The MMA Update For Friday June 29th, 2007
Written by Chris Howie
Intro
Geezzz, I disappear for a couple days and all hell breaks loose in the news world. I don't even know what to begin so I'll just break down some of the biggest news over the last few days. Seems like a good way to go.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Leaves Brazilian Top Team
This was kind of shocking when I read it. Big Nog has been with BTT for a long long time now and I find it odd that he would leave the team. Maybe he was looking to branch out to different teams and see what he can add to his game. Paulo Filho has also left BTT so maybe there is more to it than just looking for a new team but it is very surprising that two prominent members of the team would leave. MMANews.com is working on getting an interview with Big Nog sometime this week before UFC 73 so hopefully we can get to the bottom of things.
Paulo Filho Thinks Dana White Is Scared To Put Him In The UFC
Speaking of Paulo Filho in a recent interview he stated that he thinks UFC President Dana White is worried about having come in the UFC. Filho said White is scared that he already beat some of the UFC's best fighters except Anderson Silva. He also stated that Rich Franklin would get whooped and Yuskin Okami sucks. Well, at least Filho isn't at a loss for words. I couldn't understand why he would be going to the WEC when that was announced because he has all the tools to come into the UFC and wreck the Middleweight division. I'm not saying that he would no-questions-asked, but he is obviously one of the best middleweight's out there and could give anyone in the division right now a lot of trouble.
Shogun Injured; Close To Signing With UFC?
A report came out a few days ago stating that “Shogun” Rua injured his leg training. Shogun confirmed the injury but stated that it was no big deal and that he could train normally. In the same interview he also stated that he was close to a fight deal with the UFC and could be making his first appearance in the cage in September. All I can say about this is that I hope they get it done and get it done soon. Shogun is obviously dieing to get in the Octagon and fight so I don't think it will be too-too long before he makes his debut. Once he finally does sign on the dotted line, the UFC Light Heavyweight division really better look out because the number one ranked Light Heavyweight in the world will be looking to win the UFC crown eventually. I'm sure he'll get a few tune up fights in there just to get his name over with the American crowd but I don't think it will be long before the fans take to the Brazilian and we see him with gold around his waste. If nothing else we are definitely in for some damn good fights with the likes of Shogun, Chuck, Henderson, Rampage, Ortiz, Evans, Machida, all running shit in that division and with Wanderlei Silva looking for a new home it won't be long before the UFC has mostly all of the top 205'ers in the world.
White Showing Ortiz No Love
Oh me Oh my, will this shit ever end? Dana White blasted Tito Ortiz in an interview with Yahoo! Sports calling Ortiz a “moron” and stating that he needs to “start beating up someone other than a nearly 50-year-old Ken Shamrock.” Now while Dana does have a point with the second comment, I have to say I'm a little tired of their bickering back and forth. They were suppose to do the boxing match and never got it done so I think it may be about time they figure some things out and fucking get this put together so we can finally stop hearing the jaw-jacking bullshit we have to put up with. Also, on the Ken Shamrock front – we'll have an interview with him out on Monday most likely where he'll go in-depth on everything going on right now.
Phil Baroni Out For 6-7 Months With Injuries
Unfortunately for the “New York Bad Ass” it's going to be a while before he'll be fighting. Baroni will be getting surgery to repair a hernia and a torn groin muscle. Ouch. Ken Pavia, Baroni's manager stated Phil will have some down time after the surgery as he will need at least three months down time and will not be able to do any training. That's a bit of a bummer for the “Bad Ass”. I was looking forward to seeing him get back in there after his loss to Frank Shamrock but Shamrock did beat him down quite a bit and it's not surprising Baroni suffered a few injuries. Here's to hoping for a speedy recovery for Phil.
Carter Williams Tests Positive For Cocaine After Fight With Buentello
Real professional.
UFC Confirms Opponent for Lytle at UFC 73
The UFC has confirmed that Jason Gilliam will be making a return to the Octagon on short notice to step in for the injured Drew Fickett to face Chris Lytle at UFC 73 next weekend. Gilliam's last fight in the cage was a quick first round submission loss to Jamie Varner. Nothing against Varner but it's too bad Fickett ended up getting injured as I'm sure that would have been a good fight, but you never know this could end up being a good one too. We'll have to wait and see.
Outro
Well that's all folks. I'll be back Monday to kick off the new week. Make sure to send any questions or comments in to [email protected] and be sure to check out MMANews.com's latest interviews with Nathan Marquardt and Rich Franklin. You can find them here:
Marquardt: https://www.mmanews.com/ufc/New-MMANews.com-Pre-UFC-73-Interview-w-Nate-Marquardt.html
Franklin: https://www.mmanews.com/ufc/New-MMANews.com-Interview-w-UFC-Fighter-Rich-Franklin.html
We've also got pre-UFC 73 interviews with Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans, which you can check out in the interview archive section of the site.
Also, make MMANews.com your place to be over the next week as we will have all the latest on UFC 73.
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