This is a pic taken at yesterday's Affliction press conference by my good friend Anil Melwani.  He captured me doing what I do best. Sitting around. Notice Chuck Zito in the background.

Good news for NY MMA fans. The NY Times is giving the sport some very good coverage. There are four articles in the NY Times today about MMA. NYTIMES: Companies Warm to Sponsoring Mixed Martial Arts NYTIMES: Banned Sport Gains Fans, and Seeks More in Albany NYTIMES: The Ultimate Market for Ultimate Fighting NY TIMES: A Russian Warrior Who Doesnt Battle for Acclaim

Here's some pics of Fedor from the Affliction press conference today. There is also a video. I have lots more pics and video, so be sure to check back soon.

Tara LaRosa is one of the top female MMA fighters in the world.  She has been out of action for over a year, but on Friday night she returns to action at Monte Cox's Extreme Challenge in Atlantic City, New Jersey. LaRosa (15-1) will be facing Alexis Davis (6-1) in the co-main event.  I'm excited to see Tara fight and even more excited to be the ring announcer for her return. The following video is of Tara's short and sweet fight against  Julia Berezikova.

In this video professional MMA fighter Andrew "Strong Island" Montanez talks about some upcoming fights at Affliction and UFC 94. Andrew himself is fighting on January 24th at Raging Wolf II: The Rage in the Cage. Raging Wolf is a first class production out of the Seneca Nation in upstate New York. I had the pleasure of ring announcing their first show a few months ago and I'm sure I'll be up there again. This is Andrew's second fight for the promotion. In this video he predicts Fedor vs. Arlovski, BJ Penn vs. GSP and more.

NEW YORK, January 19, 2009 – World Cagefighting Alliance (www.WCAfights.com) a Mixed Martial Arts Organization completes their first fight card called “Pure Combat” which will be premiering in Atlantic City , New Jersey on Friday, February 6, 2009 at the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom. Weigh-ins for the event will be at the Host Hotel Bally’s Hotel & Casino in the Bally Room Thursday, February 5; on scales at 7:00 pm. Tickets are priced at $100, $75, $60 and $50. Cageside seats are available at $150. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-736-1420. More information on fighters, tickets and a seating chart can be found at out www.WCAfights.com. The first fight begins at 7:30 PM.

The World Cagefighting Alliance, “Pure Combat” event will feature some of the best East Coast rising talent in the sport. The Co-Main Events will feature a Lightweight UFC, EliteXC veteran and Ring of Combat Champ Chris Ligouri (Team Ligouri) out of Tinton Falls, New Jersey vs. Former UFC and Pride Standout Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio (American Top Team) from Coconut Creek, Florida and Welterweight undefeated Ultimate Fighter 7 alum Paul Bradley (Lionheart MMA) out of College Station, PA will face Matt Lindland’s prodigy Nathan Coy (Team Quest) fighting out of Gresham, Oregon.

Other notable fights will feature a North Jersey connection pitting Welterweight Rich Ashkar (Team Oliveira) out of Redbank , NJ against USKBA Champ Tom Gallicchio (Team Pellegrino) from Toms River, NJ. Homegrown Vineland , NJ and former Cage Fury Lightweight champ, Al Buck (Team Evolution) vs. Jose Rodriquez (Rhino Fight Team) out of Keansburg , NJ . Doug Gordon (Team Rush) from Newcastle, Delaware will go against Mike Medrano (Rhino Fight Team) from Paterson, NJ and Brian Demuro (KPOZ Fight club) out of Blackwood, NJ will fight Cortland, NY’s Eric Henry (Bombsquad MMA).

February 6, 2009 Fight Card (order TBD):

155 lbs.:  Chris Liguori ( Tinton Falls , NJ ) (Team Liquori) (9-7) vs. Marcus Aurelio ( Coconut Creek , FL ) (American Top Team) (16-7)

175 lbs.: Paul Bradley ( College Station , PA ) (Lionheart MMA) (9-0) vs. Nathan Coy ( Gresham , OR ) (Team Quest) (5-1)

170 lbs.: Tom Gallicchio (Toms, River, NJ) (Team Pellegrino) (9-3) vs. Rich Ashkar ( Redbank , NJ ) (Team Oliveira) (5-1)

155 lbs.: Matt Lee ( Worcester , MA ) ( MMA Training Center ) (11-6) vs. Dave Jansen (Team Quest) ( Gresham , OR ) (6-0)

170 lbs.: Al Buck ( Vineland , NJ ) (EVO Fight Club) vs. Jose Rodriquez ( Keansburg , NJ ) (Rhino Fight Team)

170 lbs.: Doug Gordan ( Newcastle , DE ) (Team Rush) (8-6) vs. Mike Medrano ( Clifton , NJ ) (Rhino Fight Team) (4-2)

145 lbs.: Kevin Roddy ( Bricktown , NJ ) (Team Pellegrino) (9-6) vs. Charles Oliveira Dasilva (Gold Team Fighter) (4-1)

145 lbs.: Steve D’Angellis ( Toms River , NJ) (Team Pellegrino) (6-4) vs. Felipe Medeiros Avantes (Team Gold Fighters)(4-1)

145 lbs.: Lester Caslow (Tom’s River, NJ) (Team Pellegrino) (2-2) vs. Joey Comacho (NJ) (AMA Fight Club) (2-4)

170 lbs.: Ryan Smith ( Delaware ) (Team Rush) (1-0) vs. Anthony D’Angello (NY) (Panza MMA) (4-4)

170 lbs.: Brian Demuro ( Blackwood , NJ ) (KPOZ Fight Team) (4-4) vs. Eric Henry ( Cortland , NY ) (Team Bombsquad) (8-6)

145 lbs.: Anthony Leone ( Cortland , NY ) (Team Bombsquad) (2-0) vs. Patrick White ( Pittsgrove , NJ ) (EVO Fight Team) (debut)

205 lbs.: Roger Mejia ( Tempe , AZ ) ( Arizona Combat Sports) (10-3) vs. Glen Sandul ( Whippany , NJ ) (AMA Fight Club) (3-2)

155 lbs.: Daniel Tavares (NJ) (KPOZ Fight Team) vs. Brian Danner (NJ) (EVO Fight Club (debut)

This is a GREAT card.  And yes, I am the Ring Announcer, so get your butts down to AC for this event!