Daily Rumors 8-2-09

Pellegrino relocated to New Jersey and opened up his own academy. The eight-time UFC veteran said it was a necessary move when after an April 2008 loss to Nate Diaz, Pellegrino nearly walked away from the sport. mmajunkie.com

"When I moved to New Jersey, I was a mess," Pellegrino said. "I looked like (fictional boxer) Rocky (Balboa) when Mickey died and he was fighting Clubber Lang for the second time. I was crying. I was like, 'I can't beat this guy. How could you let me fight someone I can't beat?'" mmajunkie.com


Despite entering the contest with just a 1-1 record in the organization, and a 1-1-1 overall record in his past three contests, nine-time Shooto veteran Mizuto Hirota (12-3-1) capitalized on a brutal fourth-round barrage of knees to claim Sengoku's lightweight crown with a TKO of former champion Satoru Kitaoka (25-9-9). mmajunkie.com

The win was Hirota's second straight, and his first for Sengoku since an August 2008 knockout of Ryan Schultz. Eight of Hirota's 12 career wins have come by knockout or TKO. The loss snapped a six-fight win streak for Kitaoka, who was unable to defend the lightweight title in his first attempt since earning the belt. mmajunkie.com


"With Showtime, I haven't done as well as I planned for them," Baroni said. "They're not high on me, so they don't think I'm worthy of a fight with Nick." mmajunkie.com

"I thought it would be a good fight – a great style match-up. I think we both have names that people would know. East Coast vs. West Coast – I think there's a million ways to sell the fight. Young blood vs. old blood. I was there first, but [Diaz] is doing my thing now. I think it would have been a great fight, and I think the fans would have liked it. It would have been an action fight. Our styles would have clashed and matched. I thought I was the guy that should have got the fight." mmajunkie.com


“We’ve never had more interest than right now,” said White during a Friday teleconference announcing the ESPN U.K. deal. “Obviously, I think all the hard work we’ve done over nine years and UFC 100 had a big part in it, too. I’m pretty confident we’re gonna have a deal very, very soon. I like what I’m hearing now more than I ever did before.” mmaweekly.com

“Once we get the right offer, we will be on network television,” said White. “We haven’t had the right offer, yet.” mmaweekly.com


Black belt of Jiu-Jitsu and Karate, GSP saw the Brazilian Lyoto Machida put the Karate in the map of MMA. "My Karate style is Kyokushin and Lyoto’s is Shootokan, the rules are a little different. But I think it isn’t the style that makes the fighter, is the fighter that makes itself, and Lyoto Machida is a great fighter", praises Georges, taking the opportunity to reveal the desire to train with the fighter. "I would love it, because I love Karate and Lyoto is a great fighter", he said. tatame.com


"Since the last fight Frank was talking crap on me, on Greg, his other coach, and said he’d actually forgot more jiu-jitsu than Brock’s ever learned and once he retired he wanted to be Brock’s coach...Brock said, ‘I’m not going to say anything because I don’t really know Frank but after my fists do the talking and I give him a beat down, I am going to give him a piece of my mind.’" bloodyelbow.com



Referring to the Black House team he represents, which includes UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, he said, “God forgive me for saying it, but we’re years ahead of some fighters. We can also make mistakes of course. When we study our performances we see them, however it doesn’t always appear to the untrained eye.” fightersonlymagazine.co.uk