UFC 102 Confirmed For August 29th, U.S. vs. Brazil?
May 31st, 2009
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Archive for May, 2009
The Answer: Shogun’s Title Shot
May 31st, 2009
I know that I am not the only one that wonders how Shogun earned a title shot in the deepest division in the sport. Mauricio Shogun Rua was once a superstar across the pond, but has hardly been but a shell of that fighter. This is my attempt at making sense of the Shogun title [...]
‘Such Great Heights’ documents intense build up and emotional aftermath of UFC 87
May 31st, 2009
As we earlier reported last week, former number one UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch will be the focus of an upcoming documentary dubbed, “Such Great Heights.”
The film follows the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) product during his training and preparation leading up to the Georges St. Pierre title fight at UFC 87: “Seek and Destroy” in August 2008. Viewers can expect to see Fitch’s life inside and outside of the cage, leading up to and in the aftermath of UFC 87.
Produced by Flying Penguin pictures, the film was conceived by Philip Frank, along with producer Jesse Osher and director Jonah Tulis. While no official release date has been set for “Such Great Heights,” the producers are working to finalize the film in time for several film festivals this summer and ready for wider release by fall 2009.
During an exclusive conversation with MMAmania, we asked Philip Frank how the idea for the film came about and why they selected Fitch as their subject matter.
“At the time, we already had the topic and a premise for the movie, (but) we didn’t have a fighter yet. We were looking around. At the time I lived in the Bay area, before I relocated back to New York, and I had run into Jon Fitch at the San Jose airport — this was even before the idea (for the film) was around. And then (later), just as we were going through fighters as possible candidates, Jon came to mind. I said, ‘You know, he’s local to me, he seems like he’s on the up and up, he seems like a good character and a nice guy.’ So we contacted him.”
As luck would have it, this was before Fitch’s fight with George St. Pierre was even scheduled, so the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. As the filmmakers came together to shoot in San Jose, Calif., Fitch was about to begin training for the biggest fight of his career, against arguably the most talented pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Frank, who watched the early days of the UFC before taking a break from the sport during the late ‘90s and early 2000s as he was finishing school and starting his career, admits that hardcore fans might consider him a TUFfer. Regardless, his “passion project” quickly gained legs when they started shooting. The film picks up in mid-June, with Fitch early into his 12-week-long camp.
“We picked up right at a very intense time with him. We didn’t really know what to expect, we had never been in a training camp for a title fight. So we went there in mid-June, started shooting. In the meantime, just as a producer, there’s no script for something like this. We just kind of follow some different story leads that were developing with other fighters at AKA, and it ended up just being a perfect time to be there in San Jose.”
While AKA is known for its big-name fighters like Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, Cain Velasquez and Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh “The Punk” Thomson — all of which have a presence in the film — the filmmakers chose instead to focus more on the gym’s lesser-known faces to provide extra material for the film. These include Matt Major — most known for his 2007 episode of Tapout titled “Hot Head” — middleweight Nate Moore, welterweight Pat Minihan and middleweight Nate James.
The story follows Fitch to several publicity events in the lead up to the fight, as well as to other fight cards, including smaller shoes in Fresno and San Francisco, before eventually heading to the Target Center in Minneapolis for UFC 87.
Because the film aimed to catch Fitch’s experience throughout the lead-up to the fight, the filmmakers tried to be as non-invasive as possible with respect to their presence felt at the AKA gym in San Jose, as well as backstage at UFC 87. They utilized a crew of five with just one camera to provide the bulk of the footage. The filmmakers also carried an HD handheld camera for personal use, which ended up providing additional footage used in the film.
The film intensifies naturally as it progresses, as the date for the title fight draws closer. It builds until UFC 87 and includes the aftermath from the main event.
“I really love the intensity right before the fight and the emotion right after the fight. And I think a lot of people feel the same way, because it’s pretty rare footage. It’s a pretty rare subject matter that we’re capturing.”
In the end, it’s Fitch’s strength of character that makes him such a captivating topic.
“That’s the interesting aspect of this film — you really see the human side. You develop this bond with Jon Fitch. A lot of MMA fans are going to know already what happened (at UFC 87), but because we’re appealing to such a broad audience with this film, when they see the fight and the aftermath, it’s a pretty emotional time in the movie.”
With post-production nearing completion, the producers are hoping to have the film premier at a film festival this summer, followed by other festival appearances. With any luck, it will pick up enough steam to earn a theatrical release, even if only a regional one (documentaries — even larger-budget documentaries — traditionally don’t see much theater time). The producers are also hopeful they can secure a deal with a cable network, such as HBO, Sundance or IFC, before the film heads to DVD.
Frank said that when they initially started out on the project, they felt a bit “alone in our fanhood, especially in New York” and hoped to create a better understanding of the sport of mixed martial arts. I asked Frank if he felt the goal of the film when they initially started out had been achieved, or if, as filming progressed, they discovered the momentum of the film was steering them toward a different direction.
“That’s a good question. One of the major goals we had was to bring an awareness to people of what they actually see as a sport, and to see these (fighters) for who they are. We definitely reached that goal, and I think far beyond that. I think people are really going to appreciate and love Jon Fitch as a person after this, and not just as a great fighter. So (the film itself) is a great human interest piece, as well I think a great ambassador of the sport.”
If reactions from test audiences are any indication, the film has tremendous promise for crossover appeal by opening up a lot of eyes and ears to the world of MMA. According to Frank, after several test screenings in New York, audiences — the good majority of which had never seen an MMA fight — “were blown away. They were blown away. It was a real eye-opener for them.”
One thing Frank assured us of is that this isn’t your standard MMA documentary.
“With the coaches and with Jon, this was like a seven-year journey. It was only a couple of months for us, but it seemed like this was our best friend in there putting his heart out on the line. It was really hard to watch. It was like seeing your brother go in there and fight. Just the emotion of a title fight … You’ve been with this guy, you’ve been his shadow for two months straight. So it was definitely emotional for everybody … By the time it gets to that emotional climax, people know Jon Fitch and what he’s about and who he is. If you know him personally it’s even more touching, and if you don’t it’s still going to get to you a little bit. I think that’s good. I think that’s been missing a little bit in MMA — that side of it.”
For MMA fans, it’s no secret that St. Pierre successfully defended his welterweight title by defeating Fitch via unanimous decision (the judges scored the bout 50-43, 50-44, 50-44). Despite the one-sided result, GSP called Fitch “his toughest opponent to date,” and the performance was good enough for both fighters to earn the $60,000 “Fight of the Night” honors from the UFC over such other fights from that card as Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta and Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring.
While the Web site in conjunction with the film is still being finalized, we will keep you posted when it is up and running.
Fitch is currently in the midst of yet another camp, training to take on undefeated Brazilian Paulo Thiago at UFC 100 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 11. He has won nine of 10 fights inside the Octagon since his promotional debut in 2005.
UFC Quick Quote: Ben Saunders ready to ‘whoop’ Mike Swicks ass with his ‘blades’ on June 13
May 31st, 2009
“I don’t believe his hand speed will be that big of a difference, especially with the lack of a reach advantage, which he has had in almost all his other fights. It means I can hit him without getting hit and close the distance easier than him. He needs to be worried about my blades. The clinch is only one aspect and not something I feel I have to get. People seem to think that because I used it so well in my last fight, that it’s my bread and butter. I love the clinch and feel very confident there, but it is by no means my best and only form of attack. I am a striker at heart and believe I can stand and bang with the best of them. That’s why I fight for the UFC to test myself and see where I am and where I am going. But I am evolving as a mixed martial artist, adding submissions, takedowns, ground and pound and additional striking to my game. I just keep getting better…. I need to go out there and do what I do best; go out there and whoop that ass. I love what I do and it gets me hyped up just thinking about it. I don’t have to be there, I want to be there. If he beats me, he beats me. There is nothing I can do or say to change that, but I’ll be damned if I beat myself by doubting my skills in any way. I’m confident and come June 13th, I’ll be well-prepared to take that stiff test and hopefully prove to myself and the world that I truly do belong in the UFC.”
– Ben Saunders talks to FightHype.com about his looming showdown with Mike Swick at UFC 99: “The Comeback” — another exciting welterweight fight on tap at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, on June 13. “Berserk” feels that with a win over Swick, which would be his fourth inside the Octagon, that he’d deserve to take on the top players in the division moving forward. Does Saunders have the talent and ability to challenge the best at 170 pounds or will he remain on the outside looking in? We’ll find out soon enough …
Marcus Davis: Dan Hardy is a ‘disrespectful punk’ whose face will be Swiss cheese at UFC 99
May 31st, 2009
Props: UFC.com
Quoteworthy:
“‘Hate’ is a very powerful word, I know…. But I hate my opponent at UFC 99. I hate Dan Hardy. I really can’t stand this guy and I am counting down to days to June 13, to the Lanxess Arena in when I can smash this kid in the mouth. I want to punch holes in this guy’s face. Hardy has gone so far beyond what is professional. This is more than another fight in the UFC for me, more than getting a win and working towards getting a title shot. This is war…. I’ve only met him maybe three times…. On none of these occasions did Hardy have the guts to say anything disrespectful to my face … like the little coward he is, he’s done all his smack talk from behind his keyboard like a 14 year old living in his mom’s basement…. Hardy, you disrespectful punk, all this crap you’ve been talking hasn’t had the affect you wanted it to. I’m not going into this fight all crazy, swinging wild to give you any kind of chance you know you’ll need to have a prayer of beating me. The only other person I genuinely hated going into a fight was Jess Liaudin, who talked a lot of crap before our fight at UFC 80. And he got knocked stone cold for his disrespect and wasn’t heard from again. All this BS has done has put pressure on you to back up all this talk. You keep saying you are having fun talking all this crap, but your fun time ends in two weeks.”
Marcus Davis rips his upcoming opponent at UFC 99: “The Comeback,” Dan Hardy, prior to their welterweight “war” at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, on June 13. “The Irish Hand Grenade” and “The Outlaw” have duked it out via verbal fisticuffs before the fight was even booked. Now the heat appears to have reached a crescendo, with Hardy intimating that Davis is exploiting his Irish heritage and it’s just a gimmick. Davis also wasn’t too fond of a RomoShop contest that Hardy apparently coordinated a month or two ago. So is this beef legit or will the pair hug it out and down a few pints at the pub on fight night?
Soukoudjou on Overkill
May 31st, 2009
For those who didn’t see Sokoudjou’s win over Jan Nortje in the opening round of the Dream Superhulk tournament, he got a little out of hand. Unfortunately for Sokoudjou, the strikes get a lot more attention then holding a choke for a bit too long (a la Babalu), and it was just a matter of [...]
The Sunday Junkie: May 31 edition
May 31st, 2009
My how quickly things can change.
Despite UFC President Dana White's claim that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would get the first crack at new champ Lyoto Machida, the quickly evolving light-heavyweight title picture was a major focus of this week's edition of The Sunday Junkie.
Our weekly reader-feedback feature received several concerns that a potential bout between Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was less-than-ideal, but many believe Jackson may have turned down the bout for all the right reasons. In fact, our winner, "Iceman22" believes Jackson may be the smartest man in MMA.
UFC 102 confirmed for Aug. 29; ticket information released, venue not announced
May 31st, 2009
The UFC has officially announced an Aug. 29 date in ticketing information for UFC 102, though the venue has yet to be officially confirmed.
Presale tickets for UFC Fight Club members are on sale June 18, UFC Newsletter tickets are available June 19 and the public on-sale date is June 20.
UFC 102 is expected to take place at the 20,000-seat Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
Strikeforce’s Scott Smith preparing for stand-up battle with Nick Diaz on June 6
May 31st, 2009
All apologies to former NBA great Dominique Wilkins, but Strikeforce middleweight Scott Smith (16-5) is quickly becoming the modern-day "Human Highlight Film."
From the UFC to EliteXC and now Strikeforce, Smith has sacrificed his personal well-being in an effort to entertain.
And if Smith holds true to recent claims, his June 6 bout with Nick Diaz (19-7) at "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields" in St. Louis won't be any different.
2009 UFC Fan Expo shaping up with training sessions, autograph participants announced
May 31st, 2009
The UFC's first-ever Fan Expo, held on July 10 and 11 at the Mandalay Bay Covention Center in Las Vegas in conjunction with the historic UFC 100 event, is beginning to shape up with several recent announcements.
With more details to come, training sessions with Wanderlei Silva, Urijah Faber, Mark DellaGrotte and Eddie Bravo, as well as autograph sessions with several UFC fighters and personalities have been announced.
Tickets for all events are on sale now.