MMA Gumbo

5 Tips for your Ultimate Fighter Audition

Mike — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:57:16 +0000

I know a lot of locals near me in Santa Clarita are training so i figured I would post something to help them and others make it to the next level. One member of the Ultimate Fighter crew this year trains locally at Big Johns Ultimate Training Academy

Thanks Cage Potato

1. Have an Interesting Personal Story
If you haven’t noticed by now, reality TV producers are lazy. They don’t want to have to work too hard to figure out the angle on anything, so make it easy for them. Tell them all about your life of hardship and tragedy. Explain that you want to become a UFC fighter because you promised your dying mother you would. Mention the interesting/quirky job you have. Unless you work as a bouncer or bartender. Trust us, they’ve heard that one already. If all else fails, tell them that you think you might be gay. Or an alcoholic. Or a gay alcoholic. They won’t be able to resist putting you in that house.

2. Be Really, Really Good at Fighting
Are you undefeated in ten or more bouts? Do potential opponents often back out of fights with you once they’ve seen videos of your past fights? Is there any conceivable way you could be compared to Anderson Silva? Good. Mention that at some point during your interview.

3. Don’t Look Like Every Other Meathead in the Room
Face it, the TUF producers have seen enough tribal armband tattoos and homemade mohawks to last them a lifetime. If you were trying to get on “Top Chef,” that stuff might seem novel. In a room full of fighters, however, it just seems cliché. Try a different look that will help you stand out. Might we suggest a nice blazer, or perhaps even a monocle? If you don’t know what either of those things are or where to get them, then just forget it and make sure that your mohawk is bigger and brighter than everyone else’s. If you can’t be original, it’s best to be really obnoxious.

4. Have an Emotional Breakdown
Reality TV thrives on human drama, which means the producers need somebody in that house to make waves. Play your cards right, and that somebody might be you. First you need to prove what a loose cannon you are. Once they start asking you questions, see if you can’t cry a little. That will confuse them, and that’s when you turn right around and accuse them of trying to destroy your life. Let an awkward silence fall over the conversation. Look around as if you’re hearing voices. Are their mouths hanging wide open? Then congratulations, you don’t have to worry about rent for a little while.

5. If Anyone Asks Whether You’d Like To Be a Fucking Fighter, Say Yes
This is a pretty simple one, really. At some point during the audition it’s very likely that your desire to be a fucking fighter will be questioned. Be prepared for this. The last thing you want to do is accidentally say no, or maybe, or pause as if you are really considering the question. This needs to be a reflex for you. Try practicing at home in the mirror for several hours. Did your neighbors eventually get sick of hearing it and call the cops? Good. Now you’re ready.

Bj Talks Plans for Lightweight Division

Mike — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:12:20 +0000

Thanks Fighters Only

UFC president Dana White has talked to lightweight champion BJ Penn about moving up to the welterweight division this year. Penn revealed the talks in a video posted to his personal website, BJPenn.com.

“Dana has expressed some things to me that he would want to see this year, maybe me in the welterweight division. We will see. I have got a tough fight with Frankie Edgar coming up. [And] there is always good lightweight talent, there is a bunch of welterweight contenders up there. I guess I would just have to say I don’t have my mind set on anything yet…. I don’t want to jump the gun and give away all Dana’s plans!” Penn said.

The move is one that has been discussed by fans for some time, and Penn had a crack at the welterweight title last year when he fought Georges St. Pierre at UFC 94. That attempt was unsuccessful and the considerable size and build disparity between the two on fight night suggests the Penn would have to bulk up considerably for a second effort.

Regarding a potential move up in weight class and how he would fare against fighters like Thiago Alves, who walk around at upwards of 200lbs and then cut to 170, Penn said he was not fazed. For him the move is about testing himself, and being outsized is part of that.

“My weight right now – I just finally got a battery for my scale – I think I am about 167.5 or 168. You have got these big guys, they walk around [heavy] and they are strong. I don’t know if I am the only guy, but I think it is about pushing yourself and seeing how far you go and its about failing sometimes – and failing miserably sometimes -but standing up afterwards and realising what happened, and the mistakes that you made.

“But I think that I cannot picture myself becoming complacent, staying in one place. Not that I could defend the lightweight title for ever, I know that’s impossible, you can’t win every one. But I think there is nothing wrong with pushing yourself, seeing how far can you actually go.”

While happiest fighting at lightweight, Penn must be aware that he has cleaned out the division and there is a dearth of credible challengers for him to face. Diego Sanchez was the last man to try and take Penn’s belt but the former welterweight was outclassed for the duration of the fight and has now moved back to his old division.

In April, Penn will face Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. Edgar possesses good skills and a strong heart but he is the underdog by a country mile. If Penn retains his belt against Edgar, there are few names that jump out as likely next contenders at 155lbs.

That explains why Takanori Gomi is making his UFC debut against Kenny Florian, himself a recently unsuccessful contender. If Gomi can beat Florian, the UFC can use that and his status as a former Pride FC champion to make Gomi a title contender. If Gomi loses, finding the next contender may be more of a headache. Florian would love another shot but that fight was too recent to justify a rematch just ye

Swick Injured, Serra without Opponent

Mike — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:32:53 +0000

April 17th might look a little better for the UFC’s favorite New Yorker Matt Serra. His previous opponent, Mike “Quick” Swick will not be participating in the scheduled match due a shoulder injury suffered at UFC 109 during his bout with Paulo Thiago. Swicks replacement has not yet been released.

The American Kickboxing Academy all-star posted recently on his twitter:
“Doctor appointment on Monday to figure out how they are going to fix my arm which is most certainly only with surgery. MRI results were pretty bad.”

The Nevada State Athletic Commission informed Swick that he “must have left elbow x-rayed and cleared by an orthopedic doctor” if he planned on fighting any time before August 6th. Swick has made it clear that he will not be taking the fight a said he will “not be fighting Serra”.

Giveaway: Free Ufc gear and tickets

Mike — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:51:31 +0000

I have a link set up in the right sidebar for anyone interested in free Ufc tickets and gear. For every member that signs up through me, I get points and entries into the raffle for free tickets. My points will also go towards free Ufc gear which will also be raffled to the fans. Just sign up and drop a comment so I can select a winner.

Thanks guys

Full Ultimate Fighter Cast Revealed

Mike — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:25:49 +0000

Here is the complete list released by the UFC:

RICH ATTONITO
Fighting out of: Deerfield Beach, FL / American Top Team
Record: 7-3
Age: 32
A 2001 graduate of Hofstra University in Long Island, Rich Attonito wrestled several different weight classes as a member of the Pride wrestling team including the 167lb. and 197lb. divisions. Attonito has been training with American Top Team since he moved to Florida in 2006. He is the strength and conditioning coach for UFC veteran Luigi Fioravanti.

SETH BACZYNSKI
Fighting out of: Canyon, AZ / Apex MMA
Record: 11-5
Age: 28
Training partner to TUF alums Santino DeFranco (season 9) and Efrain Escudero (season 8 ) at Apex MMA in Arizona, Seth Baczynski is a full-time water inspector at Liberty Water.

CHARLES BLANCHARD
Fighting out of: Coconut Creek, FL / American Top Team
Record: 7-2
Age: 24
A 2-time All State wrester in high school, this single father is a jiu-jitsu brown belt and a published poet.

JOSH BRYANT
Fighting out of: Tulsa, OK / Absolute Combat Alliance
Record: 10-0
Age: 29
A member of the Absolute Combat Alliance camp in Tulsa, OK, Josh Bryant sports a perfect 10-0 professional mixed martial arts record. When not training, Bryant works as a manager for Mazzio’s Italian Eatery in Oklahoma.

CHRIS CAMOZZI
Fighting out of: Denver, CO / Gumm MMA
Record: 11-3
Age: 22
Camozzi is a freestyle fighter from Denver that works as a bouncer in his spare time. Two of his three losses are to TUF alums Jesse Forbes (season 3) and Jesse Taylor (season 7).

BRENT COOPER
Fighting out of: Long Beach, CA / Team Oyama
Record: 5-1
Age: 31
Of Sioux Indian descent, Cooper is a pipeliner by day for Shell Oil, and a devastating striker by night, with four of his five wins coming via TKO.

JACEN FLYNN
Fighting out of: Meridian, ID / No camp
Record: 8-2
Age: 31
Jacen Flynn possesses an 8-2 mixed martial arts record that includes wins over Dennis Kang and Dean Lister. Away from the Octagon™, he is a social worker.

JAMES HAMMORTREE
Fighting out of: Ocala, FL / USA Martial Arts
Record: 4-0
Age: 23
Following one season at Weber International, where he starred on the football team as a linebacker and on special teams, Hammortree left the program in order to become a full-time firefighter in Ocala, FL. The former high school wrestler owns a 4-0 professional record with all four of those bouts taking place in 2009.

JOSEPH HENLE
Fighting out of: Thousand Oaks, CA / Big John McCarthy’s MMA
Record: 3-0
Age: 26
Joseph Henle splits time training at Big John McCarthy’s MMA and working as a substitute teacher and wrestling coach in Thousand Oaks, CA. Henle earned his MBA in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University in ’06. He speaks fluent Japanese.

CHARLEY LYNCH
Fighting out of: Mound, MN / Northway MMA
Record: 6-0
Age: 25
The self-proclaimed baddest man in Minnesota, Charley Lynch owns a 6-0 professional record with zero of his bouts going to decision.

KRIS MCCRAY
Fighting out of: Dumfries, VA / Chute Boxe
Record: 5-0
Age: 28
Son of a military father, Kris McCray was raised in Germany, where he excelled on the soccer pitch and garnered All-Europe honors in high school. In 1999, McCray moved permanently to the United States, where he has served parts of 8 years (6 active, 2 inactive) as a member of the US Army Reserve, while also finding time to earn his Associates Degree in Social Studies from Northern Virginia Community College.

COURT MCGEE
Fighting out of: Orem, UT / Throwdown Elite Fight Team
Record: 9-1
Age: 24
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist out of Orem, UT, Court McGee beat “The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom” runner-up DaMarques Johnson in 2007 by submission

CLAYTON MCKINNEY
Fighting out of: Orlando, FL / Jungle MMA
Record: 4-2
Age: 27
A teammate of TUF (season 8 ) alum Tom Lawlor at Jungle MMA, Clayton McKinney is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt that supplements his training by working security at a local bar in Orlando.

KYLE NOKE
Fighting out of: Albuquerque, NM / Jackson’s MMA
Record: 16-4-1
Age: 29
Kyle Noke, from Mooloolaba, Australia, is the former bodyguard of “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin. Currently training with Jackson’s MMA in New Mexico, Noke defeated TUF (season 6) alum George Sotiropoulos in June 2005 and current castmate Kyacey Uscola this past September.

VICTOR O’DONNELL
Fighting out of: Milford, OH / Vision MMA
Record: 8-1
Age: 27
Hailing from Milford, OH, O’Donnell suffered his first professional loss this past September against cast mate Costantinos Philippou. Before that, he had won eight contests, seven of which by submission.

NORMAN PARAISY
Fighting out of: Coconut Creek, FL / American Top Team
Record: 5-1
Age: 23
Norman Paraisy was born and raised Paris, France. The 5-1 Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist left France in order to pursue MMA in the states and is now a member of the American Top Team.

COSTANTINOS PHILIPPOU
Fighting out of: Merrick, NY / Serra-Longo
Record: 5-1
Age: 30
Costantinos Philippou is a former boxer with 3 professional and over 80 amateur fights on his record. The 30-year-old server from Merrick, NY was born and raised in Greece. He currently trains out of the Serra-Longo camp.

GREG REBELLO
Fighting out of: Buzzards Bay, MA / Sityodtong USA
Record: 9-2
Age: 27
Greg Rebello trains full-time at Sityodtong USA in Massachusetts under the watchful eye of Mark DellaGrotte. Currently in peak physical condition, Rebello at one time weighed in over 300lbs before dedicating himself to fitness at the age of 18.

NICK RING
Fighting out of: Calgary, Canada / B.D.P. Martial Arts
Record: 10-0
Age: 30
Nick Ring returned to MMA in May 2009 following a three year stint away from the sport after suffering a devastating knee injury. In that time, Ring boxed professionally to the tune of a 4-1 record with 3 knockouts.

JORDAN SMITH
Fighting out of: Clearfield, UT / Throwdown Elite Fight Team
Record: 10-0
Age: 24
A 7th grade teacher by day, Jordan Smith is a former professional boxer that trains with fellow cast member Court McGee at Throwdown Elite Fight Team.

BEN STARK
Fighting out of: Tamarac, FL / American Top Team
Record: 3-1
Age: 27
Born and raised a practitioner of the Orthodox Jewish religion until the age of 6, Ben Stark began training with American Top Team in Florida as a sophomore in college. When not at the gym, Stark picks up shifts at “The Original Fat Cats,” and also finds time to breed snakes.

LYLE STEFFENS
Fighting out of: Tucson, AZ / Apex MMA
Record: 5-2
Age: 26
Lyle Steffens is a firefighter and an EMT in Tucson, AZ. He trains with fellow cast member Seth Baczynski at Apex MMA.

BRAD TAVARES
Fighting out of: Las Vegas, NV / TapouT
Record: 4-0
Age: 21
At 21, Brad Tavares is the youngest of this season’s cast members. Originally from Hilo, HI, Tavares recently relocated to Las Vegas and trains full-time with TapouT

WARREN THOMPSON
Fighting out of: Marietta, GA / Team Khunpon / Roberto Traven BJJ
Record: 5-0
Age: 23
Warren Thompson, aka “The Kool-Aid Man,” is a muay-thai fighter from Marietta, GA. The volunteer firefighter splits his training in Atlanta between Team Khunpon and Roberto Traven BJJ.

KYACEY USCOLA
Fighting out of: Sacramento, CA / Team Alpha Male
Record: 18-15
Age: 28
Kyacey Uscola joins the cast with 33 professional MMA fights on his record. He trains with Team Alpha Male and Urijah Faber out of Sacramento.

CLEBURN WALKER
Fighting out of: Keller, TX / Team Lutter
Record: 9-3
Age: 26
Born and raised in Texas, Cleburn Walker is a full-time fighter and instructor at Team Lutter. He suffered a recent loss via submission to TUF (season 3) alum Jesse Forbes this past June.

WOODY WEATHERBY
Fighting out of: Hudson, NH / Renzo Gracie / Mickey Wards Boxing Gym & Xtreme MMA
Record: 7-3
Age: 27
The former US Navy officer currently works full-time as a corrections officer for the Hillsborough County jail in Manchester, NH. Weatherby rotates his training between 2 gyms: Renzo Gracie Academy in Derry, NH, and Mickey Wards Boxing Gym & Xtreme MMA.

JAMIE YAGER
Fighting out of: Los Angeles, CA / Kings MMA
Record: 2-1
Age: 25
A standout varsity letterman in baseball and football, Yager was the 2001 Athlete of the Year at South Pasadena High School in California. He picked up training MMA as a hobby, and went straight from training to the professional ranks in February 2008 as part of BET’s Iron Ring, where he defeated his opponent by TKO.

Aoki vs Melendez set for Strikeforce title

Mike — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:34:38 +0000

Thanks Five Ounces

A fight for the Strikeforce lightweight championship is expected to take place between Gilbert Melendez and DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki in April.

The news of the anticipated match-up was first reported by Josh Gross from SI.com.

Apparently the bout will be only for the Strikeforce portion of the title, while Aoki’s DREAM portion would be safe and sound.

The pair of champions are expected to clash on April 17 during a Struikeforce card likely for the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Melendez will be making the first defense of the crown he unified with a December “5 Oz. Fight of the Year” victory over Josh Thomson, while Aoki was last seen snapping Mizuto Hirota’s arm in two and giving him the middle finger during “Dynamite!! 2009? on New Years Eve

Strikeforce to host Dan Henderson vs Jake Sheilds

Mike — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:15:27 +0000

Thanks Five Ounces of Pain:

A Strikeforce middleweight championship bout between Jake Shields and Dan Henderson is set in stone for April.

According to Shields in a recent conversation with MMAWeekly Radio, the highly anticipated match-up is a done and done.

“It’s a go now. We finally worked it out a few days ago,” said Shields. “It’s a done deal, it’s been agreed upon by both parties as far as I know, and I think it’s set to go.”

While the bout will take place in April and appears likely to take place on a CBS card, Shields says that nothing is official as far as where the event will be broadcast is concerned.

“I have a date (and) venue, but they told me to hold that back,” said Shields. “Hopefully CBS. I think it’s CBS. There’s a slight possibility of Showtime because they’re still (working it out). I don’t know the rest of the card or any of that yet. But me and Dan’s on, and I’m hoping it’s on CBS.”

Shields was last seen in action winning a unanimous decision over Jason “Mayhem” Miller during “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers”, while Henderson’s last trip to the cage resulted in a brutal knockout over Michael Bisping at UFC 100.

Rescheduled: Paulo Thiago vs Thiago Alves

Mike — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:22:05 +0000

From Fighters Only:

Last year’s cancelled ‘Battle of the Thiagos’ will be happening “as soon as possible”, Fighters Only was told today. Paulo Thiago and Thiago Alves were due to meet at UFC 107 in December but the bout was scrapped when Alves came down with an injury.

This week Paulo told Tatame that he feels he is not ready for a title shot and that he is in no hurry for one, while Alves had an unsuccessful effort at the belt at UFC 100 and is now fighting Jon Fitch on the same card that Dan Hardy will challenge champion Georges St. Pierre on.

A source close to the situation says “The UFC wants to see this fight happen so it is going to happen as soon as they can make it possible. They were to fight at the end of last year but [Alves] got injured. Maybe its his next fight after [Fitch at] UFC 111.”

When the Thiago vs. Alves fight was first mooted, fans were surprised that Paulo was being given such a rough ride for his first few UFC fights. He had already fought Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch in his first two outings, both of whom are near the top of the welterweight tree.

Paulo went 1-1 in those fights but has impressed considerably with his performances. He fought Mike Swick at UFC 109 and became the first person to stop him with a submission hold, D’Arce choking him into unconsciousness in the second round.

If he beats Alves, he will have disposed of three of the welterweight division’s most dangerous men and will undoubtedly find himself being pushed forward to face whoever is the champion at the time.

Were Back After a Month of Inactivity

Mike — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:11 +0000

Hey guys,

Ive been busy with work, school, business, etc but I want you all to know that MmaGumbo is back on and I will be writing 3-4 short articles per week. Also, if anyone wants to help out, please let me know.

Ill be advertising the website on twitter with automatic updates and I will also be creating a new facebook page.

Thanks for the support everyone!
-Mike

“Cyborg” to Pose for Playboy

Mike — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:47:52 +0000

Well guys, I have some good or bad news, depends on what your into. Earlier this week, Cris “Cyborg” Santos confirmed that she would be posing nude in playboy sometime in the near future, is this a ploy to get Gina topless?

Either way this is a big step for mixed martial arts-with more woman fighters in the magazine, a reader of playboy might check out a Strikeforce event just because he/she has seen one of the females on the card nude.

Although it seems like her decision came without much hassle or drama, there was one thing in the back of Cris’ mind that almost made her reconsider. Cyborgs comments on the only drawback of posing for the magazine, “…only one man saw me naked in my entire life and I have to think deeply about that.”

Ill be buying this one for sure, what about you guys?