Mark Hunt vs Melvin Manhoef Fields Dynamite!! fight set with Jerome LeBanner scratched

by Stefan Manojlovic on Dec 30, 2008 11:50 AM EST

"Super Samoan" Mark Hunt will have to wait a little while longer to put longtime nemesis Jerome LeBanner into permanent retirement -- "Battle Cyborg" has been forced off the insanely stacked New Year's Eve Fields Dynamite!! card at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on December 31 with an illness.

K-1 wrecking machine and mixed martial arts veteran Melvin Manhoef has agreed to fill-in for the Frenchman on super short notice. In doing so, he will be at a huge size disadvantage -- Manhoef recently competed in the 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix.

Hunt, meanwhile, is a heavyweight. And a big one at that.

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Comments

noooooooooooooooo!

lebanner is injured? dang nabbit~

i was really looking forward to this fight..

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 11:52 AM EST reply actions

at least we still got hellboy/jz and alverez/akoi

by mikeybear on Dec 30, 2008 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

straight-up mikeybear!!

both those fights~ among many others~ will be off the hook!!

at least hunt didnt get pulled off the card completely!

getting manhoef[last minute] is still impressive and

should still be an entertaining bout!

but im still a little ticked~ you know?

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

this is almost better, i like lebanner but i think melvin is even better.

by roy on Dec 30, 2008 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

this is definitely a great replacement~

but i feel the hunt-lebanner fight could have been fight of the night~

im still mad about this~ but i will get over it.

im kinda more mad that i didnt hear this earlier this week..

i just made some calls~ and i should have know this

before today..

one of my book-keeps knew this 3 days ago.

and usually she would phone around~ to cancell bets.

so now i have to change my bet!

im thinking about going with manhoef..

what do u guys think??

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

Great Replacement, but I agree I would prefer LeBanner vs. Hunt!

by john on Dec 30, 2008 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

he is sick but hunt gots a great chin and alot of size on him, i would stay away from this one or bet small i would still lean toward melvin you know he will be in shape even on short notice you never know how hunt will look.

by roy on Dec 30, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

if I were Manhoeff…I would leave Hunts chin alone. Just aim for his Gut, like Semmy shilt did! I love Mark Hunt but the blue print to beat him is simple…..Same way you used to beat King Hippo on Mike Tyson’s punch out! lol

by john on Dec 30, 2008 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

i love the punch-out reference!!

lmao!

good one.

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

Its funny but true. THere is really no point in punching Hunt on the Chin, but He might be “Sweet in the Gut”. Lol

by john on Dec 30, 2008 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

Man i read a post yesterday night that LeBanner had a lung infection but i thought it was fake. Still this fight is awesome. Hunt has all the advantages even in subs.

by NameNotRequired on Dec 30, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

Dont under estimate speed my friend. Its an under rated asset. I am a HUGE fan of both fighters so I wont offer a prediction. How can anyone predict how a fighter will perform on 1 days notice?

I smell the return of the Flying Atomic Buttdrop!!!! Perfect for Crushing smaller opponents!

1 k-1/MMA dream fight of mine is:
Manhoeff vs. Wanderlei!~

by john on Dec 30, 2008 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

last one mania…chuck wants wand…lol call out a guy that just got ko’d

http://www.rawvegas.tv/watch/chuck-liddell-sounds-off-on-ufc-92/c3be0e08dc9e87dbc053766c41464d

by kevin on Dec 30, 2008 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

OMG!!!! U guys have to watch this post UFC 92 Mike Whitehead video! this bum is lucky enough to have a reporter stick a microphone in his face and Whitehead starts running off at the Mouth, talking all kinds of crap about Rampage and Rashad’s performance at UFC 92.

please post this video Mania:

http://www.rawvegas.tv/watch/mike-whitehead-rants-about-ufc-92/bc1f1a62d8ccc0a6b8fce4a07cb5d6

by john on Dec 30, 2008 6:19 PM EST up reply actions

Kevin: 4get the fact that chuck is calling out a guy that just got knocked out….Chuck is trying to get a rematch with a guy that he alreday beat! Doesnt that disturb anyone else. Traditionally the fighter asking for a rematch is the loser of the 1st encounter. What winner looks to rematch a guy he has already beaten!

Thats really Low Chuck!

by john on Dec 31, 2008 7:37 AM EST up reply actions

alright stinky, email me, lets do dinner this week! since you’re in Oakland, it works out better (I’m in fremont). There are plenty of good restaurants around here! I know a great greek place here in town, or Horatio’s is good. Plenty of others closer to Oakland too! let me know! I’m available tonigh, thurs and fri. my wife has thurs and fri off too!

by kevin on Dec 30, 2008 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

hey mania, I hope you put that dana white interview up. here’e another one, mike whitehead calls rampage lucky and calls out rashad!

http://www.rawvegas.tv/watch/mike-whitehead-rants-about-ufc-92/bc1f1a62d8ccc0a6b8fce4a07cb5d6

by kevin on Dec 30, 2008 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

another good post 92 interview!
http://mmablips.dailyradar.com/video/dana_white_post_ufc_92_interview/

by kevin on Dec 30, 2008 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

how bout the mach sakari porno update…whats going on with you today mania!??

by kevin on Dec 30, 2008 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

it is still a good replacement~ but not as good as lebanner~

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 11:54 AM EST reply actions

THere is a rumor floating around that Dana is thinking about making Satoshi Ishii (olympic zjudo dude) UFC debut on the 10th season of TUF in fall of 09. Dana said the show could help build Ishii some fans in the USA.

Nothing definiite just an idea Dana had!

by john on Dec 30, 2008 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

not a bad idea either..

for the reasons u stated~ plus

ishii is still considered a newbie to mma..

having him on the show first will ease peeps over better

then having a 0-0 fighter step in the ufc just cause he is a gold medalist.

thanks for the newz~

word.

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

it’s a great idea that naturally a lot of the internet fans think is dumb. they think dana is just trying to sign ishii to the lowball TUF contract that everyone gets. if they used a little bit of brain power they would realize dana wants him on theshow so that, like you mentioned, he can build an american fanbase. otherwise he’ll just end up like the past asian fighters stuck on the undercard making minimal money and barely progressing their career. just like gono, okami, and chonan are doing right now.

by jj on Dec 30, 2008 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I agree with both you guys, its a pretty good idea on Dana’s part. if they throw him right in the Octagon, he will be fighting Bums that we have never heard of anyway, so might as well let him compete on the show. not only would I put him on the show, but I would make a back door deal with the coaches to make him fight last, so that he can get more training in. Whats interesting is that Ishii was going to sign with the Red Devil fight team (Fedor’s camp) but Dana talked him into training at extreme Couture. If Fedor’s manager would have gotten a hold of IShii, we could kiss the thought of him in the Octagon goodbye!

Throw Kimbo on the same season and we will have a very interesting show. big Black dude who used to beat the crap out of people on the streets chilling with a Japanese Olympic Gold Medalist in the same house would make for some interesting TV. Not that I actually expect Kimbo to accept a TUF offer!

by john on Dec 30, 2008 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

John – Just read that Okami is getting a shot after Leites. Any truth? I don’t believe it but hell if Mir can KO Nog, i guess Okami and Machida can get title shots.

by NameNotRequired on Dec 30, 2008 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

So a heavyweight TUF??? I hope it would be better then season 2. We got some good fighters out of that season but they are all at LHW now. Would kimbo make his debut there too haha, that would just be comical. Dana is trying to get Ishii the experience which i super smart if his judo translates into good mma judo/grappling (i hope it does). Has anyone heard how his training at XC is going?

by ehoglund on Dec 30, 2008 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

Ya know, they really do need a Heavyweight season of TUF, it’s about time to bring in some new blood to that division.

by O Damn he got caught on Dec 30, 2008 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

Name not required: I also heard that Dana has promised Okami a title shot in 09. That was a direct quote out of his mouth not just a rumor. HOwever, I find it hard to believe that the UFC will give a fighter who was just on the non televised portion of a ppv, a title shot. TItle shots have all been about Marketability lately and Okami has none of that!

Eventually this fight has to happen but I promise you that it wont happen here in America. Spider isnt that much of a draw here in the states, him fighting Okami wont help either so this is a fight that will have to take place somewhere like England or Canada.

by john on Dec 30, 2008 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

john had this news out like 2 hours ago, pretty good job. as said before tho war Manhoef. prove me wrong and beat hunt

by Jared on Dec 30, 2008 11:55 AM EST reply actions

really?

dang~ i didnt even hear this was going to happen.

i just got here so mania broke the newz to me..

props to john

he is always breaking news on this site.

good stuff my mma gosple~

say word!

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

THanks Guys!

by john on Dec 30, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

if the stats you have displayed are correct, then it is a nearly one hundred pound weight difference.

I gotta say I am very disappointed to not be able to see hunt/lebanner, but damn if I’m not intrigued by this size difference/near freak show match.

by jj on Dec 30, 2008 11:55 AM EST reply actions

the weight of hunt would tell me manhoef would be more athletic and much faster so he might just circle around him and pick him apart.. idk much about either guy but im picking manhoef to win by upset tko

by randy murders on Dec 30, 2008 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

Jesus, Manhoef is a gamer… Taking a fight on 1 day agaisn’t a guy 100 lbs heavier. Much props for that!

by BNF on Dec 30, 2008 12:12 PM EST reply actions

you got to give him his props for that.

by roy on Dec 30, 2008 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

Oh SH*T Roy! 1 day till Dynamite!? I knew that Tomorrow was New Years eve, and I knew that Dynamite was on New Years eve, but it didnt register that the fights were 2morrow. NOw I am Hype! It gives me something to watch on New Years day while I am recovering from a Legendary Hang over!

by john on Dec 30, 2008 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, it completely slipped my mind too. I knew it was this week, I just assumed it was friday or saturday and didn’t think about it again.

by jj on Dec 30, 2008 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

which website could I catch Dynamite. It sucks here, only Elite XC and UFC are bein’ shown. I believe Pride was the only fight org outside the US that’s shown here. That’s why sometimes it sucks to be in a developing nation, LMAO!

by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Dec 30, 2008 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

The fights are TONIGHT! New years in japan happens in about 13 hours. I don’t knowwhere you are planning on seeing it either. Fightlinker has a link to a place you can see it on the net in the middle of the night.

by DDT on Dec 30, 2008 6:23 PM EST up reply actions

The fights are tonight.

by DDT on Dec 30, 2008 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

thats what i was thinking!!

definitely props to that~

the more i think about it? he might win as well..

i am rooting for hunt~ but im feeling an up-set.

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

Manhoef would probably be a good dog pick. He is no stranger to fighting bigger men.

by BNF on Dec 30, 2008 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

ohhh yeah~

thats what i call a hot~dog.

i can get him at +190

by stinky~fingers on Dec 30, 2008 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

woo all of us are with manhoef

by Jared on Dec 30, 2008 12:30 PM EST reply actions

Hell yeah win or loose hes a beast…WAR MELVIN….

by skoler1 on Dec 30, 2008 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

good fight

by Kung Foo on Dec 30, 2008 12:43 PM EST reply actions

man i wish ufc would sign manhoef he’s got awesome stand up and crazy g’n’p

by ruan-fiy on Dec 30, 2008 1:26 PM EST reply actions

Manhoef is great to watch any chance of seeing him in the ufc in the near future?

by Ejay on Dec 30, 2008 1:38 PM EST reply actions

Manhoef is a deadly striker but his ground game is a step behind Cheick Kongo….bad. That may be what’s kept him from the UFC.

by Machine on Dec 30, 2008 2:19 PM EST reply actions

plus hes in a bad division with a bunch of ji jits su aces

by Jared on Dec 30, 2008 3:03 PM EST reply actions

True. If he came to the UFC before improving his ground-game it’d be like watching Houston Alexander all over again.

by Machine on Dec 30, 2008 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

How is anybody watching this show? I really want to see it, but I heard the one website that was going to stream it no longer is.

by Warren Piece on Dec 30, 2008 4:05 PM EST reply actions

Is this on HDNET???

by McArthur on Dec 30, 2008 4:14 PM EST reply actions

No HDNET bro. That sux doesn’t it? I’m gonna see what I can rig up with a coat hanger and some tin-foil so I can watch this slobber knocker of a card.

by Machine on Dec 30, 2008 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

haha…let me know what works for ya

by McArthur on Dec 30, 2008 6:01 PM EST up reply actions

This is not being broadcast anywhere in the US.

by DDT on Dec 30, 2008 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

HELLO . . . Slow news day fellas??? You can always find something new about BJ Penn online, find it MANIA, post it MANIA, and ill blah blah blah about it the rest of the day MANIA!!! BJ BJ BJ!!!

by ( (AdamG ) ) on Dec 30, 2008 6:24 PM EST reply actions

To bad for Le Banner, I was hoping to see another war with Hunt, but I guess his arm couldn’t heal in the 3 or so weeks since it was broken at the K-1 WGP. I think Hunt will win this fight, his iron jay will negate Manhoef’s power, and Hunt’s a monster-striker, so he could KO Manhoef I’m sure.

by Belisarius on Dec 30, 2008 10:48 PM EST reply actions