NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with catch wrestling legend Billy Robinson and Jake Shannon of Scientific Wrestling.

They were the lead instructors at the East Coast Certified Catch Wrestler Training Camp 2013, which was held June 15-16 in Englishtown, New Jersey.

We spoke with both Billy Robinson and Jake Shannon right at the conclusion of this camp on Sunday.

"I'm trying to open the minds of people about how good catch-as-catch-can wrestling is," said Billy Robinson in this interview.

"It's superior to all other forms of grappling arts."

But their methods were not simply to show people the moves and holds of catch wrestling.

"My coach, Billy Riley from Wigan, and myself and Billy Joyce and all the old great timers, they tried to teach you how to learn how to learn. We want to teach people to learn how to learn catch."

We also discussed with both Billy Robinson and Jake Shannon why catch died out, why it is now being revived, what it is doing and must continue to do to become popular again, upcoming catch wrestling events, and much, much more.

Some photos from this camp can be seen on the No Holds Barred blog here.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: Billy Robinson, catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, Dan Kanagie, Eddie Goldman, Garry Davis, Gillian Silver, grappling, Jake Shannon, Joel Bane, John Potenza, Modern Martial Arts, No Holds Barred, Snake Pit

The East Coast Certified Catch Wrestler Training Camp 2013 took place June 15-16 in Englishtown, New Jersey, at the headquarters of Modern Martial Arts. I came at the very end of the second day to do some interviews and take a few photos. The interviews with catch legend Billy Robinson and Jake Shannon of Scientific Wrestling will be up shortly on No Holds Barred. Here are some of the better photos I managed to take.












 

Labels: Billy Robinson, catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, Dan Kanagie, Eddie Goldman, Garry Davis, Gillian Silver, grappling, Jake Shannon, Joel Bane, John Potenza, Modern Martial Arts, No Holds Barred, Snake Pit

On this edition of No Holds Barred, the tables were turned as host Eddie Goldman was interviewed by Scott Casber, host of Takedown Wrestling Radio.

This discussion, which was recorded Wednesday, covered the major controversies and the latest developments in the world of wrestling, including international and catch wrestling.

Here is the description of the show by Scott Casber:

Eddie Goldman Brings It in a Candid Interview with Takedown Wrestling Radio

No Holds Barred founder and host Eddie Goldman has covered it all: boxing, wrestling, MMA, etc. Today he opens up as only the Godfather of MMA will do. The Conscience of Wrestling tells it the way he sees it. You may be surprised at some of the things he says. Join Eddie and me for our new monthly conversation on the condition of wrestling!

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: catch, Eddie Goldman, FILA, folkstyle, freestyle, Greco-Roman, IOC, Iowa, No Holds Barred, Olympics, Scott Casber, Takedown Radio, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Brother Sadiki "Shep" Olugbala of the Peoples Survival Program and the Universal Zulu Nation.

Along with the the Universal Zulu Nation and the Kemetic Masters Of The Martial Arts, they are putting on an event called "QUILOMBO: The true story, origins and continuing culture of the long forgotten 'Afrikan Martial Arts Warrior Centered Slave Rebellion AKA Capoeira' and the liberated Maroon Nation that was built in the Palmares Mountains of Brasil, South America".

This event will take place this Saturday, June 15, 6-10 PM, at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center at 3940 Broadway between West 165 and 166 Streets, New York City, NY 10032.

It will feature film, art, music, dance, and martial arts demonstrations, along with several presentations and discussions about the history of military resistance to Portuguese colonialism in Angola and Brazil, the historical origins and cultural significance of the traditional African resistance martial arts fighting styles, the connections to modern-day hip hop dance culture and martial arts, and urban street fighting skills and modern self-defense.

There will also be a screening of the film "Quilombo" about the Afro-Brazilian slave rebellion and the Maroon Nation Of Palmares, which existed in the 17th century.

All event proceeds will go to the Peoples Survival Program and the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center.

We spoke with Brother Sadiki "Shep" Olugbala by phone Thursday night about this event and its importance.

The film "Quilombo", he said, "actually shows you the picture of the rebellions and how they actually used Capoeira as a means to liberate themselves and to resist the Portuguese military, which tried to take back the land from them and recapture them."

The liberated area of Palmares, which was made up mostly of escaped African slaves and also indigenous people, "actually was a nation. It was over 30,000 people that lived in Palmares. It actually was a republic for itself that existed up in the mountains of Bahia."

The event will not only focus on this history of struggle, but also the lessons of this history for today. Martial arts are valuable because "We want people to be able to defend themselves," said Brother Shep, who is also a former member of the Black Panther Party. "Every creature on this planet has a right to self-defense."

We also discussed why this type of event is largely aimed at educating and involving the youth, the need for a healthy mind and body, the positive and negative messages that have come out of professional combat sports and martial arts events, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: Africa, Brazil, Brother Sadiki Shep Olugbala, Capoeira, Eddie Goldman, hip hop, Malcolm X, martial arts, No Holds Barred, Palmares, Quilombo, slave rebellions

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Dan Kanagie of the North American Catch Wrestling Association.

Their first event, held in conjunction with Scientific Wrestling, will be on Saturday, August 31, during Labor Day weekend, and is called the 1st Annual Liberty Bell Classic East Coast King of Catch Tournament.

The location is the Norcom Community Center at 10980 Norcom Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19154.

The rules for this competition are very straightforward. You can only win by pin or submission. Basically all submissions are allowed, but no striking of any type is allowed. Matches are best of three falls, with a 12-minute time limit per fall. There are no judges or points, but there are weight classes and weigh-ins. There will be competition for both men and women, with the women's divisions based on the number of entrants in the event.

There will also be an absolute division, and winner of that division will be awarded the Frank Gotch Memorial Award and named the East Coast King of Catch 2013.

We spoke with Dan Kanagie by phone Monday about this event and the continued growth and revival of catch wrestling.

"Right now catch is still definitely in its infancy in the modern day. It's still a very small community. We're all pretty tight, and most people know each other right now," he said.

"It's about getting the name out there, getting the brand out there, and letting people who possibly haven't heard of it, which is a lot of people out there, that we're here and this sport does exist."

The potential is there for catch wrestling to attract competitors from all styles and disciplines.

"It's a great style of grappling that's open for all different styles, from amateur wrestling to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, sambo, it doesn't matter. It's a great ruleset for everybody," he added.

We discussed the rules and format of this event, why basic wrestling technique is the foundation of catch wrestling, the potential for catch wrestling to redevelop into a popular spectator sport, the need for all the catch wrestling organizations to work together, and much more.

The 1st Annual Liberty Bell Classic East Coast King of Catch Tournament on August 31 in Philadelphia has all the earmarks of a groundbreaking event, so try to be there.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: Dan Kanagie, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, grappling, Liberty Bell Classic East Coast King of Catch Tournament, No Holds Barred, North American Catch Wrestling Association

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Bellator MMA fighter "King" Mo Lawal.

He will be returning to action Wednesday, June 19, in the semifinals of Bellator MMA's four-man light heavyweight tournament, facing MMA veteran Seth Petruzelli. This fight will headline this card, which takes place at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma, and will be televised live in the U.S. on Spike TV.

This will be the first fight for "King" Mo following his upset loss to Emanuel Newton on February 21, 2013, in the Bellator Season 8 light heavyweight tournament semifinals. In that fight, he lost by first-round KO after Newton landed a spinning backfist.

We spoke with "King" Mo Monday by phone about his June 19 fight and the lessons of his last fight.

In this interview, he admitted, "I got caught" by Newton's spinning backfist. And, he said, in preparing for the June 19 fight with Petruzelli, "I had to make some adjustments."

But he added, "I'm not going to change much," noting that his wrestling, grappling, sparring, boxing, and kickboxing are all "on point."

He already weighs 210, just five pounds over the MMA light heavyweight limit, and said, "I'm always in shape. I'm ready to go."

He also discussed his training with Olympic gold medalist wrestler and current Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson, and noted boxing trainer Jeff Mayweather, along with numerous active fighters. We also discussed the first-round TKO upset win in boxing this past Saturday by Adonis Stevenson over Chad Dawson to capture the WBC light heavyweight belt.

In addition, "King" Mo is signed to perform in the TNA pro wrestling organization, which also airs on Spike TV. We discussed his training for that, how it compares to the other training he is doing, and what real catch wrestling moves he is learning there. And we discussed Quinton "Rampage" Jackson also signing with both Bellator and TNA, the continuing turmoil in international wrestling and some of his experiences there, and more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: Bellator, boxing, Eddie Goldman, Jeff Mayweather, Kevin Jackson, King Mo Lawal, MMA, No Holds Barred, Seth Petruzelli, Spike TV, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses the signing of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson with Bellator MMA, and the continuing problems with the new rules and organization of international wrestling.

From the June 5 media conference call featuring Rampage and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, we play the questions asked by Eddie Goldman, about the need for a fighters' union or association, and about Rampage's controversial online videos.

Besides the many problems with the new wrestling rules and international wrestling, also discussed are the controversial process by which sports and federations are added and removed from the Olympic program, the growing criticisms of this process, and the need for a stronger battle against corruption in international sport.

We open with congratulations to our colleague Kristal Hart, whose TV show on Manhattan Neighborhood Network in New York, the Kristal Hart Show, was awarded first place in the Hometown Media Awards in the category of government activities. The Hometown Media Awards, sponsored by the Alliance for Community Media, were presented in San Francisco at their national awards honor show on May 30.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: Bellator, Bjorn Rebney, Eddie Goldman, FILA, IOC, Kristal Hart, MMA, No Holds Barred, Olympics, Quinton Rampage Jackson, rules, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with wrestler, grappler, and coach Brandon Ruiz.

A 2011 FILA grappling world champion and the holder of numerous championships and medals in grappling, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, his next grappling competition will be next week at the 2013 FILA world championships in London, Ontario, Canada, where he represents the USA in the +100 kg no-gi division. But it will also be his last grappling championship under the FILA banner.

The reason is that FILA has recently decided to drop grappling, as well as amateur MMA, after this year.

We spoke with Brandon Ruiz by phone about all this last Thursday.

"Anything that can help continue to grow and legitimize grappling I think is great for the sport," he said.

While the current leadership of FILA is abandoning grappling, he noted that there today are many opportunities for people to train and compete in grappling.

Speaking about the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and ADCC, he said, "Those are probably the two biggest and the two most well-known among grappling circles. I've competed in all of those events, and I've done pretty well in all the ones that I've gone to."

He added, "That's the great part about grappling, is that you're not really beholden to any one group."

The issue of whether or not any of the various styles of grappling can ever become major spectator sports for a wide audience was discussed, and what would have to be done to achieve that.

"I think you're on to something with catch wrestling having the potential to be a great spectator sport," he said. He noted that catch wrestling laid the basis for the growth of American folkstyle wrestling in schools and colleges, and the growth of the catch wrestling circuit today.

And we discussed wrestling and grappling and the Olympics, training techniques, why he has liked participating in the FILA grappling events, and much more about these and related topics.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: Brandon Ruiz, catch, Eddie Goldman, FILA, grappling, MMA, No Holds Barred, Olympics, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman presents a no holds barred analysis of why the sport of wrestling, dropped from the Olympic program in February, received a reprieve at the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board meeting of May 29, and was included on a shortlist of three sports vying for inclusion on the program of the 2020 Olympic Games.

Discussed are the blunders and some of the backroom machinations which led to wrestling at first being dropped from the Olympics, as well as the real power struggle which resulted in it finishing first in the voting for the sports on this shortlist.

Essential to understanding this power struggle is grasping analysis of investigative reporter Jens Weinreich in his article Who rules world sport? Part 1: Vladimir Putin, Marius Vizer and Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah. (That article is in German, so use a service like Google Translate if needed.)

The influence of Putin and his allies on events that transpired in both the IOC and FILA, the international wrestling federation, is highlighted. Also discussed are why FILA dropped grappling and amateur MMA, the urgent need for a battle against corruption in wrestling, the election of Marius Vizer as president of SportAccord and his proposal for a united World Championship event for the many Olympic and non-Olympic sports which are part of SportAccord, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: corruption, Eddie Goldman, FILA, grappling, International Olympic Committee, IOC, Jens Weinreich, Marius Vizer, MMA, No Holds Barred, Russia, shortlist, SportAccord, Vladimir Putin, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman presents the audio of the May 29 and May 31 news conferences by the International Olympic Committee announcing the shortlist of three sports to be considered for inclusion on the program of the 2020 Olympics. Both news conferences took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, where the IOC was having its Executive Board meeting.

The May 29 news conference started with the announcement by Mark Adams, IOC's Director of Communications, of the three sports which made the shortlist: wrestling, the joint bid of baseball and softball, and squash. Questions from reporters were also answered by Franco Carraro, the chairman of the Olympic Programme Commission. They explained the official criteria used to rate the Olympic sports and federations, and how the process of dropping and adding sports takes place. The full IOC is scheduled to decide in September which one, and only one, of these three sports will be on the 2020 program.

The May 31 news conference featured IOC President Jacques Rogge, whose term also ends in September, when there will be elections for his successor. He discussed, among other topics, why the IOC put in place a limit on the number of sports, federations, and athletes in the Olympics; why some sports and federations are made to leave the Olympic Games so as to have the "best Olympic program"; his views on the changes in wrestling since the new regime took over in FILA, the international wrestling federation, in February; the proposal by incoming SportAccord President Marius Vizer for a new united World Championships event involving all SportAccord federations, both Olympic and non-Olympic, to be held every four years; reflections on his career as IOC President; and more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: baseball, Eddie Goldman, Franco Carraro, International Olympic Committee, IOC, Jacques Rogge, Marius Vizer, Mark Adams, No Holds Barred, shortlist, softball, SportAccord, sports, squash, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman presents a no holds barred analysis of the ONE FC: Rise to Power card, which took place Friday, May 31, at the 20,000-seat SM Mall of Asia Arena. in Pasay, Philippines, next to Manila.

While five fighters from the Philippines were featured on this card, all of them suffered defeat. As it turned out, it was the Japanese fighters who stole the show, winning four of six bouts and two of the three title fights in which they competed.

In the main event, former King of Pancrase Koji Oishi of Japan scored a stunning one-punch, second-round knockout over Honorio Banario of the Philippines to capture the ONE FC featherweight title. In the co-main event, Bibiano Fernandes, originally from Brazil but now from the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada area, defeated Koetsu Okazaki of Japan by decision in a grueling five-round fight to win the vacant ONE FC bantamweight interim title.

Another local favorite from the Philippines, Kevin Belingon, lost by decision to Masakatsu Ueda of Japan in the final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix. Eduard Folayang, also from the Philippines, also lost by decision to MMA, grappling, and wrestling veteran Kamal Shalorus, originally from Iran but now based in the USA. Yasuhiro Urushitani of Japan won a close split decision over Rey Docyogen from the Philippines. American Andrew Leone outgrappled Geje Eustaquio, also from the Philippines, to win a decision. And karate champ Nobutatsu Suzuki from Japan knocked out American Phil Baroni in the first round.

On the undercard, the Lowen Tynanes of the USA continued his own rise to power, as he won by first-round referee stoppage over Felipe Enomoto from Japan. Yusup Saadulaev of Russia defeated Ryan Diaz of Canada with a first-round submission. And in a clash of American heavyweights, former King of the Cage champion Tony Johnson stopped former UFC champion Tim Sylvia by doctor's stoppage after elbow strikes on the ground opened up a huge cut near Sylvia's right eye.

The significance of this card, the fights themselves, and the many victories of these Japanese fighters as well as the losses of the fighters from the Philippines are discussed.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: Bibiano Fernandes, Eddie Goldman, fighters, Honorio Banario, Japan, Japanese, Koetsu Okazaki, Koji Oishi, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC, Philippines, Rise to Power