SamCaplan's stuff

Lineup for IFL's May 16 show at the Mohegan Sun

SamCaplan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:35:01 PDT

The card for the IFL's next show on May 16 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. is starting to take shape. The show will feature three title matches as well as best-of-three camp vs....

Report: Mark Hominick could fight for Affliction

SamCaplan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:20:45 PDT

Former UFC and WEC competitor Mark "The Machine" Hominick is the latest fighter rumored to be attached to a tentative July 19 card in Dallas, Texas to be promoted in large part by...

Complete card for UFC 83 this Saturday

SamCaplan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:53:13 PDT

Here is the complete card for this Saturday's UFC 83 show at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. Main card (PPV telecast): Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre for Serra's UFC...

Results from Combat in the Cage's "11th Strike"

SamCaplan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:38:49 PDT

Results from WKA sanctioned Combat in the Cage '11th Strike.' What: Combat in the Cage When: Saturday, April 12,2008 Where: Newark, Delaware Results:...

Press Release: EliteXC announces the re-signing of Kimbo Slice, Robbie Lawler, and Gina Carano

SamCaplan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:16:00 PDT

Below is a press release issued by EliteXC on Monday.... LOS ANGELES (April 14, 2008) – Fans can continue to expect to see mixed martial arts standouts and fan favorites...

Report: Krzysztof Soszynski being considered for TUF 8

SamCaplan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:03:31 PDT

Casting arrangements for the eighth season of "The Ultimate Fighter" are currently underway. An open casting call was held in Boston last Thursday with several hundred hopefuls showing...

IFL's Tim Kennedy on TV tonight

SamCaplan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:50:48 PDT

I justed wanted to pass along this FYI; IFL middleweight Tim Kennedy will appear on tonight's (10 p.m. ET/PT) premiere episode of "T.O.P. Army Fighter" on the Military Channel. ...

Analyzing MMA's free agency landscape

SamCaplan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:45:00 PDT

My latest article for CBSSports.com, entitled, "MMA Musical Chairs," is now available for viewing. With so much upheaval within the MMA scene, I decided to give my thoughts on whom I...

McCarthy says he's going to choke out Bisping

SamCaplan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:42:38 PDT

"Chainsaw" Charles McCarthy, a.k.a Capt. Miserable, recently conducted an interview with CBSSports.com's Denny Burkholder. During the course of the interview, McCarthy makes...

Updated tentative card for UFC 85 on June 7

SamCaplan — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:16:02 PDT

Here is the updated tentative card for UFC 85 on June 7 in London, England at the O2 Arena: Main Card - Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum...

Updated tentative card for WEC on June 1

SamCaplan — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:09:01 PDT

The current tentative lineup for the WEC's next show on June 1 in Sacramento, Calif. is as follows: Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver for the WEC featherweight title Miguel Torres vs....

YAMMA Pit Fighting planning second show in June

SamCaplan — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:02:45 PDT

During Friday's pay-per-view broadcast of the inaugural show for YAMMA Pit Fighting, it was revealed that the upstart promotion plans to promote its second-ever show this coming June. A...

UFC releases Jake O'Brien

SamCaplan — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:57:09 PDT

The UFC has released heavyweight competitor Jake O'Brien, according to a report by MMAjunkie.com. O'Brien returned to the Octagon at UFC 82 this past March after a year long layoff...

New article discusses pro sports fatalities

SamCaplan — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:08:33 PDT

In the wake of the ruling on the death of Texas-based mixed martial artist Sammy Vasquez's death, PunchDrunkGamer.com writer Justin Bolduc wrote a very interesting article detailing...

Hermes Franca wants a match with B.J. Penn

SamCaplan — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:01:49 PDT

In a new interview with PunchDrunkGamer.com, free agent fighter Hermes Franca not only expressed an interest in a rematch with former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, but also a fight against...

Report: Griffin vs. Aurelio at UFC 86

SamCaplan — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:52:15 PDT

A lightweight match between Tyson Griffin and Marcus Aurelio has been scheduled for UFC 86, according to MMAWeekly.com. UFC 86 will take place on July 5 in Las Vegas and will be headlined by...

YAMMA Pit Fighting: Quick Results from 4/11 debut

SamCaplan — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:55:23 PDT

Heavyweight Quarterfinals: Alexey Oleinik def. Sherman Pendergarst, sub (choke), Rd1 (4:18) Chris Tuscherer def. Tony Sylvester, decision Travis Wiuff def. Marcelo Pereira, decision Ricco...

Frank Edgar staying at lightweight

SamCaplan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:52:26 PDT

UFC lightweight Frank Edgar has no immediate plans to drop to 145 lbs. following an upset loss to Gray Maynard at UFC Fight 13 earlier this month. During the loss, the first of Edgar's...

Support local MMA in Delaware

SamCaplan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:39:00 PDT

Ed Hsu's Combat in the Cage will be returning to Newark, Delaware on Saturday, April 12 (tomorrow). The card has been finalized and is as follows: Bout 1: Bantamweight-3x3 Kyle Jacoby...

Instant classic Phil Baroni interview

SamCaplan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:24:03 PDT

Our good friend from MMARated.com, Ariel Helwani, conducted a very entertaining interview with Phil Baroni that I recommend you check out. Baroni always gives a great interview, but he...

Terry Martin to make pro boxing debut tonight

SamCaplan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:16:14 PDT

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, former UFC middleweight fighter Terry Martin will make his professional boxing debut tonight. Martin was let go from his UFC contract after losing two...

Sam Vasquez's cause of death revealed

SamCaplan — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 10:33:00 PDT

Houston-based MMA fighter Sam Vasquez died from a severe brain injury, the Harris County Medical Examiner's office has ruled. The report comes from Steve Sievert's Brawl Sports Blog...

Report: Rollins vs. Saunders likely for UFC 86

SamCaplan — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 10:22:18 PDT

A lightweight clash between veterans from the sixth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Ben Saunders and Jared Rollins, is in the process of being finalized for the undercard of UFC 86 on...

Crunkilton to face Cerrone at next WEC event

SamCaplan — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 10:17:43 PDT

Rich "Cleat" Crunkilton is scheduled to return to the WEC's Octagon on June 1 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif. Crunkilton's opponent will be Donald...

Nate Diaz says Tyson Griffin doesn't want to fight him

SamCaplan — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 18:12:30 PDT

Following Nate Diaz's win over Kurt Pellegrino at last Wednesday's UFC Fight Night 13, the season five winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" issued a challenge of sorts to former...

Terry Etim vs. Rob Emerson set for UFC 84

SamCaplan — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:10:38 PDT

According to the events page on UFC.com, a lightweight match between Terry Etim and Rob Emerson has been added to the undercard of UFC 84. UFC 84 is scheduled to be headlined by B.J. Penn...

Kendall Grove vs. Evan Tanner in June?

SamCaplan — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 14:38:46 PDT

According to the official website for UFC middleweight fighter Kendall Grove, Grove's next bout is set to take place during the live finale for season seven on "The Ultimate...

ShoXC Preview featuring Hamman vs. Suganuma

SamCaplan — Sat, 5 Apr 2008 14:08:00 PDT

Tonight's ShoXC is the third live MMA show to air on cable this week in four days. That's a lot of MMA in just one week but this is a good enough card to warrant your attention. I...

Fight Critic: Reviewing UFC Fight Night 13

SamCaplan — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 18:44:05 PDT

It was a crazy night of fights last night on Spike TV and I think we all saw some things during UFC Fight Night 13 that we've never seen before and may never see again. If I was a betting man,...

Season Premiere of The Ultimate Fighter: Two Thumps Up

SamCaplan — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 14:44:31 PDT

If you didn't enjoy last night's season premiere for the seventh season of "The Ultimate Fighter," then chances are you don't like fighting. The first episode of TUF 7 was...

Report: Justin McCully vs. Frank Mir at UFC 86

SamCaplan — Wed, 2 Apr 2008 19:45:09 PDT

A heavyweight bout between Justin McCully and Frank Mir has been signed for UFC 86 on July 5, according to MMWeekly.com. Mir last fought at UFC 81, defeating Brock Lesnar via first round...

UFC Fight Night 13 Preview

SamCaplan — Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:30:48 PDT

Tonight's special three-hour UFC Fight Night 13 telecast will represent three quarters of a four-hour fighting marathon on SpikeTV tonight. In addition to the live fights, the season premiere...

Top Ten Tantrums

SamCaplan — Tue, 1 Apr 2008 13:47:29 PDT

This past weekend MMA journalists were subjected to another lecture regarding rankings by a promoter grandstanding for his fighters. No, Dana White wasn't making the case for Anderson...

Shamrock vs. Le: Fight of the Year?

SamCaplan — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:16:51 PDT

For me, Saturday's main event between Frank Shamrock and Cung Le was somewhere between good and great. I will call it a very good fight. Round three was tremendous and while Shamrock vs. Le...

Shamrock vs. Le Post-Fight Press Conference Notes

SamCaplan — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:06:00 PDT

San Jose, Calif. -- ProElite.com (SamCaplan.ProElite.com) was able to confirm with sources after the Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le fight Saturday night that Shamrock indeed has a broken arm....

EliteXC/Strikeforce Preview: Shamrock vs. Le

SamCaplan — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:42:00 PDT

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Here's my rundown of the five scheduled matches to be televised on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET) during tonight's EliteXC and Strikeforce co-promotion featuring Frank Shamrock...

Weigh-in results for Shamrock vs. Le

SamCaplan — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:51:40 PDT

There were some few minor issues pertaining to weight during Friday's weigh-in for tonight's SHOWTIME telecast of EliteXC and Strikeforce's co-promotion in San Jose, Calif....

Adrenaline MMA signs Tim Sylvia and Ben Rothwell

SamCaplan — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:37:06 PDT

Adrenaline MMA, formerly known as M-1 Global, officially announced Friday the signings of heavyweight free agent fighters Tim Sylvia and Ben Rothwell. Below is a copy of the press release:...

M-1 Global becomes "Adrenaline MMA"

SamCaplan — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:21:00 PDT

Below is a copy of yesterday's press release announcing that M-1 Global will now be known as "Adrenaline MMA." NEW YORK -- Executives at M-1 Global announced today they have...

Report: WEC's Leonard Garcia arrested on cocaine trafficking charges

SamCaplan — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:21:56 PDT

WEC featherweight Leonard Garcia has been arrested in connection with an El Paso, TX cocaine ring, according to a report from KCBD NewsChannel 11 in Lubbock, TX: Thirteen members of an...

M-1 Global issues press release announcing separation from Fedor

SamCaplan — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:20:30 PDT

Hey everyone, I am on assignment in San Jose, Calif. right now but I received the following press release from M-1 Global earlier. They have officially announced a parting of the ways with Fedor...

Random Rants: Thoughts on Diaz/CSAC; Tim Sylvia's reported departure from the UFC; and the WEC in the USA Today

SamCaplan — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:16:39 PDT

I am in San Jose, Calif. right now on assignment and a lot of influential people in this business are just burying California State Athletic Commission executive director Armando Garcia. He...

The WEC makes the USA Today

SamCaplan — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:04:23 PDT

On my way to San Jose, Calif., I picked up a copy of the USA Today to read during the plane ride. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Wednesday's WEC event at least received some cursory...

Exclusive Interview: Frank Shamrock shares last-minute thoughts on Cung Le fight; states that he and brother Ken Shamrock were never close; reveals settlement with the UFC; and more!

SamCaplan — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 6:26:10 PDT

With just less than 36 hours left until his Strikeforce middleweight title defense against Cung Le on Saturday in San Jose, defending champion Frank Shamrock was gracious enough to take time out...

Nick Diaz out of Saturday's EliteXC/Strikeforce show

SamCaplan — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 5:09:22 PDT

There has been yet another replacement made to the SHOWTIME portion of Saturday's EliteXC/Strikeforce co-promotion in San Jose, Calif., which will be headlined by Frank Shamrock defending the...

Exclusive: EliteXC signs former NFL player Bobby Jones

SamCaplan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:42:43 PDT

Elite Xtreme Combat has signed former NFL player Bobby Jones to a contract, ProElite.com (SamCaplan.ProElite.com) has confirmed exclusively through Jones' manager, Mike Camp. An undefeated...

Preview of tonight's WEC show on VERSUS

SamCaplan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:45:24 PDT

The news cycle has been crazy the last two days so I haven't had a lot of time to devote to previewing tonight's WEC card (9 p.m. ET on VERSUS). While this isn't the...

Report: Burkman vs. Hazelett expected for TUF 7 finale

SamCaplan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:21:28 PDT

A welterweight bout between Josh Burkman and Dustin Hazelett to take place during live season finale for "The Ultimate Fighter 7" on June 21 is close to being made official, according to...

Exclusive: EliteXC signs middleweight prospect Paul Bradley

SamCaplan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:15:00 PDT

Elite Xtreme Combat has signed two-time All-American wrestler Paul Bradley to a contract, ProElite.com (SamCaplan.ProElite.com) has confirmed through Bradley's manager, Mike Camp. Terms of...

Mike Kyle vs. Wayne Cole added to EliteXC/Strikeforce card

SamCaplan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:20:00 PDT

A bout featuring heavyweights Mike Kyle and Wayne Cole has been scheduled to replace a postponed EliteXC welterweight title match between Jake Shields and Drew Fickett that had been planned for...