UFC Fight for the Troops
“UFC Fight for the Troops” Raises Over $4 Million for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
From a press release in my inbox:
December 16, 2008 - New York, New York – Spike TV and Ultimate Fighting Championship today announced that its “UFC Fight for the Troops” event last week in Fayetteville, NC in front of 15,000 Ft. Bragg troops raised over $4 million for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund’s new medical center to be built in Bethesda.
According to Bill White, President of the IFHF, UFC and Spike TV should be applauded for their efforts.
"We are profoundly grateful to the UFC and Spike TV for their extraordinary support of our nation's Wounded Warriors,” White said. “Their efforts have moved us that much closer to complete the traumatic brain injury center in Bethesda for the service members that are fighting for our freedom overseas.”
According to the ratings, 2 million viewers watched the fight live on Spike TV and was one of the most watched programs that night, highly popular with male viewers.
Corey Hill Out 12 To 18 Months After Surgery
From UFC.com:
UFC lightweight Corey Hill underwent surgery for a broken leg Thursday morning at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The injury was sustained in the second round of his bout against Dale Hartt on Wednesday’s UFC Fight for The Troops card at the Crown Coliseum.
Expected to be out of action anywhere from a year to 18 months, Hill is currently resting in the hospital with his family. The former Ultimate Fighter standout is handling the injury well and is in good spirits a day after suffering the clean break to his right leg while throwing a kick which was blocked by Hartt.
If anyone can come back from this injury it is Corey Hill. He showed a lot of heart and determination during his run on The Ultimate Fighter. He also seems like a guy who sees the positive aspects of everything -- the guy who says his glass is half full instead of half empty.
I certainly wish Hill the best of luck and a speedy recovery so we can see him back in the Octagon as soon as possible.
Examining Corey Hill’s Injury at UFC Fight for the Troops
By Dr. Johnny Benjamin, MD, FightTicker.com Medical Contributor
Corey Hill, the 6 ft. 4 in. 155 lb. lightweight out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, suffered a dramatic right leg (tibia and fibula) fracture during his contest at UFC’s Fight for the Troops, Dec. 10th.
Jonathan Goulet and Brandon Wolff Banged Up After UFC Fight for the Troops
Ken Pavia from MMA Agents gave me a status report on UFC "Fight for the Troops" combatants Jonathan Goulet and Brandon Wolff today:
Brandon received stitches at the event around both eyes and has some facial swelling but is ok.
Goulet [checked] out at hospital but has swelling in the knee that has to go down before they can do MRI to [assess] damage.
It has been reported by many sources that Goulet's awkward landing may have caused an MCL injury, but as Pavia said an MRI to test that theory is not going to be possible for several days.
Wolff, on the other hand, seems to have made it out fairly safely minus the headache that he has probably had all day courtesy of the "Muay Thai Maniac" Ben Saunders and a referee stoppage that occurred about 30 seconds too late.
Brief Statement from Mike Swick Following His UFC Fight for the Troops Win
I emailed Mike Swick last night to congratulate him on an impressive win and here is how he responded:
Thanks man!
"It felt amazing to walk out and hear the cheers and voices of our brave soldiers who fight our brutal wars abroad in the name of freedom. I am not only inspired by our strong military but humbled by the courage they bring into battle. To show up and see 10,000 soldiers stand up and cheer after my fight was priceless!"
-Swick
How Corey Hill Lost His Fight...Not for the Weak of Heart
I hope that Corey is able to come back from this injury. For the larger image, click on "read full story" below.
Assist: BloodyElbow.com via FightTicker.com blogger Hardyz55
Update: Video on TMZ.com
UFC "Fight for the Troops" Goes Off in Successful Fashion
On a night when UFC fighters got the chance to put on a show for those who fight for our freedoms abroad, many of those fighters walked away with injuries comparable with those suffered by some soldiers in attendance.
The UFC's Fight Night 16: Fight for the Troops was broadcast free on Spike TV from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. As part of the broadcast, all night viewers were given glimpses of some of the terrible ordeals that many of the brave men and women have suffered during combat abroad. Celebrities such as Charlie Sheen and Samuel L. Jackson taped messages asking viewers for donations.
UFC Fight for the Troops Betting Analysis
Hey, everyone. We've got a packed few weeks coming up for the UFC, leading off tonight with the UFC Fight For The Troops. Football has been truly unkind the past two weeks (my Lions don't seem to have a win on the schedule!), so I am hoping to have a solid performance tonight. We shall see. Here are the lines for tonight's card.
Josh Koscheck - -270
Yoshiyuki Yoshida - +210
Mike Swick - -450
Jonathan Goulet - +300
Luigi Fioravanti - -350
Brodie Farber - +275
Corey Hill - -325
Dale Hartt - +250
Ben Saunders - -500
Brandon Wolff - +300
Tim Credeur - -150
Nate Loughran - +120
Johnny Rees - -125
Steve Bruno - -105
Eddie Sanchez - -175
Justin McCully - +145
Steve Cantwell - -375
Razak Al-Hussan - +275
Jim Miller - -130
Matt Wiman - Even
Click "read full story" for full analysis.
Official UFC Fight for the Troops Weigh-in Results (Making Weight Optional)
From UFC.com:
* Farber and Fioravanti will fight at a 173-pound catchweight.
Seems like the welterweight division is having difficulty making weight these days. Apparently, Thiago Alves has opened the floodgates...
UFC Fight for the Troops Tonight at 9 PM ET on Spike TV
Click "read full story" for the enlarged banner. And, a reminder that event info can be found on the "Events" page of the site.
Edgar Out, Jim Miller In For UFC Fight For The Troops
An injury sustained during training has forced lightweight competitor Frankie Edgar out of a scheduled bout vs. Matt Wiman during next Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 16: “UFC Fight for the Troops” event.
Replacing Edgar will be another New Jersey based fighter, up and coming lightweight prospect Jim Miller.
I had a phone interview scheduled with Edgar for Saturday and never heard back from him. I guess this is the reason why. Regardless, I will try to call back and get more details on his injury.
The Insane One: Exclusive Interview with Justin McCully
By Josh Stein, FightTicker.com blogger
I got to talk to UFC heavyweight Justin McCully on Monday about his upcoming fight against Eddie Sanchez on UFC Fight for the Troops, who else he'd like to fight in the UFC, and his health.
Koscheck vs. Yoshida Headlines UFC Fight for the Troops Dec. 10
New York, NY, November 10, 2008 – Fighting with a truly meaningful purpose in front of some real American heroes, “The Ultimate Fighter” alums Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, and Matt Wiman will be featured on Spike TV’s telecast of “UFC Fight For The Troops” live from the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Wednesday, December 10 at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT.
The special live UFC fight card will raise funds to build a hospital for traumatic brain injuries for the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces. Thousands of soldiers from nearby Fort Bragg, the proud home of the U.S. Airborne and Special Operations Forces, will be in attendance. More information about the facility, including ways to donate, can be found online at http://www.fallenheroesfund.org or by calling 1-800-340-HERO.
The fight card also showcases five current UFC fighters who are all U.S. military veterans, including Luigi Fioravanti, Tim Credeur, Dale Hartt, Brandon Wolff, and Steve Bruno. An additional fight will be added to the main event and announced at a later date.
“The Ultimate Fighter 1” standout Koscheck (13-3) has won seven of his last nine decisions, only tasting defeat at the hands of current welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre in a three-round decision last August at UFC 74, and most recently Thiago Alves at UFC 90 in Chicago. Koscheck, fighting out of Fresno, CA, needs a win to get back on the winning track in his quest for a potential rematch with St. Pierre. His opponent, Tokyo native Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida (10-2), has won nine straight pro mixed martial arts fights, including his UFC debut last May at UFC 84 via submission over Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver.
Swick (12-2), fighting out of San Jose, CA, has also won seven of his last eight bouts in the Octagon, including a three round decision over Josh Burkman this past January in a main event on Spike TV’s “UFC Fight Night.” To continue his quest for a potential title shot, he must defeat fellow welterweight contender, Jonathan Goulet (22-9). The hard-kicking 29-year old Canadian recently scored a TKO victory at UFC 83 over Kuniyoshi Hironaka.
“The Ultimate Fighter 5” standout Matt Wiman (10-3), a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has won four straight contests in the Octagon, including an impressive 2nd round knockout of Thiago Tavares at UFC 85 in June. “Handsome” Matt will face his toughest test yet against the pride of Toms River, NJ, Frankie Edgar. A rising star in the lightweight division (9-1), Edgar is coming off the biggest win of his professional career, a three-round decision over the dangerous Hermes Franca this past July at “UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Irvin” on Spike TV.
On the undercard, two promising fighters make their UFC Octagon® debut as Steve Cantwell battles Razak Al- Hussan. The 22 year-old Cantwell, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, holds the WEC light heavyweight belt and has won six of his seven pro mixed martial arts fights. His most recent victory, a 2nd round TKO victory over Brian Stann in August, was the biggest of his career and netted him the WEC belt. In the opposite corner will be Al-Hussan of Des Moines, IA, who possesses a 5-0 professional MMA record, with four of his five wins coming via TKO or submission. He will look to continue that undefeated trend in his matchup with Cantwell.
The undercard also includes former U.S. Marine Luigi Fioravanti vs. Brodie Farber; U.S. Navy veteran Dale Hartt vs. Corey Hill from “The Ultimate Fighter 5;” Ben Saunders from “The Ultimate Fighter 5” vs. former Navy SEAL Brandon Wolff; “The Ultimate Fighter 7” semi-finalist and U.S. Navy veteran Tim Credeur vs. Nate Loughran; Johnny Rees vs. U.S. Navy veteran Steve Bruno; and Justin McCully vs Eddie Sanchez.
Josh Koscheck vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida To Headline UFC Fight For the Troops
Las Vegas, NV (USA) -- Fighting with a truly meaningful purpose in front of some real American heroes, The Ultimate Fighter® alums Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, Matt Wiman will be featured on Spike TV’s telecast of UFC Fight For The Troops™ live from the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Wednesday, December 10 at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT.
The special live UFC® fight card will raise funds to build a hospital for traumatic brain injuries for the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces. Thousands of soldiers from nearby Fort Bragg, the proud home of the U.S. Airborne and Special Operations Forces, will be in attendance.
The Ultimate Fighter 1 standout Koscheck (13-2) has won seven of his last eight decisions, only tasting defeat at the hands of welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre in a three-round decision last August at UFC 74. Koscheck, fighting out of Fresno, CA, is among the top contenders in the welterweight division and needs a win to continue his ascent for a potential rematch with St. Pierre. His opponent, Tokyo native Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida (10-2), has won nine straight pro mixed martial arts fights including his UFC debut last May at UFC 84 with a victory via submission with Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver.
Brian Stann Injured, Unable to Compete at UFC "Fight For The Troops"
From FiveOuncesofPain.com:
Former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Stann will not be able to fight on the December 10th UFC FIGHT FOR THE TROOPS show which is to be held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Sources close to the fighter today confirmed to Fiveouncesofpain.com that an injury to the fighter’s foot would not allow him to fight in his scheduled bout with Steve Cantwell.
Stann and Cantwell first clashed at WEC 26 in March of 2007 with Stann winning via TKO in just 41 seconds into round 1. Stann would go on to claim the WEC light heavyweight title and made his first defense against Cantwell at WEC 35 on August 3. This time around, it was Cantwell who got the win, becoming the new champ following a second round TKO.
This is a really bad break for Stann -- the Marine was looking forward to fighting in front of the troops and he was looking to extract some revenge for his loss against Cantwell back in August. This was to be the debut for both on a UFC card after the WEC disbanded the LHW & MW divisions.
