Mike Massenzio

STATUS: UFC Middleweight fighter.

HT: 6-2 WT: 185

DOB: 1982 IN: Teaneck, NJ

FIGHTING INSPIRATION: “Big Rocky fan. Not a real life character but that’s what I use for my thoughts.”

HOBBIES/LEISURE ACTIVITIES: “Fighting, wrestling, training, that’s all I’ve ever known [laughs]. I’m big into trout fishing.”

NICKNAMES: Master of Disaster.

FAVORITE MOVIE: “Rocky.”

FAVORITE TV SHOW: “Home Improvement.”

LAST BOOK READ: “I don’t read books.”

MUSICAL TASTES: “Eminem, 50 Cent.”

FAVORITE WEB SITES: “I’m not big on the computer.”

EARLY FIGHTING MEMORY: “A wrestling memory is in the state semifinal in my junior year in high school, against a guy I lost to earlier in the year – he beat me 8-0. With :07 left I took him down and won the match. That’s when my career went up. I realized I really showed true heart. I was a huge underdog, I was the #7 seed, he was the #1 seed. And I went on to win the final.”

CHILDHOOD DREAM: “I wanted to fight in the UFC. Also wanted to be a NCAA Division I national champion in wrestling. Never got that but this is like a second chance.”

FIRST JOB: “Valet parking at Mount Fuji in Suffern, N.Y.”

FIRST CAR: “Chevy Cavalier 1990 (blue).”

CURRENT CAR: “2008 Nissan Altima Coupe (pearl white).”

PRE-FIGHT FEELING/MINDSET: “Same for every fight. I am nervous but this is where I want to be. Just know I have to go out and give 150%. After all the hard training, fight day is like payday for me. Give it everything I have. Keep my mind straight. As long as I give it everything I got, I know I’m gonna come out on top.”

FAVORITE MEAL: “Chinese food.”

FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR: “Vanilla.”

GREATEST CAREER MOMENT: “I would have to say stepping into the Octagon (UFC in Omaha, Nebraska). Beating Drew McFedries (submission/kimura at 1:28 of round one). Knowing that all the hard work that was put in – there was a meaning. Indescribable feeling. September 17, 2008. UFC debut.”

MOST PAINFUL MOMENT: “My losses (to Jay Coleman in ‘05; Danilo Villefort and CB Dollaway in ‘08).”

WORST INJURY: “Breaking my jaw in my first loss. It definitely set me back. I used it as a motivator.”

FUNNY FIGHTING MEMORY: “I’m not sure. I don’t think I have anything like that.”

EMBARRASSING CAREER MEMORY: “Honestly, no I don’t. I don’t have anything [smiles]. Pretty boring guy.”

FAVORITE FIGHTERS TO WATCH: “Wanderlei Silva is my favorite fighter. His intensity, the way he fights, non-stop pushing, pressing. That’s how I fight. I want to break down who I fight. Georges St. Pierre too.”

BEST FIGHT SEEN: “First Forrest Griffin-Stefan Bonner. And Clay Guida-Roger Huerta.”

TOUGHEST MAN FACED: “Probably would have to say Dan Miller. I think Dan Miller is a great athlete, great guy too. We have the same attitude. It was a war. Everything I presented, he was ready. Everything he presented, I was ready. It was really a great fight.”

YOUR BEST/FINEST PERFORMANCE(S): “I think every fight I feel I get better and better. Even in losses I feel I’ve evolved. In every fight I top what I did in the last fight. The whole thing is ‘evolving.’ The last fight I felt great. Everything came together. I was able to take out one of the best guys.”

LAST VACATION: “I haven’t had a vacation in a long time. I think my only vacations were going to wrestling tournaments or going to a fight.”

PEOPLE QUALITIES MOST ADMIRED: “Just honest. True people. Loyal people. That are genuinely true. That won’t backstab you. Don’t try to front be something they’re not. Loyal, honest, genuinely true. I have my own school (ironhorsemixedmartialarts.com), that’s what I look for, fighter-wise. Guys who are gonna work. Maybe not the best technical-wise but they have a big heart, want to work, push, do anything to win.”

Georges St. Pierre’s Breathing Technique Video sent to NSAC

This is a video that Georges St. Pierre’s camp has sent to the NSAC to show the breathing technique that he uses in his UFC fights.

UFC 96: Jackson vs. Jardine In Depth

UFC 96: Jackson vs. Jardine

MAIN CARD
-Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine
-Matt Hamill vs. Mark Munoz
-Matt Brown vs. Pete Sell
-Shane Carwin vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
-Gray Maynard vs. Jim Miller

PRELIMINARY CARD
-Ryan Madigan vs. Tamdan McCrory
-Jason Day vs. Kendall Grove
-Tim Boetsch vs. Jason Brilz
-Mike Patt vs. Brandon Vera
-Shane Nelson vs. Aaron Riley

Interview with Shonie “Mr. International” Carter

Shonie “Mr. International” Carter has won so many championship belts throughout the course of his distinguished mixed martial arts career that it’s hard for him to remember how many belts he actually owns. In an exclusive interview with MMAMemories.com the thirty six year old father of three confessed to giving a few of his title straps to his young boys to wrestle around the house with. According to him, they’ll be carrying on the legacy, winning championships of their own in just a matter of time.

On top of being one of the most experienced competitors in the sport, Carter has long been known as one MMA’s most electrifying and colorful athletes. From his trademark speedos to the decked out super pimp entrance clothing, the lifelong martial artist backs up his flamboyant persona with one of the most well rounded and dangerous arsenals in the sport.

A road warrior in every sense of the world, it’s not hard to see how Shonie got his nickname. ‘Mr. International’ has fought all over the world against some of the very best competition in the business. From Canada, Japan, Germany, Russia, Poland, Ireland to Mexico, Carter has been there and done that in the fight game.

Most recently the Chicago based fighter squared off with a freakishly powerful Marine with a record of 8-2 by the name of George Lockhart at the Showdown III card held on Saturday, February 21st. Five grueling, hard fought rounds later Shonie emerged with yet another championship belt.

During the discussion Carter discussed his desire to fight Floyd Mayweather, Vitor Belfort, where the sport will be in twenty years and much more.

MMAMemories.com: What are your thoughts looking back on your fight with George Lockhart. Did it unfold the way you thought it would?

Shonie Carter: I actually expected a lot worse. He’s a big, strong, well muscled Marine. He had some people that were around me really nervous. There was one lady in particular that was nervous as hell. I showed her a picture of him and I should have never shown her a picture of him. Come on, you’ve seen a picture of him, he’s a big boy. The picture doesn’t do him any justice. he’s tough, I have to give it to him, but I got the belt.

MMAMemories.com: So how many belts do you own now, ten?

Shonie Carter: More than that, I’ve got twelve sitting in the school and like four at home. I gave like four of them to my kids. They like to throw them around and beat each other up with them. Actually, there’s another one that I got but it’s an unofficial belt. It’s just something that Title Boxing gave me, which is hilarious. They gave me a belt and dubbed me the official pimp of MMA.

MMAMemories.com: What did you think about how the Iron Ring came off?

Shonie Carter: Well let me choose my words carefully. I liked the premise of the idea. You know, doing the MMA with the rappers and the celebrities and everything. The problem is that a lot of these rappers have these really big egos and it was all a bit much. Then of course you have these groupies running around and the whole entourage. You forget you’re in a room full of hungry rottweilers and they’re walking around with lunch meat thongs on. I was hoping that we could end up doing Iron Ring II, Team Shonie Carter vs. Team Floyd Mayweather.

MMAMemories.com: So you would do another season of the Iron Ring if they wanted to?

Shonie Carter: Oh, hell yeah. Absolutely. That would really stir the pot. I would love to do another season.

MMAMemories.com: That’s not a bad idea actually. They could have Team Carter vs. Team Mayweather and then you two could scrap at the end of the season.

Shonie Carter: Yeah, I would have to cut down and he would have to grow up a little bit and we could have a catch weight match. Everybody wins in that fight. I get paid, he gets paid, he gets choked out and he doesn’t get beaten up that bad. Then he can go about his boxer’s way, blissfully ignorant.

MMAMemories.com: How do you feel Floyd would do in a mixed martial arts match against someone like yourself?

Shonie Carter: I’m far too experienced for him and I’m physically too big for him. He wouldn’t do too well with me. Hell, Floyd couldn’t do anything with Urijah Faber or Mike Brown. Floyd isn’t cutting that much weight. Those boys, they really have to cut down to make 145. Urijah would mangle him. A bunch of these old school cats are just so stubborn with their way of thinking. Like Larry merchant, he doesn’t like us. The worst thing about it is, even Muhammad Ali did an exhibition against Antoni Anoki. I just can’t figure out why they would sit there and berate what we do when we’ve always respected what they do.

MMAMemories.com: Is there anyone that you would really like to fight in the near future?

Shonie Carter: There’s one guy for sure. I ordinarily don’t have any, but I would love to lock horns with Vitor Belfort. A fight with Matt Serra is supposed to happen, and it will, but I would love to fight Vitor at Affliction.

MMAMemories.com: What’s the inspiration behind wanting to fight Belfort?

Shonie Carter: He knocked out my training partner Terry Martin. Southpaw vs. southpaw, I would love it. I look at what Vitor had done, and god bless him, he ’s a former UFC champion, but so what. That was a long time ago and he was fighting guys that didn’t even know what they were doing.

Someone actually asked me today what I would do if I fought Kimbo. I told them that I would kick him, over and over. Just knocking someone out, it’s over. I like to humiliate them and make it last. Or I like to take them down and get their back and get my hooks in, and just slap the back of their head. Slap the back of their head really hard, but when you do it, lick your hand. There’s nothing worse than getting slapped in your face with someones spit hand, especially when their breath stinks really bad. I’m telling you, it is so degrading to get slapped, especially with stinky breath hands. When you slap them, don’t slap the back of their head. Make sure you slap near the side of their cheek and nose so they get a really good wiff of the stinky breath.

MMAMemories.com: Where do you see the mixed martial arts in ten or even twenty years?

Shonie Carter: Twenty years from now I see at least one of my sons holding one of the major world title, if not both of my sons. My sons are three and seven, so twenty years from now would make them twenty three and twenty seven. When my kids fight, the promoters are going to be shaking in their boots because they’re going to have to negotiate with Shoni Carter. Plus, my sons won’t need the publicity, they have the legacy.

MMAMemories.com: How long would you like to continue fighting?

Shonie Carter: I’m planning on fighting for no more than three more years. I’m thirty six right now, so I think I’ll fight until I’m about thirty nine or forty. I’m in no rush to stop, especially based on the fact that I just went five rounds with a guy that looks like the Incredible Hulk, and I won. I was bouncing up and down at the end of the fifth round.

MMAMemories.com: So do you know who you’re going to be fighting next? Do you have anything lined up right now?

Shonie Carter: I’m supposed to be fighting Victor O’Donnell in Cincinnati , Ohio next. I still have to get my comprehensive check up on myself. The promoter is actually on the way up here to shoot a promo for the fight for ESPN2. I’m fine , but I want to get checked out, especially after fighting five, five minute rounds. He did hit me. I’m not going to act like he didn’t hit me, especially in the last round when I slipped and fell and he jumped on me and started raining punches.

MMAMemories.com: Alright Shonie, well thanks for taking this time with me. Last question, really vague, what can we expect from Shonie Carter in the future?

Shonie Carter: The most important thing for everyone to know is that I’m still in the game, I’m still hustling and I’m still doing my damn thang.

MMAMemories.com: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

Shonie Carter: I want to thank all of those that supported me and I really, really want to thank all of my detractors. the people that say that I don’t have it in me anymore, or that I’m washed up, or that I’m a step slower. I really appreciate that. I love winning, but I hate losing more than I love winning, and I love proving people wrong more than I hate losing. Anyone can hit me up on Myspace or Facebook. Yes, it’s me talking back on Facebook and yes, it’s me on Myspace, so anyone can get at me. I’ll be launching an energy drink really soon and I have a seminar coming up at the Arnold Classic. I want to thank Stacy Adams, Mike Jovier, Rockwell Watches and if you want to come and train with me you can find me at Kellers Martial Arts. I just want to thank everybody. I especially want to thank all of my children, Osiris, Samerion, and Omarion.

WEC 39: Compelling Enough to Actually Watch

Who knew the scrappy guy from New England could dethrone the poster boy of the 145-pound weight class? Who knew the lightweight UFC refugee from Texas could find a home, and even dominate, in the “Little League World Series of Mixed Martial Arts”? On Sunday night, the Versus cable channel will air live the latest installment of World Extreme Cagefighting, an event that features champ Mike Brown taking on the seemingly unstoppable force that is Leonard Garcia, and thanks to this headliner – and a fight card stocked with a former lightweight champ, an IFL star and one of the deadliest strikers in the featherweight division – WEC 39 might be compelling enough to actually watch.

Brown was decent as a lightweight, but a cut of ten more pounds and he was facing superstar Urijah Faber at WEC 36 in a match-up few expected him to emerge from victorious. He did, though, thanks to Faber getting cocky and Brown feeding him a delicious knuckle sandwich, and now the wrestler from New England (Brown lives in Florida now, training with American Top Team) is the king of the hill. Similar to Brown, Garcia was decent as a lightweight as well, but three trips to the Octagon earned him two losses, so he was sent down to the Little Leagues of the WEC and the 145-pound weight class – a move that proved fortuitous, as Garcia went on to demolish in convincing fashion Shooto and K-1 Hero’s veteran Hiroyuki Takaya and aging legend Jens Pulver. So now it’ll be Brown against Garcia, the capable ground fighter and the rangy hard-hitter, and fans will be treated to either one fighter pounding the other into oblivion or a knockout of highlight-reel proportions. Both possible outcomes make this bout worth a look-see.

“Razor” Rob McCullough may have lost the WEC lightweight belt and his keen edge, but the Muay Thai ace can still throw down and deliver in the thrills department (see McCullough vs. Donald Cerrone for proof). He will have his hands full with tough grappler Marcus Hicks, yet you can count on one thing when McCullough fights: if he’s going down, he’s going down swinging. Former IFL 155-pounder Bart Palaszewski should have considerably less trouble with his opponent, Ricardo Lamas. Lamas has only a fraction of Palaszewski’s experience and has fought no where near the same level of competition, so expect “Bartimus” to come away with the TKO win. Jose Aldo, the most fearsome and lethal striker amongst the WEC featherweights, is going to slaughter journeyman foe Chris Mickle. Count on this bout to have an “Oh my God he’s dead!” ending.

There’s no question the WEC is where the best of the smallest combatants on Earth go to compete. Unfortunately, some editions have suffered under the ignominy of fruitless rematches (Faber vs. Pulver II, Paulo Filho vs. Chael Sonnen II) and less-than-impressive higher-weight title holders (Doug Marshall, Brian Stann, Steve Cantwell). Sunday night’s WEC 39 is no such an event. It’s worth watching.

More Info on UFC’s German TV Deal

Free Fight Videos has the translation of DSF’s press release announcing the details of the UFC’s German TV deal. Some of the highpoints:

Over the next three years, from 2009 to 2011, DSF will televise the world’s most successful Mixed Martial Arts organization, the “Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Beginning on Saturday, 7th of March, DSF will air a weekly highlight magazine, UFC Unleashed, from 11pm to midnight in addiction to regular UFC events.

DSF will also broadcast 20 live and tape delayed UFC events. The first of which will air on the 14th of March from 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 featuring Quinton Jackson and Keith Jardine in Columbus (Ohio). In addition DSF holds the rights to several other UFC shows including UFC Countdown, UFC Wired and UFC All Access.

In total DSF plans to air 170 hours of UFC programming over the 3 year years. The commentary team will consist of Tobias Drews and Oliver Copp, two of Germany’s most respected boxing and martial arts experts.

Thanks to FFV and Robert K. for the translation. The UFC wanted TV in place before their continental debut and this serves the purpose, but the benefits of the deal look to extend far beyond that. The deal looks to be a good platform to build a fanbase in Germany for the long term.

Mike Swick vs Ben Saunders UFC 99 fight booked for Germany

Former contestants from different seasons of The Ultimate Fighter, Mike Swick and Ben Saunders, are penciled in to hook ‘em up in a welterweight bout at UFC 99 from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany on June 13, according to FiveOuncesOfPain.com.

Swick is a former middleweight contender who recently made the move down to 170 pounds. He scored a “quick” technical knockout of Jonathan Goulet at UFC Fight Night 16: “Fight for the Troops” back in December 2008. It was the first stoppage for the American Kickboxing Academy standout in more than two years and the first for him as a welterweight.

He is currently undefeated (3-0) in the new division with wins over Goulet, Marcus Davis and Josh Burkman.

Saunders was actually expected to be in action next weekend against Dustin Hazelett at UFC 96 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 7. However, both fighters had to withdraw from the event because of injuries.

“Berserk” is coming off a lopsided first round ass-kicking of Brandon Wolff at UFC Night 16: “Fight For the Troops” back in December 2008. The former TUF 6 competitor channeled the Muay Thai skills of UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva to totally rout the Hawaiian in his Octagon debut.

It was impressive (and painful) to watch to say the least. Saunders has been perfect (3-0) since his stint on the mixed martial arts reality series, defeating Ryan Thomas at UFC 87: “Seek and Destroy” in August and Dan Barrera via unanimous decision at TUF 6 Finale.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on the developing UFC 99 fight card.

Boxing Eyeing Network Return

Newsday’s Robert Cassidy has a report intimating that talks are ongoing to return boxing to prime time network television. Showtime’s Ken Hershman gives a few details on how preliminary talks have gone:

The rumors of a deal to air boxing on CBS on Saturday nights were addressed by Showtime Network Sr. VP and general manager of sports and event programming Ken Hershman during a media roundtable luncheon at the Palm West restaurant on Friday.

Hershman was quick to point out that no deal has been reached. “I can’t tell you if we’re close or not,” he said. “It’s a process and we’re working toward it.”

It is interesting to hear this news in tandem with the info we know about Strikeforce also possibly returning to CBS on Saturday nights at some point. The pairing could yield a one two punch of combat sports that Showtime has looked to institute on their pay network. One of the drawbacks of the MMA programming on CBS has been the large time periods between the shows, so having a constant presence for combat sports on Saturday nights would be beneficial in that respect.

UFC 99: Todd Duffee vs Mustapha Al Turk

Undefeated American Top Team (ATT) heavyweight Todd Duffee (4-0) will make his much anticipated debut inside the Octagon when he faces UFC sophomore Mustapha Al Turk (6-4) at UFC 99 from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany on June 13 according to InTheGuard.TV.

Duffee is coming off an impressive second round TKO of Brazilian roadblock Assuerio Silva at Jungle Fight 11 last September. The 23-year old University of Georgia student has ended all four of his professional fights by way of (T)KO.

Al Turk — who fights out of the famous London Shoot gym in the United Kingdom — came up short in his debut against Cheick Kongo at UFC 92 after a successful run in Europe on the Cage Rage circuit. In fact, he has six wins in seven attempts for the promotion and was riding a two-fight win streak before getting dismantled at “The Ultimate 2008″.

He is a pretty well-rounded fighter with serviceable boxing and solid grappling skills -– good enough to earn him the British Cage Rage heavyweight title.

UFC 99 is expected to be headlined by former middleweight champion Rich “Ace” Franklin taking on ex-PRIDE smashing machine Wanderlei Silva in his middleweight debut. Heath Herring and Cain Velasquez as well as Mike Swick and Ben Saunders are also expected to hook ‘em up.

For more on UFC 99 click here.

Friday Link Dump

(Video game Cheick Kongo is terrifying. Maybe even more so than actual Cheick Kongo. Image courtesy of IGN.com)

- What’s to become of Kaitlin Young?  (MMA Payout)

- Kawajiri/Ebanez added to Dream.7.  (MMA Weekly)

- MMA in India.  It does exist.  (MMA Fanhouse)

- Johny Hendricks describes getting KO’d by Phil Baroni.  (Cage Writer)

- Wanderlei Silva not worried about dropping weight.  (Fighters Only)

- Jorge Santiago likes Anderson Silva’s chances.  (Tatame)

- Frank Shamrock will say absolutely anything.  (Five Ounces of Pain)

- Hardy says anyone outside of top three is "fair game."  (The Sun)

- Cleveland Browns trade Kellen Winslow.  (Scores Report)

- Dennis Rodman goes from riding high to totally unconscious.  (Holy Taco)

- Top 7 Heroes who need to die.  (Screen Junkies)

- Forbes Magazine takes on Nascar.  (All Left Turns)

- Female cops fired for this flashing video.  So sad.  (Nothing Toxic)

- Top 25 men who look like old lesbians.  (Cracked)

- Cheap elbow causes hockey concussion.  (Break.com)

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