Rhyos

I'm all for fighter/manager interviews. I actually wrote a few small articles about upcoming fights in the FFB and Fallout smack talk threads. Feel free to drop me a line if you want some content!

Public Streaking - Jessica Desianti, Sydney-7 Sports Only 2 days to go until The Fallout's Vault 23 event, tension is in the air with 3 titles on the line! The Fallout has been rather welcome at Hyashi's Lounge and with brackets like this one, we can see why! Following up from our recent series, Joseph Goss, known as "The Rifleman," managed to finally get a finish he's desperately wanted with a second round submission victory via armbar over Maurice "The Farmer" McDonald in a perfectly rated fight that brought Goss the Submission of the Night award at Vault 20. This win makes his comeback a streak, and one he's hoping to continue! "My ground game's good, and I'm finally to the point where I can admit that." says Goss, whom we interviewed at his apartment as he rests up for Saturday's fight. "I'm still working hard on developing my striking, though. I've been up against a lot of great defenders and have had some difficulty getting a hit in edgewise. Still, a win is a win, and getting an official streak feels damn good!" As some may remember, Goss had a fairly miserable 5-fight losing streak before hitting his recent new stride. In a similar situation is his upcoming opponent, Jack "Hammer" Silver, going through his own 4-fight losing streak. His most recent fight was a unanimous decision loss versus Justin Angle at Vault 21. "This guy's taking his losing streak pretty hard. I've seen him out and about looking pretty roughed up. He's either so obsessed with this fight that he's training to the point of neglect, or he's not giving this his all. I've been where he is, losing streaks suck, but sometimes you just need to ride them out." Goss is having some sympathy pains for the Hammer, but as he points out "I'd hate to extend that losing streak, but he's making it pretty easy on me. He's got some heavy hands, but his ground game's been neglected. One good trip, and it could be all over." In a phone interview with Goss's manager, Rhyos Beoulve en-route to Sydney, he comments that "Silver's crashing, and crashing pretty hard. It's always tough to see that in a fighter, but Joe's smart enough to take advantage of it. It's like his heart isn't in it anymore. I think this'll be an easy sub for Joe. Sorry to have to cut it short, but I've got a plane to catch!" 3 titles are on the line! Can The Rifleman continue his killstreak, or will the Hammer be reforged? Stay tuned, fight fans! For Sydney-7 Sports, this is Jessica Desianti.

Fighting Like a Well-Oiled Machine - Jessica Desianti, Sydney-7 Sports Less than a week away from The Fallout's big Vault 20 event, excitement and hype are swirling! The Fallout Moving to a new venue, Vault 20 will be held at the 2000 seat Hyashi's Lounge this coming Saturday. Following up from our last article, Joseph Goss, known as "The Rifleman," managed to work out a brutal decision victory over Cliff "The Nutcracker" Sierra landing over 82 solid strikes in a dominating ground game in one of the highest rated fights of the night back at Vault 17. Despite the win, Joe says that he's disappointed in the finish, or lack thereof. "For what it's worth, the guy had a head of granite!" says Goss, whom we managed to catch on his way into Sydney's Beatdown Palace. "I desperately wanted to finish this fight with a knockout, but he just wouldn't take a nap! Did you see his face by the time I was done?" To date, most of Goss' wins have been via decision, with his last one a unanimous decision against Kent Ortega back in Vault 13. "I've been working my striking game hard, and I think it'll show against my next opponent. I desperately want to finish this one. It's rough going 3 rounds! I need a break!" Though he's proven he's able to go the distance, On the other end is Maurice "The Farmer" McDonald, another newcomer with a more impressive record of 2-1. His most recent fight was third roundknockout versus Robert Borden at Vault 16. Commenting on the upcoming fight, Goss mentions "He's a world-class wrestler, but in a jack-of-all-trades sport like MMA, it's possible to overspecialize. He's clearly got some power, otherwise he wouldn't have had that knockout, but he's a ground fighter. I'd love to reverse his fortune and teach him some boxing. It should be a fun fight!" We were unable to reach McDonald for comment. In a phone interview with Goss's manager, Rhyos Beoulve in Rio, it's been said that this fight is about maintenance. "This could be the start of a streak for Joe, and even though he had decisions in the past few fights, a win is a win. A decision can win or lose a belt, and with how fast Joe's heading up the ranks, it's a serious consideration. He's fighting a much younger guy, but it's been said that age and skill can beat youth and enthusiasm. It'll be a great fight either way, but I see Joe finally getting that knockout." In less than a week, we'll see 2 title fights, a new arena, and all sorts of changes for this up and coming organization! Stay tuned, fight fans! For Sydney-7 Sports, this is Jessica Desianti.

Is The Rifleman Back on the Line? - Jessica Desianti, Sydney-7 Sports It's over 2 weeks out from The Fallout's Vault 17 event, but already tensions are high and tough training is underway for some competitors. The Fallout has been one of the most involved MMA organizations in Sydney and as more and more events go underway, the effect of that very involvement is showing in its crop of fighters. The reigning champions are worthy of world-class competition, but for every winner there is also the tale of a loser. Joseph Goss, known as "The Rifleman," is set to square off against Cliff "The Nutcracker" Sierra in what he hopes is the relaunching of his MMA career. "It's been rough!" says Goss, whom we managed to interview mid-workout at Sydney's Beatdown Palace. "You go 8 months without a single win, and it really grates on you. Makes you question why you got started to begin with." Since his crushing defeat against Mike Barraclough back in January at The Syndicate: Part XXXXV, the former 5-2 fighter has since lost his last 5 consecutive fights between 2 different organizations, all by decision, before finally tasting victory once more via unanimous decision against Kent Ortega in the recent Vault 13 event. The fight itself was rather unspectacular, but for someone on the end of his rope, a win is a win. "It's really tough to lose so often by decision. I mean, I've proven time and time again that I have the heart and the conditioning to go the distance, but these were some tough competitors. It was difficult to get a hit in edgewise. Seeing that L number climb toward and eventually surpass the W made me want to hang up the trunks and quit while I was even. This last win really helped inspire me, though. I mean, I've been able to hang with The Syndicate, a group that was nearly #1 in the world last year, and have since been able to stick around Vault MMA, arguably the next rising star in Sydney. Even with my losses, I've been getting better and better, and I think I've finally crossed that middle line." On the other end is Cliff "The Nutcracker" Sierra, a relative newcomer to the MMA scene whom is off to a rather upsetting 1-3 start. His most recent fight was a one-sided loss via arm triangle versus 10-4 former XCC champ Master Blaster in his Fallout debut. The loss left Sierra rather injured, as doctors project he won't be back to 100% until a good 6 days before the event. Goss comments on his upcoming opponent: "It's tough to tell with such a short record, but it looks like his weakness is his ground game. Blaster wiped the floor with him, but he was able to make it through until the very end of the match. I think his dirty little secret is a lack of conditioning, though. I've really been focusing on keeping myself in the fight, so hopefully I'll be able to gas him and pick him off at my leisure. I certainly won't take anything for granted, though. Anyone in the Vault is a threat." We were unable to reach Sierra for comment. In a phone interview with Goss's manager, Rhyos Beoulve in Rio, it's been stated that the fight is a good opportunity for Goss. "This is a chance for Joe to really show off his striking. At this point, I'm sure he'll take whatever win seems most certain, but he's been overhauling his standing game for a few months now. Hopefully he can get another knockout to add to his record. I really hope this is a comeback for him, as he's had a rough lot this year. I get the feeling he's thinking about retirement, but we'll see how the contract goes. You kinda hate to wish ill on the new guy, but I find a draw highly unlikely. Unless he's made some incredible, game-changing gains in the past few weeks, I think it's gonna be Joe by knockout." A lot can happen in the space of a few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled, and be sure to see Vault 15 this coming Saturday! Reporting for Sydney-7 Sports and fight fans everywhere, this is Jessica Desianti.

Goss vs. Valuen - Stranger in a Strange Land The Syndicate has been growing by leaps and bounds as the past few events have shown. #2 in the world, The Syndicate is home to some of not just Australia's, but the world's best mixed martial artists. Joseph Goss has been making his way up the ranks, having taken out Crocodile Dundee with a beautiful first round knockout at The Syndicate: Part XXX. His 4-1 record is still quite good for a newer fighter, though all of that can change against his next opponent, Johannes Valuen. With a 5-3 record, "The Fjordboat" has only lost one fight in his time in The Syndicate. Not only a powerful striker, his most recent victory proved his staying power as he won a unanimous decision. Nearly all of his victories are by strikes, but at the same time, all of his losses are via submission. Valuen seems the superior fighter, but as we've all seen, heart can turn any underdog into a hero. We spotted Goss as he left React Rebound Ricochet Martial Arts and received the following comments. "This one's going to be hard, certainly. I've been watching the tapes, and Johannes is one hell of a fighter. He's got great kicks and he's a killer in the clinch. Most of his fights end up on the ground, though, and though he's got skills, he's not as flexible as he should be. Maybe I can hang another armbar loss on his record, but it'll be a fight to the finish." Manager Rhyos Beoulve chimes in as well. "Valuen's good. Damn good. Especially in a circuit as tough as The Syndicate. Joe's really going to have to be on his A-game in order to stand a chance. They're evenly matched, though I'd give the bias to Valuen. Joe's got heart and hunger, though. He was denied that 3-streak before, and he's going to be training as much as he can to get it this time. He's on the cusp of some major breakthroughs, so the Norseman had better not rely on the old videos." The Syndicate: Part XXXVI could be a big one, especially with 2 title fights on the line! Tickets are going fast, so get them quick at the Bondi Outdoor Arena! For Syd7 Sports, this is Ralph Desianti reporting.

And I don't care.

Maurizio vs. Casillas - The Comeback? Fury Fight Brazil is gearing up for their next event, FFB 35: Muerte vs. Ramirez which should go a long way to boosting the organization into bigger and better venues. Just one of the interesting cards on this week's schedule is a fight between Mick Maurizio and Iker Casillas, both with 3-2 records. Maurizio has yet to reach a win streak, with almost every win coupled with a corresponding loss immediately afterwards, whereas Casillas is crashing from a previous 3-win streak, his most recent loss by submission to Homer Simpson in the QFC. Will his introduction to Fury Fight Brazil turn his luck around? "The Dagger" hopes not. Coming off of a knockout over Mookie Goya in FFB 29: Piletich vs. Silva, a win could get Maurizio one victory away from his first 3-win streak. We were able to reach Mick at the exclusive Hellfire Club in Rio for comment. "The guy's certainly got staying power, and in looking over his tapes, he's definitely got some skills on the ground. I don't think I've ever seen the guy take a punch, and any kicks he tried were feeble. As much as I don't want to get my hands near that nasty-ass beard, I plan on cracking that head open. Striking has a place in MMA, and I'm going to show that to the crowd. I'll prove my name by cutting him up with elbows in the clinch." Also happening in the 205lb weight class this card is a fight between Vincent Bartlett and Gay Al. Both fighters have 2 wins to their records, but Bartlett is the veteran looking to make up for his second round loss versus Johnny Johnson back in FFB 29, which took his record to 2-4. "The Rod," on the other hand, will be entering his 4th fight, coming off of a strike submission victory over Mikhail Chigorin in FFB 31: Fantana vs. Machida. Commenting in a phone interview from his apartment in Rio, Bartlett weighs in on the fight: "Like most of my fights in FFB, this one's going to be tough. He's a good striker and an even better submissions expert. I think my best chance is going to be in the clinch - if I can control that, I've got this won. I've been training my ass off for this fight, but I've been having a hard time making things click. Hopefully instinct will take over. I've been getting better, I just hope it's good enough for the win." We contacted Rhyos Beoulve for comment. "It's been a while since I've seen these two in a fight. Mick's been making some huge gains in his training - the boy's bringing a new lethality to the ring. I'm a little worried about Vinnie, but he's always put forward a good show. Something in common with both of their opponents is that they seem to love their ground game. If my boys can keep on their feet, I can see a win for both of 'em. Mick? He'll crush Casillas. Bartlett, I'm not too sure about, but I'm planning on laying my money down on him." FFB 35: Muerte vs. Ramirez will go down at a smaller venue, the 2000 seat Hayashi's Lounge in Rio's south end. There are only 2000 tickets for this event, and they'll be scalping high, so get 'em legit while you can! For Rio-7 Sports, this is Marisa Alvares reporting.

Goss vs. Dundee - Rumble in the Outback? The Syndicate gets a bit randy with The Syndicate: Part XXX fast approaching at the Bondi Outdoor Arena. In what should be an interesting matchup, Joseph Goss, coming down from a dangerously close majority decision victory over Kerry Sibley in Part XXVII, redeeming his record while ending Sibley's 3-win streak, is taking on an Australian legend, Crocodile Dundee. Dundee's story in The Syndicate has been a rough one. With a perfect win streak through his time in the QFC, Dundee has yet to acquire a win in any of his 5 matches in The Syndicate, with only one fight lasting longer than a mere 45 seconds in the first round. Some may question whether or not he has what it takes to make it professionally, especially with how sloppy his last fight looked, but for him to stick around shows that he's at least got the heart to keep trying. We tracked down "The Rifleman" for comment. "I feel kinda sorry for the guy. Not sorry enough, but still, he's been given a raw deal. I haven't had much of a chance to watch him fight, as the tapes of his recent fights can be finished before the popcorn's done popping. Still, I've got to take him seriously. I don't like seeing anyone with a negative streak, but I won't let it end with me. From what I've seen of his training, he and I are pretty evenly matched. A few knees to the face should take care of that." Manager Rhyos Beoulve chimes in as well. "5 losses in a row would normally end a career. The fact that Dundee is still standing, both literally and figuratively after that last fight, is a sign that he's hungry. Most people would have bowed out of the biz by now, and his presence in this next fight is proof that he wants a comeback. He's desperate, so we need to expect the unexpected." The Syndicate: Part XXX is shaping up to be a rousing series of fights! Will there be more heartbreak for Dundee, or a rocky road for Goss? Find out this Saturday at the Bondi Outdoor Arena! For Syd7 Sports, this is Ralph Desianti reporting.

Goss vs. Sibley - No Rest for the Weary The Syndicate keeps rolling on, with The Syndicate: Part XXVII set to go off in just 3 days at the Bondi Outdoor Arena. In a rather unprecedented move, Joseph Goss, who lost by triangle submission to Jon Jonsson in Part XXVI, ruining his record, is signed up to fight again nearly a week after his last one. With what is normally nearly a month of downtime, some question whether he's overtaxing himself, especially considering his opponent. "The Pitboss" Kerry Sibley is fast becoming a rising force in The Syndicate. With a perfect 3-0 record and proven staying power, Goss will certainly have even more of a challenge than his last opponent, especially with the fight so soon after his last one. We cornered Goss in his apartment in downtown Sydney for comment. "Look, that last fight was bullshit, and I swear, even the ref knew it. I was trying to get some traction to pass guard, and it was misinterpreted as a tapout! That kind of thing isn't going to happen this fight. Just like the last guy, this kid loves his ground game. If I can keep it up, I've got him beat. My wrestling tops his, and my striking is world class compared to him. It took him 3 rounds to win a decision against someone who didn't even prepare for the fight and looked like shit when he entered the ring. I think I'll end his streak in the first round." Manager Rhyos Beoulve echos the sentiment. "I'm not here to talk about the last fight, I'm here to talk about what's up next. I make sure the fighters under my care never back down from a challenge. We've had enough people dick us around by not showing up. You can't get better if you don't get out there. As for the fight, it'll be closer than Joe thinks. If he doesn't step up that takedown defense, he'll be choked until he strokes. As for the gameplan leading to fight night, it's R&R. There's no time to do any training, so we've got to make sure he's ready to go. And he will be." Could redemption come from crushing defeat, or will a high-standing fighter cross another rung in the ladder to the top? Find out at The Syndicate: Part XXVII this Saturday! For Syd7 Sports, this is Ralph Desianti reporting.

Jonsson vs. Goss - Submitted for Approval The Syndicate has been one of the premiere fighting organizations in Sydney for as long as there has been a serious MMA scene in Australia. Though their 26th outing is still shaping up, The Syndicate: Part XXVI is shaping up to be an excellent contest of skill at the Bondi Outdoor Arena. Two of the fighters are still relative newcomers to the mixed martial arts world, and this will be a great opportunity for them to show the world they mean business. Both Jon Jonsson and Joseph Goss have 2 fights under their respective belts, and every win between them has been by submission. Jonsson, a Brazilian JuJitsu Purple Belt, proved his staying power and fight-finishing skills in his last fight in the QFC and is looking to make his Syndicate debut with one more digit in the Win column. "The Rifleman," on the other hand, has proven himself once already, back in The Syndicate: Part XX with a first round Guillotine and subsequent victory. Goss, who is still currently undefeated, is hoping to continue his streak to 3 uncontested victories. This match is shaping up to be a duel of submission fighters, but upon reaching Goss for comment, he threw a surprise our way. "Sydney has some great strikers out there, and since day 1, I've wanted to be among them. Winning is the most important thing, but I've been training my bollocks off on my striking. Jonsson can't touch me in a stand-up fight. I don't think I've even seen him throw a kick. I've got the ground skills to stuff him, and I've proven that. I've got the conditioning to outlast him. I've got the strength to knock him out. I respect the guy, hell, I even like the guy out of the ring, but I'm looking to crack that face of his open at range. I'm bringing out the long guns for this one." Manager Rhyos Beoulve tempers the enthusiasm of "The Rifleman." "Joe's got some damn fine skills, and they get better day by day. His conditioning training has been phenomenal - I've never seen someone improve so much over such a short period of time. Still, I think he discounts just how dangerous Jon is. He's a lethal ground fighter, and if Joe doesn't stay on his toes, he could be taking a canvas nap real soon. Still, we're watching the tapes, we're working on the gameplan, and we're changing up his training some. Those fans better be ready for a show, because Goss will certainly be bringing it." Could a submission fighter garner the coveted Knockout of the Night prize? Grab your tickets for Part XXVI now, as you just might see Sydney fight history in the making. For Syd7 Sports, this is Ralph Desianti reporting.

Johnson vs. Bartlett - David and Goliath? Fury Fight Brazil has been a hotbed of activity on Rio's fight scene, and has been able to make, break, and attract some of the scene's premiere mixed martial artists. One such fighter is practically a superhero in his own right. With a perfect 5-0 record, Johnny "The Tick" Johnson is one of Rio's top-ranked light heavyweights, ranked 5th overall and 2nd in the 205lb weight class in FFB's ranking, and 74th worldwide in his weight class. Only one fight of his career has gone longer than one minute. His punches have created cuts in seconds, and his theme song is downright keen. On the other hand, we have someone who is, for all intents and purposes, a loser in the mixed martial arts area, Vincent Bartlett. Though he is still coasting the high from his win over Mikhail Chigorin, "Hellhound" Bartlett is ranked substantially lower than Johnson, ranked 883 worldwide in the 205lb weight class. The odds certainly seem stacked against Vincent, but a victory here could mean a huge upset for Johnson's perfect record and a huge boost for the underdog. On his way into Foundations, we managed to catch up to Bartlett for comment. "Look, I'm getting tired of all this shit-talking about how I'm going to get my face smashed in, or that this is a rigged fight. I'm not going into a meat grinder, I'm going into a fight. Everyone is beatable, anyone can lose, and I intend to find out how to break this guy. I've been working my ass off, I'm healthy, and I'm just about ready to go. Sunday night was movie night, as I sat and watched his videos. 5 minutes later, I had an idea of his gameplan, and now I'm working to counter it. Will it be tough? Hell yeah, it'll be tough. But this will prove why I'm here, and that I can bang with the best. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some work to do. Redemption takes time." Rhyos Beoulve, as always, was available for comment. "It's great to see Vinnie in a fight that will actually go on. He's got a lot riding on this fight, especially with his renegotiated contract. Johnson can't kick to save his life, and I don't think I've ever even seen him try a submission. It's going to be a war out there, a real David and Goliath story, and I think Vinnie's right leg is just the sling he needs. I've heard a lot of people saying that Vinnie's being fed to the wolves on this one. This isn't a slaughter, this is an opportunity. Everybody likes an underdog, and when Johnson comes out of there with an L, the world will know Vinnie's for real." FFB 29: Piletich vs. Silva is selling out fast, with only 5000 tickets on sale. Now's your chance to see some history in Rio's fight scene, so get those tickets fast! For Rio-7 Sports, this is Marisa Alvares reporting.

Bartlett vs. Maurizio - Conflicted Interests In a strange twist, two fighters managed by Rhyos Beoulve, Vincent Bartlett, who is coming off of an exciting guillotine choke victory in FFB 9 over Smashana Kali, and Mick Maurizio, who lost a crushing decision against now champion of the AFC Mike Steven way back in EBCF 1: Awakenings, are squaring off against each other in the up and coming event: FFB 14. Scouts are reporting a strong advantage for Maurizio, but Bartlett has never been one to call it quits early. When Mr. Beoulve was approached for comment, he had plenty to say. "It's always interesting as a manager when two of your fighters are pitted against each other. You want to root for both of them, but it really comes down to who has the heart to win. Regardless, I can guarantee that it'll be an exciting fight, and one which will rock the Hard Knocks arena to the floor. Mick's always been a hard trainer, and he's improved a hell of a lot since his last fight. I would have loved to get him in the ring more, but everyone kept chickening out! Vinnie's been itching for a fight since his latest win, especially due to so many failures to show by his opponents. These guys are out for blood, and at this point, it doesn't matter who!" MMA fans, get your tickets now, as seating is short, and this is sure to be a fight for the books. This is Marisa Alvares, Rio-7 Sports.

Bartlett Cashes on Kali's Fear The Rio MMA scene is flourishing, but not everyone gets to rest at the top. With 2 losses and no wins in the cage, both Vincent Bartlett and Smashana Kali are looking to get their first victories under their belts. In a press release issued today by manager Rhyos Beoulve on behalf of "Hellhound" Bartlett in preparation for Fury Fight Brazil's next big event: FFB9, we get some insight on the inner workings of the MMA game. In this release, Bartlett calls out "The Destroyer of Life" for not yet accepting the proposed fight. "I know I'm not the greatest fighter out there, but this has got to be a sign of just how unprepared Kali is for this fight. I've been working my ass off to redeem myself for those losses, and I'm ready to take on whomever Lionel Methworth wants to set me up with. If Kali doesn't want his face smashed in, I don't blame him, but get out of the sport if you can't last. And for the love of God, get a less emo name!" Bartlett was seen favoring his right arm, still recovering from injury in his last QFC fight. Rio-7 Sports met with manager Rhyos Beoulve in his office right here in Rio for further comment. "Regardless of his record, Vinnie is one hell of a fighter. He's been up against some great combatants with superior records and, honestly, superior luck. We've been working on his conditioning, endurance, and flexibility. He won't submit. He's proven he can take a hell of a lot of damage, as his hospital records show, and he's able to give back what he takes. We've been checking the tapes of FFB1, and we saw "The Destroyer"'s glass jaw shatter. I have no idea why Smashana won't take the fight, but we're ready and waiting to break it again." Regardless of who wins, someone will get their first victory, and hopefully a nice restart to their momentum. Attempts to reach Mundi Sum for comment haven't been returned. We will keep you up to date on the latest news! Reporting for Rio-7 Sports, this is Marisa Alvares.

Langley Questions Selvinen's Record In a press release issued today by manager Rhyos Beoulve on behalf of one of his fighters, Jake Langley, allegations fly of cheap shots and an untested fighter as fight organization The Proving Grounds gears up for its' first major event: The Beginning. In this release, "The Dreamer" calls out Simo "Asshole" Selvinen as an unproven fighter. Selvinen, the favored in the fight with has an undefeated 1-0 record, was hammered for his quick 9 second victory in the QFC just a few days ago. "I've been watching the tapes, and there isn't a whole lot to this guy's fighting style. This dude's a one-punch wonder, and you can bet your ass and your cash that once he misses, I'll be there to tear him a new nickname. He doesn't have the chops to go the distance!", Langley is quoted as saying in the release. "Once the 4th comes around, the only Stars and Stripes he'll be seeing will be hand-delivered." Rio-7 Sports met with manager Rhyos Beoulve in his office right here in Rio for further comment. "Jake's been training hard. He's been going through some personal issues recently, but his recent win over Gabriel Marcello has brought some pep back to his step. We've been training hard to improve his conditioning and ground game. He's a bit of an optimist - hence the nickname - but when reality hits on the 4th, he'll be ready for it. It's a great matchup, and from the looks of it, it'll be quite the brawl, and I can't wait to see it go down!" Attempts to reach Sami Englishh for comment haven't been returned. We will keep you up to date on the latest news! Reporting for Rio-7 Sports, this is Marisa Alvares.