The Weekly Wrap: May 2 – May 8

Odds and Ends

With an eye toward the future, Sengoku officials announced they are planning a reality series called “Gold Rush” that will air during its weekly television program, “Sengoku Gold,” on the TV Tokyo network. Sengoku representative Takahiro Kokuho said the show will have a tournament format and feature four to five fighters in the 132-, 142- and 154-pound weight classes, along with behind-the-scenes footage. The finals of “Gold Rush,” which begins taping in an empty arena next month, will take place Aug. 2 at Sengoku “Ninth Battle.”

Several fighters who lost fights at UFC 97 on April 18 have been cut, according to several reports. Jason MacDonald was released after his emphatic TKO loss to Nate Quarry; David Loiseau, who returned to the UFC after a two-year absence, was cut after his decision loss to Ed Herman; Ryo Chonan was cut after his loss to T.J. Grant; and Vinny Magalhaes, a finalist on “The Ultimate Fighter 8,” was released after his loss to Eliot Marshall.

Pioneering MMA fighter Don Frye made a successful 2009 debut, as he defeated judo champion Rich Moss via rear-naked choke at Shark Fights 4 on May 2 in Lubbock, Texas. Frye was coming off a kneebar submission loss to Ikuhisa Minowa in August. In other notable outcomes, heavyweight prospect and former NFL player Rex Richards suffered his second career loss to Darill Schnoover. The unbeaten Schnoover scored a fourth-round TKO in a fight to crown a Texas heavyweight champion.

As part of the UFC 100 celebration, the UFC will induct two new members into its hall of fame on July 10 at an expo in Las Vegas. The two inductees, whose names have not been disclosed, will join Ken Shamrock, Royce Gracie, Dan Severn, Randy Couture and Mark Coleman in the hall.