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Written by Robert Johnson
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Thursday, 20 September 2007
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 Much like the Stan Lee comic book character from which he gets his nickname, Jake "The Juggernaut" Ellenberger is often unstoppable when in motion and seemingly invulnerable to all forms of physical damage. The 21-year-old mixed martial arts athlete has 12 wins in his 14 pro bouts with nine of those wins by way of knockout, earning him praise from one of the best in the business.
"He's a young talented guy with a great work ethic," says trainer Matt Lindland. "That's a rare combination. He even helps out on my ranch in Oregon when he needs some extra cash. I actually named one of my goats after him - Little Jake!"
"I'm not sure if that's an honor or not," laughs the Nebraska native. "But I do know training with guys like Matt and Dan Henderson at Team Quest has really helped me to raise my game. Their commitment and dedication to the sport is second to none."
Ellenberger will get to demonstrate just how much he's learned this Tuesday, September 25 at 9 p.m. and midnight EST when Bodog Fight: Costa Rica Combat continues in Canada on The Score Television Network. Ellenberger will take on 33-year-old Huntington Beach native Zach "Lisbon's Outlaw" Light (5-3). Like Ellenberger, Light, who was born and raised in Lisbon, Iowa, has also trained with one of the biggest names in the sport.
"I moved to California with nothing but a duffle bag and ended up meeting Tito Ortiz," explains Light. "After getting to know me, Tito offered me a spot on Team Punishment and the rest is history."
Zach has since worked on his stand up and Jiu-Jitsu techniques. He believes he's a bad match-up for Jake Ellenberger. "I know for a fact he can't stop my takedowns. He's got to hope for a big punch to stop me early. Whoever imposes their will is going to win the fight."
In other action, two of the toughest 125-pound women in MMA scrap it out when England's Rosie Sexton (5-1) and Japan's Windy Tomomi (7-3-4) take to the mat. Tomomi was one of the top Karate-ka in all of Japan before turning her attentions to MMA, where the 30-year-old continues to dish out punishment. "Before a fight, I try to think about the fun I'm going to have hitting my opponent," she says.
But Sexton is no stranger to Bodog Fight fans, having defeated flamboyant Brazilian Carina Damm by submission in Bodog Fight: St. Petersburg. The 29-year-old Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do has brains to match her brawn, with a PhD in Theoretical Computer Science to go with her Cage Warriors Women's Championship belt!
Don't miss Bodog Fight: Costa Rica Combat, airing Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. and midnight EST in Canada on The Score. Visit NewBodogFight.com for more information and to watch hard hitting MMA action on streaming video. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 September 2007 )
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Written by Robert Johnson
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Monday, 17 September 2007
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 There are fighters who act crazy before a fight, and then there are fighters who act crazy in the ring. New York's Crazy Dan "The Caveman" Hawley does both. It is safe to say four-time state wrestling champion Blair Tugman (1-0) will have his hands full when he steps into the ring against the unorthodox and unpredictable Hawley (4-0) on the next episode of the hit mixed martial arts series Bodog Fight: New Jersey, airing Tuesday, September 18 at 11 p.m. / 10 p.m. Central on the ION Television Network.
"I've never lost a fight and I never will," says "The Caveman" with confidence. "I plan to rip off my opponent's arm and feed it to him in the ring. Meow!"
"He's going to have to fight my style," replies an unfazed Tugman. "He should worry about what I'm going to do to him, not what he's going to do to me! I'm used to training with bigger guys, so I don't think I'll have any problem taking him down and controlling him on the mat."
Originally from New Jersey, now fighting out of Connecticut, Tugman will have the crowd in his corner for the 135-pound bantamweight bout.
"He's going to need all the help he can get when he comes up against my Preying Mantis Kung Fu," said Hawley. "Meow, meow, meow!"
Returning back to reality, heavyweights Yoshiki Takahashi (28-21-3) and Mark Burch (7-2) will face off in a re-match grudge fight.
"In February, we fought in Costa Rica," recalls the 37-year-old Burch. "The fight lasted about a minute and a half before I accidentally caught him with a thumb in the eye. The referee ruled it a 'no contest'. Hopefully this time I'll get a chance to finish the fight."
Like Tugman, the Portage, Indiana native will have his hands full with the 37-year-old warrior from Japan.
Now in his thirteenth year as a professional, Takahashi was the first heavyweight "King of Pancrase" under full MMA rules, holding the belt before guys like Josh Barnett, Bas Rutten, and Ken Shamrock.
Can't catch the action on ION (or The Fight Network in Canada)? All episodes of the Bodog Fight series are available worldwide through streaming video at NewBodogFight.com, with behind-the-scenes exclusives, fighter bios and additional footage only available online. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 17 September 2007 )
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Written by Robert Johnson
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Thursday, 13 September 2007
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 There's always a healthy degree of skepticism when it comes to cross-over athletes. A few have enjoyed success, like Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders and Dennis Rodman (okay, he was a cross-dressing success). But remember when Michael Jordan tried his hand at baseball? Yikes!
The world of mixed martial arts also has its share of two-sport athletes, with several wrestlers and boxers crossing over into MMA. But the best examples are those who have left behind their former sports to pursue full-time MMA careers, like Bodog Fight's own Matt Lindland (20-5), who won an Olympic silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 summer games in Sydney before venturing into MMA.
Another success story is former pro wrestler Daniel Puder of California, who takes on Indiana's Mike Alden this Tuesday, September 18 at 9 p.m. and midnight EST when Bodog Fight: Costa Rica Combat continues on The Score Television Network.
The 25-year-old Puder won World Wrestling Entertainment's first "Tough Enough Challenge" in 2004. However, he would later draw the ire of Vince McMahon by straying from the promoter's plan to have the popular Kurt Angle punish him during a WWE event. Instead, Puder humiliated Angle in front of a live audience by trapping the former Olympic Gold Medal wrestler in a "key lock". Angle has vowed revenge ever since.
If he wants his reprisal, however, Angle will have to leave the scripted world of sports entertainment and follow Puder to MMA, but it won't be easy.
Puder is now undefeated in four MMA fights heading into this heavyweight bout with the 23-year-old Alden, who is also undefeated at 6-0. Admitting this will be his toughest test to date, Puder is confident his wrestling pedigree has prepared him well for the rigors of Bodog Fight.
"I think that pro-wrestling has toughened me up," says Puder. "You're falling more, you're being dropped more and you can get hurt a lot quicker. I've been flash KO'd a few times [in pro wrestling] and had to keep going in the match. So I'm ready for whatever happens in the ring."
Puder may have found the transition smooth, but according to Bodog Fight founder Calvin Ayre, he represents the exception rather than the rule.
"MMA is such a multi-dimensional sport that most cross-over athletes find it difficult, and bringing them into an organization like Bodog Fight requires a different approach," says Ayre. "You have to assess their progress carefully, and matching them up with appropriate opponents can sometimes be tricky."
If Angle does eventually decide to make the jump to MMA, Ayre would have no problem finding him an opponent.
"Puder would be the obvious choice, but Kurt would probably want to get a few fights under his belt first," says Ayre. "But as a fan, I'd love to see that fight."
In other MMA action, Canada's Tyler "TNT" Jackson (7-3-2) squares off against fellow lightweight Kyle Watson (9-5-1) of Wisconsin.
Don't miss Bodog Fight: Costa Rica Combat, airing Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. and midnight EST in Canada on The Score. Visit NewBodogFight.com for more information.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 September 2007 )
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Written by Robert Johnson
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Wednesday, 12 September 2007
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 The hardest-hitting show on television is now available on DVD. Mixed martial arts fans can now pick up Bodog Fight: The Complete First Series, which hits store shelves today.
"This DVD release marks the next big step in the evolution of Bodog Fight," says the show's creator, billionaire entertainment mogul Calvin Ayre.
"MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world today and Bodog Fight is leading the way. Fans have been asking us to make the show available on DVD, so we are absolutely thrilled to be able to make that happen. Enjoy!"
The four-disk set includes the show's ground-breaking first season, filmed on location in the jungles of Costa Rica, plus the landmark pay-per-view event Bodog Fight USA vs Russia from Vancouver, Canada.
With more than ten hours of non-stop action, the set features some of the world's best MMA athletes, including Roger Gracie, Antonio Silva, Eddie Alvarez and Ron Waterman, plus Trevor Prangley, Kyacey "Ice Cold" Uscola, Jorge "Gamebred" Masvidal, Nick "The Goat" Thompson, Amanda Buckner and Tara LaRosa.
With a ton of extra features, including fighter commentary, new behind the scenes footage and six never-before-seen fights, this DVD collection is sure to thrill even the most hardcore fan. Plus, get a bonus limited edition CD featuring tracks from Bodog Music artists.
Bodog Fight: The Complete First Series is available now at better retailers throughout the U.S. (in Canada Sept. 18) and online at NewBodogStore.com.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 September 2007 )
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UFC 76: Mauricio Rua vs Forest Griffin