Posts from — June 2008

The Fight Network is reporting that Kultar “Black Mamba” Gill will compete at DREAM 5 on Monday, July 21 at the Osaka Dome in Osaka, Japan. No opponent has been named.

Gill, a native of Port Moody, British Columbia, possesses a mixed martial arts record of 9-7-0. Gill holds victories over the likes of Hideko Tokoro, Harris Sarmiento, Donald Ouimet, and Dan Shenk. Gill participated on five K-1 cards amassing a record of 2-3.

DREAM 5 will include the Lightweight Grand Prix Finals which will feature Shinya Aoki vs. Caol Uno and Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Eddie Alvarez. Gill joins Denis Kang as the second Canadian on the Japanese-based promotions July 21 card.

I would like to take this opportunity to offer a personal response to comments and actions taken by Drew Fickett over the past 72 hours.

Drew had agreed to and signed a contract to fight on the Maximum Fighting Championship show on July 25 for the welterweight title against Ryan Ford. Over the last few days, Drew has caused severe problems and therefore we find him in complete breach of his contract.

We were shocked to learn Drew agreed on one day’s notice to fight as a middleweight in another organization’s event this past Friday. When I contacted this other organization, its owner immediately cancelled Drew’s fight when informed that he was under contract to fight on the MFC show and as part of Mr. Fickett’s contract he was not allowed to take another fight up to five weeks before the MFC show.

When I learned of Drew’s intentions to take this fight, I repeatedly attempted to reach Drew’s manager to find out why. After numerous attempts to reach his manager went unreturned, I did leave a voice mail which has since been made public. I admit to being very upset, angry and frustrated not only by Drew’s action but also by not being able to reach his manager and the tone of that voice mail reflected my feelings.

Shortly afterwards I realized that I should have taken a deep breath and calmed down before leaving that message and I profusely apologized to Drew’s manager. I am not proud of that message but as the owner of a major fight organization I felt that I and my staff which works tirelessly to put on a first-class show were being treated very disrespectfully by Drew. If he had read his contract he would have realized he shouldn’t have taken the fight and he should not have attempted to get away with it.

Then for Drew to post the private voice mail – which was not left on his phone – was just ridiculous and petty.

This was the last straw in a series of unprofessional acts by Drew. He failed to send a promotional photo that we wanted to use for advertising the fight even after the MFC had sent him gloves and even went as far as being willing to book a photographer to take the pictures. He also failed to send any documents pertaining to his medicals, passport and border information.

Drew even stated in an email after the posting of the voice mail that he was still willing to fight in the MFC. But after that he added that he would want to be paid after the weigh-in one day before the fight. There is no question in my mind that Drew would have stiffed us completely and run off with our money without fighting as some sort of warped payback for the MFC protecting its investment in him and doing everything in its power to not allow him to fight within the five-week period prior to July 25.

We now completely understand why that despite his excellent record so many organizations will not work with Drew and we have a pretty clear indication why he has been banned by the UFC.

Drew Fickett will never fight in the MFC. As evidenced by his latest actions Drew clearly does not want to fight Ryan Ford for the MFC title despite signing a contract to do so.

The MFC has never had any problems with any fighters who do not breach their contract nor have we had any problems with fighters with issues that we do control such as payment for fights, travel itineraries, etc. Fighters we have problems with are ones who are neurotic misfits with poor management who won’t take responsibility for their actions, who won’t live up to fulfilling their contracts and those who do not act as professional athletes.

I will take all steps necessary to settle this issue legally and I will also move immediately into replacing Drew Fickett with a top-level fighter to contend for the MFC welterweight title against Ryan Ford on July 25.

Mark Pavelich, Owner/President

Maximum Fighting Championship

Yesterday a war of words between UFC veteran Drew “The Master” Fickett and MFC president Mark Pavelich began on ‘The Underground’ and it featured Fickett firing obscenities Pavelich’s way while referring to an unwelcoming voicemail he received.

Initially many were left wondering, what exactly was on the voicemail? Well MMARated.com has secured the audio. Here is a transcript of what Pavelich had to say:

“It’s Mark Pavelich calling from the Maximum Fighting Championship,

I’ve just received notice that Drew Fickett or you, I don’t care which one of you fuckers did it, has signed a contract to fight in Strikeforce this fucking weekend. I’m going to get on a fucking plane soon and go where you’re at and choke you the fuck out. I’m telling you right now, I’ve had enough of your fucking shit. First of all, I’ve sent you the fucking pictures and secondly, I placed Drew Fickett in a fight fucking months ago and five weeks prior to my main event of my fucking fight card. You’re going to give me a fucking call tomorrow or I swear I’ll get on a fucking plane and go right where you’re at right now. You’re pissing me off, I’ve been nothing but professional to you motherfuckers and you’re doing this kind of bullshit, alright? Call me back, I’m fucking pissed.”

Yes folks that was Mark Pavelich, not Dana White. Pavelich has every right to be angry but unfortunately he went about stressing his point in the wrong manner. Pavelich couldn’t risk having Fickett fight and possibly coming away with a 30-day medical suspension jeopardizing his main event.

In an interview with MMARated.com, Ariel Helwani asked Fickett for his thoughts on Ryan Ford and he said, “I think he’s a tough guy. I think he’s done a lot of steroids and is real big and strong but you know what? Steroids equal bad conditioning.

I know that for a fact, steroids equal bad conditioning. He looks like a tough strong guy but honestly, he’s got no heart and he’s a cheater. My boy Pete Spratt was all over him and suddenly he wants to cheat.”

For those of you unaware, Pete Spratt made his way to Alberta in February to face Ford and the bout was laced with controversy. Throughout the first round Ford received numerous warnings for grabbing the shorts (which were eventually torn to the waist band) and as the first round came to a close referee Herb Dean failed to separate the fighters and a defenceless Spratt took two unanswered shots to the face leaving him dazed on the canvas.

Following the event, Spratt sounded off on Pavelich and his promotion, “Pavelich is classless and has no character and I would never associate myself with him or his promotion ever again. I will be vindicated maybe once Ford gets off of parole but a rematch will happen one day hopefully before I retire!”

So as you can see this isn’t the first time Pavelich has found himself in this situation. Verbal jabs are still being exchanged over the web and Fickett is saying that Pavelich has pulled him from the MFC 17: Hostile Takeover card. While nothing has been made official, it looks like MFC is going to have to hunt down a suitable opponent for Ryan Ford as he vies for the vacant MFC welterweight title.

If anyone has the full results from the Iroquois MMA Championships IV card could you please post them in the comments section. Thank you.

Guillaume De Lorenzi def. Keith Perrigon - TKO
Dwight Sutherland def. Justin Know - Submission (Triangle)
Tarec Saffiedine def. Rich Bondoc - Submission (Armbar)
Anthony Romita def. Dino Camire - Submission (Armbar)
Alexis Davis def. Kate Roy - Submission (Armbar)
Simon Marini def. Alberto Crane - Decision

And for a great read on the nights event go Here.

Special congrats to my friend Anthony Romita for a great win.

The Fight Network is reporting that UFC veteran John “The Natural” Alessio has undergone surgery after suffering a broken arm in his bout with Pete Spratt at Banner Promotions: Night of Combat.

“I had a plate put in to fuse my broken ulna back together. It’ll stay in my forearm forever,” Alessio said. “The doctor said I should be back to training in about four weeks.”

“I tell you, it hurt like hell. I knew I had to hold on and finish him or I’d be in trouble,” Alessio said. “I would have had to finish the fight with one arm.”

Alessio suffered the injury while blocking a kick Spratt but luckily he was able to hold on and secure a rear naked choke at 2:07 of the second round.

UFC veteran Drew “The Master” Fickett has made a thread on ‘The Underground’ providing some choice words for MFC president Mark Pavelich following his decision to put a halt to Fickett’s bout at Strikeforce.

Thursday night Fickett agreed to replace Joe Riggs at Strikeforce but things were quickly stopped when Strikeforce promoter Scott Coker was informed of Fickett’s prior contractual obligations. Fickett is currently scheduled for face Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford at MFC 17: Hostile Takeover and in his MFC contract it states that he cannot compete 5 weeks prior to the event.

While Fickett is clearly unhappy, Mark Pavelich had good reason to put a halt to the bout. If Fickett were to get KO’d he would have received a 30 day medical suspension putting Pavelich’s main event in jeopardy.

Here is Fickett’s attack on ‘The Underground’:

Nobody wants to fight. Everybody is a skater now. Unlike the good old days when blood for blood was for the gallons. MFC promoter Mark Pavlich MARK PAVLICH MARK PAVLICH MARK PAVLICH MARK PAVLICH whatever his fucking name is called me last night threatening my life because I was going to fight on short notice at 185lbs in Strikeforce today an entire month before his mfc welterweight gold glittered diamond crested world championship of the whole universe. Now Scott Koker (who fucking rocks!) doesn’t want to get involved and can’t let me fight in his show. Thanks for being a complete fucking doosh bag Mark…thanks for threatening me and my friends and running me out 20,000$…pretty sweet for a blue collar fighter all about the fighters who is just trying to make some money for his unborn baby girl…but I’m the asshole! I’m always the asshole! Fuck you Big Brother. Fuck you corporate politics. And fuck you Jake Shields for being a punk ass bitch. Somebody run into me on the fucking Street…P-L-E-A-S-E. Here’s to Victory Athletics and Team Scrub. Some Real Soldiers who aren’t afraid to stand up in battle. Fuck all the affliction wearing poser’s that don’t even remotely know the direction to…the….”Skate…Park.”Master

MFC president Mark Pavelich responded by saying:

Drew,

You sign a two fight deal and it clearly states and even bolded that you can’t fight 5 weeks prior to the dates of my show’s and I’m the bad guy. No fucking way put it on yourself don’t sign be the rebel be the guy who tells everyone to blow but don’t put this on me, no way. I have never spoke to you in my life and be very clear, I yelled at your manager and was pissed. I have never spoken to you in my life. Come take the belt and stop making excuses. Good luck,

Mark Pavelich MFC President

For the full thread visit ‘The Underground’. MFC 17: Hostile Takeover is scheduled for July 25, 2008 at the River Cree Casino and Resort in Edmonton, Alberta. Check out our rumors section for the latest MFC 17: Hostile Takeover card.

Yesterday it was announced that UFC veteran Joe “Diesel” Riggs was denied a license by the California State Athletic Commission and with that he was forced to withdraw from his welterweight bout with Luke Stewart.

According to reports, UFC veteran Drew “The Master” Fickett was scheduled to step in and face Stewart at a catch weight of 178 pounds. Unfortunately it looks as if the bout may now be off.

For weeks now, Fickett has been slated to face Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford at MFC 17: Hostile Takeover on July 25, 2008 at the River Cree Casino and Resort in Edmonton, Alberta. With the bout being only a month away, it would make no sense for Mark Pavelich and his staff to allow Fickett to fight and risk injury.

Someone brought up the news on ‘The Underground’ and MFC president Mark Pavelich responded by saying “Not anymore”. While it’s very vague, it appears that Pavelich was referring to the bout between Fickett and Stewart being off.

Strikeforce Weigh-In Results

Gilbert Melendez (155) vs. Josh Thomson (155)
Bobby Southworth (204.5) vs. Anthony Ruiz (203)
Elaina Maxwell (146) vs. Meisha Tate (145)
Raymond Daniels (184) vs. Jeremiah Metcalf (185)
Chris Cariaso (135.5) vs. Anthony Figueroa (135)
Nam Phan (154) vs. Billy Evangelista (155)
Brian Caraway (140) vs. Alvin Cacdac (141)
Cyrillo Padhillo (169) vs. Jesse Jones (169)
Travis Johnson (205) vs. Jorge Interiano (201)
Eric Jacob (156) vs. Alexander Trivino (156)
Bobby Stack (155) vs. Jose Palacios (155)
Jesse Gillespe (186) vs. Eric Lawson (185)

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.