| Showdown Fights "Bragging Rights" coming to Orem April 9th |
| View video Salt Lake City, UT (USA) - Friday, April 9th, 2010 marks the debut of Utah's own Showdown Fights™ live from the McKay Event Center in Orem, Utah. In an epic battle for the "Bragging Rights" of Utah, UFC® veteran Josh "The People's Warrior" Burkman will face the fiercely crafty veteran Jake "The Snake" Paul. Many in Utah see Josh Burkman as the greatest fighter to come out of Utah. Jake Paul is looking to take what Josh has built to create his own legacy. "Josh has become a prima donna," says Paul. "He was tough back in the day, but he's hit his peak and he's on his way down." Josh Burkman feels the night will go differently "If he thinks he gonna stand and trade, he's gonna get knocked out. He is just a local guy with limited skills who will never go anywhere". Showdown Fights™ "Bragging Rights" will take place in a 30' cage at the fan-friendly McKay Event Center in Orem, Utah. Tickets Prices are ($10 with UVU student ID) $15 $45 $100(Floor) and $175(VIP Table) For Tickets Call Smith Tickets at 801.467.8499 or log onto their website at smithtix.com. For VIP and floor seating call 1-866-788-9195 or go to www.showdownfights.com. |
| Burkman Blazing the UFC Comeback Trail |
| Sample of the article written on MMAWeekly.com: The comeback trail is tough for any fighter who has been in the UFC for several bouts, then released and trying to work his way back. Josh Burkman is making that effort after struggling in a few fights, while dealing with some serious neck and back issues that have finally been resolved, and he's ready to get back to the top. To order tickets to the April 9th fight visit Smith's Tix |
| Pending Fight |
| Pending fight, Josh Burkman vs Jeremy Horn in March 2010 at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, UT. Jeremy Horn is being offered $20,000 to take the fight against Burkman. At this time we are still awaiting an answer from Horn. |
| Josh Burkman returns from year layoff, picks up weekend KO win |
| Josh Burkman, a cast member from "The Ultimate Fighter 2" who was once one of the UFC's most promising welterweight prospects, returned from a 13-month layoff and posted a first-round stoppage victory over the weekend. Burkman (19-8) defeated "TUF 5" cast member and fellow UFC vet Brandon Melendez (22-15) via first-round TKO at the Nov. 20 Throwdown Showdown 5 event in Utah. The victory, which came in the night's main event, was Burkman's first in more than two years. Burkman, a high school state runner-up in wrestling and JUCO All-American running back, launched his UFC career in 2005 and posted a 4-1 record to emerge as a 170-pound contender. However, after suffering consecutive losses to Mike Swick, Dustin Hazelett and Pete Sell, Burkman left the UFC and opted to take time off from competition. Burkman concluded his first UFC stint with a 5-5 mark. This past Friday's Throwdown Showdown victory was Burkman's first via stoppage since January 2006, when he submitted Drew Fickett via guillotine choke at UFC Fight Night 3. |
| Burkman at Throwdown Showdown V "Homecoming" |
There has never been a card of this caliber in Utah. The main event features Brandon Melendez, an Ultimate Fighter standout vs long time UFC favorite Josh Burkman. Burkman barely lost a close decision to the guy fighting GSP for the title. This is a grudge match that I am amazed we actually put together. It also includes UFC Veteran Derek Downey against WEC standout David Terrel. The much anticipated rematch for the title between Showdown Champion Rad Martinez and the always entertaining Razor Sharp. Their last match ended in a controversial decision and Razor has been waiting for this chance to avenge that loss. The undefeated, head hunting, science teacher, and Showdown Champ Jordan Smith will fight IFL vet Bristol Marunde. The always amazing, Siler looks to hold onto his title against Sport Fight Champ Enoch Wilson. This card also features two UVU wrestlers that are monsters in the cage and both undefeated. Brock Jardine has been destroying people!! And is 7-0!!! Dayne, Boogie, Eddie and Cam are always some of the most entertaining fighters in the game. We also have our first Woman bout. The beautiful and talented Muay Thai fighter Tandi Schaeffer has her first MMA fight against a game opponent from Foley's gym in Ogden. Sean Whalen has KO'd both his opponents in the first minute. This really is a show that you are not gonna want to miss. Click Here for More >> |
| Burkman Sidelined Indefinitley With Back injury! |
| February 02, 2009 Following his third loss in a row in the UFC, Josh Burkman has decided to take some much needed time off to repair a serious back injury. The injury is similar to those suffered by other fighters such as Tito Ortiz and Nate Quarry. Burkman spoke exclusively to MMAWeekly.com about the injury, which he originally suffered during his fight against Dustin Hazelett at the moment when he slammed his opponent to the mat. He then felt a numbness striking down his arm that lasted for a week after the fight was over. "This is the first time in my career I've got to seriously be like I've got to get this better. I've got to take some time off," Burkman said. The injury consists of two bulging discs in his back and another bulging disc in his neck, and the Utah native is hopeful for a natural rehab, but may have to consider surgery if the healing doesn't happen. "I want to try to heal it naturally first so I'm going to do a lot of yoga, and basically going to do some physical therapy, and see what we can do with it," commented Burkman. "It's pretty bad, it's causing me to have arthritis in my back. "The rehab that we're going to do is at least six weeks. And that's six weeks of rehab and not going in and screwing my back up again. I'm going to start with that and it just depends on what option I go with." The constant pain and injury followed into his training camp for the fight against Pete Sell in which Burkman was unable to work any real ground training due to his problematic back. "I wasn't able to wrestle, because every time I wrestled I'd be out for two days," he said. Since his back problem was diagnosed, Burkman has stayed in close contact with friend and training partner Tito Ortiz, who suffered a similar injury that forced him into surgery last month after the nagging problem caused him ailment for years. "I just talked to Tito Ortiz and Tito told me how he did his NuVasive, the same thing that Nate Quarry did, and he did that four weeks ago," stated Burkman. "Tito's rehab on that is about six months, but he's really happy with it. He's excited about how he's feeling, and I think that's the same thing that happened to Tito, the same thing that happened to me over the last couple fights." Ortiz's back problems have stretched back all the way before his loss in the UFC to Randy Couture and Burkman noticed the changes in his training regimen even before he dealt with his own injury. "I used to watch old videos of Tito training and when I was up in Big Bear I was like 'why don't you do this anymore, and why don't you do this anymore' and he was like 'I can't do that anymore,'" Burkman said. "We'd wrestle for one day and Tito would be out for two days (after that). Once those nerves get pinched and they get pinched over and over, it really starts to cause a lot of problems." The former "Ultimate Fighter" season two competitor is hopeful that his back will recover with regular therapy, but he will also have to eliminate much of his MMA training during that time because of the stress on his back. He has also stated that he plans to turn back to old friends Tito Ortiz and Nate Quarry for advice if surgery is called for. As far as Burkman's fight career, he is more focused on his health right now, but plans on coming back when the time is right. "That's something that's in the air," Burkman said about his future with the UFC. "I'm definitely probably not in the best position. I've lost three fights in a row. Even though I don't feel like I lost to (Mike) Swick, and the crazy armbar (vs. Dustin Hazelett), the bottom line is I've lost three in a row. "My contract's up with the UFC, once I get healthy I'll figure that out." Burkman promises his fans that while he may drop out of sight for a while, he will keep working hard and be back with a renewed body that's ready for a fight. "I think this injury is a blessing in disguise. I'll go back, I'll get healthy, and I'm going to come back stronger than ever." Read Full Article >> |
