Chronicling my love/hate relationship with Coleman vs. Rua
The UFC 93 co-main event between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Mark Coleman was one of the sloppiest featured PPV fights I have watched in recent memory. However, despite the lack of technical prowess on display, I thoroughly enjoyed it. You might be asking how I was able to enjoy a fight as sloppy as Coleman vs. Rua II and my reason is because from a fan’s perspective, the fight took... [Read More...]
Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua to headline UFC 97 in Montreal
The UFC has decided that a light heavyweight matchup between former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell and former PRIDE standout Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will headline the promotion’s UFC 97 event tentatively scheduled for April 18 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. FiveOuncesOfPain.com learned of the news on Saturday night from a source close to the bout. UFC President... [Read More...]
Marcos “Baby” Rua expected to make MMA debut in early-2009
The Rua family has already contributed two fighters in Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Murilo “Ninja” Rua to the sport of mixed martial arts but a third Rua is now set to make his pro debut within the next several months. The Brazilian MMA website Tatame is reporting that Marcos “Baby” Rua will be entering the profession of mixed martial arts in March, if not sooner. Marcos, the 22-year old younger... [Read More...]
UFC makes nine bouts official for UFC 93
The Ultimate Fighting Championship confirmed previously reported matchups for its UFC 93 event, which is set to take place on Saturday, January 17 and emanate from the O2 Arena in Dublin, Ireland. In addition to featured matchups between light heavyweights Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Mark Coleman, fights between Denis Kang vs. Alan Belcher, Andre Gusmao... [Read More...]
Dana White says Rampage Jackson will fight despite charges
Now that Rampage has been formally charged with felony evasion, reckless driving, and driving down the wrong side of the street stemming from his police chase after the loss to Forrest Griffin last month the question has become if and when Rampage will fight again this year. According to Dana White, he’ll fight this year and it’s looking like it could be as early as November 15 according... [Read More...]
Shogun Rua expects to return in December; could face Rampage Jackson
While speaking with the Brazilian website Tatame.com, UFC light heavyweight competitor Mauricio “Shogun” Rua revealed that he’ll be returning to the Octagon in December. “I’ll be back in December,” Rua told Tatame. “They said that I might fight with Quinton Jackson, but nothing has been signed yet. They called me ad offered a fight with him and I accepted, but they... [Read More...]
Matt Lindland claims UFC contracts are illegal
Republican House of Representatives candidate and – of course – highly respected middleweight Matt Lindland believes there is something very wrong with the contracts from MMA’s top organization. The UFC contracts are illegal. Based on the Muhammad Ali (Safety) Act, you cannot be the promoter and the manager at the same time,” Lindland said, “If they are telling you who... [Read More...]
Matt Lindland wins Republican Primary
Affliction middleweight fighter Matt Lindland was victorious during Tuesday’s Republican primary for the Oregon House of Representatives in the 52nd district, according to the Oregonian. A silver medalist during the 2000 Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling, Lindland defeated Phyllis Thiemann in Oregon’s 52nd district, which entails most of the Mt. Hood area. According to KATU.com, Lindland... [Read More...]
Report: Lindland to fight Fabio Negao at July 19 Affliction show
Josh Gross, over at SI.com, is reporting that a fight between Matt Lindland and Fabio Negao is close to being a done deal for Affliction’s inaugural show on July 19: However, SI.com learned Tuesday that the leading candidate to face the gangly wrestler is Brazilian middleweight Fabio Negao, owner of an 8-3 record. Splitting his last six bouts, Negao is coming off a loss in December to Rousimar... [Read More...]
5 Oz. Exclusive Q&A: Matt Lindland talks about his political campaign; questions the direction of the IFL; and vents about the MMA media
Matt Lindland is a busy man these days. He’s a fighter; a trainer; and a promoter. And if all goes according to plan, he could become a State House Representative in Oregon. Lindland, running as a conservative republican, recently launched his campaign, which you can find out more about at MattForOregon.com. In the meantime, Lindland was kind enough to take out for an exclusive interview with... [Read More...]
Lindland announces he’s fighting for Affliction
Matt Lindland has confirmed that his next fight will be for the upstart Affliction promotion on July 19 in Dallas, Texas. Lindland made the announcement during Friday night’s telecast of SportFight XXII, which was televised on HDNet. When asked by reporter Ron Kruck about who he would be fighting, Lindland indicated that while the names of several fighters have been tossed around, an opponent... [Read More...]
Matt Lindland signs with…someone
According to MMA Weekly, Matt Lindland has signed a three fight contract with a new MMA promotion yet to be named: He dispelled rumors that he had signed with the new Dream promotion in Japan, saying, “I’ve never talked to them. I actually did sign a contract (Friday) with another company, though.” Because of the sensitive nature of the promotion he has signed with, Lindland stopped short... [Read More...]
Matt Lindland could be headed to DREAM
According to Denis Kang in an article by The Fight Network, the word making the rounds is that former UFC middleweight Matt Lindland is on the verge of signing with Japanese-based promotion DREAM, a collaboration between FEG and former staff members of PRIDE: “I want to win the grand prix,” Kang said. “Now they’ve got Akiyama, [Melvin] Manhoef, [Zelg] Galesic, [Kazushi] Sakuraba, Dong Sik Yoon... [Read More...]
Matt Lindland has not signed with HDNet Fights (updated)
I’m not precisely sure how the rumor started, but there’s been some talk on the Internet today that Matt Lindland had signed with HDNet Fights as a fighter. I was contacted by a few readers via e-mail asking me about Lindland’s status. After contacting two sources, FiveOuncesOfPain.com was informed that the rumors are not true and that Lindland has not signed with HDNet Fights, although... [Read More...]
A UFC return unlikely for Lindland
There’s a lot of speculation that Matt Lindland could be returning to the UFC in light of Kevin Iole’s recent revelation on Yahoo! that Lindland and UFC president Dana White spoke last week. Iole was quick to temper expectations but it appears others are running with the story. As much as I’d like to see it, I’m very pessimistic about Lindland returning to the UFC anytime soon,... [Read More...]
Matt Lindland and Dana White are speaking
From Yahoo! Sports: Lindland worked the corner of Chael Sonnen in Sonnen’s unsuccessful WEC middleweight title bid against Paulo Filho last week in Las Vegas. After the bout, Lindland said he’d spoken to White about returning to fight in the UFC. White said he is “not sure” of whether Lindland will return. In a text message, he wrote, “He told me he wants to come back, and I haven’t... [Read More...]
Random Rant: Leave Kevin Iole alone
Wow, what a headline, huh!? Some of the regulars at FightOpinion.com are up in arms about the following statement that appears in Kevin Iole’s latest mailbag column on Yahoo!: I don’t think the chances are good of Lindland returning to the UFC. Lindland’s not what I call an exciting fighter. I guess that’s what you happens when you’re stuck watching that pitiful Ravens... [Read More...]
Prangley confirms possible title fight with Lindland
According to Gary Herman of 15 rounds.com, Trevor Prangley commented during the Strikeforce festivities at the Playboy Mansion this past weekend that talks are in motion for him to defend his BodogFIGHT middleweight title against Matt Lindland. The match has not been signed yet and there are no indications of when or where it might take place. BodogFIGHT, which sponsored this past Saturday’s... [Read More...]
IFL News: Lindland’s Portland Wolfpack to undergo changes
FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned through unnamed sources that Matt Lindland has significant changes planned for his Portland Wolfpack IFL team in 2008. First, there is a chance that Krzysztof Soszynski from the LA Anacondas could drop down from heavyweight and represent the Wolfpack next season as their light heavyweight representative. The Anacondas are in a bit of turmoil after the IFL released their... [Read More...]
