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Friday, May 16, 2008

Kenny Florian to host "MMA Live" on ESPN.com

Kenny Florian to host "MMA Live" on ESPN.com
By: Adam Morgan

Kenny Florian recently spoke with MMA Weekly and talked about a new show on ESPN.com called "MMA Live" that he will be hosting along with ESPN's John Anik and Newark Star-Ledger reporter Franklin McNeil. Here's some of what Florian had to say about the show:

"(It's) kind of a fast-paced show on the current news and events going on in the sport. There's a whole lot of guys at ESPN that have been trying to get this done I guess for two years," said Florian in an exclusive interview with MMAWeekly.com.

"Basically, I was contacted by ESPN about two weeks before my fight against (Joe) Lauzon, and there was some interest. They finally got the okay to do an MMA show, and they were interested in using me for this show," Florian said.

Florian has done extremely well in his two stints on the UFC broadcasts and is a perfect fit for this position. He also goes on to say that if the show is well received that it may end up on television. That would be a step in the right direction to get some kind of MMA programming on ESPN, something the MMA community has been speculating about for a long time.

The show debuts tonight on ESPN.com at 7 p.m. ET.
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/05/15/kenny-florian-to-hose-mma-live-on-espncom/

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JOAN GUZMAN SETS SIGHTS ON WBO 135 POUND CHAMPION NATE CAMPBELL

SAN DIEGO, Calif.– Now that Joan Guzman has vacated his WBO 130 pound title, the undefeated Dominican-born speedster is looking for a challenge at the lightweight level.


“I think Nate Campbell would be a perfect opponent for me,” said Guzman, who is a two-division champion with a record of 28-0 with 17 knockouts. “Nobody wants to fight Nate at 135 pounds and no one wants to fight me at 130 pounds. So let’s just fight each other.”

Guzman, who is promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego, Calif., might not have to wait long to get his shot at Campbell.

“The WBO has assured Sycuan that Guzman will in fact become the number one contender at 135 pounds,” said Sean Gibbons, matchmaker for Sycuan Ringside Promotions.


“Nate doesn’t have a bunch of options right now. He thinks he’s going to get a shot at Joel Cassameyor, but that fight will never happen. Plain and simple, Nate’s best fight is against Guzman.”

“I’ve always been about fighting the best,” Guzman continued. “If Nate is truly a world champion he will accept the challenge that I have laid out for him.

“Twenty-eight boxers have tired to beat me and they all failed miserably. Nate will be number twenty-nine if he has the guts and courage to fight me.

“I’m ready to fight Nate anytime, any place, anywhere. A lot of boxers are afraid of me, but I sure hope Nate isn’t one of them.”



Guzman, who has won titles at the super bantamweight and super featherweight divisions, made the choice to move up in weight after he grew irritated with Alex Arthur and his promoter, Frank Warren of Sports Network.

Guzman was scheduled to defend his WBO 130 pound title on Saturday, May 3, in Edinburgh, Scotland but the fight was postponed. Although he has been ready to travel to Scotland at a moment’s notice, Warren has not scheduled a new date for the bout.

“My team and I have tried with every good intention to honor our agreement to fight Arthur in Scotland on May 3,” Guzman said. “Frank Warren and his team made every excuse possible to cancel the fight. My team and I decided that it is time for me to make my mark at the 135 pound division and I’m going to start with Nate Campbell.”


ABOUT SYCUAN RINGSIDE PROMOTIONS:

Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego is considered to be the fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport. Sycuan Ringside Promotions made its promotional debut during 2004, but already has or had six current or former world champions and has promoted and presented world title bouts across the country on premium cable networks.

Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable boxers in its stable, including World Boxing Council super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez, World Boxing Association super bantamweight champion Celestino Caballero, former WBC welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir, former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Julio Diaz, lightweight sensation Jorge Paez Jr., undefeated cruiserweight prospect Shawn Hawk and once-beaten, super middleweight prospect Henry Buchanan.

Sycuan Ringside Promotions is led by Glenn Quiroga, president; Willie Tucker, executive vice president; and Scott Woodworth, vice president.

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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Promising East Coast Fighters Top Stacked EliteXC Undercard May 31 At Newark, NJ‏

LOS ANGELES– With no less than 11 fighters scheduled to fight, there will be a distinct East Coast flavor to the six announced undercard bouts that will immediately precede the highly anticipated, first-ever mixed martial arts fight card shown live in primetime on network television Saturday, May 31, at the Prudential Center at Newark, N.J.

Tickets for a spectacular live event, starting at $25, are available at Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (201) 507-8900, online at www.ticketmaster.com and at the Prudential Center box office (973) 757-6625. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET. The first live fight is at 6:30.

Among the East Coast favorites who will appear in undercard fights presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s live fight division, EliteXC, are Philadelphians Wilson Reis (3-0), Matt Makowski (2-0), Jim Bova (3-0) and Zach Makovsky (3-1), Chris “The Story” Liguori (7-7) of Middleton, N.J., James “Binky” Jones (6-6) of Baltimore, Md., Nick “The Mad Monkey” Serra (4-2) of East Meadow, N.Y., and Andre “Gigetto” Soares (5-1) of Pinebrook, N.J.

Four of the six announced prelim bouts will be streamed live and for free at ProElite.com. Fans also can watch pre- and post-fight interviews on ProElite.com (see Fighter Pages below).

“From top to bottom, this fight card is totally stacked,’’ EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw said. “I’m extremely proud of the fights we will be offering to those in the arena and those watching the undercard live on ProElite.com. All the fighters are matched tough.

“For some, this will be their opportunity to watch young, talented, promising fighters who they may not have had the opportunity to see before. It’s always exciting to witness and follow the emergence of new stars. And there are a lot of talented athletes on this show.’’

Kimbo Slice (2-0), Perrine, Fla., will be opposed by England’s James “Colossus’’ Thompson (10-8) in the main event of “CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” on the CBS Television Network at 9-11 p.m. ET/PT.

In other televised fights, EliteXC middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (15-4) of St. Louis, by way of Davenport, Iowa, will defend against Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (13-4) of Sacramento, Calif.; Gina Carano (5-0) of Las Vegas, Nev., faces Kaitlin Young (4-1) of Circle Pines, Minn., in a women’s fight at 140 pounds; Phil Baroni (10-9) of Long Island, N.Y., faces Joey Villasenor (25-6) of Albuquerque, N.M. in a 185-pound scrap and Brett Rogers (6-0) of Minneapolis throws down with Jon Murphy (4-2) of Minersville, Pa., in a heavyweight fight.

The Lawler-Smith fight is scheduled for five, 5-minute rounds. The others are slated for three, 5-minute sessions with the exception of Carano-Young, which is set for three, 3-minute rounds (See Fighter Pages below).

The crowd-pleasing Liguori is a one-time middleweight who now competes at 155-160. “I feel awesome at this weight,’’ he said. “I should have been a lightweight my whole career.’’

Liguori, who’s fought some good ones since turning pro in ‘02, will look to regain his winning ways against the promising Bova, who, like Liguori, signed recently with EliteXC.

Bova is a well-rounded fighter and awesome wrestler with excellent technical ability and a seemingly unlimited gas tank. He trains out of the same gym as Murphy in Minersville, Pa.

In his last start, Bova scored a 3:59, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Mark Getto on Oct. 6, 2007. Bova has won all three of his fights by submission.

The popular Serra, the younger brother of Matt Serra and the second American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under world renowned Renzo Gracie, will be opposed by the up-and-coming Makowski in what will be a top-notch 170-pound scrap.

A submission specialist, all four of Serra’s victories have been via tap out. In his last start, he submitted (armbar) Mike Varner in the second round on June 23, 2007, at Atlantic City.

Serra, whose vast skills and unique style makes for crowd-pleasing scraps, is also known for entertaining cage entrances (he wears a Mad Monkey mask and throw bananas to the crowd). But don’t be fooled by the monkey business. Serra has never been submitted or knocked out, is supremely talented and has a fierce competitive spirit. “I’ll fight anybody,’’ he said.

Makowski, who compiled an outstanding record in Muay Thai, is fundamentally sound, possesses well-rounded skills, terrific cardio and always enters the ring well prepared.

In his most recent outing, the highly regarded Makowski showed a good ground game to go with his striking en route to registering an excellent 4:01, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Muay Thai specialist Joe Schilling on Jan. 25, 2008, in Atlantic City.

Makowski has yet to be severely challenged in a pro, amateur or Muay Thai fight so it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

The 140-pound Reis, who takes on Justin Robbins, has been totally dominant in his brief career, always appearing to be a class or two above his opponent.

In a fight that got off to a wild start, Reis won his EliteXC debut with a second-round submission (rear naked choke) over Zach Makovsky on Jan. 25, 2008, in Atlantic City.

A fast-rising featherweight who possesses all the right tools, Reis is only 23 but already is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. The world class grappler made Makovsky, a former Division I wrestler and respectable prospect, look pedestrian in what was expected to be a close fight.

Robbins (8-3-1), of St. Louis, has won three of his last four, including an eye-opening 0:47, first-round submission (arm triangle choke) victory over Jeff Hodges on Jan. 26, 2008.

A submission fighter, Robbins holds notable wins over Matt Jaggers and Tristan Yunker.

No stranger to big cards, Jones is putting it together at the right time. He will be seeking his third consecutive victory when he meets unbeaten Calvin Kattar (3-0).

Jones won his last two starts by impressive first-round submission (kimoura). He needed 1:59 to devalue Al Buck on March 7, 2008. The previous Jan. 25 in Atlantic City, Jones won his EliteXC debut by dominating Mark Getto en route to dispatching him at 1:12.

A victory keeps Jones in the thick of what is one of EliteXC’s deepest divisions.

New Hampshire’s Kattar is an exciting, crowd-pleasing, talented wrestler who likes to ground and pound.

In preliminary bouts that will not be streamed at ProElite.com, Makovsky meets Soares at 135 pounds and Mike Groves (0-1) of Philadelphia and Joe Sampieri (0-2) of Manhattan, N.Y., clash in a battle of capable but winless fighters at 155.

Makovsky, who suffered his first loss, to Reis, in his last start, is a former Division I wrestler from Drexel University. His 72 victories rank 18th on the all-time Drexel win list.

Soares has won four in a row, all via first-round stoppage. A Brazilian who’s always ready to fight and brings an aggressive submission style attack to the cage, Soares scored a 0:19, first-round submission (guillotine choke) over Jason Spearman April 18, 2008, in Atlantic City.

The aggressive-minded Groves, who boasts a strong boxing and wrestling background, lost his debut by second-round TKO undefeated Pat McGreal in October 2007.

Sampieri, a Muay Thai coach at Renzo Gracie’s Jiu-Jitsu academy in New York, is overdue for a win. He is obviously talented on his feet and is definitely overdue to win one.

The seven undercard fights are scheduled for three, 5-minute rounds.

Fighter pages (ProElite.Com): Liguori (http://chrisliguori.proelite.com), Bova (http://jimbova.proelite.com), Serra (http://nickserra.proelite.com), Makowski (http://mattmakowski.proelite.com), Robbins (http://justinrobbins.proelite.com), Reis (http://wilsonreis.proelite.com), Jones (http://jamesjones.com), Kattar (http://calvinkattar.proelite.com), Makovsky (http://zachmakovsky.proelite.com), Soares (http://andresoares.proelite.com), Sampieri (http://joesampieri.proelite.com), Groves (http://mikegroves.proelite.com).

Fighter pages (CBS): Slice (http://kimboslice.proelite.com), Thompson (http://jamesthompson.proelite.com), Lawler (http://robbielawler.proelite.com), Smith (http://scottsmith.proelite.com), Carano (http://ginacarano.proelite.com), Young (http://kaitlinrose.proelite.com), Villasenor (http://joeyvillasenor.com), Baroni (http://philbaroni.proelite.com), Rogers (http://brettrogers.proelite.com), Murphy (http://jonmurphy.proelite.com).

About ProElite, Inc.
ProElite, Inc. delivers the most exciting entertainment experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on Showtime Networks and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment. The company has established a partnership with CBS that brings MMA to a major primetime network for the first time. Through acquisitions of MMA organizations in Asia and Europe, ProElite is a global leader with an exclusive distribution agreement for its program library with IMG Media. ProElite’s live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world’s top fighters [elitexc.com]. The company’s social media platform, ProElite.com, continues to add thousands of subscribers each month due to the large number of live streaming MMA events, social networking tools, and original and partner-driven content.

About The Prudential Center
Prudential Center is the first new, state-of-the-art facility built in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area in over 25 years. Located within 2 blocks of Newark Penn Station, it is the home of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, NCAA Division I Seton Hall men’s basketball and the New Jersey Ironmen of the MISL. Prudential Center is managed by AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world.

Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel Online http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

EL Boxing Empress Keisha Morrisey's Myspace http://www.myspace.com/Keishadivine

Honorable Keisha Morrisey http://www.keishamorrisey.com/