THE MMA WEEKLY WRAP UP for 5-5-08

TITO ORTIZ'S 'REAL' OPPONENT AT UFC 84... DANA WHITE

As we prepare for the next UFC event, returning to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, on Saturday May 24th, the usual trash talk has already shifted into high gear.

In the Lightweight division, B.J. Penn will face Sean Sherk (provided his steroid test come back negative!); While two Light Heavyweights bouts will also take place. Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine will match up; and Tito Ortiz will fight Lyoto Machida.

The thing is, so far, most of the trash talk hasn't been between the fighters, but between Tito Ortiz and UFC President Dana White. Ortiz has been very vocal about his feelings concerning UFC contracts and the money paid to fighters. Tito uses almost every interview as an opportunity to bash both the UFC and White.

Since this is Tito's last fight under UFC contract, the real fire works might take place after the fight. Something tells me that Dana White is praying Machida wins this match; Otherwise, PayPerView might have to cut to a commercial during Joe Rogan's customary post-fight interview.

The following interview from Throwdown.com lets Ortiz express his dislike for the UFC:

For PART II of the interview, click here.

FABER VS PULVER AT WEC - 6/1/08

In his hometown of Sacramento CA, the WEC Featherweight champion Urijah Faber faces former UFC Lightweight champ Jens Pulver in what could be the most exciting WEC event yet.

Faber recently defeated Jeff Curran with a guillotine choke last December and is still hot on a 12 fight wining streak. Pulver has moved from the UFC and dropped weight after losing to BJ Penn last year. He choked out Cub Swanson in his debut WEC fight and is highly anticipated to match with Faber.

Other matches include:

Miguel Torres vs. Yoshiro Maeda

Chuck Grigsby vs. Mark Munoz

Kenneth Alexander vs. Rob McCullough

Donald Cerrone vs. Rich Crunkilton

Mike Brown vs. Jeff Curran

Tim McKenzie vs. Eric Schambari

Jose Aldo vs. Alexandre Nogueira

Dominick Cruz vs. Charlie Valencia

The event will be televised on Versus.

Here's a quick interview with Faber talking about the upcoming fight.

'REDBELT' HITS THE MOVIE SCREENS

After years of putting up with B-movies and direct-to-DVD disasters, MMA fans may finally have a reason to go to the movies.

Written and directed by David Mamet, Redbelt "Redbelt" stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as an honest Brazilian Ju Jitsu instructor, who's school faces financial troubles and ends up fighting in corrupt mixed martial-arts competitions. Okay, so far it sounds like every other martial arts flick ever made, but the movie definitely has better production quality and solid acting. (They actually found a real actor to play the lead instead of some UFC champ who can't even remember his lines... although Randy Couture still somehow finds his way onto the screen.)

The Trailer looks pretty good; and even if the movie blows, the fight scenes are sure be worth the $8:00 admission!

Well, that does it for this week, check back again soon as we continue to bring you the 'best of the web' in MMA news, events, and happenings.

Respectfully,

Rick