Bellator Releases Matt Riddle, Pulls Opponent Nathan Coy from Bellator 109 Card

Matt Riddle has been released by Bellator MMA just three days prior to his scheduled Bellator 109 showdown with Nathan Coy.

Bellator officials Tuesday announced the move in a press release.

“A welterweight feature fight between Riddle and Coy has been removed from the Nov. 22 card after Riddle [withdrew] from the fight,” the statement read. “After withdrawing from the Nov. 22 fight, the promotion has decided to release Riddle.”

Bellator did not specify why Riddle withdrew from the bout, and Sherdog.com could not immediately reach the welterweight for comment.

Riddle originally signed with Bellator in May and was slated to make his promotional debut opposite Luis Sergio Teotonio da Fonseca Melo Jr. in the Season 9 welterweight tournament. Riddle suffered a rib injury and was forced to withdraw from the booking, announcing his retirement shortly thereafter.

“I’m retiring from MMA today. I cracked my rib, and I can’t fight Sept. 20,” Riddle wrote on Twitter. “Bellator can’t give me a fight this year, so I can’t afford it!”

Riddle and Bellator worked things out three weeks later, and the welterweight was booked to face Coy on Nov. 22. However, that booking also yielded no fruit, as evidenced by today’s announcement.

Bellator 109 takes place Friday at Sands Casino Event Center in Bethlehem, Pa., and is headlined by a middleweight title confrontation between Alexander Shlemenko and Doug Marshall.

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Bellator Releases Matt Riddle, Pulls Opponent Nathan Coy from Bellator 109 Card

Sherdog Rewind: Dan Severn’s Road from Amateur Wrestling to the UFC

November marks the UFC’s 20th anniversary, and any trip down memory lane must include Dan Severn.

“The Beast” brought wrestling to the Octagon in 1994 and went on to a career packed with more than 100 victories. In November 2011, Severn joined the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Rewind” show to reflect on his journey.

Severn on the transition from amateur wrestling to pro wrestling to shootfighting: “I first did the professional wrestling here in the states, used my real name, used my real amateur wrestling credentials, and a gentleman happened to be on the card from Nashville, Tennessee. He asked me if any of [the background] was legit. I said yes it was and he said, ‘You ought to be over in Japan doing this thing called shootfighting or shootwrestling.’ I had never heard of it before. I gave him a business card, an athletic resume. Three days later I get a phone call. Ten days later I’m down in Nashville for a tryout. Thirty days later I’m in Tokyo, Japan, in front of roughly 12,000 people, getting ready to do my very first shootfighting or shootwrestling match. I didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing. All I know is my Asian opponent kicked me half a dozen times really, really hard. I grabbed a hold of him and flung him all over the place, dismantling him in the process, much to the crowd’s delight, and that was my inauguration into the world of shootfighting.”

On his introduction to Mick Foley, known at the time as Cactus Jack: “The first time I watched Cactus Jack was over in Japan, and he’s doing a thumbtack match. I’m actually watching off to the side, so the public doesn’t see me. They’re out there and they’re just doing all kinds of stuff — clotheslines and being bodyslammed and the whole nine yards. Match concludes and I go back in and I’m sitting down. He comes on back and … they’re pulling his shirt out, and as they’re pulling his shirt out, you’re hearing tick-tick-tick-tick-tick. You’re hearing all these metal things hitting the floor, and a couple of them roll towards me and I bend over and pick it up and I’m thinking, By God, these are real thumbtacks. Then when they finally cleaned his body off enough so that he could actually sit down on a bench, I watched them extract probably another 20, 30 thumbtacks out of his head and face. The first words I ever spoke to him was, ‘Hey Cactus, how often do you get a tetanus shot?’ He looks over at me and he goes, ‘Every year, Dan. Every year.’”

On his meeting with Art Davie, one of the UFC’s creators, to discuss fighting: “I think the very first thing he said to me was, ‘You do realize what we do is real, don’t you?’ I said, ‘Yes, I do.’ Then he [asked], ‘What’s your professional fight record?’ I said I did not have one and he said, ‘Well, what’s your amateur fight record?’ I said I didn’t have one of those either. Then he was kind of like, ‘What are your skills?’ almost like talking down to me. I said, ‘I’ve been an amateur wrestler for 26 years.’ Then he said, ‘Well, there’s a lot of rules and regulations [in wrestling].’ I felt like he was getting ready to blow me on off right there. I just said, ‘Yeah, that’s true there, Mr. Davie, but you’d be surprised what you can do when you have a foreign opponent on foreign soil and have a foreign referee. It will be the closest thing you’ll probably ever see to one of your UFC-style matches.’”

On violently suplexing Anthony Macias in his UFC debut: “I was facing him, what’s known as a belly to belly. I locked around his waist and I was going to launch backwards … and he would have landed face-first, but he was coated in baby oil. You would have thought that someone picked him up by the ankle and dipped him in some baby oil and stood the man out there. My arm slipped from his waist. The only thing that stopped it was my arm hitting up into his armpit. The first throw I did, I actually landed on my own back and head in the process. I ate a lot of elbows in the course of that match. By the time we came up to our feet, I took an elbow shot to my face and that’s when I thought, I’m going to throw this guy in a very hard belly-to-back suplex. I threw the first one and he hit pretty hard and he stood back up and I ate one more elbow in the process. In my mind I’m thinking, ‘You think you landed hard that first time? I’m going to put you through the mat the second time.’ … It turned out that he hit so hard on the second impact that his own knee came up and hit himself in the forehead and cut himself open.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 20:35).

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Sherdog Rewind: Dan Severn’s Road from Amateur Wrestling to the UFC

‘TUF 18’ Recap: Episode 12

Tonight’s episode will wrap the men’s semifinal round, as Team Rousey’s Anthony Gutierrez and Davey Grant battle for a spot opposite Chris Holdsworth at the Nov. 30 finale.

Episode 12 begins with Ronda Rousey and her coaching staff dropping by the house to cook the fighters some Armenian grub. Although Grant and Gutierrez would like to chow down on the delicious hunks of spit-roasted meat, they must taper their calorie consumption in order to make weight for their fight.

Rousey believes that it is only fair to refrain from coaching either man ahead of the intra-team bout. As a result, the contestants select several teammates to help them make their respective preparations. The remainder of the squad receives a special treat, as the Olympic judo bronze medalist teaches them her signature armbar.

Up next is the coaches’ challenge, which will see Rousey square off with Miesha Tate in a rock-climbing competition. The first coach to reach the top of the wall will receive $10,000, and each fighter on her squad will get $1,500. Midway through the climb, the women are deadlocked, but Rousey takes a slight lead as they continue to ascend and narrowly edges Tate to the top.

“F–k you, bitch!” Rousey screams in ecstasy as she rings the bell that signifies Tate’s defeat. The UFC champion continues to rub it in on the way down, flipping Tate the bird and explaining that the same result will come to pass when they meet at UFC 168.

Back at the fighter house, Gutierrez is chowing down on sandwiches and cheesy tortilla bombs. Though his teammates express concern that “Sharkbait” may not make weight, the Titan Fighting Championship vet is confident that he will hit the bantamweight limit.

After working out, Gutierrez steps on the scale at 150.5 pounds. Rousey advises him to be cognizant of what he is putting into his body so that he will not only make weight but also be at his best on fight day.

Later, Grant reveals to Holdsworth that he used to be known as “DJ Davey G” in the English club scene. After settling down and fathering children, however, Grant dedicated himself to his fighting career — a decision that has served him well so far. Though Grant says that it is difficult to fight a teammate, he is nevertheless resolved to defeat Gutierrez and earn both a finals berth and his ticket home to England.

The morning of the weigh-ins, Gutierrez steps on the scale at 145.5. He must cut nine pounds in four hours in order to make 136. Grant, meanwhile, is feeling better at 140 pounds. With three hours remaining, Gutierrez jumps on the treadmill. An hour later, he checks himself at 143.5. Rousey and Baszler vow to stay on him and help him make weight, but Gutierrez will be cutting it close, to put it mildly. The 23-year-old wants to take breaks, but Rousey tries to talk him into more activity. Gutierrez alternates between the treadmill and the sauna for the final hour but nevertheless steps on the scale at 140 pounds in front of Keith Kizer.

Gutierrez has one hour to drop an additional four pounds, but the situation looks grim. The brutal process breaks the young man down, and he begins to weep in the sauna. He exits the sweat box and lies down on the cold tile of the bathroom floor before jumping in a cold shower. Though his team pleads with him to reconsider, Gutierrez tells them he is done cutting weight. Just as Cody Bollinger did ahead of his planned quarterfinal match with Gutierrez, “Sharkbait” has also quit.

Assistant coach Manny Gamburyan berates his pupil and tells him that as of right now, he does not deserve to be in the UFC. Gutierrez apologizes in front of the whole cast, and UFC President Dana White tells him to leave the gym. Grant is seriously disappointed that he has advanced due to forfeit, but he will nevertheless be the man to face Holdsworth at the live finale.

Though Rousey is highly distraught at the development, White tells her that it was ultimately Gutierrez’s shortcoming.

“This show weeds out the weak,” says White. “He is f—ing weak.”

Next time, Team Rousey’s Jessica Rakoczy will meet Team Tate’s Raquel Pennington in the show’s final episode to decide who will face Julianna Pena at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

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‘TUF 18’ Recap: Episode 12

Cain Velasquez Confirms He Won’t Need Shoulder Surgery, but Next Title Defense on Hold

There was all kinds of confusion following Cain Velasquez’s fight with Junior dos Santos at UFC 166. Despite winning, and seemingly healthy, Velasquez initially landed on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) medically suspended list due to a possible fractured jaw.

Velasquez and his camp were baffled, as he had felt no ill effects from the fight.

The TDLR eventually rescinded the suspension, explaining that it was issued in error.

Velasquez eventually did notice issues with his left shoulder, however.

Following two MRIs, Velasquez discovered that he has a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

He confirmed to UFC Tonight, what MMAWeekly.com sources initially stated, that it is believed he will not need surgery, but should instead be able to rehabilitate the shoulder.

Velasquez told UFC Tonight that he would meet again with his doctor in a couple of weeks to determine a timetable for his recovery.

The UFC has been holding out on its initial plans to do a live event in Mexico until Velasquez is ready to go. UFC president Dana White has stated that the promotion won’t do Mexico without Velasquez.

Velasquez is next expected to defend his belt against Fabricio Werdum, but until he gets a timetable for his return, the bout remains on hold.

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Cain Velasquez Confirms He Won’t Need Shoulder Surgery, but Next Title Defense on Hold

Froch and Groves make weight

Carl Froch and George Groves: Went head-to-head at the weigh-in

Carl Froch and George Groves had to be separated on the scales as they both made weight for Saturday night’s world title fight.

Groves has engaged the champion in a heated war of words before their fight, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and Froch whispered in his ear before the bitter rivals were pulled apart.

Froch weighed in at 11st 13lb, below the 12st limit, while Groves was over a pound inside the super-middleweight mark at 11st 12lbs.

“He looks like a really worried man that realises the magnitude of the event and it will be dawning on him. I don’t think he’s sleeping and he shouldn’t be because he’s in serious trouble.”
Carl Froch

The Nottingham man insisted that Groves looked ‘petrified’ when both fighters went head-to-head for the last time before they step into the ring in Manchester.

When asked what he said on the podium, Froch said: “I was just letting him know he is in deep water. The time is now. David Haye will say the same, it’s just sort of bringing reality.

“In all honesty, I didn’t say a great deal that was significant because he was just silent and he looked petrified. Yesterday he looked worried, today he looks really, really worried.

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“He looks like a really worried man that realises the magnitude of the event and it will be dawning on him. I don’t think he’s sleeping and he shouldn’t be because he’s in serious trouble.”

Froch is putting his WBA and IBF titles on the line and is refusing to even think about relinquishing his belts to his outspoken challenger.

“Nothing could be any worse than to l to this guy,” he said. “I cannot even say the word, but it would be absolutely devastating.

“Nothing would be worse. What I have achieved in boxing and what I have done and how far I have come. To fight Lucian Bute unbeaten and to beat Mikkel Kessler in the rematch, to now lose to this chump. It couldn’t be any worse.”

“I know both of them very, very well, but I want to try and enjoy this fight as a fan. George has it all to prove, Carl is proving it time and time again. Can Carl do it again? I believe he can.”
David Haye

Groves was jeered as he stepped onto the stage and the 25-year-old for once remained silent as Froch issued a pre-fight warning.

“He didn’t say anything that he hasn’t said before. Same old stuff,” said Groves.

“I just looked at him. I’ve said enough that needs to be said now. He can choose to listen or not.

“I gave him the game-plan, how much of a gentleman do I need to be? He’s got two days to adapt, now he’s got one day left. We’ll see what he comes up with.”

Groves steps up to world title level for the first times and faces a hot favourite who has beaten a string of big names in the division.

But Groves believes his underdog tag has spurred him on to pull off a stunning upset win.

Groves: Happy to be underdog $(document).ready(function() { getBC({‘con’:'#video4′,’ob’:'#video-id4′,’id’:’2859707463001′}); });

“Someone wouldn’t be able to cope without everyone on your side, saying you’re going to win,” he said. “It’s almost nice in many ways to have this. Everyone says you can’t do this.

“It makes you double check yourself more so you’re in the gym going hold on, I’m doing this, I’m doing that. This will work on the night.

“I’m more than confident that I’ve got the tools to beat Carl Froch. I can’t wait to get in there and show him.”

Scott Quigg defends his WBA super-bantamweight titles against Argentine Diego Oscar Silva on the undercard.

The Bury fighter and his challenger were both inside the limit at 8st 9lbs.

Watch Carl Froch v George Groves live on Sky Sports Box Office, November 23. Go to www.skysports.com/frochgroves for full details.

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Froch and Groves make weight

Daniel Bryan & Josh Reddick crown 'The King of Beards' at SmackDown

The winner of the ‘Beard Off’ between Daniel Bryan and Josh Reddick is determinedDaniel Bryan vs. Luke Harper: SmackDown, Nov. 22, 201312-Man Tag Team Match continues: WWE App Exclusive, Nov. 18, 2013CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, The Rhodes Brothers & The Usos vs. The Shield & The Wyatt Family – 12-Man Tag Team Match: Raw, Nov. 18, 2013The main event rolls on: WWE App Exclusive, Nov. 18, 2013Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan pack their bags for the road: Total Divas, Nov. 17, 2013CM Punk and Daniel Bryan vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel: SmackDown, Nov. 15, 2013

ATLANTA, Ga. – Oakland A’s outfielder Josh Reddick may have had the most eventful night of anyone at SmackDown this week, and he didn’t even set foot in a WWE ring to do it.

The MLB Gold Glove winner not only settled a long-brewing grudge with Daniel Bryan over who has the better beard, but he nearly stepped into the ropes for an impromptu match with one of his MLB rivals, New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler. While, alas, an MLB throwdown did not occur, it’s safe to say that Reddick’s beard wasn’t so safe. Just goes to show you, anything can happen in WWE, even if you’re not a WWE Superstar.

@Wheelerpro45 sitting 3 seats down and can’t say hello. AL vs NL at its finest I reckon

— Josh Reddick (@joshreddick16) November 20, 2013

@Wheelerpro45 understandable. Let’s settle this in the ring when this is over

— Josh Reddick (@joshreddick16) November 20, 2013

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Daniel Bryan & Josh Reddick crown 'The King of Beards' at SmackDown

MMA in NY: The Fight Continues

“The New York State senate has passed it, now it’s up to the New York State Assembly, and we need to get it on the floor. And I know if we get it on the floor, we will pass MMA.” – Sen. Jose Peralta NEW YORK, November 21 – Let’s not mince words here. It’s now at the point where the refusal of New York politicians to sanction mixed martial arts in their state is simply laughable.

With 49 states already sanctioning the sport, with New York in dire need of the financial boost a UFC event would bring, and with the fans, fighters, and a good number of the aforementioned politicians eager to see MMA in places like the site of a Thursday press conference discussing the issue – Madison Square Garden – it baffles the mind that this hasn’t been done yet.

“If you would have asked me back then, what do you think will happen first, MMA regulated in New York, or Madison Square Garden goes through a hundred percent complete rebuild, I would have said MMA of course,” said UFC COO Lawrence Epstein of the fight that began on December 1, 2007. “But the folks here at MSG beat us.”

The assembled media at the Garden laughed, but seeing the sport continuing to be outlawed in the Empire State isn’t funny to those involved, especially fighters like UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman.

“I’m from Baldwin, Long Island and I never left New York,” said Weidman at the presser, which was also attended by UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, several local politicians and the headliners of February’s UFC 169 event: Dominick Cruz, Renan Barao, Jose Aldo, and Ricardo Lamas. “I’m born and raised and as New York as it gets. I got my associates degree from Nassau Community College, my bachelor’s from Hofstra, and my master’s from Hofstra University. And recently, I accomplished the thing in my life that I feel is the most important besides getting married to my beautiful wife and having my beautiful children, and that was winning the UFC belt. That’s good, but there’s something really missing, and it kind of takes away from this belt, and that’s not being able to participate in my sport – something I’m so passionate about and that I’ve worked my whole life for – in my home state of New York.”

There have been rays of light over the years, with the bill to legalize the sport passing through the Senate on a now routine basis, but it has never reached the floor of the state assembly for a vote. Democratic Assemblyman Andy Hevesi said at Thursday’s press conference that the “magic number” of 76 votes is growing nearer and nearer, but until that happens, fans in New York will have to travel to nearby states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, or even to Canadian cities like Montreal and Toronto if they want to get a dose of live UFC action locally.

And if you’re wondering why those states and cities around the world continue to put on and clamor for UFC events, a report entitled the “Economic Impact of Mixed Martial Arts in New York,” which was prepared by HR&A Advisors, Inc., puts matters in the most blunt terms possible: the sport generates money, not just for the promoters, but for the sanctioning states in the form of economic activity, tourism, jobs, and tax revenues. According to the report, $135 million would be generated annually by MMA in New York State. For the UFC’s part, they would commit to five events per year, two in NYC and three elsewhere in the state. It’s a big deal, one that supporters hope will finally reach a successful end in 2014.

“New York is the only state where professional MMA is illegal,” said New York State Senator Jose Peralta. “In fact, it’s the only place where MMA is banned, and that’s something that we need to stop. New York is not really living up to its potential, its sports tourism potential. We all know that we’re facing a struggling economy and 135 million dollars, that is essential, that is something that we can’t turn away. No one can ignore or deny the positive economic impact of professional MMA. It will create badly needed jobs here in New York, it will enhance tourism, attracting people from other states and Canada, and this will help New York City and help New York State. Professional MMA will boost revenue for surrounding businesses, including hotels and restaurants, and simply put, professional MMA will put money in the pockets of all New Yorkers. The New York State senate has passed it, now it’s up to the New York State Assembly, and we need to get it on the floor. And I know if we get it on the floor, we will pass MMA.”

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MMA in NY: The Fight Continues