The Affliction is brand is everywhere these days. Not only are MMA fans wearing the shirts, but many top MMA fighters are donning the threads. Summer has made the T-Shirt the most popular, but as we start to roll into fall, the long sleeve thermal could be the way to go.
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The bare knuckle, no holds barred format of the early UFC has long gone extinct in the US and has been replaced by a highly regulated mixed martial arts sport. In Brazil, the vale tudo art form is still alive and well. A production called Rio Heroes puts on events where pretty much anything goes and gloves are not allowed. If you grew up enjoying the early, low production value NHB version of the UFC, then this might be your thing. If you’re looking for the glitz and glam of today’s big MMA production, this isn’t it.
However…you can check it all out for free! Rio Heroes 9 will broadcast an entire tournement live tomorrow for free at 7PM/ET on thier website. You might be required to register, we’re not sure yet. Rio Heros 9 will be a bare knuckles tournament with the eventual champion having to fight 3 times in one night.
About Rio Heroes (taken from their website)
Through the years, American involvement and corporate regulations have created rounds, rules, and many other lackluster restrictions. Do not expect to see this or any other Hollywood-type fights on this website. All it has to offer is street fighting in its purest form, including knockouts, blackouts, and broken bones. From the gyms and streets of Brazil, warriors converge to take on each other and try to become the next Rio Hero.
After the show, the press was able to speak with Dana White and some of the fighters (Liddell, Griffin, Sanchez, Jardine, and Fitch) who participated in UFC 76. Dana always seems to be in a good mood directly after a UFC event and was pretty lose-lipped with the press. There is about 20 mins of video footage out there if you want to check it out, but here are some of the press conference highlights.
Well, Superwoman is pretty cool too.
At UFC 76, Forrest Griffin put in a superhero-like performance with his victory over the highly touted Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Although there were a lot of disappointed Shogun fans out there, how could you not like this guy? Forrest, we poked fun at you leading up to his UFC 76 fight with another one of your bizarre photos but now we say, well done, you fought one hell of a fight and have won over even more fans no doubt.
Rich Clemente goes by “No Love,” but at UFC 76 the Honda Event Center crowd gave Clementi plenty of love after he defeated his much heavier opponent Anthony Johnson. Rich deserves tons of respect for not only winning, but for accepting the fight against the highly regarded up-and-comer Johnson who came into the fight with a 4-0 record and weighed in at 177lbs, seven pounds heavier than Clementi. There are plenty of MMA fighters who would have called off the fight without anyone thinking less of them, but that is not what Clementi is all about. Even though Rich has shown over the past year that he’s not able to compete with top level welterweights, he has a champion’s heart.
“This is my last fight at 170,” said ‘No Love’. “I am going down to 155. But when the UFC calls, I answer, no matter what the weight.”
Much love, no love. We’re looking forward to seeing you at light weight and wish there were more MMA fighters like you.
Randy has become a natural at picking winners (ie, Gonzaga over Cro Cop) and has shared with the Fight Network his pedictions for UFC 76. His thoughts on the main event,
“Somebody’s going down in this one, more than likely Jardine. I think the knockout will come in the first or second, depends on Chuck. If he’s a little tentative at first it may take him a little longer. Jardine’s gonna wade in. That’s what he does. Liddell to win.”
Other winners include Forrest Griffen, Jon Fitch, Lyoto Machida, and Tyson Griffin. Check out the Fight Network article to see Couture’s brief commentary on those fights.
