After a surgery and achieving the requirements of the athletic committee of California, that had denied his visa to fight in America because of a small tumor located in the pituitary gland, Antonio Pezão is back, lighter and more motivated to reach the top of the heavyweight category . According to his manager, Alex Davis, the surgery held in Nova Friburgo, in Rio de Janeiro , by Dr. Marcelo Pinaus was a great success. "Now he´s lighter and faster. Before, he was 135kg, but now he decided to lose weight to the enter the heavys category and is weighing 122kg" said Alex, who believes in Pezão´s victory in Elite XC, which is held this Saturday (10) in Texas, USA. "Johnathan Wiezorack is tough, has 11 fights and only one loss, but I believe Pezão can win him. He is returning to be the best heavy in the world" bet Alex.

Source: www.tatame.com

Dnevnik.hr: Is CroCop back?
Mirko: CroCop is recovered, it will take a month to begin with sparrings again, although I have a special helmet for protection. The stripes are affecting my visibility so it's not like the real thing, but the regular sparring sessions start in about a month. I think my next fight is going to happen in January.

You recently had a nose surgery?
Mirko: The nose problems have nothing to do with my defeats. I had trouble breathing, my nose was broken, one side was at 30%, while the other side was blocked completely. It's important when you face such an intense efforts.

Is this the toughest period in your career after you left K1?
Mirko: Not only that, this is the toughest period of my entire career.

Did you think about ending your career?
Mirko: I did think of it the night after my last defeat, but I'm not going to end my career soon. I will have 5 or 6 fights at least. Maybe even more, who can tell. Every fight could be your last one. You can suffer from a fatal injury, you can break your leg or arm. If I'll be able to fight I'll fight, it's my life and my choice and I enjoy doing it. I have a very strong motive, especially beacuse of number of „wise“ Internet users saying that I'm done. I will prove they were wrong.

Did you ever think about taking a year off to rest and come back stronger?
Mirko: In my case that would be a very long break. Of course, I would train a lot still if it would happen. Sometime you have to end your career, in a year, 3 or 5 years, or even 10 years - look at Randy Couture, he was the champion at 44. I will always train hard, but long breaks like that are not for me.

Are you in touch with Dana White and how does he feel about your defeats?
Mirko: We keep in touch, but you'll have to ask him about that.

So, your nose is recovering well, you are wearing a special helmet. Your return is set for January due to a medical reasons?
Mirko: Yes, because of the surgery I'm not allowed to fight sooner. My nose is not fully recovered and I still have stiches in it.

Are there any rumors about your next opponent?
Mirko: None that I'm aware of.

Who you would like to fight next? Someone with a big reputation or?
Mirko: It's up to the UFC's management. I will fight anyone who they put me against. I have never turned down any opponent.

Anything left to say?
Mirko: I'll be back (smiling).

Source: www.mirko-crocop.com

Mark Cuban’s HDNet Fights on Friday officially announced its Dec. 15 event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The co-main events feature four Ultimate Fighting Championship veterans. Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Sean Salmon will square off, sharing top billing with Frank Trigg and his opponent, Edwin Dewees.

Also announced for the event, entitled “Reckless Abandon,” are fights between Yves Edwards and Alonzo Martinez, Pete Spratt and Tristan Yunker, Chris Bowles and Cory Mahon, Patrick Castillo and Jay White, and Freddie Espiricueta and C.B. Dollaway.



"With Frank (Trigg) and Jason (Miller), you know there's going to be a ton of action and lots of bizarre things can happen in the cage," said Guy Mezger, HDNet Fights’ matchmaker. "Frank is called ‘Twinkle Toes’ because he's known for painting his toe nails, but it certainly doesn't represent his vicious fighting style.

"On the other hand, Jason has certainly earned his ‘Mayhem’ nickname. With him, you never know what you will see, but you know it will be something crazy."

"We're thrilled to have these talented and entertaining fighters on board with HDNet Fights," said Cuban. "Our goal is to present the best fighters in the best fights we can make. These are two of the top middleweights in the world and we are fortunate enough to have them both fighting on the same card.

Jake Shields, top Welterweight, signs long-term deal with EliteXC.

Details to follow.

EliteXC "Renegade"
Sat., Nov. 10
America Bank Center
Corpus Christi, Texas

EliteXC Lightweight (160 lbs) Championship
Nick Diaz (160) vs. KJ Noons (160)

Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (238) vs. Bo Cantrell (235)
Jake Shields (170) vs. Mike Pyle (171)
Seth Kleinbeck (185) vs. Kyle Noke (186)
Antonio Silva (265) vs. Jonathan Wiezorek (271)

Prelims Streamed FREE on ProElite.com

Geoff Bumstead (205) vs. Robert Ruiz (227)
Yves Edwards (161) vs. Nick Gonzalez (161)
Jon Kirk (186) vs. Matt Lucas (186)
Brett Rogers (264) vs. Ralph Kelly (243)
Jae Suk Lim (171) vs. Daniel Pineda (162)

By David A. Avila

HOLLYWOOD, CA. - It was a surreal sight to find former heavyweight world champion boxer Riddick Bowe standing near the entrance to a mixed martial arts fight card in the back lot of an old Hollywood motion picture studio that is now a nightclub.

But there he was “Big Daddy” the former scourge of prizefighting who retired for a period of eight years then returned with a fight here and there. Bowe wants to return again, but not to boxing, he’s throwing his hat into the world of MMA.

“I’ve got to make a living for my family,” said Bowe, 40, who is a two-time heavyweight champion in professional boxing.

Xcess Entertainment signed Bowe to fight exclusively for them beginning on Dec. 12. Though no site has been confirmed the former boxer is targeted for that fight card in California.

“If Evander Holyfield can fight so can I,” said Bowe citing his former foe’s age of 45. “I just turned 40.”

Bowe will not be the first former world champion boxer to try the cage, 46-year-old Ray Mercer is a former WBO titleholder who participated in an MMA fight and was submitted by Kimbo Slice this year. But Bowe and his promoters hope to get the former boxer prepared by next month.

“We have Riddick Bowe training with Mark Kerr in Los Angeles,” said Bruce Valachi, CEO for Xcess Fighting. “He should learn a lot from Kerr.”

(Continue Reading)

By Brian Knapp

The International Fight League has extended the contract of middleweight contender Matt Horwich through the conclusion of the 2008 season, according to Jerry Milani, public relations manager for the team-based promotion.

Horwich (20-9-1) will meet Benji Radach for the IFL middleweight championship at the IFL World Grand Prix on Saturday, Dec. 29 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. A product of Team Quest and protégé of former Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland, Horwich submitted Brian Foster with a first-round armbar Nov. 3 to secure his place in the 185-pound final.

One of MMA’s most eccentric characters, Horwich holds submission wins over UFC veterans Josh Burkman, Jason MacDonald and Vernon White. He will enter his bout with Radach as a heavy underdog, though he has won his last two fights.