UFC TORONTO SELLS OUT 55,000 TICKETS 

By Martial News Reporter

THE UFC's first Toronto show has officially sold out.

The event - being held on April 30th - is one of the biggest held by the UFc with 55,000 tickets sold.

The previous biggest attendance was also in Canada, UFC 124 in the Montreal's Bell Centre, in December. That sold 23.000 tickets.

More than 40,000 tickets were sold by pre-sale and the rest were sold to the general public

MMA has a huge following in Canada and last year the Ontario territory government sanctioned the sport to start this year. Other provinces where MMA is legal include: Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba

The move to legitimise MMA has been resisted by the Canadian Medical Association, who said its was "prize-fighting" that could lead to lifelong injuries.

By Martial News Reporter, pic by mmapunk

A DRUNK driver who killed an MMA promoter in a 100mph road race, has been convicted.

Jeffrey Kirby killed Charles "mask" Lewis - who founded the TapouT clothing line - when his Porsche crashed into Lewis' Ferrari.

The Santa Ana Law Court heard from witnesses who said both drivers were engaged in a high speed "Cat and mouse game" down the street moments before the crash in Newport Beach, California, in March last year.

After the 100mph smash, police found that Kirby was over the drink drive limit.

Kirby's Porche had collided with the Ferrari, the court heard, sending the stricken vehicle into a concrete pole, splitting the car in two. Lewis' female passenger was thrown clear of the wreckage but suffered extensive bone breaks.

Lewis, 43, had to be cut from the wreckage and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kirby, 53, had fled the scene of the crash and was later arrested by police. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated. He has a previous drunk-driving conviction from 2002.

He faces up to 13-years in jail when sentenced in February.

Lewis started selling T-shirst out of a back of a van at early MMA shows before he founded the hugely successful TapouT company in 1997.

He later went on to promoting the sport he loved. After his death he was posthumously entered into the UFC Hall of Fame, the only non-fighter to receive the honour.

By Anthony Evans, UFC media

THE Ultimate Fighting Championship organisation returns to Germany on November 13 when UFC 122 emanates from König-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen.

In the high-stakes main event, mixed martial arts legend Vitor ‘the Phenom’ Belfort will face Japanese powerhouse Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami in a three-round contest to determine who will  challenge for the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2011.

UFC 122 is the first UFC event to take place in Germany since the world’s premier combat sports organisation made its mainland Europe debut in Cologne last June.

UFC Managing Director of International Development Marshall Zelaznik said: “We are glad to be coming back to Germany with UFC 122 and to reward our loyal UFC fans in Germany. Both Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami are one win away from a shot at the UFC Middleweight Title and are coming to Germany with a great deal to win and lose. This is a sporting event with tremendous international significance, and we are delighted to have been able to bring this event to Oberhausen.”

Marek Lieberberg of MLK, the UFC’s promotional partner in Germany, said: “We are excited to bring the world’s most popular combat sport back to Germany, following our great event last summer. Mr Belfort and Mr Okami are two of the greatest martial artists in the world and this is an excellent main event attraction. Vitor holds a black belt in judo as well as jiu-jitsu and has competed as a professional boxer while Yushin is an outstanding martial artist in his own right.”

**********************

ROW OVER "NEO-NAZI" MMA

A ROW has erupted in Poland after an alleged neo-nazi was allowed to fight on a premier MMA show.

Finnish fighter Niko Puhakka, is claimed by opponents to be a nazi-sympathiser and sports a number of tattoos with nazi connotations such as "Blood and Honour", a fascist group that is banned in the east European country. 

He was allowed to fight on a show in Lodz, central Poland, on the bill of the popluar KSW brand.

The legend "Blood and Honour" was the motto of the Hitler Youth during the 30s and 40s and is often used by neo-nazi organisations throughout the world.

Marcin Kornak, from the anti-fascist organisation Never Again, said on Polish radio: "Niko Puhakka is known for his neo-fascist views and for exposing his tattoos showing celtic crosses, a racist symbol of white power.

"Yet no-one, not even Polsat TV, which broadcast the show, asked him to cover them up.

Niko Puhakka was recently sponsored by clothing company Hoelzer Reich which was banned from being a sponsor on any UFC show. Strikeforce quickly followed suit.

REID LOSES MMA FIGHT AGAINST WATSON

By Phil Doherty

ALEX Reid has lost his MMA match against Tom Watson at the BAMMA fight night.

The fight was held at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena and was top of the bill.

Reid - husband of glamour model Jordan - was on paper the under dog with most experts believing that Watson, 25, would demolish him.

But Reid, 35, showed his critics that he is a fighter with a big heart by turning the fight into a war of attrition with Watson, the British Middleweight champ.

Jordan, 32, watched her man fight and had been booed by the audience when she first arrived and took up her seat at the ringside.  As defiant as Alex she smiled at the crowd before turning and willing her man on.

The winner of this year's Celebrity Big Brother, Reid took an aggressive attacking stance from the onset catching the defending champion in early part of round one.

Surprised by Reid, Watson was on the back foot in round one and had to counter Reid's onslaught. First round to Reid.

The second round was an action packed, gruelling battle where the pair traded kicks, punches, elbows and knees, with combiantions from both fighters.

Bruised and bloody, both fighters came out in the third with determination. Reid - the older of the two - looked as if he was gassing a little. But it didn't stop him taking the fight to Watson, throwing good hard hitting big shots.

Watson tried to to take Reid down but had the attempt closed down.

By the fifth and final round both men were going hammer and tongs at each other, trading big combinations and submission attempts right up to the closing seconds.

The judges scored it 49-46, 49-46, and 49-47.

**********************
NEW GYM FOR MMA AND KICKBOXING OPENS IN BORDERS

By Phil Doherty

A NEW MMA, grappling and Kickboxing gym has opened in the Scottish Borders.

The Fight Academy is based in 28 to 34 Main Street, Tweedmouth, Berwick, Northumberland, and teaches MMA, Brazilian Jui-jitsu, Wrestling, K-1 and Kickboxing.

Part of the DFM Martial Arts group, the gym is also the home to new MMA fight team the Northern Free Fighters, whose motto Dux Bellorum translates to "Leader of Battles".

DFM Head Instructor Rob Currah said: "The new gym is an excellent facility as it has a big floor space for training.

"It's fully bagged out, matted 12 x 12 metres and we have just installed a boxing ring. It has full facilities including a kitchen, toilets and office areas as well as having space for a weight area."

Club instructors are Rob and Liam Holborn, with assistant instructors Sean Phillips, Dave Brown and Chris Falconer.

The new gym is open Monday (Striking and takedowns), Wednesday (Grappling and Wrestling), Thursday (Grappling sparring), Friday (MMA stand up, kickboxing and boxing) from 6pm, Tuesdays (Strength and conditioning) at 5.45pm, Saturday and Sunday (Open mat) from 9.30am.

Seminars and private tuition is available on request.

Rob added: "We also have a class for 12 to 16-year-old interested in MMA and Kickboxing.

"We've cancelled participating in any competitions for the remainder of the year so we can concentrate on building the gym up to where we want it.

"However, in the New Year we will be open for fighting in MMA and Kickboxing competitions. We will be open for offers of fights from January 1st.

"It's an exiting time for the team and they put a lot of hard work into getting the gym up and running.  Already we have scores of new members and we believe we will go from strength to strength in the coming months."

For more information phone Rob on: 01665 510634

Every wed and Fri from 7.30pm phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk

Party Balloons
Fancy Dress
Face Painting
Party Decorations
Tricks and Treats
Wigs
Saucy Fun Outfits
Bouncy Castles
Care of Cameleon
Market Place, Alnwick
Northumberland
01665 606656
www.onestopfunshop.co.uk

Northern Fight League
MUAY THAI BOXING

07739 323202

Zanshin Aikido
Sunderland University
Sundays 6 to 8pm
and
Fridays 7 to 9pm
The new Cityscape Centre
Chester Road Campus
Chester Road
Sunderland
psethp@yahoo.co.uk
www.zanshinaikido.co.uk0191 5226294