LOUISIANA FIGHT CLUB

Gladiator's Academy and Spectrum Fitness merge

April 28, 2008

By: Angela Chustz-Parent

Paperwork was signed today by two Baton Rouge based companies for one of the most uncommon mergers yet to be seen.

Gladiator’s Academy of Baton Rouge is currently the largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training center with over 14,000 square feet of training area, a 24 foot boxing ring, and 20 foot octagon cage. It has some of the state’s best fighters and trainers including UFC’s Rich “No Love” Clementi, UFC’s Kyle Bradley, and more recent UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter Season (TUF) 7 contestant, “Crazy” Tim Credeur.

One of the most popular fitness centers locally, Spectrum Fitness, has close to a dozen of fitness centers located in and around the Baton Rouge area. Most locations have amenities including an indoor track, an outdoor pool, steam rooms, a jacuzzi’s, basketball courts, a daycare, massage therapy services, a tanning salon, a pro shop, and much more.

Tony Jarreau, owner of Gladiator’s Academy, and Donnie Jarreau of Spectrum Fitness signed an agreement today to merge these two gyms.

Gladiator’s Academy of Baton Rouge on Florida Boulevard will be moving to the 3103 block of Monterrey Drive to the 50,000 square foot Spectrum Fitness facility. Jarreau says the move is anticipated for on or before July 1st, 2008, pending the renovation of the 8,000 square foot area Spectrum Fitness is designing specially for the merge.

According to Jarreau, all current Gladiator’s Academy members will be grandfathered in and there will be no additional costs for members who enter into the new satellite facility on the 3000 block of Monterrey. The classes and instructors also will remain the same. 

Jarreau says the merge will allow for all Gladiator’s Academy members to utilize any Spectrum Fitness facility. Members of Gladiator’s Academy of Baton Rouge, Clementi’s Gladiator’s Academy of Slidell, and the upcoming “Crazy” Tim Credeur’s Gladiator’s Academy of Lafayette, will have access and use to all the Spectrum Fitness Centers including the Lady’s Spectrum and Foxy’s. 

This merge is forecasted to not only allow for the growth of Gladiator’s Academy and its merger, but to open doors to a whole new fan base of mixed martial arts fans.

To get more information on Gladiator’s Academy, visit www.gladiatorsacademy.com or call (225) 218-8871. For more information on Spectrum and its locations visit www.spectrumfitness.com.

LA Fight Photography moves forward

April 14, 2008

LA FIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY (LAFP) is moving forward with its plans to expand and promote only the best fight photographers around.

For all your promotional and event photography needs please consider LAFP. No event is too big or too small. LAFP has the right equipment and people to cover any fighting event. Visit LAFP's new website at www.thefightphotos.com.

LAFP is adding new content daily, so keep checking its site for updates. You might see yourself in one of those galleries!

LAFP is looking forward to continued service to its  fighter friends and promoters for years to come! If it wasn't for all of you there would be no LA FIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY! LAFP appreciates all those who have helped them grow this past year. 

LAFP contact information:

Erin Coker, Lacey Roberts or Donald Page
lafightphotography@gmail.com. For booking reservations contact Erin @ 225.279.0890

 A look at The Ultimate Fighter 7

By Dave Meltzer, Yahoo! Sports Mar 6, 7:35 pm EST

Spike TV’s Ultimate Fighter reality series will likely always have a footnote in U.S. sports culture, as it was the only reality show that essentially launched the popularity of a sport.

The seventh season will run on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific from Apr. 2 to June 18, finishing with the live finals on June 21 from Las Vegas. The coaches are UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and top contender Forrest Griffin.

While the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s history dates back to 1993, the company was losing millions of dollars and was up for sale in 2004 due to its inability to get a viable television deal, and inability to draw consistently on pay-per-view without it.

Mixed martial arts was deemed too controversial for television, but Spike picked up the concept of a reality show in which star fighters would coach up-and-comers, with the winners getting UFC contracts.

The first season, which ran in early 2005, was a huge hit, for a number of reasons. One of the biggest is that it aired at 11:05 p.m. on Monday nights, right after World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Raw” program. While most wrestling fans, in particular the kids and older people, weren’t that interested, Ultimate Fighter kept the vast majority of the WWE’s male 18-34 audience, which became the new core audience for the promotion.

The vast majority of the public envisioned “ultimate fighters” as thuggish bar room brawlers, devoid of the skills of boxers and wrestlers. But in airing the brutal training sessions and even more controversial weight-cutting, they became very real people, with real flaws and insecurities who worked incredibly hard. Instead of being unskilled, they actually had to be skilled to some degree at many fighting styles.

There were two nights from the first season which put UFC on the map: a two-week television grudge program that led to a match with Chris Leben vs. Josh Koscheck, still the highest rated episode in the history of the series, and the live championship match with Forrest Griffin winning a controversial decision over Stephan Bonnar, the almost perfect fight at the perfect moment.

The two coaches from the season, light heavyweight champion Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, fought with Liddell winning, and the match did record numbers for the sport on pay-per-view and it was established as a viable attraction.

Many of the fighters introduced that season, Griffin, Diego Sanchez, Koscheck, Leben, Mike Swick, Nate Quarry, Bonnar and Kenny Florian remain stars with the promotion.

The new season features Griffin as both a coach and UFC’s top contender for the light heavyweight title. The Athens, Ga. native, who was living on fighter Rory Singer’s couch three plus years ago, is coming off a submission win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who was generally considered the No. 1 light heavyweight in the world at the time, on Sept. 22 in Anaheim.

The pairing of Griffin and Jackson makes you think there will be a lot of comedy, given the duo’s vibrant personalities. And according to UFC president Dana White, some does exist. But White said one of the episodes saw the problems between the two get so heated that it nearly turned into a coaches’ fight. Similar confrontations in Season 3 with Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz in 2006 led to two matches, which took the popularity of the sport to a new level.

But it’s a very different show in Season 7. Criticized for being long in the tooth, the biggest obstacle in the show is the success it created. The success of the sport led to the formation of new promotions. The 16 fighters on Season 1 were not, as billed on television, the best 16 up-and-coming fighters in the country. But Griffin, Bobby Southworth, Sanchez, Leben and Bonnar were known commodities in the fight world, and Koscheck was well known in college wrestling circles for being an undefeated Division I champion in 2001.

More fighters exist than ever due to the popularity of the sport, but the top guys can make money, and aren’t as apt to sacrifice six weeks of their lives away from the outside world if they can earn a living in another promotion.

Last season, there was only one name fighter, Mac Danzig (who ended up winning the competition) in the cast.

Season 7 features middleweights (185 pounders), and instead of 16 fighters, they are doubling it with 32. The April 2 and April 9 shows will feature highlights of 16 first-round fights, with the winners going into the fighters house. “I was blown away by the level of professionalism,” said Griffin, about the series which just ended filming last week. “They knew they were there to fight and learn. Nobody had problems making weight.” The four semifinalists on the show ended up fighting four times in six weeks, so the idea was not just to win, but win with minimal damage. “It was real tough,” said Griffin, who like Jackson, had never been a coach of fighters before, let alone fighters he didn’t personally know.

“You had to end the fight the first chance you got. I’d tell them, ‘Just go out and knock the other guy out and we’ll put your hand in ice and you’ll be fine in a few days.’”

“The new format will give us two incredibly intense episodes to launch the season and will weed out some of the guys who might not have the heart and desire that it takes to become a UFC fighter,” said White.

More than any season to date, the 32 names are largely unknowns, with nobody even at Danzig’s experience level. “A lot of guys came from good camps and were at a good level,” said Griffin, who estimated five or six of the 16 who made the house would survive on the UFC roster. “There wasn’t anybody I would call a standout. The show did a good job of evenly matching the fighters but there’s nobody who is going to upset Anderson Silva.”

Paul Bradley (5-0 in small shows) is known to only the most ardent fans. Steve Byrnes fought once in UFC, losing to Logan Clark on December 13, 2006. Mike Dolce went 0-3 last season with the International Fight League. Gerald Harris, 6-2, with both losses last season in the IFL, is a genuine prospect with real wrestling ability. Dante Rivera, 10-2, also fought last year with the IFL.

Before the final week of the season, White said there was one fighter whom he thought was going to come out as a genuine star from the season, but he still had to win one more match to get into the finals.

The other 27 names starting out are David Baggett (4-2), Matt Brown (9-6), Erik Charles (10-5), John Clarke (7-2-1), Daniel Cramer (3-0), Tim Credeur (9-2), Clarence Dollaway (0-0), John Hall (3-3), Nick Klein (3-0), David Mewborn (0-0), Mike Marrello (7-1-1), Jeremy May (5-5), Prince LaDonas Mclean (4-5), Aaron Meisner (2-0), Reggie Orr (4-5-1), Matthew Riddle (0-0), Jeremiah Riggs (1-0), David Roberts (5-7), Nick Rossborough (0-0), Amir Sadollah (0-0), Patrick Schultz (0-3), Brandon Sene (2-0), Dan Simmler (0-0), Jesse Taylor (6-2), Cale Yarbrough (0-0), John Wood (6-3) and Luke Zachrich (7-1).

Melvin Guillard (21-7-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC), the once-promising UFC lightweight who suffered embarrassing back-to-back defeats in the UFC, rebounded for a vital victory at Friday’s Rage in the Cage 105 event.

Guillard posted a unanimous-decision victory over Eric Regan in the main event of the night’s 10-fight event.

The show took place at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.

Despite being one of the sport’s biggest, quickest and most-powerful fighters, Guillard has struggled against anything but the UFC’s lower-level talent. After defeating a then-inexperienced Marcus Davis at The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale, Guillard has since gone 2-3 in the organization. His victories were over little-known Rick Davis and Gabe Ruediger, and he’s lost to Josh Neer, Joe Stevenson and Rich Clementi.

The two most recent losses, though, were the most damaging. After accusing Stevenson of using HGH (and then having to apologize and admit he had no proof), Guillard was submitted by “The Ultimate Fighter 2” winner in just 27 seconds in their UFC Fight Night 9 main-event bout. Even worse, he tested positive for cocaine after the fight and served an eight-month suspension. Then came the loss to bitter rival Clementi. And despite a first-round submission loss, he vowed Guillard would fight Clementi again anytime he saw him—whether it’s in the cage or not.

On Friday Guillard moved up a weight class to fight Regan, a submission specialist and longtime RITC fighter who had won four of his past six fights—and seven of his past 10.

The UFC granted Guillard permission to compete outside the organization for the event.

For the full results from RITC 105, check out www.rageinthecage.com.

Check out more UFC News at MMAjunkie.com. This story originally appeared on MMAjunkie.com and is syndicated on Yahoo! Sports as part of a content-partnership deal between the two sites.

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Fighter shortage: MMA saturation in Louisiana

By: Angela Parent

March 6, 2008

MMA events are starting to consume every Saturday night in Louisiana. From Houma, Baton Rouge, Slidell, Shreveport, Lafayette, Mandeville, St. Gabriel, New Orleans, and Morgan City – mixed martial arts events are becoming more and more common to pop up at local civic centers than ever before.

Many promoters support Louisiana mixed martial arts by pulling within the state and place local fighters on their shows. Some promoters own mixed martial arts gyms here, so it’s natural for a gym owner to have his own students/fighters on the cards they promote. The opponents for the local fighters are most of the time from Louisiana also.

So, with the mass amounts of local shows that are going on, there is a shortage of fighters that can fight week to week, or month to month. A fighter may be scheduled to fight one weekend, and two weeks later will be scheduled for another card. What if the fighter looses the first fight scheduled and gets injured? Who suffers? - The promoter in most cases.

If there are five shows scheduled in one month, and the majority of promoters want local fighters to be featured on fight cards, someone will come up short. For the promoters, you better put on a good show, have an excellent reputation, and treat your fighters’ right because the fighters are going to pick your shows over the others who aren’t that great and have no crowd to cheer them on.

The shortage of fighters locally goes beyond just having enough fighters to fill the cards because of the saturation of events. The competition and conflict between local mixed martial arts gym owners, fighters, local mma professionals, and promoters makes the shortage of fighters even more so. "As the MMA turns," is a phrase I came up with that fits descriptively the amount of drama behind the doors of the local MMA scene.

To get a fighter from another state it costs more money. So, most promoters try to eliminate this cost by getting fighters within a certain range to fight on cards. That is pretty logical from a business prospective. What happens if this goes on for a while? – The same fighters are rotating fighting each other with limited outside talent thrown in. If one goes outside the circle, chances are, they are fighting a different breed of fighters – with more power and excelled training with the top fighters in the world.

If you are a local mixed martial arts fighter and your plans are to excel in this career and go to the next level of professional MMA, my suggestion is to take as many fights as you can out of state, go to professional training seminars and MMA camps as much as you can to get the full knowledge of what this sport is really about. Capitalize on what you can learn as a fighter. If you don’t, others will. Visualize the BIG picture – do not just stay within the little circle –and remember that this sport wouldn’t be alive without YOU.

 

 

 

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UFC legend Pat Smith discovers brother at MMA event

by: Angela Parent

February 11, 2008

Pat Smith was raised by his mother and father in Colgate, Oklahoma along with four siblings. His father was a World Champion Bronco Rider, World Champion Steer Wrestler, Stunt Wrestler, among other things, and traveled the world living the celebrity life.

When Smith was 6 years old his father and mother divorced leaving the mother to raise the children. His father continued to travel in his professional career creating distance between the children and not much communication.

Smith moved to Texas as an adult and pursued his interest in fighting. He was one of the first in the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) battling against Ken Shamrock in UFC 1: The Beginning and Royce Gracie in UFC 2: No Way Out, making him a legend in mixed martial arts history.

Most recently, Smith has his own “Team Pat Smith” out of Fort Worth and has an impressive resume with over 400 fights. He recently was preparing himself yet for another fight in Springfield, Missouri dated for January 31, 2008.

In a small town called Cushing, Oklahoma, professional mixed martial artist, Chris Deer was also preparing for an upcoming fight in Springfield, Missouri. His older half-brother, Jerry Deer who lives in South Fort Worth, is his manager and mentor out of Deer Tribe Fight Club.

These two were raised only by their mother since they were babies. They were known to have different fathers in which neither one had met their real fathers, but knew a little history of them.

While preparing for his fight, Chris was excited to hear that well known fighter “Pat Smith” would be the Main Event on the same card as he. Not for the reason that you may think though.

Chris for years says he told his wife that he thought he and Pat Smith “may be kin.” Jokingly throughout the years he told his wife, “He looks so much like me he could be my brother.” He said he has always idolized Smith because he had such an explosive professional MMA career – and the fact they were from around the same town in Oklahoma.

In January 2008 in Springfield, Missouri, Chris and Jerry along with other fighters for this card are sitting in the hotel room after weigh-ins, after had met Smith just hours before. Jerry says he decided to go down the hall to speak with Smith and to “hang out”. Chris says he received a text message from Jerry, “Come to room #119.” – This is where it gets interesting.

This is the conversation that Smith and Chris had once he arrived:

“Pat – so, I hear you are from Oklahoma.”

 “Yes, I am from Oklahoma.”

“Have you ever heard of this guy who is a World Champ Bronco Rider from around those parts?”

“Do you mean, Gene Smith?”

“Yes, Gene Smith. He was a bronco rider and did lots of traveling doing other things. Last time I heard he was residing in California.”

“Yes – and in fact – that is my father.”

“Are you serious? If that is true, then we are brothers!!”

The two immediately got on the phone to verify facts and within minutes became to realize that they are in fact - half brothers.

According to Smith, his mother was not aware that her ex-husband, Gene Smith, had an affair early in their marriage.

Jerry says Chris and Pat instantaneously became interested in each others lives and acted like brothers in every sense. All three stayed up late talking and Chris ended up cutting Pat’s hair for his Saturday night fight. They ended up cornering each other that night for the event – and both winning.

 

 

Chris has decided to join “Team Pat Smith” and move to Fort Worth. Ironically, Jerry has lived within 30 minutes of Smith for years.

Jerry is now Smith’s manager upon request.

Chris and Pat are planning a trip together this week to their home town in Oklahoma where their father is now residing to make a surprise visit. In the meantime, they are preparing for upcoming fights in February and in March.

It’s amazing that Chris and Pat are in the same business. Jerry says that they are both freakishly alike in every sense – from the looks, the talk, the walk – and their interests. Jerry laughs as he says, “Not only are Pat and Chris interested in the same sport, but they are interested in the same women too.”

Bradley vs Lytle results

February 2, 2008

Louisiana Fight Club and crew were at Buffalo Wild Wings tonight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana watching UFC 81 much anticipating the undercard bout between Bradley vs Lytle to be aired on PPV.

The place was packed with mixed martial arts fans and Beat2sleeP.com and Live and Know t-shirts.

After the main event was shown, Bradley vs Lytle was announed to be aired and the entire Buffalo Wild Wings cheered with excitement that one of our own Baton Rougians made it to the UFC.

Lytle won 33 seconds in the 1st round by KO. Bradley appeared to have suffered from some minor injuries.

Althougth Bradley lost his debut, we are very proud of him to have made it to the UFC and wish him luck in his professional mixed martial arts career.

UFC 81: Bradley and Lytle ready to fight

 www.ufc.com

February 1, 2008

By: Angela Chustz-Parent

Kyle Bradley and Chris Lytle successfully weighed in tonight making weight at 170lbs. Bradley and Lytle will be matching up tomorrow night on UFC 81 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

The bout is not scheduled to broadcast, but may be shown on pay per view decided by the UFC.

All of us in Louisiana wish Bradley much luck in his UFC debut.

Kyle Bradley of Denham Springs set to debut in UFC 81

January 10, 2007

By: Angela Chustz-Parent

www.thelafightclub.com

Kyle Bradley (13-4-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a Denham Springs, Louisiana native, confirmed with Louisiana Fight Club last night that he will be fighting his UFC debut on February 2, 2008 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in UFC 81 against UFC veteran Chris Lytle (24-15-5 MMA, 3-7 UFC).

"I haven't taken anyone down in five years," said Bradley back in September. He is known for his devastating power strikes. He is on a winning streak by dominating his last seven fights. Eight out of the thirteen wins Bradley has had, was by knockout. His power and striking ability has proven success in his MMA career.

Bradley is a Denham Springs High graduate and played as the quarterback on their football team. He is now a Junior High football coach. He trains at the original Gladiators Academy in Baton Rouge and the new Clementi’s Gladiators Academy in Slidell, owned by UFC veteran Rich Clementi. Bradley is managed by Monte Cox and is a member of Team Voodoo.

Please stay tuned for updates and announcements regarding this bout and Bradley’s UFC debut at www.ufc.com.

Clementi's Gladiators Academy now open in Slidell

By: Angela Chustz-Parent

December 30, 2007

Gladiators Academy has opened its first franchise of MMA gyms in Louisiana. Clementi's Gladiators Academy of Slidell was officially opened at 2170 Gause Boulevard West next to Wow's Wingery featuring professional MMA, youth programs, kickboxing, wrestling, and grappling. Any member of this gym or Gladiator's Academy in Baton Rouge will have access to both training locations. The Academy is open six days a week.

Clementi, along with J.C. Pennington, Brock Kerry, Kenny Stephens, and Sam Ortiz instruct classes. The gym offers beginner/intermediate classes for those just starting out in MMA, a Youth Warriors program where ages 9-14 will learn grappling and striking techniques, Thai Kickboxing and Boxing, and a Pro Only MMA class for those who are serious in MMA and who have fought or are training to fight.

Monday

6:00 – 7:30 pm             Intermediate / Beginner Thai pads "Kickboxing"

7:30 – 8:30 pm             Professional Kickboxing

Tuesday

4:00 – 5:15 pm             Youth Warriors Kickboxing

6:00 – 7:30 pm             Intermediate / Beginner Grappling

7:30 – 8:30 pm             Professional Fighter Class

Wednesday

6:00 – 8:00 pm            Wrestling

Thursday

4:00 – 5:15 pm            Youth Warriors Kickboxing

6:00 – 7:30 pm            Intermediate / Beginner Grappling

7:30 – 8:30 pm            Professional Fighter Class

Friday

6:00 – 7:30 pm             Intermediate / Beginner Thai pads "Kickboxing"

7:30 – 8:30 pm             Professional Kickboxing

Sunday

7:00 pm                        Open MMA Sparring

Clementi and JC Pennington in Sunday's Open MMA Sparring class

Clementi had a busy year with starting a tanning salon, promoting MMA events, having a child, getting married, coming off of being in the TUF4 reality show, having an outstanding year in fighting with a record of 6-1 (just this year), and now opening the Academy in Slidell.  He has even more to come in the year 2008! Keep your eyes and ears open!

For information on the gym please contact Rich Clementi at noloveent@msn.com or call 985-768-0411.

Louisiana Crimson Gloves Championships set for June 2008

Registration is now open for inclusion into USAMMA.  This is for Amateurs only.  Go to Fighter Registration page and answer a few questions, click submit and you are done.  This registration allows you the opportunity to be a participant in the first ever Louisiana Crimson Gloves Championships.  Each state will also have their own tournament.  If your state does not hold a tournament next year, you will still be able to fight in one of the four regional tournaments.  Those regional tournaments will lead to the National Championship.  So no matter what part of the country you are in, you have the chance to be National Champion.  This is the beginning of what will be the greatest series of Tournaments to determine an outright USAMMA Crimson Gloves National Champion.  Now the amateurs have something to work for.  This can only be done with the help of each one of you.  If you believe in the sport and believe in it becoming legitimate, this is your opportunity to be on the ground floor of something special.  We can do this! Please visit www.usa-mma.org to register today! For sponsorship opportunities please contact gilguillory@usa-mma.org.

Rich Clementi fights Melvin Guillard in a much anticipated grudge match

By: Angela Chustz-Parent

www.thelafightclub.com

December 26, 2007

There are only two UFC fighters who are said to be from Louisiana; Clementi of Slidell and Guillard of New Orleans.

On a local MMA scene, these two fighters are seen around at local events cornering their own guys who they train. This is just how most of us here in the state remember the last face to face confrontation of Clementi and Guillard, as they arrived separate to corner their students at an event in Houma, Louisiana in February of this year.

How did all this heat start between Clementi and Guillard? Clementi had this to say about how this got fired up between him and The Young Assassin right before the February event in southern Louisiana, “We had some private words via email. The words got heated back and forth. Then I received an apology letter from Melvin about it all. I told him, look; let’s just make it clear that we are NOT friends – apology not excepted. You don’t like me, I don’t like you, let’s just let it be known that we are not friends.”

“I show up at the event in February, I see Melvin and even though I don’t like the kid, I figured I would be respectful and go up to him and shake his hand and say hello. When I put my hand out to shake his, he sucker punched me. I landed a couple shots, we scrambled on the ground, and then the policemen there at the event pulled us apart. Four weeks later he is suspended for sniffin sh**. He is just not a smart individual.”

“I think Franklin said it the best, MMA is an intelligent game of human chess. Do I think Melvin is good at chess, NO. He has a lack of self-confidence about himself, he throws a big image around when he goes out, trying to be the big dog.”

Before February, there were other happenings that added to the fuel of these two hating each other. Clementi was the first out of Louisiana to make it to the UFC. After Clementi got picked up by manager, Monte Cox, he was trying to set up Guillard to be managed by him also, with an agreement that Clementi would train with Guillard and pretty much take him under his wing as a promise to Monte. “I have no respect for the fighters that don’t put their time in.” Clementi complained that Guillard was not showing up at the gym to train as they had planned and burned his bridges as being picked up with manager Cox.

This is Guillard’s first fight since coming back from being suspended for illegal drug usage. Clementi says that he believes Guillard is “least prepared” for this grudge match. “I have trained in my gym 2 times a day for the past 2 months, 5 hours a day. I don’t think Melvin will be able to adapt. I am in the best shape I have ever been in. My techniques are at an entirely different level. I have re-evaluated my fight game and have better jiu-jitsu than Melvin has.”

So, does fighting solve everything? After these two fight with everything they have in their bodies, will the grudge still continue? “He is going to hate me even more. Melvin is very predictable. I want to expose him, make him look like an idiot and ruin his career. My goal is to make sure he is embarrassed so bad that he won’t get sponsors, but I believe he is doing good on his own in that aspect.”

MMA sanctioned competitions for 8-17 year olds

December 16, 2007

USAMMA is working towards getting sanctioned competition in MMA for youths!

The sub novice program:
1. 8-17 year olds will be able to participate in limited MMA competition
2. no strikes to the head of the opponent at any time.
3. while standing, full contact below the shoulders,
4. on the ground, turns into a grappling match.

This will allow for MMA gyms to increase membership by giving younger competitors a way of competing and seeing their training pay off.

This will allow for the talent pool of amateurs to be increased. Imagine an 18 year old amateur after competing in sub novice for a few years.

Imagine a pro after subnovice competitions and amateur competitions. There will be a larger pool of talented pro fighters so all other promotions will increase in talent on their rosters.

This will allow other companies to sign talented fighters. The UFC will not be able to sign everyone. Competition is best for MMA. Go to www.usa-mma.org for more information.

NEW ASSOCIATION FORMED FOR AMATEUR MMA

We are the US Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Association, a non-profit organization, with the purpose of regulating, promoting and sanctioning amateur Mixed Martial Arts in the United States of America. With the help of all of you, we will achieve one sanctioning body for amateur MMA in the United States. With the help of the ABC and all of the state boxing and wrestling commissions, we will organize and coordinate amateur MMA in the US.

In order for our great sport to achieve a level of acceptance, there has to be a stringent set of rules that will allow for progression of the amateur competitors knowledge of MMA and provide a safe environment in which to learn.

USAMMA believes that striking and kicking is essential in MMA. However, at the amateur MMA level, we strive to develop and tune all of the skills that have become so critical to the sport. Because of this commitment to development, we feel that many of the rules associated with amateur MMA will have to be adjusted. You may learn more of our rules and regulations by visiting our Rules section.

USAMMA will sponsor state, regional and national tournaments, training camps and clinics to help athletes and trainers learn the newest training methods available.

USAMMA will develop and promote the sport, athletes and trainers at all developmental levels with the purpose of gaining national acceptance for MMA. Our ultimate goal is to gain acceptance at the Olympic level.

In June of 2008, USAMMA will have the first ever state tournament to determine a state champion in each weight class of MMA. This tournament is called the USAMMA Louisiana Crimson Gloves Tournament. We will have tournaments in many states and will have a Regional Tournament and National Championship. 2008 will have the first ever National Amateur MMA Champion. Legitimacy is what we seek, and I believe this is the way to get there.

We currently have representatives in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas. We will get the attention that is deserving of Amateur MMA.

We will be presenting our case to be Louisiana's sanctioning body in January of 2008. We need the support of the community. Please go to www.usa-mma.org (OR CLICK THE LOGO ABOVE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE WEBSITE) and register for FREE. We must come together and register to create a "union" of sorts. This will show all of the commissions that the popularity of MMA is not for a bunch of fragmented renegade organizations with no leadership. Once we've established our "union", we will have bargaining power. The only thing these state commissions understand is power.

USAMMA needs the help of all athletes, pro and am, and all people who love the sport. Athletes can register under the fighter registration page. All other people who love the sport, can register under the trainers page. Thank you very much.

Gil Guillory
Executive Director
USAMMA
WEB: www.usa-mma.org
EMAIL: gilguillory@usa-mma.org 

Clementi's Gladiators Academy opens in Slidell

November 11, 2007

Clementi's Gladiators Academy is having its Grand Opening on Monday, November 12th at 6:00 in the evening. The new gym is located near the mall and next to 2B Tan in the Slidell West Shopping Center at 2170 Gause Boulevard, Slidell, Louisiana, 70460. 

UFC Veteran Rich "No Love" Clementi has teamed up with Tony Jarreau, the owner of Gladiators Academy - Baton Rouge, and named this new location, Clementi's Gladiators Academy.  This is the first chain of mixed martial arts gyms in the state of Louisiana. To benefit the Gladiators Academy students, Clementi and Jarreau have made it to where any student of the Gladiators Academy's will be able to use either location with no extra access fees.

Clementi invites everyone out to come by the new Clementi's Gladiators Academy starting at 6pm on Monday for food and drinks, a belt ceremony for prior students, some training, and for those students who sign up for the new gym will recieve the rest  of November for FREE! 

Go check it out!! For more information or questions, please call 985-768-0411.

New Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation formed

by: Angela Chustz-Parent

November 4, 2007

Rafael Ellwanger is one of the two Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelts in the state of Louisiana. The other BJJ blackbelt is no other than "Crazy" Tim Credeur. These two talented martial artists are among less than one hundred Gracie Barra blackbelts in the United States.

Ellwanger is a highly talented martial artists including being  the Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu USA Champion, European Champion, 2 times Pan American Champion, and Brazilian National Champion.

The Louisiana Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (LBJJF) was founded by Ellwanger recently to represent the martial art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Louisiana. The overall purpose of the LBJJF is:

"To gather Jiu Jitsu fighters from all gyms , and to develop a spirit of friendship and internal assistance among Jiu-Jitsu Organizations all over the State. Coordinates local activities of Jiu-Jitsu, establishes technical and organizational rules, organizes and controls events, represents Jiu-Jitsu in Louisiana and makes decisions on possible controversial matters."

The LBJJF will be promoting its first event Saturday, November 10th in Ponchatoula, Louisiana at the Ponchatoula Community Center. Credeur and Ellwanger will be present at this 1st ever Louisiana Open BJJ tournament. All are welcome to come compete in the tournament and more information about why one should join the Federation will be discussed that day. For more information on registration for this event or to find out more about the Federation, please visit www.lbjjf.com.

LFC got a chance to interview Ellwanger about Gracie Barra and the new Louisiana Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation:

GRACIE BARRA
RAFEAL ELLWANGER

BJJ BLACKBELT


LFC: RAFAEL, TELL US A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR TRAINING UNDER THE "GRACIE" NAME.
I was born in Rio de Janeiro, always have loved martial arts, and the first one was Judo. After that, I practiced many others martial arts but Jiu Jitsu was love at first site. I was lucky in the beginning because I moved to the capital of Brazil, and the Jiu Jitsu over there was not that strong and I knew little at that time but I did pretty well in all regional competitions. I always trained under Gracie Barra, however with different professors. That is the good thing about GB, we have gyms all over and we are very united. "Organized like a team, fighting like a family."

LFC: HOW DID GRACIE BARRA, NORTHSHORE GET STARTED AND WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
Gracie Barra Northshore started because I was teaching for a company and they do not understand of the martial arts business. After a while they tried to change the deal between me and them. So that was the trigger for open my own business and do not have to deal with anybody anymore, just with my students and friends.

LFC: DO YOU THINK THAT THE "GRACIE" NAME AND BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU SPORT IS BEING MIS-USED?
Because the Brazilian version of Jiu Jitsu is not that old, everybody says that they are Gracie Jiu Jitsu and use the name without knowing anything and anybody. I am third generation, Carlos Gracie Sr., Carlos Gracie Jr. and myself. And I think that is very important!!!

I saw some guys referring competitions, and they were brown belt and do not know the point system. So a lot of people are talking about BJJ because of it's popularity and they can make money using BJJ and the Gracie name.

I know how to punch and kick and I do not teach Karate, Taekwando or MMA. So I do not think it is right for some guys take advantage of the name and teach BJJ without being an expert or being under a Black Belt.

LFC: WHAT TYPE OF THINGS ARE YOU DOING TO HELP REGULATE THE SPORT?
You have to check the gym before you enroll yourself or your kid. That is why we are organizing the Louisiana Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation, to certified gyms and professors. Louisiana has many fighters and gyms, however, we are not organized. Everybody travels to compete instead of having a calendar for local competition. 2008 will a great year for BJJ in Louisiana. You will be able to become a member of the Federation. The Federation is for all fighters, gyms, and instructors. We will show the others states that we are organized and we will promote high quality competitions. The best fighters will receive prices and will represent our state in big competitions. But you must be part of the federation to receive these prices.

We need the support of the gyms and fighter to make this happen. The LBJJF is official and directly under the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation. 

LFC: WHAT OTHER TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT DO YOU HAVE WITH THE GRACIE'S?
I am a black under Carlos Gracie Jr. and I grew up training with all of them. Carlos Gracie Jr. is for me the most important Gracie and will tell you why:

Besides a great coach and fighter, he was the one that made BJJ organized. He organized the IBJJF and all the competitions all over the world, developed the rules and point system, and promotes the sport, creating the first magazine specialized in BJJ. So without him, BJJ would be a local sport and not an international martial arts and spread all over the world.

To become a Gracie Barra Black belt under him is not easy. It took me 12 years to earn that. So that's why you need to choose carefully before join any club. It is like a university, you can have a degree from a community college or one from Harvard. It is up to you!!! We do have high quality professors in Louisiana such as me, Rodrigo, Tim, Gabe, Mathias and many others!

LFC: ARE THERE ANY SEMINARS OR TOURNAMENTS THAT YOU WILL BE PROMOTING?
I teach seminars for everybody, just give a call and we can setup a seminar in your gym or for a group of friends. I did an in house competition in June. The next one will be November 10th in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. This one will be the 1st Louisiana Open. GI and No GI. Everybody is welcome!! We will talk about the federation and the benefits of being a member.

LFC: RAFEAL, WE WISH YOU LUCK AND MUCH SUCCESS! WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ANYONE?
First for you and the Louisiana Fight Club, you are doing a great job!!!! Besides that I would like to thank all my students and my instructors Brett, Gerald, Kevin, Todd, Jim, Jeremy, Nunzio and Nic. And my best friend Ed Sanders!

---

Cage Side Live Radio got a taste of the bayou brawlers

by: Angela Chustz-Parent

October 29, 2007

If you did not get a chance to listen to last week's Cage Side LIve Radio show, go do it now! The archived version of the radio show includes no other than J.C. Pennington, and Rich "No Love" Clementi vs Melvin Guillard. I say "vs" because it was a pre-fight before the fight, which is scheduled on PPV December 29th in Las Vegas.

Clementi argued the fact that Guillard "sucker punched" him at  the Houma event early in February. Guillard said he does not feel that it was a sucker punch, but yet he told Clementi what he was going to do ahead of time. Guillard said, "I don't sucker anyone. I don't like you." He was arguing the fact that he told Clementi that he would fight him when he saw him next. Whether it was a sucker punch or a planned action, it was done. Clementi says, "I stuck out my hand to shake yours and you hit me." This tension between Guillard and Clementi stirred up over some heated emails from what they said during the interview.

Clementi and Guillard use to train together back in the day. Clementi says, "I don't think he's going to bring much to the table," when asking about the fight December 29th. He says he is "mentally weakened." Clementi says, "I was owning 100% of Melvin at the gym. He's not smart. I don't think he can adapt and adjust."

Guillard says, "this is a personal fight for me." He is ready to go against Clementi and as he said, "let my hands talk."

Guillard was so confident that he offered Clementi on the radio show, "winner takes all" for the December 29th fight. I'm not sure if that is possible in the UFC, but it shows that Guillard is ready and confident that he will take the victory. He ended it with, "When I see you, I'm going to kick your a@#!"

CLICK THIS PICTURE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE CAGE SIDE LIVE SITE TO LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVED RADIO SHOW!

by: Angela Chustz-Parent

October 29, 2007

If you did not get a chance to listen to last week's Cage Side LIve Radio show, go do it now! The archived version of the radio show includes no other than J.C. Pennington, and Rich "No Love" Clementi vs Melvin Guillard. I say "vs" because it was a pre-fight before the fight, which is scheduled on PPV December 29th in Las Vegas.

Clementi argued the fact that Guillard "sucker punched" him at  the Houma event early in February. Guillard said he does not feel that it was a sucker punch, but yet he told Clementi what he was going to do ahead of time. Guillard said, "I don't sucker anyone. I don't like you." He was arguing the fact that he told Clementi that he would fight him when he saw him next. Whether it was a sucker punch or a planned action, it was done. Clementi says, "I stuck out my hand to shake yours and you hit me." This tension between Guillard and Clementi stirred up over some heated emails from what they said during the interview.

Clementi and Guillard use to train together back in the day. Clementi says, "I don't think he's going to bring much to the table," when asking about the fight December 29th. He says he is "mentally weakened." Clementi says, "I was owning 100% of Melvin at the gym. He's not smart. I don't think he can adapt and adjust."

Guillard says, "this is a personal fight for me." He is ready to go against Clementi and as he said, "let my hands talk."

Guillard was so confident that he offered Clementi on the radio show, "winner takes all" for the December 29th fight. I'm not sure if that is possible in the UFC, but it shows that Guillard is ready and confident that he will take the victory. He ended it with, "When I see you, I'm going to kick your a@#!"

CLICK THIS PICTURE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE CAGE SIDE LIVE SITE TO LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVED RADIO SHOW!

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