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Why is boxer Mark Taffet interested in mixed martial arts?

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I really didn’t see this one coming…

This guy sounds like a lifelong boxer to me. He was the pay-per-view guru at HBO, and when he left cable but stayed in the business, I thought Mark Taffet was BFL: “Boxing for Life.”

I don’t think I was alone when I raised eyebrows this week at the news that Taffet, a Modern Jersey native who has the distinction of having been playing football for more than three decades and not having a legion of haters saying bad things about him back , was jumping into a novel pool: mixed martial arts.

I reached out to the former CEO who had been working on building the Claressa Shields brand for the past two years and was apparently laying the groundwork for this foray into MMA.

Why the MMA space, Mark? Bored with boxing?

“I did very well for 25 years at HBO, where I was heavily involved in boxing,” he told me. “I love this sport and I love many of the athletes I have had the opportunity to work closely with. But for many years I have been observing MMA from the point of view of an executive as well as a fan, and I have been amazed by the fascination, adrenaline and connection that MMA fans have with “their” sport. I believe MMA is just starting to realize its potential and will be a massive part of the culture of this generation. I love the challenge and the opportunity to be a part of and influence this growth.

Taffet’s novel team league will launch with five events in 2018 at the novel Demanding Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. The “MMA Pro League at the Demanding Rock” series will debut on Friday, July 20, with Team Modern Jersey vs. TeamPennsylvania. Each team in the league will be led by an MMA figure, starting with Team Modern Jersey coach and former UFC fighter Dan Miller and Team Pennsylvania coach and Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Daniel Gracie of the celebrated Gracie family.

And this league… how is it located? UFC rival? Complementing the UFC?

“The MMA Pro League is a team-based league and therefore different from the UFC and Bellator. I am a huge admirer of the UFC and Bellator as a fan and as a businessman. I have known (UFC president Dana (White) and (Bellator president) Scott (Coker) for many, many years and they have done a great job for their companies, the sport and the fans. The MMA Pro League, being a team – based and having a regular season and play- offy, is a complement to UFC and Bellator, not a competitor. We believe that our teams, city by city and market by market, will build a robust connection with fans, which will enable us to be a part of them to continue to grow MMA a way that will benefit the sport, existing massive brands and fans.” MMA promoter Hani Darwish is working with Taffet, for the record.

How long has this been planned and what will Taffet’s league bring? What are the highlights of MMA Pro? Is there a plan to broadcast or stream it?

“Our approach to MMA Pro League is to provide fans with the best product experience at every step,” Taffet continued. “In Phase One, our focus is on building teams, fielding them back-to-back in a five-game series at Demanding Rock Atlantic City, and delivering the ultimate live experience. We are evaluating Phase One streaming options for fans who cannot be at the Demanding Rock, and in the coming months we will announce a nationwide television deal for our first full season in 2019.”

How long did Taffet work on this project? “MMA Pro League is really tough work for both me and my partner, MMA Pro League CEO Darwish. Hani had been thinking about this for many years; created the DNA and framework for the MMA Pro League. A little over a year ago I started working seriously with Hania, and I added meat to the bones. Hani and I complement each other perfectly in terms of background, skills and personality. But we share the same great passion for this team-based, professional MMA league and are committed to its success. The MMA Pro League will bring an on-ground connection to the sport for fans, a foundation that will be laid and will grow city by city as we build teams and field them one by one in 2018 through our MMA Pro Liga in the Demanding Rock Series at the novel Demanding Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. All of this will lead to our first full regular season, playoffs and championship starting in spring 2019.

Taffet summed it all up: “If we implement our plans, we believe we will ensure the sport grows to the benefit of all parties involved, including – and most importantly – consumers. We look at the sport of MMA as a brilliant diamond with many facets and we strive to be one of the facets of this diamond.

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MMA

Demetrious Johnson equaled Anderson Silva’s UFC title defense record

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by Kendrick E. Johnson |

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson defended his flyweight title at UFC “Fight Night Kansas City,” looking to stop challenger Wilson Reis and make UFC history.

After beating Reis from the opening bell and submitting him via armbar at 4:49 of the third round, Johnson did exactly what he wanted. With this victory, Johnson has now won 12 straight fights, but more importantly, it is his 10th defense of the UFC flyweight title, tying Anderson Silva’s record for the most consecutive title defenses in UFC history.

The spectacular, historic victory left Johnson more placid and reserved than usual after the fight.

“GSP, Anderson, they are great champions, but I am the best champion that has ever stepped foot in this Octagon,” Johnson said. “I finish off all my opponents. There is no other champion who can mix it all, fight, punch and clinch like me.

Johnson scored the victory by punching and softening Reis while staying out of danger first. The champion then took him to the ground, pounded him some more, and then delivered a neat submission to the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

Going from a full mount to an armbar submission faster than anyone else in the UFC to end the event, “Mighty Mouse” showed why he’s considered the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world today.

“It was a damn good night,” Johnson said in his post-fight Octagon interview. “It’s probably the best training camp I’ve ever had, and my head coach kept telling me, ‘Just be yourself.’ I came back and did a lot of things differently at this camp and it was the best effort I’ve ever felt.

Even if people like UFC president Dana White call him the “GOAT” of the UFC, putting his name first alongside Silva, who ruled the middleweight division and pound-for-pound rankings from 2006-2013. Johnson remains focused on taking his division and legacy to heights never before seen in MMA.

“I’m like any champion, whether it’s a team sport like the Michael Jordan Bulls or something like the UFC, I want to win as many championships as possible,” Johnson said at the post-fight news conference. I’ve got 10 title defenses now and I can take this belt home and hopefully next time I can break through and maybe I can get 13 or 14 titles, so why not set the bar high. Just like Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world, I’m the fastest man in mixed martial arts, so I’m going to continue to prove that and hopefully set the record at 15 years and then I can retire.

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MMA

Max Holloway is on a mission at UFC 212

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by Kendrick E. Johnson |

Even with 10 consecutive wins inside the Octagon, UFC interim featherweight champion Max “Blessed” Holloway never had the opportunity to fight for the undisputed championship.

That will all change on Saturday when Holloway faces UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in a unification fight at UFC 212 at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This will be only the second time in his career that Holloway will headline a pay-per-view card, but he is extremely confident of entering enemy territory in pursuit of his lifelong dream.

“I’ve been in the spotlight in my career, I’ve had a five-round fight outside the UFC and I’m ready for anything,” Holloway said during a recent conference call.

“I’m just ready to show the world what I’m about and why I’m the best fighter in this division.”

“Blessed” has finished seven opponents in his 10-fight winning streak, including a TKO over former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis to become interim champion.

Holloway and Aldo are two of the best all-around strikers in MMA today, but there aren’t many other similarities both inside and outside the Octagon. What they have in common, however, is that their last defeat came against UFC’s most recognizable star, “Notorious” Conor McGregor.

For Holloway, losing to McGregor four years ago was a good thing. He regrouped, became a more complete fighter and put together one of the greatest winning streaks in UFC history.

However, despite his incredible success at the championship level over the past few years, the UFC has been reluctant to put its hype machine behind Holloway, much to the surprise of many in the media and fans.

Even with this lack of pressure, Holloway is very excited to reign supreme in a division that has only had two undisputed champions in its compact history.

“I just can’t wait to do the damn thing; get in there and fight one of the best of all time,” Holloway said. “He is one of the greatest in our sport, but it is time for a up-to-date era.”

“I have been an underdog my whole life. I do not care. I shouldn’t be here. Max Holloway shouldn’t be talking to any of you. I shouldn’t be here. It is what it is. “Actions speak louder than words, and I have done many things.”

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MMA

Amanda Nunes withdraws from UFC 213 title fight

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by Kendrick E. Johnson |

After being hospitalized hours earlier, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has been withdrawn from her UFC 213 main event bout against top-ranked Valentina Shevchenko, UFC president Dana White confirmed.

The report of Nunes’ illness and withdrawal was first revealed by mmafighting.com’s Ariel Helwani. White told LA Times writer Lance Pugmire via text message: “I don’t know why Nunes (14-4) withdrew from the card after being examined by a doctor.

“The doctor cleared her to fight. She said she wasn’t feeling well,” White said. “It is what it is. You can’t force anyone to fight.”

Now, the scheduled co-main event fight for the interim middleweight title between Yoel “The Soldier of God” Romero and Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker will be upgraded to main event status at UFC 213. The fresh co-main event will be a heavyweight fight between the former champion Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem, who will fight for the title of number 1 contender to champion Stipe Miocic.

Many commented on how exhausted Nunes looked, as fighters often do, at the official weigh-in on Friday morning around 10 a.m. PST. It must be admitted that in her nine-year MMA career, “The Lioness” has never officially made weight or withdrawn from a fight due to weight loss problems, until today.

The fight will likely be postponed soon. Bob Bennett of the Nevada State Athletic Commission said Nunes had problems beyond the weakness resulting from the weight cut that led to her withdrawal.

Meanwhile, undefeated women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk spent Saturday morning “begging White to fight via text messages and social media.” Jedrzejczyk last fought at UFC 211 in May and plans to fight in November at UFC 217, but she was in town for International Fight Week and told White she would face Shevchencko.

Much to the disappointment of fans and the media, the strawweight champion has no chance of fighting tonight because medical tests and other clearances require a little longer before the NSAC will clear her. So everyone has to hold on tight to see how this story unfolds over the next few days

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