MAFighting.com

Exclusive Interview: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

MMA's most beloved, pull-no-punches fighter speaks out days before his long-awaited rematch with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell

Amid the ongoing revivalry of UFC vs Pride, a great warrior arises to the challenge. In a match that will avenge the final loss of his adversary, or award him the Light Heavyweight Championship, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (26-6) takes on the man with the dangerous hands, the Champion, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell (20-3), at UFC 71 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. The question is, will Rampage crack the Ice?

“Bang” Battles Daley On “Shamrock vs. Baroni” Card

Superpowers will go head to head when K-1 and UFC veteran and Strikeforce fan favorite, Duane “Bang” Ludwig, faces EliteXC’s British Cage Rage champion, Paul “Semtex” Daley, in a 170-pound limit matchup during “Shamrock vs. Baroni,” live on June 22, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The mega-MMA fight card, being co-produced by EliteXC and Strikeforce, will be headlined by the long-awaited showdown between former UFC middleweight king, Frank Shamrock, and UFC and Pride veteran, “The New York Badass” Phil Baroni, plus five other explosive bouts airing live on pay-per-view.

At stake during the fight between EliteXC’s Shamrock (strikeforceusa.net, frankshamrock.proelite.com) and Baroni (strikeforceusa.net, philbaroni.proelite.com) will be the vacant Strikeforce world middleweight (185-pound limit) championship.

Ailing Carano Pulls Out Of Dynamite

Gina Carano has pulled out of the “Dynamite!! USA” June 2 mega-MMA fight card at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum due to illness, EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw announced today.

Carano, of Las Vegas, Nev., was scheduled to clash with Jan Finney of Springfield, Ohio, in one of the featured EliteXC fights on SHOWTIME on June 2.

“I just feel terrible about this,’’ said the popular, crowd-pleasing Carano, who spent part of April in Thailand filming a television reality series. “I don’t know how or where I got sick, but I have not felt right since returning to the United States.

Fight Network Gets Sirius

The Fight Network Inc., parent company to Fight Network Radio., has signed a deal with Hardcore Sports Radio to launch a daily news and talk show called FIGHT NETWORK RADIO available throughout North America on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 186. The live show will be hosted by The Fight Network’s own Mauro Ranallo and will cover the sports of boxing, pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. FIGHT NETWORK RADIO will also feature various co-hosts each week based on news or fight events that the fans and industry insiders are following.

“I am really pleased to announce this deal,” said Mike Garrow, President of The Fight Network. “We are always looking for strategic areas to expand our brand into and satellite radio is a great platform for us to reach out and connect with consumers in a unique and engaging way each and everyday,” he added.

Strikeforce Launches New-Look Website

World championship mixed martial arts federation, Strikeforce, has re-launched its website, www.strikeforceusa.net, with a bold, new look and a host of new features, including video streaming capability that will allow the organization to host fight footage online.

In addition to highlights from select fights, Strikeforce’s online home will soon feature video interviews with its athletes and other behind-the-scenes footage that will give visitors an in-depth look into the world of mixed martial arts. Up to date news coverage of Strikeforce events and fighters is provided as is an option to subscribe to Strikeforce’s free online newsletter.

Tommy Morrison Heads To The Cage

Tommy "The Duke" Morrison, one of the most intriguing boxers to even step into the squared circle, shocked the MMA world this week by announcing his intention to fight 340 lb. John Stover, an experienced cagefighter with 8 professional fights, on June 9, 2007 at the Cliff Castle Casino Arizona during the World Fighting Championship.

Morrison's bombshell announcement comes over a decade after his previous bombshell announcement that rocked the boxing world that he had tested positive for AIDS. Morrison, however, has been symptom free for 10 years now and claims that he was the victim of a false positive test result. He recently started boxing again and was cleared to return to the ring by the West Virginia Athletic Commission after passing a battery of medical tests in Arizona, the results of which were forwarded to West Virginia.

TKO Announces First Women's MMA Bout

TKO Major League MMA is delighted to announce its first ever female mixed martial arts (MMA) bout when SARAH KAUFMAN (4-0-0), fighting out of Victoria, B.C., squares off against VALERIE LETOURNEAU (1-0-0), fighting out of Montreal, QC. MMA has traditionally had a reputation of being a male-dominated, testosterone-driven sport. However, a growing number of women, like Montreal’s own Valerie Letourneau, will paint a different picture for you. “Fighting for TKO is like a dream come true for me! I have wanted to fight for this company for a very long time and I feel ready and very excited for June 1st!”

Letourneau started her training and competing in kick-boxing 9 years ago, at the age of only 15. After taking 4 years off to raise her new born daughter, Letourneau is back and seems hungrier than ever. She recently traveled to Brazil to train jiu-jitsu for a month with one of the most highly regarded grappling camps in the world, Gracie Barra. Currently, Letourneau is in Boston, Massachusetts along with TKO Superstar, Patrick Cote, to sharpen her striking skills with one of North America’s finest Thai-Boxing coaches, Kru Mark DellaGrotte.

The Iceman Scores ESPN Mag Cover

UFC Light Heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell is a big hit these days, both with Hollywood and the world of sports. From an appearance on HBO's hit series, Entourage, two weeks ago to the cover of Men's Fitness and the pages of Maxim, "The Iceman" has been on fire. Now, it's ESPN magazine's turn to showcase the UFC poster boy.

According to TheBostonHerald.com, Liddell will appear, along with his son, on the cover of the May 21st edition of the weekly magazine. Writer Allison Glock provides the written coverage.

Couture's Operation Offers Support To Returning American Troops

Memorial Day was first officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan. 139 years later, Randy “Captain America” Couture continues to remember those who have fought for our freedom with Operation Xtreme Sacrifice. In conjunction with UFC 71, The Extreme Couture Foundation will be raising money, awareness, and thanking those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on Sunday, May 27th from Couture’s training compound in Las Vegas. The launch party for Operation Xtreme Sacrifice will include a red carpet arrival for celebrities, UFC superstars, sponsors and several of our decorated veterans. There will be several ways to donate money for the troops and their families. Tax deductible donations will be collected thru ticket sales, a live auction featuring a hunting trip with Randy himself and even a text contribution program. This event takes no political stance and is simply a platform for letting the troops know how much we care.

Couture To Appear On Sports Illustrated Cover

NBCSports.com writer Michael Chiappetta has revealed that UFC heavyweight champion, Randy Couture, will become the first mixed martial arts fighter in history to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated sometime this summer.

Longtime Sports Illustrated staff columnist, L. Jon Wertheim, wrote the story, which will look into the life of the only five-time champion in UFC's 14 year history.

At 43 years of age, Couture reclaimed the UFC heavyweight championship by earning a unanimous judges' decision over 6 foot 8 inch giant, Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia, in the main event of UFC 68 on March 3rd.