Green-Tarver weigh in ahead of World Title fight



Antonio Tarver weighed in first at 89.7kg (197.75 lbs), under the Cruiserweight limit of 200lbs (90.71kg).

Talk before the weigh in was that Tarver would not make the weigh and would have to return later this evening to make the weight, but this talk was quickly shown to be false, and alleged as “mind games” from the Danny Green camp.

Tarver when questioned on the pre weigh in talk,called it mind games and said it didn't faze him one bit, as “I am always one step ahead. I am a professional and it is my responsibility as a fighter to make the weight and I am ready to fight”.

Tarver went on to discuss the great Roy Jones and stated that Roy Jones has had two careers.

“One before me and one after me. And it’s the same for Danny Green. You will remember Danny having two careers, one before me and one after me”

Danny Green weighed in next, weighing in at 90.25kg (198.96 lbs).

Green labelled Tarver as “confident, and a smart guy”, and spoke about the foxing the Tarver team had done all camp.

“I do my talking in the ring and just want to thank everyone for coming out today and all my supporters”.

Green closed with a suggestion that Tarver should buy a box of the Pain and Arthritis relief cream, “Pain away”, a company part owned by Green’s trainer, Angelo Hyder.

“ He’ll be needing it come fight night” said Green.

The fighters than went into the customary faceoff, which was full of intensity and both men, had to be separated by their respective trainers, only increasing anticipation for the fight tomorrow evening.

By Adam Santarossa

Danny Green- Antonio Tarver: The fight to silence the doubters

The lure of the Danny Green v Antonio Tarver, IBO Cruiserweight World Title fight, is that you simply don’t know what you are going to get.

Antonio Tarver could well be another Roy Jones.

A man who came to Australia, a shell of a fighter he once was, with plenty of hype and all the bells and whistles, only to be destroyed by the hungrier Green in 180 seconds.

Tarver is a man who has fought only twice since 2008 and has never fought as a Cruiserweight.

In his most recent fight, in October of last year, against the unimpressive Nagy Aguilera (16-6-0) Tarver looked sluggish and uncomfortable fighting at Heavyweight, despite winning a ten round decision.

His two previous fights were consecutive losses to Chad Dawson, and given the ease at which Dawson won each fight on the scorecards, it gave many critics the ammunition to consider Tarver no longer “elite”.

Tarver comes to Australia, almost three years after the fact to prove those critics wrong.

Some have questioned the reason a man, crowned the best Light-Heavyweight of the past decade who has been largely inactive and seen more action as a HBO commentator than in the ring in the past few years, has for stepping back in the oldest proving ground in the world.

It’s clear like Roy Jones; the name “Tarver” is no longer considered “Money” back home in the States.

Tarver says he is here for the Cruiserweight title, a title he has never held, and a line borrowed from Green’s previous victim, Roy Jones.

But the mind does wonder.

Tarver will command an alleged guaranteed fee of $1.3 million dollars, for taking this fight.

 Its $1.3 million reasons why you just don’t know what to expect.

Is this one final pay day or does Tarver mean business.

The fight has been met with some pessimism following the last big name boxer to come to Australian shores.

Roy Jones collected his $3 million guaranteed money upfront, and we all saw what happened in that fight.

The problem with guaranteed money is simple. Why get beat on for twelve rounds, when you can make the same money fighting one. When the going gets tough and the fight becomes a war, is the fight that is needed to win such a battle still existent in Tarver.

This fight was meant to happen two years ago, but Tarver wouldn’t put pen to paper.

The big question is what has changed in those two years.

What’s driving Tarver now?

But questioning a man’s heart is a dangerous business in the fight game.

There is no reminder needed that Tarver was the first man to knock out Roy Jones, who then in his prime was considered untouchable.

Tarver not only achieved that, but in doing so unified the Light-Heavyweight division.

You also need no reminder of Tarver- “The Olympian”, Tarver- “The Magic Man”, and the man that fought his way out of poverty to an eventual place in the Hall of Fame.

If it’s his desire to once again become a world champion and reign in a division he has never before, then we may yet see a war between “The Green Machine” and “The Magic Man”.

But if it is like Jones, a sight of easy money and a sunny holiday, then who knows?

Tarver is certainly dangerous; a man with his record and legacy doesn’t need to be talked up too much.

He is a boxer, who has the silky skills but who can also flick the switch.

His biggest asset against Green is that he is a southpaw.

Danny Green has previously shown a weakness, like many fighters to a Southpaw.

Markus Beyer was one who completely outboxed Danny Green in their second encounter.

But in saying that, the Danny Green we see today is very different from the Danny Green of years past.

Once a come forward fighter with a ton of heart, Green showed in his past fight against the then undefeated, BJ Flores, that he is a smarter fighter, by not engaging with the bigger man, by executing a superb game plan of being elusive and fighting at a distance.

Green won comfortably on all cards, and opened the eyes of many.

The talk emanating from the Tarver camp is that Green is simply a come forward fighter and fought a “primitive style”.

These are words that I’m sure will be music to the Green camps ears.

Danny Green has just looked better and better with age.

But Green also brings some intriguing questions to the table.

Just how much of an effect has surgery earlier this year to remove his appendix had on the 39 year old.

Just what tole has the surgery and the loss of 10kg, in the process had on Green’s body?

Could this be the final time, we see Green in the ring?

At today’s final press conference, it was clear the fight had an extra feel.

Tarver’s words had finally gotten Green to respond.

“The American’s have sometimes been referred to as ‘septic tanks’ and the reason for that is that nothing but crap comes from their mouths”, Green boomed.

Cleary aggrieved with the Tarver camp’s talk of Green using illegal hand wraps in his fight with Jones.

It’s an issue, that was shown to have no foundation, and if anything an orchestrated move by Jones, to retain his jeopardised fight with Bernard Hopkins.

It’s an issue that clearly has infuriated Green. The repercussions of which will only be seen on fight night.

Tarver was as ever at his confident best, full of swagger and full of confidence.

“I feel they picked the wrong guy. They thought I was old, slow, 42 year old guy that would be showing up Wednesday night”.

“But that’s not the case. You’ve got a hungry, determined assassin”.

It’s an intriguing battle that raises many questions that until the two combatants meet can only leave everyone guessing.

PREDICTION- GREEN by late round stoppage

Exclusive interview with Billy "The Kid" Dib- "This is It"



Billy “The Kid” Dib fights for the IBF Featherweight World Title at the Sydney Olympic Park State Sports Centre on July 29^th against Mexican challenger, Jorge Lacierva.

Billy took time out of his hectic training schedule to sit down and discuss the fight and the career of Billy “The Kid” in an exclusive interview with Adam Santarossa.

Billy we are only a few weeks away from the fight, how are preparations going?

I’m in camp at the moment in preparation for this fight and I am leaving no stone unturned. I have a great trainer in Billy Hussein and some great sparring partners in Paul “Two Guns” Fleming, Joel Brunker and Daniel Iannazzo helping me out. Preparation has been fantastic so far and it’s only getting better.

This fight is two and a half years in the making, your career hit somewhat of a crossroad following the Steven Leuavano fight , which was for the WBO Featherweight title, there was much criticism from your performance, I know the HBO commentators were quite critical, what was the fallout like from that?

At the end of the day, it was a fight in which I was in it, but I didn’t do enough to win it. Steven Leuvano was the champion and in order to beat the champion you have to go over there and wrestle the title away from him. It was a bit of a lacklustre performance from me, but if you look at the scorecards it was close and I didn’t even try to win the fight. After the fight I did cop a bit of criticism, which is accepted, I accept criticism, that’s fine because what it has done is helped me rebound and become a much better fighter, and now I’ve legitimately worked my way up the ladder without the help of Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya pushing me in the ratings and I’ve just worked really hard with my trainer Billy Hussein, my strength and conditioning coach and my family to secure this position. After the fight we had an agreement with Golden Boy Promotions to walk away from the contract and do my own thing back home , and they wanted me to get back home, rebuild and they have really helped put this fight together, with the help of Michael Karagiannis my manager and Mike Altamura who is another great promoter in Australia. So the rebuilding has been done, the preparation is good and July 29^th is the date I’m going to be world champion.

Part of that rebuilding phase was linking with Billy Hussein, just how different is your work with Billy than with your previous trainers?

Billy Hussein is a technician and that is something that I lacked a little bit in my game was a little bit of technician work, I was more of what you call a spoiler, who kind of came from different angles and things like that but Billy Hussein has really settled me down and made me a much stronger fighter and a much more complete fighter. Now I put a lot of pressure on my opponents and I try to take their heart away in the fight.

You haven’t sat on your hands in the last two and a half years, you have certainly kept yourself busy, you’ve chased fights, and you have been chasing Chris John for a while. Obviously I’m sure you’re not looking past this fight, but is he someone still in your sights?

Look after this fight gets done, and I win this fight, god willing. after that we are going to sit down and talk to the team and I’m sure we are going to see Chris Johns team come out and offer to try and unify the titles and if it makes sense to the team and makes sense to my manager, then we will go ahead and do that, but I’m in no rush to call out names or anything like that, I am just fully focused on Jorge Lacierva, July 29^th and just winning the title and making my family and all my supporters proud.

Do you think sometimes people forget that you are only 25 years old?

Yes, sometimes I forget I am 25 years old. If you look back at Anthony Mundine’s great career he turned professional at 25, and I’m 25 now and just about to fight for a world title. 25 and still have another ten years  in this game I believe, I’m a clean living person and I’m 100% focused on the sport , and it’s a sport that I love and I realise that this is a sport that if you do not give 100%, it can be nasty. So until that day I will continue to box and another ten years reigning as a world champion, god willing, is what I want to see.

You’ve had a pretty good career. You’re a former IBO Super Featherweight World Champion; you have fought in Vegas, Madison Square Garden and Atlantic City already. Whatas the biggest lesson you have learnt so far?

The biggest lesson I have learnt is I was so caught up in the hype before; I was caught up in the hype of being with the superstars and everything like that. Now I have settled down and realised at the end of the day , no one in the sport of boxing is going to be able to help you unless you help yourself , and I became reliant on those guys like Shane Mosley and Oscar and that but now I’m fully reliant on my trainer and my manager and I fully rely on my own skills and I know that there is a motto in boxing that “skills pay the bills” and that’s what I 100% work on, basically staying focused on what I’m doing  and not worrying on what’s going on around me.

Turning our focus to the fight, how much do you know about your opponent Jorge Lacierva?

Jorge Lacierva has had a tremendous career. He has suffered a few defeats, but if you look closely at his record, out of his first ten professional fights, he lost four. Since then he has only lost three, and he has gone on to have something like 52 professional fights now, and I know he has 39 victories, 6 draws and 7 losses. In the last five years he has only suffered two losses  and they were at the hands of Celestino Cabellero, who has been a multiple world champion and Cruz Carbajal , who again has been a world champion, so this guy has been battle tested, he’s a tough Mexican and I know they come to fight and this is a guy coming here realising, you know that he is 32 years of age and this will be his last shot at glory but unfortunately he is coming to our country and he is coming into a fight with a kid who is hungry and determined to come good on the promise.

Do you think you’re fighting for respects on July 29, given you were originally meant to fight Mickey Garcia however he passed on the fight? Do you consider that disrespectful?

At the end of the day, to me, no that was his decision because he was offered a TV deal by HBO. He wanted the fight to go ahead with me on June 4^th, which wasn’t going to be fair, and wasn’t going to be enough time for the both of us to prepare. I mean he was already preparing for a fight trying to get me to fight on July 4. I said no, forget about it we will just go to purse bid and whoever wins the purse bid wins the rights to stage the fight, but they said no they couldn’t wait and they wanted to take that date on HBO. We made a clear decision that we were going to go ahead to the purse bid, his management decided to pull him out of the fight and we gave them our word that once we win this world title, and everything goes well, then we are happy to give Mickey Garcia an opportunity.

So I’m not fighting for respect, I’m fighting for my dream, this is my dream and I’m fighting for everything I stand for and focusing on living my dream and making sure it comes to fruition.

I know your very active in social media on facebook and twitter, how can the fans get in touch with you online?

Yes, I put all these videos up, I stay active on twitter and facebook to keep the fans updated because without the fans this couldn’t be possible, without you guys getting down to the venues and supporting us fighters then we wouldn’t be able to make a living. The guys can catch me @billydib on Twitter and you can catch me as “Billy Dib” on Facebook and the “Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib” fan page, any questions the fans may have I am happy to answer. I am always on there and I dedicate an hour every night to answer all the fans questions.

The final question though Billy- Why will you win the World Title on July 29^th?

Why will I win the fight? Because I’m hungry, I’m determined, it’s been a long time coming and I have to come good on the promise. The prophecy has been that I was going to be champion of the world and I have to come good on that. I’m 100% focused and doing everything I can in training camp. This is the first time I’ve gone away on a training camp for a fight, I am leaving no stone unturned.

So if you want to come out there, July 29^th and watch me become world champion and I promise you on July 29^th, I am leaving with that belt!

Billy “The Kid” Dib vs. Jorge Lacierva for the IBF Featherweight World Title

July 29^th at the Sydney Olympic Park State Sports Centre, Homebush.

Tickets can be purchased from http://www.ticketdirect.com.au/

Klitschko-Haye Preview: The Heavyweight Superfight the world is waiting for



Finally Boxing is dragging itself off the canvas, and leading the way is the Heavyweight division.

This Sunday, we will witness a genuine heavyweight superfight, when Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye finally meet.

Sundays fight is almost two years in the making, and will unify the heavyweight division, with Klitschko defending his IBF, WBO and IBO World Heavyweight Titles and Haye defending his WBA Heavyweight Title.

The only remaining belt is in the possession of Wladimir's brother, Vitali, who fights Tomasz Adamek in September for the WBC Heavyweight Title.

If Haye is victorious in Hamburg on Sunday, there’s a slight chance Vitali might be next.

But that’s only one intriguing aspect to this highly anticipated encounter.

The critics all say David Haye may have finally bitten off more than he can chew.

They say Klitschko has been undefeated since 2004.

So too has David Haye.

They say Wladimir's height and reach advantage will prove insurmountable.

Yet the critics said the same about the very man, Haye dethroned of the WBA Heavyweight Title, Nicolay Valuev.

There is no doubt though that Wladimir Klitschko AKA “Dr Steelhammer” who boasts a 55-3-0 record, with an impressive 49 knockouts, will be David Haye’s toughest ever test.

But I don’t agree with critics who say it’s a test that Haye is unable to pass.

David “Hayemaker” Haye also boast an impressive record of 25-1-0.

He is a former undisputed Cruiserweight World Champion and has never lost as a Heavyweight.

He has coveted media attention and fan adulation for his brash and outspoken antics, and up until now Haye has backed that up with antics just as impressive in the ring.

Recently Haye has knocked out Audley Harrison, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Gold medallist, who wasn’t able to throw a punch, he was convincing in his demolition of John Ruiz and showcased his boxing skills in impressive fashion against the giant, Nicolay Valuev.

 Not only did Haye impress everyone with his silky skills and fast hands, but Haye also rocked Valuev, something we hadn’t come close to seeing anyone do to the gigantic Russian before.

He destroyed Enzo Macrinelli in just two rounds, to unify the cruiserweight division when no one gave him a chance.

And Jean Marc Mormeck is still picking up his teeth from the canvas.

Haye labels Klitschko’s style as “Jab, Jab, Grab”, and whilst its true Klitschko does rely heavily on a granite like jab, Haye is more than aware of Klitschko’s power.

You do not knock out 49 of your opponents with simply a jab.

But Wladimir Klitschko’s dream of adding David Haye to the list, as his 50^th knockout victim won’t come easy.

You see, David Haye is different, as Haye says he is not “a big fat pudding” like the rest.

He has fast hands, silky skills, and great movement and can get in and out like no other Heavyweight on the scene today.

He can box you, yet he has the power to knock you out- Big-time.

There are doubts that do linger over Haye. Questions have been asked regarding Haye’s withdrawal from the scheduled 2009 fight against Wladimir Klitschko and some have even suggested Haye is only in it for one final pay day before hanging up the gloves.

Simple answer is, there are a lot easier ways to cash out of boxing than a Heavyweight unification fight on foreign soil, in Germany in a sold out 50,000 seat Imtech Arena.

But if there are doubts about Haye, there are also those regarding Wladimir.

Klitschko has not fought since September of last year, with a comfortable stoppage of a lacklustre Samuel Peter. Before then, Klitschko has had victories over the likes of Hasim Rahman, Eddie Chambers and Ruslan Chagaev, all big names in the division, just not when they fought Klitschko.

In his most recent fight with Samuel Peter, Klitschko looked tentative in going in for the kill when he was clearly making mince meat out of Peter. Against Haye, Klitschko might not have the time to mull it over.

Whilst the fight has drawn much exposure and focus back onto the sport, and more importantly the Heavyweight division there is still some doubts about the prosperity of the division that linger.

Haye has said for a long time its is his intention to retire upon his 31^st birthday this October, and if he is victorious and cannot manage to talk Vitali Klitschko out of his September fight with Tomasz Adamek, then Sundays fight will be his last.

Therefore with the Heavyweight division’s brightest star potentially heading for the exit door, there is a big chance Haye will leave the division without a champion, and its next biggest star coming off a defeat.

It hardly sends the future cash registers spinning.

Without Haye, it leaves the Klitschko brothers who have pledged to never fight one another and Adamek, who is still unproven as a Heavyweight.

So as much as the fight goes a long way to saving the division, upon its conclusion the fight may have brought the Heavyweight scene to a bleak outlook.

But there’s no doubt the hype that surrounds this fight is unlike something we have seen for a long time.

Haye’s best chance is to mirror the game plan he used so effectively against Valuev.

Haye needs to use his agility and mobility to get inside Klitschko’s jab and make him pay.

Haye needs to fight at a high tempo, and dictate the pace of the fight and make Klitschko uncomfortable. Haye is better prepared for a high intensity twelve round fight given Klitschko is the bigger body, and isn’t as agile as Haye. Haye needs to start with a high work rate and go to the body early.

You factor in Klitschko’s recent injury concerns and potential element of ring rust, then in my eyes the upper hand goes to Haye.

The talk in the lead up to the fight has been all about the hatred that both have for one another, and that given the personal nature of the fight, both would be seeking a knockout.

But in my opinion I would suggest Haye does not listen to those wanting a slugfest.

His best bet is to use his hand speed and skills to pick Klitschko apart.

Haye will be hoping that Klitschko does come to knock him out, and therefore by coming to fight, does away with the rigid robotic style that has made him so effective in recent years, but also so hard to break down.

Haye has purposely made things personal in order to lure Klitschko away from his iron guard, yet question remains whether Klitschko is naive enough to prove Haye plan was successful.

Haye has been on the campaign trail hurling insults at both the Klitschko’s wanting the fight, from t-shirts showing Haye holding the decapitated heads of the Klitschko brothers, to crashing Klitschko media conferences and poking fun at the brothers poor command of English and the fact that they have some resemblance to Kazakhstan’s greatest asset Borat.

Haye has shown he is not all talk, by taking the fight in Germany, with the fight taking place in Hamburg at a sold out 50,000 seat capacity Imtech Arena.

As most fight fans know, Germany is not the easiest place to go for a fighter, particularly in a close fight, but given the spectacle and world interest, you would think nothing untoward would be going down Sunday.

The fact that the four biggest names in the division in the moment are all European shows how far the Heavyweight division has declined in America.

It’s hard to see where the next White hope is coming from.

This Sunday, we will find out just who is the biggest and baddest in the division.

Given the fight takes place in Germany, it means a 4am start time for us Australians, but given it has been almost ten years since a Heavyweight Superlight of this scale, this one is certainly one not to miss.

If Haye fights in a similar manner to the way he captured the title of Nicolay Valuev then it will be British smiles in Germany once again.

Prediction- HAYE by UD or Late Round Stoppage



Exclusive interview with George Sotiropoulos ahead of UFC 132



The worst thing about being a fighter is that there are no second chances.

 A loss is forever engraved on your record. No ounce of blood, pain or hard work can wipe it away. George Sotiropoulos’ last bout was a loss he wasn’t meant to have. UFC 132 gives him another shot.

The weeks and months following a fight are the worst.

Days go by where you replay the fight over and over in your head, critiquing every punch, every round, every move, remembering the moments that ultimately cost you in the end.

What hurts the most is that you can’t do anything about it.

You have all the answers now, but you didn’t have them when you needed them the most.

George Sotiropoulos is a man wishing he could have his time over. He’d love to right the wrongs and eradicate his latest loss from his record.

The best solution for any fighter is simply to get in there and do it all over again.

That exactly what George Sotiropoulos has wasted little time doing.

There’s that old saying in the fight game: “You’re only as good as your last fight”.

 It is a saying that doesn’t do Sotiropoulos justice.

His last fight, against Denis Siver at UFC 127 in Sydney, was his first loss since 2006, and first since entering the UFC.

Prior to his fight with Siver, he was seemingly just a win or two away from finally securing a shot at the UFC Lightweight Title, having disposed of everyone the UFC had placed before him.

Some even argued they had made him wait too long, how he deserved a shot long ago. Long before Siver.
Yet now, after the loss, he finds himself on the outskirts of the title picture.

Sotiropoulos is fighting on the preliminary card, not even on the main card that the Pay Per View audience will see.

The move to the preliminary card would have to hurt.

It was only in his last fight that he was the brightest name on the marquee.

 He was the hometown boy fighting in front of a sold out, Acer Arena in his home of Australia.

He was the man everyone came to see.

You get the sense when interviewing him that he doesn’t like talking about the Siver fight, and that he can’t wait to get in the cage at UFC 132 and change everyone’s thinking.

Whilst he is calm and methodical in his answers, an eagerness to tear Dos Anjos apart wouldn’t surprise.
He bristles at my question on whether he would follow Kenny Florian to Featherweight if title opportunities continue to evade him.

My question isn’t a sign of disrespect or indication of where I have him in the lightweight scene, but merely something I think is a good idea for fighters to consider in avoiding the log jam to the lightweight title, given the anonyminity of the Featherweight fighters.

But he is calm, and answers my question comfortably, saying “no chance” and that such a move would be “a little extreme”.

You sense his outlook on things hasn’t changed from not being given a title shot before his loss to Siver. His outlook showed in his actions, as if saying: “They won’t give me a shot. So I’ll go through everyone they put in front of me until they do.”

A move to Featherweight or back to Welterweight is not how George Sotiropoulos operates. That would be the easy way out.

George Sotiropoulos didn’t travel around the world to learn his craft, from flat broke sleeping on floors in dubious places, to then take the shortcut to the UFC belt.

The road back to the title starts at UFC 132 against Rafael Dos Anjos.

Whilst you’re sure he is looking to the future, he is definitely not looking past Dos Anjos.

Sotiropoulos defines Dos Anjos is one word: tough.

George says of Dos Anjos: “He has got great ground skills, very good stand-up skills; I mean he is tough as hell. I don’t think his UFC record does him justice and with that being said I see it being a tough fight.
“I’ve prepared for every aspect, I’ve prepared for his stand-up, I’ve prepared for his takedowns, I’ve perfected takedowns and I’m prepared in my grappling, I really think this fight will be fought in every area, we are both well rounded, we both work well in all positions and in all ranges of the fight game and that’s where I think the fight will take place, I think it will take place everywhere.”
We have seen how timing can work for fighters in the fight game.

Shane Carwin showed it best when he stepped into a number one contenders fight against Junior Dos Santos, following Brock Lesnar’s withdrawal.

Often in the fight world, memories are short term. People remember what you have done lately, your past just makes up the numbers. “You’re only as good as your last fight”

At UFC 132, if George Sotiropoulos can shake up the lightweight division, there will be no question that he is a title contender once again.

[Full transcript of interview with George Sotiropoulos]
Adam Santarossa: George you are just about a week and a half from UFC 132, how has your training camp been in the lead up to this fight?

George Sotiropoulos(GS): – It’s fine. It’s gone really well. Obviously I have progressed really well through my training, and I’m exactly where I need to be. Honestly, it couldn’t be any better.
Leonard, my boxing coach has done a tremendous job organising everything and doing a great job with the training and I’ve had an outstanding training.

AS: You were originally meant to take on Evan Dunham but he pulled out with injury. Has his withdrawal changed anything in terms of your preparation for the fight?

GS: It didn’t change things too much. Obviously there are some subtle differences between the two fighters, but also they have some similarities in that they are both southpaw, which made things a lot easier in that the guys I was training with were southpaw.
You know, I’ve got good wrestlers training with me and good grapplers. Really good boxing, as well. So I’ve had great preparation going into this fight.

AS: There are people talking in the sport that there is an “injury crisis”, with Dunham pulling out of your fight and Jon Jones and Cain Velasquez both being injured. Is it an injury crisis or just the nature of the fight game?

GS: Definitely the nature of the fight game. An injury crisis is a little harsh. It’s like a media screaming outrage. It’s really not a crisis. There is an event on every month and sometimes there are two or three events every month.
With that being the case, obviously fighters are going to have to be active and because they’re so active, these things happen. It’s such a multi-faceted sport where we are grappling, kicking, wrestling, punching … our bodies are being worked to the limit. That’s the reason why there are injuries. But saying there are stacks of injuries is just stupid.
I mean, there are times where there are more injuries than others and that’s always going to be the case. That’s never going to change. It’s always going to be a factor in the sport.
It’s happened to me twice. I’ve had to pull out of two fights through injury, and hopefully that’s the last. If you can’t deal with the consequences of being an athlete, then don’t do it. It’s been written in history books.
If you want to go to the Olympics, you may get hurt, you may get thrown, and maybe when you get through all that, then maybe you can compete. It’s simply part of it.

AS: Your most recent fight against Denis Siver at UFC 127 in Sydney was your first loss since October 2006, and your first in the UFC (not counting The Ultimate Fighter). How has that affected things? What are you working on following that fight?

GS: In this sport, you have to work on everything, you can’t just work on one aspect at the expense of another. It doesn’t work that way. You have to have a holistic approach; you can’t work on solely just one thing. But obviously, it raised some problems and highlighted some problems and I have made adjustments in my training to address these problems.

AS: How do you see the fight with Rafael Dos Anjos going? I mean, he is coming off a loss against Clay Guide and he hasn’t fought since August of last year. What are you preparing for?

GS: Well, he’s tough. He has got great ground skills, very good stand-up skills. He is tough as hell. I don’t think his UFC record does him justice, and with that being said, I see it being a tough fight.

AS: The lightweight division is a log jam at the moment, with Maynard-Edgar, Clay Guida, and Anthony Pettis. Firstly, where do you see yourself in the division, and secondly, has Dana White given you any indication as to where you figure in title calculations?

GS: No, he hasn’t. I don’t have a personal relationship with Dana White. Obviously I see him at the events, but he is a busy man. I still see myself up there with the best of them in the division and in the sport. And the last fight, I don’t think set me too far behind or back despite the result.

AS: Kenny Florian dropped down to Featherweight, citing the long queue for the big fights in the lightweight division. Is this something you would consider, if indeed you are able to given you have fought as a Welterweight?

GS: No, that’s a little extreme. My last fight was a close fight, if you take away those two drops in the first round. I definitely won round two and round three could have gone either way, so the fight could have been a draw or split decision. And it could have gone my way.
I think it’s a little extreme to make the drop, I don’t think I could even make that weight and I wouldn’t really consider it, either.

AS: Can you give us a prediction for your fight at UFC 132. How do you see the fight going?

GS: I don’t know. I’ve prepared for every aspect, I’ve prepared for his stand-up; I’ve prepared for his takedowns; I’ve perfected takedowns; and I’m prepared in my grappling. I really think this fight will be fought in every area. We are both well rounded, we both work well in all positions, and in all ranges of the fight game. And that’s where I think the fight will take place. I think it will take place everywhere.

Thanks for your time George and all the best at UFC 132

GS: Thank you. Good talking to you.

UFC 131 preview- Opportunity Knocks

Whilst UFC 131 was dealt a major blow with the withdrawal of former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar from the main event, it has done a pretty good job of re-tuning, to give us something almost as exciting.

Shane Carwin was originally meant to fight on the undercard of UFC 131, but has found himself in the main event, with four weeks’ notice to take on Junior Dos Santos.

Opportunity in Combat Sports in sometimes all in the timing, and Carwin has found himself in the right place at the right time. Having already been in training, he was the simple choice to fill Lesnars shoes...and he fills them well.

Shane Carwin is a knockout artist, who was within a matter of seconds of adding Brock Lesnar to his list at UFC 116.

Lesnar admitted in his book, “Death Clutch” that he purposely left his guard open, as he felt Carwin was gassing himself out trying to finish the fight. Lesnar’s game plan proved spot on as he barely survived to the end of the round, before pouncing on a tired Carwin in Round 2.

Before the fight with Lesnar, Carwin had never been outside the first round, in 12 fights. That says something quite devastating as to what the man is capable of. But eventually the lack of rounds in the octagon caught up to him.

But the fighter, who arrives at UFC 131, is a very different story.

Carwin admits he addressed many aspects of his life following the Lesnar fight, in particular his lack of conditioning,diet and nutrition. As a result, Carwin comes to this weekends fight, some 25 pounds lighter, and he says, as a five round fighter.

Carwin is fighting for the first time since the Lesnar fight, and is coming off a long break where he had both back and neck surgery, ailments he says he had carried for the best part of the last three years.

With those behind him, Carwin could be anything.

He has knocked out some big names, including Frank Mir and Gabriel Gonzaga and may yet add Junior Dos Santos to that list.

With a plethora of Heavyweights on the scene, Carwin could have very nearly become irrelevant, but opportunity has knocked and he is now one fight from a title shot.

The man in his way though, is equally as devastating with his fists.

Junior Dos Santos is undefeated in the UFC and the list of names he has bulldozed on his way through would make anyone stand up and take notice.

Fabrice Werdum, Marco Filopovic, Stefan Struve, Gilbert Yvel, Gabriel Gonzaga and Roy Nelson have all fallen at the feet of Dos Santos.

For a fighter that doesn’t have the greatest command of English, who is respectful and not outspoken, and some have said not marketable, to garner the attention and admiration of the UFC brass has come in only one way...devastating victory after victory.

Junior Dos Santos had already secured a UFC Heavyweight shot at Cain Velasquez after defeating Roy Nelson in a number 1 contenders match. However, injury to Velasquez threw a spanner in the works, and the UFC have decided to make Dos Santos earn the title one more time.

Originally the target was Lesnar, but due a re-occurrence of his Diverticulitis, Carwin is now in his sights.

Carwin is probably a harder fight in my opinion that Lesnar. Lesnar is more agile and athletic for a big man, but Carwin striking is so much better than Lesnar. If he can match his striking with an engine that goes the distance, then Dos Santos may just be cursing his damn luck come Sunday.

Dos Santos, has already said he is going to test Carwin’s cardio. Dos Santos believes you can’t improve cardio in the gym. It has to come in the cage, under match conditions.

In a fight with Dos Santos and Lesnar, I would put my money on Dos Santos. Lesnar is still very raw, and Velasquez highlighted this immensely in their fight.

Carwin has more experience and will prove tougher for Dos Santos than Lesnar , but Dos Santos like Velasquez is redefining the heavyweight division. Both guys have the power to end fights, but they are extremely mobile and have multiple skills they can use in the Octagon.

UFC Heavyweights are no longer those with the hardest heads and hardest fists, but are like Velasquez and Dos Santos, who are the complete package.

Having blown up so miserably after one round against Lesnar, it is hard to see Carwin turning around his cardio problems in one fight. Dos Santos can fight smart, at a distance and take the fight to the later rounds.

There is a saying in the fight world that you take a fighter to “deep water and see if he can swim”, and if he can’t you “drown him”.

This is exactly what Dos Santos will do to Carwin...and finally Dos Santos will get the title shot he deserves.

Well...with some better luck.

Other fights on the card see Kenny Florian taking on Diego Nunes in his first fight at Featherweight. Having not been getting the fights he wanted at 155, and sensing a logjam in the title picture ,Florian dropped down a division once the featherweights ( previously of the WEC) , were introduced into the UFC, with a view of attaining a title shot quicker by being the most known figure in a division not familiar with the UFC audience.

That decision brings him face to face with Diego Nunes, in what will be a tough fight. Nunes has knockout power, with his first 11 professional fights, all but 1 ending in the first round. Strangely though Nunes hasn’t been able to transfer his knockout power into the WEC/UFC, with all his fights under the Zuffa umbrella going the distance.

Florian who is coming off knee surgery, knows the importance of a win. A loss will catastrophic, considering Florian is not getting any younger, and he is not seen as an elite name, given he has lost every time he has stepped to the highest level, losing to Gray Maynard, BJ Penn and Sean Sherk.

I have to say, I am not Florians biggest of fans, but it’s not the only reason I’m tipping Nunes in an upset.

Nunes has only one defeat to his name. He is younger, and more familiar with the weight, whilst Florian is debuting at the 145 pound limit.

A close fight, but one I see Florian losing in an upset. Look forward to seeing more of him soon on MMA Live.

Other fights on the card include-

Jon Olav Einemo vs Dave Herman- Unfortunately this fight, Einemo will go in a very heavy favourite. Originally scheduled to face Shane Carwin, Lesnar’s withdrawal threw Carwin to the main event and the UFC in a mad scramble to find an opponent, and one willing to take the fight on four weeks’ notice.

To his credit, Dave Herman has taken the challenge, but you feel the odds are too much stacked against him.

Einemo is a former, Abu Dhabi Champion, which is one of the most prestigious Jiu-Jitsu tournaments around the world. He is the only man to defeat Rodger Gracie, in this competition.

He hasn’t exactly got much of an MMA record, but what record he does have shows his first five fights, all ending in his favour via 1^st round knockout.

Dave Herman has a decent record at 22-2, he has only been to a decision once in his career, but processes no real names or high quality opponents on his record. A bit of a journey man who has fought in many promotions, he will find that the UFC is a completely different kettle of fish.

Although he is much more experienced inside the cage, I just think Einemo has the upper hand due to the late scheduling change due to Carwin entering the main event.

Demain Maia takes on Mark Munoz, which could be sleeper for fight of the night. Maia should be a name familiar with most UFC fans, though he has been in patchy form in recent times. Some good wins followed have been blighted a little with a crushing defeat to Nate Marquardt and then that debacle that was his fight against Anderson Silva in Abu Dhabi.

I expect Maia to win, but Munoz will be no pushover, who is capable if not top class, having fallen to the likes of Matt Hamill and Yushin Okami.

Both men are not in the title picture, but neither was Shane Carwin a month ago.

UFC injury crisis is just the nature of the beast

The UFC has recently seen two of its most hyped cards of 2011, decimated through injury.

UFC 130 was dealt a massive blow when the much anticipated rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard was postponed due to injuries to each fighter.

UFC 131 has also seen a main event fall through, with Brock Lesnar pulling out of his fight with Junior Dos Santos due to a re-occurrence of Diverticulitis.

Add this to the fact that, UFC Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez and UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones are also on the shelf with long term injuries , it begs the question, does the increased injury toll mean anything??

Or is it simply a coincidence.

The sports of Boxing and MMA are vastly different beasts to any other, and therefore so is the training.

In AFL and Rugby League, you can simulate pressure in a controlled environment, without contact or with as little contact as possible.

In Boxing and MMA, you are not afforded such a luxury.

Sure, fighters wear headgear and wear thicker gloves, but it doesn’t stop the cuts, KOs and contusions from still happening.

Fighters can not exactly pull their punches. If you get hit in the face it still hurts and once hit in the face, that natural reaction is to simply punch back...hard.

I have seen and been in enough sparring session to know, that there is no “taking it easy”.

When training before a big fight, in any gym, there is only one gear...full throttle.

Often, sparring partners want to make a name for themselves by knocking out the champ or often the sparring partners themselves may have a fight of their own they are preparing for.

This is particularly common in MMA, where camps can have any amount of fighters appearing on multiple fight cards for multiple brands, at any given time.

Most fighters will tell you, that they never go into a fight 100% fit. Every training camp, some damage is done.

Getting hit in the face, on a daily basis for upwards of twelve weeks prior to a fight, is going to damage something.

You throw in the added training that MMA fighters have to go through, such as Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Submission and the toll on the body is enormous.

This is on top of cutting weight and conditioning the body to its peak. Eventually something is going to break.

The biggest fight in history almost was cancelled following George Foreman receiving a cut to the eye in sparring before the Rumble in the Jungle against Muhammad Ali.

The fight went on, although just, some eight weeks later.

It’s not uncommon for fighters to get injured and the latest incidents in the UFC have been highlighted just to the sheer coincidence of a few injuries happening all together.

The UFC puts on so many shows these days, has such a vast roster of fighters and is such a demanding sport that this will not be a one off.

Maynard and Edgar, it could be argued were not afforded enough time to heal from their injuries.

Before they met in their second fight, a number one contender, Anthony Pettis, was established to meet the winner. Given their fight was a draw; this delayed Pettis getting a shot and created a logjam in the division and a change of plans.

Ultimately it was decided that Pettis would wait to fight the winner, and Maynard-Edgar III would happen as soon as possible to get things rolling along again in the lightweight division.

Sure, the UFC may have pressured each to take the fight with little recovery time, but fighters can be swayed with a large purse, world titles and hype surrounding a fight such as theirs.

Neither fighter would want to sit on the sidelines whilst opportunity knocks; knowing what can happen in the fight game. One punch can change everything.

Regarding the injuries of Jones and Velasquez, whats to say they didn’t carry significant injuries into their title fights knowing that if they chose to sit it out they would rejoin the back of the queue, when both Jones and Velasquez had been fighting their way to the title for the past two years.

Brock Lesnar is experiencing that exact ordeal at the moment. He has had to have surgery for diverticulitis and will be out until 2012.

Who knows what will happen in the Heavyweight division by that time.

Sure there are pressures by the organizations, TV networks, and sponsors to fight, but the most pressure is arguably attributed by the fighter themselves.

Because at the end of the day, if you don’t fight, you don’t get paid.

And after three months of busting your ass in the gym and getting beat up, it’s going to take a lot to pull out of a fight.

There could be an argument for more stringent physical testing. Although medical testing prior to a fight is thorough, in regards to neurological testing and vision, having had to have a pre-fight medical myself, short of having a limb missing you can generally get through them with minimal fuss.

Heck, the fact that Roy Jones and Evander Holyfield still manage to pass medicals says something.

Rampage Jackson admitted after his fight with Matt Hammil, just last week that he carried a fractured hand into the fight that had been plaguing him for months. Pre-fight medical failed to pick that one up.

Finally though, another reason relating to the potential injury “crisis” could be simply the rise and rise of MMA.

More money in the sport has allowed fighters to take longer training camps, with specialist trainers to ensure their bodies are in peak condition. They have embraced sport science to ensure they can hit harder and faster, for longer.

The after effects of that are going to show somewhere.

In the fight game, sadly injuries happen.

It’s the nature of a physical sport, where the winner is usually attained from inflicting the most damage on their opponent.

So to talk of an “injury” crisis may be a little premature.

The recent injuries are simply the nature of the beast.