02/22/2012
Red Bull Teka KTM factory motocross rider Steffi Laier "Ready to Race" in 2011
When Steffi Laier, Red Bull Teka KTM factory rider and two-time Women's MX World Champion takes to the track in the pre-season MX races in Valence, France, this weekend it will be her first competitive ride for 2011. Steffi has been training hard on the bike since mid December and in Valence tests herself against a field of male riders.
At the French pre-season special, she faces off with a strong lineup of riders including those from the Nestaan JM Racing KTM squad led by Joel Roelants, Yentel Martens and young talents like 125 European champion Jordi Tixier of France and Austrian Pascal Rauchenecker. Also in the field are other KTM riders like British rider Nathan Parker (PROPPA-COM KTM and French riders Loïc Leonce (B G R KTM) and Loïc Larrieu (WOLFF KTM). But these and other top riders hold no fear for Steffi who his very well known for her toughness, skill and courage when attacking any MX track.
Mark Foo Skip Frye Donavon Frankenreiter Jim Fuller George Freeth Abel Gomes
Jon Jones confirms that Greg Jackson will corner him against Rashad Evans at UFC 145
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The UFC Light Heavyweight Champion revealed on Saturday that Jackson has told him he will be in his corner at UFC 145 for the fight. Jackson's hardline stance against it had wavered recently, and he will now help Jones prepare for a fighter he's very familiar with.
Jackson has been very vocal in not wanting to see teammates fight, and indeed in another fight coming later this year in Carlos Condit vs. Georges St-Pierre he's said he'll stay on the sidelines. His main focus when cornering a fighter is to strategize for a specific opponent, and work individually with that fighter on things that need to be done to implement a certain gameplan.
Because of the relationship Jackson had with both Jones and Evans he didn't want to help one side over the other, but with Evans splitting from the camp and having less than kind things to say about them overall in the last year, Jackson has decided it's in his best interest to help Jones. Whether that leads to a bigger advantage for Jones or not remains to be seen, but it's certainly another added wrinkle to the split between the two sides, and the heated rivalry that will play out on April 21.
Penick's Analysis: I think a lot of people believed this would end up being the case. As Jones and Evans are no longer being teammates, and with Evans having no desire to return to Jackson's, the issues Jackson had with the situation aren't as prevalent. Evans already believes Jackson sided with Jones over him, and with Jones still working there it's better for him to help a fighter that's still with him over someone that won't be coming back. Now, for all that Evans knows about Jones, Jackson's got plenty of knowledge about what Evans brings to the table as well, and that could be another advantage for Jones over Evans. Will it be a fight-changing advantage? Perhaps, but even if it's not it is something more that Evans has to concern himself with.
[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12543.shtml
Ken Bradshaw Bruce Brown Taj Burrow Alan Byrne Holly Beck Jeff Clark
02/21/2012
Jon Jones misses his friendship with Rashad Evans
Since Rashad Evans and Jon Jones stopped being training partners last year, the two have spewed nothing but vitriol at each other. But as UFC 144 and their title bout nears, Jones talked about how he misses their friendship with the Score in Chicago.
"We trained together and we had good times, but this competition has come between our friendship, which sucks," Jones told host Laurence Holmes. "I do miss being friends with the guy. But it's business, and he's coming after my championship. I've gotta do what I've gotta do. It might be a little awkward punching him in the face, but I'm sure the first time he swings at me, it will get reactionary."
Though fighters quite often forget their pre-fight squabbles after bouts, Jones says a renewed friendship is unlikely. He just wants respect between the two.
"I'd like to get to a point of being cordial, but to be friends again is not necessary. There's thousands of wonderful people in the world I can meet. After all that's been said, we can just live our lives. Respect is all that's necessary for me."
Hoping for respect between the two didn't prevent Jones from taking a few digs at Evans and how he performed in his win over Phil Davis.
"I don't know if it's because of changing camps, but his body looked a little softer. He couldn't finish Phil Davis, a guy who is pretty much a rookie. [Ed. note -- Davis has 10 fights.] I got even more motivated to out-train him."
Jones thinks that if the same Evans who fought Davis shows up in Atlanta in April for their bout, it will be another title defense.
"Rashad's been in the game for almost 10 years now [Ed. note -- Eight years], and he didn't really show why he's the No. 2 ranked athlete. We didn't see any legit boxing combinations, no kicking, no powerful double-leg dives. He was really just out there existing. If that's the same fighter who comes out when we fight, easier day for me."
Joel Parkinson Stacey Peralta Mike Parsons Michael Peterson John Philbin Bob Pike
Fighter misses out on UFC debut with ankle issue: Sean Loeffler suffers injury in warm ups
What a bummer for Sean Loeffler. The 29-year-old was set to make his debut at UFC on Fuel TV 1, but apparently injured himself just before the fight.
MMAjunkie reported that Loeffler's opponent Buddy Roberts, also making his debut, was paid his win and show money. Loeffler was also paid his show money. That's a great gesture for two guys who were minutes away from laying it on the line.
Mike Diffenderfer Shane Dorian Mike Doyle Michael Eppelstun Drew Edwards Mick Fanning
02/20/2012
Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks on tap for UFC on Fox in May
When Johny Hendricks knocked out Jon Fitch in 12 seconds at UFC 141, he showed he was ready to be put in the elite of the UFC's welterweight division. Now, he'll have another shot at one of the division's best. UFC president Dana White announced on Sunday Hendricks will take on Josh Koschek at the UFC's May card on Fox.
Koscheck's last two bouts were a tight split decision over Mike Pierce at UFC 143 and a knockout of Matt Hughes at UFC 135. Before that, he lost a championship bout to Georges St. Pierre.
Hendricks is riding a three-fight win streak, with the KO over Fitch, a TKO over T.J. Waldburger, and a split decision over Pierce. His last loss was a decision to Rick Story in December of 2010.
This is also a bout that will make college wrestling fans happy. Two former Division I champions will meet in the Octagon for the first time. Koscheck was a national champ and four-time All-American for Edinboro, while Hendricks won two national championships and four All-America honors for Oklahoma State.
Keith Malloy Wayne Miyata Sofia Mulanovich Pauline Menczer Jessi Miley Dyer Mickey Munoz
02/19/2012
02/18/2012
R4TC: 2010 Ride for the Cure at Cahuilla Motocross Park
I haven't hit the track much in 2010, but knowing that the 4th Annual Motocross Ride for the Cure Event was coming, I dusted off the KTM, dropped it off at Malcolm Motorsports for some fine tuning, hit Milestone Motocross Track for a handful of warm ups and I was ready to enjoy the funnest event of the year hosted by motocross enthusiast herself, Laurie Carey, who is constantly raising the bar for fundraising, support, education and interaction for Breast Cancer Awareness!
The morning started off amazing, perfect day to moto! The sky's were bright blue and littered with dark fluffy rain clouds! Dropping rain in perfect track watering patterns, the day was in full swing and the pits were packed! Tons of Factory support lined up for the event, they even had a never ending Freestyle show in the works! Mike Metzger, the God Father of FMX was doing his thing and dozens of other talented riders busting out tricks for the fans.
I pretty much settled into a pack rat of MXGirls, WMA Pro Rider Elizabeth Bash, Race Techs Michelle Marshall, and Mission Motorsports Brooklyn McClendon. We had a blast mixing it up on the main and vet tracks, sporting our decorated "Ride for the Cure" Bra's and having a blast spinning laps, saving boobies!
In the end I was amazed at the growth this event has accumulated over the years, by far the most impressive outcome I've seen. I'm looking forward to next year's event, but more importantly, it's touching to see all the work Laurie Carey puts into the Support and Awareness of Breast Cancer.
{yoogallery src=[/images/stories/features/2010/photo-feature-mxrideforcure] width=[120] height=[100] load_lightbox=[1] thumb=[default]}
Source: http://www.supercross.com/mxgirls-blog/r4tc-2010-ride-for-the-cure-at-cahuilla-motocross-park
Joyce Hoffman Ollney K Hooopai Jr Mike Hynson Andy Irons Bruce Irons Duke Paoa Kahanamoku
You tell us: How should the UFC handle the Condit-Diaz-GSP mess?
The Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz controversy continues unabated. In the latest bit of news, the on-again, off-again rematch again appears to be off, and speculation has begun as to the reasons why.
If the UFC doesn't get Condit-Diaz 2, it has to go back to the drawing board and figure out which direction to take the top of the welterweight division for the remainder of 2012.
The company also has a habit of making matches Internet fans want when they make enough noise. So here's your chance to play matchmaker. Vote in our poll and tell us which big fight you want to see next at 170 pounds.
Hold off for Georges St-Pierre vs. Condit: This was, after all, what was promised to begin with.
Don't give up on making Condit-Diaz 2 happen; have the winner fight GSP: The first fight was close and there's a lot of fan interest, so go for it.
Strip GSP of the title and let him fight Diaz: If Diaz is the fight St-Pierre really wants, let him have it, but don't hold up the rest of the welterweight division to do it.
Have Condit defend interim belt against someone else while GSP recuperates: Condit has already defeated Diaz and St-Pierre will be out awhile, so have Condit defend against another top welterweight contender.
Enough with all the Condit-Diaz-GSP talk: For those who would rather talk about anything else at this point.
{ysp:live-poll poll_id="64442"/}
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/tell-us-ufc-handle-condit-diaz-gsp-mess-181827757.html
Joel Parkinson Stacey Peralta Mike Parsons Michael Peterson John Philbin Bob Pike
AMADI: The UFC on Fuel TV is good for the future of the sport
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The near billion dollars that Fox paid for the right to air UFC programming over the next seven years is great by MMA standards, but nothing special by professional sports standards. More importantly for MMA fans, it isn't enough money for the UFC to even consider abandoning the pay-per-view model that currently accounts for the vast majority of their revenue.
The UFC's performance on major network television is obviously important, but the branding of the Fuel network is just as important. The UFC's presence on each of the Fox platforms is an opportunity for them to demonstrate their value and command significantly more money on their next television deal.
Performing well on Fox is one thing, but actually building a network from the ground up is quite another. People like to imagine that the UFC built Spike, but the fact is they didn't; professional wrestling did. However, the UFC has an opportunity to do it for real with Fuel, and MMA fans should be encouraged to make this a reality.
The fact is all mixed martial arts fans dream of a world without pay-per-view for ourselves, our children and our children's children. We would all like to be able to sit back and consume MMA in the same way that we do other major sports; and deep down, the UFC probably would like to be able to put cards together without doing a hard sell for every event.
Normally, I would say that MMA fans shouldn't be bothered with the UFC's finances or what would make things easier for them, but the long term future of the sport depends on the UFC's success on the entire Fox family of networks, and that includes Fuel.
So for the good of the sport, invest in the Fuel network; or at the very least, don't wish death upon it.
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @JasonAmadi and direct your "Ask the Torch" questions to mmatorch@gmail.com
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/amadis_take/article_12501.shtml
Benson Ong Phyllis ODonnell Margo Oberg Jamie OBrien Chris ORourke Jack ONeill
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