Fedor Emelianenko To Face Brett Rogers In Strikeforce Debut
Fedor Emelianenko will make his debut for the Strikeforce MMA promotion this fall, facing undefeated prospect Brett Grim Rogers. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker made the announcement at a Showtime promoted Fedor open workout in New York City. The promotion has yet to announce a date or a venue.
Fedor is considered by most experts to be the best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world, if not the best of all time. He snubbed the UFC following Afflictions exit from the MMA promotion business, choosing to sign with the up-and-coming Strikeforce promotion. Strikeforce agreed to co-promote with M1 Global, a Russian based promotion company owned by Fedor’s manager Vadim Finkelchtein and to allow the fighter a non-exclusive deal that would enable him to compete in Japan and Eastern Europe.
After signing with Strikeforce, Fedor displayed his typical humility:
I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level. STRIKEFORCE is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world. I am prepared to fight any of them.
Emelianenkos manager, Vadim Finkelchtein noted:
I am very happy and excited about the upcoming collaboration with Strikeforce. We are very pleased that we found a reliable partner and I feel that Strikeforce and M-1 can support each other on many things. This will create big opportunities for both parties to test their fighters against worthy opponents.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker shared his excitement:
We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with M-1 Global and Fedor. Fedor has been the reigning king of MMAs heavyweight division for quite some time now so being able to work with M-1 and Fedor will substantially increase the level of competition amongst the athletes in this weight class.
WEC: Henderson Decisions Cerrone
The oldest fight sport adage in the world is ‘styles make fights’. For that reason, no one knew quite what to expect in Saturday’s WEC Interim Lightweight Championship battle between Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson. Henderson was known for his dominating wrestling skills, while Cerrone has a reputation as a punishing striker. Instead of being a clash of styles, however, it was an instance where the differing approaches of the two competitors complimented each other perfectly. The result was a ‘fight of the year’ candidate bout that Henderson won by unanimous-decision.
Henderson opened the fight with a takedown, but quickly got caught in a guillotine choke attempt. He extricated himself from this predicament only to find himself in a triangle choke that appeared for a moment to be a potential fight ending submission. That would not be the case, however, and Henderson would take control in the last half of the round with his powerful takedowns and ‘ground and pound’ punching assault.
Rounds two and three were all Henderson, as he took Cerrone down almost at will and began to pummel him on the ground. Cerrone managed a couple of submission attempts from the bottom, and did what he could to keep Henderson off of him with upkicks but nowhere near enough to salvage either round.
The tide would turn again in the fourth round, as Cerrone began to time Henderson’s takedown attempts. He became much more difficult to get to the ground, as well as administering punishment of his own after stuffing takedowns with punches and knee strikes. Later in the frame, Cerrone came close to ending the fight when he locked in a nasty and unorthodox choke that WEC commentator Frank Mir described as ‘almost an inverted rear naked choke’. After some tense moments, Henderson was able to escape. Cerrone would also control the final round, evading Henderson’s takedowns while scoring with his striking. He had another potential fight ending submission attempt in the fifth round, as he locked in an arm bar and appeared to have good leverage as he twisted Henderson’s arm into a nasty angle. Nevertheless, Henderson was able to escape and finish off the fight.
The decision itself was somewhat surprising, with Henderson winning all three judges’ scorecards by identical 48-47 scores. He’d clearly won rounds two and three, while Cerrone was the obvious winner of rounds four and five. This meant that all three judges had given the edge to Henderson in the first round, favoring his takedowns and ground punching attack over Cerrone’s two early submission attempts. (The Savage Science scored the fight 48-47 for Cerrone).
Henderson will now face WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner to unify the titles. Varner entered the cage after the decision was announced to ‘cut a promo’ on the winner, and suggested the fight take place in December in Phoenix, Arizona though neither the date nor venue has been finalized.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Seniors And Yoga Exercises
SENIORS, Age range fifty five up are the quickest growing new members to health and fitness clubs. Over 10,000 people per day turn 55. Senior YogaFit features all the benefits of difficult task and Self-pacing for all phases and ages of senior citizens.
The National Institute on Aging recommends seniors be engaged in programs That contains exercise for stamina, power, flexibility and balance. YogaFit ! These kinds of components improve stamina, hold off or avoid diabetes and colon cancer, Heart disease and stroke; improve metabolic process for management of weight and regulate glucose levels; avert osteoporosis; stretch out and balance work will prevent and help in recovery from injuries and stop falls which usually lead to some other Ailments and loss of independence. Scientific study has also discovered that
Senior citizens who participate in regular physical exercise possess a considerably lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease or other types of dementia.
A recent research report from WebMD provides proof for the benefits of physical exercise for seniors. The National Institute on Aging describes numerous positive exercising results from raises in endurance and energy, to decreasing dangers of sickness, to decreasing the chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Satisfy the needs of Senior citizens regarding flexibility, Strength and balance.
Senior YogaFit was also created to provide training for current health and fitness trainers to learn brand new methods to meet the requirements of the now largest age bracket in our history. SENIORS who’ve been lively through their particular lives are seeking programs that continue to challenge them, yet respect their aging bodies. SENIORS who have been inactive are finding the call to exercise as they grow older and desire continued comfort and ability. Senior YogaFit provides a variety of possibilities for the plethora of senior citizens in the communities. Senior citizens may also start to offer this method of exercise in their communities, knowing it meets all industry specifications. YogaFit Seniors Training is the complete treatment for health and wellbeing of America’s SENIORS.
YogaFit is the number 1 resource for anything that has to do with yoga. YogaFit also has an abundance of advice relating to all features of yoga training, exercise poses, and yoga programs. YogaFit also has a multitude of yoga conference meetings various times per year led by Bethy Shaw, known around the world as a yoga guru and business mogul.
Teaching Power Yoga
What exactly is Power Yoga ? Power Yoga provides a total body workout that enhances strength, aerobic condition, stability as well as flexibility. It additionally improves a person’s body consciousness, increases physical control and allows for body mastery. Because it involves a very comprehensive and incorporated approach, yoga produces a longer, slimmer and more graceful physique – additionally currently fashionable. Power Yoga also helps reduce stress, pressure and exhaustion by means of its mindfulness, frequently rapid movements and yoga breathing focus. Power Yoga differs from traditional yoga in that the postures link in a fluid warmth building way. We relax only if absolutely needed. We heat up the body completely with large body movements before engaging in any complicated or versatility oriented pose. We incorporate fitness movements such as sit-ups and push-ups, lunges and also holds. We make a cardio exercise by repeating a number of postures quickly as soon as we’re warm. We move from pose to pose with a complete body workout target, all areas of the body are worked equally. This isn’t your own mother’s yoga !!!
Power Yoga differs from traditional yoga because the postures link in a fluid heat building technique. We rest only if totally needed. We warm up the body entirely with huge body movements before doing any complicated or versatility focused pose. We include fitness moves like sit-ups as well as push-ups, lunges and holds. We create a cardiovascular workout by repeating a number of poses rapidly once we’re warm. We move from pose to pose with a full body exercise focus, all areas of the body are worked together. This is not your mother’s yoga exercise !!!
Prior to Educating- Respond to these key concerns: 1.Are you aware of the AFAA as well as ACE Safety Guidelines of Contraindications ? 2.Have you considered exactly how these relate to Yoga? 3.Have you been through a formal Yoga Teacher Training 4.Are you secure PERFORMING the postures ? 5.Are you secure TEACHING the poses ? 6.Have you got a consistent yoga exercise ? If you have answered yes to ALL of the above then it is time to begin.
Before Educating- Answer these crucial questions: 1.Are you conscious of the AFAA as well as ACE Safety Guidelines of Contraindications ? 2.Are you aware of exactly how these relate to Yoga? 3.Have you been through a formal Yoga Teacher Training 4.Are you comfortable DOING the actual postures ? 5.Are you comfortable TEACHING the poses ? 6.Have you got a regular yoga practice ? For those who have responded yes to ALL of the above mentioned then it is time to start.
Making the room: Most teachers training in fitness facilities do not have the extravagance of free lighting and heating system controls. Power Yoga is an excellent option for the health and fitness environment because of this very reason. If at all possible dim the particular lighting, turn off the Air Conditioning and select audio for active yoga exercises like the Power Yoga CD.
Chicago Blackhawks’ Great Stan Mikita
While NHL hockey players from the country formerly known as Czechoslovakia”as well as other Eastern European nations”are commonplace today, Chicago Blackhawks great Stan Mikita was something of a pioneer. Other players with a flashier game such as Bobby Hull became better known, but you can make a compelling case that Mikita was the best center iceman in professional hockey during the’60s. Mikita was born in Sokolce, in what is now known as Slovakia. He was sent by his family to the Toronto, Ontario area as a young boy to avoid the political strife in the area prior to World War II. An aunt and uncle adopted him, and he changed his name from his birth name of Stanislav Guoth adopting their last name of Mikita. Like most young Canadian boys, he started playing hockey and quickly proved to have an impressive aptitude for the national sport.
As a teenager, Mikita starred for the St. Catherine Teepees of the junior league Ontario Hockey Association. In’59, he made the jump to the NHL for good joining the Chicago Blackhawks. He played sparingly in his first partial season in the NHL, but quickly became an important part of the Chicago offense in his first and second full seasons as a pro. In’61, he led the team in playoff scoring as they won the Stanley Cup”his only championship during his career and the last time the franchise would win the NHLs highest team honor.
The following year was when Mikita really began to make a mark in professional hockey. Centering the dangerous Scooter Line with Ken Wharram on the right wing and Ab McDonald or Doug Mohns on the left wing, he became one of the most feared offensive scorers and playmakers in the league. While he played in the media shadow of Bobby Hull, Mikita was considered by most hockey cognoscenti to be the real offensive catalyst of the team.
Never content with being a one way player, Mikita was a fearless defender and one of the most reliable faceoff specialists in the NHL. He also started a revolution when he became the first to play with a curved stick blade. That was considered radical, almost avant garde at the time but is now the standard in the NHL.
Early in his career, Mikita played a tough, rugged style of hockey that made him one of the most penalized players in the game. In the mid’60s, however, he began to play a much cleaner and more sportsmanlike style that would earn him the Lady Byng Trophy for most gentlemanly player twice. The story goes that he had a change of heart when his young daughter asked why he spent so much time sitting in the box on televised games.
In addition to his Stanley Cup victory, Mikitas career accomplishments rank among the most impressive in the history of the sport. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHLs leading scorer four times (1964,’65,’67,’68), the Hart Memorial Trophy for Most Valuable Player twice (1967 and’68) and the Lady Byng Trophy in’67 and’68. He remains the only player in NHL history to win the Ross, Hart and Byng trophies in the same season (1967).
Eagles Add To Redskins Woes
The ‘new look’ Washington Redskins offense under Sherm Lewis looked much like the old offense under Jim Zorn, and the Philadelphia Eagles had little trouble as they opened a 27-10 halftime lead en route to a 27-17 victory on Monday Night Football. DeSean Jackson scored a long touchdown both rushing and receiving, and Donovan McNabb threw for 156 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions in the victory.
The Eagles also rewarded NFL betting enthusiasts with the pointspread cover as -8′ road favorites. Philadelphia is now 4-2 against the number while the Redskins continued their struggles against the NFL pointspread dropping to 1-6.
Jackson’s only complaint after the game was that a sore ankle undermined the artistry of his post touchdown tap dance:
“I was out there having fun, man, honestly. My ankle was kind of hurting. I really didn’t feel it, but it did kind of affect my dance a little bit. I could put it to perfection a little bit better than that.”
Redskins’ defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth suggested that this team has to learn to play as a unit:
“You can say but so much. You’ve got to actually want to. So once we get to that point — where we want to do something — then we’ll do something. But if we just keep going our separate ways, then we’ll just keep getting slaughtered like we have.”
Jim Zorn was apparently more interested in playing ‘gotcha’ with the management that replaced him as the Redskins’ offensive play caller than in analyzing the game:
“Well, the result was the same. We got 17 points. It was difficult for me. It was difficult to stand and watch. The hard part is to keep your mouth shut.”
Washington running back Rock Cartwright expressed Washington’s struggles in a philosophical light:
Matthew Stafford Handed Reins As Lions Starting Quarterback
Matthew Stafford has yet to play a regular season NFL game and hes already the Detroit Lions starting quarterback. First year coach Jim Schwartz named Stafford as his starter for the teams opening game of the NFL regular season against the New Orleans Saints. Stafford beat out veteran Daunte Culpepper for the spot, though Schwartz went out of his way to stress that the rookie won the job as opposed to Culpepper losing it.
Schwartz made clear that hes very confident with his personnel at the position including third stringer Drew Stanton:
“I’ve had a lot of very tough decisions in the last few days — guys making the 53-man roster or not making it — but none more difficult than at quarterback. We announced to our team this morning that Matt Stafford is going to be our starting quarterback.”
“I’m very, very comfortable with the quarterback position here, not just one and two, but also three. What made this decision difficult was that I think we can win with Daunte Culpepper, I think we can with Matt Stafford, and I think we can win with Drew Stanton.
Stafford indicated that he didnt know he’d be the starter until Schwartz gave him the word:
“I definitely thought I was going to be the guy, but as competitive as Daunte is, I’m sure he thought he was going to be the guy, too. Coach Schwartz called me in this morning and told me, and I went out and practiced with the first team. That was exciting.”
Despite the Lions dismal 0-16 record a year ago, Stafford stressed that hes not just happy to be in the NFL”he wants to win:
“I’m going to try to win football games. I think, just like everyone else on this team, that we can go out on Sunday and be competitive against the Saints and give ourselves a chance to win the game. That’s our job.”
David Beckham’s Recovery Behind Schedule
When David Beckham suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon in a Serie A game in mid-March, doctors gave him an outside chance of returning in time for the World Cup or at the very least part of the MLS season. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like either of these favorable scenarios will transpire. In a recent statement to the media Beckham broke the news that his recovery is behind schedule and he won’t be able to resume playing soccer until November at the earliest.
This timetable does leave open the possibility that he could return to action should the Los Angeles Galaxy make the MLS playoffs. He’s been assured that he’s welcome back at AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A league whenever he’s back in playing shape, though neither the team nor Beckham have indicated anything specific about his future with the team.
Beckham, who is still using crutches to get around, explained his recovery process:
“I won’t be running for another three months, so I will be playing again in, probably, November.”
“My mentality is to kind of push it and get moving and running and soon as possible. But it’s an injury that has to take time to heal. It’s frustrating. It’s obviously disappointing because I’ve been working for the last two years to get into the English squad [for the World Cup].”
“At the moment, it’s just getting the motion back into the ankle, the tendon, because it’s still repairing. I’m trying to get mobilization back into the ankle.”
Beckham also explained the injury itself:
“It was like being hit by a hockey puck. I thought someone was behind me and kicked me. Obviously no one was there and I saw my foot hanging and then I felt down there and there was a hole.”
The former England captain would have likely served in a reserve capacity with the World Cup squad. Even without Beckham in the lineup and with lingering injury issues plaguing Manchester United superstar Wayne Rooney soccer betting enthusiasts are bullish on England’s prospects this summer. The ‘Three Lions’ are currently the third favorite in World Cup future betting behind Brazil and Spain.
Ravens Complete Undefeated Preseason By Ripping Falcons
Even when the games don’t count and the starters play little, if at all, the Baltimore Ravens hate to lose. Despite the Atlanta Falcons starting QB Matt Ryan playing only one series and with the Ravens third string signal caller John Beck playing the entire game it was apparent that Baltimore wanted the victory more. The former BYU standout threw for 232 yards and a pair of touchdown passes as the Ravens easily beat the Atlanta Falcons 20-3 at the Georgia Dome.
Sports enthusiasts who bet on NFL preseason action were rewarded for their investment in the Ravens, as Baltimore won outright as +3 road underdogs. Baltimore also finished the NFL preseason with a perfect 4-0 mark against the spread, while Atlanta finished 2-1-1 against the number.
Ravens QB Beck expressed how pleased he was to get the opportunity to showcase his skills for the entire game:
“He (coach John Harbaugh) told me a few days ago that I would play the whole game. It was very exciting to get to play the whole game.”
Beck made the most of his opportunity, finishing with 232 yards on 16 of 28 passing and a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions. The Ravens defense held the Falcons to just 175 yards of total offense.
Despite the loss, Falcons coach Mike Smith was nonplussed:
“You’ve got to understand in these games, you’re going to call things defensively and offensively to put players in certain situations to evaluate them. You’re not game-planning in a game like this. You’re going to put players in certain situations to see how they handle certain techniques and coverages.”
Falcon cornerback Chris Houston was a little more concerned:
Bobby Lashley Returns To Pro Wrestling
Not long after his demolition of Japanese pop culture icon Bob Sapp, former WWE superstar turned MMA fighter Bobby Lashley announced that he had signed a deal to return to full time professional wrestling competition with the US #2 promotion TNA. Lashley’s last in-ring pro wrestling appearance came in Mexico on a show for Lucha Libre promotion AAA.
Reports suggest, however that hes not giving up his MMA career. In interviews prior to the TNA signing Lashley indicated that he was leaving the door open to return to pro wrestling for its significant financial upside, while remaining committed to his shoot fighting efforts. Lashley trains in Florida with the prestigious American Top Team, and ran his record to 4-0 with his victory over Sapp in late June. A press release issued by TNA this morning further validated his suggestions that he planned to do both sports. Lashey himself is quoted as saying:
I want to do both because I can. TNA is giving me the opportunity to compete in both sports which I have a passion for. I will bring MMA fans to wrestling and wrestling fans to MMA
TNA President Dixie Carter also praised Lashley in announcing the signing:
This is a great opportunity for Bobby to do something that has never been done before. He is the perfect ambassador for both sports. We are excited to have him join TNA, he is a true star that brings so much to the table as a member of our roster.
Despite TNAs claims that Lashley is the first active MMA fighter to compete full time in pro wrestling, that’s not the case. Its very common in Japan, where fighters frequently compete in shoot fights like MMA while simultaneously appearing in worked (eg: pre-determined) pro wrestling contests. In fact, Josh Barnett, originally slated to face Fedor Emelianenko at the ill fated Affliction: Trilogy event still makes several appearances a year for Antonio Inokis Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) promotion. Following his positive drug test in California, he may spend ore time in pro wrestling. Lashley isn’t even the first to pull the feat in the US, though hes definitely the highest profile fighter/wrester to turn the trick since MMAs overwhelming boom in popularity. Dan The Beast Severn at one point simultaneously held the UFC heavyweight title and the NWA heavyweight title in pro wrestling.
Lashley left the WWE in early 2008 under some degree of mystery and a hint of controversy. He indicated at the time that his departure was not of his own volition but due to circumstances beyond his control. Making this assertion more curious was the fact that Lashley had been used in high profile storylines by the WWE and was very popular among fans. The plot thickened when it was reported that unlike most wrestlers leaving the promotion Lashley wasnt subject to a standard non-compete agreement. Speculation at this point suggested that he may have left in response to a racial incident, a theory given more validity when WWE writer (and former member of the Fabulous Freebirds tag team) Michael Hayes was suspended for a racial slur. Neither Lashley nor the WWE has ever confirmed the reason for his departure.