MM-Eh! News and Notes from Canada
Andy Cotterill May 15, 2007
Sherdog.com's weekly look at mixed martial arts with a Canadian
perspective focuses on what's next for Georges St. Pierre
(Pictures), highlights some match-ups from
UGC 18, catches up with Antonio Carvalho (Pictures), and peers into Western Canada's
MMA scene.
St. Pierre to meet Koscheck at UFC 74
Well it looks like the speculation over whether or not these two
will meet has finally been answered. From Josh Koscheck (Pictures)'s official website:
Well as of now, it looking like Kos is set to be fighting in AUG at UFC 74 and it's looking like we will be taking on Georges St. Pierre (Pictures). We have the contract and will be sending it back this week to the UFC! More updates to come in the next couple of days!
Winning this fight will be crucial for each fighter at this stage of their careers. If Koscheck wins, it would be crazy to think that he wouldn't be next in line for a title shot. If St. Pierre doesn't win, that only means that his road to redemption will be much longer than anyone expected.
UGC 18
Kingston, Ontario resident Scott Arnold goes into this weekend's match against UFC veteran Patrick Smith at UGC 18 with more than a little confidence.
Arnold told MM-Eh! that he weighed a scant 200 pounds when his manager Ali Nestor Charles came to him with the offer to meet the much more experienced Smith at heavyweight.
"I jumped at the chance," said Arnold, who admitted that although Smith is a very dangerous and skilled striker "cardio might be a factor, but I don't think this fight will go out of the first round."
The 31-year-old member of Gladiator MMA explained that his last two opponents backed out so he's very excited for this fight, and very ready. Arnold stated that his stand-up is his big strength, but he considers himself to be very well rounded.
Also on this UGC card will be Arnold's Gladiator teammate Cory MacDonald (Pictures) defending his UGC welterweight title against Daniel Grandmaison (Pictures). MacDonald also holds the ECC welterweight belt.
The anticipated bout between Fritz Paul (Pictures) and Travis Axworthy (Pictures) was called off when Paul withdrew. Not one to cry over spilled milk, Axworthy's camp told MM-Eh! that they secured Travis another match. He'll be fighting Jonathan Goulet (Pictures) June 1 at TKO 29 in Montreal.
Carvalho in SHOOTO
In a match that has hardcore fans salivating, Toronto native Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) will attempt to avenge fellow Canadian Mark Hominick (Pictures) this weekend, when he'll meet Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) in Korakuen Hall.
Two of the better 143-pound fighters in Shooto, the winner of this match will likely get the opportunity for a title shot against champion Takeshi Inoue (Pictures). Carvalho has already faced "Lion Takeshi" on two other occasions, with each fighter claiming one win. The last time they met was last summer, with Inoue's hand raised from a TKO victory.
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Shah Franco, Carvalho has spent the past several months living and training in Japan and, he said, "For the first time in my life, it will only take me 20 minutes to get to the venue. No jet lag this time."
It's ironic that the Japanese Hioki is better known than Carvalho in Canada, due to his two well-publicized victories over Mark Hominick (Pictures) in TKO. Regardless of the outcome, this should be an incredible fight.
Rumble In The Cage
RITC has revealed that they have matched the Canadian Martial Arts Centre's Dan Chambers (Pictures), against BTT Canada's Nabil Khatib (Pictures), June 9 in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Both fighters are tough as nails with a lot of heart, so this should also be a great fight to watch.
MFC 12 Updates
It's to be expected that fight cards change in the months leading up to an event. Fighters get injured, medicals are failed, any number of things can happen.
Roger Hollett (Pictures) had originally been scheduled to fight Jason Day, then it was Floyd Sword, and now it is Tom Lawlor. Not much is known about Lawlor at this point, other than that he comes from the acclaimed ATT in Coconut Creek, Fla.
The MFC has revealed another exciting match-up, that of Fabio Holanda (Pictures) versus Shaun Krysa (Pictures). This pairing was originally set to happen in Halifax at ECC 4, but Holanda withdrew on short notice and Krysa ended up meeting and defeating a game Marc-Andre Joly.
St. Pierre to meet Koscheck at UFC 74
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Well as of now, it looking like Kos is set to be fighting in AUG at UFC 74 and it's looking like we will be taking on Georges St. Pierre (Pictures). We have the contract and will be sending it back this week to the UFC! More updates to come in the next couple of days!
This pairing has been rumored since UFC president Dana White made a
comment that it was "likely" they'd meet, prompting several news
outlets to take that as meaning it was confirmed.
Winning this fight will be crucial for each fighter at this stage of their careers. If Koscheck wins, it would be crazy to think that he wouldn't be next in line for a title shot. If St. Pierre doesn't win, that only means that his road to redemption will be much longer than anyone expected.
UGC 18
Kingston, Ontario resident Scott Arnold goes into this weekend's match against UFC veteran Patrick Smith at UGC 18 with more than a little confidence.
Arnold told MM-Eh! that he weighed a scant 200 pounds when his manager Ali Nestor Charles came to him with the offer to meet the much more experienced Smith at heavyweight.
"I jumped at the chance," said Arnold, who admitted that although Smith is a very dangerous and skilled striker "cardio might be a factor, but I don't think this fight will go out of the first round."
The 31-year-old member of Gladiator MMA explained that his last two opponents backed out so he's very excited for this fight, and very ready. Arnold stated that his stand-up is his big strength, but he considers himself to be very well rounded.
Also on this UGC card will be Arnold's Gladiator teammate Cory MacDonald (Pictures) defending his UGC welterweight title against Daniel Grandmaison (Pictures). MacDonald also holds the ECC welterweight belt.
The anticipated bout between Fritz Paul (Pictures) and Travis Axworthy (Pictures) was called off when Paul withdrew. Not one to cry over spilled milk, Axworthy's camp told MM-Eh! that they secured Travis another match. He'll be fighting Jonathan Goulet (Pictures) June 1 at TKO 29 in Montreal.
Carvalho in SHOOTO
In a match that has hardcore fans salivating, Toronto native Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) will attempt to avenge fellow Canadian Mark Hominick (Pictures) this weekend, when he'll meet Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) in Korakuen Hall.
Two of the better 143-pound fighters in Shooto, the winner of this match will likely get the opportunity for a title shot against champion Takeshi Inoue (Pictures). Carvalho has already faced "Lion Takeshi" on two other occasions, with each fighter claiming one win. The last time they met was last summer, with Inoue's hand raised from a TKO victory.
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Shah Franco, Carvalho has spent the past several months living and training in Japan and, he said, "For the first time in my life, it will only take me 20 minutes to get to the venue. No jet lag this time."
It's ironic that the Japanese Hioki is better known than Carvalho in Canada, due to his two well-publicized victories over Mark Hominick (Pictures) in TKO. Regardless of the outcome, this should be an incredible fight.
Rumble In The Cage
RITC has revealed that they have matched the Canadian Martial Arts Centre's Dan Chambers (Pictures), against BTT Canada's Nabil Khatib (Pictures), June 9 in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Both fighters are tough as nails with a lot of heart, so this should also be a great fight to watch.
MFC 12 Updates
It's to be expected that fight cards change in the months leading up to an event. Fighters get injured, medicals are failed, any number of things can happen.
Roger Hollett (Pictures) had originally been scheduled to fight Jason Day, then it was Floyd Sword, and now it is Tom Lawlor. Not much is known about Lawlor at this point, other than that he comes from the acclaimed ATT in Coconut Creek, Fla.
The MFC has revealed another exciting match-up, that of Fabio Holanda (Pictures) versus Shaun Krysa (Pictures). This pairing was originally set to happen in Halifax at ECC 4, but Holanda withdrew on short notice and Krysa ended up meeting and defeating a game Marc-Andre Joly.
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