Date Time: 06/16/2007 noon PT/3pm ET
Event Type: PPV Live
Location: Odyssey Arena, Northern Ireland

Rich Franklin Vs. Yushin Okami
Hector Ramirez Vs. Forrest Griffin
Rory Singer Vs. Jason MacDonald
Clay Guida Vs. Tyson Griffin
Jason Tan Vs. Marcus Davis
Eddie Sanchez Vs. Colin Robinson
Scott Smith Vs. Ed Herman
Dustin Hazelett Vs. Stevie Lynch

Main, undercard, un-aired not specified yet.

Date Time: 06/16/2007 noon PT/3pm ET
Event Type: PPV Live
Location: Odyssey Arena, Northern Ireland

Rich Franklin Vs. Yushin Okami
Hector Ramirez Vs. Forrest Griffin
Rory Singer Vs. Jason MacDonald
Clay Guida Vs. Tyson Griffin
Jason Tan Vs. Marcus Davis
Eddie Sanchez Vs. Colin Robinson
Scott Smith Vs. Ed Herman
Dustin Hazelett Vs. Stevie Lynch

Main, undercard, un-aired not specified yet.

Still trying to figure out who UFC thinks really wants to pay the $40 to watch this.
:5headache

Who knows? The only person I like is MacDonald...didn't he lose to Rich frankling like two months ago????!?! I think the top names should be fighting more often. Didn't sanchez get crushed by Cro Cop. I believe he was the guy literally running away in the fight.

Yeah, like you wouldn't run away from Cro Cop.

Nope. I'd take my hit and fall down like Peter 'Hurricane' McNeely.

"Oops, did I get KTFO?" Oh well, can I have my check?

UFC funnyman Griffin wonders about the strength of his chin as he gets set to rumble with Hector (Sick Dog) Ramirez

UPDATED: 2007-06-09 02:46:31 MST
By JOSE RODRIGUEZ

Getting a straight answer from Ultimate Fighting Championship funnyman Forrest Griffin can be as draining as three rounds in the cage with Randy Couture.

But going into his fight against Hector (Sick Dog) Ramirez at UFC 72, the 205-pounder admits since his knockout at the fists of Keith (Dean of Mean) Jardine, he's questioning his ability to take a punch.

"I learned maybe I don't have the chin I thought I did and maybe I need to re-evaluate my game plan for this sort of thing," said Griffin, who has a record of 13-4.

"I mean he hit a little harder than I thought he did and my chin wasn't as good as I thought it was.

"I've been knocked out a bunch -- like out cold ... but I've never been kind of like -- where my body wasn't doing what I told it to and I didn't really know how to react to that."

But in true Griffin form, there weren't too many questions the Georgia native took seriously during a press conference hyping the June 16 card in Belfast, N. Ireland.

Asked about his health, Griffin responded: "It's horrible. I've got Herpes. I've got Hepatitis. I've got all kinds of nasty (crap). But, as long as the blood tests work out ..."

And Griffin is not impressed with having to cross the Atlantic to fight.

"Man, I don't like traveling for vacation let alone for work," he said.

"You know? I moved out in Vegas so I could fight here in Vegas. I hate traveling. I can't pack right."

Griffin is coming into the fight favoured to win but he knows he'll have his work cut out for him against Ramirez, an East L.A. construction worker with heavy fists and a 6-2-1 record.

" I was kind of thinking about maybe (defending against) punches a little bit," said Griffin.

"That seems like a good idea"

FIGHT NOTES

- Chuck Liddell may no longer be light-heavyweight champ but he remains king of publicity for the UFC. He appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman this past Thursday and explained his recent loss to Quinton (Rampage) Jackson came because he threw a wild punch that left him exposed -- against the advice of his trainer. Liddell also said his sport is safer than boxing and avenging the loss to Jackson is high on his priority list.

For his part, Letterman admitted to watching UFC and said it's made him think twice about flipping off drivers during his commute in case one may be a fighter.

- UFC light heavyweight champ Quinton (Rampage) Jackson told CBS in Los Angeles this week his first title defence against Dan Henderson will take place at UFC 75 in London, England. Also expected to be on the Sept. 8 card are Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic, Michael Bisping and Italy's Alessio Sakara.

- EliteXC will host its Strikeforce middleweight championship card June 22 in San Jose, Calif. The fight league held a press conference this week with its featured fighters for the card -- MMA legend Frank Shamrock and the foul-mouthed Phil (The New York Bad Ass) Baroni. It was a heated affair -- most of it not fit for a family newspaper -- but here are some highlights:

Baroni: "(Shamrock's) a punk. He's a scum bag. He's a fraud. He's an ###hole. "

Shamrock: "I am a professional fighter. Phil is a professional idiot."

Should be an interesting fight.

- There's no shortage of the great unwashed lining up to take shots at mixed martial arts. This week, a writer for the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan took it a step further and insulted you -- fans of the sport.

Here's what he said.

Here's what UFC fans have in common: A. They're mostly Neanderthal males hiding in caves. B. They're not nearly sophisticated enough to appreciate the sweet science of boxing. C. They still think the Flintstones is a documentary.

Here's a simple suggestion for those who don't like MMA: Change the channel.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/OtherSports/2007/06/09/4247139-sun.html

I think I've read some of Jose's articles before, but that last part is great!

Still trying to figure out who UFC thinks really wants to pay the $40 to watch this.
:5headache
I think it was originally supposed to be free, but due to a miscommunication with spike, that fell through so the fallback was PPV. Nonetheless, it should have been like 20$ at most. Personally I'm just going to rely on bittorrent, if that.

Brian Vanochten (the GR Press writer):

http://www.mlive.com/images/sports/col_brian_vanochten.gif

Link to full article: UFC a real low point in tv (http://www.mlive.com/grandrapids/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1180961716147840.xml&coll=6)

With a comb-over like that...you really shouldn't be drawing attention to yourself.

I have an MA in philosphy and linguistics from Boston College and have been training in MT and BJJ on and off for 5 years. I work for a very successful Downtown company. He is going to call me a 'knucklehead'? Can't email from work, but I think I will when I get home.

bvanochten@grpress.com

No time for comedy routines, Canadian UFC fighter looks to get back on track

Neil Davidson, Canadian Press
Published: Thursday, June 14, 2007

BELFAST (CP) - Canadian Jason MacDonald was all business at the pre-fight news conference Thursday for UFC 72. His opponent, Rory Singer, treated it like open mic night at a comedy club.

Singer, a graduate of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality TV show, pulled out a piece of paper when his turn came to talk to the media at a downtown hotel. He suggested the six-foot-three, 185-pound MacDonald build up his "skinny legs" and think about trying out for a male dance troupe - because "he's a handsome man, he's quite sinewy."

The American then took a verbal jab at the Canadian mixed martial arts fighter, whose nicknames include TUF Killer after beating "The Ultimate Fighter" alumni Ed Herman and Chris Leben.

"After I beat Jason MacDonald, I do believe he should change his nickname to 'I fought and beat two guys from The Ultimate Fighter and then Rory Singer kicked my ass' MacDonald," Singer said.

While Singer was attempting to show off his quirky sense of humour, it might not have been the best approach to soften up a tattooed former prison guard with a taste for Harley-Davidsons and a nasty jiu-jitsu game. But it appears the chatty Singer comes by his nickname Outburst honestly.

MacDonald took the high road when it was his turn to talk.

"He's bang on on a couple of things," said the native of Red Deer, Alta., by way of New Glasgow, N.S. "I do have skinny legs and I am pretty handsome."

But in an interview later, MacDonald wondered about the "comedy act."

"The joke's going to be on him Saturday night," he said dryly.

The MacDonald-Singer matchup is on the undercard of the Rich Franklin-Yushin Okami middleweight bout. The co-main event sees light-heavyweight Forrest Griffin tackle Hector (Sick Dog) Ramirez.

MacDonald (19-8) is coming off a loss to Franklin at UFC 68 and sees punishing Singer as a way of getting back on track. Franklin represented a step up in class for MacDonald and the former champion was in a feisty mood in his comeback fight since losing his title to Anderson Silva at UFC 64. MacDonald's corner ended up throwing in the towel after the second round.

"There's no use for me to dwell on it. It is what it is," MacDonald said. "I used it as a good gauge of where I'm at and what I need to work on."

He says he has found positives out of the Franklin loss.

"After you've been in the Octagon looking across at Rich Franklin, I'm definitely going into this one with some confidence and looking to get back on that winning track."

MacDonald, 32, also recognizes that losing to an elite 185-pounder like Franklin, who has won 23 of 25 fights, is not going to set his career back. "But a loss to Rory Singer certainly would.

"So I want to go out there and make this a decisive fight and show everybody that I belong in the top of this middleweight division."

Singer (12-7) is coming off a submission loss to Okami at UFC 66 after wins over fellow Ultimate Fighter grads Josh Haynes and Ross Pointon.

He calls MacDonald a tough, quality fighter. But the praise ends soon after that.

"I think he's good, I don't think he's exceptional. If he was exceptional, he would have beaten Rich but he didn't."

"Personally I don't think Jason MacDonald is a contender," he added. "I don't mean that in any disrespect. I respect him as a fighter but I think he was given that opportunity maybe a little too soon."

Singer rates his standup game better than the Canadian and says the rest of his arsenal matches MacDonald's.

The 31-year-old was involved in MMA well before Season 3 of "The Ultimate Fighter," with 13 fights under his belt before he walked in front of the cameras. He had actually been called to fight in the UFC before the show, but felt the timing as a late injury replacement was not right.

"I have to dispel the myths that I'm only there because of that show," Singer said, "I had done some good things before I got there."

He had also hit the books, collecting a degree in biological engineering and starting nursing studies before taking time off to appear on "The Ultimate Fighter."

Singer started with martial arts at age 11 and turned to MMA while studying at the University of Georgia, making his amateur and pro debuts in 2001. Griffin slept in his living room for a time while training with Singer.

Today, Singer and his brother Adam run The Hardcore gym in Athens, Ga., with some 100 students from kids to pro fighters including Carmelo Marerro (UFC) and Brian Bowles (WEC).

The Belfast card follows on the heels of April's UFC 70 in Manchester, England. UFC 75 is slated for London on Sept. 8.

http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=81e2ec44-86d9-4346-bfc5-6615a0383ea7&k=1868

This is one of Neil Davidson's better articles, I'm glad to view his continued improvement in writing.

With a comb-over like that...you really shouldn't be drawing attention to yourself.

I have an MA in philosphy and linguistics from Boston College and have been training in MT and BJJ on and off for 5 years. I work for a very successful Downtown company. He is going to call me a 'knucklehead'? Can't email from work, but I think I will when I get home.

bvanochten@grpress.com

Love how he gives a nod to "traditional" sports (baseball, etc.), created in the last 150ish years, compared to watching people beat each other up, which has existed for thousands of years.

Combat Sport > guy hitting ball with stick/throwing ball in hole/running with ball/driving really fast in circles for hours.

...and his combover is truly crappulent.

Also, me am college gradumate in phlisofy too, like mma.




I think it was originally supposed to be free, but due to a miscommunication with spike, that fell through so the fallback was PPV. Nonetheless, it should have been like 20$ at most. Personally I'm just going to rely on bittorrent, if that.

daliymotion ftw.

Still trying to figure out who UFC thinks really wants to pay the $40 to watch this.
:5headache

I'm paying £60 or around $120 to see it live.

With a comb-over like that...you really shouldn't be drawing attention to yourself.

I have an MA in philosphy and linguistics from Boston College and have been training in MT and BJJ on and off for 5 years. I work for a very successful Downtown company. He is going to call me a 'knucklehead'? Can't email from work, but I think I will when I get home.

bvanochten@grpress.com

Starting a PhD myself. This guy needs to spend less time on his combover and more time learning about the sport.

Is there a way to watch the unaired fights, without actually going to the fight?

Putting money on both Okami and Ramirez. Payoff is good and I have always thought the Franklin was a joke. Plus I am posting because I hate that, "Hi Sancho, it seems you haven't posted on our forums in several weeks" Banner.

I can't help it if I lurk. You guys scare me.

Still trying to figure out who UFC thinks really wants to pay the $40 to watch this.
:5headache

I am, but then again my coach is fighting on the main card. Also, I think Franklin/Okami and Griffin/Ramirez are going to be fantastic fights. I don't need a championship to make a good card. There have been plenty of championship fights that have sucked.