8/1 Affliction M-1 Global "Trilogy" Press Conference Pictures

From my friends over at M-1/Afflicition, here are some pictures of the Affliction 3 press conference earlier this week.

Affliction has put on 2 of the better cards over the last couple of years in my opinion, and the 3rd is looking awesome again. The star of the show is, as usual, Fedor. But Affliction has always put other stars and talented fighters in there. This time Fedor will defend his title against Josh Barnett, and I cant think of a fight I would rather see at this point.

PPV Main Card:
Fedor Emelianenko 30-1-0 vs. 24-5-0 Josh Barnett
Renato “Babalu” Sobral 32-8-0 vs. 25-2-1 Gegard Mousasi
Victor “The Phenom” Belfort 18-8-0 vs. TBA
Tim Sylvia 24-5-0 vs. 27-10-0 Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello
Big” Ben Rothwell 30-6-0 vs. 6-0-0 Chase Gormley

The undercard will be shown on HDNet will feature these fighters:
Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki vs. Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon
Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron (17-4-0), Paul “Semtex” Daley (21-8-2), Deividas Taurosevicius (10-3-0) and Brett Cooper (9-4-0)

Tickets for Affliction M-1 “Trilogy,” will be between $50.00 and $600.00, and will go on sale June 8 at Honda Center Box Office (1.714.704.2500) and Ticketmaster.com and Ticket Master outlets (1.714.740.2000).

Some more pictures from the press conference:

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4/29 M-1 Challenge 3rd Edition Japan - Results

First off, apologies for not being able to stream the event, as I had promised. The reason, as I mentioned yesterday was the rights in a couple of countries. I was not able to set up a something to exclude those viewers from my site. I hope most fans have been able to view the event, if not it will be streaming at the M-1 site for 24 hours so the fans can watch it. On Monday 4th May they will also show the Aoki vs. Fedor fight on same site.

I was not able to see much of the event, but what I saw looked very good. A few of my friends were in the crowd and enjoyed the event. It was clear that there has been an increase in the popularity of these events.

The team from across the Pacific, USA Team West has made the headlines. Defeating the Koreans 5-0 is a very good performance.

UK Def. Japan 4-1
Over 92kg: Rob Broughton Def. Yusuke Kawaguchi by Decision
92kg: Tom Blackledge Def. Tatsuya Mizuno by rear-naked choke Round 1 3:22
84kg: Matt Thorpe Def. Yusuke Masuda by rear-naked choke Round 2 1:30
76kg: Simon Phillips Def. Hidehiko Hasegawa by KO Round 1 0:20
70kg: Luiz Andrada Def. Ian "M-16" Butlin by arm-bar Round 1 2:30

Exhibition Fight - Sambo Rule:
Shinya Aoki vs. Fedor Emelianenko no result

Superfight:
84kg: Karl "Psycho" Amoussou Def. Kazuhiro Hamanaka by KO (knee) Round 1 0:23

USA Team West Def. Korea 5-0
Over 92kg: Shane Del Rosario Def. Lee Sang Soo by KO Round 1 2:27
92kg: Raphael Davis Def. Jae Young Kim by TKO Round 2 3:45
84kg: Giva Santana Def. Min Suk Heo by arm-bar round 1 4:05
76kg: Fabio Negao Def. Myeon Ho Bae by Decision
70kg: David Jansen Def. Nam Yuichul by Decision

Spain Def. France 3-2
Over 92kg: Rogent Lloret Def. Soufian Elgarne by katagatame Round 1 2:44
92kg: Christian M'Pumbu Def. Enoc Solves by arm-bar Round 1 4:59
84kg: Christophe Daffreville Def. Rayco Zebenzui Romero Silva by rear-naked choke Round 1 2:48
76kg: Abner Lloveras Def. Gael Grimaud by Decision
70kg: Jose Luiz Zapater Aguirre Def. Maktar Gueye by DQ

Opening Fights:
70kg: Kosuto Umeda Def. Muneyuki Sato by Decision 3-0
65kg: Tomoaki Ueyama Def. Yu Hosokawa by TKO Round 1 2:56

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4/29 M-1 Challenge - Press Conference Pictures

Some bad news in front of the big event tomorrow, due to rights in some countries I wont be able to stream the event. I would have to block users in these locations and I am not a computer wiz, so I had to pass on this one. There will be streams available though.

You can try this site: M-1 Global
I have been told that there should be a stream there.

The stream should start (at the above mentioned sites) at these times:
Amsterdam: 9:00AM
St Petersburg : 11:00AM
Helsinki: 10:00AM
London: 8:00AM
Japan: 4:00PM

Anyway, here are some pictures from the press conference earlier today. There were lots of big names in attendance and this should be a very good event for the fans that are able to get tickets.

All pictures are courtesy of M-1 Global.

All the fighters with Affliction's Tom Atencio and M-1 Global's Vadim Finkelstein


Tom Atencio


Joe Kelly, M-1 Global event manager


Fedor and Aoki will get a lot of the attention, even if its just an exhibition fight.






Fedor Emelianenko and Vadim Finkelstein


Fedor


Tom Atencio and Shinya Aoki


Group Picture


Team Japan


Team UK


Team Korea


Team USA West


Team France


Team Spain


Karl Amoussou and Kazuhiro Hamanaka


Kazuhiro Hamanaka


Karl Amoussou

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4/29 M-1 Challenge 3rd Edition Japan - Fight Order

Wednesday is the big day. M-1 Challenge will stream here, from Differ Ariake in Tokyo and it is a very good card!

Even though it is just an exhibition fight, the fight between Fedor and Aoki is getting the attention here. It has now been announced that it will be under Sambo rules.

As I said, most of the attention has gone to the exhibition fight, but there are 18 other fights on this card and there should be some very good ones! If you are in Tokyo, this is the ticket to get! If you cant make it there, I will stream the event here, starting 4PM Japan time. Just hoping the technology is with me!

Japan vs UK
19. Over 92kg: Yusuke Kawaguchi 8-0-0 vs. 8-4-1 Rob Broughton
18. 92kg: Tatsuya Mizuno 5-4-0 vs. 7-6-0 Tom Blackledge
17. 84kg: Yusuke Masuda 2-5-2 vs. 10-7-0 Matt Thorpe
16. 76kg: Hidehiko Hasegawa 16-11-5 vs. 6-2-0 Simon Phillips
15. 70kg: Luiz Andrada 8-6-3 vs. 6-7-0 Ian "M-16" Butlin

Exhibition Fight - Sambo Rule:
14. Shinya Aoki vs. Fedor Emelianenko

Superfight:
13. 84kg: Karl "Psycho" Amoussou 9-2-1 vs. 4-5-1 Kazuhiro Hamanaka

USA Team West vs Korea
12. Over 92kg: Shane Del Rosario 5-0-0 vs. 11-6-0 Lee Sang Soo
11. 92kg: Raphael Davis 5-1-0 vs 12-6-0 Jae Young Kim
10. 84kg: Giva Santana 11-1-0 vs. 4-7-0 Min Suk Heo
9. 76kg: Fabio Negao 8-4-0 vs. 7-3-0 Myeon Ho Bae
8. 70kg: David Jansen 9-0-0 vs. 8-1-0 Nam Yuichul


France vs Spain
7. Over 92kg: Soufian Elgarne vs. 5-1-0 Rogent Lloret
6. 92kg: Christian M'Pumbu 11-2-1 vs. 2-0-0 Enoc Solves
5. 84kg: Christophe Daffreville 2-3-0 vs. Rayco Zebenzui Romero Silva
4. 76kg: Gael Grimaud 4-1-0 vs. 8-1-0 Jose Beltran
3. 70kg: Maktar Gueye 4-3-0 vs. 3-2-0 Jose Luiz Zapater Aguirre

Opening Fights:
2. Kosuto Umeda 5-7-3 vs. 3-2-0 Muneyuki Sato
1. 65kg: Tomoaki Ueyama 0-3-0 vs. 2-1-0 Yu Hosokawa

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4/29 M-1 Challenge Japan - FEDOR vs. AOKI!

It is true, 2 of the biggest stars in the MMA world will get in the ring at the upcoming M-1 event in Japan. It is only an exhibition fight though, so you probably wont get to see any KOs. The rules for this exhibition fight are still not set, I would guess it will not be MMA, still its going to be fun to watch.

The best part! I am planning to stream this live here. That means you wont have any excuses not to watch!

It is going to be a very good event, even without 2 of the best fighters getting in the ring to entertain the crowd.

Also note that Riki Fukuda's replacement is Yusuke Masuda (who must have lost some weight if it is correct).

Added:
Exhibition Fight: Shinya Aoki vs. Fedor Emelianenko

Previously Announced:
Japan vs UK
70kg: Luiz Andrada 8-6-3 vs. 6-7-0 Ian "M-16" Butlin
76kg: Hidehiko Hasegawa 16-11-5 vs. 6-2-0 Simon Phillips
84kg: Yusuke Masuda 2-5-2 vs. 10-7-0 Matt Thorpe
92kg: Tatsuya Mizuno 5-4-0 vs. 7-6-0 Tom Blackledge
Over 92kg: Yusuke Kawaguchi 8-0-0 vs. 8-4-1 Rob Broughton

USA Team West vs Korea
70kg: David Jansen 9-0-0 vs. 8-1-0 Nam Yuichul
76kg: Fabio Negao 8-4-0 vs. 7-3-0 Myeon Ho Bae
84kg: Giva Santana 11-1-0 vs. 4-7-0 Min Suk Heo
92kg: Raphael Davis 5-1-0 vs 12-6-0 Jae Young Kim
Over 92kg: Shane Del Rosario 5-0-0 vs. 11-6-0 Lee Sang Soo

France vs Spain
70kg: Maktar Gueye 4-3-0 vs. 3-2-0 Jose Luiz Zapater Aguirre
76kg: Farouk Lakebir 2-3-0 vs. 8-1-0 Jose Beltran
84kg: Christophe Daffreville 2-3-0 vs. Rayco Zebenzui Romero Silva
92kg: Christian M'Pumbu 11-2-1 vs. 2-0-0 Enoc Solves
Over 92kg: Soufian Elgarne vs. 5-1-0 Rogent Lloret

Superfight:
84kg: Karl "Psycho" Amoussou 9-2-1 vs. 4-5-1 Kazuhiro Hamanaka

Opening Fights:
65kg: Tomoaki Ueyama 0-3-0 vs. 2-1-0 Yu Hosokawa
Kosuto Umeda 5-7-3 vs. 3-2-0 Muneyuki Sato

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DREAM - Planning CroCop vs. Fedor

The producers for DREAM has announced their dream for this years Dynimite show. The main event? Mirko Crocop vs. Fedor Emelianenko.

I know many people are expecting Fedor to sign with the UFC, but these negotiations have not gone well in the past. It will be interesting to see, but one thing is for sure, DREAM has thrown their name into the mix.

Source:
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/headlines/etc/20080317-00000023-spnavi_ot-fight.html

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12/31 Yarennoka - Fights Added

If you`re going to one event this year, which one would you choose?? For me, hands down, Yarennoka. Unfurtunately, I have family comittments on NYE and wont be able to go.

Yesterday 2 more fights were added, so now we have 4 fights confirmed, a list of very good fighters waiting for an opponent and of course, the rumored fighters. The fights were introduced by DEEP promotor Shigeru Saeki.

Confirmed Fights:
Shinya Aoki 11-2-0 vs. 14-1-1 J.Z. Calvan
Hayato Sakurai 30-7-2 vs. 14-8-4 Hidehiko Hasegawa
Gilbert Melendez 13-0-0 vs. 14-3-1 Mitsuhiro Ishida
Tatsuya Kawajiri 19-4-2 vs. 11-6-0 Luiz Azeredo

Confirmed Participants:
Fedor Emelianenko 26-1-0
Kazuo Misaki 18-8-2
Joachim Hansen 15-6-1
Ricardo Arona (?) 13-5-0

For the rumored participants, I have thrown in Satoru Kitaoka. Why? He was meant to participate in last year`s Pride Middleweight tournament. He was actually the only fighter officially announced. His fight in Cage Force didnt happen last weekend, meaning that he`s fit. Also, the Pancrase director, Sakamoto, has thrown its support behind this event but is yet to contirbute any fighters. My guess is that the fighter they will contribute is Kitaoka.

Possible/rumored Participants:
Aleksander Emelianenko
Roman Zentsov
Mark Hunt
Hong Man Choi
Josh Barnett
Satoru Kitaoka

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Yarennoka - UPDATE Yoshida Fighting??

Sportsnavi (kakutogi) and Fight Opinion has, in an article from 11/23, launched Hidehiko Yoshida as a possible opponent for Fedor. I would not get too "excited" about this news yet. The article merely states that Yoshida would not turn down a fight with Fedor.

There was another article yesterday (11/24) where Yoshida`s management stated that Yoshida would rather fight in Yarennoka than K-1 Dynamite. K-1 has apparently suggested that Yoshida fight Akiyama on NYE. Yoshida`s management has dismissed this suggestion based on the fact that Yoshida (currently 105 kg) is 20 kg heavier than Akiyama.

In my opinion, Yoshida`s career has been on a downward trend since 2005. Since his win against Mark Hunt, he is has a 3-4 record and his wins have not been impressive. From what I have seen on TV, he has also put on a bit of weight (some of which I am sure accounts for him being 20 kg heavier than Akiyama). He is 38 years old, and if he fights on NYE, he has not been in the ring for a year. This is not the kind of fight the fans want to see.

Keep in mind though that, M-1 is lending out Fedor for this event. I very much doubt we will see him fight a top opponent, like Randy Couture, this time.

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/headlines/etc/20071124-00000014-spnavi_ot-fight.html
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/column/200711/at00015416.html

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12/31 M-1 - Saitama Superarena - Is confirmed

M-1 has held a press conference in Tokyo today. Confirmed at the conference was that Fedor will fight on NYE. The event is supported by M-1, with the help of former Pride staff.

Fighters confirmed for the event:
Fedor Emelianenko
Joachim Hansen
Ricardo Arona (?)
Gilbert Melendez
Luiz Azeredo
Aoki Shinya
Kazuo Misaki
TatsuyaKawajiri
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai
Mitsuhiro Ishida
Hasegawa Hidehiko

The M-1 homepage also mentions Alexander Emelianenko and Roman Zentsov (No mention of Hong Man Choi).

This will without a doubt be the biggest event of the year!!!!

The event will be shown on SkyPerfect PPV.

Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.yarennoka.com/

It seems confirmed now that the opponent will be Hong Man Choi

Arona has in an interview with GracieMag.com denied that he will fight in the NYE event, some personal problems are stopping him from travel to Japan this time. However, he mentions the possiblity of fighitng in February.

Other source
http://www.mixfight.ru/news/2007/11/20/M-1Global-conference-Japan/
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/headlines/etc/20071121-00000021-spnavi-fight.html
http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3398724/
http://www.fightopinion.com/2007/11/21/nye-mma-event-in-saitama-confirmed/
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=10062
http://www.signfedor.com/

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