Queen of Sports

Queen of Sports Met BJ Penn!

Queen of Sports went to the book signing for BJ Penn’s book Why I Fight in Torrance today.

A ton of people came to show their support, and BJ Penn was a most gracious host. He signed books and allowed fans to take photos with him, up close and personal. He thanked everyone individually for coming out, and really gave each and every fan their own moment with him. Definitely a man to be respected!

We can’t wait to read the book to learn more about “The Prodigy”!

Former UFC Fighter Backs Out of Fight Via Twitter

Plenty of drama surrounds former UFC fighter, War Machine, and it’s no wonder considering that is his legal name. Back in March he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, and now he’s in trouble with the Georgia State Athletic and Entertainment Commission. Mr. Machine was scheduled to fight at Wild Bill’s Fight Night in Duluth, but backed out of the fight via his Twitter page, claiming he had a staph infection and couldn’t fight. The Georgia State Athletic and Entertainment Commission is now suspending War Machine due to breach of contract.

As for the bar fight that landed him in jail back in March, the deadly weapon used were his fists. And that’s no joke. Professional fighters who use their skills on the streets can be charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

Jake Shields Beats Dan Henderson; Brawl Ensues

After defending his middleweight title in Strikeforce on CBS Saturday night against Dan Henderson, Jake Shields didn’t get much rest before fighting again. Except the second time around would more aptly be named a brawl. Or assault.

Jake Shields was accepting his belt when Jason “Mayhem” Miller (best known for his role on Bully Beatdown on MTV) pulled a Kanye by putting his two cents in that he wanted a re-match against Shields who previously beat him in November of 2009. Almost immediately, fists started flying from the Cesar Gracie fighting team who cornered Shields in reaction to what they saw as disrespectful. Nike Diaz, welterweight champion, along with his brother and UFC fighter Nate Diaz, were also involved. Gilbert Melendez, who came out the victor earlier in the night against Shinya Aoki (it was the Japanese fighter’s first fight in America) was also in on the action and apologized later, explaining the team is like a family and felt the need to protect Jake Shield’s moment in the limelight.

Scott Coker, Strikeforce’s promoter, will be reviewing the tapes of the brawl and deciding upon how to reprimand all the fighters involved. Hopefully this incident will not cause any setbacks for the sport of MMA. It has taken a long time to build acceptance of the sport among critics who view it as violent and brutish. The truth is, MMA takes a lot of hard work, training, restraint, and should be regarded as a legitimate sport. Unfortunately, brawls like this can erupt in the NBA, the NHL, and the MLB. But for MMA, a new sport, it can have damaging results.

BJ Penn’s Book Tour Goes On…Without The UFC’s Approval

BJ Penn just released a new book entitled Why I Fight: The Belt Is Just An Accessory. He started off a book tour immediately following his loss of the lightweight title in New York and will continue on to Nevada and California. However, Dana White and the UFC are not endorsing sales of the book. The book is co-authored by David Weintraub, a freelance writer who formerly worked on articles for UFC Magazine, and is supposed to be an autobiography of BJ Penn’s life and career in MMA. Weintraub has been cut loose from working with the UFC in the future, because they were unhappy he did not go to them first about working with one of their fighters.

SI.com spoke with UFC President Dana White, who said he approached BJ Penn and his lawyer Gary Levitt regarding the book saying, “Why would you put out a book that is 90 percent not true?”  White went on to say, “I asked him why he would write lies in there and he swore to me that he didn’t write it or read it. So did Gary. If today they are saying they didn’t say that, then I feel sorry for them.”

Weintraub rebutted by saying, “All the words in that book are the words and thoughts of B.J. Penn. I’m a co-author, my job is to help him put his thoughts to words. He’s read the manuscript. The manuscript became the book.”

Dana White will not be seeking legal action.

Photo: BJPenn.com

Thiago Alves Returns To Fighting After Brain Surgery

After word a brain irregularity in welterweight fighter Thiago Alves required him to undergo surgery, many speculated whether or not he would be able to return to fighting. The answer is yes, just two weeks after his surgery he is back to training and will be fighting in UFC 115 in Vancouver against Jon Fitch.

The surgery was done in order to separate an artery from a vein in his brain. Both Alves and Fitch are in contention for a title shot against Georges St. Pierre, the current welterweight champion.

UFC Said To Have Offered BJ Penn A Rematch; Chance To Defend The Lightweight Title

After Saturday night’s controversial title fight for the lightweight belt, in which Frankie Edgar won by decision to BJ Penn, Penn said on 106.7 The Fan in Washington D.C. this morning, “The UFC contacted us yesterday, and I think they want to put a rematch together, so I think a rematch is in the works.”

All three judges gave the fight to Frankie Edgar despite statistics which showed that BJ Penn performed better, only slightly, than Edgar. Fight Metric, which is the “first-ever comprehensive mixed martial arts evaluation system” gave the fight to BJ Penn, as did the majority of critics, viewers, and fans.

If the rematch takes place, it is expected to be within the next three to four months, possibly on August 28th’s card scheduled in Boston.

Tito Ortiz Not Fighting Chuck Liddell In UFC 115

Rumors have been circulating in the MMA world that Tito Ortiz will not be fighting Chuck Liddell as planned. As an end to The Ultimate Fighter series, the plan is always for the coaches to battle it out. After weeks of dueling on the television series, tempers flare and sides are drawn. Last season’s Ultimate Fighter series was supposed to end in a fight between Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, but the match-up never happened. It is now re-scheduled for a later date.

It seems the same thing has happened this season. Rumors of Tito Ortiz being hospitalized last month, via his wife Jenna Jameson’s Twitter, may be the cause. However, no clear answers will be known until The Ultimate Fighter series is over. Chuck Liddell is set to fight Rich Franklin, instead, on June 12th. Why do you think Chuck Liddell is not fighting Rich Franklin?

Tune in to The Ultimate Fighter Wednesday nights at 10 PM EST/ 7 PM PST on Spike.

Photo: WENN

UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones Preview

Check out the Queen of Sports preview for this weekends UFC match, Vera vs. Jones:

UFC’s first show on the Versus Network is headlined by the explosive light-heavyweight duo of veteran Brandon Vera (11-4) v.s. the biggest prospect of 2009, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones.  Jones is coming off a controversial loss where-in he was questionably disqualified due to the angle of his elbow strikes against a thoroughly dominated Matt Hamill.  Vera’s last fight was also a controversial loss; narrowly being edged out by Randy Couture.  Also on the card, Junior Dos Santos (10-1) looks to extend his knockout streak against fellow heavyweight Brazilian, Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4) in a battle that will edge the winner closer to a title shot.  The fight card is free for everyone with the Versus channel and filled with great match-ups of different styles.  The other fights on the card are:

Heavyweights – Cheick Kongo (24-6-1) vs Paul ‘the Headhunter’ Buentello (25-11)

Middlewieghts – Alessio ‘Legionarius’ Sakara (18-7, 1 NC) vs James ‘the Sandman’ Irvin (14-5, 1 NC)

Lightweights – Clay ‘the Carpenter’ Guida (25-8) vs Shannon Gugerty (12-5)

Light-Heavyweights – Eliot ‘the Fire’ Marshall (8-2) vs Vladimir ‘the Janitor’ Matyushenko (23-4)

Welterweights – John ‘Doomsday’ Howard (13-4) vs Daniel ‘Ninja’ Roberts (9-0)

Heavyweights – Brendan ‘the Hybrid’ Schaub (5-1) vs Chase Gormley (6-1)

Welterweights – Mike Pierce (9-3) vs Julio ‘the Dominican Demon’ Paulino (18-2)

Middleweights – Eric ‘Ravshing Red’ Schafer (13-4-2) vs Jason ‘Hitman’ Brilz (17-2-1)

Don’t forget to download your exclusive Queen of Sports Bingo card for this match and head to your nearest sports bar or UFC viewing party!