Author: Vasilian Manouk

MUHAMMED "KING MO" LAWAL CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ON POTENTIAL BOUT WITH GEGARD MOUSASI
by Steven Marrocco

MMAjunkie.com
Jan 26, 2010 at 5:35 pm ET

Fresh from a late night training session in Orange County, Calif.,
with Wanderlei Silva and Fabricio Werdum, Muhammed Lawal (6-0 MMA,
1-0 SF) heard the news about Gegard Mousasi’s (28-2-1 MMA, 2-0 SF)
desire to fight him next, but "King Mo" didn’t want to get too excited.

"I feel great," Lawal told MMAjunkie.com () when
contacted about the potential matchup. "I’ll feel better when it’s
confirmed, you know what I’m saying? Once it’s confirmed, game over."

Lawal said he expected to face the Strikeforce light heavyweight
champion after defeating Mike Whitehead at "Strikeforce: Evolution"
but added that he had not been formally offered the fight and nothing
was confirmed.

On Monday, Mousasi surfaced on multiple news outlets and said he
expected to face Lawal on the second installment of "Strikeforce
on CBS" in mid-April, though he, too, said the fight was in its
early stages.

The pair was supposed to meet two previous times, though the bout
never came to fruition.

This past August, a fight was scratched at "M-1 Global: Breakthrough"
when Lawal, nursing a newly repaired ACL, elected instead to fight
Mark Kerr. Mousasi went on to face sometime training partner and No.

1-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko in a grappling exhibition,
and he wound up injuring his elbow in the process.

A second meeting was scratched at "Dynamtite!! 2009" when Mousasi
turned down a fight with "King Mo" on the New Year’s Eve card for
unknown reasons, according to Lawal.

"I don’t know if he turned it down, or I guess his management –
maybe he didn’t have enough time to train for me on short notice,
but I was willing to step in and fight him at DREAM," Lawal said.

As always, the former Division I All-American and Division II champion
addressed his critics and said they were a primary motivator in his
fight path.

"My critics are my opponents as well," Lawal said. "Because everybody
has something to say. Who’s that dude, Mike Straka? I don’t know who
he is, but I guess he’s trying to tell people that I’m overrated and
this and that. This is coming from somebody who knows [expletive]
about MMA, who’s just a fan with his own TV show. If he thinks I’m
overrated, he can come and train with me. Come train with me – I’ll
show you overrated.

"I’ve only been in this sport for a year and a half. Now who else in
a year-and-a-half has been beating people with winning records like
I have?"

And truth be told, Lawal said would feel out of place if it were any
other way.

"If everyone was giving me compliments, like ‘you the man, you the
man,’ then what’s the point?" Lawal asked. "I like being an underdog.

I like people doubting me."

But when it came to making proclamations about how a potential fight
with Mousasi would go down, "King Mo" was surprisingly restrained.

In a recent interview with Sherdog.com, Mousasi said he was en route
to an extended training camp with UFC welterweight champion Georges
St-Pierre. On a potential fight with Lawal, the Armenian-born fighter
said he had the advantage in all areas of the game but one: wrestling.

"He can say this and that, but we’ll find out come fight time," Lawal
said. "Yeah, he has good stand-up. He might have a better clinch, but
I’m not worried about what he says at all. I hope he trains hard with
‘GSP,’ man. That’s cool. It’s whatever. He can do whatever he wants
and say whatever he wants, cause when it comes down to it – when the
fight happens – I’m going to be happy, because I get what I want.

"Anybody can make a [prediction] right now, but I’m just going to
keep my knowledge to myself until the fight comes – because then
everybody will see what I’m talking about, why I wanted this fight."

In the meantime, Lawal said he will continue to train for a general
opponent and hope for the best.

For the latest on the as-yet-unannounced Strikeforce on CBS show in
April, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

(Pictured: Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal)

Steven Marrocco is a staff reporter for MMAjunkie.com and an MMA
contributor for The Vancouver Sun.

SERJ TANKIAN ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE SCREENINGS OF ELECT THE DEAD SYMPHONY, PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE

Icon Vs. Icon
kian-announces-nationwide-screenings-of-elect-the- dead-symphony-pre-order-available/
26, January 2010

Tags: Armenian National Committee of America, Elect the Dead, Elect
the Dead Symphony, entertainment, Junkie XL, Music, Reprise Records,
Serj Tankian, Serjical Strike, system of a down

Reprise Records and Serj Tankian have teamed up with theatrical
distributor Cinema Purgatorio to present a series of nationwide
screenings of Tankian’s Elect the Dead Symphony – a very special
orchestral interpretation of Tankian’s critically acclaimed solo
debut Elect the Dead. The dynamic one-off performance was recorded
and filmed in HD by six cameras at the majestic Auckland Town Hall
in New Zealand with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

The dramatic result has been captured in the Elect the Dead Symphony
– a CD/DVD that will be released by Serjical Strike/Reprise Records
on March 9th, 2010. Confirmed screening dates are below with more
in the works. Many of the shows have been suggested by fans and are
being organized in conjunction with the Armenian-American community,
including the Armenian National Committee of America (anca.org).

Please visit phony
for more information on the screenings.

A pre-order for Elect the Dead Symphony has begun exclusively on
iTunes. Fans who pre-order the audio album now for $11.99 will receive
access to their download on February 23rd – two full weeks before the
album is available in stores and from all digital service providers. A
link to the pre-order is here >

With the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at his side, Tankian’s epic
songs and operatic vocals on Elect the Dead Symphony take on a whole
new sense of grandeur when performed by a full 70-piece orchestra,
while the DVD’s sweeping edits showcase the drama of the concert. This
unique meshing of two very different musical worlds was a vision
Tankian has long wanted to make a reality. What sets Elect The Dead
Symphony apart from other successful pairings between rock artists
and orchestras is that Tankian specifically rearranged his songs to
be performed with only orchestral instruments.

"I was elated to have the opportunity to arrange my songs from Elect
the Dead for a full orchestra with the APO," Tankian says. "The
arrangements are quite different than those on the record, including
bonus tracks never played live." Both bonus tracks, "Gate 21"
and "The Charade," have never been released and are included on
the CD, CD/DVD, and vinyl formats of Elect the Dead Symphony. The
DVD also features rare and intimate backstage footage, as well as
one-on-one interviews with Tankian and various members of the Auckland
Philharmonia Orchestra.

The album contains elements of rock morphed into classical, and
skewed time signatures that Tankian has made his own, all of which
were scored by Tankian himself and orchestrated for the full ensemble
by respected New Zealand composer John Psathas. The album has been
mixed by Dutch musician Junkie XL, known for his remixes for such
artists as Britney Spears, Beastie Boys, Coldplay, Michael Buble,
Madonna, Scissor Sisters, Sarah McLachlan, and many more.

Elect the Dead was released by Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on
October 12th, 2007 and received glowing reviews from various media,
including the Los Angeles Times, which called it "brutally engaging
guitar-rock" with "steely lyricism and throttling textures," while
Rolling Stone noted that it "delivers amped, intricate, and political
hard rock."

Confirmed screening dates for Elect the Dead Symphony are as follows:

2/19 – Portland, OR – The Hollywood

2/19 – Indianapolis, IN – Republic Theatres

2/19-20 – Bloomington, IN – The Ryder at the Fine Arts

2/19-21 – New Concord, OH – Muskingum University

2/20 – Providence, RI – The Cable Car (9 pm)

2/20 – Seattle, WA – Northwest Film Forum

2/21 – San Antonio, TX – Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes

2/21 – New York, NY – The Leonard Nimoy Theatre @ Symphony Space

2/22 – Somerville, MA – The Coolidge Corner

2/26-27 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Tower

2/27 – New Haven, CT – Criterion Cinemas (8 pm)

3/04 – Syracuse, NY – The Palace Theatre

3/06 – Shreveport, LA – Robinson Film Center

3/07 – Chicago, IL – CIMM Festival at Lincoln Hall

Related Posts:

* Serj Tankian To Release ‘Elect the Dead Symphony’ On March 9th *
D.J. Caruso To Direct Big Screen Adaptation of EA’s ‘Dead Space’
* DJ Jazzy Jeff Joins All-Star Roster of Activision’s ‘DJ Hero’ *
Grindhouse Releasing To Re-Release ‘Evil Dead’ To Theaters In 2010 *
Spinal Tap ‘Back From The Dead’ – New Album June 16th * Powered by
Contextual Related Posts

BAKU RESUMES BELLIGERENT RHETORIC

Yerkir
25.01.2010 15:09
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Ramiz Mehdiyev, the head of the Azerbaijani
presidential administration, has said that the Azerbaijani people
should be ready for the Karabakh conflict to be settled in any way.

"If the peace settlement of the conflict fails, we must look for
other ways," Ramiz Mehdiyev said over the weekend.

"The meeting in Sochi is scheduled for 25 January. We are trying
to settle the conflict peacefully. If a peaceful settlement of the
conflict fails, we must look for other ways. We must liberate the
land. We will not give our land away to anyone."

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, January 25, 2010

AGBU Camp Nubar Reunites for Mid-Year Celebration

Sometimes it feels like summer is ages away, so AGBU Camp Nubar
counselors, campers and alumni welcomed the New Year with a Camp Reunion
at St. Leon Armenian Church on Saturday, January 9, 2010. It was a
wintery day filled with fun, friends and food. Over a hundred campers
and counselors came from as far afield as New York, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Canada to attend the celebration and
reconnect with friends and colleagues from Camp Nubar.

As part of the day’s activities, reunited campers took part in two
classic Camp Nubar activities: "Dragon’s Mouth," during which time
campers run around a gymnasium trying to avoid being tagged by a chain
of people, and "Knock-Out," a variation of basketball.

"We receive requests each year for events that will reunite campers
while they anxiously await the start of camp. When campers and
counselors greeted one another, you could see their excitement and the
same spirit they exhibit during the summer months," says Jennifer
Omartian, Camp Nubar Director 2009.

The buzz throughout the day was the excitement for the upcoming summer,
activities, and cabin arrangements. Everyone is anxious for the start of
yet another unforgettable summer at Camp Nubar, which will be filled
with returning and new campers and counselors from all over the world.

Founded in 1963, AGBU Camp Nubar is a first-rate modern facility that
has been highly ranked by the American Camp Association, American Red
Cross, and American Academy of Pediatrics. For more information about
AGBU Camp Nubar, please visit , email
[email protected], or call 212-319-6383. We are now accepting
camper and counselor applications for the 2010 summer.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON JANUARY 26

Noyan Tapan
Jan 26, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. A delegation headed by Iran’s
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will arrive in Armenia on January
26 in order to participate in the 9th sitting of the Armenian-Iranian
Intergovernmental Commission.

During the visit M. Mottaki will meet with RA President Serzh Sargsyan,
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Speaker of the RA National Assembly
Hovik Abrahamian, Secretary of the National Security Council Arthur
Baghdasarian, and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

According to the RA FMA Press and Information Department, a meeting of
the foreign ministers of Armenia and Iran is scheduled for January 26.

STATE PURCHASE AND SALE PRICES OF GOLD AND SILVER FALL, THOSE OF PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM RISE

Noyan Tapan
Jan 25, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The State Treasury of Precious
Metals and Stones agency of the RA Ministry of Finance established the
following purchase and sale prices (in drams) of 1 gram of chemically
pure metal for precious metals in the period of January 25-31:

Gold – purchase price 12,490.23 (-247.48), sale price 13,576.34 (-269);

silver – purchase price 202.61 (-4.31), sale price 220.23 (-4.68);

platinum – purchase price 17,963.83 (+223.38), sale price 19,525.90
(+242.8);

palladium – purchase price 5,070.46 (+227.42), sale price 5,511,37
(+247.2).

ANC-WR WELCOMES FIRST ARMENIAN AMERICAN LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMEMBER PAUL KREKORIAN

AZG DAILY
23-01-2010

Diaspora

Friends, activists and leaders of the Armenian National Committee
– Western Region (ANC-WR) were pleased to welcome newly-elected
Council member Paul Krekorian to the Los Angeles City Council during
a ceremonial Swearing-in Ceremony and Inaugural Celebration on Sunday,
January 17, 2010 at Van Nuys City Hall, asbarez.com reported.

The ANC-WR joined hundreds of supporters for Councilmember Krekorian,
celebrating the historic election of the first Armenian American to
the Los Angeles City Council. The oath of office was administered by
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. Among the supporters who spoke
during the ceremony were Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, State Assembly
Speaker Karen Bass, LA City Council President Eric Garcetti, State
Assemblymember Mike Feuer and former Controller Laura Chick.

"We would like to offer our congratulations to Councilmember Krekorian
on his newly elected position in the Los Angeles City Council," stated
ANC-WR Government Relations Director Lerna Shirinian. "Councilmember
Krekorian has been a strong advocate and voice for the Armenian
American community within the State Assembly and we look forward to
working with him as he leads Council District 2 in the City of Los
Angeles," he added.

RA CC made decision under pressure of Armenian people and Diaspora
representatives
22.01.2010 23:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Constitutional Court simply corrected the
inaccuracies contained in Armenia-Turkey Protocols, according to New
Times Party leader Aram Karapetyan.

As he told Friday a joint news conference with Republican group MP
Hamlet Harutyunyan, `The Constitutional Court made its decision under
the pressure of Armenian people and Diaspora representatives.’

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of
diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 23 2010

Turkey’s attempts are perceived cautiously in South Caucasus, expert
Sat 23 January 2010 | 05:48 GMT Text size:

Archil Gegeshidze News.Az interviews Archil Gegeshidze, Georgian
political scientist and head researcher of the Georgian fund of
strategic and international studies.

Do you think the new leadership of Georgia will be able to return
Abkhazia and South Ossetia through improving ties with Russia?

I see possible settlement of the conflict only on the basis of the
goodwill reconciliation between Abkhazs and Georgians. This is a long
process that may take years provided that no one, primarily, Russia
interferes. Theoretically, the relations with Russia may improve so
much that it will allow Georgians and Abkhazians to reconcile. Yet
today it is difficult to predict such developments on the background
of existing tensions in bilateral ties.

There is an opinion that Turkey’s intensification in the South
Caucasus stimulated by Russia may cause damage to Georgia’s
participation in regional projects through its replacing by Armenia.
What do you think about it?

If you imply laying additional pipelines via the South Caucasus in the
short-term perspectives, theoretically Armenia and Georgia can be the
competitors. Yet, definition of the routes of the future pipelines is
not the prerogative of only Turkey. There must be a feasibility study,
an agreement of the exporting country (Azerbaijan), investors’
readiness to finance the project and so on. As for the long-term
perspective, Armenia and Georgia are not competitors. Provided that
the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh is settled, our region will become
attractive for big investors and everyone will be satisfied with the
volumes of funds flowing to the region.

Do you think the peacekeeping mission proposed by Turkey in the South
Caucasus in the past two years is promising?

Turkey’s attempts to intensify in the region do not have clear
orientation. Therefore, they are perceived cautiously in all the South
Caucasus countries.

Can the Azerbaijan-Georgia interaction within such organizations as UN
and GUAM be considered effective in terms of the regional conflicts
settlement or is it necessary to involve additional mechanisms to
attract attention of the world community to these problems?

I think it would be difficult to attract attention of the world
community to the issue of restoration of the territorial integrity of
our countries through new joint diplomatic or political initiatives.
This issue has long been on the agenda in UN and GUAM. It is important
to preserve the current level of involvement of these and other
organizations. I see the only resource of raising interest of the
international community in conduction of the large scale process of
modernization of the democratic institutions in our countries. In this
case, everyone would understand that unsettled conflicts hamper the
successful passage from the old system to the European-type statehood.

Do you consider the soonest progress in the Karabakh settlement
possible taking into account the irreconcilable positions of the
sides?

It is difficult to predict the soonest progress but as Russia is
interested in preserving Karabakh conflict as frozen less than the
conflicts in Georgia I think in your case it would be easier to find
the solution.

Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az

ARMENIAN EX-PRESIDENT PAYS PRIVATE VISIT TO IRAN

news.am
Jan 22 2010
Armenia

There is nothing extraordinary in that the ex-president Robert
Kocharyan has visited Iran, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
stated at his meeting with journalists.

Ex-presidents often visit foreign states, he said. "The matter
concerns his statement that Armenia is for developing relations with
Iran. It was stated when Robert Kocharyan was Armenian President and
is being stated now. Armenia is seeking to strengthen relations with
its neighbor," Nalbandian said.

He stated that Kocharyan paid a private visit to Iran at the invitation
of the country’s authorities, and the Armenian side was officially
informed. Minister Nalbandian reported that the Armenian-Iranian
relations are dynamically developing. "Iranian Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki is to arrive in Armenia on January 26. The
Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission will hold a meeting
here," Nalbandian said.

NEWS.am reminds readers that the Armenian ex-president reportedly
held meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iranian
FM Manouchehr Mottaki in Iran.