Marcello Foran’s Ulitmate Warrior Challenge has cancelled tomorrow night’s main event. According to the UWC, Ryan Diaz developed a salivatory gland infection around the time he returned from two months worth of training in Thailand. While the UWC was aware of the illness, they gave Diaz as much time as possible to recover. Unfortunately for fight fans, Diaz is too ill to compete, and Mike Easton has no opponent for his first Bantamweight Title defense. Two Top 10 ranked flyweights will now step into the anchor leg of tomorrow’s show. Jesse Riggleman, who won a title shot against Louis Gaudinot in last month’s Ring of Combat show, will fight John Dodson, out of New Mexico.

If you happen to be in the Commonwealth of Virginia, RUN! No, I’m kidding. UWC 8: Judgement Day goes down at the Patriot Center in Fairfax tomorrow night.

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Mike Easton will defend his UWC Bantamweight title for the first time since winning in the most controversial of fashions. Another one of Dave Holland’s victims, Jessie The Mountain Man Riggleman fights in the co-main event against New Mexico’s John The Magician Dodson out of Greg Jackson‘s camp. Also on this Saturday’s card is Jason David Frank, formerly the Green Power Ranger, and owner of Jesus Didn’t Tap.

UWC 8: Judgement Day goes down on Saturday at the GMU Patriot Center in Fairfax VA. Doors at 6:00 PM and the first fight’s at 7:00.
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I’ve told fighters that I wouldn’t drive through Virginia to go fight in North Carolina, that’s how deep my hatred of Dave Holland (who runs MMA for the VDPOR, Virginia’s commission) goes. Virginia just can’t get through an event without some sort of scoring, judging or timekeeping problem. That made me very nervous when I heard UWC planned on returning to the Patriot Center in Fairfax VA for their 8th show on May 22nd. But, I recently received an email from the UWC confirming that all officials will be brought in from out of state. This is a good thing. So far only two fights have been announced, Mike Easton vs Ryan Diaz and Jessie Riggleman vs John Dodson. I have been promised top-flight regional talent on the balance of this card.

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Lets take another look at what happened in Virginia. First, as I’ve been asked to clarify. Respect is Earned was not a part of the gong show that went down at the judges’ table during the Jesse Riggleman vs Bryan Goldsby fight Saturday night. The VDPOR, which sanctions professional MMA in Virginia, assigns judges and referees and are ultimately responsible for the scoring and adjudicating of fights. So, as the blame game begins, all fingers are pointing squarely at Program Administrator David Holland.

I have no had a chance to see the raw footage of the fight. First, it was a fantastic fight. So lets not let this fuster cluck stain either of these two fighters. They put on an excellent fight, and I’m anxious to see the run back (just as long as its not in Virginia). That being said, on my personal score card, I had the first round very close, but to Riggleman 10-9. Both threw heavy, heavy hands, but Riggleman’s ground game gave him a very narrow, but clear advantage. The second round was similar. Both fighters throwing huge shots, no set-ups, all home run swings. The differential again came down to Riggleman’s very active ground game and some clean shots from the mount position, so again 10-9 to Riggleman. At this point, the decision is made. Goldsby would need to win the third round 10-8 to pull a draw, and 10-7 for a victory.
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Jesse Riggleman at UWC 7, photo courtesy of Sherdog.com

This report is coming from a source close to tonight’s Respect is Earned show in Harrisonburg VA. According to my source, Virginia judges have struck again, this time turning what was described as “the fight of the night” between Bryan Goldsby and UTL ranked flyweight Jesse Riggleman into an episode of The Benny Hill Show. Riggleman and Goldsby put on a fantastic 3 round battle that went to the cards. After a long delay, Bryan Goldsby was announced as the winner. The crowd apparently went bananas, frustrated that the judges had handed the hometown Riggleman his first career loss. I’m told that as referee Dan Mirgliotta was prepared to start the co-feature fight between Beau Baker and Ran Weathers, Jesse Riggleman entered the cage. I was told that Riggleman entered just seconds prior to Mirgliotta doing the “are you ready?” bit.
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Photo: SHERDOG.COM

The UWC has rereleased a statement made on October 13th regarding what the incredibly controversial decision in the Beebe/Easton fight from back on October 3rd. Virginia’s commission released a statement this week confirming the result. And again, the internet goes ballistic.

The UWC is going to release the video of the fight online so fans can watch and make up their own mind. And I usually do give the judges the benefit of the doubt, but Virginia has been a gong show for a while.
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