This Week in World MMA: 5/2-5/8

Other duties have forced me to scale back my HKL posting somewhat, but fear not all seven readers of this feature.  The new and improved version of This Week In... will combine International and North American MMA into one handy post for your reading enjoyment.  I should also apologize for the lack of posts over the last two weeks - I was drunk in Mexico.  I wish I had a better explanation, but...it is what it is.

Anyway, onto the fights!

Images by Anton Tabuena!

There aren't many big names competing internationally this weekend, but one card certainly offers a name you know and and a name you'll probably know sooner than later. And it takes place in the bustling metropolis of Khabarovsk, Russia. For those of you that care, if you think Siberia out there...well, Khabarovsk is past that. It's on the Chinese border, and just across from Japan.  Yeah.  But it's hosting a big card this weekend!

Europe: World Absolute Fighting Championships: Mayor's Cup 2011 (5/7) has a big-time Russian prospect in the main event, and a former UFC heavyweight champion in the co-main spot. BE's # 7 lightweight prospect Alexander Sarnavskiy (13-0) will take on Affliction veteran and AKA product Joseph "J.J." Ambrose (15-3), while Kevin Randleman (17-15) will try to erase a three-fight losing streak against Baga Agaev (20-11) at light heavyweight.

On top of this card there are 10 minor events all over the United Kingdom, along with events in Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden.

South America:  Brazil has two cards (two that I found, anyway): Radical Combat 6 in Salinopolis and Champions Night in Sao Benedito (north coast, near Fortaleza).  There is also a Peru FC card in Lima, Peru.

Japan: Remember RINGS?  Yeah, they're still around.  They're running RINGS: The Outsider 16 (5/8) with an insane 30-fight card.  It will include some ZST crossover, and some Russian fighters.  Akira Maeda has been vocal about possibly bring RINGS back to prominence in response to some old shady promoters getting back into the JMMA game.  We'll see what happens.

This week offers up a relatively light 18 cards across 13 states and 3 Canadian provinces.  Florida is the only multi-event host this weekend, with three cards. The most relevant Florida fight is probably BE's # 10 WW prospect Joe Ray (4-1) taking on John Kelly (5-2) on a Champions Fighting Alliance card in Miami (5/6).

The Bellator and Tachi Palace cards will be covered across the SB Nation network, so I'll move onto the other big regional cards.  And to be honest...there's not a lot.  One card in Wisconsin has a recognizable name in a bit of a strange fight though.

Duke Roufus is promoting North American Fighting Championship: Mayhem (7/6) in Milwaukee.  Danny Downes (7-1), who is currently under contract to Zuffa, asked if he could take a fight outside the organization to kick off some rust after not being scheduled for a UFC fight since the UFC/WEC merger.  He will take on Tory Bogguess (4-4).  Also on the card is UFC vet Sean Salmon, looking to kill a 5-fight losing streak in a matchup with Iowa fighter Joe Cason (4-1).

Up in the frozen tundra of Moncton, New Brunswick (just kidding, there's no tundra and it's actually a really nice place) a large man is coming to town.  A man that shares a name similar to a certain turkey brand.  Yes folks, Eric "Butterbean" Esch (13-8-1) is making his long-awaited (!) return to MMA after his humiliating loss to the world's strongest man Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 14 in Poland.  He will be main-eventing (obviously!) against 43-year-old boxer Dean Storey for the Elite 1 super heavyweight title. 

Other than that, there's not a whole lot of report.  I'll be back early next week to let you know how this all went down.  Later folks!