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LEGACY
MMA Lifestyle
Publisher Mick Maynard Business Manager Andrea Maynard Editor in Chief Chris Shepperd Design/Layout Justin Trapp, Fighter Portraits
writers
Mike Calimbas AJ Hoffman Barry Laminack Brandon Nowalk Chris Zebo
It is hard to believe we are already at the end of 2011, it’s been a great year! Our final show for 2011 is coming up on December 16th at the Houston Arena Theater featuring the current Legacy Welterweight champ Jorge “Macaco” Patino vs. former Legacy Welterweight champ Mike “The Greek” Bronzoulis. Mike is returning to us coming off of a win in StrikeForce and we are excited about this matchup as well as his return home to Legacy. In addition we have Daniel Pineda, Jeff Rexroad, Efrain Escudero, Cody Williams, Frost Murphy, Jesus Rivera and many more exciting matchups. In January we kick off our amateur tournament series January 21st at the Houston Arena Theater and have a show planned every month throughout the year. December 16th – Legacy FC January 21st – Legacy amateur MMA series (pending TDLR approval) February 10th – Legacy Amateur series in Dallas (pending TDLR approval) February 24th – Legacy FC For the past two months we have also been hosting the Legacy MMA Power hour on 790 The Sports Animal on Sundays at 7am. We also have it on podcast at our Legacy facebook page each week. Starting in December look for us in a new time slot on Friday nights. Thank you for a great year and for all of your support, if you have any suggestions on how we can be better please contact me at mick@legacyfights.tv. Thank you, Mick Maynard President Legacy Fighting Championships
LET US KNOW
Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the editor, publisher or the newspaper staff. Maroon Weekly is not liable for omissions, misprints to typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. 1st copy is FREE, additional copies are $0.50 each Legacy - MMA Lifestyle 216 W. 26th Street ste 29 Bryan, Texas 77803 ph: 979.696.3971 | fax: 281.312.5160 © Copyright 2010 Legacy Media Inc.
What do you think of the magazine? Send us an e-mail to mick@LegacyFights.tv
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photo by Justin Trapp
FIGHTER PROFILE
he is back
Mike “The Greek” Bronzoulis returns to the cage for Legacy Fighting Championship 9. He will take on Jorge “Macaco” Patino to determine who is truly the top dog.
By Mike Calimbas
A champion returns when Mike “The Greek” Bronzoulis returns to what will sure be a hero’s welcome on December 16th at Legacy Fighting Championship 9. It will be then that the former Legacy Welterweight Champion comes back to take on current titleholder Jorge “Macaco” Patino in an epic superfight to determine who truly stands at the top of the heap in Legacy’s crowded 170 division. It has been almost a year’s time since the promotion last saw Bronzoulis (13-3-1) compete at Legacy FC 5.It was then that the Paradigm fighter charged out of the gate like one of the Greek warriors of old against challenger Joe “Jitsu” Christopher. In a dominant performance, he completely battered and bloodied his veteran opponent for three straight rounds before forcing a third round stoppage that night to defend his belt in a performance that put the nation on notice that he was in fact a fighter to be reckoned with. Capitalizing on momentum from that victory along with his title-winning TKO of Jonathan “Hulk” Harris to win the Legacy belt this past January, Mike B. would eventually end up graduating from the Houston fight scene courtesy of an exclusive contract with the national Strikeforce promotion. Since then he’s gone 1-1 for the Zuffa-owed promotion with his most appearance being a dominant victory over Chad “The Boss” Leonhardt (10-3) at Strikeforce Challengers 18 this past august. Now with five wins in his last six bouts and no fights to be had in the Strikeforce promotion, “The Greek” has chosen to stay busy rather than stay on the sidelines. “I’m a fighter and if it were up to me I’d fight every day if I could,” Mike told us. “As we all know with Strikeforce, they are kind of limited on the number of shows they are running right now and they have so many fighters in their stable needing fights. Unfortunately they can’t put us on all the shows they have this year. Me being the fighter that I am I asked them if I could try and find a fight outside of the organization. They told me they were cool with me finding one fight out of my contract to hold me over so here I am. With the blessing of Strikeforce and a golden opportunity to take on the Gold Team leader, Mike has chosen to come back to Legacy to take on a fighter he truly respects, for the belt he never rightfully lost. There can only be one. “I think it is a great matchup,” he says about his upcoming tussle for the title. “This fight has a chance to be one of the biggest fighters ever in Houston with us seeing who the real champion is. I also think it can get me to where I want to go (with respect to national respect and a shot in the UFC).” To sum up his thoughts on the bout, Mike B. says that to become a legend, sometimes you have to beat one. Like the old adage says, “to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.” You know, Jorge “Macaco” Patino (20-13-1) is a legend in the game and I believe he’s an awesome fighter but I feel really good about this fight. I’m going to go to go in there, do my thing, and win. No disrespect to Macaco… He holds that belt fair and square and he’s the champion but I also want to show everyone why I’m also as great as I am. This is my opportunity to prove it against a great fighter. I cannot wait for this fight. I’m ready.
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FIGHTER PROFILE
Frost Murphy makes his Pro Debut
Murphy is no stranger to competition. But his FC9 fight will be the beginning of his Pro career with Legacy.
Story and Photos by
Mike Calimbas
What would it be like if every time we on an MMA event, a kid’s life got saved? Believe it or not, the above statement is not a hypothetical question. It’s something one fighter is looking to make into a reality on December 16th at HDNet’s Legacy Fighting Championship 9. Frost Murphy, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and coach at Elite MMA will be making his professional debut at the event with a unique goal that doesn’t necessarily include chasing down titles or putting a ton of money in his pocket, though both would be nice. Instead he’s looking to use Mixed Martial Arts as a platform to raise money so that one child can have life-saving heart surgery. “A lot of the general public thinks of fighting and even BJJ as sports where all that matters is hurting people. I don’t think that’s the case at all. I want to show people this isn’t just a blood sport and that there are a lot of people in the MMA/BJJ world that have big hearts and really want to make a difference. I want people to relate to MMA fighters like they relate to Firemen.” Making his transition to MMA despite the fact that his first love remains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Frost is committed to setting an example as a fighter in and out of the cage. He’ll begin that quest by donating 100% of the money he’s going to make from this fight directly to a very worthy organization. “The charity I chose is called HeartGift.org,” he told us. “I chose this charity because my soon-to-be father in law started it and I want to honor him and his family as we join families. The mission of HeartGift is to perform heart surgeries to disadvantaged children from developing countries where specialized medical treatment is either scarce or nonexistent.” The average cost of heart surgery is over $20,000 and he’s looking to raise at least that much by December through a series of fundraisers leading up to Legacy Fighting Championship 9. “You never really know where you money goes when you donate to a big charity,” he says about most money-raising projects people hear about. With HeartGift, that’s different. “This is an opportunity for people to really see where their $20, $50, or whatever they decide to give will go and how it helps
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a particular kid out. I think it really helps when you know whose life you are helping to better with your contribution. For this fight, there is one kid with one heart and I plan on sharing his or her story for everyone to see the difference they made afterwards. It takes 22K on average to sponsor one surgery. I’m committed to sponsoring one surgery with my first fight. Hopefully the fight community will get behind me and really help this kid out.” The ultimate goal for Frost beyond saving a life is to transform the way people relate to the MMA community. With his upcoming opponent Chris Rucker already supporting the cause and donating a portion of his own purse, it sounds like that spirit has already taken hold. “If we can start a trend of people competing to raise money for others it will be good for the community. People will get behind a cause, they do not get behind one guy’s desire to be famous or kick someone else’s ass. Being in service to others is what life is all about. Legacy is an awesome organization and a driving force in MMA. This could be one more thing that sets them apart from other MMA organizations and I’m hoping to set an example for this spirit in the future.”
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Legacy: Around the cage
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FIGHTER PROFILE
Efrain Escudero steps up Story by Mike Calimbas
As winner of season 8 of the Spike TV reality show, The Ultimate Fighter, Efrain Escudero is a name that should be familiar to many in the MMA world. Beginning his career in 2006, the popular Mexican fighter currently has 18 wins under his belt with three of those victories taking place inside the UFC octagon and only three losses against him. Released from the UFC in September of 2010 after missing weight and losing to fellow prospect Charles Oliviera at Ultimate Fight Night 22, Efrain has since gone on a mission to prove himself and earn his way back to the UFC and that mission continues on December 16th at Legacy Fighting Championship 9 against Jeff Rexroad. “Every win is important especially when you’ve a name in the MMA industry that people know,” said his manager Donnie Stewart about his upcoming fight with Rexroad. “A lot of these guys that are hungry to come up and make a name for themselves are gunning for you. Fortunately for Efrain, he doesn’t let any of that get to him. This fight will get Efrain in front of his fans again since it’ll be broadcast on HDNet. And that’s where he belongs. His fans have been there through thick and thin and he thrives off their support. But obviously the answer everyone is looking for is what show is going to next. I guess everyone will have to wait and see after this fight.” According to Stewart, getting back into the UFC would be a good thing but with the enormous popularity of MMA now on a whole, there’s a lot of opportunity for a guy like Escudero outside the UFC as well – including this opportunity to fight in front of a nationwide audience at Legacy. “Working with Mick and the guys is always great,” he said about this upcoming fight. “Legacy is definitely one of the best-run regional shows right now. They’ve got great production, great attitude, and most importantly, they treat their guys right. This fight with Rexroad is going to be tough and we’re taking it on short notice. Coaches are breaking down the footage right now and his height could pose a problem but Efrain’s so well-rounded that it won’t really matter where the fight ends up. We’ll be ready.” Heading into this bout, Escudero will be looking to continue on with the successful role he’s been on since his UFC release. He’s won five out of six bouts heading into this bout and most recently earned a first-round victory over Cesar Avila at Bellator 55 in his home state of Arizona. This time around, he’ll be facing what he considers another tough opponent in Rexroad – one that’s bigger and stronger but one he’ll confidently game plan for along with Coach John Crouch from MMA Lab in Glendale, Arizona. “There should not be any surprises,” his camp said about the bout. “Jeff is skilled and tall but let’s not forget Efrain trains every day with Ben Henderson. He is not overlooking his opponent at all and this will be a good fight that any fan of MMA will definitely want to watch. We look forward to a great show.” With the fight in Houston rapidly approaching, Efrain left us with this message for Houston’s Spanish-speaking fans. “Para todos Mis amigos Latinos que me van a Mira pelea muchas gracias Por todo! Yo pelea Por mi Pero represento a todos Los Latinos.”
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Fresh from a scintillating knockout of veteran fighter Nate Garza, Beaumont resident Cody “Wolverine” Williams will be back in the cage this December against another experienced opponent in Steve Garcia with an eye on fasttracking his way into the 135 title picture and MMA stardom. As a prized fighter of Beaumont’s American Top Team Academy (the only ATT affiliate in East Texas), he will come into the bout confident after training with some of the best his team has to offer and believing he has all the tools to win this bout and accomplish so much more in the sport he considers his passion.
FIGHTER PROFILE
Cody “wolverine” williams preps fc9 By Mike Calimbas
We spoke to the “Wolverine” recently to get his thoughts on the upcoming contest and what fans can expect from him in the near future. Congratulations on your win over Nate Garza at Legacy Fighting Championship 8 Cody. How did it feel getting that first Legacy win in Houston? It was real satisfying. I did everything I wanted to do as far as dictating the pace and deciding where the fight took place. I hope everybody realized I’m a knockout caliber fighter. Who helped you prepare for that fight and what’s your fight camp like out there in Beaumont? The American Top Team curriculum is the key to my success. Everybody in general helps me out here, including Mike Berryhill, Tyler Reese, Cliff Palermo, and everybody else. The entire team helps each other strive and get better. It was a great camp and I got some pointers from Cole Miller that helped me in the fight. It really helped me go above and beyond. Plus Jessica Aguilar came down to be in my corner for the fight also. It really sent me in the cage with a little bit of a boost and gave me an advantage. So now you’re undefeated at 2-0 after a stellar amateur career. What is it about you that you feel will cause people to have to watch out for you? They just need to watch out for me. That’s it, you answered the questions yourself. I think I’ve shown power, resilience, wrestling, and cardio in my first fight and then showed some different aspects at Legacy FC 8 with my Muay Thai game and also some improvement in my speed and my head movement plus the knockout power that I have. I feel like I’m dangerous where the fight goes. I can tap people out from my back, utilize my top game and ground and pound, clinches, takedowns, you name it. I hate to kind of harp on myself because really not that kind of person but I think I’m just getting better and better. As dedicated as I am and as much work as I dedicate to this sport, you know… people just need to watch for me and the fans need to watch out too.
photo by Justin Trapp
What are your thoughts on this upcoming fight with Steve Garcia at Legacy FC 9 on December 16th? I’m going to go in there and do exactly the same thing I did with Nate Garza; not saying I’m going to go in there and dominate the entire fight but my mindset is going to be the same. My mindset for every fight is the same and I know I’ll be prepared and have done everything I can to be ready. Wherever we go, I can control what I do and not what he does so I just have to be ready wherever it goes. All the mental and physical preparation will just lead up to that moment and I feel me at 135 pounds will be really, really hard to stop. Any last words before your fight? Just to all the other fighters and stuff out there bickering and complaining, show some respect for Mick, Legacy, HDNet, and everybody else who helps us be able to do what we do. Let’s get out there and show them we have what it takes and we’re true professionals so we can bring up the Houston and Texas MMA scene so we can let the nation know we’re for real and we have talent out here. Also, I’d like to thank my son Colton Williams for being my inspiration to drive through obstacles during my young fight career. With that I want to include my mom Debra & her husband Tom, my sister Emily and her husband Todd Zambardino, and finally my beautiful fiancée Catherine Taylor for helping me out with my son to give me more time to train. Thanks to my sponsors, my team, and my loyal and electric fan base. I love all of you guys! Follow me on facebook/twitter - @CWilliamsATT. American Top Team Beaumont changing the face of MMA in SETX! www.legacyfights.tv DECEMBER-JANUARY LEGACY MAGAZINE | 15
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Fight Night
PREVIEW
By Barry Laminack (TheCageDoor.net) and Mike Calimbas (TxMMA.com)
Welcome to another preview of another fantastic Legacy Fighting Championship card. This card is scheduled to take place on December 16th, 2011 at the Houston Arena Theatre and will air LIVE on HDNet. Don’t let the fact that it’s on TV dissuade you from getting your tickets and getting out to see the action live.
170lbs - #3 Jorge Patino (25-13-1) vs #2 Mike Bronzoulis (13-3-1) In an almost unprecedented move, a Zuffa signed fighter is being allowed to fight for another organization while still under contract with Zuffa LLC. That fighter is Mike “The Greek” Bronzoulis. Bronzoulis has been a fixture atop the Houston (and Texas) MMA scene for the last 4 years. He’s probably most remembered for his backto-back fights against Kamal Shalarous (WEC, UFC) and Cleburn Walker (The Ultimate Fighter Season 11). He fought Shalarous to a draw in April of 2010 and then 7 months later (just a few short months before Walker appeared on TUF11) he KO’ed Walker with a dynamic head kick. Bronzoulis returns to Legacy FC after departing for Strikeforce and a 4-fight contract with the California based promotion. He no doubt has his on eye on getting back the belt that he vacated when he left. “When my bosses at Strikeforce told me I could take a fight outside my contract, of course I wanted to fight for my favorite organization (Legacy). I think it is a great matchup and has the chance to be one of the biggest fights ever in Houston. I need a win like this against a legend in the sport. I have nothing but respect for him and look forward to being back in Houston on December 16th,” Bronzoulis told TheCageDoor.net’s AJ Hoffman. That belt is now held by Jorge Patino (20-
13-1), who recently won it in a 5 round war, defeating Pete Spratt at Legacy FC8 in September on HDNet. “Macaco” as most fight fans know him, is hoping to have a great showing at FC9 in the hopes that it could set him up for a possible return to the UFC.
AJ Hoffman (TheCageDoor.net) also spoke with Macaco about the potential. “I am very excited to fight someone like Mike Bronzoulis. I know he is a really good fighter and has a big name. He has been fighting in Strikeforce and he looked very good in his last fight. I want to fight someone who deserves to fight for the title. I think Mike will be a great opponent and I cannot wait for the fight! I hope if it is God’s will that I get a win against him that I can go to Joe Silva and say I have beaten some great opponents, and maybe I can get a shot at the UFC again.” This is going to be a war. Both guys are going to leave everything they have in the cage because both of them have a tremendous will to win. I don’t see it ending early via KO because they both have chins of granite. Bronzoulis has outstanding striking, as evidence by his ability to force his last opponent (Chad Leonhardt (10-3) to tap to leg kicks! Yeah, he’s that good. He’ll need those kicks because Macaco is no slouch when it comes to striking. He’s relentless when he has gas in the tank and, as I mentioned earlier, is almost impossible to KO (just ask Pete Spratt). The “experts” will tell you that Macaco will have a huge advantage on the ground because of his BJJ skills, but if an Olympic wrestler with world class skills like Kamal Shalarous couldn’t keep Bronzoulis’ back on the mat, I’m not sure Macaco will be able to fair much better. That’s not an indication of who I think will win, rather where I think the fight will take place.
145lbs – #4 Gilbert “The Pitbull” Jiminez (6-3-0) vs #1 Daniel “The Pit” Pineda (14-7-0) Daniel Pineda is by far one of the hottest fighters in Texas. He’s currently riding a 4-fight win streak and has won 6 of his last 7 fights. He is the current featherweight AND lightweight champion for Legacy and has become the face of the organization. “The Pit” is coming off the biggest win of his career having defeated Frank Gomez in dominating fashion at Legacy FC 7. Not long after that fight he signed with a highly regarded national fighter management company. That deal has put him one step closer to the UFC, a promotion that I personally think will come in 2012 if he keeps winning. If he’s going to meet that goal, he’s going to have to get past Gilbert “The Pitbull” Jiminez at Legacy FC9. Jiminez recently fought Rocky Long to a draw at IMKF and is looking to prove he’s one of the best fighters at 145lbs in Texas. If he can pull off the upset and beat Pineda, he would do just that. These two may share a common nickname, but these guys really don’t think too highly of each other, so this one could be filled with fireworks. Both of these guys have a lot at stake in this fight. For Pineda a loss would deal a crushing blow to his quest for a UFC contract. Jiminez is 1-2-1 in his last 4 fights, so a loss would move him from contender status to middle of the pack, forcing the San Antonio native to work his way back up the ranks among 145’ers in Texas. I see this fight taking place on the ground for the most part. Both guys are brawlers, though I think Pineda has a much more controlled and refined style. On the
ground it’s going to be Jiminez’s BJJ vs Pineda’s wrestling. 170lbs – Jeff Rexroad (4-1-0) vs Efrain Escudero (18-3-0) This fight between Jeff Rexroad and Efrain Escudero once again pits one of Houston’s best against a high-caliber fight that’s proven himself nationally. Heading into this bout, Rexroad has won his last three fights and four out of fight overall. As homegrown a product as they come, the Houston police officer is as organic a product as they come for the promotion and will be looking to test himself in this one. He’ll be looking to make his comingout party of sorts against Escudero, a fomer winner on season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter and a veteran of the sport that’s won 3-2 in the UFC while maintaining an 18-3 record overall. As far as this matchup goes, it will be an interesting one to say the last. Jeff Rexroad is a natural welterweight and a big one at that, standing at 6’3”. He’ll definately have the reach advantage in this one. Combine that with the fact that he has formidable striking skills along with a BJJ brown belt and solid wrestling and what that adds up to may be trouble for Escudero. But then again, Efrain trains at MMA Lab every day with none other than UFC lightweight top contender Benson Henderson so it’s not like he doesn’t train with tall, athletic fighters every day. Efrain’s no stranger to fighting tall guys with well-rounded skill sets. Just look at his past fights against Charles Oliviera and Cole Miller as testament to that fact. The 25 year old will be bringing every bit of his striking, wrestling, and submission skills to Houston as he looks to add Rexroad to his list of victims on the way back to the top.
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All in all, this has the makings of a very exciting fight that could go anywhere. Tune on on HDNet or better yet show up and watch it in person on December 16th to see who comes out the victor. HVY – #2 Rakim Cleveland (256) (2-1-0) vs #1 Derrick Lewis (231) (5-2-0) Only in the heavyweight division can you have a 25lb weight differential between fighters and still make the fight happen! Legacy lists Rakim Cleveland at 256lbs and his opponent Derrick Lewis at 231lbs. Legacy isn’t a “heavyweight” organization. What I mean by that is, they don’t have a lot of heavy weight fighters on their roster. Heck, truth be told, Houston isn’t a heavyweight fight town. That said, leave it to Legacy to go out and get the two highest ranked heavy weights in Houston and put them on an already stacked card. The first time these two met (yes, this is a rematch) Lewis beat Cleveland via arm bar in the second round. The bottom line is, the guys are going to BANG! That’s what they do. Ignore that one submission; it was the exception and not the rule. In fact, when I talked to Lewis and asked him why he took this rematch after having won the first one he replied, “Because I want to win it with strikes.” Lewis is a heavy-handed fighter who is very nimble for his size. Having watched him grow as a fighter, you can see him continuing to mature in (and out) of the cage. He’s the current heavyweight champion for two different organizations and in time could add a third to that one in the form of a Legacy Championship. Rakim is a different fighter since he and Lewis fought back in November of last year. He’s slimmer and more focused and has finally found a home gym after bouncing around a bit. As much as he’s going to want to stand and trade with Lewis, I think his best bet is to take Lewis to the ground and try and return the favor from the first fight by defeating him via submission. Cleveland has the skills; he just needs to use them. That being said, if his last fight was any indication of his preferred style, I expect him to stand in the center of the cage and exchange punches with “The Black Beast” until one of them falls. 135lbs – #7 Steve Garcia (7-5-0) vs #6 Cody Williams (2-0-0) After losing to Steven Peterson via Guillotine in the first round at FC8, and before that losing a close decision to former WEC veteran Will Compuzano. Garcia is in need of a win. The scrappy and talented fighter will be looking to right
the ship at FC9 and he has faced these circumstances before. He lost two in a row earlier in his career only to bounce back and win 4 of his next 5. He’s a balanced fighter with a good ground game, but willingness to trade with anyone. Getting back to winning for Garcia is going to be easier said than done. He is scheduled to fight Cody “Wolverine” Williams at FC10; a fighter many think is the next “it” fighter out of South East Texas. Granted, Williams is only 2-0 but has beaten two very skilled fighters in Nate Garza (via KO at FC 8) and Gerzan Chaw (via RNC back in April). Williams will go into the fight as the stronger fighter, and maybe even the more aggressive of the two (if that’s possible given Garcia’s go forward style). What we don’t know is will Garcia be hesitant to pull the trigger after getting subbed early by Peterson in his last fight? I don’t think that will be the case, but it’s a possibility. There aren’t many holes in Williams’ game, even at 2-0. He’s got great Power in both hands, ridiculous wrestling and has shown a lot of poise and control for a young fighter. I don’t expect this fight to go the distance. In fact, when I first broke down this fight on TheCageDoor.net when the rumor was out, I said that this could be the early favorite for KO of the night. I still believe that to be true. The only question is, who’s going to get it? 185lbs - #4 Larry Crowe (5-1-0) vs #5 Bubba Bush (3-1-0) If you were going to make a list of the hottest fighters in Houston (and I’m not talking looks here) then you would have to include Larry “Tae Kwon” Crowe on that list. The Silverback Fight Club standout is an impressive 5-1 in his young career. He’s won 4 in a row (3 of those in 2011) and is coming off of what could end up being TheCageDoor.net Houston MMA KO of the Year after knocking out “Hurricane” Ike Villanueva at FC8. I said after the fight that I felt Crowe should be given a title shot soon, assuming he can get past Brazos Valley MMA’s Bubba Bush. Bush is a mountain of a main. and as HDNet’s announcer extraordinaire “The Voice” Michael Schiavallo might describe him, he has “more muscles than a seafood platter.” But Bush is just all show and no go. He’s a serious contender in the middleweight division. He was on his way to a possible decision win over current middleweight champion Andrew Craig before getting clipped with under 30 seconds to go, forcing the referee to stop the fight. Crowe is a good striker with very good
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takedown defense, but he’s facing a wrestler in Bubba Bush who doesn’t get denied a takedown very often. Because of that, I think Bush will be able to control Crowe on the ground and force him to win or lose the fight from his back, something Crowe has the ability to do, if he doesn’t panic or get overwhelmed by the initial pressure from Bush. 155lbs – #7 Jesus Rivera (6-2-0) vs Randy Hauer (7-12-0) The man known as “The Most Exciting Referee in the World”, Randy Hauer (7-12-0), has put his refereeing career on hold to make a return to the cage. His resume reads like a who’s who of fighters having faced the likes of Nick “The Ghost” Gonzales (Bellator, Strikeforce), Clay “The Carpenter” Guida (UFC), Carlos “Natural Born Killer” Condit (UFC, WEC, Pancrase), Spencer “The King” Fisher (UFC), “Razor” Rob McCullough (WEC) and Kyle Bradley (UFC). After a loss to Chris Bowles in May 2007 (his 4th in a row) Hauer took the next 4 years off from fighting, instead choosing to spend his time as the third man inside the fence. He returned to
fighting in July of this year and is looking to get back on the winning track. He’ll be facing a man known as “The Spaniard”, Jesus Rivera. Though Rivera hasn’t fought in the UFC, there is no doubt his vicious striking and vastly improved ground game will be a formidable test for Hauer. Rivera is known around Houston (and Texas) for his vicious leg kicks. When he first arrived in the U.S. (from Spain, hence “The Spaniard”) he was a kickboxing phenom with no ground. After spending years honing both his standup and ground skill at Houston’s 4oz Fight Club, Rivera has evolved into a well-rounded fighter. Rivera recently defeated Rey Trujillo (8-6-0) at Legacy FC 7 on HDNet, avenging a loss he suffered to “The Warrior” back in 2010. I see this one being a stand up battle as I think Rivera has improved his takedown defense enough to be able to dictate where the fight will take place; and in his case he wants that to be standing up. Haur is strong and will try and use his wrestling and BJJ to get this one on the matt where he’ll have a much better chance of finishing Rivera.
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decision, both fighters brought their A-game and it was a great fight.
FIVE MINUTE Q&A
Any thoughts on the Bronzoulis versus Macaco matchup? Who wins that one?
Frank Trigg talks fc9
I think it will be very very close. I think that it will go to decision. I also think that that the decision will be in Macaco’s favor because he has a style that the judges really like. Frank, what can we look forward to seeing from you outside of your work on HDNet? Anything your fans should watch out for?
By Mike Calimbas Some of our newer Legacy fight fans may know Frank Trigg best as one half of the HDNet broadcast team calling the action along with “The Voice” Michael Schiavello. What more seasoned fans know is that he’s actually spent the better part of a lifetime as not only a student, but a top practitioner in the sport.
not matter how tired I am. I take time out for myself every day as well (at least 15-20 minutes), whether it’s to meditate, read, whatever. Most importantly, there are four or five people that I talk to every day to help keep me balanced. I bounce ideas off of them and talk to them about the different things that I have going on.
Also known as “Twinkle Toes,” Frank began his infatuation with combat sports as a 12 year old in his native New York state, continuing on until he wrestled collegiately for the prestigious University of Oklahoma. He would soon begin cross-training in judo under former Olympian Patrick Burris, a decision that would eventually lead him to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Beginning a fight career in 1999 that goes on to this day, Frank has fought all over the world, from Japan’s onceglorious PRIDE promotion to the UFC and everywhere in between, including for his current employer at HDNet Fights. Recently adding in roles in radio broadcasting and travel spokesman to his responsibilities as a fighter and HDNet color commentator and more, Frank Trigg is busier than ever.
Outside of your career as a fighter, Legacy fans know you best for your work on HDNet with Mike Schiavello. What do you think makes you guys such a good team?
In advance of Legacy Fighting Championship 9, we recently caught up with Frank to talk about all the stuff he has going on and what he thinks of the Legacy Fights he’s seen thus far.
Mike and I are constantly working, even in-between shows. We get together and brain storm on a regular basis to come up with new ideas and new ways to improve the show. That is what makes us a great team. How do you feel about the city of Houston? I really enjoy the city of Houston. I really like traditional Tex-Mex food in Houston there are always great places to eat ...and I always feel relaxed. The night after the weigh-ins Mick always makes sure that the broadcast team and producer’s go to dinner together. It’s much easier to pitch a product when you know the people that you are working with on a personal level. Mick really does a great job of bringing everyone together.
You’re a busy guy working as a fighter, commentator, radio host, and all these other things. How do you balance it all?
I know you’re still active in your fight career. Could you ever see yourself fighting for Legacy FC?
Good time management skills. I keep a good calendar and sleep when I can. I also know when I have to game up,
Yea, it just depends on the opponent. I could see myself fighting for Legacy. I would much rather fight in states
than overseas. But I have to say there would be one draw back ...I wouldn’t like seeing someone else next to Schiavello calling the action. He’s my partner and I don’t want him cheating on me! <laughs> If that ever came to fruition and you could pick your opponent, who would you fight? Honestly, I don’t have anyone in particular in mind. It’s all about the fight styles and how they match up and about how good the competition is. What about fighters you’ve seen in Legacy already – Do you see anyone that you feel has “UFCcaliber” potential? There are several fighters that I’ve seen in the promotion that have UFC potential. I would go as far as to say that a few of them are as close as one or two fights away. The UFC is definitely putting on more fight events now than they ever have, so they have to continue to expand their fight roster. The more shows they put on the more fighters they have to sign, especially with the number of prefight injuries that occur. What’s been your favorite Legacy fight to call so far? So far, my favorite fight to call was Spratt vs. Macaco. Their fight styles match up well and the fight went the distance. I think Spratt has the better ability over all and I like the fierceness of Macaco. We (Schiavello and I) believe that the fight should have gone to Spratt, but the judges scored in favor of Macaco. Although we didn’t agree with the judges’
Yes, right now we are working on a ‘Frank Trigg’ App for the Android and iPhone that will be coming out very soon. The App will feature my fight predictions and other interesting video snip-its. I am also the official Spokesperson for MMA Adventure, so I am working on building it up and letting everyone know about it. It’s a really great concept. MMA Adventure gives fans the chance to win a vacation with some of MMA’s biggest stars. The winning fan (and their guest) have the unique opportunity to get to know one of their favorite MMA stars on a whole new level. I even have an MMA Adventure of my own coming up. Fans can go to www.mmaadventure.com to find out more and to enter to win. Last but not least, I will be launching a blog soon that is geared specifically towards the ladies. I will be giving dating and relationship advice based on questions that female fans send in. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Any last words for Legacy fans and Trigg fans all around the globe? Yes - If you don’t have HDNet, you should get it! ..And you should tell your friends to get it too! As much as I love Goldberg and Rogan, fans that don’t have HDNet are missing out on one of the best broadcast teams out there. They are also missing out on a lot of great fights! How can fans and people that want to work with you get a hold of you best? They can hit me up on Twitter at @ FRANKTRIGG or they can contact my Publicist Melissa Ingram atMelissa@ ingrampr.com.
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Lulu: Lou Reed and Metallica By Chris Zebo
Lulu, a collaboration between Lou Reed and Metallica, was spawned one evening in 2009 when the two legends played together at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert. Apparently, the positive reception garnered by fans attending that night was enough for Reed and Metallica to think seriously about writing music together. Unfortunately for us, they followed through. Upon first glance, seeing the two rock legends together in the same sentence is an anomaly. Lou Reed was once the iconoclastic revolutionary of the music world, co-creating one our century’s most ground-breaking art-rock groups, the Velvet Underground. The band was regarded as the legitimate forefather of punk and indie rock. And although Reed and the Underground probably wouldn’t have shunned more mainstream attention back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the band is still regarded as a genetic strand in the independent music movement’s DNA.
Metallica wasn’t exactly of the same heredity. Even though their thrash metal albums Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightening are considered underground metal masterpieces, it didn’t take long for them to embrace the mainstream and to patent consumer-friendly MTV metal. They also had no problem with spelling out their affinity for the music industry, as they did during the Napster controversy in 2000. Music and money were never so married as they were when Metallica fought against illegal downloading; and since then, their integrity as musicians has lost mucho cred. If Reed and Metallica aren’t exactly tied in ideologically, they most certainly aren’t matched musically. Reed’s lo-fi, gritty experimentation and eccentric lyrics are quite a contrast to Metallica’s polished and manufactured metal. Still, one retains hope that such a hybrid would produce new fruit. And why not?
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Both Reed and Metallica have long passed their halcyon days; Reed is 69 and Metallica’s members are nearing 50. They’re all at that age when being “lifers” in the music biz plateaus, when after years in the industry, musicians explore music conceptually and test boundaries.
music) to Reed’s meandering detours: “If I pump blood in the sunshine/ And you wear a leather box with azaleas/ And I pump more blood/ And it seeps through my skin/ Will you adore the river/ The stream, the trickle/ The tributary of my heart?” Um...no, we won’t. But thanks for asking.
Unfortunately, those hopes didn’t bear fruit. In 10 songs and nearly 90 minutes of music, Lulu is one train wreck after another. Maybe they took the conceptual thing too seriously, trying (too) hard to make art rather than music; they accomplished neither task.
“Pumping Blood,” the song from which those lyrics were taken, sounds like the score of a B movie slasher; except the music would be scarier than the actual movie. In another song, “Frustration,” Metallica sounds like they took a microphone and tape recorder into a machinist’s shop and recorded a grinding wheel tearing into steel.
In the Velvet Underground, and even in later solo hits—like “A Walk on the Wild Side”—atonality and flatness were charming characteristics of Reed’s voice; now...he’s just atonal and flat. In fact, Reed hardly tries to hit a key at all and instead resorts to “reading” his lyrics into a microphone while Hetfield and the band try to accompany with “sounds” (not always
In one track to the next, Reed and Metallica seem to be playing and recording in different studios, with different artists—not with each other. Ironically, Metallica won’t have to worry about anyone downloading this album illegally.
continued from pg 40 for places in the country--don’t seem to capture any real essence of the places they’re named after. No cows mooing in “Amarillo”, no rusting factories rotting away in “Detroit”, no wind or verticality in “Shy Town” (a lesserknown nickname for Chicago). Only “California and the Slipping of the Sun”, in its wistful atmosphere of lethargic organs and Albarn’s droning voice drowning in a synthesized smog suggests the Golden State sun setting.
fatigued sentiment of road weariness, of the mundane transactions of checking in and out of hotel rooms, of unpacking and repacking your bags, of watching the world pass by in an immaterial blur through the car window. And like the streaming blur out the window, nothing on this album really captures your attention. You almost wish they would have pulled over long enough to reflect for a
minute. But these songs just amble along listlessly from one place to another. Gorillaz have humored the idea of a physical release of The Fall in coming months. But why bother with the repackaging of a mediocre album when people can download it for free?
The road Gorillaz traveled on this album is certainly inward, not outward. The landscapes and cities of America are in the backseat of this road trip album. It seems another affect of being on the road takes the wheel in this conceptual voyage. It’s that feeling of fogginess you get from passing through numerous places without ever stopping long enough to figure them clearly in your mind; the
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LEGACY PREVIEW
legacy is bringing the best to houston
Legacy President Mick Maynard talks about the recent signings for LFC.
By Mike Calimbas Photo by Justin Trapp
Building towards an exciting future – that’s been the central theme for the Legacy Fighting Championship recently and what better way to do that than by making sure the promotion continues to deliver exciting fans for our fans all around the nation? ““We started signing multi-fight deals last year for a few people, but now that we are being broadcast on HDNet, it has driven us to move even further into that direction. We want to establish our own stable of exciting fighters that fans can get to know and look forward to watching on a regular basis.” In light of the promotion’s recent growth and move to our new home as part of HDNet Fights, Legacy is proud to announce the signing of three exciting fighters to multi-fight deals and welcome them in to the organization. The first, 26 year old Daniel “Pit” Pineda should be no stranger to longtime fans of Legacy, especially those in his home city of Houston. A member of 4OZ Fight Club, Daniel has for Legacy since July of 2010 and is undefeated in four fights while fighting in the promotion. Even more impressive is that he’s beaten three former Legacy champions in a row on the way to his last bout, a submission victory over WEC veteran Frank Gomez on the HDNet debut card at Legacy FC 7. With this deal, fans can expect to continue seeing “The Pit” and his exciting brand of fighting in the Legacy cage for the foreseeable future. Next up on the roster is 26 year old Brazilian Freddy Assuncao. The youngest member of the fighting Assuncao family, Freddy trains alongside UFC fighter brothers Raphael and Junior Assuncao as part of Ascension MMA in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently 5-1 and with one win already over a UFC-vet in Kit Cope, this BJJ Black Belt will no doubt look to make an immediate impact in Legacy as soon as he’s scheduled for a fight in the near future, likely January or February of 2012. Last but not least of the new additions is top bantamweight prospect Carson Beebe. Known also as “Little Juggernaut,” the 8-1 Chicago-based fighter is also part of a fighting family along with his brother, UFC fighter Chase Beebe. At only 23 years of age, Carson was most recently known as one of the initial 32 contestants for “The Ultimate Fighter 14.” Formerly a wrestler for Purdue University, Carson brings a dynamic skill set that will no doubt have him challenging the best of the rest in the Legacy 135 division. “Outside of the UFC, we feel that we can provide an opportunity for the fighters that compare with any of the top organizations in the country,” says Legacy FC President Mick Maynard. With Daniel, Freddy, and Carson leading the way along with an already-exciting roster of fighters based on Texas and elsewhere, look for an exciting future indeed for the Legacy Fighting Championship.
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GAME REVIEW: By Mike Calimbas If you’re a fan of first-person shooter action games, chances are that you’ve heard plenty about Battlefield 3 by Electronic Arts. Released for consoles and PC on October 25, this game is a sequel to the highly-successful 2005 Battlefield 2 and the 11th installment for the long-running franchise. We recently got to play the open beta made available for Xbox LIVE users. Here are our thoughts. Gameplay As far as first-person shooters go, this installment of Battlefield was definitely designed to be more realistic than most other games out on the market in the same genre. The gunplay is realistic and you almost feel the bullets flying past you as you get shot at. The guns themselves are reasonably accurate as well. The recoil and sights seem accurate in that they don’t always fall back to the same place as where you fired, just like the real thing. The way you move is also realistic in that you climb or hurdle over obstacles instead of just jumping over them, and you can’t shoot while doing so. The only reservation we had about realism during the beta test was that it took several bullets more than plausible to get a kill at times when the target should have been down but maybe that’s due to playing in basic mode. Hardcore modes may or may not rectify that. No matter, this game is still closer to the real thing than other more arcade-like (but equally awesome) shooters like Call of Duty. At the end of the day, it’s all about preference. Presentation The game really shines when it comes to this area. We probably wouldn’t be going out on a limb if we said that Battlefield 3 was the most visually-pleasing shooter we’ve played to date. This game is graphically-rich and detailed in presentation. For example, walls get chipped to pieces as they get shot at in the subway level and this type of detail really ads to the realism of the game. Likewise, the sound in Battlefield 3 is also top-notch. From the jarring intensity of machine gun fire to epic sounding RPG explosions, this game really plays it up with authentic-sounding wartime audio, not that we’ve ever been. Multiplayer and Online Play Some of the greatest joys from playing first-person shooters come from multiplayer and online sessions rather than just playing in campaign mode. It’s a little counter-intuitive getting started with the friends list located on a different menu than where you look for matches so you’ve got to be patient when starting a new round but it doesn’t take away from the fun once you get there. Players can choose between four multiplayer classes: Assault, Engineer, Support and Recon. Each have their own strengths when it comes to firepower but they also have specific roles when it comes to how you want to help your unit. This adds to the strategic aspect of the game and may be particularly fun for groups that play together often and aim to refine their tactics as a team. With the authenticity Battlefield 3 aims for, team play is definitely out in the forefront. Play the game well and you’ll be rewarded with unlockable new weapons, kits, and add-ons. Run around without a strategy and you’ll be beaten more times than a white belt in the cage with Jorge “Macaco” Patino. Overall Summary If you’re into authentic first-person shooter / war games, Battlefield 3 may be just the thing to keep you on your couch instead of at the gym rolling or hitting pads. We wouldn’t necessarily call that a good thing but it’s a fact. Battlefield 3 Staying true to its storied franchise, this edition of Battlefield features the best graphics of any shooter yet, equally impressive sound, and impressive realism to go along with a rich multiplayer mode that will keep you up for hours on end. 28 | LEGACY MAGAZINE DECEMBER-JANUARY www.legacyfights.tv
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photos courtesy of
Enigma Fotos
Jennifer Breaux Legacy Ring Girl Q- How did you get your start as a ring girl? A- I got started as a ring girl when I became apart of the Houston Bikini Team. Q- Which one of your jobs has required the least amount of clothes? A- I’d have to say Hooters! Between our monthly dress up days, doing the pageant&being on the Bikini Team, which these would require me to have the least amount of clothing. Q- What are your workouts like? A- They are pretty simple workouts for a girl. They focus on problem areas&are effective. Low weights-More reps...don’t wanna look like a boy, just a toned girl! At my store, us girls like to hula hoop a lot and so I’m always getting an awesome core workout! Q- What are the biggest stereotype people have about ring girls? A- It would probably have to be that we love “attention” , but who doesn’t love some attention every now and then. We are just a few girls who are comfortable wearing the selected outfit & look good walking with a card in hand to give the fans a change of scenery for a few minutes in between rounds. Q- So what do you look for in a guy? A- First things first. A beautiful smile and teeth! He must also be able to make me smile. Stand by me in everything that comes my way in life. Has a relationship with The Big Man upstairs. He has to be able to appreciate me as a person. At the end of the day, I just want peace, love and happiness and to be his Princess. If he can give me that then he gets my vote! Q- Men yelling things at you from the crowd-does that make you want to go out with a guy? A- It doesn’t make me want to go on a date with them. I appreciate the comments and it’s always interesting to hear the fans yelling their opinions of us girls. Q- What surprises people about you once they get to know you? A- Most people don’t know that I have a birthmark. Its’s a red patch of hair. I hope by the time gray hair comes around it changes to red. Gray is not my color. Also I can make people laugh due to my outgoing personality. This is a real big secret...I never wear matching socks! They may be the same brand, just not same color or pattern.
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