Nate Diaz Likely to Utilize Some "Jiu-Jitsu" at UFN 15

Tonight's Ultimate Fight Night 15 on SpikeTV features a headlining bout between TUF 5 winner Nate Diaz against Josh Neer - a lightweight contest that in all likelihood will see Diaz utilizing some Brazilian-style "jiu-jitsu". A scrappy, rough-and-tumble youngster from Stockton, California, Diaz has been known to fight from positions called "the guard" and "the mount", and at times has employed fancy moves like the "guillotine" and the "triangle choke" to force his opponents to tap out. Does Neer have the wherewithal to avoid these fancy-schmantzy techniques? Or will he fall prey to that which he does not understand? That's any one's guess, but either way, expect Diaz to impress.

Why Do People Keep Fouling Glen Sandull?

At this past Friday's ROC 21 Glen Sandull took on Ricardo Romero for the light-heavyweight title, and in the heat of battle Romero soccer-kicked the wrestler-turned-fighter in the dome when Sandull was on all fours. The result was a win via disqualification for the AMA Fight Club/Team Renzo representative, a shiny new ROC championship belt, and an exit from the cage on a stretcher. But this was, unfortunately, not the first time Sandull's been fouled in an MMA bout - Carlos Cline repeatedly up-kicked Sandull in their October of 2004 Reality Fighting bout, and Sherman Pendergarst whacked him over the head with a two-by-four in their April of 2006 Sportfighting bout. What is it about Sandull that makes opponents want to disregard the Unified Rules of MMA when fighting him? "He's just so... foulable," says Braden Bice, who faced Sandull at Combat in the Cage in September of 2006, losing in the third round due to exaustion but running Sandull down with his car in the parking lot. "I mean, nothing against the guy, but when he's taking you down again and again, pounding on you like a red-headed stepchild, you just have to break the rules."

Mac Danzig May Hate Meat, But He Hates Cavemen and Dinosaurs Even More

Noted vegetarian Mac Danzig may hate meat, but he hates cavemen and dinosaurs even more, and at Wednesday night's UFN 15 Danzig will face famed dino-rider Clay Guida in a match-up that guarantees fireworks. "I really don't like any carnivores," said Danzig between bites of raw cauliflower. "And as a prehistoric man, Guida is definitely an extreme carnivore. I'm going to kick his ass and the ass of that triceratops he rides around on." The Pride FC vet and lightweight TUF 6 winner, who trains at Xtreme Couture and eats things like radishes and zucchini in lieu of hamburgers and hot dogs, has yet to be tested in the Octagon. Guida should prove to be a tough opponent.

Anthony Johnson Loses Appeal Due to Excessive Blindness

UFC fighter Anthony Johnson, who was blatantly eye-gouged by opponent Kevin Burns at their UFN 14 clash but lost the bout via controversial TKO thanks to a referee's bad call, has had his appeal rejected by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. According to NSAC High Exalted One Keith Kizer, the reason behind the rejected appeal was "excessive blindness", as Johnson was unable to see the requisite forms to properly fill them out. Johnson has since undergone surgery for his damaged eye, and currently uses a prosthetic eyeball as well as an eye patch.

Affliction Teams Up With Golden Krust

Hot on the heels of the postponement of their October "Day of Reckoning" show, Affliction has announced a partnership between themselves and Caribbean bakery giant Golden Krust. In a press conference on Saturday, head seamstress Tom Atencio described the alliance as "ground breaking" and promised that it would "change the mixed martial arts industry forever". No word yet on what this means for the promotion in terms of breaking into the Las Vegas market or selling tickets to shows not headlined by Fedor Emelianenko, but Golden Krust is the world's leading producer of Jamaican beef patties, and its flavorful jerk marinade is heralded as the best jerk around.

Jon Koppenhaver Cut from UFC for Being "Too Classy"

According to preliminary reports, the UFC has released TUF 6 alum Jon Koppenhaver from his contract for being "too classy". Nicknamed "War Machine", Koppenhaver was recently praised for his moving Myspace tribute to the late Evan Tanner, and his tireless volunteer work in the community has left many wondering if he'd one day snag a Nobel Peace Prize. "He's really not what we're looking for in a fighter," said UFC Vice Dictator Joe Silva. "Nice doesn't sell fights. We're all about scum and villainy."

Empire State Warriors Challenge: "Bike 'n' Brawl"

This past weekend saw one of the aforementioned New York State underground shows come to fruition with the Empire State Warriors Challenge, a long-running promotion near Albany that uses amateur MMA rules akin to New Jersey's. Aptly dubbed "Bike 'n' Brawl" (the event took place at a biker rally), the card featured over a dozen bouts that paired fighters with backgrounds in traditional Japanese jujitsu and the like with fighters from actual MMA-focused gyms. "Basically, if you trained, you won," says Hudson Valley Jiu-Jitsu honcho Brian McLaughlin, whose student, John Incledon, won via kimura on Saturday night. McLaughlin is quick to point out that the event was big on fighter safety, was well-run and organized, and the rules meeting even included instructions on where to meet if the bikers rioted. In terms of helping the sport grow in New York, MMA Journalist definitely puts the Empire State Warriors Challenge amongst the good guys.

Underground Profile: Harley Flanagan

Don't let the road map of tattoos and the "crazed killer" appearance fool you - Underground Combat League veteran Harley Flanagan is really a nice guy. Albeit, a nice guy who likes to throwdown and punch people in the face. Well-known in hardcore punk rock circles as the front man for the band the "Cro-Mags", the 41-year-old took the MMA plunge last year, and though the Renzo Gracie-trained jiu-jitsu purple belt wound up battered and bruised, he was all smiles. Win or lose, Flanagan clearly loves the sport.

MMA Continues to Thrive in New York

Worried about the prospect of never seeing mixed martial arts in New York? Concerned over the Zuffa-promoted bill that legislators pushed to the backburner earlier this year? Afraid that the sport will never take hold in the Empire State? Fear not! There are no less than three under-the-radar amateur MMA shows on tap for the near future, and the events - scheduled for three different parts of the state - are sure to provide enough action to satisfy any action-hungry fan's appetite. Stay tuned to MMA Journalist for more on these underground shows after they happen.

Notes from EliteXC's Kimbo Slice/Ken Shamrock Conference Call

EliteXC hosted a conference call this afternoon for their upcoming CBS "Saturday Night Fights" card, and on hand were main event fighters Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock. While both men remained courteous and gentlemanly throughout the telephonic meeting, there was a distinct pallor of tension in the air, as evidenced by the following select quotes:

• "Mister Slice is, I daresay, a formidable foe, but my skills at pugilism will prove superior." - Ken Shamrock
• "We are in for a donnybrook, chaps. A right donnybrook." - Kimbo Slice
• "The world shall see a Shamrock well-trained and well-prepared. I am feasting on plates of beef steak and roasted chicken daily." - Ken Shamrock
• "He may have his finely-prepared meats, but I have my diet of freshly-baked bread to rely on." -Kimbo Slice
• "Mister Slice and esteemed coach Bas Rutten are in for a surprise, for no amount of training can prepare a man for the fisticuffs Mister Slice and I will engage in." - Ken Shamrock
• "Best of luck to you, old chap. Best of luck." -Kimbo Slice