Rest In Peace Shane Ott (Update: See Above)

Shane Ott, a Combat in the Cage champ and IFL competitor, was in a motorcycle accident yesterday and died from his injuries. He was 36-years-old. Ott last fought in March at BCX 4, where he lost via TKO to Carlton Haselrig, but he was always considered one of the East Coast's most-dangerous heavyweights - and with unstoppable takedowns, fierce ground-and-pound, and a plethora of tattoos covering his body, he definitely looked the part. Ott was, however, extremely friendly and approachable, and when asked what it was like to fight in the IFL in only his second professional bout, he would not hesitate in describing how happy it made him to have made his young son so proud. Shane Ott, you will be missed. (Update: see "Shane Ott Still Hanging in There.)

HDNet to Buy IFL for "MMA Bloopers and Practical Jokes" Television Show

Mark Cuban's HDNet is moving to buy the remaining assets of the IFL promotion for the sum of $650,000 according to a recent SEC filing. At the heart of the potential acquisition is the failed promotion's extensive video library, which will purportedly be the focal point of a new HDNet television show called "MMA Bloopers and Practical Jokes". The IFL, which woefully tried to divide a roster of B-level fighters amongst contrived teams such as the "San Diego Sea Anemones" and the "Milwaukee Marmots", filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week.

MMA Market Analysis: Same Old, Same Old

Rumors abound concerning EliteXC's dire financial straits, Afflictions impending doom, the demise of the newssource FightNetwork and what-have-you. But this is really nothing new. Like the stock market, the MMA market cyclical, and after every boom comes a period of economic downturn. Back in 1996, when the UFC's original incarnation was pulling in Earth-shattering pay-per-view buy rates, the industry was flush with money and people angling for a share of it. Remember Extreme Fighting and the World Combat Championship? I do. They were nice, big alternatives to the UFC that bled money like crazy. A market downturn killed them off, enabling the strong to live on. In 2001 Zuffa bought the UFC and began making strides in getting the sport back on track, and the industry took off again. Remember the WFA? Or Ultimate Athlete magazine? I do, and I remember the inevitable market downturn once more rearing its ugly head. The Ultimate Fighter came along in 2005, providing yet another infusion of consumer dollars which in turn prompted the creation of the IFL and BodogFIGHT. Are you sensing a pattern here? You should be. It's the "same old, same old", and if the market demands that EliteXC folds (doubtful), Affliction dies (likely), or that the FightNetwork goes bye-bye (see ya!), well... that's just part of the cycle. Trust me, MMA will get "huge" again - and flush with fools and faulty business models just like it always does.

Is the Northeast a Breeding Ground for Badasses?

Dan Miller needed only a minute and a half to choke the hell out of his opponent in his Octagon debut at UFN 15. Mike Massenzio damn near ripped Drew McFedries' arm off at the same event. Phillipe Nover sent his TUF foe packing in impressive fashion, and by all accounts Brian McLaughlin was kicking ass until an illegal knee earned him a win by disqualification. What do Miller, Massenzio, Nover and McLaughlin all have in common? They're the cream of the crop in the New Jersey fight circuit, and after spending years honing their skills in events like Reality Fighting, Ring of Combat, and the now-defunct IFL, they're sharp as hell and experienced enough to win at the highest of levels. For the longest time, MMA hotbeds like the West Coast and the Midwest were cranking out the toughest mixed martial artists, but no longer. Is the Northeast a breeding ground for badasses? With a wealth of shows and talent and solid schools focused on MMA, it sure is now.

Bouts to Watch at Ring of Combat 21

Lou Neglia's Ring of Combat 21 is almost upon us. The event, slated for September 12th in Atlantic City with a live broadcast on HDNet Fights, will feature welterweight and light-heavyweight championship contests, but there are definitely a few other bouts on the card worth a closer look. Who is destined to shake up the Northeast rankings? Who will emerge as the East Coast's next big star? What match-up is going to rock your world? Man, how should I know. Just keep an eye on these fighters and fights:

• At light-heavyweight, IFL vet Brendan Barrett will be taking on striker Constantinos Phillippou. Barrett's got an impressive resume and a wealth of skills in all areas, but Phillippou is part of Team Serra/Longo's next generation of badasses - and he came really close to earning a decision against 205-pound top dog Ricardo Romero in his MMA debut. Expect these two to trade some serious leather.
• At welterweight, BCX champ Greg Soto returns to action (he's been sidelined with a shoulder injury for a while) to face Doug Gordon. Soto is a wrestling machine, a capable jiu-jitsu guy, and a handful for anyone, whereas Gordon is strong as hell, not shy about dispensing a beating, and by far Soto's toughest test to date. This one is going to be all about who can stay on top and impose their game plan.
• At middleweight, Team Serra/Longo vet James Gabert returns to battle Team Tiger Schulmann brawler Nissim Levy. Both men are skilled on the ground, but if they were presented with a buffet that included big plates of armbars, leglocks and chokes, they'd choose healthy portions of "punches to the face" and go back for seconds and thirds.
• At welterweight, New Jersey MMA pioneer Jose Rodriguez will square off against ROC Tournament of Champions winner Marc Stevens. Rodriguez has heavy hands, Stevens has great wrestling, and by the end someone is going to wind up bleeding or unconscious. Maybe both.

Thanks to the IFL, You Can Give a Crap About Sengoku 4

The IFL is dead and gone but its legacy lives on. Case in point: 155-pound champ Ryan Schultz, who will be taking part in the Sengoku 4 lightweight tournament in Japan tonight. "Senwhat" you say? Sengoku, one of the promotions that has arisen to fill the void Pride's demise left behind - and a promotion stocked with so many foreign fighters, the average US MMA fan would likely have no idea who to root for. Gosh, who's going to win in the bout between Kazunori Yokota and Bojan Kosednar? Who's going to come out on top in Eiji Mitsuoka vs. Rodrigo Damm? Who cares! It's all about Team Quest fighter Schultz, a recognizable name on the Sengoku roster thanks to the IFL.

Miller Brothers to Stake Their Claim on the UFC's Lightweight and Middleweight Divisions

Trainer/manager Mike Constantino of the AMA Fight Club in New Jersey announced today that Jim and Dan Miller have been signed by the UFC. With flawless wrestling and top-notch submission skills, Jim has cut a swath through the Northeast's lightweights. He's won a slew of championship belts, and has wins over the likes of Chris Liguori and Bart Palaszewski. Older brother Dan - also a grappling stud - has done much of the same in the 185-pound weightclass, with his kneebar win over Miletich-trained Ryan McGivern garnering him the IFL title. How good are these guys? At the news that they were graduating to the UFC, the Northeast's lightweights and middleweights breathed a collective sigh of relief. Believe it, baby.