UFC 109: A Ronnys Torres Primer

Win over Luiz Azerado


ronys torres (nova uniao) X Feijao (rauf greice)


Eliene "Pit" Silva


Loss to Clements

Bob Reilly Still Hoping To Impede MMA in NY

MMA foe Bob Reilly recently spoke with the Albany Times Union and re-iterated his plans to oppose Legislation for the legalization of MMA in 2010:

Reilly is considering introducing a compromise bill that would legalize the sport while requiring it to be less violent, perhaps by making it illegal for a fighter to hit an opponent when he's down and limiting the use of elbows.

"That's just one of my strategies," said Reilly, who has received calls from mixed-martial arts opponents in several states as well as Canada and England seeking his advice on scuttling the legislation.

Reilly vowed to go to the mat if need be on the Assembly floor. "If it doesn't get taken up at conference, I'm going to lay it aside on the floor," he said.

It is interesting that Reilly speaks to the coalescing of anti-MMA forces. I have written in the past about labor union Unite Here's opposition to the UFC and how that has played out in the state of NY. Unite Here also has ties to Reilly, having contributed his campaign coffers in the past. As the UFC/MMA continues to face opposition in places like West Virginia and the Canadian province of Ontario, it would be interesting to see if similar connections can be made. Reilly clearly states that he is aiding this opposition.

While Reilly vows to take his fight to the Assembly floor, at this point his fight seems like so much pissing into the wind, to borrow a term from Jim Croce. The tide of the Assembly seems to have turned in relations to MMA, the bill for MMA taking large steps towards passage in 2009 before being derailed by an unrelated power grab that scuttled much being done at the close of the last session. The monetary arguemnet made for MMA seems to have won the day, as the quoted article intimates that a UFC Albany sellout would generate about $100,000 in county tax revenues. Contrasted against those dollars and cents terms, Reilly's moralistic argument against MMA will seem like little more than long-winded barking at the moon.

Shogun Heading to Negotiating Table This Week

-While the rematch between Lyoto Machida and Shogun Rua has been tentatively scheduled for May, this week should be key in firming up contest. Shogun's Manager Eduardo Alonso tweeted "Should be an important next week, with some negotiations starting...". Lining up an extension on Shogun's contract will be the main point of contention. Shogun is four fights into his career and should be nearing the end of his original contract. The UFC has been more proactive in getting these extensions prior to a title shot, with the policy being mandated due to the BJ Penn abdication after his defeat of Matt Hughes. The UFC will want to have Shogun linked to a longer term contract in the event that he is able to take the title off of Machida.

Tahnoon Investment tied to Gracies Return a good thing?

Prince Tahnoon of Abu Dhabi has been rumored to have made a minority investment in the UFC. The sale of a portion of the UFC gives Zuffa a cash infusion to further expand their efforts in expanding the worldwide reach of the UFC. The investment from Tahnoon also ushered in the return, it seems, of a few of his favorite Gracies. Renzo Gracie has been tabbed for a return against Matt Hughes at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, while Rolles Gracie will face off with Mustapha Al-Turk at UFC 109. Both signing were announced prior to the news of Tahnoon's buy in but were obvious after effects of the Sheik's investment.

The Gracies are the first family of MMA and deserving of the utmost respect but the respective places in their career of Rolles and Renzo give credence to the notion that but for the Sheik's purchase they would be outside the Octagon looking in. Renzo will have been away from the MMA competition for three years when he steps back into the cage against Hughes and at 42 years old, is a bit long in the tooth to be making his Octagon debut as the kick-off to a rumored six fight deal. Rolles, on the other hand, is young in his MMA career with a 3-0 record, with his most recent fights being in another of Tahnoon's MMA dalliances, the China-based Art of War promotion that has put on events in Macau and Beijing.

Tahnoon's being a Renzo student and Rolles being involved with the ADCC and having a training base in Abu Dhabi seem to be the main impetus for their UFC inclusion, not their recent in-cage resumes. Quid Pro Quo is how deals get done but does it serve the sporting aspect of MMA? UFC Prez Dana White of all people is well aware of the hidden benefits of having billionaire friends, but having well-heeled chums shouldn't be a guiding factor on personnel decisions.

The Family Back in Galveston

Rich Bergeron of Unlimited Fight News has done an excellent job of fleshing out the backstory of what was left unsaid between Lorenzo and Ms Jackson Lee:

The Maceo brothers were very well respected and treated their business customers with the utmost courtesy. They were also experts at hiding their income and their illegal activities. When the heat finally came down on the family enterprise only one bean counter, Sam “Books” Serio, would come forward while every other member of the conspiracy remained silent. Serio reported to authorities in 1951 that the enterprising family outfit took in over $3.5 million in fiscal year 1950. Three of the family’s bosses were Fertittas at the time: Frank J. Fertitta Sr., Victor J. Fertitta, and Anthony J. Fertitta. 23 indictments came down against the Maceos, Fertittas and many of their other associates this time. But there were no convictions in the long run. The Fertittas and Maceos maintained an iron grip on their illegal gaming enterprises in Galveston until long after both Sam and Rosario Maceo were in their graves. When Texas Rangers finally broke the back of the Texas mob in Galveston, it was a long abandoned Maceo family property that actually proved to be the scene of one of the biggest breaks in the case. In the summer of 1957, Sam Maceo’s Hollywood Supper Club became a slot machine storage area while Texas Rangers squatted in all the local casinos trying to dissuade customers from sticking around while they snooped around for whatever clues they could find to bring down the operation...

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