fast but I think he is more methodical with his punches and how he attacks and uses angles better and all that kind of stuff.  Prepping for Wanderlei is not the same as prepping for Vitor

SD- You mentioned some of the challenges Vitor brings, did you prep for him any differently

RF- No, other than the fact that he is a southpaw.  We brought in Robbie Lawler to help me get ready.  He was with me in Seattle training.  When we came back here to Cincinnati he was here as well.  Robbie is a good southpaw and moves a lot like Vitor does.  I think this really helped me prep for this fight

SD- You have a lot of fights under your belt and are still a main event fighter.  This fight will be the first UFC event in Texas.  Talk about that experience

RF- It is exciting to be a main event fighter but any time you go to a new city it just makes it that much better.  I’ve had the privilege of fighting in Atlanta and Montreal as co-main events, I was the main event twice in Ireland, and I was the main event in Germany.  Anytime you go to a new city the fans are just so excited to have you there.  This is a good fight.  Bringing Vitor back to the UFC is big.  I think the fans will know this is a really big fight and they are going to be hyped to see it

SD- You have always conducted yourself in a professional manner and are viewed as one of the good guys in the sport of MMA.  Talk about how important that is to you

RF- I don’t know how important that is to other people but it is important to me.  I think that the sport really needs fighters who conduct themselves like I do and also need fighters who conduct themselves like the Brock Lesnars of the sport.  If everyone conducted themselves like me or everyone conducted themselves like Brock it would be a little boring.  Brock has a specific fan set for a reason and I have a specific fan set for a reason.  I’m sure there is some overlap there.  I think it is important to have both ends of the spectrum

SD- Long term, what are you looking at in the 205lb division.  Is the ultimate goal to get a rematch against Lyoto Machida

RF- My goal right now is to win Saturday night.  If I win this fight then they give me another fight, win that fight they give me another so on so forth.  At some point if I keep winning then I will get a title shot.  As long as I keep doing what I need to do then I’ll work my way back to a title

SD- Thanks Rich, best wishes against Belfort 

For complete UFC 103 fight results visit ProFighting-fans.com