Quick Hits: UFC 102 Fighters Test Clean, Urijah Faber Can Punch Again, “JZ” Calvan Off Dream 11, Sotosho Ishii Gets An Opponent, And More
Posted by Justin H on Sep 14, 2009 at 5:20 pm ET14 Comments
All six fighters that were drug tested for UFC 102 tested clean. The fighters tested included headliners Randy Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and previously suspended Chris Leben, as well as Todd Duffee, Evan Dunham, and Aaron Simpson. [MMAWeekly]- Former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber announced via Twitter today that he has been given the go ahead to hit the punching bag and hopes to be back in action by January.
- Weigh-ins for UFC 103 will take place this Friday, September 18 at the Dallas Convention Center Arena in Dallas, Texas at 5pm ET, while “Countdown to UFC 103,” the official preview show for Saturday’s pay-per-view event, debuts tonight on SpikeTV at 7pm ET/PT.
- A knee injury has forced Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante to withdraw from his scheduled fight against Daisuke Nakamura at Dream 11 on October 6th. [WrestlingObserver]
- Two time Olympic wrestler, and recent Strikeforce signee Daniel Cormier has an opponent for his MMA and promotional debut on September 25. Cormier will face off against fellow MMA rookie Gary Frazier at the Bixby, Oklahoma Strikeforce Challengers event. [FanHouse]
- Satosho Ishii, the 2008 Olympic Judo Gold Medalist, will make his long awaited MMA debut against Hidehiko Yoshida, a 1992 Olympic Judo Gold Medalist, at Sengoku’s New Year event. The actual date of the event has yet to be scheduled, but it will happen some time around New Years Eve. [MMAMania]
- World Victory Road, the company that runs the Sengoku events, is contemplating changing the names of the events to something more international, beginning with the New Years event. However, they haven’t indicated what that new name might be. [Nightmare of Battle]
- The UFC’s traditional Las Vegas based “Year-End” pay-per-view has been penciled in as UFC 108 on January 2nd, 2010 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Though no fights have yet been rumored for the event. [MMAJunkie]
- The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino will soon continue it’s tradition of hosting MMA events. However, after it recently split with Palace Fighting Championships, it will have to come up with a name for the events. [FanHouse]
Tags: Aaron Simpson, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Chris Leben, Daniel Cormier, Evan Dunham, Gary Frazier, Gesias "JZ" Calvancante, Hidehiko Yoshida, Randy Couture, Satoshi Ishii, Todd Duffee, Urijah Faber
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Nice that the people tested passed, and well its just good to acknowledge when fighters to pass their Drug test which yes ofcourse they should..
Urijah looking to get back real soon after destroying his own hands, when I saw him in San Jose (Carano v Cyborg) his right hand still looked swollen but he could shake hands without much noticable discomfort, good stuff Can’t wait to see him fight again….
Sucks that JZ won’t be fighting I blame Fedor
Ishii v Yoshida is going to draw extremely large numbers in Japan, that is going to be crazy for the Japanese MMA fans good stuff, I’m looking forward to seeing it myself…. yet in all honesty this was WVR’s best bet
The whole PFC thing v the Tachi Palace is just well messy to say the least, Lemoore has held some really good bouts and have spotlighted up and coming fighters here from the Valley, nice to see that they are going to have a few more cards…
It is too bad about the PFC. I lived in San Luis Obispo for a couple years and I would head over there to watch the WEC. We were all super pissed when the WEC left and now the fans have to watch this stuff go down also. It is too bad. There have been some great fights and a lot of great fans at those shows. I hope they can get something worked out there in Lemoore.
Not-so-quick “counter” hits…
As an avowed Urijah Faber supporter, I’m VERY interested in seeing how and when he makes his way all the way back to the top.
At one time I considered him the finest p4p MMA fighter on the planet, but back to back losses to a previously unheralded fighter and the damage he inflicted on his own hands has IMO left some huge questionmarks surrounding Faber’s career future.
Also, it strikes me as how the sport is really gaining traction with the other combat sport mediums. We’re seeing Golden Glove boxers, all sorts of karate/kickboxing champions, ADCC/NAGA/Grappler’s Quest/BJJ champions titlists, and now little by little more Olympians, and gold medalists as well, entering our sport regularly.
I for one will keep a sharp eye on names like Cormier and Ishii, and am curious to see if they’ll reach or exceed the level of success of men like Lindland, Hendo and Couture.
JZ – get well and come back quick.
Question, primarily for our resident Strikeforce Alliance expert fr702:
Is World Victory Road co-promoting or otherwise cooperating and/or working with the Strikeforce Alliance?
Just curious…
UFC 108 main event, Anderson Silva and maybe Frank Mir?
Tangetially, I was talking to a manager over at Caesar’s sportsbook, and I not so subtly mentioned how “perfect” a fit the Palace Fighting Championship promotion would be for Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas…
Tho WVR and Strikeforce have in the past lent out their fighters to each other, unlike the deal that is in place with FEG (DREAM and K~1), WVR and Strikeforce are not “co promoting”! Also just a reminder that the beloved M~1 Global only co promotes with Strikeforce on the cards that Fedor fights on which to this date has been exactly 0 F~Finkledinkle and such I can’t wait til Strikeforce comes back to my hometown should be a blast!
@ Jcohl
Based on the statistics non of the Judoka Olympic medalist did really well in MMA, but let’s hope that Sotosho Ishii can change the stats.
I guess this what we all shell do !
Blame Fedor on anybody who has injury and blame the Spider for any other reason when fight is cancelled
its rumored gsp will be headlining 108, against who? depends alot on 103 and when swick fights. if kampmann and/or swick lose dont be shocked when anderson-gsp is announced. the januarary event in 2009 was gsp-bj, and dana has been very vocal about wanting to set up the gsp-anderson fight, espically now that anderson wants to “retire” when his contract is up in 3 fights.
On that subject, I’m not sure how much I buy into Anderson Silva’s “retirement” rap…
Glad to hear faber has been cleared. Hope he doesn’t return to prematurely and f’up his career like some athletes do.
anderson wants to retire from the ufc to fight RJJ and a possible career in pro boxing, not to mention he would like to fight fedor according to some websites.
I mean really? You guys somehow managed to turn this into an Anderson Silva discussion?
Looks that way might need to change this site to anderson silvafrenzy.
REALLY, Justin ya welcome back
Thanks, mate.