European Throwdown: News and Notes from Iberia to Siberia
Tim Leidecker Feb 8, 2007
In a new column from Sherdog.com, Tim Leidecker brings you all the
updates on the up-and-coming European mixed martial arts scene.
This first edition covers the latest news from Germany, further honors for Fedor, and a short preview for the second season of bodogFIGHT from Russia.
Dennis
Siver signs three-fight-deal with UFC
Twenty-eight-year-old kickboxer Dennis Siver has signed a three-fight contract with the UFC, making him the first German fighter ever to step into the Octagon (Kimo was in fact born on a U.S. military base in Munich but is about as German as hot dogs and baseball).
Even though his professional record is not perfect anymore, Siver (at 10-3-0) always brings a good, hard fight and has a style that pleases the crowd. The WFC veteran is expected to make his UFC debut at UFC 70 in Manchester against Pancrase London fighter Jess Liaudin (Pictures).
Fedor wins Russian Martial Arts "Oscar"
PRIDE heavyweight champion and universally recognized "baddest man on the planet" Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) was able to add another award to his countless list of accolades.
During the annual "National Premium Awards" held by the Russian Union of Martial Arts, the 30-year-old won the award for the "Brightest Victory of the Year.”
The award show, which is rated as highly among Russian athletes as the Academy Awards are among actors, selected the "Russian Emperor" because of his resoluteness, professionalism and mental strength.
After Fedor had several clashes with the president of the Russian Sambo Federation over various issues, it must be satisfying for him to eventually receive such an honor from his countrymen.
Fifteen-year-old places second in BJJ European Championships
Just like in 2006, familiar names like Wellington Dias, Braulio Estima and Xande Ribeiro shared the top spots at the European Championships in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which took place in Lisbon, Portugal at the end of January.
The biggest story happened in the Blue Belt Juvenile Division however: Toni Stockmann, a 15-year-old kid from Germany, entered the competition as the youngest participant ever. In his original division under 129 pounds he was without an opponent so he moved up a weight class to featherweight (under 141) and spectacularly finished second. It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the grappler from Shark Gym in South West Germany.
Drwal back to his old ways
Polish knockout artist Tomasz Drwal made a successful comeback after a 14-month layoff in Riga, Latvia on the 27th of January. The 24-year-old from Krakow in Southern Poland is considered to be among the top three light heavyweight fighters in Europe.
Due to nagging injury problems he missed all of 2006, but has big plans for this year. The member of Grappling Krakow got off to a flying start with a TKO victory over HERO’S veteran Valdas Pocevicius in the first round of the WFCA Grand Prix 2007, which pits some of Europe's best 205 pound fighters against each other.
As a result Drwal recorded his sixth knockout victory in a row and improved to 12-1 overall. He will now face Czech grappler Mamed Khalidov, who is going to be an even tougher touchstone, at the end of February.
FFC brings the "big bad boys" to Leipzig
German promotion "Free Fight Championship" launched two of the best MMA events in Germany with "Heaven or Hell" and "Battle of the Belts" in 2006. With Frenchman Jean Francois Lenogue (Pictures) the first-named show was even headlined by an eventual PRIDE veteran. As a result the promoters from Leipzig have even bigger plans for 2007.
In the truest sense of the word they plan on bringing the biggest fighters to Eastern Germany for the finals of their heavyweight tournament. Already signed are local heroes Lars Weber (5-1) and Norman Jendrejczjk (2-0), as well as international heavyweights like Martin Bozik from Slovakia and Switzerland's own Daniel Maier.
Last but not least fighter turned promoter Marko Zschörner will make his comeback in the cage after more than one year without competing. The historic Kohlrabizirkus is certainly going to shake when some of Germany's best heavyweights battle it out in April.
Countdown to bodogFIGHT season two
The second season of the bodogFIGHT reality show will start on February 13. In stark contrast to the first season which was shot in sunny Costa Rica, the 16 fighters battling for their shot at the next bodogFIGHT pay-per-view squared off in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The most northern city of over a million inhabitants is at 30°F (-1°C), a really rough climate for fighters to compete in. Among the favorites for victory are certainly PRIDE and UFC veteran Yves Edwards (Pictures) (lightweight), AFC-experienced Jorge Masvidal (welterweight) and M-1 heavyweight champion Roman Zentsov (Pictures) (heavyweight).
Via a recent hookup with traditional Japanese promotion Pancrase, bodogFIGHT has also acquired the services of former "King of Pancrase" Yoshiki Takahashi (Pictures).
But not only the men's division looks promising. The female squad is stacked as well: Among the strongest ladies are Britain's Rosie Sexton, Carina Damm from Brazil and Japanese kickboxer Windy Tomomi (Pictures).
Episode 1 – Lightweights – Feb. 13
Yves Edwards (Pictures) (29-11-1) vs. Mike Brown (13-4-0)
Rodrigo Damm (3-1-0) vs. Kultar Gill (Pictures) (8-4-0)
Episode 2 – Welterweights – Feb. 20
Jorge Masvidal (9-2-0) vs. Steve Berger (Pictures) (17-15-2)
Dmitry Samiolov (2-0-0) vs. Tyler Jackson (Pictures) (7-3-0)
Tim Leidecker is editor of www.groundandpound.de
This first edition covers the latest news from Germany, further honors for Fedor, and a short preview for the second season of bodogFIGHT from Russia.
Advertisement
Twenty-eight-year-old kickboxer Dennis Siver has signed a three-fight contract with the UFC, making him the first German fighter ever to step into the Octagon (Kimo was in fact born on a U.S. military base in Munich but is about as German as hot dogs and baseball).
The most prominent member of the Outsider Club Fight Team has been
watched carefully by UFC matchmaker Joe Silva ever since he made
the finals of the CWFC welterweight tournament last spring and has
earned his shot with victories against British duo Paul Jenkins (Pictures) and Jim Wallhead as well as Russian
fighter Said
Khalilov.
Even though his professional record is not perfect anymore, Siver (at 10-3-0) always brings a good, hard fight and has a style that pleases the crowd. The WFC veteran is expected to make his UFC debut at UFC 70 in Manchester against Pancrase London fighter Jess Liaudin (Pictures).
Fedor wins Russian Martial Arts "Oscar"
PRIDE heavyweight champion and universally recognized "baddest man on the planet" Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) was able to add another award to his countless list of accolades.
During the annual "National Premium Awards" held by the Russian Union of Martial Arts, the 30-year-old won the award for the "Brightest Victory of the Year.”
The award show, which is rated as highly among Russian athletes as the Academy Awards are among actors, selected the "Russian Emperor" because of his resoluteness, professionalism and mental strength.
After Fedor had several clashes with the president of the Russian Sambo Federation over various issues, it must be satisfying for him to eventually receive such an honor from his countrymen.
Fifteen-year-old places second in BJJ European Championships
Just like in 2006, familiar names like Wellington Dias, Braulio Estima and Xande Ribeiro shared the top spots at the European Championships in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which took place in Lisbon, Portugal at the end of January.
The biggest story happened in the Blue Belt Juvenile Division however: Toni Stockmann, a 15-year-old kid from Germany, entered the competition as the youngest participant ever. In his original division under 129 pounds he was without an opponent so he moved up a weight class to featherweight (under 141) and spectacularly finished second. It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the grappler from Shark Gym in South West Germany.
Drwal back to his old ways
Polish knockout artist Tomasz Drwal made a successful comeback after a 14-month layoff in Riga, Latvia on the 27th of January. The 24-year-old from Krakow in Southern Poland is considered to be among the top three light heavyweight fighters in Europe.
Due to nagging injury problems he missed all of 2006, but has big plans for this year. The member of Grappling Krakow got off to a flying start with a TKO victory over HERO’S veteran Valdas Pocevicius in the first round of the WFCA Grand Prix 2007, which pits some of Europe's best 205 pound fighters against each other.
As a result Drwal recorded his sixth knockout victory in a row and improved to 12-1 overall. He will now face Czech grappler Mamed Khalidov, who is going to be an even tougher touchstone, at the end of February.
FFC brings the "big bad boys" to Leipzig
German promotion "Free Fight Championship" launched two of the best MMA events in Germany with "Heaven or Hell" and "Battle of the Belts" in 2006. With Frenchman Jean Francois Lenogue (Pictures) the first-named show was even headlined by an eventual PRIDE veteran. As a result the promoters from Leipzig have even bigger plans for 2007.
In the truest sense of the word they plan on bringing the biggest fighters to Eastern Germany for the finals of their heavyweight tournament. Already signed are local heroes Lars Weber (5-1) and Norman Jendrejczjk (2-0), as well as international heavyweights like Martin Bozik from Slovakia and Switzerland's own Daniel Maier.
Last but not least fighter turned promoter Marko Zschörner will make his comeback in the cage after more than one year without competing. The historic Kohlrabizirkus is certainly going to shake when some of Germany's best heavyweights battle it out in April.
Countdown to bodogFIGHT season two
The second season of the bodogFIGHT reality show will start on February 13. In stark contrast to the first season which was shot in sunny Costa Rica, the 16 fighters battling for their shot at the next bodogFIGHT pay-per-view squared off in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The most northern city of over a million inhabitants is at 30°F (-1°C), a really rough climate for fighters to compete in. Among the favorites for victory are certainly PRIDE and UFC veteran Yves Edwards (Pictures) (lightweight), AFC-experienced Jorge Masvidal (welterweight) and M-1 heavyweight champion Roman Zentsov (Pictures) (heavyweight).
Via a recent hookup with traditional Japanese promotion Pancrase, bodogFIGHT has also acquired the services of former "King of Pancrase" Yoshiki Takahashi (Pictures).
But not only the men's division looks promising. The female squad is stacked as well: Among the strongest ladies are Britain's Rosie Sexton, Carina Damm from Brazil and Japanese kickboxer Windy Tomomi (Pictures).
Episode 1 – Lightweights – Feb. 13
Yves Edwards (Pictures) (29-11-1) vs. Mike Brown (13-4-0)
Rodrigo Damm (3-1-0) vs. Kultar Gill (Pictures) (8-4-0)
Episode 2 – Welterweights – Feb. 20
Jorge Masvidal (9-2-0) vs. Steve Berger (Pictures) (17-15-2)
Dmitry Samiolov (2-0-0) vs. Tyler Jackson (Pictures) (7-3-0)
Tim Leidecker is editor of www.groundandpound.de
