UFC to give Mostapha Al-Turk another Opportunity

Published on: 17th June, 2009

UFC to give Mostapha Al-Turk another Opportunity  | read this item

After two fights in the UFC former Cage Rage Heavyweight champion Mostapha Al-Turk gas been unsuccessful with both of his bouts ending in the first round by the likes of Cheick Kongo back at UFC 92 last December and this past Saturday night at UFC 99 to Mirko Cro Cop despite being poked in the eye towards the end of the fight. However, the UFC is willing to give the British fighter another opportunity at redemption, but don’t expect referee Dan Miragliotta to oversee any of his fights either.

In an interview with MMAjunkie.com Paul Ivens who is Al-Turk’s head instructor and co-founder of his training camp at the London Shootfighters says that despite the losing skid inside the Octagon, Al-Turk has been granted another fight with the UFC.  

“The UFC has said Mostapha will get another fight.” Ivens said. “It’s kind of one of those things that was confirmed, but we knew would probably happen beforehand as well, going into the fight on short notice and things like that. It’s a tough fight the UFC gave us. Both of the fights have been tough so far.”

Al-Turk as mentioned was poked in the eye this past Saturday night at UFC 99 by Mirko Cro Cop and was going to appeal the ruling of the fight with his manager Ken Pavia, but it does not look like much can be done for the ruling to be overturned and since it was referee Dan Miragliotta that did not see the incident in the cage will more than likely not be apart of Al-Turk’s matches from here on out according to Ivens.

 ”To be honest, what I will say is that I’m not a fan of that referee in question at all,” Ivens said. “I think he’s made a lot of questionable calls – twice now against real high-profile fights for our fighters.

“I don’t know if it’s intentional, but I think [Miragliotta] has made a couple of big mistakes now,” Ivens said. “I think he genuinely didn’t notice [the eye poke], but that’s his job. Him missing out on that for this fight and a previous fight – both in very high-profile fights for guys from my gym – is very annoying.”

But to Al-Turk, his head trainer says that he just wants another shot to prove he belongs in the UFC in spite of what transpired this past Saturday night.   

“[Al Turk] is obviously very disappointed in the fact that he lost the way that he did, but he doesn’t want to blame anyone. He doesn’t want to point fingers. He just wants another chance, that’s all.”

Even though Al-Turk will get another opportunity with the UFC some changes definitely need to be made if he is going to be successful due to the fact that what I saw in his UFC 99 bout was that he was telegraphing just about every punch he threw towards Cro Cop and that is what ultimately led to his downfall. Do you agree?

 Nelson Rodriguez AKA: Nelo2.0 is the Co - Owner of URDirt.com who is also an Editor and Author on the site. Read more from this author

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