Breaking News is the source of information for MMA Madness members. Copyright 2008 MMAMadness.com http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html Newly crowned Strikeforce World Middleweight Champion, Cung Le (22-0), has been selected to appear in the first-ever mixed martial arts trading card series manufactured by Donruss Trading Card Company. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1438 We should've known that it would only be a matter of time into Kimbo's MMA career before someone suggested the inevitable: the circus act that would be Kimbo Slice and Mike Tyson. However, there was no way to tell that Kimbo's trainer, Gary Shaw, would encourage the bout. According to MediaTakeOut.com, Shaw said that he would be open to the idea and if it came down to it, he'd book it in a heartbeat. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1437 May 19 is the day when Andrei Arlovski could sign with Affliction, SI.com has learned. That is, assuming the UFC declines to match what is believed to be a deal that pays the former UFC champion in the low-to-mid six figures for the first of three non-exclusive bouts. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1436 Being that the official Dream website is in Japanese, MMA Madness has created a guide to help you decipher names in both the English and Japanese languages. To make your selections, simply go to: http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1435 UFC.com's Thomas Gerbasi reports that a 2009 movie "Hamill" will outline the life and times of Matt Hamill. An obviously interesting topic for a film, Hamill is the only deaf MMA fighter who has successfully transitioned to the big time. His most recent fight was a TKO win over Tim Boetsch. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1434 While talks have been frustrating, Kevin Iole's mailbag suggests that relations between Arlovski and the UFC remain amicable. "The plan is to sign him," states White, who understands the Belarusian's star appeal. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1433 According to MMA Payout, Affliction has made their debut official with press releases, event posters, press conferences, and a partridge in a pear tree. Here's the snippet: http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1432 If the UFC keeps the pace of one event per month, then Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will fight for the title at UFC 91. This comes on the heels of a report that the fight will take place on New Year's Weekend. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1431 During a press conference, EliteXC President Gary Shaw said that he fully expects the event to sell out the 19,000 seats in The Prudential Center. While that may happen, the real determining factor will be how the event performs on television. The 31st is a Saturday night, and so it won't be competing with other popular cable programming. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1430 From The Fresno Bee: Casey Olson built a reputation around the central San Joaquin Valley with his success on the wrestling mat. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1429 UFC 83, which featured Georges St. Pierre v. Matt Serra, drew 525,000 buys based on the first industry estimate of the event. Early estimates typically rise as more numbers come in and the event is reportedly tracking ahead of both of Randy Couture's fights from last year which did 540,000 and 520,000 respectively. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1428 Bloody Elbow picked up a great piece on Tim Sylvia's knockout percentage as it compares to other elite heavyweights. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1427 Go to about 35 seconds into the video below. Bas and Kimbo are shadow boxing next to each other and Bas is putting Kimbo to SHAME with his combinations and sheer speed. Kimbo might be good, but right now, I think he'd have trouble beating the retired Bas Rutten. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1426 MMA Weekly has announced that ProElite (EliteXC) and Japanese promotion DREAM have come to a partnership agreement. The agreement includes co-promoted events and the ability to share fighters between rosters. This is a HUGE move in combating the hegemony of the UFC. The move could put names such as Kawajiri, Aoki Calvancante, Ishida, Kimbo, Lawler, Diaz, and others all on the same card. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1425 SpikeTV has announced that champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir will coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Of course, this means that the two will meet (at a soon to be announced event) for Nogueira's title belt. Nogueira recently won a submission victory over Tim Sylvia at the same event where Mir submitted Brock Lesnar. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1424 MMA Fight Girls has some incredible information: the rumored Kimbo Slice Air Force One's are available for viewing here! http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1423 5 Ounces Of Pain reports on MMA Mania's interview with Tito Ortiz where he throws GSP under the proverbial bus. Here's the telling excerpt: http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1422 Nick Thomas of Bloody Elbow summarizes what could be the greatest 8 weeks MMA has ever seen. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1421 The American Chronicle weighs in on this popular debate: The recent meteoric rise of MMA, (mixed martial arts), but more specifically, the UFC the last three years has been dogged by one major question: Is it merely a fad or a bona fide trend? This is a fair question with all things that seemingly come out of nowhere like the UFC has. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1420 Here's an excerpt: "EliteXC will likely continue to feed Kimbo fighters that have no hope of beating him but will lose in spectacular fashion to build his 'reputation'. If you're a fan of train wrecks, then Kimbo Slice is your man. The smart move would be to tune in to check out the freak show and never, EVER watch another one of his fights again. Better yet, just tune into Spike TV that night as they will pay homage to Chuck Liddell, a real mixed martial artist." http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1419 Despite beating up on the WWE in terms of PPV buys, it still falls short in terms of DVD sales, as reported by MMA Payout. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1418 Dave Meltzer reports that after Matt Serra's loss to Georges St. Pierre, Serra has kept himself in water cooler chats due to his involvement in the potential legalization of MMA in New York. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1417 Props to 5 Oz. to the recap: 1. Takeshi Yamazaki > Shoji Maruyama, decision Shoji easily got the best of any standup and action but Yamazaki took him down frequently and laid on him while trying half-heartedly for submissions. In the MMA world Yamazaki deserved the win. In a perfect world Shoji deserved the victory. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1416 Tommy Speer, released by the UFC after a bad KO loss to Anthony Johnson at UFN 13, has reportedly been offered a WEC deal, says postbulletin.com. Speer was a runner-up in his season of The Ultimate Fighter. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1415 The highly-acclaimed film Redbelt was released in theaters nationwide yesterday. Directed by David Mamet and starring Randy Couture, the film has received generally good reviews. http://mmamadness.com/bleedingedge.html?bleedingedge_id=1414