Teashi
05-11-2010, 14:07
"The Ultimate Fighter 13" tryouts draw several notables including Galvao, Amoussou, Toney | MMAjunkie.com (http://mmajunkie.com/news/21283/the-ultimate-fighter-13-tryouts-draw-several-notables-including-galvao-amoussou-toney.mma)
For a moment, it seemed like a horrific case of déjà vu.
With a wry smile on his face, UFC president Dana White called out the names of James Toney and welcomed him to the mat for his chance at a spot on "The Ultimate Fighter 13."
That turned out to be a mere Freudian slip, as welterweight Jamie "The Ghost" Toney (13-5) stepped forward to claim the slot. So while the brash pro boxer and one-time UFC vet "Lights Out" Toney didn't participate in the tryouts, a host of other notables did, including Andre Galvao (5-2) and Karl Amoussou (11-3-2).
Open tryouts for "The Ultimate Fighter 13" took place today in Las Vegas, and nearly 300 prospective cast members took part in the process, including a host of notable big-fight veterans.
MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com)) attended the eight-hour session, which took place in Las Vegas at the Red Rock Resort & Casino's Summerlin Ballroom. A total of 202 welterweights and 96 middleweights were vying for a spot on the Spike TV-broadcast reality series.
All contestants were put through a battery of grappling and striking drills as White, UFC vice president of talent relations Joe Silva and Spike TV senior vice president Brian Diamond.
Galvao, of course, is a seven-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion who made his mixed martial arts debut in August 2008. Galvao went on to a 1-1 record under the Japanese-based DREAM organization before transitioning to Strikeforce, where the welterweight prospect went 2-1 in 2010.
Meanwhile, Amoussou is a 25-year-old middleweight Frenchman who in July suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Kazuhiro Nakamura under the DREAM banner. Prior the the defeat, the eight-time M-1 Global veteran fought to a technical draw with Trevor Prangley under the Strikeforce banner.
Additional notable middleweights taking their chances for a shot on "The Ultimate Fighter 13" include Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Zak Cummings (12-2), 42-year-old WEC vet Ariel Gandulla (5-6), "TUF 9" contestant Frank Lester (4-4), Bellator, Showtime and EliteXC vet Robert "Bubba" McDaniel (15-6), "TUF 7" cast member Jeremiah Riggs (3-5), recent Strikeforce Challengers headliner Louis Taylor (6-2) and Wand Fight Team's Vitor Vianna (10-1-1).
Noteworthy welterweight fighters trying out included Levi "The Marine" Avera (15-7), Strikeforce and King of the Cage veteran Shamar Bailey (10-3), WEC and EliteXC vet Muhsin Corbbrey (8-6), two-time WEC fighter James Krause (11-3), Wand Fight Team's Jorge Lopez (7-1), four-time IFL veteran Bristol Marunde (12-6), Bellator season-one vet Estevan Payan (9-3), two-time Bellator fighter Charlie Rader (13-3), three-time Bellator vet Tyler Stinson (18-7) and three-time WEC veteran Dave "The Bionic" Terrel (6-4).
A host of other promising prospects also took their turns at fulfilling their dreams. There was the unlucky contestant that apparently dislocated his elbow while grappling, cutting his day short. There was the 51-year-old former kickboxer looking for a final shot at glory. There was the Canadian champion who tried to wow the panel with his title belt and punctuated his grappling with extensive (and very loud) trash-talking throughout. There was even undefeated Dhiego Lima, who looked to up his chances by carving an homage to the UFC in his hair.
But the most memorable moment of the day very likely went to one-armed fighter and former "Fight Path" subject Nick Newell, who wowed on the mat with a dizzying array of submission attempts before tapping his grappling partner with a deftly executed omo plata.
Whether any of today's standout performers will make it on the show remains to be seen. Official cast announcements will not be made until just prior to the spring 2011 debut of "The Ultimate Fighter 13."
For a moment, it seemed like a horrific case of déjà vu.
With a wry smile on his face, UFC president Dana White called out the names of James Toney and welcomed him to the mat for his chance at a spot on "The Ultimate Fighter 13."
That turned out to be a mere Freudian slip, as welterweight Jamie "The Ghost" Toney (13-5) stepped forward to claim the slot. So while the brash pro boxer and one-time UFC vet "Lights Out" Toney didn't participate in the tryouts, a host of other notables did, including Andre Galvao (5-2) and Karl Amoussou (11-3-2).
Open tryouts for "The Ultimate Fighter 13" took place today in Las Vegas, and nearly 300 prospective cast members took part in the process, including a host of notable big-fight veterans.
MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com)) attended the eight-hour session, which took place in Las Vegas at the Red Rock Resort & Casino's Summerlin Ballroom. A total of 202 welterweights and 96 middleweights were vying for a spot on the Spike TV-broadcast reality series.
All contestants were put through a battery of grappling and striking drills as White, UFC vice president of talent relations Joe Silva and Spike TV senior vice president Brian Diamond.
Galvao, of course, is a seven-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion who made his mixed martial arts debut in August 2008. Galvao went on to a 1-1 record under the Japanese-based DREAM organization before transitioning to Strikeforce, where the welterweight prospect went 2-1 in 2010.
Meanwhile, Amoussou is a 25-year-old middleweight Frenchman who in July suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Kazuhiro Nakamura under the DREAM banner. Prior the the defeat, the eight-time M-1 Global veteran fought to a technical draw with Trevor Prangley under the Strikeforce banner.
Additional notable middleweights taking their chances for a shot on "The Ultimate Fighter 13" include Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Zak Cummings (12-2), 42-year-old WEC vet Ariel Gandulla (5-6), "TUF 9" contestant Frank Lester (4-4), Bellator, Showtime and EliteXC vet Robert "Bubba" McDaniel (15-6), "TUF 7" cast member Jeremiah Riggs (3-5), recent Strikeforce Challengers headliner Louis Taylor (6-2) and Wand Fight Team's Vitor Vianna (10-1-1).
Noteworthy welterweight fighters trying out included Levi "The Marine" Avera (15-7), Strikeforce and King of the Cage veteran Shamar Bailey (10-3), WEC and EliteXC vet Muhsin Corbbrey (8-6), two-time WEC fighter James Krause (11-3), Wand Fight Team's Jorge Lopez (7-1), four-time IFL veteran Bristol Marunde (12-6), Bellator season-one vet Estevan Payan (9-3), two-time Bellator fighter Charlie Rader (13-3), three-time Bellator vet Tyler Stinson (18-7) and three-time WEC veteran Dave "The Bionic" Terrel (6-4).
A host of other promising prospects also took their turns at fulfilling their dreams. There was the unlucky contestant that apparently dislocated his elbow while grappling, cutting his day short. There was the 51-year-old former kickboxer looking for a final shot at glory. There was the Canadian champion who tried to wow the panel with his title belt and punctuated his grappling with extensive (and very loud) trash-talking throughout. There was even undefeated Dhiego Lima, who looked to up his chances by carving an homage to the UFC in his hair.
But the most memorable moment of the day very likely went to one-armed fighter and former "Fight Path" subject Nick Newell, who wowed on the mat with a dizzying array of submission attempts before tapping his grappling partner with a deftly executed omo plata.
Whether any of today's standout performers will make it on the show remains to be seen. Official cast announcements will not be made until just prior to the spring 2011 debut of "The Ultimate Fighter 13."