Eddie Alvarez Defeated By Sneaky Asian Devil

Vids are already circulating from this morning's K-1 Dynamite event in Japan, which featured a slew of typical freakshow bouts but also a few relevant match-ups - not the least of which was Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki. And you know what? Alvarez lost, the victim of a painful and possibly damaging heelhook that forced him to tap out in just under two minutes. There is no question the Philadelphia slugger will be back. However, based on the video, and the hobbled Alvarez being helped backstage with an ice pack on his knee, there is a pretty big question as to whether he'll be able to compete at the January 24th Extreme Challenge in Atlantic City. Stay tuned for more info.

Al Iaquinta to Finally Turn Pro?

According to Ring of Combat's website, it looks as if longtime amateur competitor and unbridled fight stud Al Iaquinta has finally decided to turn pro and compete at ROC 23 on February 20th. Can it be? Will one of the toughest ammy's around - who parlayed serious wrestling skills and kickboxing chops into an extensive and flawless "MMA Little League" record - finally be taking the plunge? If so, me likey. For accomplished amateurs should, in theory, make for very capable pro fighters, and Iaquinta's resume and experience should have him making waves in the lightweight division in no time.

Observations from My Couch: UFC 92

• Cheick Kongo looked great in the cage. I also thought he was fantastic in "Gladiator" with Russel Crowe, he was solid in "Blood Diamond" opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, and he was the lone bright spot in "Never Back Down".
• I hated seeing Wanderlei Silva destroyed like that. Gone are his speed and overwhelming aggression. There's no denying Father Time has caught up with him.
• Reese Andy vs. Matt Hamill is the reason why watching wrestlers box makes me nauseous.
• Based on the extensive bandaging on Mike Massenzio's leg, I was sure he was channeling the powers of the Ancient Egyptian Mummy. Alas, it didn't work.
• Frank Mir. Believe it.
• Rashad Evans didn't just win by ground and pound, he won by GROUND AND POUND.

Rest In Peace Justin Eilers

Tragedy has struck yet again to the mixed martial arts community. Late Friday night UFC and EliteXC veteran Justin Eilers was shot and killed in an apparent domestic dispute at a family gathering in Idaho. I only knew Eilers from saying "hi" to him backstage when he fought Andrei Arlovski at UFC 53 at Boardwalk Hall, and I congratulated him when he won his headlining bout at World's Best Fighter. He seemed like a cool, no-nonsense dude who was definitely game in the ring. Rest in peace, Justin Eilers. You will be missed.

Pat Berry Looking to Break Out of Father's Shadow and Make Name for Himself

Tomorrow night's UFC will feature the debut of Pat Berry, a New Orleans-born heavyweight kickboxer and student of Ernesto Hoost. And while Berry will have all the usual weight an Octagon rookie has on his shoulders, he'll also be carrying a bit more. "It's tough being the son of someone famous," says Berry, whose father, Franken Berry, is the spokesperson for the well-known strawberry-flavored cereal of the same name. "I mean, people hear 'Berry' and they think breakfast. I need to change that. I want them to think UFC champ." Berry's first bout in the big show will be against Norwegian fighter Dan Evensen - a noted scrambled egg eater and enemy of sugar-sweetened cereals. "It doesn't bother me," says Berry. "I'm there to fight. I'm there to let the world know that Pat Berry can kick butt." Adds the K-1 and WCL veteran: "It ain't about food or my dad. It's about me."

Predictions for UFC 92: "Ultimate 2008"

The final UFC of the year and boy is it a doozy. The main card is star-studded and the under card is packed with more than a few top contenders - which is a pleasant departure from the often anemic cards the promotion has been putting out of late. Some predictions:

• In the contest for the light-heavyweight belt, the "Ultimate Fighter" will win.
• In the battle for the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship, the smart money is on the guy with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
• Who will come out on top in CB Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio? My guess would be the wrestler. Yeah, the wrestler. Let's go with that one.
• Mustafa Al-Turk vs. Cheick Kongo? Go with the foreigner.
• I don't know who's going to emerge victorious in the Quinton Jackson/Wanderlei Silva match-up, but I can say that, win or lose, Jackson is most likely going to hear voices and behave erratically - and possibly drive his car onto the sidewalk.

Battles Unseen

Yesterday I interviewed top-level East Coast lightweight Brian McLaughlin. The scope of the interview far exceeds the constraints of this blog (i.e., it was a long interview that will find a home in next month's Full Contact Fighter magazine), suffice to say that it was all about his one-on-one session with New York State Assemblyman Bob Reilly. The same Assemblyman Reilly who's done his damnedest to keep MMA out of New York? The same Assemblyman Reilly who believes the sport promotes violence, and who believes this form of barbarism is tantamount to the decline of Western civilization? Yeah, that guy. And yesterday, McLaughlin drove up to Albany and met with Reilly, and the ROC 155-pound Beasts of the Northeast tournament winner went toe-to-toe with him and explained the ins and outs of this sport we love. How did it go? According to McLaughlin, maybe - maybe - things moved half a step forward. But regardless, McLaughlin was there, acting as a representative for those of us dying to get MMA into New York State, and from the sounds of it McLaughlin did an outstanding job. There are battles we get to see, on pay-per-view and SpikeTV and CBS and NBC, and there are battles unseen - which are sometimes more important in the grand scheme of things. Myself, I'm glad McLaughlin was there yesterday fighting this one.

Quinton Jackson: "God Wants Me to Get Beat Up Again - So That's What I'm Gonna Do"

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, former light-heavyweight champ and full-time vision-seeing lunatic, is slated to face off against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92 in Las Vegas - only a few short months after the colorful but troubled star went off the deep end and led police on a high-speed chase. This will be the third clash between Jackson and Silva, with their two prior encounters (in Pride) resulting in Jackson stunned and mumbling about being Joan of Arc and not wanting any more tamales. Why would the popular fighter agree to take on Silva once more? Said Jackson, "God wants me to get beat up again - so that's what I'm gonna do." UFC 92 will also feature 205-pound champ Forrest Griffin defending his belt against Rashad Evans.

NYC Submission Shootout

Mark February 8th on your calendars, as that's the date of Jerry Mendez and Rene Driefuss' "NYC Submission Shootout" at the Fighthouse in Midtown Manhattan, a round-robin no-gi grappling tournament. The event will be sanctioned by USA Judo, thereby making it 100-percent legal and not a deathmatch kumite. For more info, shoot Jerry an email at nysubmissionshootout@ymail.com, and expect MMA Journalist to liveblog from matside.

The Truth About Underground Shows

MMA Journalist certainly enjoys quite a bit of latitude in reporting on the underground shows that take place in New York State, but as this site is truly about the news and reporting on all angles of it, now would be a good time to point out some negatives attached to competing. Yesterday, respected coach Ray Longo issued a statement saying that student Arjang Jameh was banned from his school - a direct result of Jameh's decision to compete in an unsanctioned MMA event. And earlier this year, Nick Lembo of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board decreed that anyone who fights in an unregulated event cannot compete as an amateur in New Jersey. Harsh? Maybe, but both Longo and Lembo have valid reasons, not the least of which is fighter safety. Was there an EMT at the last UCL? Yes, however, I can't say if there was one at those underground events near Albany and on Long Island, and either way, were accurate records kept of who was injured and who would need a suspension (for a KO, as an example)? As the law currently stands, amateur MMA is legal but completely unregulated in New York, and fighters such as the Funaro brothers, Josh Candon, Mike Milian, and Kirland Campbell are gaining valuable experience for future MMA battles - like Frankie Edgar and Bryan Vetell did before them. But there are consequences, and people interested in competing in these events must ask themselves: is it worth it?