Sam Stout trained hard in preparing for Joe Lauzon. (photo courtesy of Xtreme Couture)

MMAMADNESS: You’re facing Joe Lauzon at UFC 108. What do you expect to see out of him?

SAM STOUT: I expect him to come out, throw his hands kind of wildly like he usually does, and look for a takedown pretty quick with me.

MM: When you compare your records, Joe has a lot of submission victories, you have a lot of knockout victories. Is this fight as simple as he wants to take you down, you want to keep him up?

SS: Yeah, I think that’s pretty much going to be the way that it plays out. He’s got some decent standup, and my ground game’s better than a lot of people think, so the fight could end up anywhere. Regardless of where it ends up, I don’t think one of us is going to completely dominate either, so I think it’s going to make for a very interesting fight.

MM: So if it does go to the ground, it sounds like you’re comfortable there.

SS: I think I can at least defend all his submission attempts. I may not be submitting him, but I think I can hang with him definitely.

MM: How do you see this fight ending?

SS: I don’t like to make any predictions really, but I expect to try and keep this fight standing as much as possible and really put my hands on him and hit punches and kicks and knees and elbows on him.

MM: You moved from Xtreme Couture to the Tapout gym with Shawn Tompkins. How has that experience been?

SS: I think I’ve had a great training camp and I feel more ready for this fight than I think I ever have… I started my training camp at my home gym, the Adrenaline Training Center in London, Ontario, Canada. I had a really good start to my training camp up there, and a really good finish here, so I’m feeling really physically strong, mentally I’m at a really good place for this fight. I’m feeling really optimistic about it.

MM: You’re one of the first fighters to fight out of this gym. Is there any extra pressure when you fly the flag for the first time?

SS: I don’t think there could be much more pressure than being on the main card spot on the UFC. It’s hard to make it any worse than it already is.

MM: You’re coming off of a Fight of the Night victory. Obviously every fight in the UFC is important, but how important is it to build off of that last victory?

SS: Very important. A lot of people, as soon as you get a win start asking you about title shots and stuff like that, and really that’s not what’s on my mind right now. What’s on my mind is climbing that ladder towards the title shot. I know I’m not going to get a shot at BJ Penn in my next fight if I win this one. I’m just looking to get stacking up some wins and getting my record back to where it should be in the UFC, and that’s a winning record. That’s my main focus and my main goal is to take it one step at a time and build myself up.

MM: You’ve already earned three Fight of the Night bonuses in the UFC. How gratifying is it to be recognized as an exciting fighter?

SS: That’s something I really pride myself on. I think it’s very important. The sport is not just a sport to me, it’s a business and it’s entertainment and I keep that in mind. I like to go out and push myself and really test my limits and try to put on exciting fights for the fan.

MM: UFC 108 is in Las Vegas, the same city as your gym. How nice is it not having to commute?

SS: I’m loving it. I was just saying that this morning, how nice it is. This would normally be the day [Tuesday] that I’m flying out to whatever city I’d be fighting in, and I’m already here. I’m used to the climate, I’m used to the air, I’m used to the time. It’s a lot more relaxing to not have to deal with the whole stress of traveling. I’ve got a place to stay if I don’t feel like staying at my hotel, I can stay at my sister’s place. It’s a nice feeling for sure.

Mark Munoz has very hard with Team Blackhouse to make most of this chance. (photo courtesy of fivecandleproductions.com)

At every Filipino party, there is a lot of food.

Normally this wouldn’t be a problem for Mark Munoz, but with a fight coming on Saturday against Ryan Jensen, it is a little difficult to attended a holiday gathering without someone telling him to eat or take a plate home to eat later.

“If you don’t eat it insults him, it’s been challenging to stay on my diet and I cheated a little bit,” Munoz (6-1) admitted. “I had to pay for it [in training]. … I can’t wait until after weigh ins. I’ll make up.”

Munoz used to compete at the light heavyweight division, decided to drop down to middleweight following a knockout loss to Matt Hamill. The move wasn’t as drastic, given Munoz was walking around a 208 prior to fights and the fighters tend to be closer to his height and reach.

“I definitely put myself at a disadvantage [at light heavyweight],” he said. “The 185-pound division wasn’t that far of a reach. [It’s] a better fit for me.”

By moving down, Munoz had to diet to make the weight, and that’s where the complications around the holidays came around.

“When I smelled the cooking going on, people were eating and getting full,” he said. “I missed that. After my fight, I’ll definitely [eat].”

Munoz prioritized his time to be able to see his family as well as train for the fight, admitting he feels blessed to have such overwhelming support.

He picked up his first victory in the UFC by defeating Nick Catone by split decision at UFC 102.

“My last fight was a really good fight,” Munoz said. “He came out he was really well rounded and he had good hands, good shot and takedown defense. It was a hard fought match. We went at it. I just wanted it more.”

Munoz is a member of Team Black House, and he likens it to being a member of the Oklahoma State wrestling team.

As a Cowboy, he worked with various national, world and Olympic champions on a daily basis, and he said Black House is the MMA-equivalent to it by working with the Nogueira brothers and Anderson Silva.

“It’s great to train with the best guys in the UFC,” Munoz said. “It gives you an added confidence. Just to train and talk with him. When I signed at Oklahoma State, it feels like the same thing.”

Munoz’s opponent Jensen (14-5) is coming off a submission victory over Steven Steinbess, but Munoz is looking to push the pace and pressure Jensen.

Munoz said he plans on throwing a party after the fight to make up for lost time during the holidays.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I love being around my family. … They’re there to support me.”

Mike Pyle looks forward to his next challenge at UFC 108 against Jake Ellenberger.

When Mike Pyle comes in to training at Xtreme Couture, he is surrounded by some of the best athletes in the sport.

And while it’s debatable whether or not a fighter is only as good as his camp, there is no debate that Pyle’s experiences in training every day have him confident for his UFC 108 bout against Jake Ellenberger.

“[The fight’s] going to go back to the gym where I train and the level that I train at,” Pyle told MMAMadness.com. “I don’t know if [Ellenberger’s] going to be ready for that. It’s every day for me. It’s not just going in and getting in high level fights, it’s high level training all the time.”

On the surface, this fight looks like a prototypical striker versus grappler affair. Pyle has 15 submission victories, 13 knockouts. Despite that split, Pyle doesn’t see the need to try to take the fight to the ground right away.

“I always just kind of go with the flow,” Pyle said. “When I fought Chris [Wilson], I wanted to stand with him for awhile, but it was hard to hit Chris so I had to take him down, so we’ll see.”

What Pyle sees out of Ellenberger is a simple, effective fighter.

“There’s nothing too flashy about the kid,” Pyle said. “He’s a strong puncher, so I’ve got to look out for a few things.”

Ellenberger may have heavy hands, but Pyle believes that the work he has put in during camp will be enough to weather those storms.

“During each sparring round, [when] we change partners, you’re going up against another badass, so it’s not uncommon in my gym to have either elite wrestlers grinding on you, or a good striker, or both,” Pyle said. “I ain’t worried about anybody punching me in the face, trust me.”

Ellenberger displayed his punching power in his last fight, dropping Carlos Condit in the first round before eventually losing a split decision. Pyle wants to make sure that he doesn’t come out the same way that Condit did.

“The first one to make a mistake, I believe the other one’s going to capitalize on it, and I don’t plan on it being me, so I don’t plan on getting clipped as much as Condit did to make Jake look so good,” Pyle said.

“Jake ain’t going to be able to look that good on me.”

Pyle also has the added benefit of fighting this fight in Las Vegas, a stone’s throw away from camp and home. More than anything, it is a big convenience.

“I’ve only fought twice in Vegas, and I like it,” Pyle said. “I can stay at home, relax, play Playstation. I don’t have to worry about hotel food and what I’m going to eat, when I’m gonna go cut weight. It’s a lot more relaxing.”

As he walks into the Octagon at UFC 108, fans will see just how dramatic of an impact Xtreme Couture has had on Mike Pyle.

Ryan Couture set to co-headline another top notch TUFF-N-UFF card.

“There will be some great MMA action at our next big event on the Las Vegas Strip,” said Barry Meyer, President and Founder of Tuff-N-Uff. “We are getting some of the top future stars of MMA to fight for bragging rights as the premier champions of Fight Night III.”

The two headline fights showcase some of the brightest future stars of MMA. In the 155 pound fight, Ryan Couture of Xtreme Couture fame puts his 3-2 record on the line against Joe “Hollywood” Tussing of Team Warrior. Meanwhile, Larry Mir, cousin of former UFC Champion Frank Mir will take on undefeated Chris Barden of Wand Fight Team in the 145 pound bout. In his last fight Barden knocked out his opponent at 1:40 in the first round.

The card also features the Bowler brothers – Jesse and Colt “45″ – of Filipino MMA in two separate fights and Gil Guardado risks his perfect 5-0 fight record against John Gorton of Team Quest in a 155 pound battle.

“We are pulling out all the great fights to highlight our return to the Las Vegas Strip at Fight Night III,” Meyer said. “This event was private the last two years and this year’s should sell out quick.  We should also have some great celebrities in the crowd such as Randy “The Natural” Couture, Frank Mir, Wanderlei Silva and many more!”

Tuff-N-Uff and MTX Audio will also host an open No-Gi grappling tournament on Saturday, January 9 starting at 10 a.m. at the Riviera Hotel & Casino. Participant preregistration for the event ends on January 6 and admission to the event will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, please visit www.grapplingx.com.

Chris Horodecki is ready to show the WEC what he is about. (Photo by Scott Radliff)

“That’s ideal,” quipped Horodecki. “I’m looking for that KO, but I’ll take whatever I can get. I’m there to put on a show so I’m going to make sure the fans get their money’s worth.”

With experience and knowledge well beyond his years, Horodecki knows that to succeed you need more than wins. “The Polish Hammer” has been training with stand up coach Shawn Tompkins since the age of thirteen. He’s become what some call Tompkins’ “protégé” and his 13-1 record only stand to prove that.  Hailing from London, Ontario, Canada, Horodecki doesn’t let the distance between him and his coach cause any problems during training camp.

“I come down 6-8 weeks ago,” said Horodecki. “This time has been a long camp; I’ve been here almost two months now. It’s good, I’m really happy I’m fighting in Las Vegas for the first time. I’ve never fought here before but I’ve been coming here for training camps for the last four years.”

Horodecki is glad he can finally fight in the town he’s begun to call a second home. For the past four years, Horodecki has been back and forth between Ontario and Las Vegas, training and running the Canadian branch of Tompkins’ gym along with close friends –and fellow professional fighters- Mark Hominick and Sam Stout.

“I’ve been training with my head trainer Shawn Tompkins at the Tapout Traning Center,” said Horodecki. “It’s a brand new facility, one of the most equiped, best facilities I’ve ever worked at…I love it. A lot of the fighters came over here with Shawn [Tompkins].”

Horodecki is constantly surrounded by top tier training partners.  Whether he is in Las Vegas or Ontario there is never a shortage of talent to push the pace and keep him in shape. This camp he’s worked with assistant coach Johnny Nunez to strengthen his ground game and prepare for Njokuani.

“Between fights I’m just trying to improve my weaknesses,” said Horodecki. “That’s what you have to keep doing. You can’t get comfortable with what you’ve got. You have to keep strengthening all your tools and that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been working hard on my ground; I got my first submission win in my last fight. I think it’s just going to keep going on from there.”

With so many fighters jumping up or down weight classes lately, one wonders if Horodecki would be among them. WEC GM, Reed Harris, recently squashed fellow light weight Donald Cerrone’s hopes to drop to 145 and “challenge” himself, citing the number of talented light weights for Cerrone to face as the reason. Horodecki is one of the few fighters who is happy with his natural weight class though.

“Lightweight is my home,” said Horodecki. “I’ve always been here [at 155]. I don’t think I’m going anywhere right now.”

Donald Cerrone is set to face Ed Ratcliff at WEC 45.

TAKEYA MIZUGAKI VS. SCOTT JORGENSEN

BART PALASZEWSKI VS. ANTHONY PETTIS

MUHSIN CORBBREY VS. ZACH MICKLEWRIGHT

CHAD GEORGE VS. JOHN HOSMAN

TYLER TONER VS. BRANDON VISHER

BRAD PICKETT VS. KYLE DIETZ

JAMEEL MASSOUH VS. ERIK KOCH

DONALD CERRONE VS. ED RATCLIFF
“This is the perfect way to close out 2009,” WEC General Manager Reed Harris said. “We have stacked this card with some outstanding battles featuring our top contenders. This is truly our holiday gift to fans.”

Cerrone vs. Ratcliff will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.  All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available.
Expect fireworks when free-swinging bantamweights Scott Jorgensen (fighting out of Boise, ID) and Takeya Mizugaki (fighting out of Tokyo, Japan) collide on Dec. 19. Fresh off a submission victory over Noah Thomas in October, Jorgensen (7-3) believes he is closing in on a match with 135-pound champion Brian Bowles. A winner of three out of his last four fights, the Boise-based fighter is prepared for an all-out slugfest with Mizugaki at The Palms. With impressive performances in each of his first two fights in the WEC, Japanese star Mizugaki (12-3-2) has proved to be one of the toughest bantamweights in the world. His five-round fight with Miguel Angel Torres in April, coupled with his decision victory over Jeff Curran in August, has many wondering if the clinch-savvy Mizugaki will soon be wearing the WEC championship. Before Mizugaki can garner a world title shot, he must diffuse Jorgensen in a potential “Fight of the Year.”

At just 26 years old, few fighters boast the level of experience offered by the heavy-handed Bart Palaszewski (fighting out of Chicago, IL). With 45 fights in his seven-year career, “Bartimus” believes his MMA seasoning will fuel him past fiery lightweight prospect Anthony Pettis (fighting out of Milwaukee, WI). Unbeaten at 7-0 in his young career, the 22-year-old Pettis scored an impressive submission victory over Mike Campbell is his WEC debut in June. Training out of the same camp that has produced UFC veterans Pat Barry, Ben Rothwell, and Eric Schafer, Pettis thinks he has all of the tools necessary to best Palaszewski (32-13) and climb one step closer to the 155-pound elite.

WEC newcomer Zach Micklewright (fighting out of Davenport, IA) has built a solid reputation as a gritty lightweight fighter willing to trade leather. Micklewright (8-1), who is a training partner of rising featherweight star L.C. Davis, hopes to show WEC fans his exciting standup game when he takes on tested veteran Muhsin Corbbrey (fighting out of Savannah, GA) in Las Vegas. Nicknamed “The Technician,” Corbbrey (13-4-1) is a versatile athlete with strong jiu jitsu and striking. The 31-year-old believes his complete arsenal will help him spoil Micklewright’s debut on Dec. 19.

An intriguing bantamweight bout pits John Hosman (fighting out of Evanston, IL) against WEC rookie Chad George (fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.). Holding a record of 17-5-1, the 29-year-old Hosman is a solid wrestler with good submissions. A longtime training partner of UFC star Clay Guida, Hosman looks to pick up his first win in the WEC when he locks horns with the hard-hitting George at The Palms. Considering that nine of his 10 wins have come by way of stoppage, George (10-4) believes he can become an immediate contender in the stacked bantamweight division. What’s more, the fighter nicknamed “Savage” hopes to do so by knocking off the rugged Hosman on Dec. 19.

Two hard-hitting featherweight newcomers meet when Tyler Toner (fighting out of Denver, CO) wages war with Brandon Visher (fighting out of Maui, Hawaii) at The Pearl at the Palms. One look at each fighter’s stats leads many to believe that this could steal “Fight of the Night” honors. In nine pro victories, Toner (9-1) has scored an impressive five knockouts and two submissions. He’ll look to take the next step in his MMA career against his Hawaiian-born opponent. Nicknamed “The Viper,” Visher is unbeaten at 13-0 in his five-year career and owns finishes in 10 of those bouts. An aggressive striker with a slick ground game, the highly-touted Maui resident promises an explosive contest when he debuts next month.

A winner of his last seven fights, England’s Brad “One Punch” Pickett (now fighting out of Coconut Creek, FL) makes his highly-anticipated WEC debut when he takes on Kyle Dietz (fighting out of Davenport, IA) in an exciting bantamweight bout. A close friend and teammate of former featherweight champion Mike Brown, Pickett (17-4) enters the WEC with heavy momentum. With submissions wins in three out of his last four fights, the outspoken Brit wants to make an immediate mark by besting Dietz. A 23-year-old protégé of UFC vet Spencer Fisher, Dietz (13-1) is hungry for his first victory inside the Octagon(tm). He hopes to use his vicious Muay Thai and slick grappling to overpower Pickett at The Palms.

A battle of the Badger State pits Milwaukee residents Jameel Massouh (fighting out of Milwaukee, WI) and Erik Koch (fighting out of Milwaukee, WI) against one another in featherweight action. A top star in the Pancrase organization, Massouh (21-6) has fought some of the top competition in the world, including Leonard Garcia and Raphael Assuncao. The 25-year-old looks to jump into the mix at 145-pounds with a win over the unbeaten Koch. Boasting an unblemished record of 8-0, the 21-year-old Koch is a tremendous grappler who has only been to a decision once in his career. The Duke Roufus-trained fighter believes he has the potential to one day wear WEC gold and hopes to pave his way to the title with a win over Massouh on Dec. 19.

Houston Alexander is looking to take advantage of this opportunity.

As he prepares for the biggest fight of his eight-year career this Saturday night against Internet sensation Kimbo Slice (3-1) at The Pearl at The Palms Casino in Las Vegas (SPIKE, 9ET), Alexander (9-4, 1 NC) flashes back to when he entered the organization nearly three years ago. Gearing up for what could be one of the most talked-about fights in UFC history, Alexander realizes that another huge opportunity presents itself this weekend.

“This is a very important fight for me and the people back in my community,” Alexander, a single parent raising six children, said. “I’m putting pressure on myself to do well in this fight. We stepped up the training and it’s got even more intense than ever before. On Saturday night, it’s going to be something people have never even seen of me. I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been.

“When the UFC asked me about this fight, the first thing that came to my mind was ‘wow,’” Alexander continued. “It didn’t take me long to accept this fight. Kimbo and I come from similar fighting backgrounds. We have a lot in common and this could do big things for our careers. This fight means a lot to both of us.”

With the fight being contested at a catchweight of 215 pounds, Alexander believes the bout with Slice is a perfect chance to show new dimensions to his mixed martial arts attack. Originally considered a pure striker, Alexander has worked hard to improve his wrestling and grappling over the past two years. While he wouldn’t mind standing and banging with the 35-year-old Slice, Alexander admitted that he is a more refined fighter than ever before.

“This is going to be a great fight,” Alexander said, flashing his usual, contagious grin. “But it may not just be an all-out brawl. We’ve both worked on becoming more complete fighters and I honestly don’t think it’s going to be just a brawl. Both camps are coming in with game plans and both of us are ready to make a mark on Saturday night. I’m getting fired up just thinking about it.”

Gonzaga looks to get back on track after losing his last fight at UFC 96.

It seems as though the card that has been cursed from the beginning is still showing signs of doom. In the lastest sting of events, Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt, Gabriel Gonzaga has contracted a case of staph infection. Several fighters that were supposed to be on this card have had to pull due to injury or illness. Fellow Brazilian, Antonio Nogueira, also pulled out of UFC 108 due to staph infection earlier this month.

The card has been strewn with other changes as well, most notebly Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar dropping from the card due to a mysterious illness that most are still unsure of. As of Friday, November 27, the UFC had yet to announce a replacement for Gonzaga.

UFC 108, set to take place January 2, 2010, will be headlined by Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva. The bout is being hyped as the a “grudge match” between the two. The remaning card is as follows:

• Tyson Griffin vs. Jim Miller
• Carlos Condit vs. Paul Daley
• Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout
• Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon
• Martin Kampmann vs. Rory Markham
• Sean Sherk vs. Rafaello Oliveira
• Mike Pyle vs. Jake Ellenberger
• Mark Munoz vs. Ryan Jensen

Keep checking MMAMadness.com for all the updates regarding UFC 108.

Source: Yahoo Sports

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Kimbo Slice prepares for his UFC debut at the The Ultimate Fighter Finale.

Slice will appear in a bout on “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” finale fight card emanating from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV.

Slice’s opponent will be announced at a later date, pending on what transpires on the special two-hour “The Ultimate Fighter” episode on Wednesday, December 2 (9:00-11:00pm ET/PT).  Despite suffering a loss in episode 3 to Roy Nelson, Slice has the opportunity to return to fight on the show if a cast mate is injured and compete for the coveted title of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV is the highest-rated in the franchise history, averaging 3.6 million viewers and a 4.7 rating with Men 18-34 and a 3.8 rating with Men 18-49.  It is currently one of the highest-rated shows with Men 18-34 on all of television.

Jake Rosholt is ready to continue Team Takedown's winning ways.

Jake Rosholt (6-1-0) will take on The Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall Grove (12-6-0) in a middleweight bout this Saturday at UFC 106.

Rosholt defeated another TUF alumnus in Chris Leben in his last bout at UFC 102 in August via choke.

Rosholt is steadily climbing the 185 lb. ranks and another win this Saturday will only help him grow as a fighter and in notoriety. But Grove is no slouch and presents a different set of problems for Rosholt than Leben did.

Mostly Grove’s sheer size, standing at 6’6”, he has five inches in height on Rosholt and has used his range to his advantage in his previous fights. Combined with his striking skills and ground game, Grove is a serious threat.

Rosholt, a native of Idaho, currently trains in Las Vegas and has prepared for his opponents natural range in his fight camp.

“The only thing I really did differently for this camp was to bring in sparring partners that were lanky and taller to prepare for Kendall,” Rosholt said.

“He has a different range than most guys in the middleweight division. Getting guys to mimic his style as a striker was important because he knows how to use his reach.”

Rosholt wouldn’t reveal much of his game plan for Saturday but feels ready and confident in his ever evolving abilities.

“Kendall’s good at staying active even on his back, he also uses the cage to get back to his feet.” Rosholt said of his opponent.

“But I think I can control him with my wrestling and I am ready for a scrap. I plan to go out and fight hard but my wrestling is my biggest advantage. I’ve seen that he has had problems with good wrestlers in the past and will try to exploit that.”

Rosholt continues to progress as a fighter and is nothing but humble in self assessment. At 27 years old he knows he has a long way to go.

 “I am young in the sport and always learning so I am constantly looking to add to my game and keep getting better. I just go out and fight hard give it my all every time.”

UFC 106 will air on Pay-per-view this Saturday at 10pm. But the preliminaries will be aired on Spike TV for free at 9pm. So tune in to catch Jake Rosholt taking on Kendall Grove as well as other under card fights.