MMA-URLS

Mike Thomas Brown may be nearing the end of his career, but the former WEC featherweight champion may also have another title run left in him.

Posted in: champion, end, retirement, mike, wec

Read the full article at Sherdog

UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones was arrested early Saturday morning for an apparent DUI after crashing his Bentley in New York.

Posted in: ufc, jone, champion, saturday morning, dui

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

A bunch of potentially great matches on deck for Smackdown tonight. Here’s your unspoilered preview: There’s a big main event of World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus vs. Randy Orton, a couple days before the two of them are involved in a Fatal (but not really) Four Way Match also featuring Chris Jericho and that guy who comes out with Ricardo Rodriguez. Alberto something. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes is taking on United States Champion Santino Marella after a week of taunting on the Twitter, which counts as buildup now. This will be fun but I wish it were a bigger deal. Just before a no-joke pay-per-view Tag Team Championship pay-per-view defense against Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger, current title holders R-Truth and Kofi Kingston go up against Titus O’Neil  and Darren Young, who may just come out and say “millions of dollars” a couple dozen more times instead of having a match. Primo and Epico along with Rosa Mendes and AW will probably be lurking someplace fancy. Finally, and hallelujah, WWE is advertising that we’ll be graced by the presence of Damien Sandow in a match against Yoshi Tatsu. Catch WWE’s official preview here, and spoilers for the pre-taped show any other damn place on the Internet. We keep it pure here! People Power! PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: champion, wwe, preview,  and, unspoilered preview

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Josh Thomson holds a win over Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, something only one other man on Earth can say. With that 2008 win, Thomson won the Strikeforce title, a belt that Gilbert won back in their rematch the following year. Thomson will face Melendez for a third time this Saturday in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier and he spoke to "TheSHOOT" about the fight and what it means for him: Quote after the jump... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Here's the quote as transcribed by MMA Mania: If there's one thing people can never take away from me, it's that I've been a world champion. There's only a handful of people in the world that can say they've been a mixed martial arts world champion and I'm a legit world champion. At the time I beat Gilbert Melendez, he was ranked number three in the world, I believe, and there was a lot of talk about him being even higher than that. Now he's basically considered to be number one and I'm sittin' in the same spot as when I beat him the first time. Gettin' no respect and no one cared and it's gonna end up bein' the same type of fight.

Posted in: world, strikeforce, champion, melendez, thomson

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

"If there's one thing people can never take away from me, it's that I've been a world champion. There's only a handful of people in the world that can say they've been a mixed martial arts world champion and I'm a legit world champion. At the time I beat Gilbert Melendez, he was ranked number three in the world, I believe, and there was a lot of talk about him being even higher than that. Now he's basically considered to be number one and I'm sittin' in the same spot as when I beat him the first time. Gettin' no respect and no one cared and it's gonna end up bein' the same type of fight." Former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson is looking to prove, once again, that he's better than Gilbert Melendez when they hook 'em up on the Showtime card slated for this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. "The Punk" was able to defeat "El Nino" back in 2008, but came up short in their rematch just over a year later. Now the rubber match will finally reveal, once and for all, who the "legit" world champion really is. Who ya' got?

Posted in: world, champion, gilbert melendez, josh thomson, legit

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold a media conference call today (March 27, 2012) in advance of UFC 146 which will take place on May 26, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference call will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters for the evening: Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva. Dos Santos is the current UFC heavyweight champion, having gone an impressive 8-0 inside the Octagon. He captured the title from Cain Velasquez at the inaugural UFC on FOX event last November and is looking to defend his belt for the first time. His opponent, Frank Mir is the former UFC heavyweight champion. He stepped up in place of Alistair Overeem, who tested for elevated levels of testosterone and was denied his license after removing himself from the title bout. Velasquez is the former UFC heavyweight champion. He suffered a shoulder injury after initially winning the title in October of 2010 and was handed his lone loss by dos Santos during his first title defense. Now healthy, he's hoping to earn his title back with a victory in the co-main event. Antonio Silva is a former EliteXC heavyweight champion. His stock rose to absurd levels after his second round TKO victory against Fedor Emelianenko in the quarterfinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, although he was brought back to Earth by Daniel Cormier via knockout in the semifinals. If he can beat the former champion, he'll be right back on top, if not higher. We'll have all the updates from the UFC 146 conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, conference, champion

Read the full article at MMA Mania

We're back with another edition of the Bloody Elbow News Roundup, and there's a lot to get to today. I could continue this paragraph with something witty or relevant, but how about we just skip the pleasantries and get to the good stuff. Why? Because that's how I roll. Everyone knows by now that Urijah Faber is currently without an opponent for UFC 148. The UFC will finally address the issue this Friday on TUF Live, where Dana White will name the fighter that will meet Faber for the UFC interim bantamweight title in the co-main event on July 7th. The consensus favorites for the spot at the moment are Renan Barao and Michael McDonald Speaking of TUF, if you haven't been following The Ultimate Fighter Brazil online and would prefer to watch it on television, Fuel will begin airing the show (which is way better than TUF Live in this blogger's opinion) on June 10th at 10pm EST. You probably weren't wondering what happened at M-1 Challenge 32 earlier today, but here are the results anyway (via Sherdog). Former UFC fighter Mario Miranda is their new middleweight champion. Light heavyweight Fabio Maldonado was understandably not happy with the judges after last night's loss to Igor Pokrajac at UFC on Fuel 3. He vented his frustration to Tatame in pretty blunt terms: "I don't have an answer to that. There was a judge who scored it 30-27. There's no logic in it. I'm really sad. I won it and that's it. Everybody saw it, even the judges. The three judges who gave it to him know deep down I won. In my opinion it's not a mistake, is called having a bad character, mainly the one who scored 30-27... They want to f*** me up, they didn't want to give me the win once again." After the jump, you can see what Kenny Florian has to say about retirement, read a quote from Melvin Guillard about becoming the champ one day, and a few other odds and ends. Kenny Florian hasn't stepped in the cage since his loss to Jose Aldo at UFC 136 last October. He has stated that he would return to lightweight if he came back, but he wasn't sure about retirement at the moment. In a recent interview with Fight Hub, the UFC Tonight host addressed the retirement talk once again and said the next few months will decide whether he returns or not: UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard is staying positive and believes he can be the champion one day still, despite some recent setbacks (via BuddhaSport): "I still think I'm sitting pretty good. I'm ranked number 10 right now. I was ranked number five. When you look at our division it's so stacked so you don't see too many five and six fight win streaks against the top guys. So I think any the top guys deserve a shot at the belt at some point. There's no dominant guy in our weight class anymore at all, there's too much talent. I'm content with what's going on. You know you just have to keep working hard and keep training and keep on getting better. The more time I put in it just puts me closer to my goal and that's being the champion. I believe I can be champion at 155. There's no point for me to run to another weight class, I'm gonna be champion at 155." Sure Melvin, sure. Anyway, did you know that Sergei Kharitonov was going to take his first MMA fight since he left Stirkeforce on May 26th against Tony Lopez? Well, he was. According to Golden Glory trainer Martijn de Jong, he was forced out of the bout with an injury. Too bad, Sergei was always one of my favorites. That United Glory (kickboxing) card is still sick though. Check it out (via BuddhaSport). One last thing. Dustin Poirier might have come up short against Chan Sung Jung last night at UFC on Fuel 3, but no one can deny his heart. His emotional post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani is worth a watch, just to show you how dedicated Dustin Poirier really is. Seems like an awesome dude.

Posted in: ufc, champion, melvin guillard, im, there

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L. Look at that thing. What's that 'L' doing over there? It's isolated, alone in its little alphabetic prison. K and M can't save it now. They used to be friends with L, but now that L is doing solo projects, they've moved their separate ways. L is by itself, much like my belief that Melvin Guillard can really be the UFC lightweight champion. It's not that far fetched of a notion either. Sure Melvin lost his last two fights in the UFC, but prior to Joe Lauzon rocking Melvin and then catching him with a slick rear-naked choke, Melvin was virtually next in line to get a title shot against Frankie Edgar. In Melvin Guillard's 29-10-2 career, nine of his losses have come through submission. The only thing the dude needs to do is throw a gi on, get a ticket to Singapore, and train with those guys at Evolve MMA for a few months. Alright, I can see that you're not sold on my opinions regarding Melvin Guillard. Fine, let the Young Assassin tell you himself in this BuddaSport interview. You know you just have to keep working hard and keep training and keep on getting better. The more time I put in it just puts me closer to my goal and that’s being the champion. I believe I can be champion at 155. There’s no point for me to run to another weight class, I’m gonna be champion at 155. Melvin Guillard could also be Simon Phoenix if Hollywood decided to remake Demolition Man -- but that's just pointing out the obvious.

Posted in: champion, melvin guillard, guillard, melvin, thing whats

Read the full article at Middle Easy

"I still think I’m sitting pretty good. I’m ranked number 10 right now. I was ranked number five. When you look at our division it’s so stacked so you don’t see too many five and six fight win streaks against the top guys. So I think any the top guys deserve a shot at the belt at some point. There’s no dominate guy in our weight class anymore at all, there’s too much talent. I’m content with what’s going on. You know you just have to keep working hard and keep training and keep on getting better. The more time I put in it just puts me closer to my goal and that’s being the champion. I believe I can be champion at 155. There’s no point for me to run to another weight class, I’m gonna be champion at 155." Despite back-to-back submission losses (rear naked choke) to Joe Lauzon at UFC 136 and Jim Miller at UFC on FX, longtime lightweight mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Melvin Guillard (via Buddha Sport) still believes he's going to wear the 155-pound belt somewhere down the road and as a result, won't consider a change in weight class. "The Young Assassin," who was also strangled by division number one contender Nate Diaz back in 2009, has a staggering nine of his 10 losses come by way of tap, nap or snap. Can Guillard get back "in the mix" against Fabricio Camoes at UFC 148 this July? Or will his ground game betray him once again?

Posted in: ufc, champion, weight class, champion i, irsquom

Read the full article at MMA Mania

"I don't know exactly what happened with Alistair Overeem, but I don't care about that. It's between him and the athletic commission. I think he has to try to get that license to fight again. But, I always am going to be in favor to fight the clean fighters. I don't use anything to make me stronger or faster and I don't agree with people who use that you know. So, if he did, then it's a bad thing for him and I think that the athletic commission did very well to put him nine months waiting for the next fight. As a champion, though, I will fight whoever the UFC tells me to fight. I don't choose my opponents and I will fight anyone in the world. Everybody wants to know who the real champion, I am the real champion because I have never taken anything. When you see me, that is me for real, that is myself fighting and they see Junior dos Santos being the real champion in the fight. When they use drugs to get a better performance, that is not them fighting, it's very frustrating because it is not real and people want to know the champion for real, and I can tell you, I'm the champion for real." -- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos gives his thoughts on today's (May 14, 2012) edition of "The MMA Hour" on performance enhancing drugs (PED's) in mixed martial arts (MMA), which seems to be the hot topic over the past few months. "Cigano" was scheduled to fight Alistair Overeem at the upcoming UFC 146 event in Las Vegas, Nevada, but "The Reem's" now infamous high testosterone levels forced UFC officials to find a replacement for dos Santos just days before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) denied Overeem a license to fight and suspended him for nine months -- even though Overeem has yet to test positive for a banned substance. Nevertheless, dos Santos assures fight fans that he has never, and will never, put anything illegal in his body to boost his performance. What's more, when people see him fighting it is all real, unlike the those who prefer to abuse PED's. "Cigano" will now face Frank Mir at the upcoming Memorial Day weekend card on May 26, 2012, in "Sin City" in what will be his first title defense since winning the title from Cain Velasquez last November.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, do, dont

Read the full article at MMA Mania

"My goal was to become the UFC champ and that might be put on hold for a little bit so now my goal is to do my best, become a better mixed martial artist, and put on a show for the fans, and represent my team well. That's what motivates me and so does the paycheck, so let's do it... Of course I want to finish Josh. I want bad intentions towards him; I want to destroy this guy. I want to make a statement but if a great fighter shows up and it's a war, then it's a war. I don't plan on sitting back and cruising through a victory, sitting on a lead or something like that. I want to take some risks and I plan on it." -- Gilbert Melendez has had to put his dreams of being the number one lightweight in the world and the UFC champion on the backburner ever since the Ultimate Fighting Championship stopped signing over its talent. Speaking to MMA Weekly, the Strikeforce lightweight champion discusses taking out his frustrations on a man he's had some major history with in former Strikeforce 155 pound champion Josh Thomson. Melendez and Thomson split their first two meetings in a pair of five round wars which were two of the best fights of their respective years. Will history repeat itself or can "El Nino's" dream of a big finish against "The Punk" come true this Saturday night (May 19. 2012) at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?"

Posted in: strikeforce, champion, gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson

Read the full article at MMA Mania

All you need to do to become an MMA fighter is watch this video. But if you want to become an MMA champion, that’s going to be rough. It means you’re going to have to do a few more things that aren’t discussed in that video. You’ll probably have to take few years worth of Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes, and condition your shins with several more years of Muay Thai. If you want to become the M-1 Global heavyweight champion, you have to do all that, and compete while the promoter/director of operations verbally degrades you during your fights, then publicly disrespects you on twitter. Vinny Magalhaes was stripped of his M-1 heavyweight champion status yesterday due to explicitly stating he has no interest in re-signing with the organization. His immediate response after receiving the news was followed by listing his M-1 Global heavyweight belt on eBay for $0.09 with free shipping. For those of you who wanna skip the years of training, you could now become an MMA champion without breaking a sweat. Congratulations to whoever wins the title, now check out the eBay listing if you want to own a piece of history.

Posted in: heavyweight, champion, vinny magalhaes, muay thai, mma champion

Read the full article at Middle Easy

In a bit of unsurprising news, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has been listed as a big favorite to defeat Erik Koch early on by MMA oddsmakers. In lieu of the fight’s official announcement this week, the crew over at MMAOddsbreakers have released an early line for the fight, with Aldo coming in as the -385 favorite to win. Koch, on the other hand, is listed at a confidence-inspiring +285. Undefeated in his last fourteen bouts, Aldo’s biggest challenge so far as featherweight champion has been the weight cut. During his tenure as champion (both of the WEC and UFC), Aldo has beaten featherweight standouts like Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, Manny Gamburyan, Mark Hominick, Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes and he looked mostly infallible in all of those victories. Spectacular on the feet and with no glaring weaknesses anywhere else, Aldo is a terror at 145. Koch, who earned the unenviable task of challenging Aldo for his title by virtue of a four-fight winning streak, is a Roufusport product whose biggest wins are a knockout of Raphael Assuncao and a unanimous decision over Jonathan Brookins. At a press conference held earlier this week, the UFC officially announced Aldo vs. Koch as the headliner for the upcoming UFC 149 fight card, which will take place on July 21 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Canada. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, fight, koch, champion, aldo

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Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren debuts his new walkout song, "It's Hard to Be Humble When You're Perfect At Everything". HT: Cagefanatic

Posted in: song, ben, champion, askren, walkout song

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: champion, mattyblayze, mo, king, bellator tna

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When Muhammed Lawal returns to competition, he will be a two-sport athlete.

Posted in: champion, athlete, king, lawal, bellator tna

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: champion, official, magalhae, mattyblayze, gigolo

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Another day, another fight announcement from ONE Fighting Championship although, in fairness, it's a good one. Malaysia's number one mixed martial artist Adam Kayoom faces the fight of his life against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) legend Gregor Gracie in his hometown of Kuala Lumpur. With 10,200 seats to fill in Stadium Negara, ONE FC needed to find a fighter the Malaysian crowd could really get behind and Kayoom could well be that man. He might not be famous internationally but his martial arts credentials are absolutely impeccable and he holds a black belt in both BJJ and Taekwondo and has won world titles in Muay Thai. Coincidentally both fighters are coming off wins against the same opponent, Gracie fought his way to a lopsided decision win over Seok Mo Kim at ONE Fighting Championship: 'Champion vs Champion' last September while Kayoom took less than four minutes to drop the Korean and then submit him at DARE Championship 2/11 a few weeks later. Gracie has a record of 6-1 and is rated by many as the most likely of the current crop of fighters to emerge from MMA's first family to make it to the top. Kayoom has only fought three times and is 2-1 but his only loss was by decision to an opponent who had 13 times as many fights as him. It is Kayoom's achievements outside of MMA which are really remarkable, He is one of very few foreigners to have ever been ranked top ten at Rajadamnern Stadium, he has won world titles in both Muay Thai and Muay Khmer, is a three time Australian national BJJ champion, a South Brazilian BJJ champion and an Australian national Taekwondo champion. While Kayoom will definitely be the underdog against a bigger and more experienced opponent there is no doubt that he has a more diverse skill set. Where Gracie should have the edge is on the ground because he is a two time BJJ world champion and one of the best grapplers in the entire MMA world. Kayoom's stand up makes him a formidable opponent although Gracie will have the advantage in terms of both size and experience.One FC cannot be accused of giving the hometown fighter an easy ride and for me this is the most intriguing fight on the card so far. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: champion, kayoom, gracie, bjj, muay thai

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Ask and you shall receive. Just one day after the very disappointing revelation that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz had injured his ACL and would be forced off the UFC 148 card and his title fight versus Urijah Faber, a new wrinkle to the story has been made public. After finding out about Cruz's injury, Faber took to the airwaves to first offer his condolences, but second, to make his case for staying on the UFC 148 fight line up on July 7, 2012. Not only that, but "The California Kid" also lobbied for his fight to be for an interim title, in light of the fact that Cruz may very well be out for up to nine months. It looks like Faber is going to get his wish. UFC President Dana White appeared on FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight" to officially announce that Faber will definitely remain on the UFC 148 card, and that his fight will, indeed, be for the interim title. Here's what White had to say: "So, what's gonna happen is, Urijah Faber, he's gonna fight still. He's gonna fight on the same card. Now, I'm looking for the right opponent, the guy who deserves this shot at Urijah Faber." White was then asked, point blank, if the fight would be for an interim belt. His response was quick and to the point: "Good question. The answer is yes." Dana went on to elaborate on the nature of Cruz's injury, as well as why he felt it necessary to go ahead and have an interim champion named in the meantime: "Dominick Cruz was training, not with his team, but for the fight with Faber and blew his ACL. Typically, the ACL, when you blow the ACL, it's nine months. I mean, 'GSP' is an absolute professional. The guy's in incredible shape, does all the things he's supposed to do. The guy's out for nine months." With Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre currently rehabbing from a similar injury, the cast of champions looks more like the "walking wounded." White voiced his frustration: "It doesn't matter what injury they have. It's never good to have your champion hurt and out for a while. It clogs up the division, and it's absolutely frustrating." Finally, the question of whether or not Cruz would stay on as The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live" coach was addressed. According to White, the injury will not jeopardize his standing as team leader. "Cruz will stay on. Cruz has done a phenomenal job coaching his team. The thing had a chance to become even the other night, if Rio would have won, but Ogle beat him. It's still neck-and-neck, so, yes, he will stay a coach." For now, it would seem as though there's a three way-unspoken competition between Renan Barao, Michael McDonald and Ivan Menjivar for the rightful combatant to take on Faber for the interim belt at UFC 148. MMAmania.com will continue to bring you all the updated information on all this and more as it becomes available.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, cruz, faber

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Go behind the scenes of UFC 145 with light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in this exclusive look from "UFC Ultimate Insider" on Fuel TV.

Posted in: ufc, jon, jone, heavyweight, champion

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre isn't afraid of much, but training partner Kenny Florian fills us in on one thing the champ is scared of - aliens. Seriously.

Posted in: ufc, pierre, welterweight, champion, kenny

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz suffered a knee injury that has forced him to pull out of his UFC 148 bout with Urijah Faber.

Posted in: ufc, champion, injury, cruz, knee injury

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Frank Mir is a former UFC heavyweight champion. So, Mir knows as good as anyone out there what it takes to wear UFC gold and defend it. On May 26, Mir will attempt to take back the title he once wore when he meets current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in the main event [...]

Posted in: ufc, mir, champion, do, ufc gold

Read the full article at MMA Convert

We're in a nice position as MMA fans right now where we actually know exactly who each UFC champion is set to face next and, in some cases, who the next challenger in line is. This isn't always the case with injuries and muddled title pictures. For now, it appears that we have a pretty good idea of how 2012 is going to play out. From a heavyweight division that was turned on it's head with Alistair Overeem's drug test failure to a welterweight division with two champions, both sitting out waiting to unify and a new challenger sitting out to wait out the guys who are already sitting out, let's take a look at exactly where each division sits. Heavyweight Champion: Junior Dos Santos - Next Fight: May 26 - UFC 146 vs. Frank MirTitle Picture: Mir would have been facing Cain Velasquez in the co-main event of 146 had Alistair Overeem not popped positive for elevated testosterone and had his license denied. That winner would likely have gotten the next title shot. It's not fully clear if Velasquez winning would get him a title shot now, but his new opponent, Antonio Silva, wouldn't seem to be "in the mix" as far as the championship goes. The winner of the Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier Strikeforce bout would have to be considered a challenger, but we've heard repeatedly that Showtime wants the winner to have one final fight in Strikeforce before moving over to the UFC. I guess Mark Hunt is out there if he keeps winning. Light Heavyweight Champion: Jon Jones - Next Fight: September 1 - UFC 151 (Not confirmed) vs. Dan HendersonTitle Picture: Jones has been steadily clearing out light heavyweight, dominating legendary fighters and raising his own profile. Aside from Henderson, the only fighters currently ranked in the top ten of our rankings that Jones hasn't fought are Phil Davis (who was recently dominated by Rashad Evans), Forrest Griffin (let's hope we never see that) and Alexander Gustafsson (maybe a bit too soon). After Henderson and Gustafsson, the challenger landscape becomes awful bare. Middleweight Champion: Anderson Silva - Next Fight: July 7 - UFC 148 vs. Chael SonnenTitle Picture: We're past the period where it felt like Silva had beat every top quality 185'er available and a new divisional alignment has come about. Sonnen is the deserving number one contender, but there are guys who have performed well as of late who could conceivably fit into a title shot. Mark Munoz is the top ranked guy who hasn't had his crack at Silva yet, but Michael Bisping is probably the biggest "money guy" in the picture. The idea of Bisping was a bit crazy before, but he gave Sonnen fits, and had that been a five round fight I think Bisping would have taken it. Hector Lombard joining the UFC and fighting Brian Stann will have another guy added to the challenger list and Luke Rockhold is in Strikeforce, existing as another possible option somewhere down the road. Welterweight Champion: Georges St. Pierre Interim Champion: Carlos Condit - Next Fight: TBDTitle Picture: This is complicated. GSP has been out for some time with his knee injury, not fighting in over a year. Technically, that's long enough that he shouldn't even be ranked anymore. Condit won the interim title, which doesn't really make sense if the point was for him to win the title and then sit around and wait for a GSP fight to 'unify' the titles. Johny Hendricks just won what was supposed to be a title shot by beating Josh Koshcheck this past weekend and how he's sitting out waiting for Condit to fight GSP so he can fight the winner. So he's basically the interim number one contender as the division stalls out. Nick Diaz might also be in the title picture, but between his retirement claims and the situation in Nevada, who knows. Also, Alan Belcher was ranked #17 coming in to the Fox show, beat Rousimar Palhares who was #16 and now everyone thinks Belcher is a title contender. Lightweight Champion: Benson Henderson - Next Fight: TBD vs. Frankie EdgarTitle Picture: Edgar was expected to fight Henderson at UFC 150, but now that looks like it's getting bumped back a little bit. Gilbert Melendez is the most deserving lightweight in the world, but he's stuck in Strikeforce wasting his prime years fighting middling opposition. Nate Diaz's thrashing of Jim Miller makes Diaz the number one contender and it was said that he will not fight take another fight while waiting for his shot, so it's pretty clear how this all works for the rest of 2012. Anthony Pettis is going to be trying to get a shot in early 2013 also. Featherweight Champion: Jose Aldo - Next Fight: July 21 - UFC 149 vs. Eric KochTitle Picture: Koch was supposed to fight Dustin Poirier a while back, but pulled out of that fight. Poirier won his replacement fight and was put into a fight with Chan Sung Jung while Koch gets moved to the title shot. It's all a bit strange. Still, Poirier vs. Jung will produce a clear title challenger since Hatsu Hioki is messing around saying he isn't ready for a title shot yet. Given the nature of the fight game, delaying title shots you could take because you want to risk that status with more fights is odd, but hey...it's his career. Bantamweight Champion: Dominick Cruz - Next Fight: July 7 - UFC 148 vs. Urijah FaberTitle Picture: Faber vs. Cruz III is happening just as much because the division needed to have some more contenders emerge as it is because the second fight was great (it was, by the way).

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, champion, picture

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

On last Monday's WWE RAW, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar "attacked" Triple H, expected to be a storyline starter for a match between the two in August. Watch the 10-minute clip above.

Posted in: champion, monday, brock, mondays wwe, storyline starter

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Michael Chandler does not come off as arrogant man.

Posted in: right, champion, chandler, michael, michael chandler

Read the full article at Sherdog

UFC fighter pay is a constant issue. Why shouldn't it be? Professional athlete salaries are typically treated as public knowledge and are in any case interesting. Zuffa's choice to keep matters private (except official fight purses declared by commissions) only increases fan interest. If things are a secret, you want to find out what the secret is. That impulse will never wane. That's especially true in light of FUEL TV's recent trip to UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck's home in Fresno, California. For a guy who has to fight to earn money, he seems to be earning quite a bit. 'Seems' being the operative word. Koscheck is a college graduate and obviously a very intelligent guy, so we have reason to believe his own personal financial management is in order. Still, wait until you see this place and all the toys he has. I'll admit I never pegged him to live that large. If he's been getting bonus checks, those are mighty hefty. Be sure to check out the FUEL TV piece linked in our top 5 stories section. Also of note: former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia is still out there asking for a return to the UFC. How long do you think he has to ask before he either gets an opportunity or realizes that's never coming? I say at least another six months. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Nate Diaz Flies Family Flag. With Nick Diaz on ice for now, Nate Diaz is the one representing the family name. UFC on FOX 3 Open Workouts Coverage. There's Diaz and Miller scrums, photos, Hendricks' beard, Belcher's easy-going style and a lot more. Lack of Star Power at UFC on Fox 3 Will Test UFC Brand. Without any major stars on the card, this weekend's fights could prove just how much the UFC brand by itself can draw ratings on television. Tim Kennedy Talks Dwindling Strikeforce Roster. The Special Forces soldier speaks to Bloody Elbow about the challenges of fighting in Strikeforce now that the competition roster is shrinking. UFC on FUEL TV Visits Koscheck's Crib. I can't tell if Koshceck makes an absurd amount of money, spends an absurd amount of money, is going to be rich for life or broke in five years. Either way, he's got a lot of nice stuff. MEDIA STEW Daniel Cormier talks about how wrestling helped him overcome the loss of his daughter: And here's Josh Barnett discussing fighting at an early age: Jon Jones' life days out from his fight with Rashad Evans gets documented in 'On The Brink': Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia says he feels amazing and desperately wants back in the UFC (HT: Middle Easy): INVICTA CLAIMS TO SCORE BIG Our final viewing numbers for Invicta FC One were 233,580 we are appreciate your support and interest in WMMA andInvictaFC next event — InvictaFights(@InvictaFights) May 2, 2012 R.I.P. JUNIOR SEAU Depression and suicide deserve a hell of a lot more than 140 characters. — Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) May 2, 2012 Junior Seau #55 #respect — Frank Mir UFC (@thefrankmir) May 2, 2012 Here's Miguel Cotto. Yes, the Miguel Cotto. The one who is reportedly going to make $8 million for his upcoming bout with Mayweather. FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day comes courtesy LYHL and it's a look at how the featherweight division stacks up. Here's how he sees UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo's two top challenges right now: "In The Fray" Contenders 1. Erik Koch, 14-1, (Last Fight - W against Jonathan Brookins, Dec) The next man chosen to have a crack at knocking Aldo off the top perch. Koch is an exciting prospect that trains alongside former and current champions such as Anthony Pettis and Ben Askren. The sole loss on his record comes against Chad Mendes, but that's not too disparaging considering that Mendes has managed to outwrestle everyone he has fought, barring Aldo. However, his last fight against Brookins didn't really show his capabilities as the TUF Champion gave him a harder fight than many expected. Based on that performance, many believe that the odds are heavily stacked against him when he fights for the Featherweight title at UFC 149, but one should look beyond his last fight to see that he brings new challenges for the current champion with his height, range and creative striking. Against Aldo, perhaps it's a case of "too much, too soon". But regardless of whether he wins or loses, Koch looks to be a name amongst the Featherweights for some time too come. 2. Hatsu Hioki, 26-4-2 (Last Fight - W against Bart Palaszewski, Dec) The UFC's Japanese import was regarded at the time as being one of the few 'credible' challenges to Aldo's reign. Unfortunately, a lackluster debut against George Roop quelled the fire, only for a spark to reignite in his decision win against the game Bart Palaszewski. Although it was rumored that he had a chance to fight Aldo, he turned the opportunity down in favour of having one more fight against Ricardo Lamas. This puts him in a risky position: although Lamas has looked like a reborn fighter in the ranks of the UFC's featherweight division, he still lacks name value. Hioki risks losing more if he lost than he would gain if he won. However, if he did win (and he should), expect him to be offered either an immediate title shot against the Aldo/Koch winner, or to face the loser of Zombie/Poirier in another title eliminator. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @SBNLukeThomas and we'll include it in Monday's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, featherweight, aldo

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UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar, UFC on Fox host Curt Menefee and Strikeforce 135-pound women's champion Ronda Rousey rang the opening bell at NASDAQ’s MarketSite in Times Square Tuesday.

Posted in: ufc, champion, opening bell, fox host, nasdaqrsquos marketsite

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Former Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard officially signs his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contract to compete inside the Octagon for the first time in his career, as tweeted by UFC President Dana White. Still no word on who his first opponent will be nor when he will debut. Any Maniacs want to give us the who, when and where for Lombard's first UFC fight?

Posted in: ufc, lombard, hector, champion, sign

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It’s official. Former Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard is now a member of the UFC’s middleweight roster. Dana White tweeted the news along with a pic of Hector’s John Hancock earlier this evening. Speaking to MMA Weekly, Lombard declared he signed with the UFC to prove he’s the best in the world and plans to [...]

Posted in: ufc, lombard, hector, champion, middleweight

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Former UFC champion Randy Couture is one of the featured actors on a series of posters for "The Expendables 2", the sequel to the hit action movie. The film hits theaters this summer.

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submitted by watchmego65 [link] [comment]

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Strikeforce Women's 135-pound Champion Ronda Rousey speaks at the California State Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee Hearing on MMA Bill AB2100. According to the release in advance of yesterday's (April 25, 2012) hearing, the bill aims to "protect professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters in California from certain exploitative business practices" and to extend to professional MMA fighters "certain legal protections already afforded to professional boxers under the federal Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000." Also taking a stand against the bill were former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell and ZUFFA big wigs Lawrence Epstein and Marc Ratner. The bill was approved by a vote of 5-2 and now goes to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. You can read the entire proposal (complete with all its legal mumbo-jumbo) at the state's legislative website by clicking here. Meanwhile, what did you think of the "Rowdy" testimony?

Posted in: mma, champion, mma fighters, bill, marc ratner

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos takes you on a wakeboarding trip in Brazil in this edition of Up Close and Personal.

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, brazil, wakeboarding trip

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Bellator's philosophy after the defection of middleweight champion Hector Lombard to the UFC? The show must go on. And the show will go on in the middleweight division as they will crown a new champion later this year. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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Go inside the rehab of UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre as he battles back from surgery for a torn ACL in his hope to return to the Octagon this year.

Posted in: ufc, welterweight, champion, octagon, stpierre

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Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard is on his way to the UFC, according to his Twitter account.

Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, champion, account

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

After what felt like an eternity, the drought officially ended, and everyone's favorite arena for human cockfighting has returned. The MMA world is unique in its ability to keep turning even when absolutely nothing is happening. Ultimate Ball, Alistair Overeem, and Quinton Jackson insured that we were still able to laugh at, cry over, and lament what MMA has to offer (respectively). For those bored by the activities replacing the absence of action on the octagon, thank your lucky stars for the new season of Game of Thrones, and The Raid which is still playing at select theatres near you. And thank your lucky stars for Jon 'Bones' Jones. At this point it's clear to everyone that Jon Jones is better than his contemporaries. And by a wide margin. Count me in the minority who felt like there was absolutely nothing "disappointing" or "anticlimactic" about Jones' performance or the fight. It was a brilliant display, made all the more impressive by the fact that Rashad Evans has come into his own as an elite fighter. He utilized his jab, threw standing elbows like overhand rights, and his arsenal of kicks seems to expand by the minute. And yet for a fighter primed to be a star, observers speak of him like he's in limbo. We've heard this story before. Following Georges St. Pierre's dominating win over B.J. Penn at UFC 94, fans began to clamor for a move to MW for a superfight with Anderson Silva. At this point, it's a meme for all champions to consider moving up in weight once they've defended their belt as the list of challengers wane. And so now Jones will hear plenty of whispers in his ear about moving up to HW. Related Links: Is Jon Jones The Greatest Lightweight Ever? | Elbows In The UFC: Why Jon Jones Succeeded Where Shinya Aoki Failed | UFC 145: Jones Vs. Evans Results And Post Fight Analysis I'm not here to question Jones' legacy. But I would like to question how observers choose to define his legacy so early in his career. Mike Chiappetta is talking about Jones as a potential G.O.A.T contender at MMA Fighting. I don't take issue with the claim on its surface. Jones is absolutely on the path towards being a potential "GOAT". But let's not predetermine his status. He's defended his belt three times, and has been champion for a full year. In contrast to some of the candidates for the greatest of all time status, Chuck Liddell reigned LHW for three years. Fedor's historic run lasted from 2003 until 2010. Anderson Silva began his career as a top WW only to win championship gold at MW in 2006, and hasn't lost since. Has Jones achieved an approximation of any of this? If anyone's credentials transcend length of time as a factor in applying the term "greatness", it's certainly Jones. After all, he already has almost as many fights as Liddell had during his run. And compared to Fedor, his competition has been stellar across the board defeating four former champions at a time when being a former champion meant something. But is that enough? Of course not. No reasonable person actually thinks Jones is already there. But reasonable people are itching to see him leave LHW for the greener, more well fed pastures of heavyweight mixed martial arts. In part because they feel like the writing is already on the wall. But also because people want to see Jones challenged. I don't know where this comes from: that in order to be "challenged" you have to bite off more than you can chew. MMA fans can be a bitter bunch, and my own personal theory is that its tied to its unique history of seeing our favorite fighters stumble: every hero has been slain at some point. 'Fate better fight fair' is their mantra: if quiet and beloved heroes like Fedor and Wanderlei could fall, fate better make damn sure it will happen to the UFC's polarizing golden boy. Right? Whatever the case, let Jones' legacy be defined by duration, and achievement. Observers may not have the patience for the former, but it's the only way to allow him to fulfill the lofty ambitions we all expect from him. This to me, is one of the important factors in determining true greatness. "Of all time" is not just a string of words attached to the acronym, the "GOAT". It's a reference to being able to sustain dominance. The challenges a fighter faces aren't always the most obvious. This is especially true of the champions. We've seen plenty of champions lose as much to a well timed right hand as to complacency (Chuck Liddell and Takanori Gomi spring to mind). "Know your limits master Wayne", a wise butler of a fictional crime fighter once said. The sky's the limit for Jones, but it doesn't mean it can't fall on him if he's not careful. Poll Should Jon Jones move to HW? Yes. No.   3 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, jon, jone, jon jones, champion

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As always, here are the top news coming out of the Asian MMA scene: According to sources close to the promotion, former Strikeforce champion, Renato Sobral who was supposed to fight at ONE Fighting Championship's third show in Singapore, has been re-booked for the promotion's fourth show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. No word yet on Babalu's opponent, but stay tuned for more updates. ONE FC 4 will be on June 23, 2012. While fights haven't been officially announced yet for Legend FC 9 in Macau, a possible title eliminator for Jadamba Narantungalag's strap has already been booked for the June 16 event. Sources close to the fighters have informed BloodyElbow.com that former Legend champ, Adrian Pang (19-8) is set to take on Koji Ando (6-3) in a lightweight scrap, in what could determine their next lightweight title contender.The Japanese fighter in Ando is coming off an impressive submission win over Damien Brown on Legend 7, while Pang on the other hand, lost his title in a split decision against Jadamba last October. The biggest Asian MMA event this weekend would be URCC 21: Warpath, which is headlined by a Super-Fight between Middleweight Champion Froilan Sarenas, and Light Heavyweight Champion, Nicholas Mann. Andrew Benibe sustained a cut and had to be pulled out on the last minute, but after an interesting turn of events, the URCC still managed to get a top notch replacement. Rising featherweight star, Mark Striegl (9-0) got in on the card, and will be stepping in on very short notice against Alcer Lozada.Also on the card, Striegl's teammate, Will Chope, will take on former URCC lightweight champion, Angelito Manguray, and local fan favorite Alvin Ramirez will be taking on Roy Doliguez. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena

Posted in: legend, urcc, champion, fc, asian mma

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A champion seems to always have respect for a fellow champion. UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos expressed such remarks for UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones following Jones’ most recent victory over Rashad Evans at UFC 145. “Well guys about the UFC 145 main event I just think Jon Jones has once again proven [...]

Posted in: ufc, jone, jon jones, champion, rashad evans

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos reacts to news that Frank Mir will replace Alistair Overeem.

Posted in: ufc, mir, heavyweight, champion, do

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Two of the best Light Heavyweights in the world will finally meet tonight (April 21, 2012) when Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 205-pound king Jon Jones looks to defend his title against former division champion Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC 145 in Atlanta, Georgia. Jones is the new poster boy of the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, being featured in extensive marketing campaigns after he defeated a trio of UFC champions in 2011. A victory over Evans would cement his status as the without-a-doubt best light heavyweight on Earth and potentially even the best fighter pound-for-pound in the sport. Evans has been aching for this fight ever since Jones stated he'd be willing to fight him. He's been delayed time and time again by unfortunate injuries, but after handing Phil Davis his first career loss this past January, he's finally healthy and ready to try and reclaim the title from his heated rival. Can Jones put a stamp on his complete and utter domination of the UFC light heavyweight division? Will Evans' personal insults and trash talk get into Jones' head? What's the key to victory for both men tomorrow night? Let's find out: Jon Jones Record: 15-1 overall, 9-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Lyoto Machida (UFC 140), Quinton Jackson (UFC 135), Mauricio Rua (UFC 128) Key Losses: None How he got here: Jon Jones' path from can't-miss prospect to world champion has been very fast. Just five months into his professional MMA career, he was already 6-0 and making his UFC debut in place of an injured Tomasz Drwal at UFC 87. He defeated his opponent, Andre Gusmao via decision but his star turn didn't truly take place until his next fight against Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 in which he showcased a diverse array of attacks and all kinds of slams and throws. "Bones'" star continued to brighten as he began finishing his opponents in increasingly impressive fashion, smashing tough light heavyweights Brandon Vera and Vladimir Matyushenko in the first round. After handing Ryan Bader the first loss of his career in another two round destruction, Jones was offered a title shot in place of his injured teammate Rashad Evans. The young gun took it to the champ, smashing "Shogun" over the course of three rounds and stopping him to become the youngest titleholder in UFC history. If there were any doubts at all about his ability to be a long-reigning champion, Jones answered them in September and then December with a four round thrashing of former champion "Rampage" Jackson and then a second round technical submission of Lyoto Machida. Jones will be looking to close the book on his feud with Rashad Evans tomorrow night. How he gets it done: Jones has a plethora of weapons and he's capable of finishing a fight by multiple means. The best plan of attack, at least at first, will be to keep his distance to a point where he can still snap his jab against Evans, who's ridiculously smaller than him and has a much shorter reach. The further he can keep Evans away from him, the easier it will be to avoid Evans' takedowns and lunging efforts to land inside hooks. Jones is capable of utilizing all kinds of tricky attacks like spinning elbows and more, but I doubt he throws too many because they could leave him open to potential counter takedowns from Evans. If "Bones" really wants to hurt Evans, the best plan of attack is to wear him down, frustrate him with his reach. If he wants to close the distance at all, he should initiate a clinch where his elbows are especially dangerous and he can utilize his strong Greco Roman background. If Jones can score a takedown, Evans is going to be in trouble as he has some of the most lethal elbows in the business and his ground game has been improving by leaps and bounds. There aren't many men who can choke Lyoto Machida unconscious. If he can wrap up Evans with his long reach, he could put "Suga" in serious trouble. Rashad Evans Record: 17-1-1 overall, 12-1-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Quinton Jackson (UFC 114), Phil Davis (UFC on FOX 2), Forrest Griffin (UFC 92) Key Losses: Lyoto Machida (UFC 98) How he got here: After a respectable career wrestling at Michigan State, Rashad Evans, under the wing of former UFC tournament champion Dan Severn, won his first five professional fights. This earned him an opportunity to compete on season two of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Despite fighting at a weight class heavier than normal, Evans tore through the heavyweights on the show, eventually working his way to the finale where he earned a split decision victory over the significantly larger Brad Imes to become The Ultimate Fighter season two champion. After some less than dominant split and majority decision victories over Sam Hoger and Stephan Bonnar, Evans finally found his groove, earning a technical knockout (TKO) over Jason Lambert with ground and pound and then scoring one of the UFC's all time nastiest finishes with the head kick knockout of Sean Salmon. Evans would go on to have his now infamous draw with Tito Ortiz and would follow it up by defeating Michael Bisping via decision, sending him to the middleweight division. The victory would earn "Suga" a number one contender match against former champion Chuck Liddell and one massive overhand right would change his life forever, flooring Liddell, earning "Knockout of the Year," and earning him his first title shot against champion Forrest Griffin. After a shaky first couple rounds against Griffin at UFC 92, Evans took advantage of a slip, pounced and pummeled his way to victory to take the title and standing atop the division. His title reign would be short, though, halted by Lyoto Machida in his first defense just five months later. Since losing the championship, Evans has rebounded nicely by defeating Thiago Silva and "Rampage" Jackson via decision, but an ill-advised choice to sit on the sidelines and wait for Mauricio Rua's knee to recover cost him badly. After nine months on the sidelines, "Suga" injured his knee while training and had to watch teammate Jon Jones crush "Shogun" and win the belt he'd had his eyes on for over a year. Evans smashed Tito Ortiz and Phil Davis in the interim and now he's finally getting his shot at Jones. How he gets it done: Evans' secret weapon ever since losing his title was going back to his roots in the wrestling department. He was able to utilize it very effectively against Thiago Silva, Quinton Jackson and most recently against former national champion Phil Davis. That's not to say Evans doesn't have power. His ferocious knockouts of Liddell, Salmon and his title victory over Griffin should be a testament to that. He was also the only person in the UFC thus far that has really hurt "Rampage" Jackson in the stand-up, landing a huge right hand in the opening minute of their grudge match. Expect "Suga" to dance around Jones early, utilizing his speed and movement and looking to land the power. The key for Evans is to get Jones to second guess. He needs to throw his hands when Jones is expecting a takedown and then shoot when Jones is expecting punches. If Rashad can take Jones down, he needs to not only keep him down, but also to try and score some damage with strikes. He's not going to go for submissions, he just needs to keep Jones on his back and keep punching him. He could potentially score a TKO or win three rounds if he can be effective. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is how much both men have improved since they last trained together. It was a little over a year ago when Evans moved to Florida to train with the Blackzilians and Jones remained at Jackson's. Since then, Jones has looked better and better each time out, adding more to his game in each fight and he's finished three straight former champions. Evans has also looked better, his shots look stronger and his conditioning has improved, but will that be enough compared to all the different weapons that Jones has added to his game? Both men were pretty even when Evans left in March, but whoever has displayed the most growth is going to be victorious. It looks like Jones, but we won't find out until they step into the cage together. Bottom Line: This fight is going to be terrific. There's heat buried deep as both have been feuding and there's potential someone could lose their composure. This fight could be all kinds of amazing as Jones is a "must-see" talent whenever he steps into the cage. Evans will either be trying to stop him with strikes or stifle him with takedowns so if Evans is effective, he could definitely slow the bout down. Regardless, I'm expecting some serious highlights in this fight at some point. Who will come out on top at UFC 145? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will walk out of the Octagon with the UFC light heavyweight title tomorrow night? Jon Jones Rashad Evans   0 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, champion, evan

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He won the belt in brutal fashion and defended it for the first time in an equally dominant regard. Two former number one light heavyweights stood in front of him and they each were stopped, one by punches and the other by submission. Jon Jones went through a trial by fire when he stepped inside the Octagon against Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson, one after the other, and emerged with nary a nick or bruise. In doing so, he became the youngest champion in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history and one of only a handful of men to successfully defend the 205-pound title, the pinnacle achievement in a division that had become a game of musical chairs since Chuck Liddell lost the belt in 2007. "Bones" looked to retain his title against Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, yet another match up against a former champion and universally recognized number one Light Heavyweight. In Jackson, Jones simply needed to avoid the PRIDE Fighting Championship veteran's heavy hands. "The Dragon" was a different beast altogether. Mixing karate, judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu with a little sumo thrown in for good measure, Machida is just about the picture perfect example of what mixed martial arts (MMA) can be. We'll take a look at this fight on the eve of UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans," an event in which former teammates (Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans) collide and a grudge looks to be brought to an end. Let's go: Jones momentarily repeats his behavior from his previous fight with Jackson, almost crawling towards his opponent. He straightens out seconds later and begins stalking his opponent, perhaps playing right into Machida's gameplan. The two fighters begin trading leg kicks with Jones adding a couple to the front of "The Dragon's" knee as he had against "Shogun" and "Rampage." Unsportsmanlike? Possibly. Legal? Absolutely. A solid kick to the body for the challenger lands with a smack and he immediately tries to follow it up with a punching combination but can't get close enough to the lanky champion. A huge overhand right from Jones misses and "The Dragon" opens up with a flurry. The champion then begins to walk Machida down and throws a leg kick which the challenger counters perfectly. A left straight from the challenger finds its way to Jones' jaw and "Bones" staggers back as the crowd erupts. Machida pounces but the champion recovers quickly and soon squares up against his opponent. Machida lands another solid body kick and as the opening round ends, many are wondering if the young prodigy has finally met his match. The second stanza opens and "Bones" immediately takes the center of the Octagon as he did five minutes prior. The two light heavyweights trade leg kicks while Jones also unsuccessfully throws a spinning kick to the body and a kick aimed directly at Machida's head. The champion and his challenger stand in front of each other, both almost waiting for the other to make the slightest mistake. They both move their hands around, slide their feet on the canvas and subtly shift their body in hopes of forcing the other to open themselves up to a possible killing blow. The young champion throws a body kick which "The Dragon" catches and counters upon, following it up with a flurry of strikes, almost none of which connect with any consequence. Despite this, Jones continues to hold the center of the Octagon, unwilling to let the challenger dictate the pace of the fight. Jones connects with a solid punch but Machida fails to react. Seconds later, "Bones" shoots in for a takedown which the challenger seems to defend. A slight adjustment from the champion and Machida is dumped onto his back. Many fighters have been in this position before, against the mat with Jones on top of them, and each bears the scars of the champion's almost deadly elbow strikes. "The Dragon" is no different. One swing of Jones' arms and his machete-like elbow slices Machida open and the canvas begins to turn a crimson red. The fight is momentarily stopped to allow a doctor to check the tiny chasm on the challenger's forehead and upon restart, the former champion is able to work his way off the cage and back to the center of the Octagon. In an absolutely beautiful display of technical striking, Jones raises his leg causing "The Dragon" to think a leg kick is coming his way. Machida had done well and scored points countering the leg kick and was hoping to do so again. Instead, "Bones" put into place the gameplan that Rashad Evans was hoping to do when he faced off against Machida: Counter the counter. As the challenger comes forward with his strike, a left straight from Jones barrels its way into Machida's jaw and the former champion nearly faceplants onto the mat. As Jones lifts up his opponent, he throws a knee to the skull as he wraps his arms around "The Dragon's" neck. Try as he might, the challenger is unable to escape the modified guillotine submission and seconds later, the oxygen supply to his brain is cut off and he passes out. As the referee breaks the hold to end the fight, Machida is unceremoniously dumped onto the canvas by the champion like a sack of potatoes. Tomorrow (April 21, 2012), Jones takes on his third consecutive former champion in Evans. This bout is different from his previous three, however. There is bad blood between the two former teammates and a lot of trash talk has been thrown around in the months leading up to the bout. Can Evans become the second two-time light heavyweight champion in UFC history? Or will Jones make it a clean sweep -- three for three -- on former champions? We'll find out soon enough.

Posted in: jone, challenger, champion, kick, machida

Read the full article at MMA Mania

With two high-football football players as brothers, UFC champion Jon Jones' family has quite an athletic bond.

Posted in: ufc, jone, champion, family, jones family

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

At the UFC 145 weigh-ins, all 24 fighters taking part in Saturday night's UFC 145 fights will step on the scale Friday afternoon, and we'll have the live video here at MMAFighting.com.In the main event, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former champion Rashad Evans will have to make the limit of 205 pounds. The UFC 145 weigh-in takes place at 4 p.m. ET on Friday and the video is below.

Posted in: ufc, video, champion, friday, weighin

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The last time Quinton Jackson entered the Octagon as the challenger for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title, he stood opposite Chuck Liddell, one of the greatest champions to ever grace the cage. "The Iceman" had run roughshod over the division, knocking out each and every fighter they put inside the cage to go against him. He was almost universally ranked as the top light heavyweight in the world and looked to cement the status with a victory over "Rampage." The two titans had met once before, during PRIDE Fighting Championships' 2003 grand prix, and Jackson walked away the victor that night. At UFC 71, it took "Rampage" less than two minutes to replicate the result. Over his decade plus long career, the Memphis native had been there, done that in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). He was quite the polar opposite of the man he faced off against at UFC 135. Jon Jones rocketed to the top of the MMA world through a series of brutal wins, one so much so it ended in a disqualification loss for him. When he choked out fellow rising prospect Ryan Bader in early 2011, he jumped at the chance to face off against Mauricio Rua in a title bout six weeks later. He beat and pounded on "Shogun" for nearly 13 minutes before the fight was stopped and at 23 years of age, "Bones" became the youngest UFC champion in history. Impressive, yes, but winning the belt is one thing while defending it in the shark-filled tank that is the 205-pound division is something else entirely. He got his first opportunity to prove himself against a former champion in Jackson. Before "Bones" steps inside the cage this weekend (April 21) against Rashad Evans at UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans," we'll take a look at the young prodigy's first title defense, a dominant display against a formidable foe which helped prove that, yes, this kid is for real. Let's dive in. Jones begins the fight by almost crawling towards his opponent, nearly keeping both knees and one hand on the mat at all times. Eventually Jackson gets close enough for Jones to shoot in for a takedown. The champion grabs hold of his opponent and bullies him against the cage where he proceeds to punch Jackson's ribs, knee his thighs and stomp his feet. They break and reset in the center of the Octagon where Jones immediately throws a front kick to keep Jackson at bay. A leg kick swings Jackson's lower limb backwards and everyone quickly realizes "Rampage" has learned nothing from his loss to Forrest Griffin. They clinch up again and Jones nearly tosses the challenger to the mat with what seems like the utmost of ease. Kicks are the name of the game in the first five minutes. To the chest and face, against the thighs and to the front of the knee all land for the champion and the round ends with Jackson throwing punch after punch, each hitting nothing but the air between him and his opponent. The second round opens with more of the same from "Bones" until one kick is caught. Jackson forces the champion against the cage but the much larger fighter is able to work his way off the chain-link and back to the center of the Octagon. From there, he continues to pick "Rampage" apart with leg kicks, a strategy for which the challenger has absolutely no answer for. For as poorly as Jackson is doing in the stand-up exchanges, he's doing remarkably well when defending the champion's takedown attempts. Any time Jones tries to get the fight to the mat, "Rampage" is able to foil him. This lasts until 90 seconds into the third round when "Bones" finally gets his opponent on his back, landing in side mount and then almost immediately exploding into full mount. To his credit, the former champion weathers the elbows Jones throws his way and gets back to his feet. A front kick from the champion snaps Jackson's head back and as the seconds tick away in the round, the fact that Jackson's only triumph in the bout has been a defensive maneuver and he has landed little to no offense in 15 minutes becomes startlingly clear. The first championship round begins with Jackson taking the center of the Octagon but a hook from the champion rattles him. A kick from Jones goes high and the two clinch up, jockeying for position until "Bones" shoves his opponent against the cage. "Rampage" attempts to turn away and Jones takes his back and it's only a matter of seconds before the champion's anaconda-like arms wraps themselves around Jackson's neck. One thing which can't be dismissed was the mental warfare "Bones" waged on his opponent. In the opening round, he ragdolled Jackson to the mat. At the end of the second, Jones pulled guard as if to tell "Rampage" the bout would go wherever he wanted and in the third, a last second takedown attempt ended with the champion literally lifting Jackson up and shrugging the Memphis native of his shoulders. Physically and mentally, Jones decimated "Rampage" and proved he belonged at the top of the 205 pound mountain. Can he do the same this weekend against Evans?

Posted in: rampage, jone, jackson, champion, cage

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Rashad Evans will get his chance to not only exact some sort of "payback" against former sparring partner Jon Jones this weekend (April 21, 2012) at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Ga., he will also look to be the first fighter to solve the enigma that is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion. During Jones' three-year tenure with the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, nine men have tried -- including three former world champions -- and nine men have failed to hand the New Yorker his first loss. Of course, Matt Hamill has a win over "Bones," though it was because of a "disqualification" from illegal elbows delivered by the 205-pound kingpin. Essentially, no one has yet to really defeat the young champion, and Evans, for one, would love nothing more that to be the first to defeat him. However, should "Suga" come up short in his bid to dethrone Jones, former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion, Randy Couture, has a few select people in mind who he feels posses the tools and skillset to hand Jones his first true defeat. Check out what "The Natural" told Five Ounces Of Pain, including his thoughts on the overblown drama between Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans: "I really don't have a prediction and I could make a case for either fighter winning the bout. The favorite is probably Jones because of his range and he is so athletic with such a dynamic striking style. Rashad has the tools and the skill set to make it a tough fight for Jones, but he has to make it a wrestling match and take him down at every opportunity. That's not the style we tend to see out of Evans since he landed that head kick on Sean Salmon. Being a stand-up fighter is not a great style match-up when you are facing a guy like Jones. The question is can Rashad formulate a game plan and make Jon wrestle with him? If he can do that he certainly has the ability he can win the fight, but I question he'll be able to do that for a five round fight. The rage and hatred thing it's overblown, Rashad has taken that road with other opponents. Yes they were training partners and there is some rhetoric going back and forth, but I'm not sure how heartfelt any of that really is. I think because they were training together they need to put it on a level so they can beat the hell out of each other. At the end of the day they will pick each other up and say great fight win or lose. This isn't like Tito (Ortiz) and Ken (Shamrock) or Tito and Chuck (Liddell) where they really hate each other (though) they were close at one point." Who does the UFC Hall of Famer feel can defeat Jones? "I think a fighter like Dan Henderson or even Chael Sonnen who is a very big 185-pounder and used to compete as a light heavyweight with strong wrestling. They have to take him out of his comfort zone and take away his reach advantage. There is no longer in the division and maybe not in the sport as far as Jones reach. His takedown defense is good and he has very good wrestling. He has very unorthodox striking which makes him very dangerous. I think you have to use the fence, use your wrestling and force him to fight your fight. Either one of those guys can do that." Henderson is currently set to receive the next title shot at 205-pounds, so he will be a very eager viewer the showdown in "Hotlanta" this weekend. Sonnen, meanwhile, has his hands full with 185-pound champion Anderson Silva at UFC 147, which is currently without a date and a location. However, should Sonnen ever get the opportunity to face off against Jones, he has a simple blueprint: Substance over style. How about it Manaics, do you agree with Couture's picks as to who can give the reigning 205-pound champion fits inside the Octagon? If not, then who do you see as the one to defeat the young phenom if Evans fails to do so this weekend? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, champion, evan

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is looking to get his belt back at UFC 145 as he takes on his former teammate Jon Jones.

Posted in: ufc, champion, evan, teammate, lightheavyweight

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Pic: Naked UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva admits that he is a metrosexual, according to Globo. Chael Sonnen's joke vault just increased 1000 percent instantly.

Posted in: ufc, silva, champion, anderson, pic

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The new organization K-1 Global Limited President, Mr. Mike Kim, announced today they have signed one of the biggest fighters in the world, Badr Hari, to fight for a chance to become the 2012 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion in New York in December. Badr Hari is currently training in the USA with the world-famous maker of champions, Naazim Richardson. Hari's goal is to become a World Boxing Champion within three years. Hari stated he's excited about training with Richardson: "I have just finished the first six weeks of intensive training, including a high altitude training camp in California. I am in great shape and we have made a plan for the next three years, leading to the ultimate goal... becoming the world heavyweight champion in boxing. The past weeks we've been working mostly on my technique as a boxer." Richardson added he believes in Hari's incredible potential: "Every century, a number of unique talents are born. Those talents have the capacity to make it to the absolute top of the world. Badr is one of those unique talents. He has the perfect fighting mentality, an amazing reach, an incredible punch, and technically it's looking great. On top of that, his physique works to his advantage. He is the ultimate fighting machine. I support Badr's wish to take one more shot at the K-1 World Grand Prix Title. It's also his way of showing respect to the sport of kickboxing." "This move will not interfere with our training program and says everything about his unique status in the world. No matter where in the world, everyone wants to see Badr fight. He will probably be the first martial artist in the world who will be the greatest in multiple disciplines." Badr Hari commented: "They (K-1) have gone far in persuading me to show the world who is currently the best kickboxer on the planet. I think this is a beautiful challenge. At the same time, I will continue my planned route, with full enthusiasm, to become the world champion in boxing. I would love to retire internationally as the K-1 World Grand Prix champion. That's a title that's not yet on my record. K-1 has convinced me to say yes to their proposal of fighting one last time on the international stage." Mr. Mike Kim, president of K-1 Global Limited, is proud to have Badr Hari fight for K-1 remarking: "This was one of our biggest wishes. He is the biggest and most sensational fighter in the world. The attention and exposure will be huge and everybody wants to see him fight one more time at the international stage." Hari's first fight will take place on May 27 in Madrid, Spain. If he wins, he will also participate in the final qualifications in October in Asia and the K-1 World Grand Prix Final in New York in December. Hari is convinced he will strap the belt around his waist in December, saying, "It's a beautiful thought to show all my fans in the world one more time who the best K-1 fighter is."

Posted in: world, champion, prix, hari, badr

Read the full article at MMA Mania

I'll start by simply putting out the the official press release from K-1: Badr Hari Wants to Become the K-1 World Grand Prix Champion! The new organization K-1 Global Limited President, Mr. Mike Kim, announced today they have signed one of the biggest fighters in the world, Badr Hari, to fight for a chance to become the 2012 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion in New York in December. Badr Hari is currently training in the USA with the world-famous maker of champions, Naazim Richardson. Hari's goal is to become a World Boxing Champion within three years. Hari stated he's excited about training with Richardson: "I have just finished the first six weeks of intensive training, including a high altitude training camp in California. I am in great shape and we have made a plan for the next three years, leading to the ultimate goal... becoming the world heavyweight champion in boxing. The past weeks we've been working mostly on my technique as a boxer." Richardson added he believes in Hari's incredible potential: "Every century, a number of unique talents are born. Those talents have the capacity to make it to the absolute top of the world. Badr is one of those unique talents. He has the perfect fighting mentality, an amazing reach, an incredible punch, and technically it's looking great. On top of that, his physique works to his advantage. He is the ultimate fighting machine. I support Badr's wish to take one more shot at the K-1 World Grand Prix Title. It's also his way of showing respect to the sport of kickboxing. "This move will not interfere with our training program and says everything about his unique status in the world. No matter where in the world, everyone wants to see Badr fight. He will probably be the first martial artist in the world who will be the greatest in multiple disciplines." Badr Hari commented: "They (K-1) have gone far in persuading me to show the world who is currently the best kickboxer on the planet. I think this is a beautiful challenge. At the same time, I will continue my planned route, with full enthusiasm, to become the world champion in boxing. I would love to retire internationally as the K-1 World Grand Prix champion. That's a title that's not yet on my record. K-1 has convinced me to say yes to their proposal of fighting one last time on the international stage." Mr. Mike Kim, president of K-1 Global Limited, is proud to have Badr Hari fight for K-1 remarking: "This was one of our biggest wishes. He is the biggest and most sensational fighter in the world. The attention and exposure will be huge and everybody wants to see him fight one more time at the international stage." Hari's first fight will take place on May 27 in Madrid, Spain. If he wins, he will also participate in the final qualifications in October in Asia and the K-1 World Grand Prix Final in New York in December. Hari is convinced he will strap the belt around his waist in December, saying, "It's a beautiful thought to show all my fans in the world one more time who the best K-1 fighter is." About K-1 Global Holdings Limited: Since 31st January 2012, K-1 Global Holdings Limited has been working to rebuild the K-1 brand, by bringing together a wide array of world-class fighters, top global venues, sponsors and broadcasters, and assembling a global organization and management team. For more information go to www.k-1.tv. This is probably the best news that K-1 has had since word that they've been bought out with new management. Here's what Badr had to say about the signing. They have gone far in persuading me to show the world who is currently the best kickboxer on the planet. I think this is a beautiful challenge. At the same time, I will continue my planned route, with full enthusiasm, to become the world champion in boxing. I would love to retire internationally as the K-1 World Grand Prix champion. That's a title that's not yet on my record. K-1 has convinced me to say yes to their proposal of fighting one last time on the international stage. Thx boxing thing is a bit worrisome, and I suppose considering the money he'd probably get, I can't blame him. Personally, I think it'll all end in tears and I wouldn't be shocked to learn that it went the way of Nick Diaz's boxing career, but that's neither here nor there.HT to BloodyElbow.

Posted in: world, champion, prix, hari, badr

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Kickboxing fans rejoice - the news doesn't get much better than this. K-1 is back, and so is Badr Hari. Hari has officially been announced as competing on a K-1 show on May 27 in Madrid. Let me repeat that to let it really sink in: Badr Hari is back in K-1. A two time K-1 Grand Prix finalist, Hari retired from kickboxing earlier this year to pursue a boxing career. That boxing career is not finished, as he will still be training with highly regarded trainer Naazim Richardson (Hari and Richardson are currently working together) with the goal of being a boxing world champion within three years. But with the announcement of a K-1 Grand Prix in 2012, Hari decided to make one more run for the crown jewel of the kickboxing world that has long eluded him. Here is what Hari had to say about his return: [K-1] have gone far in persuading me to show the world who is currently the best kickboxer on the planet. I think this is a beautiful challenge. At the same time, I will continue my planned route, with full enthusiasm, to become the world champion in boxing. I would love to retire internationally as the K-1 World Grand Prix champion. That's a title that's not yet on my record. K-1 has convinced me to say yes to their proposal of fighting one last time on the international stage. Read the full press release in the complete entry. Hari's May 27 opponent is not yet announced, though if he wins, he will move on to the K-1 Final 16 in October, and then the Grand Prix in New York City in December. That May 27 card will feature 4 Heavyweight fights and the participants are all announced, though not yet paired up. The most interesting participant aside from Hari? Mirko Cro Cop, who will participate in his 2nd kickboxing fight in 2012 and his first official K-1 fight. Hari vs. Cro Cop anyone? We'll have much more news on the latest in K-1 shortly, so be sure to check back. Official Press Release: Badr Hari Wants to Become the K-1 World Grand Prix Champion! The new organization K-1 Global Limited President, Mr. Mike Kim, announced today they have signed one of the biggest fighters in the world, Badr Hari, to fight for a chance to become the 2012 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion in New York in December. Badr Hari is currently training in the USA with the world-famous maker of champions, Naazim Richardson. Hari's goal is to become a World Boxing Champion within three years. Hari stated he's excited about training with Richardson: "I have just finished the first six weeks of intensive training, including a high altitude training camp in California. I am in great shape and we have made a plan for the next three years, leading to the ultimate goal... becoming the world heavyweight champion in boxing. The past weeks we've been working mostly on my technique as a boxer." Richardson added he believes in Hari's incredible potential: "Every century, a number of unique talents are born. Those talents have the capacity to make it to the absolute top of the world. Badr is one of those unique talents. He has the perfect fighting mentality, an amazing reach, an incredible punch, and technically it's looking great. On top of that, his physique works to his advantage. He is the ultimate fighting machine. I support Badr's wish to take one more shot at the K-1 World Grand Prix Title. It's also his way of showing respect to the sport of kickboxing. "This move will not interfere with our training program and says everything about his unique status in the world. No matter where in the world, everyone wants to see Badr fight. He will probably be the first martial artist in the world who will be the greatest in multiple disciplines." Badr Hari commented: "They (K-1) have gone far in persuading me to show the world who is currently the best kickboxer on the planet. I think this is a beautiful challenge. At the same time, I will continue my planned route, with full enthusiasm, to become the world champion in boxing. I would love to retire internationally as the K-1 World Grand Prix champion. That's a title that's not yet on my record. K-1 has convinced me to say yes to their proposal of fighting one last time on the international stage." Mr. Mike Kim, president of K-1 Global Limited, is proud to have Badr Hari fight for K-1 remarking: "This was one of our biggest wishes. He is the biggest and most sensational fighter in the world. The attention and exposure will be huge and everybody wants to see him fight one more time at the international stage." Hari's first fight will take place on May 27 in Madrid, Spain. If he wins, he will also participate in the final qualifications in October in Asia and the K-1 World Grand Prix Final in New York in December. Hari is convinced he will strap the belt around his waist in December, saying, "It's a beautiful thought to show all my fans in the world one more time who the best K-1 fighter is." About K-1 Global Holdings Limited: Since 31st January 2012, K-1 Global Holdings Limited has been working to rebuild the K-1 brand, by bringing together a wide array of world-class fighters, top global venues, sponsors and broadcasters, and assembling a global organization and management team. For more information go to www.k-1.tv.

Posted in: world, champion, prix, hari, badr

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

ATLANTA -- Proving that his unpredictability goes past what he does in the cage, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones threw many observers for a loop on Wednesday when he was asked about his toughest UFC fight to date. This is a man who fought three former champions within a seven-month span in 2011, yet his answer was none of them.So who was it? The durable and crafty veteran Stephan Bonnar. As Jones explained, when he fought Bonnar, he was still so new to the game that Bonnar could exploit his defense. On the flip side, Jones connected many times but couldn't manage to put him away. As he tells it, his punching power wasn't quite where it needed to be then as he was still growing into his lanky frame. But that's changing, and quickly. The power, he says, is coming. And because of it, he has designs on Rashad Evans' chin as a target. "I feel stronger and my technique's getting better and cleaner," he said during a UFC 145 press interview. "When I watch my first fights I used to flail. Everything's flail-y, and I realize the power of flexing your abdominals when you try to strike and things like that. I definitely feel as though I'm hitting harder, and I'm excited. I wobbled Rampage [Jackson] a little bit when I hit him, and I wobbled Lyoto [Machida] when I hit him, and I think out of all those guys, Rashad has the weakest chin. I think he has the weakest chin of anyone I've fought since 2010, and I think I'm going to exploit that."Evans has only been KO'd once in his career, in his loss to Machida in 2009. But he's had a couple of shaky moments since, getting rattled by both Thiago Silva and Jackson in fights. But the champion's doubt in his challenger didn't end there. He also took aim at his base skill set, wrestling. While Evans has undoubtedly broadened his focus over the years to include a dangerous standup game, much of his success stems from the takedown or its implied threat. According to FightMetric, Evans has 48 takedowns in 14 career bouts, and has successfully taken down opponents on 55 percent of his attempts. But Jones, who was a junior college national champion and a high-level Division I recruit before dropping out of school to pursue MMA, has announced his own intention to challenge Evans where he's best."Rashad being a wrestler, I'm sure it will affect his psychology being on his back," he said. "People don't realize, Rashad was not a Division I national wrestling champion. He's been taken down on numerous occasions. Michael Bisping got him down, I think. And Michael Bisping is not a wrestler. So, I worked a lot on my takedowns. I'm not going to be a victim to his takedowns. He needs to worry about my takedowns, too. So I've worked a lot of different shots." Notably and recently, however, Evans out-wrestled former Division I national champion Phil Davis during their UFC on FOX 2 headliner, a fight that got Evans here to face Jones. But Jones said he was not impressed by the ground game that led Evans to the win."I'm not afraid of Rashad's ground game. If anything, he should be afraid of mine," he said. "When I take people down, they open up. There's blood. My elbows, I'm realizing, they do work. Rashad doesn't do anything but kill the clock."

Posted in: jone, champion, rashad, evan, im

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Many people have compared UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones to Muhammad Ali, but is that a fair comparison?

Posted in: champion, people, muhammad ali, comparison, lefko

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

"To me, it honestly feels like they don't want me to have the belt. And that could just be my paranoid mind thinking and it probably is, I don't know, whatever the case, they're probably just indifferent to the whole thing. But in my mind I feel like they're like, 'Oh man, we don't want this dude to be champion. We don't want him to be champion.' But it's something that, inside me, is so important because that will show all my sacrifice, all my hard work, all my heartache, everything that I've been given on this journey wasn't in vein. That it was worth something." Considering the fact that it was recently announced that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is actually going to be a sponsor for Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones for his fight against Rashad Evans at UFC 145 on April 21, 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia, maybe "Suga" isn't so paranoid after all. Or maybe it's just business and the UFC has no rooting interest either way. To even imply as much with satirical quotes is a dangerous practice. Nonetheless, Evans is coming out and saying it -- he doesn't think the powers that be with the world's largest fight promotion want the 205-pound title around his waist. Despite that, he's busting his ass to make that happen this Saturday night at the Philips Arena, the very same venue that saw him take Chuck Liddell's soul back at UFC 88. Is a similar outcome in the cards this weekend? Stay tuned, Maniacs. In the meantime, what do you think of Evans' comments? Is his mind playing tricks on him?

Posted in: ufc, champion, rashad evans, evan, dont

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar did a promo on WWE Monday Night Raw that featured UFC still photos and MMA training footage. See the whole interview here.

Posted in: ufc, champion, lesnar, monday, brock

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones is heavily favored by the odds-makers, sponsored by the UFC and expected by most fans to handily beat former champ Rashad Evans. Evans is smaller, older, has a less flashy style and UFC fans have seen him lose before, something they've never seen happen to Jones. But some of the most informed observers are refusing to see this as a gimme for Jones. Former champion Chuck Liddell and possible future champion Phil Davis, both of whom lost badly to Evans, think it's a very open question as to which fighter will be the better man on Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia. We'll hear from Liddell and Davis after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans MMA Weekly talked to Chuck LIddell about the fight: "I think that's ridiculous. 5 to 1, and 6 to 1, I mean, Jon's been great, he's doing great, and he's going to keep getting better, but this is a fight styles wise that's a tougher fight for him than the ones he's had. "He likes to control the distance, control where the fight was, whether it was standing or on the ground, and I think he'll have a harder time doing that with Rashad." Davis was on HDNet's Inside MMA (via MMA Mania) and gave his thoughts on Jones: "You know, I tend to shy away from answers like this, just because everyone is so skillful in their own regard. I definitely think he's a very talented champion, but just to be the best in the world says a lot about it. I don't think he's necessarily any better than any of the other champions. But that's just from a competitor's standpoint. I'm sure the fans would say something different. "I think up until Jones became the champion, a lot of people thought, 'Oh, this is just another young guy.' And, they went out to, basically, to really beat him. Whereas, if you take away the people fighting Georges St. Pierre, it's very tactical, it's not necessarily -- everyone is in it to beat him, don't get me wrong, but a lot of times, it's a slower pace. It's very methodical. It's not going for the kill. Which, I feel Jones has had as his advantage that people are coming right at him. It's easy to meet a fight head on. But a lot of times, guys are just looking to choose shots and, you know, pot shots whenever they can. It's a lot tougher, and I think he'll get that now that people realize that he's a force to be reckoned with in the division."

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, champion, he

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Take a look at some of the photographic highlights of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones over the last year or so from HeavyMMA shooter James Law.

Posted in: ufc, jon, jone, jon jones, champion

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Don’t think for a second that Tim Sylvia wouldn’t do anything in his power to earn another chance to compete inside the Octagon. Sylvia, a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, has been turned down by UFC president Dana White over the past few months in regards to competing with the company again. During a recent [...]

Posted in: ufc, champion, tim, sylvia, octagon sylvia

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Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu will finally get an opponent to defend his title against as the promotion announced Monday they will once again run a Summer Series, this time featuring a 205-pound tourney that kicks off on June 22 in Chester, West Virginia. In the quarterfinals, Travis Wiuff (66-14-0-1) is booked but doesn't have an opponent, while Marcus Vanttinen (21-3) vs. Philipe Lins (5-0), Roger Hollett (13-3) vs. Attila Vegh (24-4-2) and Richard Hale (18-4-1) vs. Beau Tribolet (7-1) round out the main card. Wiuff took on M'Pumbu last October in a three round "superfight" and became the first opponent to beat a reigning champion with his unanimous decision win. Shlemenko Shelved, Interesting Predicament For Middleweight Division Sherdog first reported the news over the weekend that No. 1 middleweight contender Alexander Shlemenko was in a car accident last week, breaking his collarbone and dislocating his thumb in the process. He was in the passenger seat and the car was hit by a drunk driver. He is expected to be cleared for rehab after a month, putting his timetable at training for a return at several months away. For why this could put Bellator's middleweight division on ice for a while, keep reading after the jump. Where this puts Bellator's 185-pound division is an interesting question. There are rumors that current champ Hector Lombard has been negotiating with the UFC as the promotion doesn't have a champion's clause. Shlemenko won the most recent tournament and was expecting to fight Lombard, but if the champion doesn't want to wait around, that rematch might never happen. An option if Lombard leaves: hold another 185-pound tournament during this summer and have Shlemenko fight the winner for the title. When Fighting Gets You Arrested Raphael Davis was just looking to increase his stature in Bellator when competed on last October's Bellator 53 undercard, knocking out Myron Dennis in the second round. When he knocked out Berin Balijagic in the second round of a regional show this past March, he wanted to earn a couple bucks and keep his dream alive at 12-2. Those fights weren't the issue, but the seven during a stretch from December 2008 to May 2011 that were. Davis wasn't supposed to be fighting as he was making worker's compensation claims for injuries suffered during his full-time job as a Los Angeles firefighter. He was arrested and charged with four felony counts of fraud last week and faces up to five years in jail.

Posted in: bellator, round, shlemenko, champion, division

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Remember when people used to compare Ultimate Fighting Championship Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and fellow 205-pounder Phil Davis to each other? It's hard to fathom now, but it happened not too long ago, and the comparisons were serious. Both guys had athletic, rangy builds. Both were great wrestlers. Both were young prospects who were riding a giant wave of momentum. But, within the past year, their careers have started to branch in different directions. Jones is now a champion, and not just that, but decidedly so. He's beaten a "Who's Who" of mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters and made it look easy in the process. Davis hasn't exactly fallen off the map. He still has only one loss on his professional record. However, in the 12 months that "Bones" was essentially ascending to his throne, "Mr. Wonderful" won a decision victory that didn't exactly set the word on fire, and he was dominated for five rounds in a decision loss to Rashad Evans at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, Illinois, on Jan. 28, 2012. Davis was a guest on HDNet's "Inside MMA," where he evaluated Jones' status as a UFC champion: "You know, I tend to shy away from answers like this, just because everyone is so skillful in their own regard. I definitely think he's a very talented champion, but just to be the best in the world says a lot about it. I don't think he's necessarily any better than any of the other champions. But that's just from a competitor's standpoint. I'm sure the fans would say something different." One could call that stance a case of "sour grapes." Jones has what Davis wanted and still wants. He has the fame, the attention and the belt. According to Davis, he's not trying to take anything away from Jones. He thinks he's a great fighter, he's just not sure he's held the belt long enough to be compared to the likes of Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre. He may have a point: "I think up until Jones became the champion, a lot of people thought, 'Oh, this is just another young guy.' And, they went out to, basically, to really beat him. Whereas, if you take away the people fighting Georges St. Pierre, it's very tactical, it's not necessarily -- everyone is in it to beat him, don't get me wrong, but a lot of times, it's a slower pace. It's very methodical. It's not going for the kill. Which, I feel Jones has had as his advantage that people are coming right at him. It's easy to meet a fight head on. But a lot of times, guys are just looking to choose shots and, you know, pot shots whenever they can. It's a lot tougher, and I think he'll get that now that people realize that he's a force to be reckoned with in the division." Davis has been out of action since his loss to Evans, which has given him time to contemplate his shortcomings and how he needs to upgrade. As far as he's concerned, the loss was a blessing in disguise: "That loss was good for me. Sometimes, you don't know where you're at, until you have a loss. Now I know where I'm at, and it gave me a lot to improve on. It's a great starting point to go next with where I wanna improve, to get to the belt." For now, no opponent or event has been named for Davis, but he believes fans will get to see him again as early as this summer: "In a hypothetical world, I would fight someone, definitely before the end of the summer. Probably sometime this summer. But, until you get bout contracts, there's plenty of room for change. Nothing's ever for sure." Any of you Maniacs feel like playing matchmaker? Who would you like to see "Mr Wonderful" square off against in his Octagon return?

Posted in: jone, loss, champion, davi, he

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Yes, even Frank Shamrock, who held the strap when it was known as the Middleweight title. Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are used to getting a "Pros Pick" video in advance of every major pay-per-view (PPV) event, but Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is taking it one step further. Well, nine steps further, actually. The ancillary crew behind the world's largest fight promotion has tracked down every single Light Heavyweight Champion in the history of the UFC to get their take on the UFC 145 main event between reigning 205-pound champion Jon Jones and current division number one contender "Suga" Rashad Evans. So who leaves the Philips Arena on April 21 wearing gold? The ultimate pros pick collection, from today's official press release, after the jump. "Shogun" Rua, champion from May 8, 2010 to Mar 19, 2011 "They are two very smart, strategic athletes. Both of them fight thinking of their opponent's strengths and weaknesses and think about how to fight the best possible fight to win. But I think Jon Jones has an advantage, since he is very hard to reach. He is not only long (limbed) but also fast and he can react very quickly, I know this. So, I think it's going to be Jones' match. However, let's not forget Rashad is also very strategic. I believe Rashad will have a good gameplan and I am very interested to see what he will try to do in this fight." Lyoto Machida, champion from May 23, 2009 to May 8, 2010 "Jones vs Evans is a big fight for the fans and a big fight for the division. It is a very interesting fight; Jones is very unorthodox and is strong in all aspects of the game, but Rashad is a great wrestler and has the hand speed to catch Jones." Forrest Griffin, champion from Jul 5, 2008 to May 23, 2009 "This is a great fight. I'm glad I'm not fighting Jon Jones anytime soon, but I think Rashad has the right style to give him problems. There are so many emotions between these guys going into the fight, and I know the Atlanta fans will be getting their money's worth. Jones looks very nasty, but I'm not going to underestimate Rashad. I kinda did that before once..." "Rampage" Jackson, champion from May 26, 2007 to Jul 5, 2008 "Rashad has to go for it right from the start, for real. Rashad can't play on the outside, you can't fight no Jon Jones on the outside, believe me. Rashad is fast and can surprise you. He surprised me by faking a takedown and hitting me with a right hand which kinda stunned me. I think he can do that to Jon Jones, but he has to do it right away because the more time you give Jones, the harder it is to set him up for a punch. I think Jon Jones will win, but I think Rashad has a chance." Chuck Liddell, champion from Apr 16, 2005 to May 26, 2007 "Everyone is different but, I think, for most fighters getting into the Octagon with someone they don't like is a great motivation in training. Every time you are tired or holding a little back, you think about losing to this guy you can't stand and it helps you give 100%. That's how I was with Tito, I couldn't stand the idea of losing to him and so I trained harder. "I'd love to know who really got the best of it when these guys trained together. You get a feeling for someone when you spar with them. That's why I was so confident against Tito; I'd beat him up standing, wrestling and at BJJ when we trained together years before out fights and I knew I was in his head because of that. Listening to Rashad, it seems from watching the Primetime show that he feels he's in Jon's head a little. He sounds very confident and I think that's based on experiences in the gym. I'm glad he is confident, because that's something you have to have against Jones. If you don't go after Jon you are in for a bad night." Vitor Belfort, champion from Jan 31, 2004 to Aug 21, 2004 "I think this fight will be great for the sport because Jones and Evans used to train together. That changes things, now they are going to fight against each other. We are in the new era of sport with these athletes like Jon Jones and the techniques they can do. Both guys have a chance to be the winner, and it could come down to who is better on that one night. I am looking forward to seeing this huge fight." Randy Couture, two-time champion from Jun 6, 2003 to Jan 31, 2004 and Aug 21, 2004 to Apr 16, 2005 "I think it is going to be very interesting, Rashad has the speed and skills to win. Rashad has to avoid his propensity for standing up and just striking, which he has done in the past. He can't just strike with Jones; if he does he will lose because Jon has more tools in the toolbox. Rashad has to take Jones down, not just once or twice but every single time he has any opportunity. If Jones is worried about getting taken down, that's when Rashad can put his hands on him and do some damage. But he has to keep Jon guessing if it is a takedown or a strike that's coming. "I think Jones is super-talented and he is clearly getting better in each fight. He could turn into a very special type of champion. He poses some very unique problems in the Octagon - and so far no one has solved too many of them. I think this is a huge fight for the division. "Bones" Jones is very hot right now and with the personalities and the back story, it all hypes this up into a very interesting fight." Tito Ortiz, champion from Apr 14, 2000 to Sep 26, 2003"Jones is looking very good. But Rashad is fast, man, and once he hurts you he's on you. I'd like to see Rashad use his wrestling and takedowns and really mix it up. I think it will be a great fight." Frank Shamrock, inaugural champion from Dec. 21 1997 to Nov. 24, 1999 "This fight has a tremendous story behind it, with it having grown out of a friendship that went sour back when these two were teammates. The drama that's fueling this is incredible. Fans can expect a fight that, stylistically, will be extremely challenging for Jones to overcome, and he'll have fits with Rashad's wrestling if he's able to put Jon on his back. But ultimately, I see Jones being able to inflict more damage and walk away with the belt still in hand. This will be a fight that will not end as easily and devastatingly as Jones's others have, but rather one of those moments in his career where he'll have to pull himself up and battle until the final bell. In the end, this fight will help Jon become a better fighter and a better champion, and will endear himself to fans for years to come." Which former champion makes the best argument for Saturday night's main event? Let's hear from you in the comments section below. More on the UFC 145 grudge match right here.

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The UFC is often criticized for not respecting the history of the sport or even their own promotion. With UFC 145 coming up this Saturday, featuring a much anticipated Light Heavyweight title fight between champ Jon Jones and ex-champ Rashad Evans they have gone out of their way to correct that to some extent. The LHW crown has long been the marquee title in the UFC. From the days of Frank Shamrock and Tito Ortiz in the "dark ages" on to the Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort era in the early Ultimate Fighter days the division was always the home of the promotion's biggest fights. The UFC has gathered quotes from every ex-LHW champ in UFC history -- even Frank Shamrock who was long been treated like he never happened -- on this Saturday's bout. Here's what Shamrock has to say, the rest of the quotes are after the jump: Frank Shamrock, inaugural champion from Dec. 21 1997 to Nov. 24, 1999 "This fight has a tremendous story behind it, with it having grown out of a friendship that went sour back when these two were teammates. The drama that's fueling this is incredible. Fans can expect a fight that, stylistically, will be extremely challenging for Jones to overcome, and he'll have fits with Rashad's wrestling if he's able to put Jon on his back. But ultimately, I see Jones being able to inflict more damage and walk away with the belt still in hand. This will be a fight that will not end as easily and devastatingly as Jones's others have, but rather one of those moments in his career where he'll have to pull himself up and battle until the final bell. In the end, this fight will help Jon become a better fighter and a better champion, and will endear himself to fans for years to come." SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans Maurico "Shogun" Rua, champion from May 8, 2010 to Mar 19, 2011"They are two very smart, strategic athletes. Both of them fight thinking of their opponent's strengths and weaknesses and think about how to fight the best possible fight to win. But I think Jon Jones has an advantage, since he is very hard to reach. He is not only long (limbed) but also fast and he can react very quickly, I know this. So, I think it's going to be Jones' match. However, let's not forget Rashad is also very strategic. I believe Rashad will have a good gameplan and I am very interested to see what he will try to do in this fight."Lyoto Machida, champion from May 23, 2009 to May 8, 2010"Jones vs Evans is a big fight for the fans and a big fight for the division. It is a very interesting fight; Jones is very unorthodox and is strong in all aspects of the game, but Rashad is a great wrestler and has the hand speed to catch Jones."Forrest Griffin, champion from Jul 5, 2008 to May 23, 2009"This is a great fight. I'm glad I'm not fighting Jon Jones anytime soon, but I think Rashad has the right style to give him problems. There are so many emotions between these guys going into the fight, and I know the Atlanta fans will be getting their money's worth. Jones looks very nasty, but I'm not going to underestimate Rashad. I kinda did that before once..."Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, champion from May 26, 2007 to Jul 5, 2008"Rashad has to go for it right from the start, for real. Rashad can't play on the outside, you can't fight no Jon Jones on the outside, believe me. Rashad is fast and can surprise you. He surprised me by faking a takedown and hitting me with a right hand which kinda stunned me. I think he can do that to Jon Jones, but he has to do it right away because the more time you give Jones, the harder it is to set him up for a punch. I think Jon Jones will win, but I think Rashad has a chance."Chuck Liddell, champion from Apr 16, 2005 to May 26, 2007"Everyone is different but, I think, for most fighters getting into the Octagon with someone they don't like is a great motivation in training. Every time you are tired or holding a little back, you think about losing to this guy you can't stand and it helps you give 100%. That's how I was with Tito, I couldn't stand the idea of losing to him and so I trained harder."I'd love to know who really got the best of it when these guys trained together. You get a feeling for someone when you spar with them. That's why I was so confident against Tito; I'd beat him up standing, wrestling and at BJJ when we trained together years before out fights and I knew I was in his head because of that. Listening to Rashad, it seems from watching the Primetime show that he feels he's in Jon's head a little. He sounds very confident and I think that's based on experiences in the gym. I'm glad he is confident, because that's something you have to have against Jones. If you don't go after Jon you are in for a bad night."Vitor Belfort, champion from Jan 31, 2004 to Aug 21, 2004"I think this fight will be great for the sport because Jones and Evans used to train together. That changes things, now they are going to fight against each other. We are in the new era of sport with these athletes like Jon Jones and the techniques they can do. Both guys have a chance to be the winner, and it could come down to who is better on that one night. I am looking forward to seeing this huge fight." Randy Couture, two-time champion from Jun 6, 2003 to Jan 31, 2004 and Aug 21, 2004 to Apr 16, 2005"I think it is going to be very interesting, Rashad has the speed and skills to win. Rashad has to avoid his propensity for standing up and just striking, which he has done in the past. He can't just strike with Jones; if he does he will lose because Jon has more tools in the toolbox. Rashad has to take Jones down, not just once or twice but every single time he has any opportunity. If Jones is worried about getting taken down, that's when Rashad can put his hands on him and do some damage. But he has to keep Jon guessing if it is a takedown or a strike that's coming."I think Jones is super-talented and he is clearly getting better in each fight. He could turn into a very special type of champion. He poses some very unique problems in the Octagon - and so far no one has solved too many of them. I think this is a huge fight for the division. "Bones" Jones is very hot right now and with the personalities and the back story, it all hypes this up into a very interesting fight."Tito Ortiz, champion from Apr 14, 2000 to Sep 26, 2003"Jones is looking very good. But Rashad is fast, man, and once he hurts you he's on you. I'd like to see Rashad use his wrestling and takedowns and really mix it up. I think it will be a great fight."

Posted in: fight, jon, jone, champion, rashad

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A possible future of the competitive Brazilian jiu jitsu world has been shown to us at the 2012 Abu Dhabi World Professional Championships. This vision of the forthcoming is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and it relies upon the benevolence of a single very rich backer, but this could be what the biggest events of the sport look like in a decade. The 2012 World Pro is a gi-based Brazilian jiu jitsu tournament sponsored by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nayhan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, one of the component states of the United Arab Emirates. The tournament was begun roughly three years ago and in terms of competition level, the World Pro rivals the very best tournaments ever held. The cash prizes offered to the winners of the higher belt divisions have a great deal to do with that competitiveness though. The big winner of the 2012 World Pro is undoubtedly Rodolfo Vieira Srour, who had one of the finest years anyone in competitive grappling has ever had in 2011. Rodolfo won the Open Weight division by beating Andre Galvao on points, and his own -100 kg division by armbarring Roberto "Tussa" Alencar. In a gi, it is very, very difficult to beat the young Brazilian right now and nobody currently competing seems to be able to deter Vieira much from taking them down and passing guard. His command of timing, manacle-like hands and very mobile footwork for a big man make him a grappling nightmare to deal with. The Open Weight runner-up, Andre Galvao, may be a name some recognize from his brief time in Strikeforce or as the reigning ADCC open weight champion. Galvao won his -94 kg division handily and managed to beat Xande Ribeiro (perhaps the most decorated grappler alive right now) in the semi-finals of the open weight before losing to Vieira on points. Of the matches I have seen, I would consider this -74 kg finals match the most interesting from a pure sport jiu jitsu standpoint. Satoshi is a new face on the competitive black belt scene who now lives in Japan and combines a very movement-based guard game with a difficult to dislodge top game. Lucas Lepri has won quite a few tournaments over the last few years (including a Mundials title in 2007) and is one of the mainstays of the Alliance machine in Atlanta. The match is very narrowly decided and features some wild guard work from both grapplers. The rest of the results will be below the jump. Men's Brown & Black Belts: -64 kg champion: Thiago Barreto, Points victory over Fernando Vieira -70 kg champion: Samuel Canquerino, Points victory over Isaque Paiva -76 kg champion: Roberto Satoshi, Points victory over Lucas Lepri -82 kg champion: Claudio Calasans, Points victory over Lucas Leite -88 kg champion: Andre Galvao, Collar choke from the back on Vitor Toledo. -94 kg champion: Rodolfo Vieira, Armbarred Roberto "Tussa" Alencar -100 kg champion: Xande Ribeiro, Points victory over Bernardo Faria +100 kg champion: Marcus Buchecha Almeida, Footlocked Antonio Braga Neto Open Weight: Rodolfo Vieira, Points victory over Andre Galvao Women's Purple, Brown & Black Belts: -54 kg champion: Nyjah Easton, Points victory over Samara Reis -60 kg champion: Michelle Nicolini, Footlocked Kyra Gracie -66 kg champion: Luanna Alzuguir, Points victory over Luiza Monteiro -72 kg champion: Fernanda Mazelli, Points victory over Jessica Oliveira +72 kg champion: Gabi Garcia, Points victory over Maria Malyjasiak Open Weight: Gabi Garcia, Points victory over Beatriz Mesquita Most of these names are the familiar names grappling devotees have seen for years. However, Lucas Lepri beating Leandro Lo and Roberto Satoshi passing the guard of Davi Ramos are minor upsets. Satoshi is perhaps the only person here who really came from an outlier gym - although having four other brothers who are black belts helps some considerable amount. In the women's side, Bia Mesquita making it to the finals of the open weight is either an incredible story of a very small, yet insanely talented grappler, a seeding imbalance or some combination of both. The missing notables made a small list, but running them down shows that most either had a good excuse or are now focused on other projects. Marcelo Garcia apparently hurt his collarbone snowboarding and sat out the qualifications process and World Pro. The Mendes brothers competed in the qualifiers, but chose to forgo the World Pro in favor of the Mundials in June. Bruno Malfacine and Cobrinha did the same. Kron Gracie did not qualify for the World Pro, as Zak Maxwell beat him in the San Diego Trials. Gilbert Burns decided to work with Vitor Belfort on the TUF Brazil set and focus on his own MMA development. Sergio Moraes was a contestant on TUF Brazil (No spoilers are to be found here!). Roger Gracie released news of his impending drop to middleweight and then went on a seminar tour out to Singapore and other far-off places. Braulio Estima is also working on his MMA career and is hoping to super-charge things by meeting Nick Diaz in a one-shot grappling match soon. Also, Jordon Schultz has a pretty good look at Galvao vs. Xande in terms of the Leg Weave Pass. The Future of the Sport: One of the problems of sport is the tendency of the big professional leagues to claim a world championship in something that is plainly not. Do Major League Baseball teams play Cuban, Dominican or Puerto Rican teams? In Brazilian jiu jitsu, a world championship has a closer claim to true fact - although the money required to travel to the location of the World Championships, often called the Mundials, may deter some of the less affluent or financially successful grapplers from entering. People from all over the planet enter the Mundials, the Pans and other tournaments and despite the continued dominance of Brazilian athletes, athletes living in or originating from other countries regularly win. The explosion of submission grappling as a global sport means that divisions are deeper than ever. The 2011 Mundials had adult blue belt divisions of over 130 men. Just about anyone who pays the tournament registration fee can compete - and the tournaments get longer and denser as time goes on. A breaking point is starting to be reached in terms of the current big organizations' abilities to handle these numbers of competitors. People in the lower belt levels are regularly getting lost as brackets are reshuffled, the mats are run in a haphazard manner and even the black belts are starting to see strains in officiating and time spent waiting and waiting. Further compounding things is the arbitrary decisions of tournament organizers to award this prize or that victory for reasons not transparent to all. This happens often enough that the BJJ world regularly accuses the referees and organizers of having biases this way or that way and nearly everyone believes them. The obvious solution is to run qualifying tournaments - as the World Pro now does - but that takes a certain level of financial backing that is not yet available to the self-sustaining tournaments. The growing pains either have to be suffered through or a financial backer found. However, the way the World Pro does things with its globe-spanning Trials process combines the best of the freestyle wrestling and judo worlds. A limited amount of grapplers are able to win entrance into the April main tournament and more than one person per country can be entered, so the best of the best truly are able to compete. At the same time, the competition levels are so high that gaining entrance to the World Pro requires that one be training BJJ or other grappling arts as a full time job. Almost all of the competitors in this tournament are poised on a razor's edge between "Boom or Bust". The prize money helps, but only a few can win those medals and only a few will turn those medals and prizes into anything resembling a profitable career. The grappling magazines and sites across the internet were mostly following along thanks to a select few having the wherewithal or the event budgets to attend and the blessings that the organizers were smart enough to sell live streams online. It is still nigh upon impossible for sites to make much money off grappling news alone, so sponsorship remains the domain of clothing/gi companies and whatever other sponsors grapplers can pick up. As those who pay attention to MMA sponsorship can attest, this type of grab-bag sponsorship can work out for some and really trouble others. There really is a "rich get richer" effect, although there is considerably more altruism present in the jiu jitsu world than there is in MMA (probably a function of there being less money at stake). The pros and cons of both approaches are many, although the UAE does seem to be getting around the risk of a single backer by instituting BJJ in school physical education programs, importing skilled instructors and heavily incentivizing local grapplers to train very hard and win big tournaments. The Brazilians and the adopted Westerners or home-grown Westerners still win almost everything though. The head starts they have and the relative affluence of Western nations allow for people to train harder and specialize much more than in the nations where BJJ is still new or the people actually have to work for a living. Final Thoughts: This is one vision of the future. The IBJJF seems firmly determined to hold their course of not paying any prizes to winners and to ban certain techniques now and then. Other grappling competitions with different rules or similar rules now exist, but may never catch on to the degree that the IBJJF did or attract the backers like the ADCC or World Pro have done. Right now, a slow attritionist battle is being fought to determine which tournament model wins out and right now, the IBJJF is losing ground - as it rightly should. The gold standard for grappling tournaments remain the freestyle world championships and Olympic events. So long as the premier events of the Brazilian jiu jitsu competitive world cannot hold a candle to these tournaments, the sport will have no real shot at being an Olympic sport in its own right. Perhaps we will be treated to it as a demo sport when we watch the opening ceremonies of Rio 2016. As a reminder that these BJJ athletes are finally competing for more than pride and prestige, this publicized prize money table shows that Rodolfo Vieira had at least 38k going his way for the double gold medals and possibly more in future earnings will be added to his career. This is one positive about this event and hopefully, Rodolfo takes this boost and flies even higher into the jiu jitsu stratosphere.

Posted in: world, champion, tournament, kg, point

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Former UFC champion BJ Penn announced his retirement following a loss to Nick Diaz last year. When he did, many figured it would only be a matter of time before Penn came out of retirement and back into action. However, several months have now passed, and “The Prodigy” appears set in his new lifestyle. Penn [...]

Posted in: ufc, nick diaz, champion, retirement, penn

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, champion, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link, fight circuits

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Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky is not one to mince words.

Posted in: bellator, champion, bantamweight, word, zach

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Here are the full weigh in results for Bellator 65 headed up by bantamweight champion Zack Makovsky taking on Eduardo Dantas in the main event.

Posted in: bellator, result, champion, eduardo dantas, zack

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An excellent feature on UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The champ is here!

Posted in: ufc, champion, champ, light, feature

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just days away from its pay-per-view (PPV) return, featuring a trip to the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 21, 2012. UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" will feature the highly-anticipated grudge match between Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones as he puts his 205-pound title on the line against former friend and training partner Rashad Evans. So who's going to win? The gang from MMA Interviews catches up with UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz, Brandon Vera, Ross Pearson, Brad Tavares, John Alessio, Mike Easton, and former Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell to find out. The UFC and FX recently collaborated for a "Primetime" series in an effort dig deeper into their longstanding feud as they prepare to settle their score and (hopefully) bring some resolution to the murky 205-pound title picture. Watch episode one of "Primetime" in its entirety right here. The UFC also held a special pre-fight press conference that had a tension-filled staredown between "Bones" and "Suga," which only served to add more fuel to the raging fire. See them face off right here. It's (almost) time! For all the news and notes surrounding UFC 145 check out our comprehensive news archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, jone, right, champion, entirety right

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A week ago Junior dos Santos was in the midst of preparing for a the biggest fight of his career when he found out his scheduled opponent, Alistair Overeem, might be facing discipline after testing positive for an extraordinarily high level of testosterone in his system. While Overeem’s status as top contender will be determined on April 24 when he meets with the NSAC, the damage has already been done to his reputation in the eyes of countless fans and, as it turns out, Dos Santos as well. The 27-year old recently opened up on the situation where his waning interest in duking it out with the powerful Dutchman at UFC 146 was evident. “If the athletic commission and the UFC want I’ll fight him. I am a fighter and will be there to fight, but it is sure to be a disrespect to MMA and how serious this sport is. This will also be unfair to me. I’ve never used these devices to gain strength,” explained Dos Santos in an interview with Globo. “We want to know who the best is, really. Not who’s the best liar. Being a world champion (using banned) drugs – that’s not being a champion. I can clearly say that I am the champion without ever having the use of any illegal substances in order to get there.” Dos Santos added his desire to see the implementation of similar screenings like the random one he, Overeem, and four other heavyweights slated for the Memorial Day Weekend event were subjected to. “I favor more rigorous tests to assess whether someone is doped,” said Dos Santos. “It has to be a clean sport and these surprise tests should occur more. If Overeem is more aggressive and stronger, the more he will resist blows and it will be difficult for me. If I lose, it will be unfair. He will not have fought better than I have if he fought doped.” Though it originally appeared Overeem was destined to have his license denied based on the positive hit, more information has since come to light making it seem as though “The Demolition Man” could avoid punishment altogether. As Overeem is not currently licensed, he may not have been eligible to be tested by the commission and could argue they simply caught him spiking after having undergoing a session of testosterone replacement therapy. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, overeem, champion, do, liar ”

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos is not a man that will back down from any challenge. He has proven so time and time again since his debut in the world's preeminent mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in 2008 when he knocked out established veteran Fabricio Werdum in the very first round. The competition didn't get easier from there for the Brazilian bomber. He proceeded to defeat his next seven opponents with ease, including some of the best heavyweights in the world such as Roy Nelson, Mirko Filipovic, Shane Carwin and the man he took the title from, Cain Velasquez. His next challenge is scheduled to come against Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 on May 26, 2012, the most accomplished striker "Cigano' will have faced to date. Of course, April 24, 2012 can't come fast enough, as that is the day the MMA world will know whether or not "The Reem" will get licensed to fight due to his positive drug test that showed the former K-1 champion had elevated testosterone levels. Still, regardless of all the drama surrounding Overeem and his scheduled Memorial Day weekend showdown, Junior is not ready to back down one bit, even if he now considers it to be an unfair fight. Speaking to Brazilian news outlet Globo, "Cigano" says he would gladly take the fight with Overeem if the Nevada's State Athletic Commission (NSAC) approves it, but he feels it will be an unfair due to his opponent's elevated testosterone levels. "If the fight happens I will fight with pleasure, but I can tell if it is proved that the use of illegal substances is disrespect to the sport and something unfair to me. The ratio of testosterone in his body that there may be increased by 30% his strength and aggressiveness of it, I was told people who know the subject. Will really be unfair fight, but as a fighter will be ready to face anyone. If the athletic commission and the UFC want I'll fight him. I am a fighter and will be there to fight, but it is sure to be disrespect to MMA and how serious is this sport. This will also be unfair, it will be unfair to me. I've never used these devices to gain strength. I think the right would do blood tests on wrestlers as is done in the Olympics, not the urine, since the blood is easier to detect these illegal substances. We want to know who the best really. No use to be the best liar. Being a world champion making false use of a lot of drugs, that's not being champion. I can clearly say that I am the champion without ever having the use of any illegal artifice in order to get there. I favor more rigorous tests to assess whether someone is doped. It has to be a clean sport and these tests should occur more surprises. If Overeem is more aggressive and stronger the more he will resist blows and it will be difficult for me. If I lose will be unfair. He will not have fought better than I have fought doped." Junior went on to say that even though Overeem would prove a great challenge for him, Cain Velasquez, who he knocked out in just over a minute at UFC on Fox 1 to claim his title, would be an even bigger one: "I find it curious he won three belts without ever having been caught doping in right away and ends up being caught in the UFC. It would be a good challenge for me, but my biggest challenge I went for the title against Cain. He is the most outstanding and would be a great challenge for me. The Overeem would be a good challenge, but it would be my biggest challenge. He fails the fitness and speed. He frightens the uninitiated, but who knows what being a fighter knows he would not be my most difficult opponent. We always say that the next challenge will be more difficult to prepare even more, but do not think Overeem would be my biggest challenge." Though many fans would love to see a rematch between Cain and dos Santos, considering the first one wasn't much of a fight, Velasquez is currently scheduled to face Frank Mir as the co-main event for UFC 146, a bout UFC President Dana White says will still go on as planned.. So what's your say on the matter Maniacs, does the reigning Heavyweight champion have some beef to call the fight unfair if it indeed goes down? Or is it even playing field if the NSAC does indeed approve "The Reem" to compete for the title? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, champion, challenge

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Two-time K-1 Max champion Buakaw Banchemak (formerly Por Pramuk) got his first taste of mixed martial arts today when he trained with BJJ black belt Adam Kayoom at his Q23 Academy in Bangkok. Buakaw recently left the Por Pramuk camp which had been his home for over a decade and is involved in an ongoing contractual dispute with them. He has made numerous TV appearances in Thailand recently to discuss his issues with Por Pramuk, who reportedly only paid him a tiny fraction of the purse money he earned during a career which saw him win numerous honors including winning K-1 Max two times and becoming Thai Fights champion last year. For the time being Buakaw remains estranged from the camp where he made his name and is training in Surin but during a recent visit to Bangkok he decided to take the opportunity to train from the most respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) teacher in all of Thailand. Kayoom is a Muay Thai World Champion himself, although he has never competed on quite Buakaw's level. He is, however, a legend in South East Asian circles as he has his own school in Bangkok, the Q23 Academy, and his extensive list of BJJ honors include being named Australian National Champion, Cyclone Cup Champion, South Brazilian Champion and New South Wales Champion. He also has a reputation as being one of the best BJJ teachers in the region and if Buakaw does decide to add to his Muay Thai arsenal by learning the ground game the Q23 Academy is a great place to start. For his part Kayoom feels that the Thai legend has what it takes to succeed in a second combat sport, "Buakaw has a lot of potential. He's very sharp, listens very well to instructions and is able to apply it (the techniques) quickly and very well. And on top of that a real gentleman. Very respectful. A real champion. He was very friendly to my friends and students in and out of the academy. It was a real pleasure to have him on the mats." Kayoom is the best MMA fighter that Malaysia has ever produced and with black belts in BJJ and Taekwondo and world championships in Muay Thai he has all the tools to succeed as a mixed martial artist. Expect to see him in action at ONE Fighting Championship 'Destiny of Warriors' in Kuala Lumpur on June 23rd. For his part Buakaw is likely to return to Muay Thai action in Pattaya in April 17th when he fights Frenchman Mickael Cornubet. The dispute with Por Pramuk has yet to be settled but the possibility of one of the most successful fighters in K-1 history learning the ground game is sure to excite MMA fans. For more information about Q23 Academy visit: www.thailandbjj.com.

Posted in: champion, bjj, thai, buakaw, por

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Of all the people that discuss pound-for-pound rankings, there are few more qualified to present their opinions than former UFC champion Randy Couture. “The Natural” broke down his top four, in weight division order (lightest to heaviest). Couture, the first ever champion in two divisions, discusses why he feels these four particular fighters are the best in the world, and what differentiates them from other fighters. His list is made up of four UFC champions- Jose Also, Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones. Couture speaks particularly highly of Jones, specifically with the 24-year old’s rapid development during his three year UFC career. Watch as Couture speaks about all four champions and why they are a step above their competition:

Posted in: ufc, fighter, champion, year, poundforpound rankings

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight kingpin Brock Lesnar is "proud" to be back with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), a company he left in 2004 to try his hand in the National Football League (NFL). The Minnesota Vikings were not impressed. Good thing, too, or Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may have never gotten the opportunity to have Lesnar bring so many mainstream eyeballs to the sport of cagefighting, which continued to enjoy its upward trajectory with "The Brockness Monster" riding shotgun. Unfortunately the brightest stars burn out the quickest -- and Lesnar was no exception. But his success, as well as the success ZUFFA enjoyed during his employ, has been a springboard for his return to professional wrestling, where he's embraced his role of former UFC Heavyweight Champion as part of an angle that brings "legitimacy" back to the WWE. Here's what Lesnar said on Monday Night RAW. "Proud? I'm proud of everything I do. Let me tell you a little story. Eight years ago I left this company. I was a WWE Champion. Took this company to heights it had never seen before. Left the company, went to the UFC and became UFC Heavyweight Champion of the world. Their success was on my blood, sweat and tears. Proud? Damn right I'm proud." It's interesting to note that last night's theme was how the powers that be wanted to "bring legitimacy back to the WWE," a message heavily pushed on the April 9 edition of its flagship show, by bringing a former UFC champion back into the fold. While everything in pro wrestling is scripted (duh), I still find it interesting that WWE head cheese Vince McMahon would embrace an angle that at its core, says WWE is illegitimate compared to UFC. Unless the plan is to have Lesnar get his ass kicked from here to Topeka. Take that, UFC! Anything is possible inside the squared circle, but for now, Lesnar is walking around bragging about how the UFC rode him like a camel into the land of mainstream success, which ironically, came thanks to his success as a WWE Champion. Who says you can't go home again? More on Lesnar's pro wrestling return here and here.

Posted in: ufc, champion, wwe, lesnar, success

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H Here comes the pain, indeed. My brain hurts. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar, was once again back in the land of make believe tonight (April 9, 2012) just one week after signing a one-year contract to return to his old fake stomping grounds, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). And he picked up right where he left off, which was building a beef with John Cena after finishing him with a patented "F-5" in his triumphant return (watch the video here) just seven days ago. Already, I know way more than I should. Nonetheless, check out how the announcers introduced Lesnar: "Well, Brock Lesnar, indeed, has all the credentials. He was an NCAA Heavyweight champion. He was a King of the Ring winner, a Royal Rumble winner and a three-time WWE champion. And then he went on to conquer UFC, where he became the UFC champion. And now Lesnar is back." The overarching theme, at least so far, is that Lesnar will "bring legitimacy" back to "professional" wrestling, which seems like quite the contradiction. But, then again, that's the appeal I suppose. Check out Lesnar's brief remarks after the jump, which were (thankfully) interrupted by a Cena bitch slap: "First and foremost, I would like to thank you Mr. Laurinaitis, for having the wisdom to bring legitimacy back to the WWE." Say what? Personal feelings aside, if a poll we recently conducted is any indication, most mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are completely cool with Lesnar returning to the WWE. In fact, more than half of respondents (54 percent) were all for Lesnar going back to "do what he does best." It all just seems so strange. And, oddly, entertaining. I can't not watch it, which I suppose is the hook. Either way, I'm confused. All he has to do now is have his UFC 141 loss to Alistair Overeem overturned to a "No Contest" and replace "The Reem" in the UFC 146 main event opposite Junior dos Santos on Memorial Day Weekend, and I'll be completely bent. That can't happen, can it?

Posted in: ufc, champion, wwe, lesnar, brock

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Congratulations to UFC Light Heavyweight and TUF 8 Champion Ryan Bader, who became a proud poppa over the weekend to Kanon Beau Bader. Props: Twitter

Posted in: champion, bader, congratulation, poppa congratulations, poppa

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For those anxiously awaiting news of a replacement opponent for Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, you may be waiting a little longer than expected...

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, heavyweight champion, replacement opponent

Read the full article at Low Kick

With the results of former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem's surprise drug test, Ultimate Fighting Championship matchmakers are now searching for a replacement to face current heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146.

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, heavyweight champion, championship matchmakers

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Contenders, not to be mistaken with pretenders, are fighters that have a legitimate shot at dethroning the champion in their respected weight classes...

Posted in: champion, contender, shot, weight, pretender

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Chandler winning the belt Bellator on Friday officially announced lightweight champion Michael Chandler’s first title defense. He will defend against Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67 on May 4 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada. After Chandler’s amazing fourth-round submission victory against then champion Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58, the undefeated champion knows that he’s now the one with the target on his back. “I’m just excited to get back into the cage,” Chandler said.

Posted in: bellator, champion, chandler, akihiro gono, chandler ’s

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is likely to get a new opponent for his planned May 26 title defense at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, and he’s finally talking about it.

Posted in: ufc, title, champion, do, las vegas

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney updates the contract situations of former champion Eddie Alvarez as well as middleweight champion Hector Lombard.

Posted in: lombard, champion, hector lombard, eddie alvarez, contract situations

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Bellator 64 kicks off tomorrow night in Windsor, Ontario.  The event will be headlined by a welterweight championship fight between champion Ben Askren and Season Five tournament champion Douglas Lima. Be sure to stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for our coverage of Bellator 64.  

Posted in: bellator, champion, tomorrow night, lima, askren

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Posted in: ufc, champion, year, return, brock

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The rumors were spot-on. Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, who retired from MMA after a loss to Alistair Overeem in December, on Monday returned to the WWE – and right into an apparent...

Posted in: ufc, champion, alistair overeem, brock, wwe –

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has officially returned to the WWE, and made his first appearance during Monday Night Raw in Miami.

Posted in: ufc, champion, wwe, monday night, brock

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

It appears Josh Thomson will face Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez at the upcoming May event to settle their score.

Posted in: strikeforce, champion, josh, thomson, josh thomson

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

We started with 32 of the biggest upsets in MMA history and now we are down to one. The final round saw the largest amount of votes in the tournament with nearly 700 voters to decide whether Matt Serra’s UFC 69 upset over Georges St-Pierre was bigger than Fabricio Werdum’s upset in Strikeforce over, the previously undefeated by anything more than a technicality, Fedor Emelianenko. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately depending on your view, we will crown our champion without having to see whichever travesty of a suit Craig Sager is donning or be subjected to a horribly outdated victory song. So which upset did you guys choose? The winner of the MMAFrenzy Tournament of Upsets champion, with over 60% of the vote, is Matt Serra’s stunning upset of Georges St-Pierre. The win comes as no surprise as it was the number one seeded upset, but the bout did receive a stern test until finally gaining an insurmountable edge late. Serra’s upset will forever be in remembered in MMA history as the prime example of someone having a “puncher’s chance” of winning fight despite the longest of odds. Serra went from becoming TUF 4: “The Comeback” champion, to shocking the world at UFC 69. Serra, plain and simple, was not supposed to win in a fight that realistically was only set as a gimmick to garner ratings for The Ultimate Fighter. While Werdum’s submission win over Fedor was huge, Werdum has consistently proven to be a tier-one heavyweight. So while the victory was a surprise, it was at least foreseeable with Werdum’s level of skill and Fedor beginning to show his “cage age” after many vicious wars. MMAFrenzy thanks you guys for all your votes and we hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did. You can check out a bracket here.

Posted in: champion, werdum, serra, mmafrenzy tournament, upsets champion

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will make his first title defense of 2012 against an ex-teammate and past champion, as “Bones” collides with Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC 145 later this month. For several months now, Jones and Evans have verbally sparred, as the two have had matches cancelled due to injuries to both men. Now, with their date set for April 21 from Atlanta, the stars appear aligned. Evans, who missed out on a title chance back in March of 2011, has done all he can to try and get inside the head of Jones, who became the youngster UFC champion ever when he defeated Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in place of Evans. As “Bones” told the London Free Press recently, Evans will not control his thoughts. I love that he talks so much crap because the more crap he talks, the sillier he’s going to look when he loses that fight. Rashad’s just a pawn in this game that I’m playing. Nothing more. Jones knows that he will be facing a stern test in Evans, but if the former NJCAA national wrestling champion can avoid getting trapped in Evans’ mental game, he should be able to earn another victory over a former champion. Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Posted in: jone, champion, rashad, rashad evans, evan

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Nice guys finish last. You hear it constantly. Any jerk you run into on the street will tell you they’re that way because nice guys finish last. It’s become a mantra for anyone a little rough around the edges, a way that they can justify rubbing people the wrong way...

Posted in: guy, way, champion, people, jerk

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion Rich Franklin will return to the 185 pound division, to face Sanshou standout Cung Le at UFC 148. After getting bested twice by current middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Franklin decided to give the light-heavyweight...

Posted in: silva, champion, middleweight, anderson, franklin

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For years now, Muay Thai has been the stand-up style of choice amongst mixed martial artists. Fighters have taken the Thai style and built their striking games around it. Yet despite this crossover, we've yet to see any high level Muay Thai fighters make a truly successful transition to MMA. There are small exceptions - Cosmo Alexandre is 1-1 in Bellator, Rambaa Somdet is a Shooto champion - but for the most part, true Muay Thai world champions have not made a dedicated effort to switch to MMA. Until now. Orono Wor Petchpun, a highly decorated Thai veteran and former Lumpinee Stadium champion, has announced he will make the move to MMA. The Muay Thai fighter has been training MMA with the Evolve Fight Team in order to make his debut soon, possibly as part of a DARE MMA event. Unfortunately for Orono, those plans may be jeopardized by politics. Yesterday, the Thai government announced that they would be cracking down on MMA events, which are technically not legal in Thailand, but until now have been allowed to take place. With DARE and other organizations gaining momentum, the government has decided to no longer allow MMA in Thailand in order to maintain the popularity of Muay Thai. Let's hope these events do not get in the way of Orono's move, as I know I am not alone in wondering just how the Muay Thai great would do inside the cage. We had a chance to speak with Orono recently, and he shared some interesting thoughts on the difference between Muay Thai and MMA, what he thinks of the current state of MMA striking, and why he would win against Jose Aldo: BE: What led to you making the switch to MMA now? Orono: I've been watching my teammates on the Evolve Fight Team compete and it has sparked a desire to compete again. I have spent a lot of time studying the game of MMA and I believe that I know how to use my Muay Thai effectively in the cage. What training are you doing to make this move? I've been training in wrestling and submission grappling. I have also recently just picked up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the Gi. What will be the hardest adjustment for you in switching to MMA? The transitions are the trickiest parts of MMA. I want to be able to flow between striking, takedowns, and submissions. That being said, my style of MMA will most likely be similar to that of Anderson Silva's. What do you think of the level of Muay Thai we see in MMA today? MMA is a different game. Most fighters are generalists in striking, wrestling, and submissions. Some guys are specialists. The overall level of striking is quite low in MMA today, even at the highest levels of MMA. Please do not misunderstand what I am saying... MMA athletes are all world-class. It is just that they have to spread their training across so many different disciplines in order to be successful. Take a look at me. I am confident that I can stand with any MMA fighter in the world. However, I will be training very hard in wrestling and submissions on top of my Muay Thai. MMA is a different game and it requires a different technical IQ to succeed. But to answer your question, there is no MMA fighter today that could legitimately fight Muay Thai in Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand. How do you feel your skills would match up against UFC champion Jose Aldo? It depends on the sport! In MMA, he would kill me right now because he's is a world champion BJJ Black Belt and I am a beginner at MMA. Of course, if we fought in pure Muay Thai match, I have 100% confidence that he would not get past the 1st round with me. His Muay Thai is at a very basic level if you compare it to the level in Thailand. Will you be fighting at 145 pounds? No, I have decided to fight at 135 pounds. I can still make weight very easily. My body is in pristine condition. I have no injuries from my Muay Thai career and I don't drink or smoke. Additionally, as you know from my Muay Thai career, I have been genetically blessed with endless cardio. I have no problems doing 10 rounds x 5 minutes of MMA at 100% output. I just did it the other day for fun at the Fighters Program at Evolve. As one of the few Thai fighters to go into MMA, do you feel pressure to represent Muay Thai? Of course. I want to make Thailand proud. I want to show the world the real art of Muay Thai. I want to make my family proud. I want to make my students proud. I want to bring more glory to my home, Evolve MMA. I want to show gratitude to my boss, Chatri, for his kindness. As you can see, I am very driven to become an MMA champion. You were the It's Showtime champion, but have not defended the belt in 2 years. What happened? Politics as usual. I want to fight as often as possible, but promoters and managers all have different agendas. Even right now I am willing to fight anyone in the world at Muay Thai. What are your goals for the rest of your career? I want to become an MMA champion. I believe that I have the athleticism to make the transition. And more importantly, I have all the resources here at Evolve MMA to learn from our world champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, and MMA. You will see the new Orono this year!

Posted in: mma, champion, muay, thai, muay thai

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Maurice Smith is one of a number of former UFC heavyweight champions likely past their prime but looking to get back to the big show.

Posted in: ufc, champion, brydon, smith, maurice

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

When you're the man at the helm of the success of some of the most dangerous fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) today, life is good. Greg Jackson, head trainer at Jackson's-Winkeljohn Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is one of the men behind arguably two of the top three pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and longtime champion of the Welterweight division, Georges St. Pierre. Jones had an impressive year in 2011, capturing his first world title and defending it twice against some of the toughest competition at 205 pounds in span of nine months. "Bones" is near perfect, with only one blemish in his professional MMA career, a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill for illegal downward elbows in 2010. St. Pierre has long been the king at 170 pounds, cleaning out the division twice over with wins over some of the tops fighters in the world today and six consecutive title defenses to boot. The two gifted athletes have enjoyed much success in their careers and all the perks that come with it such as fame, money and mainstream exposure. Though the benefits of their success may be somewhat similar, the fighters themselves are at a different level in their careers. UFC Central's "Showdown Joe" Ferraro recently caught up with MMA trainer extraordinaire, Greg Jackson, and got his take on which of the two is the best fighter he has ever trained. Check it out: "Both of them are amazing. Jon is still young, he is still being tested. He's had a couple of title defenses but he is still being tested and I have a lot of confidence that he will pass the test, as far as how you deal with fame, how you allow the people around you to change, who you bring in. GSP has passed those tests. He's had the title for a long time and so George is always the leader of the charge. He's the guy that everybody emulates. Even other champions can learn, like Carlos Condit, he is now the interim champion, he is also our guy, so we all learn from George's example of staying humble, staying true to himself and keeping the people he has had around him forever, just around him still, being loyal. Constantly learning new things, so yeah, George leads the way. " As Jackson stated, if having the 170-pound champion in your stable wasn't enough, he also has the interim welterweight champion, Carlos Condit, under his tutelage, as well. "The Natural Born Killer" will face off against "Rush" later this year, possibly in November at UFC 154 in Montreal, to unify the titles once and for all. Jones on the other hand, has his hands full against former training partner Rashad Evans, who, coincidentally enough, was also a UFC champion under the guidance of Jackson in 2008, at UFC 145 on April 21, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. In a den full of lions, the French-Canadian Georges St. Pierre, is still the king of the pack. Anyone care to disagree?

Posted in: title, jackson, fighter, champion, george

Read the full article at MMA Mania

ONE Fighting Championship's third event is happening this weekend in Singapore, and since most of our readers are from outside of Asia, here's an in-depth preview and a complete guide on everything you will need to know about the upcoming event. Event Details: ONE Fighting Championship 3: War of the LionsMarch 31, 2012 -- 8 a.m. ETSingapore Indoor Arena, Singapore How to watch: If you're not going to be in the Singapore Indoor Arena to watch the event, you can catch it live and for free on their YouTube channel. FIVE things to look forward to: 1. A STACKED CARD OF TOP STARS AND ASIAN CHAMPIONS - If well known stars like Tatsuya Kawajiri and Melvin Manhoef won't be enough to convince you to watch, they will also be on the stacked card along with 4 fighters from the World MMA Scouting Report, and boat load of champions and Asian stars. There's DEEP Champions Masakazu Imanari, Yuya Shirai, and Yoshiyuki Nakanishi, URCC Champions Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon, and KOTC Champ Donald Sanchez. There are also multiple champions from different disciplines such as former WBC Boxing Champion, Yodsanan Sityodtong, BJJ World Champion, Zorobabel Moreira, and the list goes on and on. 2. CAN FELIPE ENOMOTO PULL OFF ANOTHER UPSET AGAINST A TOP FIGHTER LIKE ZOROBABEL MOREIRA? - Zoro, who is one of the most talented guys coming out of the famed Evolve MMA gym, is a high level BJJ world champion with an ever improving stand up game. At 6-foot-3, Zoro is one of the largest guys in the lightweight division, and on his last fight, he dismantled Andy Wang and showcased his improving stand up. Zoro's notoriety has skyrocketed and has been named as one of the top prospects in the world, leading to a lot of people thinking that he will run through Enomoto. The thing is, this was the exact same thing that people said about his last fight against Ole Laursen. The very well rounded and tough fighter in Enomoto proved every single one of his doubters wrong when he dropped the Muay Thai champion and submitted him. Despite his performance at ONE FC 2, people are still pegging him as the underdog on this fight, but much like his last bout, Felipe still doesn't pay attention to what everyone thinks. "I don't really care if that's what everyone is talking about," Enomoto said in an interview with BloodyElbow.com, "And I would also not really care if it would be the opposite way." "It's good if he's ranked high on some list." he said, as he talked about the World MMA Scouting Report, "I don't look to replace him on that list, I just want to win. Such numbers don't mean anything to me." Can Enomoto pull off another impressive victory in his second time headlining a ONE FC event? Or will Zoro live up to his potential and showcase his vastly improving MMA game? Either way, this is one fight you should keep an eye out for. Much more after the jump, but don't forget to follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. 3. OLE LAURSEN VS. EDUARD FOLAYANG - There's a bunch of story lines on this fight stemming from their contrasting styles of Muay Thai and Wushu, their friendship, their Filipino heritage, or from their original fight that was supposed to happen last September. I'm not going to go through all that anymore, but the bottom line is, this is a must watch fight simply because these two huge Asian stars have fighting styles that would never allow a boring fight. They're two of the most entertaining guys in the region and it's guaranteed to be a fast paced, explosive, and very entertaining match up from the opening bell. 4. MASAKAZU IMANARI VS. KEVIN BELINGON - This is personally what I consider as the unofficial main event. Kevin Belingon is undefeated at 9-0, and is one of the top prospects in Asia. He trains with Team Lakay who has produced numerous dominant Filipino champions like his teammate Eduard Folayang, who is fighting on this card. Belingon has been tearing through his opponents, but he will be taking a massive step up in competition to take on a very experienced veteran in Imanari, who has been a consensus top 15-20 bantamweight. 5. THE PROGRESS OF YODSANAN SITYODTONG AND EDDIE NG - Yodsanan Sityodtong (1-0), or "Little Tyson" was a very accomplished boxer, winning the WBC Super-Featherweight championship along with a good amount of Muay Thai fights also under his belt before seriously moving to MMA. Eddie Ng (4-1) on the other hand is a very young prospect and a highly skilled grappler of Hong Kong descent, who was originally from England. These two members joined the Evolve Fight Team and made waves on the promotion's inaugural show. They're very different fighters, but they both have been training with the Muay Thai, BJJ, and wrestling world champions at Evolve MMA, and it would be very interesting to see how much they have developed since we last saw them 6 months ago. Hidden Gems and Fun Facts: - Donald Sanchez, who will be facing Tatsuya Kawajiri on this card, fought just two weeks ago and claimed the KOTC bantamweight (145 lbs.) title. - Nicole Chua, who apart from being an Muay Thai fighter, was also a full time accountant. She will be making her pro-debut on this card and as Singapore's first professional female fighter, she has been getting a lot of attention from the mainstream media. - ESPN and ESPN Star Sports have been showing the first 2 ONE FC events all over Asia this past few weeks, and the network giant also now owns a minority stake in the promotion. Speaking of ESPN, the headliner, Zorobabel Moreira and his coach from Evolve MMA, Chatri Sityodtong was on Sports Center recently: Full Fight Card: ONE FC 3: War of the LionsMarch 31, 2012 -- Singapore Indoor Arena, Singapore - Zorobabel Moreira vs. Felipe Enomoto- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Donald Sanchez- Eduard Folayang vs. Ole Laursen - Yuya Shirai vs. Fabricio Monteiro- Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi- Eddie Ng vs. Jian Kai Chee- Masakazu Imanari vs. Kevin Belingon- Nicole Chua vs. Jeet Toshi- Quek Kim Hock vs. Juan Wen Jie- Yodsanan Sityodtong vs. Jiang Long Yun- Danny Van Bergen vs. Richie Whitson

Posted in: fight, mma, vs, event, champion

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Saturday (March 31) is fight night in Singapore and the anticipation is already building ahead of a show which will be the biggest the country has ever witnessed. ONE Fighting Championship is gaining momentum at a remarkable rate and 7,000 tickets have already been sold and the online audience is expected to be measured in the hundreds of thousands. By the time the first bell sounds at ONE Fighting Championship 'War of the Lions' on Saturday the Singapore Indoor Stadium will be completely sold out and the decision to stream the entire show completely free of charge on YouTube means that the online audience will be enormous. The fighters have already started to arrive and today saw a series of open workouts hosted all over town. I attended the one at Evolve MMA which has no fewer than five of it's fighters on the card. Every time I visit this place I am absolutely blown away by the facilities which are on a par with a five star hotel and this was no exception. Muay Thai legends like Attachai Fairtex and Orono Wor Petchpun were doing the pad holding as Zorobabel Moreira, Eddie Ng, Fabricio Monteiro, Yodsanan Sityodtong and Nicole Chua were put through their paces alongside other fighters including Mitch Chilson, Brian Choi, Leandro Issa, Shinya Aoki and Rafael Dos Anjos. Coaches Chatri Sityodtong and Heath Sims kept a careful eye on proceedings and the latter will have been watching out for his Team Quest student Richie Whitson who has also been preparing for his ONE FC fight at Evolve MMA. Here, in pictures, is this afternoon's session: Nicole Chua works with former Lumpini Champion Orono Wor Petchpun. Chua is Singapore's first ever female mixed martial artist and the 50 or so photographers and journalists in attendance were much more interested in her than in any of the male fighters. She is a former Muay Thai fighter who started training MMA fairly recently and will be up against 1-0 Indian Jeet Toshi on Saturday. Interestingly enough Orono is also rumored to be training MMA and hoping to make his competitive debut later this year. Eddie Ng works on his kicking with another former Lumlpinee champion, Attachai Fairtex, who was two time fighter of the year in Thailand. Ng, from Hong Kong, is one of the rising stars of Asian MMA and is also becoming very well known in Singapore and has attracted a lot of media interest. He is best known for his BJJ but will be up against Malaysian Muay Thai champion Jian Kai Chee so is probably looking to get some last minute stand up practice in. Yodsanan Sityodtong is 37 years old but still fights at the same weight he won his first title at aged 22. He has never smoked or drank alcohol and trains every day regardless of whether he has a fight booked or not. The former WBA Super Featherweight world champion is taking on Jian Long Yun who is much more experienced in MMA. It will be a real test for the 'Thai Tyson' who has 47 KOs in his boxing career but he has a reputation for working tirelessly in training and three days out from fight night is only a couple of kgs away from his target weight. Zorobabel Moreira is a man who probably wishes he was only a couple kgs away from his target weight. He is 6"3' and cuts something like 10 kgs over a period of weeks to get down to the lightweight limit. He is also one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and showed no signs of ill temper despite undergoing a potentially grueling weight cut. Zoro is another fighter who is making waves in Asian MMA and appeared on ESPN's Sports Centre last night, along with Evolve MMA owner Chatri Sityodtong, to discuss his forthcoming fight with Felipe Enomoto. This match up will be the main event and is the biggest fight of Moreira's career by far. He is a BJJ world champion who was named number seven in a list of the top lightweight prospects in the world earlier this year and he says that his weight cut is going smoothly and he will be within the lightweight limit at Friday's weigh in. TUF veteran Richie Whitson is a member of Team Quest and is managed by Evolve MMA's wrestling coach Heath Sims who got him a contract with ONE FC. He has an 11-2 record and is looking to really make a name for himself fighting in Asia. The lightweight division is the most competitive in ONE FC and all three events so far have been headlined by 155 lbs fighters. Whitson believes there are some big fights out there for him but first he will have to get past Danny Van Bergen this Saturday. Whitson, who is surprisingly small for a lightweight, told me that he thinks Van Bergen's Sherdog record is incomplete and that the Dutchman has closer to 25 wins. Two of the better lightweights in the world work on their clinching under the watchful eye of a team of Thai trainers. Both have huge fights coming up, Shinya Aoki is preparing for his rematch with Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 66 next month while Rafael Dos Anjos is taking on Kamal Shalorus at UFC on Fuel 3 in May. With Aoki, Dos Anjos, Moreira, Ng and Whitson all training together Evolve MMA probably has a better collection of high caliber lightweights than any other camp in the world right now. ONE FC is being streamed live on YouTube completely free of charge on Saturday. See above for times or click here to visit the official YouTube channel. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, champion, thai

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Sherdog.com confirmed with Lawal and his manager, Mike Kogan, that the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion was today released from his contract. MMAJunkie.com first reported the news on Tuesday evening, citing UFC President Dana White.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, champion, tuesday evening, contract mmajunkiecom

Read the full article at Sherdog

"Not unless they drag me out of here kicking and screaming. It's real sports competition. It's football, baseball, basketball, soccer -- every sport we've watched since we were kids is competition. You start with a group and then at the end there's one. Being involved in boxing through the years, the matchmaking in boxing seemed so theatrical -- you know the outcomes of the fights before they occur. That's what I wanted to do away with. Not everybody is going to be in love with the format, nor is everybody going to be in love with the matchmaking format where you have to ask for a world title fight. Should the Giants just be bestowed the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl again? Or should they have to go through the season of 16 games? My answer is, you've got to go through it. All that matters is when that cage door shuts, do you win? I think that's the purest form of sports." -- Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney is sticking to his tournament-style format, whether fans and/or critics alike approve of it or not. Appearing on the The MMA Hour today (March, 26, 2012), Rebney -- who is spearheading arguably the second best mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) juggernaut -- says that the format is not for everybody. The tournament style, which has proved successful for Bellator, at times may cause a large gap in between fights for the organizations champion, seeing as he has to wait for the entire tournament to be over to find out who he will face next, and when. Cole Konrad, the Bellator Heavyweight champion, has not seen action in more than seven months waiting for his next opponent, which will be Eric Prindle because of weight issues from Thiago Santos. Meanwhile, the organization's Middleweight Champion, Hector Lombard, has been on the sidelines since Nov. 19, 2011, as well as the promotion's poster boy, Eddie Alvarez. As both fighters are nearing the ends of thier contracts, will they opt to seek greener pastures with the UFC because of the extensive inactivity ? Only time will tell. In the meantime, are you in favor of the tournament-style the Rebney has implemented with Bellator? Or would you like to see the promotion's champions fighting more often?

Posted in: bellator, champion, format, end theres, sport weve

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If Junior dos Santos has anything to say about it, his name will be atop the UFC’s heavyweight division for years to come. Dos Santos is currently set to defend his UFC heavyweight title for the first time at UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem later this year against Alistair Overeem. In a recent interview (thanks to FightLine.com for transcribing), dos Santos assures everybody that his goal is to remain champion after the Overeem bout, and for more to come. My dream was to become the champion. The minute (UFC president) Dana (White) strapped that belt around my waist, my dream got bigger. I’m not here to be a one- or two-defense champion. I’m here to stay. On May 26, there’s going to be a heavyweight striking war and someone is getting knocked out. Dos Santos claimed the title with a knockout victory over Cain Velasquez late in 2011. He has been sidelined since due to surgery on his knee suffered in training for the fight. As could be expected, the UFC did not give dos Santos an easy opponent in his first title defense, as the heavyweight division is jam-packed with contenders. In “The Reem,” dos Santos will be facing a multi-talented individual. “Cigano” will have to show that he was able to remain in fight-shape against Overeem, or it could be a quick reign as UFC champion for him. Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, champion, do

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Strikeforce women's champion Ronda Rousey shares thoughts on a variety of topics in the first of a two-part interview.

Posted in: champion, thought, rousey, lefko, mma rapping

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

UFC president Dana White announced that featherweight champion Jose Aldo will headline UFC 149 in Calgary on July 21, topping out what he promises will be a "sick card."

Posted in: ufc, champion, jose, aldo, calgary

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

After the rematch between UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson and Frankie Edgar was announced for this summer, top contender Anthony Pettis has decided to go under the knife as opposed to enter the cage for his next move. Pettis is expected to undergo an undisclosed surgery which will sideline the former WEC champion for two to three months. Pettis (15-2) defeated Joe Lauzon via first round knockout at UFC 144 in February. He was hoping that was enough to earn a title shot against whomever came out the victor in the main event between Henderson and Edgar. Unfortunately for Pettis, due to the close matchup, a rematch between Henderson and Edgar was made. Pettis already owns a win over the current UFC champion, defeating Henderson in the final WEC event at WEC 53 in December 2010. He was promised a title shot against the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125. But, again, due to the close match (which was scored a draw), an immediate rematch was made. He then went on to lose his UFC debut against Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale in June. While rumors of a possible drop to featherweight and a title shot against champion Jose Also were discussed, Pettis will remain at lightweight and likely will return some time later this summer.

Posted in: ufc, title shot, petti, henderson, champion

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Las Vegas, Nevada – The BIGGEST collection of heavyweight title contenders will be on display this Memorial Day weekend as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® presents UFC® 146: DOS SANTOS vs. OVEREEM from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 26.In the night’s main event, newly-crowned UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos defends his title against menacing finisher Alistair Overeem, while in the co-main event, former heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir collide to determine the division’s number one contender.Three other gigantic heavyweight fights round out the main card, including: Roy “Big Country” Nelson vs. Antonio “Big Foot” Silva; Gabriel Gonzaga vs. the unbeaten Shane Del Rosario; Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve vs. Mark “The Super Samoan” Hunt. In total, the main card of UFC 146 includes over 2,000 pounds of the best heavyweights in the world.A press conference is planned for Tuesday, March 27 at 11 a.m. PT from the MGM Hotel Lobby in Las Vegas. The event is FREE and open to the public. Dos Santos, Overeem, Velasquez, Mir, Nelson and Silva will join UFC President Dana White at the presser.“Our Memorial Day weekend events in Las Vegas are always big, but Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem is one of the most exciting heavyweight fights ever!” UFC President Dana White said. “The all-heavyweight main card features five guys ranked in the top 10. This is the most heavyweights on a UFC card in history. You don’t want to miss this!”Tickets for UFC® 146: DOS SANTOS vs. OVEREEM, presented by BUD LIGHT®, go on sale Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $800, $600, $400, $250, $125 and $75. Tickets are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are subject to convenience and service fees.UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, March 28 at noon PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. Non-members may join at checkout at Ticketmaster. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, March 29, starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC in the "Join Newsletter" field at the top of this page. Official UFC VIP packages are also available at http://vip.ufc.com. These packages include tickets to UFC 146, official event merchandise, as well as special VIP experiences with backstage tours and meet and greets with top UFC stars. Get closer to the action than ever before with this unique UFC VIP opportunity.UFC® 146: DOS SANTOS vs. OVEREEM will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.While the UFC 146 main card is loaded with roughly one ton of knockout artists and submission aces, no fight has drawn as much attention as the title tilt between the champion, dos Santos, and challenger, Overeem. Fresh off knocking out Velasquez in November to capture the title, the 28-year-old “Cigano” would love nothing more than to end the reign of terror sparked by “The Reem.” Simply put, dos Santos isn’t envisioning his run as champion being short-lived.“My dream was to become the champion,” dos Santos said. “The minute Dana strapped that belt around my waist, my dream got bigger.  I'm not here to be a one or two-defense champion; I'm here to stay. On May 26, there's going to be a heavyweight striking war and someone is getting knocked out.”A devastating striker who has held world titles in organizations such as STRIKEFORCE® and DREAM, the 31-year-old Overeem (36-11) has not lost a fight in nearly five years. Owner of wins over the likes of Brock Lesnar, Fabricio Werdum, Mark Hunt and Vitor Belfort, the kickboxing star believes he has the champion’s style dissected and diffused.“The most important objective in my life right now is to not only become the UFC heavyweight champion, but to go on and reign as champion for years,” Overeem said. “I want to be remembered as the greatest heavyweight in the history of the sport.“Dos Santos is a very good boxer,” he continued. “I think he is the best boxer in the division and he poses some very interesting problems. But I already know how I will beat him. I will become the new UFC heavyweight champion of the world at UFC 146.” 

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, champion, do

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MMAWeekly Radio is back for Wednesday with UFC 144 winner Ryan Bader as well as 2012 NCAA wrestling champion from Ohio State, Logan Stieber.

Posted in: mmaweekly radio, champion, mmaweekly, ncaa, ryan bader

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Strikeforce 135-pound Women's Champion Ronda Rousey is featured in the April 2012 issue of FitnessRX for Women. The name of the feature? "Barbie Breaks Arms." Seriously. More pics of the bone-crunching judo specialist in next month's magazine right here.

Posted in: pound, champion, issue, women, ronda

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The UFC currently features a handful of dominant champions that create the impression that everyone else in their division is just competing for second place. With the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Jose Aldo reigning over their competitors, etching the names of champions into the record books could as safely be done in stone as on paper.

Posted in: ufc, champion, jose aldo, record books, competitors etching

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Video: An excellent sneak peek on how UFC Champion Dominick Cruz trains.

Posted in: ufc, video, champion, dominick, peek

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones knows that to remain atop his division, he needs to work harder than anyone else out there. With a bout planned against Rashad Evans for UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans on April 21 fast approaching, “Bones” continues to train as if he is still on the attack – instead of being the one everyone else is hunting. As part of the build up to his collision with Evans, Jones will be posting a blog on the Fox Sports website. In the latest entry, Jones talks about ignoring the hype and focusing on his training to better prepare for Evans. You’ve see it in other sports, when a young guy comes on the scene and does well, people get excited and start writing and saying, ‘This guy can’t be beat.’ There’s a lot of hype about me right now; some media experts are saying I am unbeatable, but I know it’s not true. I wouldn’t bust my tail so hard in the gym if I was unbeatable. Jones has successfully defended his UFC belt against former champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida since claiming the title from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. In Evans, he will be facing an ex-teammate and a former champion, as well. To try and get under the skin of Jones, “Suga” has taken to constant verbal attacks, claiming to have dominated Jones during practice sessions at the gym in New Mexico. Jones doesn’t remember it the same way. On April 21 he’ll realize he doesn’t even have my area code. Jones has been able to finish Rua, Jackson and Machida, so the champion has proven himself already at such a young age. In Evans, however, he’ll be facing someone that does know him better than most, and the grudge-factor cannot be overlooked. Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Posted in: jone, champion, doesn, evan, media experts

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin is dropping back to middleweight to face former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le at UFC 148. In addition, UFC lightweight contenders Gray Maynard and Clay Guida will meet in a five-round main event at UFC on FX 3, the UFC announced Sunday. UFC 148 will take place July 7th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. An unnamed UFC on FX event was previously announced to being held in Atlantic City, N.J., but no venue has been named as of this time. Franklin, 37, last fought at UFC 126 in February of last year, losing a decision to former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. The Ohio native was originally scheduled to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 133 in August of 2011, but was forced to withdraw due to a torn labrum. Franklin's return against Le marks his first fight at middleweight since defeating Travis Lutter at UFC 83 in April of 2008. However, the former middleweight champion fought two catchweight bouts of 195 pounds in 2009 against Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. Le, 39, is still looking for his first UFC win in what will be his second fight inside the Octagon. The former Strikeforce champion faced Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139, losing in the third round by TKO due to strikes. Both Maynard, 32, and Guida, 30, enter their fight having most recently suffered losses. Maynard returns to action after losing to now former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in October of 2011. The former Michigan State wrestler also left his longtime camp Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada for Nova Uniao under the direction of Andre Pedernerias. Guida has not fought since losing a number-one contender match to now UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX 1 in November of 2011. The bout between Maynard and Guida will serve as the main event for the UFC on FX and is scheduled for five, five-minute rounds.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, middleweight, maynard

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Two additional fights were added to the UFC 148 fight card today. Middleweights Michael Bisping and Tim Boetsch will face off as well as bantamweight contender Renan Barao and Jeff Hougland. UFC 148 is scheduled to take place on July 7th and will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both fights were announced on the UFC's website today. Bisping, 33, and Boetsch, 31, enter this bout from different positions. The UK's Bisping will return to action after dropping a controversial split decision to now number-one contender Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2 in January of this year. Boetsch, by contrast, has won three straight and had the win of his career when he stopped former top contender Yushin Okami in the third round of their bout last month at UFC 144. Barao, 25, looks to continue his unbeaten streak alive this July with what would be his sixth straight win under the Zuffa banner. He most recently won a unanimous decision victory over Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143 last month. Hougland is looking for his second win inside the Octagon since defeating Donny Walker in his UFC debut at UFC 132 in July of 2011. Hougland was originally scheduled to face fellow UFC bantamweight Mike Easton at UFC on Versus 6, but was replaced by Byron Bloodworth after Hougland pulled out of the bout due to injury. UFC 148 will also play host to a middleweight bout between former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le. UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is also expected to defend his title in a rematch with former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber.

Posted in: ufc, bout, champion, boetsch, hougland

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Former UFC welterweight champion Matt "The Terror" Serra was awarded 3rd Dan in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) by his longtime trainer and mentor Renzo Gracie, who tweeted the announcement this past weekend. Serra became the first American black belt under Renzo and is only one of two men to defeat reigning UFC 170-pound champion Georges St. Pierre.

Posted in: ufc, champion, brazilian jiujitsu, serra, terror serra

Read the full article at MMA Mania

A middleweight contest between Rich Franklin and Cung Le has been added to UFC 148, which takes place July 7 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC officials announced the fight late Sunday evening. The card is expected to feature a main event between UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and No. 1 contender Urijah Faber. Currently, the two are coaching against one another on The Ultimate Fighter: Live. It is likely that Franklin-Le would serve as the co-main event for the night. “Ace” suffered a loss to Forrest Griffin in his last bout, but that took place early in 2011. Franklin, a former UFC champion, was scheduled to return to action against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira late in the year, but shoulder surgery knocked him from the fight. Le, who spent several years away from MMA filming movies, was defeated in his UFC debut by the hands of Wanderlei Silva. The ex-Strikeforce champion suffered a broken nose in the loss. Photo credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog

Posted in: ufc, champion, middleweight contest, shoulder surgery, sunday evening

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In the space of three years, Evolve MMA has risen up to become the most renowned mixed martial arts academy in Asia and one of the most talked about training centres in the world. Famous mixed martial artists such as Rich Franklin, Renzo Gracie, Matt Hume, Greg Jackson, Roger Gracie, Shinya Aoki, Saenchai Sor Kingstar, Kyra Gracie, and Ryo Chonan have all made the journey to Singapore to train with its world champions. With three locations, Evolve MMA is home to dozens of world champions in every major discipline of mixed martial arts including Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and boxing. Modern day legends of Muay Thai from Thailand such as Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Orono Wor Petchpun, Attachai Fairtex, Yoddecha Sityodtong, Kongtoranee Payakaroon, and Lamnammoon Sor Sumalee all teach at Evolve MMA. Its wrestling program is headed by US Olympian Heath Sims, a long time training partner and coach of Dan Henderson and a dozen BJJ Black Belts champions run the BJJ program. WBA boxing world champion Yodsanan Sityodtong runs the boxing program and the professional fight team consists of the likes of DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki, UFC fighter Rafael dos Anjos, ONE FC star Zorobabel Moreira, Muay Thai world champion Orono Wor Petchpun, ONE FC star Leandro Issa, ONE FC star Eddie Ng, NCAA Division 1 wrestler Jake Butler, and many others. Some of Japan's biggest MMA stars such as Tatsuya Kawajiri and Satoru Kitaoka are also rumored to be close to signing with Evolve MMA. There is even talk of Muay Thai sensation Buakaw Por Pramuk joining his former training partner and close stable mate, Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, in Singapore.The man behind Evolve MMA is Chatri Sityodtong, a multi-millionaire Thai businessman and former Muay Thai fighter with a passion for MMA. In a rare interview, he spoke to MMA Mania about the past, present, and future of Evolve MMA. What inspired you to form Evolve MMA? Martial arts has been my greatest passion in life since I was a child. Whether it was part-time or full-time, I've been training, fighting, teaching, and coaching for almost 25 years now. At this point in my life, the biggest driver for me is my desire to change lives through martial arts, to make this world a better place in my small way. I have been blessed with good fortune in my business career. So even before I started Evolve MMA, I was already independently wealthy. In fact, in my mid 30s, I had even contemplated living on a deserted island somewhere and sipping Pina Coladas on the beach for the rest of my life. However, after a year of traveling around the world, the desire to do something positive to help the world really set me on fire. It might sound corny, but I named this company, EVOLVE, because I wanted it to be a place that could inspire anyone to evolve into everything he/she was meant to be in life. Martial arts gives people confidence, mental strength, discipline, focus, a desire for continuous self-improvement, and so much more. And all these valuable lessons can help a person in every area of his/her life...career, relationships, education, health, anything. My life is a perfect example of the power of martial arts. At one point, I was dirt poor, lived on one meal per day, and my parents were homeless. Without the power of martial arts, I don't know what would have happened to me. So Evolve is my platform to give back to the world.Can you tell us a little about your business background and your martial arts background? I started Muay Thai at the Sityodtong Camp in Pattaya under Kru Yodtong Senanan when I was a kid growing up in Thailand. I've been training, fighting, teaching, or coaching Muay Thai for almost 25 years. I'm a certified senior instructor under Kru Yodtong Senanan with over 30 fights. My last professional Muay Thai fight was in 2008 in Thailand. I also have a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie. I still train in both Muay Thai and BJJ 5-6 times a week with our world champions at the Fighters Program at Evolve MMA. In terms of my business background, I have spent the bulk of my career as an entrepreneur and/or investor in technology, finance, media, real estate, and sports. I also spent a good part of my career on Wall Street (I was a Managing Director at a US$15 billion hedge fund before starting my own US$500 million hedge fund). And I'm still involved in a few businesses today, including a US$2 billion real estate company, a US$35 million surveillance company, a US$50 million media company, and some other companies. I received my MBA from Harvard in 1999.Evolve MMA seems to have developed very rapidly, has that surprised you? Yes, it has surprised me. I thought that I was the only person in the world who loved martial arts enough to spend millions of dollars on recruiting world champions, building world-class facilities, etc. I really didn't expect Evolve to have a global reputation after only 3 years. I'm amazed at how fast our brand has grown. At the same time, I feel that Evolve is only at the beginning of its growth. I want to change the world through martial arts. Are you happy with the fighters you have in your team or are you looking to add to it? I'm always looking for fighters for the Evolve Fight Team. While I am very happy with our current roster of fighters, I am always looking for fighters with world champion potential. We are very lucky to have fighters like DREAM Champion Shinya Aoki, UFC fighter Rafael dos Anjos, ONE FC fighter Zorobabel Moreira, ONE FC fighter Leandro Issa, Muay Thai World Champion Orono Wor Petchpun, ONE FC fighter Eddie Ng, MCFC Champion Mitch Chilson, BJJ World Champion Alex Silva, Muay Thai World Champion Yoddecha Sityodtong, WBA Boxing World Champion Yodsanan Sityodtong, NCAA Division 1 Wrestler Jake Butler, US Olympic Wrestler Heath Sims, and so many other talented fighters and coaches on our team. The Evolve Fight Team has world champions and champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Wrestling, and No-Gi Grappling. We also have two Olympians on our team. At present, apart from Shinya Aoki and Rafael Dos Anjos, the fight team mainly consists of fighters who are at the start of their careers, is that a deliberate policy? I don't really look at where a fighter is in his/her career. I look at the person, the fighter, and the future potential. I look to see how much Evolve can help that fighter and how much that fighter can help Evolve. Shinya is a great example of who we are at Evolve MMA. First and foremost, Shinya is an incredible human being. He's remarkably humble and giving. He's a true martial artist in every sense of the word. Shinya has no airs about being the current DREAM World Champion. When he trains at the Fighters Program at Evolve, he's just another fighter. He absorbs everything we teach him and he has an open mind. He listens and listens. It's amazing really. Of course, Shinya is superbly gifted as a martial artist with excellent balance, speed, etc. He has an unbreakable warrior spirit and a huge heart too. I look for many things in a fighter before I invite him/her onto the Evolve Fight Team. I'm very, very careful and selective about who is allowed onto our team. And I am very quick to kick people off the team if they exhibit values that are counter to what Evolve is about. Evolve MMA is the only camp that I know of which gives a salary and accommodation to all the trainers and fighters, how do you make that work? The most important thing for me is the quality of instruction at Evolve MMA. I will never compromise on the quality. Whether you are a beginner or a world-class professional fighter, Evolve MMA stands behind its reputation as the top martial arts school in Asia. You will never see Evolve MMA expanding and growing just for the sake of expansion and growth. For me, quality is everything. Everything we do at Evolve MMA is about providing the highest quality martial arts education available anywhere. As such, I am willing to do anything and pay whatever it costs to recruit the very best teachers and fighters on the planet. Money is not an issue for me and my focus is not on profits. Of course, Evolve MMA is profitable, but it is not my primary motivation. My focus is on the highest quality martial arts instruction...period. Evolve MMA represents the best in life. It is my way of giving back to the world.What does a coach who is a world champion in Muay Thai or BJJ have to offer that a coach whose background was mainly in MMA might not? The lucky thing is that we have it all here at Evolve MMA. We have world champions and champions in every discipline...Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Wrestling, No-Gi Grappling. Right now, the Evolve Instructor Team stands at 51 instructors and all of them have been personally vetted and interviewed by me. For me, I care about credentials only if the person is a great human being and a great teacher too. We have a zero tolerance policy here at Evolve MMA for egos and attitudes. To be frank, I don't really believe in MMA per say. I believe in martial arts...in each discipline...as long as it works in real life. For me, the ultimate mixed martial artist is the martial artist who can fluidly perform each art at a world-class expert level and also have the ability to transition effortlessly between the arts. I believe in martial arts as the foundation of a true mixed martial artist. MMA in and of itself is not really a good foundation. I'm a huge fan of Jon Jones and GSP because they are martial artists and they are constantly striving to evolve and grow in every area. Martial artists have a very different approach to fighting...versus...let's say...a pure fighter. Martial artists try to perfect their craft every day. Fighters only train when there is a fight coming up. It's a very different approach. We train 2x a day, 6 days a week all year round, irrespective of whether we have a fight coming up or not...What effect has ONE Fighting Championship, which is also headquartered in Singapore, had on Evolve MMA? Of course, ONE Fighting Championship has had a great impact on Evolve MMA. It helps to have Asia's biggest MMA organization here in Singapore. Victor Cui, the CEO of ONE FC, is a good friend of mine. He really pours on the marketing effort here and it has ignited a huge spark of interest for MMA in Singapore. It seems like every day a new MMA gym is opening in Singapore. More importantly, MMA is really starting to enter the consciousness of the mainstream here. It's still early days, but it's definitely happening. Do many of your members want to be fighters or do they tend to be more self-defense and fitness-oriented? Like most martial arts schools, I would say that 95% of our members are here for self-defense, fitness, mental strength, confidence, weight loss, and all the other benefits of martial arts. The other 5% are here because they are professional fighters and/or want to become one. At Evolve MMA, we are fortunate in that we have a big diversity of members...men, women, children...beginners, intermediates, experts, professional fighters, world champions...doctors, CEOs, engineers, waiters, nurses, teachers, civil servants...you name it. Our youngest student is 6 years old and our oldest is 65 years old. I believe that the diversity of our membership base, coupled with the depth and breadth of the Evolve Instructor Team, makes for an incredible environment for learning. In my opinion, Evolve MMA is the world's largest living encyclopedia for martial arts. It is incredible how much knowledge and experience is housed within these walls. One of my staff counted the years of championship experience on the team and it came out to something like 850 years of championship experience across various martial arts. That's some serious firepower right there. So whether you are a complete beginner or you are a professional fighter, you will get the best training here...period. What are your plans for the future, are you planning on expanding Evolve MMA at all? Yes, I plan to expand Evolve MMA. However, I won't expand for expansion's sake. As I said before, my goal is to provide the highest quality martial arts instruction available anywhere. I want to change lives through martial arts. I want to make a positive impact in this world. If my goal was purely financial, I would open up 50 academies tomorrow all over Asia. However, I will not do that because I really think it would sacrifice our quality. It is better to grow slowly and carefully...to focus on the highest quality martial arts instruction...to deliver much more than what our members expect...at every step of the way. I plan to be in the martial arts business for the long run. I already have enough money in the bank. I don't need more. At this point in my life, I just want to have fun and I want to know that I am doing good in this world. Something like 7,000 people went to the last ONE FC show and the UFC is rumoured to be taking a close look at Singapore, are you surprised by how quickly the sport has grown since you started Evolve MMA? Yes, I never expected MMA to be so popular here in Asia after starting Evolve MMA only 3 years ago. And the crazy thing is that it is only the beginning of the MMA revolution in Asia. I think the next 10 years are going to be incredible for everyone in the industry...all over Asia. Asian MMA is a rocketship and it is just about to take off. I really do hope that the UFC does a show here in Singapore. When I was invited by the UFC to their recent Japan event a few weeks ago, Lorenzo and Dana told me at a private cocktail party that UFC plans to come back in November. Mark Fischer, the head of UFC Asia, is a superbly capable businessman and I expect to see big things from the UFC in Asia. It will sell out for sure...UFC is the #1 player and has the best brand in the MMA world...and in the process, it will create a firestorm of MMA mania!Buakaw has been in the news recently for being mistreated by his management and a lot of fighters retire with little or no savings, particularly in Thailand. How happy are you to be able to offer so many famous former fighters a lucrative job which allows them to pass on all the knowledge they have acquired in their fighting career? It is one of my greatest joys in life. I know what poverty is because I made it out of poverty. I know how hard a fighter's life is because I have walked that path before. I've never been a world champion, but I know first-hand what the sacrifices are as a professional fighter. I don't have to pay my team as much as I do, but I do it because the main driver for me is to make a positive impact on the world. Without a doubt, Evolve MMA has the highest instructor pay in Asia...maybe in the world possibly...I'll ask one of my staff to look into it on a global basis. I want to help everyone on my team to achieve their dreams of financial security, home ownership, supporting their parents...and everything else. Kru Yodtong Senanan (my teacher and Grandmaster of Sityodtong Camp) always tells everyone that no one in the world pays more than I do for a Muay Thai instructor. Through Evolve MMA, I can change the lives of our students, our fighters, our instructors, our staff. It brings me tremendous contentment and inner peace to know that Evolve has helped thousands of people. And the facts speak for themselves. No instructor or fighter has ever left Evolve voluntarily since we opened our doors. I have had to fire a few instructors or kick out some fighters for various reasons. But no one has ever left voluntarily. My team at Evolve MMA is my second family. I really care deeply about them and I want to help make all of their dreams come true. The actual facilities At Evolve MMA are reportedly state-of-the-art. Did you have any doubts about investing so much money in this business and when did you first realize that your gamble had paid off? I've invested a few million dollars so far into Evolve. I don't mean to sound flippant, but I'm used to investing a lot more money than that in my other businesses. So it was never really a big gamble for me. Besides, I have never really been focused on the money with Evolve. I could have retired and sat on a deserted island a long time ago...well before I started Evolve. But I started Evolve because I love martial arts. It's my greatest passion in life. At this point in my life, I want to give back and to make a positive impact on the world. My pay-off is watching how much Evolve is helping the lives of my students, my fighters, my instructors, my staff...A lot of fighters come to Thailand to train Muay Thai, are you open to visiting fighters coming and training at Evolve MMA? Yes, of course. We have many world champions and fighters who come to train with us already. Last year alone, we had Rich Franklin, Roger Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Kyra Gracie, Matt Hume, Ryo Chonan, Saenchai Sor Kingstar, and many other famous fighters come to train here at Evolve MMA. My teacher, Kru Yodtong Senanan, always told me when I was a kid, "the best attract the best and the best produce the best." And you know what...it took me many years to appreciate the depth of those words...but today I really believe in that saying. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: world, mma, fighter, champion, art

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced today on its website a pair of bouts to be contested this summer had been reached by verbal agreement. Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin is dropping back to middleweight and returning for injury layoff to face former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le at UFC 148. In addition, UFC lightweight contenders Gray Maynard and Clay Guida will meet in a five round main event at UFC on FX 3. UFC 148 will take place July 7th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC on FX 4 was previously announced to being held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, but no venue has been named as of this time. Franklin, 37, last fought at UFC 126 in February of last year, losing a decision to former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. The Ohio native was originally scheduled to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 133 in August of 2011, but was forced to withdraw due to a torn labrum. Franklin's return against Le marks his first fight at middleweight since defeating Travis Lutter at UFC 83 in April of 2008. However, the former middleweight champion fought two catchweight bouts of 195 pounds in 2009 against Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. Le, 39, is still looking for his first UFC win in what will be his second fight inside the Octagon. The former Strikeforce champion faced Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139, losing in the third round by TKO due to strikes. Both Maynard, 32, and Guida, 32, enter their fight having most recently suffered losses. Maynard returns to action after losing to now former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in October of 2011. The former Michigan State wrestler also left his longtime camp Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada for Nova Uniao under the direction of Andre Pedernerias. Guida has not fought since losing a number-one contender match to now UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX 1 in November of 2011. The bout between Maynard and Guida will serve as the main event for UFC on FX 3 and is scheduled for five, five-minute rounds.

Posted in: ufc, champion, middleweight, maynard, guida

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Let the stand-up war begin. Two former champions with a penchant for knockouts will meet at UFC 148 as Rich Franklin meets Cung Le.

Posted in: ufc, champion, cung, franklin, penchant

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One of the biggest grudge matches in UFC history goes down next month at UFC 145, when light heavyweight champ Jon Jones takes on rival Rashad Evans. The former training partners have become bitter enemies over the course of the past year and, after several derailments due to injury incurred by either party, will finally get to settle things in the Octagon. Having run roughshod over the UFC light heavyweight division and impressively defeated two former champions during his title run, the 24-year-old Jones opened as a huge favorite over Evans. Some lines have the champion as much as a 6:1 favorite over Evans, a former champion. Check out the video below, courtesy MMA:30, to hear what some of Jones and Evans’ fighting peers, as well as a few MMA pundits, give their take on the fight and the opening line. UFC 145 goes down on April 21 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

Posted in: ufc, jone, champion, training partners, evan

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is about to put his belt on the line against former teammate Rashad Evans. Take a deeper look as the two prepare for their UFC 145 title fight.

Posted in: ufc, jone, champion, evan, teammate

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Today sees the start of the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship at the Scottrade Center in St Louis, Missouri. The USA's top college talent will meet across 10 different weight classes in a tournament to crown the best American Folkstyle wrestler of the year. Historically collegiate wrestlers have found a great deal of success in Mixed Martial Arts, and some have even become champions at the highest level, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Here's a quick run down of past NCAA champions that have had the most success in the UFC thus far. Brock Lesnar - No heavyweight burst onto the UFC scene quite like this Minnesotan Man-Mountain. Originally from South Dakota, Lesnar became a stand out for the University of Minnesota 'Golden Gophers', and even then had an imposing physique when competing in the 285lbs class. He was a Big Ten Conference Champion 2 years in a row, and NCAA runner up -- losing to New England Patriots star Stephen Neal --, and an NCAA Champion in 2001. Lesnar made his MMA debut after a storied Pro Wrestling career, by fighting Judo Silver Medalist Min So Kim at a K-1 Dynamite! USA event in 2007. Lesnar would finally make his UFC debut against Frank Mir at UFC 81 in 2008, losing by kneebar in the first round but putting on enough of a show that Dana White was willing to give him another chance. Lesnar ran the gauntlet of Heath Herring, Randy Couture and Frank Mir, picking up the UFC Heavyweight title along the way and looking unstoppable until a debilitating bout with diverticulitis halted his career. Lesnar made a dramatic comeback to defeat Shawn Carwin a year later, but would lose quickly to challenger Cain Velasquez before being sidelined yet again with diverticulitis. Lesnar came back one last time and lost emphatically to Alistair Overeem before calling it a day, and retiring. Related Stories - NCAA 2012 Division I Wrestling Brackets And Who To Look Out For Josh Koscheck - One of the most polarising fighters at Welterweight, Koscheck's MMA career consisted of 2 fights at the regional level before making it onto the cast of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. A 4 time All American, 1 time NCAA runner up and 1 time NCAA Champion out of the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Koscheck went 42-0 in his championship year and competed at 174lbs throughout. Koscheck brought a great double leg takedown to his MMA fights and like many wrestlers of his caliber in the earlier days of MMA, relied on his single discipline base and his athleticism to carry him through to decision wins, going 7-1 in the UFC before his first title shot against champion Georges St. Pierre. Outwrestled by the Canadian, Koscheck began putting more of the pieces together and has shown an ability to garner a fight ending Knock Out in a few of his fights since, as well as submission skills in the form of a Rear Naked Choke against Anthony Johnson. Koscheck went 6-2 before getting another shot and Georges St. Pierre, but a broken right orbital bone suffered during the fight sidelined him for nearly a year until he made his successful comeback by knocking out legend Matt Hughes. Fresh off a split-decision win over Mike Pierce, Josh Koscheck's next fight is against a fellow NCAA champion in Johny Hendricks. Mark Coleman - The 'Godfather of Ground 'n' Pound ', Coleman was the first wrestler to show complete dominance in the early UFC's and proved Gracie Jiu Jitsu wasn't the only game in town. Coleman smashed his way through the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournaments, before submitting Dan Severn at UFC 12 to become the first ever UFC Heavyweight Champion. Initially a Freestyle wrestler as a teenager, Coleman represented Ohio's 'Miami University' (aka the RedHawks). Coleman was a 2 time All American, 1 time Big Ten champion and 1 time NCAA champion and wrestled at 190lbs. He also found success at Freestyle, taking 1 gold at the National Championships and 2 golds at the Pan Am Championships, a Silver at the World Championships and 7th place at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. After winning the UFC Heavyweight Champion, Coleman went on a skid where his one dimensional fighting style and lack of conditioning caught up to him, having the title wrested away from him by Maurice Smith, suffering a highlight reel head kick KO loss to Pete Wiliams, and losing by split decision to Pedro Rizzo before entering the Pride Fighting Championship. After losing by submission to Nobuhiko Takada in what many believe to be a worked fight, Coleman found a career resurgence and went on a tear, winning the 2000 Pride Openweight Grand Prix and beating all but the very best of his opponents during his Pride run. It would be to only the top heavyweights of their time in Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic and Fedor Emelianenko that Coleman would lose before Prides doors would close forever. Another chance in the UFC came a little over 2 years after Pride's demise, where Coleman would lose to Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua in a rematch, a decision win over Stephan Bonnar, and a submission loss to fellow legend Randy Couture. Phil Davis - Still one of the most promising fighters in the UFC's Light Heavyweight class, this Penn State alumnus has one of the most ridiculous mesomorphic physiques in all of professional sports. Competing at 197lbs throughout his college career, Davis is a 4 time All American, 1 time NCAA Runner Up and 1 time NCAA Champion. Under the coaching and tutelage of Alliance MMA and Team Lloyd Irvin, Davis has adapted the submission game effortlessly to his high caliber wrestling and has shown off wins using a Rear Naked Choke, an Anaconda Choke and a One Armed Hammerlock. Davis has also shown he can TKO opponents in his pre-UFC career, and was thought to be the most competitive opponent to yet face champion Jon Jones until a knee injury kept him out of action for most of 2011. Coming back in January of this year and suffering the first loss of his career to former UFC champion Rashad Evans, Davis still has several years left in his career to continue to improve and evolve, and perhaps only has Jon Jones standing between him and some UFC gold in the future. Mark Munoz - 'The Filipino Wrecking Machine', Mark Munoz has some of the most vicious Ground'n'Pound the middleweight division has ever seen, and may be one of only a select few that stands a chance of dethroning the greatest champion the sport has known in Anderson Silva. Starting his career at Light Heavyweight, Munoz steamrolled his way through his first 5 opponents including two stoppages in the WEC before being transferred to the UFC, only to lose to NCAA Division III Champion Matt Hamill in Munoz' first fight. A 2 time All American and 1 time NCAA Champion at 197lbs for Oklahoma State, Munoz wisely chose to cut down to the UFC's Middleweight division where he has found success against some of the best in the class, including wins over C.B. Dolloway, Damian Maia and Chris Leben. Winning 7 of his last 8 fights, Munoz was scheduled to fight Chael Sonnen for a possible title shot until Munoz sustained an injury during training camp less than 2 weeks out from the fight. When Munoz returns he'll likely have to fight one or two more at the top of the division for the chance to compete for the championship, however the Black House Friends-not-fighting-Friends policy may have to be contested first. Johny Hendricks - There might be no one currently in the UFC's Welterweight division that has as much raw Knock Out power as one Johny Hendricks. Set to face Josh Koscheck at UFC on FOX 3, Hendricks has had a dominant MMA career barring one anomaly in a decision loss to Rick Story. A 4 time All American, 1 time NCAA Runner Up, 1 Time Big 12 Conference champion and 1 time NCAA Champion at 165lbs for Oklahoma State, Hendricks brings a ferocity to the cage that has seen 7 of his last 12 opponents separated from consciousness. Hendricks punched his ticket into the top of the division by being the first Welterweight to KO the perennial second best in the world Jon Fitch in just 12 seconds*, and has notable wins over Amir Sadollah, TJ Grant, Charlie Brenneman, TJ Waldburger and Mike Pierce. (* Jon Fitch has been KO'd before in his career, against Wilson Gouveia when Fitch unbelievably used to fight at Light Heavyweight in 2002). Special Mention: Mark Schultz - Schultz only ever had one MMA fight, and it was against Gary Goodridge at UFC 9 when he stepped in as a replacement for Canadian Wrestling Champion Dave Beneteau, whom Shultz had been training for the fight just 4 months after his brother, Dave Schultz, had been murdered by John E. duPont. Before UFC 9, Mark Schultz had been 8 years retired from Amateur Wrestling. Winning 3 NCAA championships for Oklahoma State, Schultz went on to have success in Freestyle Wrestling that included 1 Olympic Gold Medal, 2 World Gold Medals, 1 Pan Am Gold Medal, and 4 US National Open Freestyle championships. A combination of money problems, back problems and a staph infection that nearly cost him his arm, Schultz never competed in MMA again officially, but did have what was meant to be a predetermined Pro Wrestling match with Leopoldo Montenegro at a Jungle Fight event. Montenegro decided to make it a shoot, double-crossing Schultz and submitting him. Outside of wrestling, Schultz studied BJJ initially under the famed Rickson Gracie, but mostly under Pedro Sauer who awarded Schultz his black belt after just 4 years of training. Schultz may have only had one fight in the UFC, and one can never tell how well he would have done had he been able to continue fighting, but without doubt Mark Schultz is the most accomplished Amateur Wrestler to have ever set foot in the Octagon.

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, champion, ncaa

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Dana White is a great promoter because after listening to him talk for just a brief while, he can make even a so-so bout sound like the next Fight of the Century. The UFC president says a fight is "big, it's [expletive] huge," so often, he ought to consider trademarking the phrase. But on May 26 at UFC 146 at the MGM Grand, it won't be hyperbole when White calls the card "big" and "[expletive] huge." For the first time in UFC history, the main card will consist of five heavyweight bouts, putting about a ton-and-a-quarter of heavyweights into the cage in a two-hour span. UFC 28 featured four heavyweight bouts, but White was able to top it for UFC 146 when he finalized a bout between Stefan Struve and Mark Hunt that is expected to open the pay-per-view broadcast. Also on the main card on the show will be Shane del Rosario against Gabriel Gonzaga, Antonio "Big Foot" Silva against Roy "Big Country" Nelson, former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez against "Fracturing" Frank Mir and, in the main event, a title bout between champion Junior dos Santos against No. 1 challenger Alistair Overeem. Heavyweights have long been the most popular division in combat sports and the heavyweight champion is often regarded as the so-called "baddest man on the planet." These 10 heavyweights average 6 feet 3 inches and 253 pounds. Most interesting, though, is that they have combined for a 162-51 record, and have 144 finishes among those 162 victories, according to records from Sherdog . They've combined for 83 knockouts and 61 submissions. Of their 51 losses, they've been finished 35 times. That means that of their combined 213 fights, the bouts have been finished 179 times, or in 84 percent of the fights. The group includes the reigning UFC heavyweight champion (dos Santos), two former UFC champions (Mir and Velasquez), a Strikeforce champ (Overeem) and a former International Fight League champion (Nelson). Tickets go on sale for the show at the MGM Grand box office on March 30.

Posted in: ufc, fight, bout, heavyweight, champion

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After campaigning for his release from the promotion this past week, Quinton Jackson will apparently take one more ride with the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, rampage, jackson, week, champion

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Orono Wor Petchpun was one of the best Muay Thai fighters of his generation and was a Lumpini Champion, WMC Champion, It's Showtime Champion and WPMF Champion. He holds wins over Damien Alamos, Singdam Kiatmoo 9, Saenchai Sor Kingstar, Buakaw Por Pramuk and Yodsaenklai Fairtex but has not fought since 2010. Orono is now at Evolve MMA in Singapore where he is part of a team of Thai trainers which also includes Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Anuwat Kaewsamrit, Attachai Fairtex and Yodsanan Sityodtong. He also works as a stand up coach for a number of top mixed martial artists like Shinya Aoki, Zorobabel Moreira and Eddie Ng and recently decided that he too wanted to compete in MMA. Orono is only 33 years old and has had just 150 Muay Thai fights in his career which is relatively few for a Thai fighter. He believes he still has plenty more to offer as a fighter and could be a force to be reckoned with at 145 lbs. Read More...

Posted in: mma, fighter, champion, thai, orono

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He has a medical marijuana card and says he last smoked eight days before the bout, which wouldn't be a violation.

Posted in: champion, marijuana, wouldnt, marijuana card, violation

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By Monta Wiley Having a new lightweight champion crowned in the form of Michael Chandler, the lightweight division of the Bellator Fighting Championship looks to set the stage for another exiting lightweight tournament, where eight fighters will compete for the chance at $100,000 dollars and an opportunity to face the champion for the title. Amongst [...]

Posted in: champion, michael chandler, monta wiley, season ”, monta

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Sometimes we get a good idea that is so good, we think it would make for a better reality. Chuck Liddell thought that making fighting a professional career choice would do him good, great example of a good idea developed into an awesome decision. Aercio Medina had a good idea of sparring UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo [...]

Posted in: ufc, champion, idea, amateur fan, career choice

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre recently caught up with cameras to give an update on his recovery as he works his way back from knee surgery. The welterweight champion is expected to face UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit in a unification bout later this year.  

Posted in: welterweight, champion, knee surgery, face ufc, unification bout

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Reigning UFC Welterweight champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre has officially returned to training, with sights on defending his title against the Interim champion Carlos "The Natural Born Killer" Condit. GSP is expected to return sometime around this November, while Condit made it clear recently that he's not interested in facing any of the current top UFC 170lbs contenders, other than the "true champion" Georges St. Pierre. Further Reading: Submit your picks for UFC

Posted in: ufc, pierre, champion, george, champion carlos

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The UFC confirms the Frankie Edgar-Benson Henderson rematch, TUF Live debuts, and UFC CENTRAL looks ahead at upcoming Canadian bouts.

Posted in: ufc, champion, canadian, frankie, what

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It doesn’t feel like that long ago that Josh Barnett was on top of the world in MMA. Not yet 25, fresh off a win over Randy Couture, and with a big shiny belt for his troubles, he was the heavyweight champion of the world...

Posted in: champion, heavyweight champion, josh barnett, doesn ’t, barnett

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Baylor, Stanford, UConn and Notre Dame earned No. 1 seeds Monday night when the women's NCAA tournament draw was released. Here are four storylines worth paying attention to once the tournament tips off next week: 1. Will Baylor become the first team ever to go 40-0? The motivation that has fueled Baylor's 34-0 regular season came from the loss that ended the Bears' championship hopes last March. Top-seeded Baylor lost 58-46 in the Elite Eight to eventual national champion Texas A&M, a Big 12 rival the Bears had beaten three times last season prior to the NCAA tournament and has since defeated three times this season. What makes Baylor the clear favorite entering the NCAA tournament is the combination of 6-foot-8 national player of the year candidate Brittney Griner and a talented, experienced supporting cast. Already the most dominant defensive presence in women's college hoops, Griner has averaged 23.0 points per game and showcased improved ability to score over either shoulder or pass out of a double team. Griner's development and the perimeter marksmanship of guard Odyssey Sims has propelled Baylor to its best regular season in school history. In addition to beating the defending national champion Aggies three times, the Bears also defeated fellow No. 1 seeds Notre Dame and UConn and potential Elite Eight opponent Tennessee. 2. If Baylor doesn't win, who will? The teams with the best chance to deny Baylor's quest for an undefeated season are the other three No. 1 seeds, each of whom are familiar names to even casual women's hoops fans. Stanford has made four straight Final Fours without winning a championship, so sisters Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike will be trying to put the Pac-12 champion Cardinal (31-1) in position to break that hex. Notre Dame (30-3) fell to Texas A&M in the title game last spring, so point guard Skylar Diggins spearheads the Big East regular season champion Irish's quest to avenge that loss.

Posted in: season, champion, tournament, ncaa, baylor

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There is a plethora of talented mixed martial artists fighting outside the UFC, but the best of them all just became a Bellator champion.

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On March 9, the Ultimate Fighting Championship brought its hit reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter," to FX. The coaches on this season features UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz and former WEC champion, Urijah Faber.

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UFC 146 has quickly gone from a card with good potential to one of the most stacked cards of the year. The UFC confirmed that UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will be making his first title defence against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the main event, then went ahead and added two more huge heavyweight bouts as well. Former champion Cain Velasquez will face another former champion Frank Mir in a title eliminator bout, and Roy Nelson will face Antonio Silva in his UFC debut. Throw in a bunch of other fights with a lot of potential, and you've got yourself a can't-miss fight card on May 26th in Las Vegas. Here's the current card (the bout order hasn't been determined yet): May 26th, live on PPV from Las Vegas, NV: Main Card: Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Alistair Overeem (36-11, 1 NC) [HW Title] Cain Velasquez (9-1) vs. Frank Mir (16-5) Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3) Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Evan Dunham (13-2) Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2) SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem Duane Ludwig (21-12) vs. Dan Hardy (23-10, 1 NC) Jacob Volkmann (14-2) vs. Paul Sass (12-0) Jason Miller (24-8, 1 NC) vs. C.B. Dollaway (11-4) Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) vs. Shane del Rosario (11-0) Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1 NC) vs. Glover Teixeira (17-2)

Posted in: ufc, vs, champion, do, card

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When UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz begins his stint as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter Live, he returns to what led him to MMA.

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [4 comments]

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 The UFC enters the month of March staring down a 44 day layoff between events. Other than weekly Ultimate Fighter live events the next major UFC event will be UFC on FUEL TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva on April 14th. On March 3rd the UFC on FX 2 introduced casual fans to the UFC's flyweight division and saw welterweight contender Martin Kampmann (19-5) confirm his spot in the promotion's top ten. The UFC's most recent pay per view was UFC 144 in Japan held on February 26th. Ben Henderson (16-2) moved himself into the UFC's champions club with a five round decision over Frank Edgar (14-2-1).On the undercard of UFC 144 Mark Hunt (8-7) and Tim Boetsch (15-4) earned their tickets into the UFC's top ten with TKO wins over Cheick Kongo (18-7) and Yushin Okami (25-7).Heavyweight (over 205 pounds)UFC Champion: Junior Dos Santos 14-1 - UFC 146 vs. Allistar Overeem 36-11-11. Cain Velasquez 9-12. Allistar Overeem 36-11-1 3. Brock Lesnar 5-24. Shane Carwin 12-25. Frank Mir 16-56. Fabricio Werdum 15-5-17. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 33-7-18. Mark Hunt 8-79. Roy Nelson 16-610. Brendan Schaub 8-2Light Heavyweight (205 pound limit)UFC Champion: Jon Jones 15-1 - UFC 145 vs. Rashad Evans 17-1-11. Rashad Evans 17-1-12. Dan Henderson 29-83. Mauricio Rua 20-64. Lyoto Machida 17-35. Forrest Griffin 18-76. Phil Davis 9-17. Ryan Bader 14-28. Quinton Jackson 32-109. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 20-510. Tito Ortiz 16-10-1Middleweight (185 pound limit)UFC Champion: Anderson Silva 31-4 - UFC 147 vs. Chael Sonnen 27-11-11. Chael Sonnen 27-11-12. Vitor Belfort 19-93. Mark Munoz 12-24. Michael Bisping 21-35. Chris Weidman 9-06. Tim Boetsch 15-47. Yushin Okami 25-78. Demian Maia 15-49. Brian Stann 11-410. Alan Belcher 17-6Welterweight (170 pound limit)UFC Champion: George St. Pierre 22-2 1. Carlos Condit 28-5 (Interim UFC Champion)2. Johny Hendricks 12-13. Jon Fitch 23-4-14. Nick Diaz 26-8-15. Jake Ellenberger 27-5 6. Josh Koscheck 17-57. Jake Shields 27-6-18. B.J Penn 16-7-29. Diego Sanchez 23-510. Martin Kampmann 19-5Lightweight (155 pound limit)UFC Champion: Ben Henderson 16-2 - TBD vs. Frank Edgar 14-2-11. Frank Edgar 14-2-12. Gray Maynard 10-1-13. Clay Guida 29-124. Jim Miller 21-35. Anthony Pettis 15-26. Nate Diaz 15-77. Donald Cerrone 17-48. Joe Lauzon 21-79. Melvin Guillard 29-10-210. Evan Dunham 12-2Featherweight (145 pound limit)UFC Champion: Jose Aldo 21-1 1. Chad Mendes 11-12. Hatsu Hioki 26-4-23. Diego Nunes 17-24. Dustin Poirier 12-15. Bart Palaszewski 36-156. Erik Koch 13-17. Chan Sung Jung 12-38. Mark Hominick 20-109. Darren Elkins 13-210. Iuri Alcantara 27-3Bantamweight (135 pound limit)UFC Champion: Dominick Cruz 19-1 - UFC 148 vs. Urijah Faber 26-51. Urijah Faber 26-52. Renan Barao 28-13. Brian Bowles 10-24. Scott Jorgenson 13-55. Michael McDonald 14-16. Miguel Torres 40-47. Chris Cariaso 13-38. Takeya Mizugaki 15-7-29. Brad Pickett 20-610. Eddie Wineland 18-8-1These ranking appear courtesy of ULTMMA (Uniting Locals Through Mixed Martial Arts). Added: Mark Hunt, Tim Boetsch, Iuri Alcantara, Chris Cariaso, Miguel TorresDropped: Cheick Kongo, Wanderlei Silva, Tyson Griffin, Demetrious Johnson, Joseph Benavidez

Posted in: ufc, pound, mark, vs, champion

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Josh Koscheck has never been one to keep his opinions and thoughts to himself. Now, having parted ways with American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), Koscheck is blaming the coaching at the camp for not producing more champions. Or at least that's what he told Ariel Helwani in an interview for MMA Fighting: Quote from the video: "I think the reason why everybody is so successful at the gym, over there in San Jose, is because of the training partners. I really truly believe that the training partners is why guys have fought for world titles and guys have been UFC champions like Cain, was because of the training partners. I think that is the number one reason. I think if you had real coaching, you would have seen a lot more champions out of that gym and I think that now, in my career, were going to see big improvements really quick." Koscheck will face Johny Hendricks in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 3.

Posted in: koscheck, champion, partner, training, coaching

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CHICAGO, Ill. (March 7, 2012) - On the heels of his title-winning fight of the year performance against the world's top lightweight Eddie Alvarez, Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler returns to face one of his greatest tests to date as the Las Vegas-trained fighter takes on former UFC lightweight Akihiro Gono LIVE on Friday, May 4 at Bellator 67 in the always electric Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada. Tickets for this event are on sale now and are available at Ticketmaster.com and in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office. Tickets are priced from $25-$175 Canadian. After Chandler's amazing fourth-round submission victory against then champion Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58, the undefeated champion knows that he's the one now with the target on his back. "I'm just excited to get back into the cage," Chandler said. "I fought four times in 2011 and I'm ready to get back to work. Gono has beaten some of the best fighters in the sport and this should be a good test for me." With 32 career wins, Gono has fought some of the world's best. And with wins over reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard and world-class middleweight Gegard Mousasi, Gono has beaten some of the world's best. Known for jumping weight classes, Gono has a solid reputation of never turning down a fight, and he will have his hands full when he takes on Bellator's Lightweight Champion on May 4. Edmonton native and Canadian fan favorite Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford will make his Bellator debut against 12-year MMA veteran Luis "Sapo" Santos, who enters the fight with an incredible 50-7 professional record. The two welterweights will square off in non-tournament action, and should provide fireworks. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST. "Casino Rama has been a spectacular home to Bellator over the last year, so bringing our Lightweight Champion and the man who provided 2011's Fight of the Year to Rama was an easy decision to make". Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "As always our fight card will be stacked from top to bottom with many of the world's best fighters, so I expect nothing less than a packed house once again on May 4." Bellator 67 will mark the third-time ever the organization has hosted an event at Casino Rama and the fourth time the promotion has visited Canada for an event. "Bellator's world-class fighting series provides Ontario fans with exactly the edge-of-your-set excitement Casino Rama is already known for, " said Jeff Craik, Vice-President of Marketing, Casino Rama. "Being able to have Canadian fighters make their debuts before a home crowd is one more reason fans are going to want to be in their seats to see this event live in May!" For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

Posted in: fight, bellator, champion, casino, rama

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre said he doesn't consider marijuana a performance-enhancing drug.

Posted in: ufc, gsp, champion, marijuana, stpierre

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Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton (Rampage) Jackson suggested his next fight will be his last in the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, rampage, jackson, champion, lightheavyweight

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The fight card for ONE FC 3: War of the Lions, has been announced, and as first reported here on BloodyElbow.com, Felipe Enomoto will take on Zorobabel Moreira in a lightweight bout that will headline the March 31 event. Other familiar names that will be featured on the stacked event in Singapore are K-1 striker, Melvin Manhoef, DREAM and DEEP stars Tatsuya Kawajiri, Masakazu Imanari, Yuya Shirai, and Yoshiyuki Nakanishi, URCC Champions Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon, Plus other ONE FC stars such as Ole Laursen, and Eddie Ng. Here's the official card that has been released, along with a brief background and breakdowns on each of the fights: Zorobabel Moreira vs. Felipe Enomoto: 'Zoro' is a BJJ world champion that is coming off impressive wins over Andy Wang, and Ferrid Kheder. He is ranked as the #7 lightweight in the 2012 World MMA Scouting Report, and has shown huge improvements on his overall MMA game while working with Shinya Aoki, and the guys at Evolve MMA. He will be facing Felipe Enomoto, the brother of M-1 Champion, Yasubey Enomoto, who is coming off the biggest win of his career against Ole Laursen. This will be his 2nd straight time to headline a ONE FC event, and it will be interesting to see how he performs just 7 weeks after that war he had in Jakarta. Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. TBA: Well, it's just Kawajiri so far... Eduard Folayang vs. Ole Laursen: This bout was supposed to headline the first ONE FC event, but Laursen got injured. The Wushu expert in Folayang instead retired A Sol Kwon on a "Fight of the Night" performance, and followed up with a URCC fight, knocking out a Nova Uniao BJJ Brown belt and Muay Thai champ in Wadson Teixeira. Laursen on the other hand, succumbed to Felipe Enomoto last month on a very entertaining back and forth bout. Folayang has been ranked as the #6 lightweight in the 2012 World MMA Scouting Report, while Laursen was #8 on the 2011 edition. Both Filipinos are huge stars in Singapore, and their styles basically guarantees a highly entertaining bout, which is probably the main motivating factor on why they've been re-booked for this card. Yuya Shirai vs. Fabricio Monteiro: Shirai is the current DEEP welterweight champion who has competed with several top notch fighters throughout his career. He will be competing against Monteiro, a veteran who will be trying to rebound and get back on track with the help of his new teammates at Evolve MMA. Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi: The dangerous K-1 striker in Manhoef was supposed to take on Renato Sobral, until the latter had to pull out of the fight, citing lack of time for a proper training camp with his coaching duties on TUF Brazil. Stepping in for Babalu is Nakinishi, who is a former DEEP Light Heavyweight champ, who will be dropping to middleweight. Eddie Ng vs. Jian Kai Chee: Ng, who is also part of the Evolve MMA camp, will look to follow up on his impressive win at the first ONE FC event, and will once again have the hometown crowd on his side when he takes on the Malaysian Muay Thai champ in Jian Kai Chee. Masakazu Imanari vs. Kevin Belingon: While the top three bouts are probably going to gain more attention and recognition, this bout, at least to me, seems to be the unofficial main-event of the night. Belingon (9-0) is part of the famed Team Lakay camp that houses several of the URCC's best champions who all have a Wushu-base. He was ranked as part of the top Flyweights in the 2012 World MMA Scouting report, and will be looking to stay undefeated as he faces the toughest and most experienced challenger yet. Imanari is widely considered as the 19th best bantamweight in the world, and he will be a big test for a guy who is probably the most dominant prospect in the region. We'll see if Belingon can stop Imanari and graduate from top prospect to top fighter, or if the Master of Leg Locks can crank on one of his limbs and live up to his nickname. Check out the rest of the card after the jump. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena Nicole Chua vs. Jeet Toshi: This would be ONE FC's first female MMA fight, and it features two decorated strikers fighting making their MMA debuts. Nicole Chua is a Muay Thai champion who has been working diligently on his MMA game with the world champions at Evolve MMA, and will be taking on a decorated kickboxer from India in Jeet Toshi. Chua has been gaining quite the following on her hometown in Singapore, as she will be gaining the recognition of being the first professional female fighter from the country. Quek Kim Hock vs. Juan Wen Jie: This is another bout set up for the locals as it pits two lightweight prospects from Singapore against each other. Yodsanan Sityodtong vs. Jiang Long Yun: Yodsanan, who is known as "Little Tyson", is a former WBA boxing champion who compiled a 58-3 record, with 47 KO's. While already a decorated boxer, he actually won his MMA debut on ONE FC's first event by showcasing his Muay Thai skills. He's already getting up in years at 37-years-old, but we'll see how much he has improved after getting more experience with training with the world champions at Evolve MMA. He will be facing Jiang Long Yun, who is a very talented Chinese fighter, who already has a win over Yao Honggang, the former Legend FC bantamweight champion. Danny Van Bergen vs. Richie Whitson: These are two lightweights who haven't really fought much in the Asian region before. TUF 9 alum Richie Whitson, who is training out of Team Quest, will face Manhoef's teammate, Van Bergen who is looking to extend his winning streak to 3. As always, stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for more coverage and updates on the Asian MMA scene.

Posted in: mma, bout, vs, champion, fc

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Picking up where fellow champion Jon Jones left off, UFC bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz takes over as honorary pace car driver at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 from the Phoenix International Raceway on March 4, 2012 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.)

Posted in: jone, champion, bantamweight, fellow, kingpin

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday with another two-hour show. Here's a rundown of who will be stopping by: * New Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will stop by to discuss her big win over Miesha Tate. * New UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson will discuss who he wants to fight next and what life has been like as champion. * The legendary "Judo" Gene LeBell will talk about his storied career and his student, Rousey, looking impressive again. * Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia will talk about his campaign to get back in the UFC. * Sean McCorkle will return for another "McCorkle Minute" and preview his Bellator debut this weekend. * YouTube sensation Rener Gracie will discuss his popular Gracie Breakdown videos, his career and much more. We'll also look back at a jam-packed weekend in mixed martial arts. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma hour, champion, rousey

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The former Strikeforce middleweight champion dominated the contest from beginning to end, submitting his opponent at 2:43 of the final round.

Posted in: strikeforce, champion, opponent, end, rousey

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Since signing with Strikeforce in 2008, Miesha Tate has only tasted defeat once. Five times she has had her hand raised at the end of the bout with two of those wins coming in the same evening. Amidst the cool Arizona summer night, "Takedown" bested two fighters in Aug. 2010 to earn a shot at the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's 135-pound title. It would be nearly a year before she stepped inside the cage to make the challenge, but when she finally did, she made it count. Over the course of four rounds, she used her wrestling abilities to take control of the bout before ending the fight with an impressive submission. We'll take a closer look at the bout, a fantastic back and forth with Marloes Coenen that saw "Rumina" get submitted for the first time in her 24 fight career, as we prepare for tonight's (Mar. 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" card. "Takedown" is set to make her first title defense against a rocketing prospect in "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. Many are predicting the end of Tate's reign tonight. Many also incorrectly predicted there wouldn't be a reign to begin with. Let's dive right into Tate's incredible performance against "Rumina." Tate opens up with a leg kick before clinching up and bullying the champion against the cage. Coenen defends against the takedown attempt and Tate busts out some old school Marco Ruas foot stomps. "Rumina" desperately tries to create distance but "Takedown" more than lives up to her moniker as she is relentless in trying to get the fight to the mat. Coenen is the champ for a reason and soon works her way off the chain-link. A hook from "Rumina" catches the challenger who responds with a nice straight. They clinch for a second time and Coenen makes use of her Golden Glory training by latching onto a Thai clinch and delivering a knee to Tate's face. "Takedown" grabs the leg and drives the champion against the cage and finally onto the mat. From there, Coenen sinks in what appears to be a pretty deep modified guillotine choke. Tate avoids being submitted and pops her head out, transitioning quickly to sidemount. Not much action aside from the dominant grappling display from Tate. While some would decry her lack of offense, a five-round championship fight is often a marathon, not a sprint. Rather than expend her own energy in the opening round, "Takedown" seems content to make the champion get tired by trying to get back to her feet. A quick exchange to start the second round and Tate once again immediately clinches her opponent. While "Takedown" struggles to get the champion to the canvas, Coenen delivers solid knees to the challenger's body and thighs. Latched onto a single leg, Tate spins Coenen around but the balance of the champion is strong enough to turn the takedown around in her favor. "Rumina" takes her opponent's back and begins snaking her arm around Tate's neck. "Takedown" defends against the submission but is unable to keep Coenen from raining down punches from behind. With a minute left to go, the Golden Glory fighter flattens Tate out and drops huge punches. The horn sounds with "Rumina" still glued to her opponent's back as she had been nearly the entire five minute period. The champion begins to pepper Tate with leg kicks as the third round opens. "Takedown" times one perfectly and drops Coenen to her back. From there, Tate uses her wrestling prowess to smother her opponent, barely allowing even an inch of space between them. Unfortunately for the challenger, her offense is lacking enough the referee calls for a stand-up. It barely matters as the Team Alpha Male product secures a second takedown, dropping Coenen against the cage to pretty much end the round. The champion is able to sweep her challenger at the last second but the horn sounds before anything can come of the reversal of position. The first of two scheduled championship rounds begins unlike any of the others as the two combatants stay standing and opt to engage in striking exchanges. For the first minute, Coenen and Tate trade punches and kicks before "Takedown" does exactly that and once again gets the champion to the mat. "Rumina" threatens with a guillotine choke but Tate's position on top makes it basically impossible to fully sink in the submission. Tate transitions to sidemount and begins dropping short elbows while jockeying for position. She works towards controlling her opponent's head and arm but in a brilliant display of diversion, puts her knee on Coenen's stomach to make the champion think Tate is working towards getting full mount. Instead, she slides over and locks in a tight arm triangle choke. With three quick taps, "Rumina" loses the fight and her belt. It's been over six months since Tate's incredible victory that night. And while she won the title from a soft-spoken experienced veteran, she makes her first defense against a brash, outspoken newcomer in Rousey. The judoka has four victories to her name with each coming via armbar. Will "Rowdy" add a fifth arm -- and a title -- to her collection tonight in Columbus? Or will "Takedown" derail Rousey's hype train?

Posted in: takedown, champion, tate, coenen, rumina

Read the full article at MMA Mania

A former champion in his own right, K.J. Noons is taking a backseat to the women Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: right, champion, noon, kj, backseat

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

After coming up short twice against current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, Joseph Benavidez takes up a new challenge at flyweight.

Posted in: ufc, pound, champion, challenge, benavidez

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After coming up short twice against current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, Joseph Benavidez takes up a new challenge at flyweight.

Posted in: ufc, pound, champion, challenge, benavidez

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Bellator is no longer trying to put together a rematch between its former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki. It’s now a done deal.

Posted in: champion, alvarez, aoki, eddie, shinya

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UFC champion, Anderson Silva makes an appearance on a Nike commercial featuring the Brazilian National Football Team. HT: BE Reader arguablysane1

Posted in: ufc, silva, champion, nike, appearance

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Charles Barkley.That’s the first name that popped into my head as I sat on the phone with Ian McCall, the top-ranked flyweight in the sport, discussing the improbable journey that has brought him to the UFC, and his desire to be a role model.Nearly 20 years ago, Barkley famously argued against athletes being role models. His thoughts on the matter were turned into a Nike commercial, and became one of the top anecdotes from his illustrious NBA career.Unlike Barkley, McCall wants to be someone people look up to, someone who inspires them to chase their passion in life, and someone whose mistakes they can learn from and avoid.The 27-year-old known as “Uncle Creepy” is candid about his previous struggles with addiction, including the fact that he was clinically dead at one point not all that long ago as a result of an accidental overdose.“I’m prone to screw ups, just like everybody else,” he says with a laugh. “I’m sure I’ll screw up more in my future, but it’s not going to be like things I’ve done in my past. I have to — just like any other person — you have to live day-by-day. You constantly remind yourself not to do the things that you used to, especially me; I had a passion for doing naughty, naughty things.“I don’t mind having people see my life and know my life and be able to connect with me on a different level because that’s what it is — you have to show people, `I’m not perfect. This is my life; this is who I am.’ If you want a part of it — party on. Let’s have some fun, have a good time, come hang out. I want to be a fighter that the majority of the world loves. I would like to be a role model.”While he’ll always battle the demons, McCall’s focus has shifted from the self-destructive behaviors of his past to establishing a better life for his wife and daughter, and making the most of his abilities as a fighter.“As far as training, I just took it serious,” he says, explaining the changes he’s made in the gym that have helped transform him from a solid-but-unspectacular bantamweight in the WEC to one of the top flyweights in the world.“I just take it a lot more serious because this is what I want to do with my life. I see my friends who have great things out of other jobs — whatever jobs they may do — and I want to provide a good life for my family and everyone else.”The results of his newfound focus and determination in the gym started to show just over a year ago.On February 18, 2010, McCall made his debut with Tachi Palace Fights, the Lemoore, California-based outfit that had become the home of the best 125-pound talent in North America. That night, he squared off with Jussier da Silva, the Shooto South American champion in the 123-pound weight division, universally regarded as the top flyweight competitor on the planet. “Formiga” was undefeated at the time, and McCall was viewed as another opponent the talented Brazilian would beat up inside the cage.That’s not how things played out. McCall pulled off the upset, earning a unanimous decision victory over the previously unbeaten Brazilian.He collected another unanimous victory when he handed Dustin Ortiz the first loss of his career three months later. In August, McCall submitted Darrell Montague via rear naked choke in the third round to become Tachi Palace Fights flyweight champion, cementing his standing as the top 125-pound talent in the sport.Now McCall is set to make his UFC debut, squaring off with former bantamweight title challenger Demetrious Johnson in one of the two bouts that will determine who will fight to become the UFC’s inaugural flyweight champion. It’s a moment the charismatic and talkative McCall has trouble putting into words.“After everything that I’ve been through — that I put myself through — and as long as this career has lasted, now it’s serious, and it’s become a lot more serious with the UFC. It’s a dream come true, and something that I’m really looking forward to.”Joining McCall and Johnson in the four-man tournament to crown the inaugural 125-pound champion are Japanese standout Yasuhiro Urushitani and Joseph Benavidez, another former bantamweight title challenger making the drop down to flyweight for the first time.Like Johnson and Benavidez, McCall also has a loss to current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz on his record. He dropped a unanimous decision to “The Dominator” at WEC 38, seven months before he would beat Benavidez for the first time, and 13 months before Cruz defeated Brian Bowles for the title at WEC 47; he hasn’t lost since.Despite having collected four consecutive victories and establishing himself as the top flyweight in the sport, McCall enters his meeting with Johnson as a significant underdog. It’s a role he accepts without hesitation, happy to have the opportunity to step into the Octagon, and ready to prove the pundits wrong.“They have more buzz than me,” says McCall of Johnson and Benavidez, the latter of the two standing as the favorite to be crowned the first flyweight champion. “But I have that recognition of being #1 where I was. It’s an honor to be able to face someone like (Demetrious); he’s a great fighter.“It’s a good way… I wanted to jump right into it; I wanted to jump right into fighting the best, and I get the chance to.”Someone else might take offense to being the underdog, but not McCall; not after everything he’s been through. This is just another challenge, another obstacle standing in his way, and while it may take some time, McCall is intent on showing that he is the top flyweight in the sport and becoming the first UFC flyweight champion.“I’m ready to show the world. It’s my time, and I’m super-stoked about it. It’s something that I have to prove, and it’s going to take time for people to know who I am, but I’m not going anywhere.”

Posted in: time, champion, life, flyweight, mccall

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There's no question in the mind of Joseph Benavidez that he will be the first ever UFC flyweight champion. Now it's time to go out and prove it.

Posted in: champion, joseph, benavidez, joseph benavidez, flyweight champion

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman is angry and motivated to get the title back. She plans on taking out her anger on Alexis Davis.

Posted in: title, strikeforce, champion, kaufman, sarah

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

With The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil set to debut on March 25, the UFC is trying to create some anticipation by releasing preview videos. The latest came out Sunday featuring one of the coaches, Wanderlei Silva. The short clip opens with Silva and UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos saying hi and signing autographs for fans at an outdoor press event. One of the fans asks Silva, "When are you going to kill Chael Sonnen?" and he replies, "Soon." Silva then shows up at Rio's X-Gym, giving some words of encouragement to a group of fighters that includes former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Rafael Cavalcante. Silva will coach against Vitor Belfort on the first ever TUF to record outside the U.S., expected to lead the way for future international TUFs. The two will coach featherweights and middleweights. Stateside, TUF Brazil will air on UFC.com and on Globo in Brazil. Belfort vs. Silva and the finals of the competitions will air during a summer PPV in Brazil, the same expected to be headlined by Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II. See the video after the jump.

Posted in: silva, champion, tuf, middleweight, brazil

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

This time, Frankie Edgar couldn’t pull off another improbable rally. The New Jersey native fought valiantly for five rounds in the UFC 144 main event against former WEC champion Benson Henderson

Posted in: ufc, event, champion, wec, frankie

Read the full article at Sherdog

It's amazing how much one fighter can affect a weight class. In the case of the 155-pounders under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner, the fighter in question is Frankie Edgar. Almost two years prior and halfway across the globe from the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's homebase of Las Vegas, Nevada, Edgar battled against B.J. Penn -- a man who many thought would be buried with the title being contended -- for 25 minutes. In the dry Abu Dhabi heat, the New Jersey native outboxed and outworked "The Prodigy" and won a controversial decision at the end of the night. Four months later, "Iron" earned a more one-sided and decidedly less questionable nod from the judges. If there was any doubt left in the Middle Eastern desert about his superiority over "The Prodigy," Edgar erased it in Boston. The Lightweight division was blown wide open. "Iron" had removed Penn as the constant in the 155-pound equation and any number of fighters -- all thought to have no chance at beating the Hawaiian and becoming champion -- suddenly became title contenders. One such fighter was Gray Maynard. "The Bully" held the distinction of being the only man to best Edgar and on the night the New Jersey native solidified his place as lightweight champion, Maynard punched his ticket as number one contender after defeating Kenny Florian. Their bout at UFC 125 was the first "Fight of the Year" contender for 2011. Less than 24 hours into the New Year, the two lightweights battled it our for five rounds and placed the bout of the shortlist for when MMA media outlets began tabulating year-end awards. Edgar survived the first five minutes -- an utter shellacking -- but the 10-8 scorecard on all three judges' scorecards factored into a split draw after 25 minutes. A third fight was needed. Before "Iron" steps inside the Octagon to take on former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion Ben Henderson at UFC 144 later tonight (Feb. 25, 2012) in Japan, we take a look at Edgar's third bout with Maynard. It was a fight where the New Jersey champion put to rest yet another series of doubters. Many thought he couldn't defeat Penn. He did. And maybe thought he couldn't best Maynard. He did that, too. The fight starts off like their first and second. The faster Edgar jabbing away and circling around while the more heavy handed Maynard stalks him. Two minutes in, "The Bully's" gameplan pays off as a vicious uppercut connects and knocks more than a few screws loose from Edgar's skull. The champion staggers around the Octagon, trying to compose himself. He lands a stiff jab that stops the challenger in his tracks but Maynard continues pressing forward, undaunted by Edgar's offense. A perfectly placed cross from the Xtreme Couture fighter catches the champion on the jaw and suddenly it seems like a replay of their UFC 125 bout. Edgar is stumbling around, legs seemingly unstable underneath him while Maynard throws everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at "Iron." Punches and knees from the challenger find their mark and Edgar does everything he can to survive. The uppercut continues to find its mark and by the end of the round, Edgar's face is a bloody mess. It looks like Dana White will be wrapping championship gold around a new man in Houston. Perhaps not wanting to expel any unneeded energy, Maynard takes his foot off the gas going into the second round. He realizes -- thanks to his previous bout with Edgar -- that championship bouts are often a marathon, not a sprint. While it allows "The Bully" to preserve his conditioning, "Iron" also finds himself regaining his composure from the first round beating he just received. The champion begins to find his rhythm. He sticks and moves likes he did against Penn. The glassed-over eyes are clear, the buckled knees are now solid. He begins to fight his fight. He continued the performance into the third round but after 15 minutes of action, the champion had to expect he had only evened up with his challenger on the scorecards. By the time the penultimate round begins, Edgar begins to pull even further away from Maynard. Putting together combinations, slipping punches and connecting with stiff punches, "Iron" begins chipping away at the armor surrounding "The Bully." Halfway through the round, a "Frankie" chant erupts among the Houston crowd. While Maynard begins to slow down under the weight of nearly four rounds of action, Edgar doesn't lose a step. In fact, the champion seems to be getting faster. He dives in for a takedown, attempting to wrangle a leg from Maynard but "The Bully" defends perfectly. In the ensuing scramble, Edgar lands a ... well, a Maynard-esque uppercut and the challenger is stunned. A big right hook staggers "The Bully" against the cage. An even bigger right hook drops him to the mat. A handful of almost perfunctory punches on the ground end the fight. Edgar and Maynard shared nearly an hour worth of fighting. After 15 minutes, three men decided "The Bully" had done enough to earn a victory through the rules of a sport. 25 minutes later, three other men decided -- once again through the rules of a sport -- that a winner couldn't be decided. Twenty more minutes passed and sport was out the window. It came down to only Edgar and Maynard. A knockout -- the most basic form of conflict resolution -- was what put the rivalry between the two lightweights to rest. No sport, just two men ... two fighters. And it was "Iron" Frankie Edgar -- the champion with immeasurable heart -- who came out on top.

Posted in: round, champion, minute, edgar, maynard

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SAITAMA, February 26 – In one of the most exciting fights in UFC history, Ben Henderson defeated Frankie Edgar by unanimous decision to win the UFC lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 144 at the Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo, Japan.At two separate points, Henderson had Edgar on the brink of defeat, once sending blood flying from the champion’s nose with a brutal upkick in the second round and later locking him in a guillotine choke from the mount mere seconds before the end of the fifth round. One recurring theme was Edgar catching his opponent’s kicks but not being able to capitalize on the situation. Another was Edgar taking Henderson down over and over and the challenger getting right back up within seconds.The fighters set a frenetic pace right from the onset of the bout, exchanging hard punches, leg kicks and knees. In the second round, Edgar landed the fight’s first combination when catching Henderson’s leg after a kick, only to be hit himself with a hard counterpunch by the challenger.The pivotal moment of the second frame came after Edgar had taken down his adversary and postured up in order to deliver a hard shot. Henderson landed an upkick to Edgar’s face that sent the champion spinning mere seconds before the end of the round, and it could have ended the fight had there been a few more seconds in the round.How Edgar recovered enough to start strong in the third round will likely forever remain a mystery, but he managed to engage his challenger with good striking combinations before failing to secure a takedown. Henderson managed to take down the champion but was unable to capitalize. Edgar got back to his feet and hit his opponent with a hard right followed by a combination that found its mark.In the fourth round it seemed like Henderson had hurt the champion - first with a kick to the ribs near the beginning of the round and again later when delivering a hard kick to Edgar’s sternum. Henderson also managed to secure a guillotine choke on a takedown attempt during the round.Edgar and Henderson kept going at an extremely fast pace in the final frame. They kept trading kicks, striking combinations and takedown attempts. The difference maker in the round was Henderson landing a hard knee and then securing a guillotine choke in full mount before transitioning to elbow strikes from the mount as the time limit expired.As the fans at Saitama Super Arena gave both men a standing ovation, Bruce Buffer announced Henderson as new UFC lightweight champion by scores of 49-46, 48-47 and 49-46, making Henderson only the second person to ever defeat Edgar.With the win, Henderson’s record improves to 16-2, while Edgar’s record drops to 14-2-1.

Posted in: ufc, round, henderson, champion, edgar

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HeavyMMA's Duane Finley takes a look at the UFC's current champions and the tests they will face in 2012. Will the calendar year be a dominant one for them like 2011 was?

Posted in: ufc, champion, year, heavymma, calendar year

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He's too small for Lightweight. He didn't earn his title shot. He should have lost to Maynard. You hear a lot of criticisms of UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at times, and though fans respect his work in the Maynard fights, these criticisms generally boil down to one thing: He's a vulnerable champion, and he's going to lose. At UFC 144, many believe Ben Henderson will be the man to finally prove all of these things to be correct - to do what Maynard could not do and definitively take out Edgar, sending him down to Featherweight. And perhaps he will - it's definitely a close fight. But anyone who sees as Edgar as vulnerable should consider this: If Frankie Edgar defeats Ben Henderson at UFC 144, he will set a new record for most successful defenses of the UFC Lightweight title. Right now Edgar has three defenses - one against B.J. Penn and two against Gray Maynard. A win over Henderson would be his fourth. Some may argue against including the Maynard draw, but Edgar walked in with the belt and walked out with the belt, which is a successful defense in my eyes. He's currently tied with Penn, who also had three defenses. Other champions were Jens Pulver (2 defenses) and Sean Sherk (1). What's strange is that Edgar still is not presented as a dominant champion. I suspect it's the combination of back-to-back rematches in his defenses, plus questions about the judging in both his title win and the Maynard draw. Put these together and you can end up seeing a flawed champion. But the facts tell a different story. They show that Edgar is as dominant a champion as B.J. Penn - who is typically held up as the best UFC Lightweight ever. Not only is Edgar on par with Penn, he is on the verge of becoming the most dominant champion in the history of one of the UFC's most competitive divisions - and he's doing so at a time when there are countless supremely talented challengers out there all fighting to knock him off his pedestal. Despite any perceived vulnerability, no one has yet succeeded in that mission. People have tried, and they have failed, and at UFC 144, Ben Henderson may be added to that list. At that point, Edgar's name will stand alone in the record books. Perhaps then, more will recognize the dominance of Frankie Edgar. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson

Posted in: ufc, champion, defense, edgar, maynard

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On Saturday night, from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, reigning Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar puts his belt on the line when he meets top contender Ben Henderson in the UFC 144 headlining bout. But, before "The Answer" and "Smooth" square off in The Land of the Rising Sun, they were first pit against one another in THQ's UFC Undisputed 3.

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, champion, thqs ufc, saitama japan

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Nick Peet, Editor, Fighters Only and Train Hard, Fight Easy ‘Hate is such a strong word, but I really don’t like you.’ To hate someone, to actually detest their mere presence, is something most human beings have unfortunately experienced at one time or another. Whether it was a school bully, a torturous PE teacher, your self-obsessed boss that forces you to work weekends while he walks the fairways in stupid plus fours, or simply just everyone who works for the Inland Revenue. Hate is an emotion we have all felt at some point. And it’s so powerful, it’s a shame to waste it. Being capable of harnessing that intense feeling of contempt and then use anger and aggression as allies is the key to maximum productivity. It’s a lesson in self-control many of you have never been required to, or even thought about, master before. Yet it is one of the most important skills in becoming a professional athlete. Hate can also fuel desire. It’s a facet of combat sports that goes back centuries. Pride and glory run side by side against fear and jealousy, hate’s own sparring partners, and those human characteristics are perhaps more prevalent today than ever. After all, sports psychology is now part of the armour of every world-class athletic performer. Take Nick and Nate Diaz for instance, perhaps the two most hate-filled fighters in the history of mixed martial arts. They actively drive to antagonise, refuse to conform to authority and seemingly do what they want when they want. Yet once the bell goes it’s all business and their street fighting style and ‘f**k everybody’ attitudes have elevated them both into being two of the most definitive fighters in their respective weight classes. In this issue we investigate the role hate has in professional sport, and how the Octagon has become a breeding ground for hate as competitive rivalry – more often than not nurtured during seasons of The Ultimate Fighter – and sports psychology tactics have become key factors in each of the seven weight divisions. FO catches up with Georges St Pierre’s brain coach Brian Cain to catch a glimpse into the make-up of a fighter’s mind. Whilst Diaz mentor, Cesar Gracie, offers an insight into the minds of America’s infamous bad boy brothers. Over the years tonnes of MMA fighters have run up fierce rivalries with one another and so we also roll with a handful of the guys involved in some of the most famous public bust-ups. Tito Ortiz, Frank Mir and Josh Koscheck are all included inside – while the two guys at the centre of perhaps one of the most intriguing grudge matches in modern-day MMA, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, also give us their take on sporting rivalry ahead of their coaching roles on the new season of The Ultimate Fighter. Speaking from his base in San Diego, UFC bantamweight champion Cruz reveals what drives him and the secrets of that cool unorthodox, high-octane fighting style which has landed him on top of the world’s 145lb division. Plus his coach at Alliance MMA, Eric Del Fierro, admits for the first time he’s keen to stoke the flames, after the success his Chula Vista team enjoyed in 2011. Nate Diaz also discusses, in his own inimitable style, his opinions on hate, and we turn back the clock to one of the most infamous hate-filled moments in MMA history, when on New Year’s Eve in 2009 the Aoki vs Hirota champion of champions match witnessed the effects of what happens when rivalry turns brutal. But please don’t fret, we had to balance the ying and the yang, so there is also plenty of love running through the 132 action-packed pages also. Our final feature investigates why some fighters – like Brian Stann and Randy Couture – are impossible to hate. And we’ve also got all the usual unmissable news, reviews and previews to get stuck into… Plus, we go viral training with Frank Mir’s grappling coach Ricky Lundell, and referee Marc Goddard reveals the 10 commandments of being a quality MMA official. And finally, check out our review of the third instalment of the UFC Undisputed video game series. This issue is on sale in the UK now. Enjoy.

Posted in: mma, fighter, sport, champion, rivalry

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Average Fighter Age In The UFC In March of 2010, the average age of UFC fighters was reported as 29.5 years. Somewhat surprisingly, there has been no change to that number some two years later, despite the addition of three new divisions full of young talent. By division:Heavyweight: 30.8 yearsLight Heavyweight: 32.2 yearsMiddleweight: 30.2 yearsWelterweight: 29.6 yearsLightweight: 29 yearsFeatherweight: 27.7 yearsBantamweight: 28.5 yearsFlyweight: 27.9 years By divisional top ten/rest of division split/champions age (Consensus rankings) Heavyweight: 32.2 / 30.2 / 28 Light Heavyweight: 31.2 / 32.7 / 24Middleweight: 32.4 / 29.6 / 36 Welterweight: 29.6 / 29.6 / 30 Lightweight: 28.2 / 29.2 / 30Featherweight: 26.5 / 28.1 / 25Bantamweight: 28.3 / 28.4 / 26** There are only 9 fighters and no champion yet in the flyweight division** Analysis and champions forecast after the jump. Analysis: Studying the UFC by age again shines a light on what could become a serious issue in the future of prize-fighting, a lack of heavyweight fighters. There are 30 heavyweights and 31 light heavyweights. Across the other five established divisions, the average is nearly 50 fighters. For the UFC to simply catch those two divisions up they would have to increase the size of the division by a whopping 60 percent. It seems impossible to do quickly, but it's necessary: these divisions are not only sparsely populated but trending towards the older side. The average age of the top 10 heavyweights is a shade over 32 years old. Fedor was tapped out by Fabricio Werdum at 33, to give you an idea of where I'm going with that. The 205 pound division is no better, as the contenders are 31 while the rest of the division is nearing 33 years old on average. One bright spot is that the champions, Junior Dos Santos and Jon Jones, are under 30, with Jones one of the youngest fighters in the organization at 24. As the company builds these divisions they are going to have to find challengers for these two but at least they can present them as dominant champions, should they beat up on sub-par competition for the next few years (Of course, both still have a challenge or two in front of them, but both are entirely capable of conquering them). The middleweight division seems to represent best the idea I introduced in part one: A dominant champion can cause a dearth of bonafide contenders once they finally are dethroned; all the would be champs were left to beat up on each other and younger fighters never got the chance to grow. The top ten is filled with guys on the other side of 30, with Alan Belcher being the only fighter under that number amongst the bunch. The rest of the division falls right into the average at 29.6 and there is 47 fighters in the weight class, so that's not terrible but the division does need to start focusing on younger guys for when Anderson Silva is no longer the champ. The other divisions are fairly well off actually. The champions are all 30 or younger, the entire welterweight and lightweight divisions are on average or younger than average across the board, with the two newest divisions having the youngest average ages. The featherweight division looks like the division to watch, strictly going with age; the division has the youngest top 10 average, at 26.5 years old. Jose Aldo is 25 himself, so there is plenty of time for the top group at featherweight to produce some fierce rivalries in the next few years. Champions Forecast Junior Dos Santos: Good. If he can beat Alistair Overeem, he should reign for years. This is probably the most important heavyweight fight in the history of the division, with the number of lineal titles ton the line. The only spoiler is the fact that Overeem would likely still need to beat Cain Velasquez before his dominance was unquestioned whereas Dos Santos stands one win away from locking up the division for a long long time.Jon Jones: Great. Jones is a tall fighter who knows how to use his length. Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson are great fighters but they are undersized for the division to begin with, so chances are Jones cleans out the division. From there, who knows.Anderson Silva: Poor. I know, he's the greatest champion of all time and his consecutive title defenses record will probably never be equaled. That's also why I'm saying it's about his time to either lose or walk away. The men chasing him are getting older too though, so he could very well defy father time for another three or four fights but I just can't count on it.Georges St. Pierre: Good. Call me skeptical of the contenders at 170 and faithful to the idea that Georges is the smartest fighter in MMA. If he's less of a physical beast he'll somehow compensate. I think he's a few years away from seeing a true challenge.Frankie Edgar: Moderate. Edgar is a wonderful champion and is probably my favorite fighter to watch in the UFC. I believe it took a lot out of him to stop Gray Maynard though, and he can't go to war for much longer before he runs the risk of getting turned off altogether. A decisive and safe win over Henderson would go a long way for him.Jose Aldo: Good. I would say great but for the young talent that surrounds him. He might have a lean year or two and the UFC might need to get creative to keep him active but by the time he hits 28 he'll have some mega tough fighters to deal with. Erik Koch, Dustin Poirier to name a few. Oh yeah, 155 pounders are still dropping down to challenge him, so there is that too.Dominick Cruz: Moderate. Tough fights with Renan Barao and Miguel Torres loom on the horizon for Cruz. Of course he must dispatch of Urijah Faber, for the second time in a little over a years time, but I really see no reason why he won't be able to do that. I've long thought Torres would be an interesting challenge for Cruz and Barao is a dynamo who would probably give some welterweights a good fight (I'm looking at you Matt Riddle). Thanks for reading. In part three later today i'll be looking back at the 2011 fight cards to see if age difference factored into winning and losing. I'll also be looking at the top 25 fighters under 25 in the UFC.

Posted in: fighter, champion, division, year, age

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Another version of the always insightful “UFC Countdown” series is now available to watch in its entirety, as the UFC has released Countdown to UFC 144. Watch the entire video below, as multiple fighters from the main card are featured, including both the main event featuring UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and former WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, along with the co-main event which features former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and The Ultimate Fighter season 8 winner Ryan Bader. Also featured are former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields, who takes on local Japanese star Yoshihiro Akiyama, along with former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who is set to square off against Joe Lauzon. UFC 144 takes place on Saturday, with MMAFrenzy.com covering the entire card, which begins at 7:30 PM EST with the first preliminary card on Facebook. For complete coverage of UFC 144, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, champion, card, countdown, comain event

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I have been focusing on current affairs recently and I've not put out any Title Writing pieces in awhile. I have been working on some stuff though and this is the first one I've finished. This part one is going to kind of explain where I was coming from when I started the research, while parts two and three will contain the hard data and my observations. What can age demographics tell us about prize fighting? Change has always been a part of the young and fast growing Ultimate Fighting Championships, but it seems to me that it's really been at the forefront for the past year. Since they purchased Strikeforce (a big change in and of itself) there have been a number of immediate and developing changes, both inside the ring and outside of it: Jon Jones emerged as a dominant champion. They brought over significant Strikeforce champions Alistair Overeem and Nick Diaz. They signed a TV deal with FOX while at the same time ending their deal with Spike, significantly changing the television aspect of their shows. Brock Lesnar, the biggest draw in company history, retired. Georges St. Pierre suffered a minor, then a major knee injury, pulling out of two title fights and forcing Dana White to install an interim belt, which Carlos Condit beat Diaz to earn. Story continues after the jump Jon Jones, Brock Lesnar and Georges St. Pierre were the most interesting stories to me, in that they inspired me to take a good look at the age of the fighters currently signed to the organization. Jones has constantly been referred to as the "new breed of fighter" ever since he started to have success and sure enough, he already has the title and two defenses under his belt, at 24. He was the face of 2011. Brock was the face of the company from 2008 to 2010 until illness, his one dimensional fighting abilities, and yes, age caught up to him. He retired at 34. St. Pierre finds himself in the middle of Lesnar and Jones. He is a long time champion, having first won the title in 2006 before losing it in 2007, then winning it directly back from Matt Serra in 2008. When GSP first won the title, the other champions were: Tim Sylvia, Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva, Sean Sherk, Urijah Faber & Eddie Wineland (Faber and Wineland were the WEC champs). Sylvia is long gone and begging to come back, Liddell is retired, Anderson is still the champion of the middleweight division, an incredible feat to be sure, and while Sherk is still in the organization, he hasn't fought since September of 2010. Faber is about to have his last crack at a title (in the 135 division) while Wineland has lost his last two (and first two) in the UFC. At 30 years old, it seems St. Pierre is closer to the end than the beginning. Anderson has remained dominant well into his 30s, so it's not out of the question that Georges could win another 10 titles before he falls but it's pretty unlikely, especially now that he's suffered a major knee injury which could rob him of his trademark athleticism. While we're on the subject of Anderson, he too is surely not long for the pasture. Who is going to take their place? It's easy to say that as stars get older, younger ones will be waiting to take their place. In the case of Lesnar, this is indeed what happened. Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos have the heavyweight division in good hands for the next few years and there are enough guys to trot out for them until a new crop of young contenders rise. In the case of a dominant champion though, could there be a real risk that the division grows old with him, leaving a lack of real contenders when the champion finally does step aside? Take the light heavyweight division, for example. Chuck Liddell monopolized the title for a three year period from 2005 to 2007. The division was thought of as the strongest division in MMA (occupying the position that the welterweight and lightweight divisions are battling over right now). Yet as Liddell won five straight titles, the other contenders were left to fight amongst themselves, all the while growing older and when Liddell lost his championship, no one was able to hold on to it for very long, having spent so much in getting to the top in the first place. And because of the hot potato nature of the belt, there was little room for younger fighters to break through. In fact, the only one who really did was the otherworldly Jones. We now see him as the dominant force atop a division with precious few challengers either currently or on the horizon. It's undeniable that the UFC will have a big competitive problem in feeding Jones' legend if he beats Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson. Is something similar going to take place over the next few years in the welterweight and middleweight divisions? What about the lightweight division, or the two newest additions to the roster, the featherweight and bantamweight divisions? All three have a champion with at least three defenses. Are these men set up to be dominant for years to come? Just how old are the top fighters in the world? Are we about to see a dramatic changing of the guard, or will new stars emerge gradually? I set out to answer these questions by looking at the age demographics of the entire UFC roster. Some of the findings I will be presenting in parts two and three include: The average age for the UFC as a whole and for each division. The Top 25 UFC fighters under 25 as well as the top 25 under 25 outside the UFC (using the Bloody Elbow World Scouting Report as a reference.) A champions forecasts, based on the age of each champion and the age of the top contenders in their division. Room to grow: A look at UFC fighters with less than 3 fights in the organization and less than 10 fights overall. I'll be putting out part two first thing tomorrow morning and will be putting out part three a few hours after that. I look forward to hearing what you guys think of my findings.

Posted in: ufc, title, champion, division, part

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The UFC just released the full video of the Countdown Show to promote UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson which will be happening in Japan this weekend. They split it in four parts and featured the top match ups on the card, Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson, Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields, and Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon. Click these to watch the videos: Here are the UFC's descriptions of each of the four bouts: Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: "The most unlikely UFC champion meets the former WEC champion in a battle between two true athletes. Watch lightweight champion Frankie Edgar fight Benson Henderson live on Saturday, February 25." Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: "Former light heavyweight champion Rampage Jackson relishes the chance to return to Japan and his PRIDE-era fans, but Ryan Bader isn't intimidated by fighting a legend... he's done it before." Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: "Japanese superstar Sexyama drops down to welterweight as Jake Shields plans another run up the ranks of the 170-pound division." Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: "Two lightweights with flashy finishes to their names will face one another - hear what bonus-hunter Joe Lauzon and human highlight reel Anthony Pettis are doing to prepare for what could be the most exciting fight of the year."

Posted in: ufc, vs, henderson, champion, edgar

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The UFC currently has eight champions. Although each one brings a different style to the Octagon, they have all looked nearly unstoppable. But, as we all know, it only takes one punch or one bad night for an MMA fighter to become a former UFC champion of the world...

Posted in: ufc, night, champion, mma fighter, ufc champion

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No one is scared of Frankie Edgar. Not really. No one in the UFC seems especially terrified of him, of what he might do to them, of the ways in which a fight with him might forever alter their lives and/or faces. That’s just not the kind of champion he is, and he knows it, even if he doesn’t know exactly why.Fighters worry about him, maybe. They’re concerned. They know that Edgar keeps finding a way to win -- somehow -- and that’s a problem. Still, it’s not the kind of thing that keeps them up at night or keeps fans enthralled by his dominance, and even Edgar can’t quite explain why that is."I don’t know," he told MMA Fighting. "Maybe it’s because I’m a smaller guy. I’m not supposed to win." According to the oddsmakers, that was true until very recently. The first time Edgar fought B.J. Penn for the UFC lightweight title, Penn was a 7-1 favorite. Even after Edgar beat him via decision to claim the belt, Penn was still somewhere in the neighborhood of a 3-1 favorite in the immediate rematch. Edgar won that fight too, this time even more convincingly than the first, but he was still a slight underdog when he defended the belt against Gray Maynard some four months later.It wasn’t until the third fight with Maynard, which Edgar would go on to win via knockout, that he finally entered a title fight as the (slight) favorite. Even now, coming off arguably the biggest and most decisive win of his career, he’s just barely a favorite -- currently hovering at -130, according to most oddsmakers -- to beat Ben Henderson in Tokyo at UFC 144.At a certain point, how do you not take this personally, if you’re Edgar? How do you resist the urge to smack the oddsmakers and experts upside the head with your championship belt, WWE-style, and ask them why you don’t get the same respect as the rest of the UFC title-holders?Only, for better or worse, that’s not the kind of fighter Edgar is. He seems more inclined to laugh and shrug than launch into the Rodney Dangerfield ‘no respect’ schtick. Maybe he hasn’t made a believer out of everyone, he admitted, but "[t]hat doesn’t bother me. I think the longer it took people to come around, it means the more proving I had to do. And once people do come around, I feel like they’re going to stick with me longer."Besides, there’s not much you can take away from a champion who’s 14-1-1, and has avenged the loss and the draw with a dramatic knockout victory."You can’t deny what I did," Edgar said. "I beat B.J. Penn twice, and a lot of people considered him the best lightweight ever. Then I beat Gray, who had never been beaten before. Not only did I beat him, I stopped him."And yet, even Edgar will admit that the public perception does have some effect, however slight, on the way he perceives his own title reign. This weekend’s fight in Tokyo will mark the first time in over two years that he’s fought someone not named Penn or Maynard, which, for a while there, turned his training into a real mental grind."I think that’s why I didn’t really get caught up in [being the champion,]" he said. "I remember coming home with the belt and getting a call from Dana [White] pretty much that next day saying, ‘You’ve got to fight B.J. again.’ I never really even got to settle in to being the champion. I had to get ready to defend it. ...Then I was the underdog my past few fights, so I never even got a chance to feel like a champion. I felt like I constantly had to prove myself, and I kind of still feel that way today."But how long can that go on? If he beats Henderson, thus defending his title against its third consecutive challenger, who can still doubt him? Who can still look at him and see a champion on borrowed time?Maybe the better question is, who still sees him that way now? If wins over Penn and Maynard aren’t enough, what will be? Perhaps we’ll find out soon enough, but in the meantime it doesn’t seem to be bothering Edgar all that much. He’s had plenty of time to get used to it. At this point, maybe he wouldn’t even know how to be that terrifying, dominant champion who the fight world reveres. Maybe he wouldn’t want to be.

Posted in: fight, way, champion, penn, edgar

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Now that three weeks have passed since UFC 143, which saw Carlos Condit become the UFC Interim Welterweight Champion by defeating Nick Diaz, a lot of the drama, which includes the highly debated decision in the main event between Diaz and Condit, and Diaz' post-fight positive drug test, has simmered down, Carlos Condit can get back to enjoying his accomplishment. That accomplishment, is becoming the first World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion to successfully win an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) world title since the organization closed up shop in 2010. Prior to "The Natural Born Killer" joining the UFC, he was on an eight fight win streak which included four title fights in the WEC, along with three straight title defenses. His UFC debut, however, was not a successful one, as he lost a razor thin split decision to Martin Kampmann at UFC Fight Night: "Condit vs. Kampmann" on April 1, 2009, in a fight many believed should have gone Condit's way. Since that setback three years ago, Condit has been on a tear, winning five consecutive fights over a who's-who of welterweights including Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald, Dan Hardy and the aforementioned Nick Diaz, winning 13 of his last 14 bouts in the process. Now, Condit finds himself at a standstill. That's because he is currently undecided as to what his next move will be. He can either wait for current UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre to finish up his rehab, or possibly defend his title against perennial top contender Jake Ellenberger, who finds himself on a six fight win streak and has not lost in over two years since dropping a split decision to, you guessed it, Carlos Condit. "The Natural Born Killer" spoke to MMAmania.com about what it's like to be a WEC and UFC champion, as well as his future plans in the UFC's 170-pound division. Check it out: In 2010, after the UFC absorbed all of the WEC's talent into its own roster, the promotion created two new divisions and crowned reigning WEC champions Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz the first ever UFC Featherweight and Bantamweight champions, respectively, without ever having competed in the promotion. Anthony Pettis, the WEC's 155-pound champion, lost his chance at UFC gold when he was defeated by Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, ending his hopes of a title unification bout against lightweight kingpin, Frankie Edgar. Condit, the WEC's Welterweight champion, on the other hand, did not receive an immediate title shot nor did he receive a belt. Instead, he reeled off five wins in the promotion, including "Fight of the Night" and "Knockout of the Night" performances in three consecutive bouts before earning his shot at grabbing UFC gold. Making the most of his opportunity, Condit defeated Nick Diaz at UFC 143 to join Frank Shamrock as the only two fighters to win a title in both organizations and the first to do so since the merger, something Carlos says he is very proud of. "It feels great. When I got into the UFC, that was my goal, was to have two belts. I defended every time I fought for the WEC belt, so basically I'm still WEC champ because I never lost it and now I'm the interim UFC champion and it feels great." After winning the interim title at UFC 143, Condit's next move should have been a title unification bout with UFC 170-pound champion, Georges St. Pierre. However, due to all the backlash and criticism received after his victory over Diaz, "The Natural Born Killer" accepted a rematch with the Stockton bad boy in order to silence his critics yet again. However, one failed drug test by Diaz ended all hopes of the rematch. Condit is now, once again, expected to face St. Pierre as soon as "Rush" is deemed fit to return to action and would love nothing more to get his chance at dethroning "GSP" and removing the interim tag. However, if it means too long of a wait, Carlos would prefer to stay active and potentially take another fight in the meantime. "It all depends on GSP and when he will be back. I would like to stay busy. If he won't be back until the end of the year like December, then I may take another fight. But if it's sooner than that then I will wait for him. I'm good health wise, I had some minor stuff I was dealing with before UFC 143, and the fight just kind of aggravated things, but for the most part nothing serious." It's widely believed the Jake Ellenberger punched his ticket to the top of the number one contender's list when he defeated Condit's training partner, Diego Sanchez, at UFC on Fuel TV on Feb 15, 2012. With the uncertainty of GSP's return, Condit will keep playing the waiting game for the foreseeable future as the UFC 170-pound division plays itself out further as Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks are scheduled to tangle on UFC on Fox 3 in May in a bout that could produce yet another challenger for the 170-pound title. For now, Condit may be sharing the top of the Welterweight mountain, but has no problems taking on any and all comers in order to prove he deserves to stand at the top all by himself.

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, champion, condit

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"I'm not in this to play second fiddle to anybody. It's not so much the belt that holds the significance, it's what the belt means and how much I worked for it, how much my team's worked for it and how much my family's sacrificed for it. So yeah, I'm not gonna give that belt up very easily. When I leave Japan, I'm gonna come home still the champion. I know Ben's a tough guy, but there's a reason I'm the champion." For the first time in over a decade, the world's largest fight promotion is headed back to "The Land of the Rising Sun," as UFC 144: "Edgar vs. Henderson" invades the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, this Saturday night (Feb. 25, 2012) live on pay-per-view (PPV), featuring a lightweight championship bout that sees reigning titleholder Frankie Edgar put his strap on the line against former WEC 155-pound kingpin Ben Henderson. Predictions?

Posted in: belt, champion, im, reason im, saitama japan

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and top contender Rashad Evans squared off on Thursday in Atlanta to begin the promotion around their fight coming up at UFC 145.

Posted in: ufc, jone, conference, champion, evan

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Posted in: champion, coach, coaches fight, gustavo, thelegendmanbearpig

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Matt Hume steps in to separate Bob Sapp and Rolles Gracie at the One FC weigh in. Courtesy of www.mmaddict-indonesia.com Bob Sapp and Rolles Gracie almost came to blows at the ONE FC weigh-in last night. Referee Matt Hume had to step in to separate them and CEO / Owner Victor Cui was almost knocked to the ground in the ensuing melee. Sapp continued to eyeball Gracie throughout the photo shoot and weighted in at 145 kg, a little leaner than normal, for a fight he says he has been training hard for and is determined to win. All the other fighters made weight at the first attempt. The event is set to get underway at 7:30 pm local time with the undercard available free of charge and the main card costing just $10. Complete One FC weigh in results are as follows: Main Card: Lightweight (70.3 kgs)Felipe Enomoto vs Ole Laursen70.55 kg 70.8 kgFeatherweight (65.8 kg)Bae Young Kwon vs Honorio Banario66.1 kg 66.25 kgWelterweight (77.1 kg)Rodrigo Ribeiro vs Rustam Khabilov77.35 kg 77.55 kgBantamweight (61.2 kg)Soo Chul Kim vs Gustavo Falciroli61.3 kg 61.3 kgSuper Heavyweight (no limit)Rolles Gracie vs Bob Sapp111.1 kg 141.45 kgUnder Card:Featherweight (65.8 kg)Raymond Tiew vs Victorio Senduk65.75 kg 65.6 kgFlyweight ( 56.7 kg)Alex Silva vs Geje Eustaquio57.05 kg 56.95 kgBantamweight (61.2 kg)Irshaad Sayed vs Jessie Rafols61.3 kg 60.55 kgLightweight (70.3 kg)Peter Davis vs Ngabdi Mulyadi70.15 kg 69.9 kgWelterweight (77.1 kg)Zuli Silawanto vs Agus Nanang77.1 kg 76.45 ONE Fighting Championship, Asia’s largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event, is coming to Jakarta this Saturday night with a ten bout fight card featuring established international stars and some of the region’s best fighters.All of the fighters made weight at the first attempt and are ready to do battle at ONE Fighting Championship ‘Battle of Heroes’ which will be the biggest MMA event in the history of Indonesian MMA. Taking place at the BritAma Arena, proceedings are scheduled to commence at 7:30 pm local time, with all the fights available for live viewing on the internet.Headlining the event will be a lightweight contest between well rounded Japanese fighter Felipe Enomoto and Filipino kickboxing and Muay Thai specialist Ole Laursen, who is currently riding a five fight win streak.Laursen has faced outstanding strikers such as Buakaw Por Pramuk, Masato and Andy Souwer throughout his decorated K-1 career. He believes that despite being out of action for over a year, he still has what it takes to score a devastating knock out over his Japanese opponent.Enomoto has been the much busier fighter recently, and with strong boxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills, he will be looking to exploit any ring rust his Filipino counterpart may have. Laursen wants to mark his comeback with a KO and believes his superior striking will make the difference in this fight.The main card also features a super heavyweight contest between 141kg K-1 veteran Bob "The Beast" Sapp and BJJ Champion Rolles Gracie. Although Gracie, from Brazil, is considerably smaller than the enormous American, he has earned a third degree BJJ black belt and will be looking for the sixth submission victory of his career.Sapp has fought in major Japanese promotions such as Pride and Dream, and along with his vast experience, possesses incredible power and strength. It is no surprise that few of his fights make it past the first round. Sapp aims to test Gracie’s chin early on and is promising fight fans a fast and dramatic knock-out finish.Unbeaten URCC Lightweight Champion Honorio Banario will be dropping down from lightweight to featherweight for the first time in his career to take on experienced Korean Bae Young Kwon. In another exciting bout, Cage Fighting Championship Bantamweight Champion Gustavo Falciroli is making his ONE FC debut against Korean prodigy Soo Chul Kim.In a truly international fight affair, two welterweights will collide when Russian Combat Sambo Champion Rustam Khabilov goes up against BJJ Champion Rodrigo Ribeiro.The undercard focuses exclusively on fighters originally from or currently based in Asia. Indonesia’s own hero Victorio "Indra" Senduk, a SEA Games Wushu Silver Medalist, will be taking on Malaysian Raymond Tiew in what promises to be an outstanding stand-up war between two of the region’s top strikers.Jessie Rafols has a reputation for being one of the most exciting and explosive fighters in the talent-rich Philippines, but he will be in for a tough test against South African Muay Thai World Champion and stand out striker Irshaad Sayed.Another world champion on the undercard is Copa do Mundo BJJ World Champion Alex Silva, originally from Brazil. Silva will undoubtedly be facing off against the toughest opponent of his career when he takes on Geje Eustaquio from the Philippines.Malaysian model and actor Peter Davis, believes his unconventional stand-up skills will earn him the knock out of the night honors but his opponent, Indonesian Wrestling Champion Ngabdi Mulyadi, will be looking to take the fight to the ground at the first available opportunity.The opening bout of the night is an all Indonesian affair between two local veterans; Zuli Silawanto and Agus Nanang. They each have over a decade of MMA experience and will be looking to put on an unforgettable display in front of their home fans.The under card is available for viewing free of charge. The main card is available on pay-per-view at just US$9.99. The first fight is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 PM Jakarta time (GMT + 7:00).MMA fans can catch the action online via live streaming on the following websites;http://www.ONEFC.com http://www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA http://www.UStream.tv/onefc

Posted in: fight, vs, champion, kg, gracie

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"To retire as UFC champion and to have defended the belt in Japan? Oh man, that would have been perfect. Believe me, I still want to retire as champion. I want to hold the belt once more. I guess if I had won that Jon Jones fight and if the Japan show wasn't next then there would have been a very good chance I would have retired already. It would have been a great time to bow out. But I almost certainly would have stayed around to fight in Japan anyway, to defend the belt. Then if I would have successfully defended it on this [UFC 144] show, I definitely would be retiring - and retiring a very happy man too!" Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson tells Fighters Only that had he defeated current 205-pound champion Jon Jones at UFC 135 last September, he probably would have walked away from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). Unfortunately for "Rampage," he came up short in regaining the title, and was offered a fight against Ryan Bader scheduled for UFC 144 as the promotion heads Far East to Japan on Feb. 26, 2012. Jackson, who has found success outside the Octagon as a movie star and appeared in movies such as the A-Team, has had quite a career in his 14-year tenure but truly rose to fame in "The Land of the Rising Sun" during his stint with PRIDE FC. After defeating Chuck Liddell at UFC 71 to earn the UFC Light Heavyweight title, Jackson lost his strap to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86 a year later, and has been on a quest to get it back ever since. With Brock Lesnar and Nick Diaz announcing their retirements after losses, "Rampage," for one, does not want to go out like that. Can we expect Jackson to vie for the title after a few more wins in the stacked 205-pound division? Or will Ryan Bader derail his goals to retire as champ?

Posted in: ufc, jackson, champion, japan, ryan bader

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO, Lorenzo Fertitta, has been blowing up his Twitter account lately with fight announcements galore, which is always music to mixed martial arts (MMA) fans collective ears. After revealing that the highly anticipated Heavyweight title fight between reigning champion Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem will headline the Memorial day weekend card on May 26, 2012, Fertitta also revealed that surging heavyweight Frank Mir will take on the former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez at an upcoming event. The latest fight announcement from Fertitta (via his official Twitter account) is that of a rubber match between Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin for an event sometime this year. Though both are coming off losses and are nowhere near title contention at this point in their careers, the fight, should it come to light, will be the third and final showdown in a feud between the two former UFC 205-pound champions that goes all the way back to 2006. The two initially met at UFC 59 in what many consider to be Griffin's coming out party. Though he lost a very close split decision, Griffin proved that he was worthy of sharing the Octagon with a former champion in his third fight with the promotion since winning the inaugural Ultimate Fighter (TUF) competition. The rematch took place three years later at UFC 106, and this time it was Griffin who was awarded the split decision victory, much to the chagrin of Ortiz. With "The People's Champion's" Hall of Fame MMA career nearing its final chapter, it looks like he will get his last wish and be matched up against Griffin for the final time. Though no date is set, Ortiz did say he would love to end his career on Fourth of July weekend. With the UFC recently announcing they will hold an event on July 7 of this year that will coincide with the UFC Fan Expo, a spot on the card would seem to make sense. But does this fight? Is anyone interested in seeing these two complete the trilogy? And who takes it this time around? As always, stay tuned to MMAmania.com as more details and an official fight announcement is made in the coming weeks.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, fertitta, griffin

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With the busiest 21 days in the promotion's history in the books the UFC's eight weight divisions all received a minor shake up. In the UFC heavyweight division Strikeforce imports Alistair Overeem (36-11-1) and Fabricio Werdum( 15-5-1) have added much needed depth to the promotion's top ten. Werdum's unanimous decision win over Ultimate Fighter ten winner Roy Nelson (16-7) at UFC 143 vaulted the Brazilian grappler into the six spot of the UFC's heavyweight top ten. The UFC's middleweight division took center stage at UFC on Fox 2 with fights airing on the televised main card. Middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) held down his spot with a closer than expected decision victory over Michael Bisping (22-4).Prospect turned contender Chris Weidman (8-0) earned his position in the UFC's 185 pound top ten with an impressive performance versus one time title challenger Demian Maia (15-4)Top ten rankings for all seven UFC weight classes after the jump Heavyweight (over 205 pounds)UFC Champion: Junior Dos Santos 14-1 1. Cain Velasquez 9-1 2. Alistair Overeem 36-11-1 3. Brock Lesnar 5-3 4. Shane Carwin 12-2 5. Frank Mir 16-5 6. Fabricio Werdum 15-5-1 7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 33-7-1 8. Cheick Kongo 17-6-2 9. Roy Nelson 16-7 10. Brendan Schaub 8-2Light Heavyweight (205 pound limit) UFC Champion: Jon Jones 15-1-UFC 145 vs. Rashad Evans 17-1-1 1. Rashad Evans 17-1-1 2. Dan Henderson 29-8 3. Mauricio Rua 20-6 4. Quinton Jackson 32-9 5. Lyoto Machida 17-3 6. Forrest Griffin 18-7 7. Phil Davis 9-1 8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 20-5 9. Tito Ortiz 16-10-1 10. Ryan Bader 13-2Middleweight (185 pound limit)UFC Champion: Anderson Silva 31-4 1. Chael Sonnen 27-11-1 2. Vitor Belfort 21-9 3. Yushin Okami 25-6 4. Mark Munoz 12-2 5. Michael Bisping 22-4 6. Chris Weidman 8-0 7. Demian Maia 15-4 8. Brian Stann 11-4 9. Alan Belcher 17-6 10. Wanderlei Silva 34-11-1Welterweight (170 pound limit)UFC Champion: George St. Pierre 22-2 1. Carlos Condit 28-5 (Interim UFC Champion) 2. Johny Hendricks 12-1 3. Jon Fitch 23-4-1 4. Nick Diaz 26-8 5. Josh Koscheck 17-5 6. Jake Ellenberger 26-5 7. B.J Penn 16-7-2 8. Jake Shields 26-6-1 9. Diego Sanchez 23-4 10. Martin Kampmann 18-5Lightweight (155 pound limit) UFC Champion: Frank Edgar 14-1-1-UFC 144 vs. Ben Henderson 15-2 1. Ben Henderson 15-2 2. Gray Maynard 10-1-1 3. Clay Guida 29-12 4. Jim Miller 21-3 5. Anthony Pettis 14-2 6. Nate Diaz 15-7 7. Donald Cerrone 16-3 8. Joe Lauzon 21-6 9. Melvin Guillard 29-10-2 10. Evan Dunham 13-2 Featherweight (145 pound limit) UFC Champion: Jose Aldo 21-1 1. Chad Mendes 11-1 2. Hatsu Hioki 25-4-2 3. Diego Nunes 16-2 4. Dustin Poirier 12-1 5. Bart Palaszewski 36-14 6. Erik Koch 13-1 7. Chan Sung Jung 12-3 8. Mark Hominick 20-10 9. Tyson Griffin 15-6 10. Darren Elkins 12-2Bantamweight (135 pound limit)UFC Champion: Dominick Cruz 19-1 1. Urijah Faber 26-5 2. Joseph Benavidez 15-2 3. Brian Bowles 10-2 4. Renan Barao 28-1 5. Miguel Torres 40-4 6. Michael McDonald 14-1 7. Scott Jorgenson 12-5 8. Takeya Mizugaki 15-6-2 9. Brad Pickett 20-6 10. Eddie Wineland 18-8-1Added: Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Chris Weidman, Nate Diaz, Bart Palaszewski, Miguel TorresDropped: Travis Browne, Matt Mitrione, Chris Leben, Denis Siver, Kenny Florian, Demetrious Johnson

Posted in: ufc, pound, champion, chri, werdum

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Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate thinks challenger Ronda Rousey is pushy, selfish and immature -- and too pretty.

Posted in: champion, bantamweight, tate, rousey, ronda

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Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate thinks challenger Ronda Rousey is pushy, selfish and immature -- and too pretty.

Posted in: challenger, champion, tate, rousey, ronda

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre discusses his rehab and when he expects to return to the Octagon.

Posted in: ufc, gsp, champion, rehab, return

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos talks winning the belt, his injury, and when we can expect to see him back in action.

Posted in: champion, do, injury, talk, return

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Ronda Rousey has no sympathy for former Strikeforce 145-pound women’s champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos.

Posted in: champion, women, cyborg, rousey, cristiane

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BRAZIL’S BOUNTY TO BLOSSOM IN 2012 Just a hunch, but 2012 could see more UFC champions from the cradle of MMA. The ‘Boys from Brazil’ continue to emerge as potential UFC kings. Innate hunger and desire, and the route from poverty made possible by the wider professionalisation of MMA, has created a conveyor belt of talent. Breeding grounds for success in combat sports were ever thus. Time was when, through association football, men from the poorer nations of Africa and South America sought their fortunes abroad, notably in Europe. That is changing. The Brazilians are ploughing the same rich furrow in the USA through MMA. Look around in the UFC and we already have three notable champions, all of whom have transformed their lives by ‘escaping’ poverty through success in their sport: Anderson Silva, champion emeritus (and now extremely wealthy), looks immovable at middleweight; featherweight champion of the UFC José Aldo, the street kid who found a gym, scrubbed the floors, met the love of his life there and clambered to the top of the tree with his vicious fighting style; and, latterly, Junior dos Santos, the newly crowned heavyweight champion. At the age of 11, he was selling drinks in the streets to help his mother make ends meet. His rise and rise was told time and again in 2011, as a paean to the sport’s development. Yet look around and emerging Brazilians loom large in other divisions: Renan Barao looks like a wrecking machine at bantamweight, most likely to be joined soon by the exciting TUF 14 145lb champion Diego Brandao. At lightweight, Edson Barboza is one I strongly rate as a title contender, who could well get his opportunity in 2012. Then there’s Erik Silva, who could be the best of the newcomers, at welterweight. It’s back to Brazil in early 2012, while TUF Brazil will likely showcase even more rising stars. The future is definitely green and gold. COUTURE MAJOR HOLLYWOOD HIT Randy Couture continues to impress. He may have called time after losing a tooth (but certainly not his pride) against Lyoto Machida in Toronto last April, but has taken to Tinseltown with the same vim and vigour he brought to both his military career and his 14 years in MMA. It seems his commitment to acting has had a distinct impression on a few guys who act tough. Notably, Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone. Stallone admitted Couture was “the toughest guy on set” during filming of The Expendables, and, by all accounts, the unflappable stuntmen don’t want to do a fight scene with him. Statham, action man in the movies and a serious MMA follower, explained: “I had the pleasure of working alongside Randy on The Expendables, and I’ve had the thrill of sitting cageside at his fights. I’ve seen him teach beginners and I’ve seen him challenge fighters decades younger in the gym. Randy is a legend, a mentor and, I’m privileged to say, a friend. And from what the ladies tell me, he’s also the guy you want as your wingman. “I’ve played a lot of tough guys on screen. On the set I throw kicks and punches, choke thugs out – ever mindful of the proper camera angle – and sometimes even get the girl. I get to be the hero on the screen and usually go home without much more than a couple of bruises for my troubles. Randy, on the other hand? Hell, he’s a 24-hour, straight-up, real-world badass. “He’s the guy running at 11pm with a 40lb weight vest on after two sparring sessions and strength and conditioning training. He’s the guy working his Olympic-level wrestling and world-famous ground ‘n’ pound for weeks on end, all to ready himself for 15–25 minutes of absolute, unadulterated war inside the Octagon. He’s the guy who has won three heavyweight titles, two light-heavyweight titles and who competed at the highest level until the age of 47. Makes you think to yourself: what did I do today? Well, probably not as much as Randy did.” Now that’s admiration. But that’s Randy, too. A one-off. MMA IN THE MILITARY Mixed martial arts is loved by military men. It has all the in-built ingredients involved in the serviceman’s daily life. The heroic lives of Brian Stann and Tim Kennedy, Marine and Special Forces soldier respectively, have been well documented. In England, Jack Marshman is cut from the same cloth. He started out on the wrong side of the tracks, spending his juvenile years in and out of jails, consistently involved in fights on the streets of South Wales. Great fighters have emerged from the tough area once populated by coal mining. However, Marshman joined the Parachute Regiment, and is rising through the ranks. Now, rather than fights in the streets, he fights in a cage and jumps out of planes over Afghanistan. Marshman became BAMMA’s first British middleweight champion in the Autumn and made a successful first defence against Leroy Barnes at BAMMA 8, coming through another war. The army boxing champion may take two shots to land with one but Marshman has fought 11 times since the start of 2010. 2012 WISHLIST My wishlist for 2012: Rashad Evans to get the light heavyweight title shot he deserves; moves to set up a much-needed ‘MMA Commission’ in the UK to get underway; New York sanctioned for MMA so that we can witness our first event at Madison Square Garden; and the realisation of the Fox deal with an identifiable impact on the mainstream, even if that means the vagaries of the sport are debated in public, even by the game’s detractors. Better off out in the open, than in the shadows.

Posted in: fight, mma, guy, champion, randy

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ONE Fighting Championship's second event is happening this weekend, and since most of our readers are from outside of Asia, here's an in-depth preview and a complete guide on everything you will need to know about the upcoming event. Event Details: ONE Fighting Championship 2: Battle of HeroesFebruary 11, 2012 -- 7:30 a.m. ETKelapa Gading Sports Mall, Jakarta, Indonesia How to watch: If you're not going to be in the Arena to watch the event, you can also catch the event online. Prelims will be shown live and free on their facebook page, while the main card will be available as an online PPV at UStream or at ONEFC.com for $9.99. The event will also have a delayed telecast all over Asia at ESPN Star Sports. SIX Things To Look Forward To: The card will have 10 fights, and here are seven things that you should look forward to during the event. 1. OLE LAURSEN'S RETURN TO COMPETITION - Ole Laursen (5-2) is a K-1 veteran, and a super-fight champion from Martial Combat. He was thrown on the deep end early on his MMA career when he faced and lost to Genki Sudo and Caol Uno back in 2006. He has since rattled off 5-straight victories since then, and was ranked as the #8 lightweight on the 2010 World MMA Scouting Report. He was supposed to headline ONE FC's debut event against Eduard Folayang, but a knee injury has kept him sidelined for months. The Filipino-Danish fighter who has been based in Thailand for several years began building a new Legacy gym on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, in Boracay, Philippines. He will be returning to competition this weekend and he will have a tough task at hand when he headlines the event against Felipe Enomoto (5-3), a former CFC champ who founded the Enomoto dojo along with his brother, M-1 Global champ Yasubey Enomoto. 2. A PRIDE STYLE FREAKSHOW-ISH FIGHT - ONE FC has a rule-set that is very similar to PRIDE in which knees and soccer kicks (depending on a signal from the referee) to a grounded opponent is allowed. Another thing PRIDE was known for, was having those "freakshow" bouts which blurred the lines between sport and spectacle. A lot of people enjoyed those types of matches during the PRIDE days, but a lot of people also hated it. Either way, at least for this card, that's one more thing ONE FC has that's similar to the popular Japanese promotion, as the 350 lb. "Beast", Bob Sapp (11-9) will be taking on UFC veteran and 3rd degree BJJ black belt, Rolles Gracie (5-1) in a super-heavyweight bout. 3. ANOTHER URCC CHAMPION FROM TEAM LAKAY - Back in September, North American fans were introduced to one of the most popular fighters in Asia, in Eduard Folayang. The Wushu fighter displayed tremendous grit and toughness coupled with his very entertaining style of fighting that is common among the guys at Team Lakay. Co-headlining the event will be undefeated URCC lightweight champion, Honorio Banario (6-0), who is one of the youngest guys from the famed camp that's based on the mountain province of Baguio. The URCC champions have been faring well in international competition, but Banario will be dropping down a weight class and will be facing a very talented Korean fighter on his featherweight debut. He'll be taking on Bae Young Kwon (6-2), one of the top featherweights from Korea's ROAD FC promotion, who recently pulled off an upset over the highly touted prospect from Evolve MMA in Brian Choi. Much more after the jump, but don't forget to follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. 4. EVOLVE MMA'S BJJ WORLD CHAMPS AGAINST JACKSON'S MMA AND TEAM LAKAY - You have probably heard about Evolve MMA, the home of guys like Shinya Aoki and Rafael Dos Anjos, and it's one of the most beautiful gyms in the world that is also stacked with several world champions from Muay Thai, BJJ, and now wrestling. Two of their BJJ world champs will be competing at this event, and they will be taking on guys from arguably the best gym in the US, and the best gym in the Philippines. Rodrigo Ribeiro (9-7), a very experienced BJJ world champion and third degree black belt, will be taking on Rustam Khabilov (12-1), a top prospect and M-1 veteran who is also a Combat Sambo world champion. The Russian fighter trains out of Jackson's MMA, and his background provides a very interesting contrast and battle of styles that could make waves in ONE FC's welterweight division. His teammate, fellow BJJ world champ, Alex Silva (1-0), just recently moved to MMA, winning his debut by rear naked choke a few months ago. He will be taking on a fellow flyweight prospect in Geje Eustaquio (2-1), who is one of the newer guys from Team Lakay. He may not yet be as technical as some of his more experienced and more popular teammates, but Eustaquio already possesses the trademark grit, endurance, and toughness that is common among the champs found in the Lakay Wushu gym. Both guys are still developing their overall MMA game with the champions they train with day in and day out, but their specialties and styles makes this a very intriguing match up. Plus these flyweights are always exciting, so this is probably one of the sleeper candidates for FOTN. 5. CFC CHAMP GUSTAVO FALCIROLI VS. SOO CHUL KIM - For those who were able to see ONE FC 1, you would already know that Soo Chul Kim (is a gamer. He's a very tough fighter and even though he ended up losing a decision, he gave Evolve MMA's Leandro Issa all he can handle, winning over a lot of the fans that night. Kim, at 20-years-old, is still a very young prospect with a bright future ahead of him, but unfortunately for him, he's again matched up against another accomplished grappler in Gustavo Falciroli (11-3-2), who is a 2nd degree BJJ blackbelt. There's a bit of hype surrounding the current CFC bantamweight champion in Falciroli, with people constantly singing high praises for the Australian-based fighter. We'll see if he will be able to live to that hype and stop the very game and durable Korean, or if Kim will be able to live up to his potential and upset the CFC champion. 6. THE AGGRESSIVE STYLE OF JESSIE RAFOLS - If you want a fight that is guaranteed to be entertaining, you should really keep an eye out for the prelim bout between Interim URCC Bantamweight Champion, Jessie Rafols, and Muay Thai Champion, Irshaad Sayed. Why? Cause Jessie Rafols is probably one of the most aggressive fighters in Asia, and it's guaranteed that he will be pushing the pace, going 100% from the opening bell. Rafols is a high-level athlete and fighting just comes naturally from him. He is probably not as technical standing up as his opponent, who is a Muay Thai champion that trains with Vuyusille Colossa, but what he lacks in technical ability, he makes up for with tenacity, explosiveness and aggression. That all-out style has cost him on his last bout in the Philippines, but Rafols has been making the right moves in his career, moving out to one of the top camps in the country, training at BAMF MMA, home of Alvin Aguilar and the DEFTAC crew, to shore up his overall MMA game, and close out the few holes he has in his game. Will Sayed be able to use his world class striking to win against the Filipino? Or will Rafols' improved MMA game coupled with his relentless pace and aggresiveness overcome his South-African counterpart? Either way, this prelim bout is one to keep your eyes out for, cause fireworks are guaranteed. Hidden Gems and Fun Facts: Here are a few notes about some of the other competitors that you might not know of: - Peter Davis, a very popular model and actor from Malaysia, will be competing on the card. He's also a talented fighter though, and although he has been competing on an off since 2004, he has compiled a respectable 3-1 record. For ONE FC, he has upped the notch for his preparations and has been training with one of the Philippines' top fighters in Eric Kelly. - There will be two South East Asian Games Medalists from Indonesia competing on the card (think of it as the equivalent of the Pan American Games). Ngabdi Mulyadi, a 2009 bronze medalist for wrestling will be competing against Peter Davis, while 2011 silver medalist for Wushu / San Shou, Victorio Senduk will be taking on Raymond Tiew, who has a similar martial arts background. - There will be 20 fighters from 10 different countries on this card. Full Fight Card: ONE Fighting Championship 2: Battle of Heroes Main Card (Online PPV)- Ole Laursen vs. Felipe Enomoto- Honorio Banario vs. Bae Young Kwon- Rustam Khabilov vs. Rodrigo Ribeiro- Gustavo Falciroli vs. Soo Chul Kim- Rolles Gracie vs. Bob Sapp Preliminary Card (Free Facebook Stream)- Victorio Senduk vs. Raymond Tiew- Alex Silva vs. Geje Eustaquio- Jessie Rafols vs. Irshaad Sayed- Ngabdi Mulyadi vs. Peter Davis- Zuli Silawanto vs. Agus NaNang

Posted in: mma, fighter, vs, event, champion

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

The UFC has confirmed that light-heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones will face former title-holder Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in Atlanta.

Posted in: ufc, title, jone, champion, evan

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Injured UFC champion Georges St-Pierre knows he will likely face interim welterweight title holder Carlos Condit, but still wants Nick Diaz.

Posted in: diaz, champion, face, stpierre, face diaz

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submitted by CerBB [link] [13 comments]

Posted in: welterweight, champion, cerbb, welterweight champion

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Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas NV has hosted many memorable events in the UFC and tonight is no exception. The main card features veterans, rising stars and former champions all looking to increase their rankings within Zuffa and is the birthing ground for Georges St Pierre, will it be the former WEC champion Carlos Condit [...]

Posted in: ufc, result, pierre, champion, birthing ground

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Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn isn't calling it a career just yet, but he's also not ready to commit to his future.

Posted in: bj penn, champion, career, penn, bj

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Every dog has its day. For Nick Diaz, that day is Saturday (Feb. 4, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada when he main events UFC 143 against Carlos Condit. Over five years after walking away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the bad boy from Stockton gets a title shot -- albeit one for an interim strap -- and the opportunity to take on Georges St. Pierre sometime in the second half of 2012 when the French Canadian heals up from a knee injury. While some would look at Diaz's performance at UFC 137 against B.J. Penn as the catalyst for this weekend's five-round fight, the genesis of this bout is rooted far deeper. Yes, the Hawaiian was given a beating unlike any in his career -- he left the Octagon a battered and swollen mess, speaking of retirement -- but the legwork Diaz put in to earn a shot at "Rush" and then Condit when St. Pierre bowed out due to aforementioned injury began in Miami with the Strikeforce promotion. It was there he won the promotion's 170-pound title and he then spent the next year and a half knocking off each challenger Strikeforce put in front of him, one by one. Four title fight victories -- and a fifth non-title bout in Japan just for good measure -- has gotten Diaz where he is, on the cusp of UFC gold. Let's take a look back at those fights. Diaz stepped inside the Strikeforce cage at the beginning of 2010 in the port city of Miami to decide Strikeforce's first ever 170-pound champ. Standing opposite him was DREAM's welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis who was looking to add even more gold to his collection. Finding his range and surviving a knockdown, Diaz was able to pick "The Whitemare" apart before securing the stoppage victory late int the first round. After the fight, when asked if the win had emotional significance, the tunnel visioned Diaz said, "I'm just ready to go home and eat, you know what I'm saying?" The awkward silence that followed indicated Stephen Quadros did not, in fact, know what the newly crowned champ was saying. It was the beautifully uncomfortable post-fight interview Diaz would soon be synonymous with. His next title defense -- after traveling to Japan to submit the legendary Hayato Sakurai -- came over seven months later against the last man to hold a victory over Diaz, K.J. Noons. When the Stockton native was flirting with a drop to 160-pounds, the mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter turned boxer turned back MMA fighter busted Diaz up badly enough to warrant a doctor stoppage. The rematch wouldn't go as smoothly for the Hawaiian as the Cesar Gracie student was able to outstrike Noons over the course of 25 minutes, leading to a one-sided unanimous decision. Diaz had avenged his last loss and also picked up a second successful title defense in one fell swoop. At the turn of the new year, Diaz found himself inside the cage with Evangelista Santos. The tattooed Brazilian, better known for being married to Cristiane Santos, wasn't seen as much of a challenger beyond having a puncher's chance. He proved the doubters wrong, not by punching, but by kicking. The Brazilian absolutely brutalized the champion with leg kicks, making many wonder how Diaz was able to weather such punishment. The strategy worked well for the challenger until the end of the opening round when the Stockton native began to score with punches and opened the floodgates. Able to compose himself between rounds, "Cyborg" went back to the well upon the restart and the tide seemed to be turning his way. But an ill-advised takedown attempt led to a quick armbar submission for the champion who, in typical Nick Diaz fashion, began trash talking and cursing at some detractors in the audience. And in his final defense as Strikeforce welterweight champion, Diaz took on UFC pariah Paul Daley. The Briton was banished from the Octagon after throwing a post-fight sucker punch at Josh Koscheck who had used his wrestling abilities to keep the knockout artist on his back for three rounds. "Kos" wanted no part of Daley's stand-up and took the most risk averse route to victory: getting "Semtex" off his feet and going from there. A similar gameplan was expected from the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt but what fans got was something else entirely. Opting to stand toe to toe with Daley, Diaz fought fire with fire and exchanged strikes with the knockout artist. Rocked early into the fight, Diaz does what we've seen time after time and survives. Within two minutes, he has his opponent pinned against the chain-link while delivering lethal combinations, mixing up head strikes with body blows. Against the proverbial ropes, Daley is still dangerous and proves as such when a bomb connects nearly four minutes in. The champion flops to the mat but his challenger, perhaps leery of expending too much energy or not having the energy to spare due to the damage he's taken, doesn't hammer away with much speed. Had he simply went for broke, regardless of whether the strikes were doing much damage, the fight very likely could have been stopped. Instead, Diaz recovers and seconds later has Daley staggered and hurt. The champion's ground and pound lands more effectively and the fight is stopped. Less than two months later, Diaz vacated his title to fight for another, one held by greats such as Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn and currently held by Georges St. Pierre. Since he left the Octagon in 2006, he has collected 13 wins -- no contest at Pride 33 aside -- while losing only once. Perceiving himself as underrated and underpaid, Diaz was finally on the cusp of achieving everything a fighter could hope for in the sport. But three months and two missed press conferences after his title shot was announced, the Stockton native was yanked from the UFC 137 main event to make way for a more reliable Carlos Condit. Hours later, Diaz was re-booked against Penn and when "Rush" dropped out, his main event status was reinstated. The rest is brutal history. With the champion still injured, Diaz takes on Condit for an interim title in two days, the culmination of a decade-long journey that began while Diaz was still pondering who to ask to his senior prom. From the streets of Stockton to the bright lights of Las Vegas, it's been quite a ride for Diaz. Will it pay off Saturday night?

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, title, champion

Read the full article at MMA Mania

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will one day be a heavyweight, but it won't be in 2012.

Posted in: jon, jone, jon jones, heavyweight, champion

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Tatame is reporting that UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has parted ways with Ed Soares and Jorge Guimaraes (aka Black House). Going forward he will be solely managed by his coach Andre Pederneiras.

Posted in: ufc, champion, jose, ed soares, tatame

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UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo (right) will no longer be represented by Ed Soares, according to a report by Tatame.com, heading back to his original manager of Andre Pederneiras. This is the second high-profile fighter to part ways with Black House MMA and Soares, as UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos abandoned ship in late 2011.

Posted in: ufc, champion, ed soares, soare, part ways

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Before worrying about Nick Diaz, UFC champion Georges St-Pierre has to conquer his knee injury. If he succeeds, it could redefine his career.

Posted in: ufc, champion, injury, knee injury, enemy

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

A common criticism of “interim” champions is the belief those who wear the label are not actually in possession of a legitimate belt. However, in the case of this weekend’s UFC 143 headliner between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, injured title-holder Georges St. Pierre has a much different viewpoint on the matter. In his mind, the gold being handed to either Diaz or Condit at the end of their bout is very much real and will mark the end of his reign. “The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight,” said St. Pierre in an interview with the UFC’s website. “You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new #1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.” St. Pierre Back in the Gym “I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion,” GSP continued. “That is what the UFC is about…competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion.” St. Pierre will clearly be tuned in on Saturday night to see who wins though he admits he’s rooting for Diaz. “I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fight Nick Diaz. I was (crushed) when I had to pull out of this weekend’s fight hurt, but I am determined to get back to the Octagon as soon as possible to fight this guy. He needs to hold up his part and beat Carlos Condit on Saturday to make this fight happen.” PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: fight, diaz, st, champion, winner

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On Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will face off in the cage at UFC 143 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winner will receive the interim title and a chance to fight Georges St. Pierre, once he returns from his injury rehabilitation. It's not the belt either of them were looking for, but they didn't have a choice in the matter. Both were scheduled to fight "Rush" at some point last year, but neither fight came to fruition for different reasons. As St. Pierre waits in the wings, getting his wounded knee back in working order, he has no option other than to watch and see what happens. Regardless of the turnout, he believes (with good reason) that his belt is still the "real belt:" "The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now, I am not the best in the world. I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new number one contender, but he won't be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion, and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again." At this point, it really just comes down to who will emerge victorious on Saturday night. We know that "GSP" will be cheering for Nick Diaz, in the hopes that he will finally be able to silence the slugger from Stockton. He doesn't just want to beat him, he wants to destroy him. He hates him. But he's not crying about the way the UFC decided to handle things. St. Pierre knows that a champion must defend his belt and stay active. He believes this was the best way to keep the peace: "I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion. That is what the UFC is about,that is competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion." Interim belt winners have not fared so well in recent past. Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are sure to recall Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira winning the interim heavyweight belt at UFC 81 on Feb. 2, 2008 over Tim Sylvia. "Big Nog" went on to immediately lose his next bout to Frank Mir at UFC 92 on Dec. 27 of that very same year. Mir, then, lost his next fight to eventual champion Brock Lesnar by way of a vicious TKO at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009. The very next year, when Lesnar suffered his initial bout with diverticulitis, Mir fought for the interim belt once again, this time with Shane Carwin as his opponent at UFC 111 on March 27, 2010. Carwin went on to win that fight, but lost in his very next contest when Brock Lesnar choked him out in the second round of their match up at UFC 116 on July 3, 2010. St. Pierre actually has a bit of personal experience with interim titles, having defeated Matt Hughes for the interim welterweight belt at UFC 79 on Aug. 25, 2007. Unlike some of the aforementioned unlucky souls, St. Pierre didn't lose his next fight. In fact, almost five years later, he hasn't lost since. Sadly, it doesn't make a big difference who wins the make-believe belt on Saturday night. Everyone knows who holds the real belt -- and he'll be waiting for them. What do you think Maniacs? Are you buying the legitimacy of an interim champion? Do either of these guys have what it takes to eventually dethrone St. Pierre, either way? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, fight, belt, pierre, champion

Read the full article at MMA Mania

“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new No.1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.” — Georges St. Pierre, via UFC.com, proclaiming he’s not the best in the world until he successfully defends his title again GSP makes no bones about it. He wants Nick Diaz to win Saturday night because he wants to fight him. He doesn’t “truly hate” Nick Diaz as a person, but he “hates” what Nick “brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does.” GSP even said that during UFC 137 fight week he felt like he had to be ready to fight at all times in case he ran into Diaz. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy. While these may be some of the more pointed statements GSP has made recently, Nick Diaz has actually backed off of GSP a little since his “I don’t think Georges is hurt, I think he’s scared” post-fight comments at UFC 137. On the Hammerfisting MMA Podcast, Nick came around and basically said, yeah, GSP is legitimately injured. Transcription via Bleacher Report: “I don’t think so. I think he’s hurt,” Diaz responded, when asked if he believed St-Pierre was using his injury as an excuse to duck fights. “I think he might’ve hurt himself. He shouldn’t have done that. If it hurts, don’t do it.” “I had to go through a lot of fights like that. You know, there were things I couldn’t do, and I couldn’t come in at 100 percent. So basically, heal and worry about your weight cause that’s all you’re gonna be able to do is make the weight and go out there and fight. Sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some, sometimes you can’t be at 100 percent.” St. Pierre adds that he’s targeting July to resume proper training. If that’s the case, we’re probably looking at him fighting in September-October at the earliest depending on how long of a training camp he needs. Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog

Posted in: fight, world, diaz, nick, champion

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Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 143 event, where Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will square off for the interim welterweight title, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre spoke to the UFC about rooting for his rival Diaz so they can meet when he returns from knee surgery later this year: CHEERING FOR THE ENEMY “I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked (UFC President) Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fightNick Diaz. I was (crushed) when I had to pull out of this weekend’s fight hurt, but I am determined to get back to the Octagon as soon as possible to fightthis guy. He needs to hold up his part and beat Carlos Condit on Saturday to make this fight happen. ON HIS FEARS CONDIT WILL WIN “I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. Carlos Condit is a very good fighter, he can strike, he is aggressive and he has submissions. He has been very impressive and is the type of fighter who gets better and better the more confident hegets. I am not personal friends with him but I know him a little and he’s a great person. I know a lot of people who know him well because we train with the same people, but I have only spoken with him a few times. He is a true mixed martial artist. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz.” ON DANA WHITE’S COMMENT THAT GSP ‘HATES’ DIAZ “I don’t truly hate him as a person. I don’t know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy. I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect myaccomplishments. All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous. Also, as champion, I believe Diaz deserves the fight for the title. Style-wise, he is a very tough match for me and the fans deserve to see the fight they really want to see.” ON WHETHER THE ‘INTERIM’ CHAMP WILL BE THE REAL CHAMP “The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. Youhave to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new No.1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again. I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion. That is what the UFC is about,that is competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion.” ON DIAZ’S DOMINATING WIN OVER BJ PENN “He was very impressive. Nick Diaz’s boxing is very strong; he could be the best boxer in the UFC. I don’t want to be seen to be advising any other fighter how to win a fight, but if Diaz does what he does best then he should win this fight on Saturday. It is a very close fight though.” ON HIS RIGHT KNEE INJURY AND REHAB “I am ahead of schedule. I can already train and even kick but I am remaining calm and not rushing. I won’t train properly until July, it is a matter of discipline not to force my knee to go harder than it can heal. No athlete wants to sit on thesidelines, especially when you are the champion and you must watch two others fight for the interim championship belt. I will watch on Saturday and go home very motivated to rehab on Monday morning but I must be disciplined and I must continue to rehab at the pace I am doing.” For complete UFC 143 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, champion, saturday

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] For some people, going out to clubs is a lifestyle and serves as an integral part of their lives, and Alistair Overeem is one of those people. The former DREAM Heavyweight Champion, Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion and K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Champion (as well as possible UFC Heavyweight Champion) Alistair Overeem is once again in trouble again. Overeem first stumbled into a world of trouble a few years ago when his big brother, Valentijn Overeem, got into a scuffle in a bathroom in Amsterdam. This resulted in the Overeem bothers dispatching a number of bouncers in short order while Alistair broke his thumb in the process, putting him on the shelf for a while. The latest incident sounds pretty fishy to me. This morning the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Alistair Overeem was involved in an incident on January 2nd at a night club in Las Vegas. The alleged incident revolves around a 3am shove that one woman claims caused her to stagger backwards. Read More...

Posted in: overeem, champion, alistair overeem, alistair, incident

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Following yesterday's monumental announcement of a 10-year media partnership with ESPN Star Sports, ONE FC unveiled several more interesting news items on a press conference in Singapore. On the business side of things, the promotion made a huge announcement that government entities from Singapore will be backing them, with Cui saying that both the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) will be supporting ONE FC. On news that would be more interesting for fight fans, ONE FC has also announced two key bouts for their third show that is slated on March 31st. Headlining the card will be UFC vet and former Strikeforce champion, Renato 'Babalu' Sobral (36-10), taking on the very dangerous and explosive striker in Melvin Manhoef (24-9). Also on a featured bout is Kevin Belingon (9-0), a URCC Champion who is one of the top prospects in the Asia, taking a huge step up in competition by facing the more experienced DEEP Bantamweight Champ, and 'Master of Leglocks', Masakazu Imanari (24-10-2). Victor Cui also mentioned that there will be 2 more DREAM fighters competing on the card, along with URCC Champion Eduard Folayang, BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira, Eddie Ng, and Nicole Chua, a female Muay Thai fighter who is set to make her MMA debut under the tutelage of the champions at Evolve MMA. Although signs of their partnership with DREAM are already seen with multiple fighters from the Japanese promotion competing on this March card, Cui revealed that this won't be the co-promoted event as they earlier announced. The ONE FC head did mention though that they're working on that 2012 co-promoted show that would pit ONE FC's best fighters against DREAM's top fighters such as Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri. Check out the partial card for the ONE FC 3 after the jump. As always, stay tuned to BloodyElbow.com for more updates, and follow me on twitter. ONE Fighting Championship 3March 31, 2012 - Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore - Renato Sobral vs. Melvin Manhoef- Masakazu Imanari vs. Kevin Belingon- Eduard Folayang- Zorobabel Moreira- Gregor Gracie- Eddie Ng- Nicole Chua

Posted in: fighter, vs, champion, fc, singapore

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Las Vegas, Nevada – On Saturday night, live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, elite welterweights Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will collide for the interim UFC 170lbs championship.UFC superstar Georges St-Pierre will be a very interested – and conflicted – ringside observer to the UFC 143 main event. ‘GSP’ has been the undisputed welterweight king since the spring of 2008, but knee injuries have forced him to withdraw from scheduled bouts with both Condit and Diaz and so he must sit on the sidelines while the pair stake a claim to his crown. Expected to return to the Octagon™ perhaps as early as the summer, St-Pierre had this to say:CHEERING FOR THE ENEMY “I respect Carlos Condit, but I want Diaz to win. It will be a weird feeling, sitting at the Mandalay Bay wanting Nick Diaz to win. I want this fight with Diaz so badly, as badly as I wanted the title shot when I got down on my knees. I have never asked (UFC President) Dana White for anything, but I did ask to fight Nick Diaz. I was (crushed) when I had to pull out of this weekend’s fight hurt, but I am determined to get back to the Octagon as soon as possible to fight this guy. He needs to hold up his part and beat Carlos Condit on Saturday to make this fight happen.ON HIS FEARS CONDIT WILL WIN“I am very nervous that Carlos Condit will win on Saturday night, and that I won’t be able to fight Nick Diaz this summer. Carlos Condit is a very good fighter, he can strike, he is aggressive and he has submissions. He has been very impressive and is the type of fighter who gets better and better the more confident he gets.I am not personal friends with him but I know him a little and he’s a great person. I know a lot of people who know him well because we train with the same people, but I have only spoken with him a few times.  He is a true mixed martial artist. I feel bad, it is weird that I want him to lose, but I have never wanted to fight anyone as much as I want to fight Diaz.”ON DANA WHITE’S COMMENT THAT GSP ‘HATES’ DIAZ“I don’t truly hate him as a person. I don’t know that he is a bad guy, but I hate what he brings to the sport with the disrespect and the unprofessional things he says and does. It is sort of a professional hatred. He has been nothing but disrespectful and arrogant towards me. During UFC 137 (week) I felt like I had to walk around Las Vegas with my fists ready (to punch Diaz) because every time I came across him he wanted to fight there and then. Every time the elevator opened (in the hotel) I needed to be ready to fight in case he stepped in. I was on edge all week. This guy is crazy.I am used to hearing (smack) talk from opponents, Matt Serra did it, Dan Hardy did it, and Josh Koscheck did it, but with Diaz he has taken it to another level. He and his coach (Cesar Gracie) have called me a coward and tried to disrespect my accomplishments. All that has done though is make me determined to beat him up. He will bring out the best in me, I will be 100% focused, like a bomb-expert defusing a time bomb. When my back is against the wall and I have no choice but to win, when I cannot lose to this person under any cost, that is when I am most dangerous.  Also, as champion, I believe Diaz deserves the fight for the title. Style-wise, he is a very tough match for me and the fans deserve to see the fight they really want to see.”   ON WHETHER THE ‘INTERIM’ CHAMP WILL BE THE REAL CHAMP“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night. I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured. The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new No.1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.    I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion. That is what the UFC is about, that is competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion.” ON DIAZ’S DOMINATING WIN OVER BJ PENN“He was very impressive. Nick Diaz’s boxing is very strong; he could be the best boxer in the UFC. I don’t want to be seen to be advising any other fighter how to win a fight, but if Diaz does what he does best then he should win this fight on Saturday. It is a very close fight though.”ON HIS RIGHT KNEE INJURY AND REHAB“I am ahead of schedule. I can already train and even kick but I am remaining calm and not rushing. I won’t train properly until July, it is a matter of discipline not to force my knee to go harder than it can heal. No athlete wants to sit on the sidelines, especially when you are the champion and you must watch two others fight for the interim championship belt. I will watch on Saturday and go home very motivated to rehab on Monday morning but I must be disciplined and I must continue to rehab at the pace I am doing.”Tickets for UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT, presented by BUD LIGHT®, are priced at $750, $500, $350, $225, $125 and $75 and are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino) or via Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 as well as at www.mandalaybay.com and www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.UFC®143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition. 

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, champion, condit

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The last World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) welterweight champion finally has his chance at earning gold inside the Octagon. Carlos Condit, who was the only 170-pound champion the Zuffa-owned WEC ever had, is taking on Nick Diaz in Saturday's (Feb. 4) UFC 143 main event. At stake is an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim welterweight title and a date with injured champion Georges St. Pierre later in the year. But more than that, it's a chance for both men to take on the man many consider to be the perfect mixed martial artist (MMA) in the French-Canadian. Seemingly without weakness, St. Pierre outwrestles wrestlers, outstrikes strikers and pretty much makes each and every opponent look bush league. For Condit, a chance at facing "Rush" and beating him means MMA immortality. "The Natural Born Killer" has already had his brushes with greatness which include his WEC 35 title bout with Japanese fighter turned boxer Hiromitsu Miura. Their back and forth war was the final 170-pound title fight the promotion had as the weight class -- along with middle- and light heavyweight -- was absorbed into the UFC six months later. Let's take a closer look at that bout. Condit starts his attack by unleashing kicks to both Miura's legs and body. Nearly a minute and a half into the round, the Japanese fighter clinches with the champion and attempts a judo toss which Condit defends perfectly. But seconds later, the New Mexican is slammed onto his back when Miura attacks with a vicious O-goshi throw. Condit is able to get back to his feet quickly but a beautifully executed sweep -- aided by a diversionary one-two punch combination -- gets the champion on the mat for the second time. A third toss drops "The Natural Born Killer" but as with the previous two, Miura has difficulty holding him down. As they reset on their feet, both sets of hands begin to fly and the Japanese fighter finds himself stunned when a looping hook is perfectly countered with a vicious straight. Miura drops to the canvas and Condit dives in after him, looking to finish off his staggered challenger. From sidemount, Condit rains down short elbows before trapping Miura in a crucifix, allowing for more strikes to land while also working towards a submission. The attempt finally comes when Condit spins around and looks to extend his opponent's arm but Miura, grappling savvy and tough as nails, slips out and drops a couple bombs in retaliation. The champion gets to his feet but yet another hip toss drops him back down. The commentator states it might be the most impressive display of judo technique inside the cage fans have seen yet and it's hard to disagree. Early into the second round, fortune smiles on Condit as Miura loses his footing and falls backwards onto the mat. From there, the champion takes over and the first four minutes -- save for a nice upkick from the challenger -- are all Condit. Ground and pound from sidemount leads to a smooth transition to full mount which culminates in a tight armbar attempt with 90 seconds remaining in the round. Miura defends beautifully and is able to wiggle his arm free and ends up on top. Neither fighter does much of anything and are stood up. A botched hip toss leads to Miura back on the mat with "The Natural Born Killer" on top, the position the challenger had been in for most of the round. The third round opens with both fighters exchanging and it seems Condit has found his range. He's using his reach advantage impressively, keeping Miura at bay while also using his strikes to set up takedowns. Condit ends up behind his challenger and wrestles him to the mat, threatening with a guillotine momentarily. Once released, however, "The Natural Born Killer" is once again in full mount, this time with over four minutes remaining in the stanza. Short elbows are the name of the game but two minutes in, Miura explodes out and sweeps his opponent, ending up in half guard. The Japanese fighter gives the champion a taste of his own medicine as he unloads a bevy of punches before both fighters end up in a vertical base. The crowd roars as the two begin to exchange wildly but an ill-timed takedown attempt from Miura leads to Condit once again ending up on top. A kimura attempt is shrugged off by the challenger but "The Natural Born Killer" once again gets full mount and begins to brutalize Miura with punches and elbows. He gives up his back to Condit but is able to fend off the rear naked choke until the horn sounds. The round may have been demoralizing for Miura but you wouldn't suspect it judging by his performance in the fourth round as an early flurry had the champion reeling. Midway through the round, the two fighters -- Miura on top of Condit -- are stood up and upon restarting immediately begin throwing heavy leather. A spectacular takedown from the champion looks to be the beginning of the end for the spirited challenger as Condit achieves full mount for the charmed third time but Miura, tough as he is stubborn, refuses to relent and once again sweeps the American on to his back. Miura unloads ground and pound until Condit is able to kick him away, creating enough distance to get vertical. The challenger storms in and "The Natural Born Killer" barrels a knee into the Japanese fighter's chin, dropping him to the mat where several hammerfists give the referee all the incentive he needs to halt the bout. Condit showed a toughness that cannot be taught in the gym that night, the same toughness on display when he survived an early onslaught from Jake Ellenberger and came from behind to finish off Rory MacDonald. Will it come into play on Saturday when he steps inside the Octagon against Nick Diaz?

Posted in: fighter, round, champion, condit, miura

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Shortly after UFC went live on FOX last night, company officials confirmed that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones would make his third title defense on April 21. Less than two hours later, Jones’s opponent became official when Rashad Evans defeated Phil Davis in the main event of UFC on FOX. While Evans wasn’t spectacular in his victory over Davis, he managed to shut out “Mr. Wonderful” on the scorecards and set up the highly anticipated showdown between former friends and training partners, which is set to go down in Atlanta at UFC 145. It’s been a long road back to the title for Evans, who was originally scheduled to fight for the belt after defeating Quinton Jackson back in May 2010. However, due to injuries suffered by him and then champion Mauricio Rua, “Suga” has had to defeat Tito Ortiz and Davis before being able to secure another shot at the gold. Now he returns to Atlanta, where his road to superstardom began when he knocked out UFC hall of famer Chuck Liddell with a highlight reel overhand at UFC 88. When Evans went down with an injury, it was Jones who stepped up to face Rua in March 2011. “Bones” dominated “Shogun” en route to a third round stoppage and became the youngest fighter ever to hold UFC gold. Jones defended his title twice in 2011, stopping former champions “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida by submission and cementing his status as one of the best fighters in the sport. Ever since Jones took the place of Evans and capture the title, the two have engaged war of words. Both men trained together under the guidance of Greg Jackson, but Rashad left the camp shortly after Jones became champion, feeling disrespected by the new 205 pound king. The two men will finally settle their differences later this year in a five round fight that is sure to produce fireworks. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, title, jone, champion, evan

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Rashad Evans removed the last remaining obstacle standing between him and reigning light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Posted in: ufc, title, champion, shot, evan

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is set to defend his title in the main event of UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta, but who he will face has not been decided yet and depends on tonight’s UFC on Fox 2 main event between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis. UFC President Dana White announced the news during UFC on Fox 2, which featured Jones as an analyst alongside hall of famer Randy Couture. Jones (15-1) choked out Lyoto Machida in December for his second title defense and fourth win of the year. “Bones” planned to take several months off, but asked the UFC to book his next fight after only a few weeks and will likely meet Evans, his ex-teammate and former light heavyweight champion, or Davis, an undefeated NCAA wrestling champion. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for more on Jones’ next fight at UFC 145.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, champion, title defense

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday announced that light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will headline UFC 145... opponent to be determined.

Posted in: ufc, jon, jone, jon jones, champion

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Chael Sonnen compares Anderson Silva's mystique to that of former boxing champion Mike Tyson, and explains why he has such a dislike for the UFC's middleweight champion.

Posted in: champion, sonnen, mike, anderson, chael

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MFC lightweight champion Antonio McKee came in seven pounds overweight ahead of his MFC 32 title defence and was stripped of his belt.

Posted in: title, champion, weight, mfc, mckee

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Canadian welterweight Nordine Taleb has signed to fight for the Bellator Fighting Championships in 2012.

Posted in: bellator, champion, canada, taleb, april show

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Filed under: UFC, NewsAlthough the UFC (as well as the rest of the world) recognizes Anderson Silva as the world middleweight champion, that's not stopping contender Chael Sonnen from walking around with his own replica belt. A day after wearing the belt over his shoulder for an ESPN2 interview, Sonnen brought the belt to Thursday's UFC on FOX 2 press conference for everyone to take a closer look at the W Chicago City Center in Chicago. "This is the world championship title of which I took from Anderson Silva," Sonnen explained of the belt in front of him. "In this country, possession is nine-tenths of the law. Finders keepers, losers weepers, and if he wants it back, he knows where to find me." More: UFC on FOX 2 Fight Card | UFC on FOX 2 Results If Sonnen wants the real title, he'll have to beat Michael Bisping on Saturday to earn a title shot against Silva. To make matters confusing, Sonnen for the past month-and-a-half has insisted a rematch with Silva will not happen, claiming he's done chasing after a rematch with Silva. Instead, Sonnen said he would cash in his No. 1 contender voucher against a champion in another weight class. On Thursday, White cleared up the situation, reiterating that the winner of Sonnen-Bisping will take on Silva for the belt in the summer. "Chael's nuts," White said. "He says all kinds of crazy things. He's [claims he's] champion ... Listen to me. Okay? Listen to me. He's not the champion. He will fight Anderson Silva if he wins. He will not fight for the heavyweight championship or Jon Bones Jones." Interestingly, Sonnen has strayed from trashing Bisping or previous opponent Mark Munoz leading up to UFC on FOX 2, instead sticking to cutting generic pro wrestling promos about emerging victorious on Saturday. It's clear as focused as Sonnen is on Bisping, there's still business to be settled between himself and Silva. "I believe that I am the true champion," Sonnen said. "This is the true UFC belt. This was Anderson Silva's belt. I took his belt like a gangster in the night ... If he wants his belt back, he can come and get it. But as far as I'm concerned, he's as irrelevant as Mike Tyson. The only thing he hasn't done is announce his retirement. He sound paint his face, gain a hundred pounds, sit in the third row and hope somebody remembers who they are because neither of those guys matter anymore." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, belt, silva, champion, sonnen

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Part of Ronda Rousey’s meteoric rise in 2011 from unknown former Olympian to the most popular female Mixed Martial Artist in the sport has had to do with her willingness to speak openly about her peers and chosen profession. While Rousey verbal attacks on Cristiane Santos and Miesha Tate may seem personal, and her stance on the importance of looks could appear to be aimed at insulting others, the 24-year old sees her unfiltered honesty as being part of the job rather than a means of trying to actually degrade others. Rousey addressed the issue in a recent conversation with MMAJunkie where she revealed the motivation behind her candor. “It’s not personal to me at all,” Rousey began. “I’m sure it’s personal to Miesha. I really think (other female fighters) should be grateful to me because they’ve gotten more press, more interviews, (and) more exposure than they ever have before in their entire careers. I don’t want to pat myself on the back too much, but a lot of it is the result of me purposefully trying to get on everybody’s nerves. So they take it personally, but I don’t.” Given the entertainment factor involved in promoting MMA, Rousey may have a point as a number of her popular male counterparts employ the same strategy when it comes to drawing the attention of fans/media. “I’ve had so many girl fighters come up to me and tell me they appreciate me and thank me. The only girls that seem to have a problem with me are either current champions or are former champions,” Rousey continued. “I just think they have this sense of entitlement that everyone should kiss their ass and respect them all the time…they’re not used to dealing with any kind of confrontation.” The judoka’s next bout will come against one of those title-wearing women, Strikeforce bantamweight Tate, who Rousey has notoriously feuded with in the months before their match-up was even made. The fight will also serve as a headlining affair, again adding some weight to Rousey’s mindset when it comes to selling cards on smack-talk. “From watching her fights, she’s a very slow and cautious fighter, and I think that the kind of pace I’m going to set is extremely outside of her comfort zone,” said Rousey of the 135-pound champion. “A lot of people don’t know that I can sustain that pace for 45 minutes if I have to. But because have gone so quickly, a lot of people are skeptical of that. I think what she’s probably going to try to do is drag the fight out…pull it into later rounds, and try to wear me down and get me in the end. But if that’s her plan, she’s got another thing coming.” “Rowdy” Ronda is 4-0 in his career after submitting all four of the opponents she faced last year, the most memorable of which came in November when she snapped Julia Budd’s arm after Budd’s refusal to tap. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, champion, lot, rousey, others rousey

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that its event on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago is officially sold out. The UFC’s long-awaited return to the Windy City is headlined by a light heavyweight No. 1 contender fight between former champion Rashad Evans and unbeaten Phil Davis. In addition, middleweight contenders Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping collide for the right to fight champion Anderson Silva later this year, while Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Demian Maia meets red-hot 18

Posted in: fight, champion, light heavyweight, contender, championship ®

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Rodrigo Ribeiro is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion who holds a third degree black belt in BJJ. He is highly experienced as a mixed martial artist and has fought for shows in South America and Asia but will finally get his chance to compete on a major international promotion at ONE Fighting Championship: Battle of Heroes. He will be in for the toughest test of his entire career against Combat Sambo World Champion Rustam Khabilov but Ribeiro also knows that if he can defeat the Russian he will instantly announce himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the ONE FC welterweight division. Ribeiro trains at the world renowned Evolve MMA camp in Singapore and will be dropping down to 170  for the first time after competing as a middleweight for most of his career. The Brazilian took time out from his preparations to talk with Fighters.com about his forthcoming fight in Jakarta on February 11. Fighters.com: Khabilov has a very impressive record and is being talked about as one of the most exciting prospects in Russia, are you hoping to steal some of his momentum by beating him? Ribeiro: For me fighting with a guy like him is a very good opportunity because he has a very good record and everyone says soon he will be one of the best welterweights in the world. If I can beat him maybe they will say that about me? Will this be your first fight at 170lbs? Are you confident you will be as effective at the weight? Ribeiro: Absolutely! I’m feeling good as the change is to improve my performance and I will be very strong on the day of the fight. Rustam represents Jackson’s Submission Fighting, you represent Evolve MMA and this will be the first time that two of the best known training camps in the world are going to compete against one another. Does that make you feel any extra pressure? Ribeiro: He trains with the number one team in America and I train with the best team in Asia so you know it is going to be an exciting and hard fought match. If a fighter is only as good as their training partners and coaches then I must be the best and I am sure my opponent feels the same way. Has Chatri Sityodtong come up with a game plan for this fight? Are you trying to work out what game plan Greg Jackson will formulate for Rustam? Ribeiro: I know Chatri has a great plan for this fight, he knows the game inside out and is an expert at coming up with the right strategy for every opponent. I don’t care what my opponent’s camp is thinking, all that matters to me is my own game plan which I know will be the right one. Khabilov has a background in Combat Sambo and very good takedowns but as a BJJ world champion you must be very comfortable fighting off your back, do you feel that stylistically this is a good match up for you? Ribeiro: I don’t think any fighter wants to be on their back on the ground but if it happens I can assure you I will be prepared for the situation How did you come to be at Evolve MMA? Ribeiro: It was through Rafael ‘Gordinho’ Lima. I trained in Brazil with his brother, Roberto ‘Gordo’ Correa and between them they helped me to get a job at Evolve MMA in Singapore. I am very grateful to both of them for this opportunity as it is really wonderful place to work and fight in a team that is without doubt the best in Asia, and maybe the world. Do you feel you have improved as a fighter since joining Evolve MMA? Ribeiro: I have improved a lot and I am a completely different fighter now. Moving to welterweight was definitely the best thing for me and my striking has improved a lot too because I am working with Muay Thai world champions every day. My cardio is getting better every day too and good things are happening at this moment in my life. You have had sixteen professional fights, do you think that having so much experience will give you an advantage over the other fighters in Asia? Ribeiro: I know I have good experience but now all fighters have a great technical level. The advantage that I have is feeling pretty comfortable in the cage while the others who are less experienced probably get a little nervous in this situation. How excited are you to have signed with ONE FC? Ribeiro: I am very happy to get an opportunity to fight for the biggest MMA event in Asia, it is a dream for me. Now that I’m here it will be very hard for anyone to get me out! You were at the first ONE FC show what did you think of that? Ribeiro: I have been to MMA events all over the world but this was the biggest. Right then I knew I wanted to be a part of it. If you come away with the win do you think you will be in with a chance of challenging for the ONE FC welterweight title when it is introduced? Ribeiro: This is my only goal, to be a champion at 170 pounds. Gregor Gracie is also competing in the welterweight division but I know he has trained at Evolve MMA, would you be willing to fight him if One FC wanted you to? Ribeiro: I would not want to fight him but we are professionals and if he was all that was standing between me and being a champion then for sure I would fight him. PHOTO CREDIT – EVOLVE MMA Tweet

Posted in: fight, world, mma, champion, ribeiro

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Melvin Guillard is no longer the fighter telling everyone he's the top contender or the uncrowned lightweight champion, and his perspective on chasing the belt changed after talking to a former Bellator champion.

Posted in: champion, melvin guillard, guillard, championship mentality, everyone hes

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submitted by persian_x [link] [8 comments]

Posted in: gsp, champion, story, welterweight champion, circumstance

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With one flying knee, Jose Aldo Jr. suddenly finds himself a champion with a cleaned-out division.

Posted in: champion, ranking, aldo, rankings aldo, cleanedout

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Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren is set to defend his 145-pound title against Pat Curran in the main event at Bellator 61.

Posted in: bellator, title, champion, warren, curran

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UFC 140 drew an estimated 750,000 pay-per-view buys for the December 30 event featuring heavyweight contenders Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. The UFC is expected to return to Brazil in June for a pay-per-view event at a soccer stadium in Sao Paulo that would include The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil’s featherweight and middleweight finals and coaches matchup between Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is nearly recovered from a knee injury and hopes to fight Alistair Overeem in the summer, possibly at the June event in Sao Paulo. While Kenny Florian is still contemplating retiring from MMA, the three-time UFC title challenger will join Jon Anik in the broadcast booth for Friday’s UFC on FX event. A rumored matchup between former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Strikeforce veteran Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva isn’t in the works, but Silva’s Octagon debut is targeted for April. Main events of UFC on FX and UFC on Fuel TV events will only be three-rounds for at least 2012, while pay-per-view and UFC on Fox headliners will be five-rounds. Former UFC middleweight Nate Marquardt has been released from his BAMMA contract before ever fighting for the UK promotion. Erick Silva was paid his win b0nus by the UFC after his 29-second TKO against Carlo Prater was ruled a controversial disqualification. An estimated 23-million fans in Brazil tuned in to watch Saturday’s UFC 142 event in Rio de Janeiro, which included wins by UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort. After suffering a 64-second knockout in last season’s bantamweight tournament, Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren will defend the 145-pound title for the first time against Pat Curran on March 9. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest MMA news.

Posted in: ufc, event, silva, champion, sao paulo

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During the early days of mixed martial arts (MMA), competitors tended to train in only one discipline, which would often be dictated by their geographical locations. Cross training was virtually non existent as boxers, kickboxers, karate 'experts' and Judoka were just thrust into the fray together. It was a melting pot in which fighters quickly discovered what worked and, more often than not, what didn't. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) was, of course, devastatingly effective, a point which Royce and Rickson Gracie repeatedly proved. Igor Vovchanchyn showed that stand up specialists could also hold their own while fighters like Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn flew the flag for wrestling. In the modern era of MMA, one dimensional fighters will only get so far. BJJ, wrestling and kickboxing alone are seldom enough to succeed and elite level mixed martial artists need to be accomplished at all three elements of the MMA equation. Fedor Emelianenko showed that Sambo can be a pretty effective alternative to BJJ as a ground fighting base and there are successful MMA fighters using either Sanda, Muay Thai, boxing or kickboxing as the basis for their style of stand up fighting. However, regardless of the combination of styles, a fighter elects to employ it is absolutely essential that they are well rounded and one martial art on its own is almost never enough to suffice. For this reason, elite fighters are starting to travel more than ever before in search of the type of training which they they need in order to continue to compete at the highest level. Some members of the Evolve MMA fight team. From left to right. Zorobabel Moreira (BJJ world champion), (Leandro Issa BJJ world champion), Shinya Aoki (Dream FC champion), Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn (Muay Thai world champion), Orono Wor Petchpun (Muay Thai world champion), Yoddecha Sityodtong (Muay Thai world champion). From the days when fighters who trained at their local gym and represented only one martial art would come together to compete, the sport has evolved to the extent that we have intriguing international match ups such as the one next month between Combat Sambo world champion Rustam Khabilov and BJJ world champion Rodrigo Ribeiro. This fight, which will be taking place at ONE Fighting Championship 'Battle of Heroes' in Jakarta, is remarkable because Ribeiro, a Brazilian, is now based in Singapore where he works with a team of trainers from Thailand, Brazil and the US whereas Khabilov, a Russian, trains under renowned American tactician Greg Jackson down in New Mexico. Ribeiro is part of the fight team at Evolve MMA, a state of the art training facility which is also one of the most successful and rapidly growing businesses in Singapore. It is home to multiple Muay Thai champions from Thailand like Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Anuwat Kaesamrit and Orono Wor Petchpun and a number of BJJ champions from Brazil such as Rafael "Gordinho" Correa de Lima, Leandro Issa and Zorobabel Moreira. Evolve MMA also recently recruited two Americans, former Team Quest owner and US Olympian Heath Sims who will head the wrestling program and NCAA Division One wrestler Jake Butler and they also have a boxing world champion in Yodsanan Sityodtong. To find a team of trainers which encompasses the three key elements of MMA they have recruited in three different continents, a truly global approach. Ribeiro, a third degree BJJ black belt, will be constantly taken out of his comfort zone by the team at Evolve MMA and forced to work on his wrestling and striking as well as his already world class ground fighting. Khabilov will probably be undergoing a similar experience at Jackson's Submission Fighting in Albuquerque as he works to improve on his Combat Sambo based style with one of the most renowned training teams in the world. Whereas Evolve MMA scour the globe to find trainers in each discipline Jackson's Submission Fighting tends to recruit from a little closer to home with coaches who have long term experience of the MMA game. It also boasts an extremely impressive roster of fighters including UFC regulars Jon Jones, Brian Stann, Leonard Garcia and Donald Cerrone. It is the perfect environment for a fighter like Khabilov, who has already acquired a 12-1 record fighting primarily in Russia, to take his skill set to the next level. He is almost ten years younger than his opponent but will never have faced anyone with a ground game as sophisticated as Ribeiros. UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones poses for a photo with his trainers Greg Jackson (L) and Mike Winklejohn (R) He will need to have his submission defense in order when he faces the Brazilian because even the slightest mistake is likely to be ruthlessly exploited. For his part, Ribeiro will be working hard with the world class wrestling coaches at Evolve MMA to prevent Khabilov from picking him up and slamming him to the ground. Ribeiro will be rubbing shoulders in training with the likes of Shinya Aoki from Japan, Rafael Dos Anjos from Brazil Eddie Ng from Hong Kong and Yodsanan Sityodtong from Thailand, who together make up one of the most ethnically diverse fight teams on the planet. Khabilov's English might not be the best but working with such an array of UFC veterans at Jackson's Submission Fighting will only help him to improve as a fighter. In total, these two fighters have traveled a cumulative 14,000 kilometers to leave their hometowns and join two of the most respected training teams in the whole MMA game. From Rio De Janeiro to Singapore and from Rostov to New Mexico, they have traversed the globe to become better mixed martial artists and on February 11th in Jakarta, their two worlds will collide. In the old days, putting champions from different disciplines together didn't necessarily make for the most competitive or entertaining fights. Ribeiro is a BJJ world champion and Khabilov is a Combat Sambo world champion, but both will enter the cage as truly well rounded fighters in a match up which encapsulates the modern era of MMA.

Posted in: world, mma, fighter, team, champion

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There's a very strange desire in the MMA fanbase for UFC champions to jump around in weight as soon as they have defended their title a few times. That noise is popping up again now that Jose Aldo destroyed Chad Mendes in their UFC 142 featherweight title fight. His trainer, Andre Pederneiras, told Sherdog that it's not likely to happen: "If it depends on me, it won't happen. Unless he leaves the team to train somewhere else and someone agrees with that, because I will not," the coach joked in an interview with Sherdog.com. "It won't happen for now, unless he goes straight for a title shot. Not, ‘Oh no, he left the featherweight belt, moved up to lightweight and started from the beginning,' no way." He also talked about Aldo running into the crowd following his win: "I expected him to do something stupid, especially here," Pederneiras laughed, producing from his pocket the Flamengo soccer jersey which Aldo was supposed to wear after the win. "He did [the same thing] in San Diego and he had to hear a lot from the commission staff. But here, with all that crowd, I knew." Look, I get the desire to see a champion fight other champions and be tested in difficult ways. But, as we've talked about plenty in the past, long-reigning champions are a good thing. Especially when the lower weight classes are still trying to gain traction. The idea that Aldo should be looking to jump up to lightweight after he has his best UFC showing and a great moment with running into the crowd and being mobbed is just crazy talk. Aldo has the potential to be a real star, but rushing him up in weight isn't going to do him (or the division as a whole) any favors. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

Posted in: ufc, title shot, title, champion, aldo

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo dove into the audience following his UFC 142 Rio victory over Chad Mendes, check out the madness that ensued.

Posted in: ufc, rio, champion, jose, aldo

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has begun the process of recovering from a torn ACL and he’s doing well, according to trainer Firas Zahabi.

Posted in: gsp, pierre, champion, zahabi, zahabi gsp

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There's a bunch of news coming out of the Asian MMA circuit, and here's a brief rundown: Eric Kelly who has been dealing with a ton of management and personal issues lately has been pulled off the upcoming ONE FC 2 card in Jakarta Indonesia. Sources from the Philippines have informed BloodyElbow.com about the change. Stepping in for the featherweight standout is a fellow URCC champion, in Honorio Banario who has agreed to take the bout in less than 4 weeks notice.Banario is undefeated at 6-0 and is the reigning URCC lightweight champ. He is a product of the famed Team Lakay camp that houses several champions such as Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon and Roy Docyogen. His opponent will be Kelly's original opponent in Bae Young Kwon, a talented Korean fighter who is coming off a win over Brian Choi of Evolve MMA. Following an excellent performance from his teammate at URCC Cebu 7: Dominate, URCC Pinweight (119 lbs.) Champion, Roy Docyogen (9-0) will be looking to follow up with another big win for Team Lakay when the promotion hosts a show in their hometown of Baguio next month.On Feb 18, in Baguio City, the Wushu expert will look to defend his title against Rodel Orais, a former pro-boxer who is currently undefeated in MMA. Also on the URCC Baguio card, 6-foot-4 featherweight from Phuket Top Team, Will Chope will look to go 3-0 in the Philippines when he steps up in competition and takes on a former super-fight champion, Reydon "The Filipino Bolo Punch" Romero. It's probably an early fight of the night candidate as it's guaranteed to be entertaining when these two very game strikers go head to head.Chope, who always tries to remain busy, posted the news on his website and also announced another bout against Ev Ting in New Zealand three weeks earlier. There are several big news (literally) coming out of the Asian MMA scene after the jump, so do check it out, and as always, follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. He's fighting at ONE FC 2 against Rolles Gracie, and while a lot of pundits have disliked the matchmaking on that bout, it didn't stop other Asian promotions from booking Bob Sapp to more MMA bouts. On March 11, about a month after that ONE FC bout in Jakarta, 'The Beast' will be taking on James Thompson as the headliner for Super Fight League, a new promotion in India.MMA isn't that popular in India compared to other countries, but their founders Raj Kundra and Sanjay Dutt (pictured) are looking to change that by building the country's first MMA promotion in SFL. The popular and somewhat controversial MMA agent, Ken Pavia will also be involved, and has been announced to be the CEO of Super Fight League.Among the roster announced from the promotion is UFC veteran Xavier Foupa Pokam or "Professor X", along with some of the top prospects in the country such as Lakwinder Sekhon, Alan Fernandes, Hardeep Singh, Chaitanya Gavali, Bharat Kandare, Mohammed Shahid, Ricky Ranjeet Singh, Surje Gurung, Anup Kumar, Neil Natasadu, and Satisch Jha. Legend FC has signed two more talented Filipino strikers. Brothers Agustin Delarmino (4-1-0, and Leonard Delarmino (3-1) from Iloilo have been picked up and will be making their debut at Legend FC 7 on Feb 11. Speaking of the Legend FC 7 card, I've been told about this totally random tidbit on twitter, and apparently Bae Myung Ho, their welterweight champion who will be defending his title that night, is also an underwear/swimsuit model... hmm. I really don't know what to say about this. PXC's next event will be on Feb 18, in the Ynares Sports Center in the Philippines. It will be headlined by a featherweight title bout between Jesse Taitano and the very entertaining Ale Cali. MMA In Asia has a very interesting interview with Shinya Aoki and his Muay Thai coaches from Evolve MMA. They talk about the win over Kitaoka, and their honest assessment of his improved skillset. One of the interesting bits is when his coach said that Aoki needs more confidence with his striking, and suggests that a few professional Muay Thai bouts might change that.

Posted in: mma, bout, urcc, champion, fc

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Jose Aldo, this is your moment.

Posted in: ufc, champion, jose, aldo, moment

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UFC 142, featuring the featherweight title bout between champion Jose Aldo Jr. and unbeaten challenger Chad...

Posted in: ufc, title, champion, jose, chad

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In the second UFC 142 video blog, UFC President Dana White and Vitor Belfort deal with Anthony Johnson not making weight for the UFC 142 co-main event, the fighters weigh in for UFC 142, and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones picks Johnson and UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo to win at UFC 142. Watch the second UFC 142 video blog below, check out MMAFrenzy.com’s live UFC 142 results and stay tuned for complete UFC 142 coverage.

Posted in: ufc, video, anthony johnson, champion, blog

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When the WEC merger was first announced some fifteen months ago, featherweight champion Jose Aldo was deemed to be the star acquisition. Eager to see him delight those who are oblivious to his immense talent, the UFC scheduled him for a quick Octagon debut on the year’s first fight card. Things didn’t go according to plan however, as a shoulder injury forced Aldo on the sidelines for a few months, and since his return, he hasn’t quite looked like the fighter who terrorized the WEC ranks. Despite two successful title defenses under his belt last year, Aldo has simply looked like a more tentative and less violent version of the man who shattered Cub Swanson‘s face in eight seconds. Stories of arduous weight cuts further enhanced trepidations surrounding Aldo’s future performances, and talks of a move up in weight have since emerged. For the champion to silence the hard-to-please critics, he needs to deliver in his home country in spectacular fashion, and be the first man to inflict a blemish on Chad Mendes‘ spotless record. Featherweight title fight: Jose Aldo (c) vs. Chad Mendes Despite the pressure weighing firmly on the Brazilian’s shoulder, it is Mendes who faces the more daunting task, as a shaky fifth round against Mark Hominick aside, Aldo hasn’t looked vulnerable in years. The champion’s performance against Kenny Florian may have underwhelmed, but he still managed to win the bout in relatively straightforward fashion — despite Joe Rogan‘s best attempts to convince us otherwise on commentary — and did so without ever really needing to switch gears. However, it would be disingenuous to ignore that Aldo didn’t quite look like his usual dynamic self. Despite landing typically crisp and clean shots, and displaying some great hips to stay vertical, Aldo lacked the trademark explosiveness in his attacks. Moreover, he seemed to be throwing with less volume, and wasn’t quite as willing to move forward as he usually is. And while it remains too early to speculate whether this is a direct result of the shoulder injury sustained a year ago, his upcoming bout will be telling in that regard. Aldo is a master at gauging distance. Like his compatriot Anderson Silva, he likes to dissect his opponent before picking his primary method of attack accordingly. Having one of the most diverse striking arsenals in the sport allows Aldo to choose between a boxing-oriented approach (such as the Manny Gamburyan fight) , or one that is more reliant on his devastating leg kicks (see the Urijah Faber bout). Ever since capturing the title in breathtaking fashion against Mike Brown back in 2009, Aldo has developed into a more patient striker. In fact, that tile-winning performance was the last time Aldo completely blitzed his opponent from start to finish, as he overwhelmed Brown with a barrage of kicks, knees and some terrific combinations. From that point onwards, Aldo has implemented a more measured approach, highlighted by less volume, better boxing technique, and improved counter-punching. Such versatility makes Aldo an incredibly difficult opponent to prepare for, as there is very little indication as to the specifics of what he has in store. This sort of fighting maturity is unusual at Aldo’s age, but it is what makes him such a special talent. The main issue with Mendes is that despite technically solid striking, he shows very little confidence in his stand-up. When he actually throws with conviction, his punches are quite crisp. However, he very seldom does, and his lack of belief in his striking is quite evident. His outing against Michihiro Omigawa remains perhaps the only time where Mendes exhibited real improvement in his stand-up skills, only for his striking to look curiously regressed against Rani Yahya. His performance against the former saw Mendes show a remarkable ability to get on the inside and put clean combinations together. Specifically, his right cross looked extremely sharp, and he showed a surprising ability to sit on that particular punch and land with power. Getting on the inside will be vital against Aldo, especially if the Team Alpha Male fighter is able to show the kind of sharp boxing he did against Omigawa, as it would allow him to set up takedowns properly and potentially put the champion on his back, which ultimately remains his main goal. And yet, getting on the inside against Aldo is not only a difficult task, but a risky one as well. The champion is an expert at controlling distance, and as long as he throws his leg kicks liberally, Mendes will be far too worried about them to be able to step inside, counter, and switch levels. Furthermore, Aldo is simply devastating on the inside, be it with combinations, snapping knees to the body, or some solid clinch work. The uppercut in particular could be a game-changer, as Aldo sets it up beautifully by faking a left hook, and it serves as a great counter to a constantly level-changing opponent. Should Mendes succeed in avoiding Aldo’s laser-guided punches and go for the double leg, he is certainly capable of putting him on his back. It will be vital for Mendes to secure clean takedowns away from the cage in order to make Aldo’s life more difficult in his efforts to get back to his feet. However, Aldo’s hips and overall takedown defense will make Mendes earn his keep, as it is unlikely the challenger is going to be able to effortlessly and consistently put his opponent on the bottom. Should he succeed in doing so however, Mendes needs to show a dominating top game he has yet to display. “Money” does little in terms of guard-passing or significant ground-and-pound, and instead stays tight inside the guard, occasionally landing some short elbows. While this could actually limit scrambling opportunities for the champion, it increases the chances of referee-induced stand-ups, especially when a chorus of Brazilian boos is showering the cage simultaneously. In light of his last two showings, the main worry for Aldo will be his conditioning, as he has looked somewhat faded in the closing rounds against Florian and especially, Hominick. This in turn could mean that Mendes will have less trouble taking the champion down in the final ten minutes, which, if accompanied by a solid outing in at least one of the earlier rounds, could well win him the fight. Nevertheless, banking on Aldo’s cardio to ultimately cost him the fight is — while possible — a bit far-fetched. More likely, Aldo will control the distance and eventually polish his opponent off with superior striking. Mendes could well have his moments and get the fight to the ground, but those occasions will likely be very few, and would only delay the inevitable. Official Prediction: Jose Aldo to defeat Chad Mendes by TKO in Round 2 PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, champion, opponent, aldo, mende

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

The UFC was greeted back to Brazil with open arms, as the Brazilian fans enthusiastically showed why the UFC should return more often. UFC heavyweight champion Junir Dos Santos’ statements regarding the Brazilian fans: “It feels so great to be with the fans in Rio. I’ve only been champion for a short time, but this feeling (of support) will never get old. I love it. This is the first big UFC event of the year and it’s very important for us in Brazil, the fans in America and people everywhere.” Featherweight champion Aldo also only had great things to say about his fellow country men. “Wow! The way the fans were chanting my name, cheering, trying to get pictures with me, it was incredible. Everyone knows my story, how I grew up, and to make it to this type of stage feels great. Chad Mendes is a tough challenger, but this is the fight I’ve wanted for a long time. He’s the number one contender and I love the challenge.” Even Mendes, an American fighter facing off against the beloved featherweight champion, received good fan support: “I was surprised by how supportive the fans were. I didn’t expect to receive the cheers and I appreciated it. I think the fans realize how important this fight is for the featherweight division, for the UFC and for the sport. I’m ready to go and I know Jose is. I can’t wait to do this.” The UFC has a long list of high-caliber Brazilian fighters — and a dedicated MMA fan base that is only growing — so it’s not a surprise to see the No. 1 MMA promotion again saw such a high turn out of Brazilian fans.

Posted in: ufc, champion, fan, i love, brazilian

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The UFC will return to Atlanta, Georgia, for the first time in over three years with UFC 146 on Saturday, April 21. MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani broke the news on Fuel's "UFC Tonight" and via Twitter Tuesday night. The last time the UFC ran a show in the city was UFC 88 on September 6, 2008, headlined by Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans. Evans won the fight via second round KO, earning Knockout Of The Night and a shot at then-Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin. 14,736 filled the Philips Arena that night for a live gate of $2.6 million and is the only time Atlanta has hosted a UFC event. While no fights were announced, expect Georgia's most notable Zuffa fighter -- former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles -- to compete on the show, keeping with the UFC trend. **** Also on "UFC Tonight" and Twitter, Helwani gave some interesting insight into how Tuesday's main event announcement of Alexander Gustafsson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira came together. According to Helwani, Dana White originally offered Nogueira to Dan Henderson but Hendo turned the fight down. The plan was that if Rashad Evans defeated Phil Davis at UFC On Fox 2, he would get the next shot at current champion Jon Jones with the Hendo/Nogueira winner being next in line for a title shot. Helwani said Henderson's next fight is in limbo as a result.

Posted in: ufc, fight, henderson, champion, helwani

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Six-foot-7 Ednaldo Oilveira enters the UFC recommended by its reigning heavyweight champion.

Posted in: ufc, champion, sixfoot, oilveira, ednaldo

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submitted by EpicThomTime [link] [13 comments]

Posted in: welterweight, champion, future, opinion, epicthomtime

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2011 was a milestone year for mixed martial arts. New champions were crowned, huge television deals were made and the notion of being mainstream is becoming more and more of a reality.

Posted in: champion, art, television, television deals, milestone year

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A little more than a month Georges St. Pierre was in the midst of preparing to face Nick Diaz in February while Vitor Belfort had just begun camp for a bout against Anthony Johnson at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. While the always-impressive welterweight champion unfortunately went on to suffer a knee injury that will keep him out for most of 2012, prior to the affliction he linked up with Belfort to spend some time training together. Fortunately their exchanges and work in general was documented, something the fans can now check out as part of Belfort’s Road to UFC 142 series. “GSP, we just try to help each other and we’re great friends,” explains Belfort of St. Pierre’s presence. “He’s a great champion and my guys like him. Good behavior, good guy, so we’re gonna help each other. That’s the key to get better. Training with the champions. It’s an honor to train with him.” Belfort-Johnson’s bout will unfold next weekend in Rio de Janeiro as part of a UFC 142 card headlined by featherweight title-holder Jose Aldo putting his belt up for grabs against undefeated grappler Chad Mendes. Check out the GSP-Belfort video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/VITORBELFORT

Posted in: anthony johnson, champion, belfort, knee injury, friends ”

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Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos tested positive for steroids ahead of her Dec. 17 featherweight title defense.

Posted in: title, champion, dec, defense, steroid

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Two former Ultimate Fighter champions are set to square off at UFC 145 in Montreal on March 24.

Posted in: ufc, champion, montreal, fighter champions, tuf champions

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Dave Meltzer's history in covering pro wrestling may be the reason that he's had some of the most insightful things to say on the retirement of Brock Lesnar, but the hits keep on coming. In his most recent edition of the Wrestling Observer newsletter, Meltzer talks about Lesnar's legacy and what he would do to champions from the UFC's past. From the newsletter: The next question is Lesnar's legacy. Most have been positive about it. The reality is he was an amazing athlete who won the title despite inexperience and a long layoff from competitive sports, succeeding based on athletic ability and a lifetime of wrestling to beat some solid people at their own game. Others, whether blinded by their hate for Lesnar, pro wrestling, or UFC, have used this loss to say he was never any good, and discredit him. Some have written he was the worst UFC heavyweight champion in history, which is beyond laughable. If you line up every UFC champion in history, when they were champion vs. what short window of prime Lesnar had, Lesnar beats most of them almost every time. He'd pound Shamrock, Severn, Coleman, Randleman, Smith, Rodriguez, Sylvia and Mir into the mat when all of them were champions. He'd struggle with Couture before beating him the majority of the time if not almost every time. He'd beat the Josh Barnett when Barnett was champion, although I'm not sure what would happen if he fought today's Barnett. He'd lose most of the time to Cain Velasquez, because that's a bad style match for him. He may not beat Junior Dos Santos either, and as the sport evolves, he wouldn't beat the majority of the champions of the future. He was a legitimate champion for his time, even though he had major holes in his game, and brought a ton of new fans to the sport, and drew more than anyone in history. I'm not really sure what the grand point of saying he'd beat men from a different era is. Guys like Shamrock, Mo Smith, Dan Severn and so on are hardly men that Lesnar's ability to dominate is particularly meaningful when discussing legacy. Still, Lesnar's accomplishments shouldn't be diminished. What he was able to do with his experience level was impressive. When I wrote the article questioning his retirement and legacy across all his endeavors it wasn't meant to belittle what he did achieve. That being said, I think it's fair to question how good he truly was or could have been given that we can't really know if the same results would have happened against Velasquez and Overeem had Lesnar not had the issues with diverticulitis. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

Posted in: ufc, time, champion, lesnar, legacy

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre joined Gina Carano at the premiere of her movie, Haywire, at the DGA theater in LA last night. You can catch some other pictures here.

Posted in: champion, gina carano, gina, movie haywire, dga theater

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Strikeforce returns with an interesting event Saturday, headlined by 185-pound champion Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine. Here's a preview.

Posted in: luke, champion, return, event saturday, strikeforce returns

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As 2011 began to rumble toward its wintry end, one of the best fighters in the world and an all-time great was faced with a serious injury, a former champion was battered in what could be his last fight and the final part of a trilogy was as good as advertised. October 2011: Of Knee-Jerk Reactions After winning 30 straight rounds and eight straight going into his April 2011 title defense against Jake Shields, it turned out that Georges St. Pierre's toughest opponent was his body as he was pulled from his scheduled UFC 137 title defense against Carlos Condit with two weeks notice due to a knee injury. Nick Diaz took full advantage of his main event opportunity, ripping apart B.J. Penn with strikes at UFC 137 and cutting an infamous post-fight speech that riled up GSP so much that he leapfrogged Condit to take back his title shot. Diaz said St. Pierre wasn't hurt but was scared to face him and according to Dana White, GSP demanded he fight Diaz next. White said Condit was fine with it. Uh huh. Penn said he was retiring, but later explained he was going to take some time off instead. **** UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard weren't mainstream sports sensations going into 2011, but did gain some praise among casual MMA fans for their January 1st Fight Of The Year candidate that ended in a draw. Injuries to both men delayed the third fight in their trilogy, but the UFC 136 main event was worth the wait. Edgar submitted Maynard in the fourth round in a battle that played out much like their second one did.Chael Sonnen returned to action for the first time in more than a year and ran through Brian Stann to seemingly earn an anticipated rematch with Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. He also cut a great post-fight promo (ala Diaz) where he challenged Silva to a bout where if Silva lost, he would leave the 185-pound division and if Sonnen lost, he'd "leave the UFC forever". Outlandish? Yes. Awesome? Double yes. Silva's people said that Sonnen didn't deserve another shot. While a relatively small amount of people purchased the pay-per-view, it also featured a successful title defense by 145-pound champion Jose Aldo over Kenny Florian and a surprise submission victory by Joe Lauzon over top lightweight contender Melvin Guillard. **** The quest of Rashad Evans to earn another 205-pound title shot suffered a setback as White booked UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida for December's UFC 140 despite rumors that Evans had got the nod. Jones said Evans was ducking him, but an Evans hand injury wouldn't be healed in time for a Toronto show that White desperately wanted a name-value main event for. For the rest of the month that was October, join us after the jump. Other Stuff That Happened UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz defeated Demetrious Johnson in a fun, under-appreciated unanimous decision, the first free TV UFC title match in years...Dana White said that Gilbert Melendez was heading to the UFC (and so did Cesar Gracie) but he had to defend his title against Masvidal first. Melendez was excited to head over. Poor guy...Jon Anik did join the UFC, brought over from ESPN to head up the play-by-play on FX events. Viacom purchased the majority stake in Bellator and announced plans to move the promotion to Spike TV in 2013. Eddie Alvarez said he was interesting in buying the promotion at one point...UFC PPVs moved back to 10 PM EST...Kimbo Slice had another quick boxing KO...The UFC decided not to use their return to Japan as a lead-in for a U.S. PPV...Mirko Cro Cop announced his retirement. Fans had to prepare for the end of the UFC Gladiator Guy...Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort were rumored as coaches for the launch of TUF Brazil...Dana White said he would welcome a gay fighter in the UFC...Brett Rogers was arrested again...Kenny Florian said he was going to return to lightweight...Shane Carwin had back surgery and was out until mid-2012...Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler was rebooked for November. Kurt Angle was justthisclose to being in the TUF 10 house but failed a physical...Brock Lesnar signed a deal to appear in a WWE video game...Tim Kennedy was rumored as heading to the UFC...Showtime Sports lead Ken Hershman left for HBO Sports, an important move toward Zuffa/Strikeforce negotiations...Antonio McKee said Dana White should be voted out of the UFC. Full archive of October stories on Bloody Elbow Past Monthly Recaps: September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz is putting those acting classes to good use. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy People's Champion" will guest star on CSI: NY this Friday (Jan. 6, 2012) at 10pm ET on CBS. Click here for a sneak peek at "Clean Sweep." For more on Ortiz and his Tinseltown takeover click here.

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Two “champions” will walk to the Octagon for the UFC on Fox 2 co-main event, as WWE Champion CM Punk will join “Chael P. Sonnen, the true champion” for Sonnen’s bout against Mark Munoz. CM Punk, who hails from Chicago, has admitted that he is a fan of MMA and if you have witnessed a Chael Sonnen interview as of late, you know that he has watched some video on how to hype a fight and build an image via interviews. FrontRowBrian first tweeted the news on Tuesday stating: FRB

Posted in: punk, champion, chael sonnen, sonnen, interviews frontrowbrian

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The "best in the world" will team up with the "undefeated and undisputed UFC middleweight champion" on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago. World Wrestling Entertainment champion CM Punk will escort Chael Sonnen to the cage prior to Sonnen's fight against Mark Munoz live on FOX, according to sources close to Sonnen's camp. When reached for a comment, both Sonnen and Punk, a proud native of Chicago, as well as a long-time MMA fan, would not confirm the story, which was first reported by MMA.tv poster FrontRowBrian Tuesday night. The pairing makes sense considering Punk's strong ties to the Chicago-area and love of MMA, plus Sonnen's interest in the world of professional wrestling. Still no word on whether Sonnen will come out to Punk's theme song, "Cult of Personality," by Living Colour. According to the same sources, Punk will not corner Sonnen during the fight. He will simply walk Sonnen to the cage, much like former WWE champion Batista did with Manny Pacquaio prior to "Pac Man's" May 2009 bout against Ricky Hatton. Punk was recently a guest on The MMA Hour, talking about the relationship between MMA and pro wrestling. You can watch his appearance here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Earlier this month, we here at MMAmania.com embarked on a quest to determine the best of the best in the year 2011. Naturally, that means we had to find the man (or woman) who rose above the rest to earn the distinction of "Fighter of the Year." And that honor belongs to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Because who else? Really, there was no other viable option and the voting reflected as much. "Bones" kicked the year off by defeating Ryan Bader to earn a 205-pound title shot against Mauricio Rua. Just six weeks later, he made the most of his opportunity by dominating "Shogun" in a way not seen before. That right there warrants consideration. What he did next was downright astonishing. His first title defense came against Quinton Jackson and Jones once again dominated, becoming just the second man in the history of MMA to submit "Rampage." Less than three months later, the Greg Jackson trained phenom became the first man to submit Lyoto Machida, putting him out cold with a standing guillotine choke. That's 4-0, two title defenses, all finishes, against the best competition available, namely three of the four opponents being former champions. All in one year, folks. Get some. It wasn't even close but there others who received votes. Check out the full results of our poll for the best fighter of 2011 after the jump. Poll results: Jon Jones -- 772 votes Dan Henderson -- 150 votes Junior dos Santos -- 115 votes Nick Diaz -- 97 votes Donald Cerrone -- 67 votes Other -- 26 votes Remember to check out winners in other categories including "Fight of the Year," "Knockout of the Year" and "Submission of the Year" by clicking here, here and here.

Posted in: jone, champion, vote, year, man

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Alistair Overeem proved a point against Brock Lesnar, defeating the former UFC Heavyweight Champion via TKO in Round 1. UFC Heavyweight division is full of talent, with fighters such as Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Cheick Kongo and many others eyeing their shot at the title. Who will be the UFC HW Champ by the end of 2012? Make your vote!

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, champion, brock lesnar, end

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Recently crowned Heavyweight Champion, Junior dos Santos, who dethroned Cain Velasquez to claim the title at UFC on Fox, looks back on the match-up, and discusses the recovery process following his knee surgery.

Posted in: title, champion, do, heavyweight champion, recovery process

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When the UFC went on sale with tickets for UFC 129 and sold out in several minutes, then did the same thing again when they released more tickets, people knew the Toronto debut was going to be big. We just didn't know how big. That, Randy Couture's final fight and Nick Diaz's love affair with boxing headlined the big stories in April. April 2011 - 55,000 Of My Rowdy Friends Finally cleared to run a major show in Toronto, Canada, the UFC achieved another major milestone with a UFC/North American record crowd of 55,000 people in Rogers Centre to watch UFC 129 and their countryman Georges St. Pierre in the main event. Action aside, the shots like you see above are pretty incredible. Dana White and company insisted on a top-flight fan experience inside the venue and by all accounts, their goals were achieved. The weekend featured a Fan Expo and everything was treated like a major happening. It was a nice dry run for the UFC if/when they run large-scale events in Dallas, TX, or outdoors in Brazil; a massive business achievement where the fighting wasn't too bad either. St. Pierre looked human in a unanimous decision win over Jake Shields where the champion suffered a left eye injury and fought the majority of the bout with impaired vision. Shields couldn't take advantage, however, and kept the fight standing. It would turn out to be the only fight of the year for St. Pierre, while Shields is still looking for his first impressive outing in the Octagon.Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo made his UFC debut and fended off a tough challenge by local favorite Mark Hominick, while Lyoto Machida's crane kick of doom knocked out Randy Couture, powered by training with Steven Seagal (again, seriously!). Couture said before the event that he was retiring and he held to his word. **** Chael Sonnen's issues continued as claims he had made about conversations with Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission were disputed by Kizer. He was attempting to be licensed by the NSAC to coach on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter but that was severely in doubt due to a myriad of issues. He was officially sentenced to probation and a fine in his federal money laundering case, but his NSAC hearing was postponed. **** Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu reigned supreme as Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz beat Paul Daley in a great round of action while Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez dominated Tatsuya Kawajiri at a Strikeforce event. That only fueled the passion for those that wanted to see Diaz vs. St. Pierre and Melendez vs. UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar as the event came a month after the Zuffa purchase. At the time, Scott Coker was suggesting crossover fights could happen within 8-12 months and pay-per-view was being discussed for the summer. Seems like an eternity ago, no? None of it stopped Diaz from threatening to go to boxing. The rest of the month after the jump... Other Stuff That Happened Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones pulled out of his August title defense against Rashad Evans due to a hand injury and Phil Davis was tabbed to take Jones' place. The injury originally was going to require surgery and then didn't, which was a cause of much discussion...Anderson Silva celebrated his birthday, got a booking against Yushin Okami at UFC Rio and said he would never fight Jones. Bellator got on the map with Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez defeating Pat Curran in a tough unanimous decision and Welterweight Champion Ben Askren having an easy time in a non-title win over Nick Thompson...Dana White defended the low TUF 13 ratings despite having Brock Lesnar on the show....the Strikeforce purchase ended the Dave Batista talks but Royce Gracie was still angling to get on the UFC Rio event. Former NHL fighter Donald Brashear announced his MMA debut...Jason "Mayhem" Miller became the first big name from Strikeforce to sign with the UFC post-Zuffa sale...Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko talks heated up...Thiago Silva was suspended for one year due to a failed drug test...Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes was booked for the fall. April's full archive of stories on Bloody Elbow Past Monthly Recaps: March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

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In true form, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will close out another successful year with one of the biggest and most anticipated main events taking place this Friday night (Dec. 30, 2011) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It literally doesn't get any bigger than former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar welcoming former Strikeforce and DREAM heavyweight champion, and K-1 Grand Prix champion, Alistair Overeem, to the promotion at UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem." Overeem, who will make his much anticipated Octagon debut in "Sin City," has been documenting his journey to the UFC in his personal blog via Yahoo!Sports, detailing his trials and tribulations leading up to the blockbuster year-end pay-per-view (PPV) event with the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion. In his latest (and perhaps final) blog entry before fight night, "The Demoliton Man" talks about the confidence he has in his striking, the respect he has for Lesnar's punching power, and his prediction for what will happen when the two behemoths collide in the center of the eight-walled cage. Check it out: "While he doesn't have world-class technique, Mr. Lesnar is a big man who can punch, and I have trained to avoid Lesnar's strikes like I would any opponent. This fight is scheduled for five rounds, and I have trained for five, but I personally think I will win in the first round. I will knock Brock Lesnar out. Second round at the latest. I never underestimate anyone, and Mr. Lesnar is a former UFC world champion, but this is it, the chance to send a message to my fans, my critics and to UFC fans who maybe haven't seen too much of me yet. All the talk, all the would-be distractions, all the training and the hours in the gym and on the mat - it all comes down to Friday night. I'm an all-around fighter. I do everything. I've got wrestling, I've got submissions and I've got striking. Of course, I like to knock people out -- and that is the plan Friday -- and my striking is something that I focused on because I wanted to be the first MMA champion to also win the K-1 kickboxing Grand Prix, which I did a year ago. Obviously my strikes were my best weapons even before K-1, but they got a lot better because of the K-1 competition. Right now, I don't feel anyone in the division can strike with me, but this is MMA and I have prepared very hard for any eventuality. He wants it, I want it. One shall stand, one shall fall." Overeem's journey to the UFC has been quite a tumultuous one to say the least. From relocating his training camp from Las Vegas to Holland to care for his ailing mother, to his Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) drug test fiasco, the hulking Dutchman has dealt with all obstacles rather calmly, insisting all along the way that nothing has been a distraction and is ready to answer his critics wrong this Friday night. The time for talking is slowly coming to an end. In just less than three days, Overeem and Lesnar -- two of the biggest heavyweights to ever step foot inside the UFC's world famous Octagon -- will collide in a number one contenders match for the right to face newly crowned division champion, Junior dos Santos. As Overeem so eloquently puts it, "one shall stand, one shall fall." When it's all said and done and the dust settles, who, in your opinion, will rise as the new challenger for the coveted UFC heavyweight title?

Posted in: ufc, overeem, champion, brock lesnar, lesnar

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Former Strikforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem discusses his UFC 141 bout with Brock Lesnar.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, champion, alistair, brock

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Which current UFC champions will still hold their titles at the end of next year, and who will lose their belt?

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Yesterday I brought you the WWE television debut of Brock Lesnar. Lesnar's character was created to be an unstoppable monster who was absolutely ruthless. At the time of his debut he was kept far away from the microphone and wasn't allowed to showcase any of his personality. When the WWE finally entered him in a program with future MMA star Kurt Angle, Lesnar had firmly established himself as the company's heavyweight champion. Angle, the Olympic champion, was one of the best people on the microphone in the WWE. This backstage segment is a personal favorite of mine. For as much as MMA fans and pro-wrestling fans hate to admit, Lesnar has some amazing solid comedic timing. At this point in his career he was no longer the ruthless monster. Lesnar and Angle worked well together inside and out of the ring. In fact, some of Brock's best matches were with Angle. The whole bit is fantastics from Brock throwing a cookie in the air and catching it to the banter between the WWE champion and the Olympic champion. Adding the female to the segment created a dynamic between the two that allowed both to bring up their past accomplishments. Lesnar's exit and then return to slap Angle on the back is gold. It's just one of those segments that allowed Lesnar to show that he's more than a mountain of muscle. It's true. It's damn true. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

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Competitors became companions, the youngest UFC champion in history was created while Strikeforce got one of their oldest and a California Kid made his presence felt in the Octagon. Let's look back at March 2011, one of the busiest and most important months in recent MMA history. March 2011 - The Most Important Business Month Ever? Most MMA fans will remember where they were when they got the news that Zuffa had purchased Strikeforce, putting the UFC's top competitor under their control. News broke unusually on a random Saturday afternoon, done via a video with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani.We all had more questions than answers. Would the UFC and Strikeforce immediately merge? What about the champions? Why did they buy them? Was this good for the industry? As the year would play out, we got our answers but still have a lot of questions as we cross into 2012. But in many circles, that wasn't even the biggest story of the year. That would come later on in the year. **** Just a short time after the UFC/Strikeforce news, the UFC saw one of its power players complete his journey as Jon Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history with a dominant TKO victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128. Weeks after he had earned the shot due to a win over Ryan Bader and an injury to top contender Rashad Evans, Jones found himself with a shiny belt and an aura of invincibility. Following the win, Dana White decreed that Jones would face Evans next and after hearing his friend say he would fight him, Evans was more than willing to step in against him. The Jones/Evans feud would play out throughout the year with everyone associated getting involved, including coaches. It turned out to be a sad situation and because of injuries, fans are still waiting to see if they will ever get the fight they want to see. **** After his crowd-pleasing KO win over Michael Bisping at UFC 100, Dan Henderson famously left the organization for Strikeforce. The move paid off as he knocked out Rafael Cavalcante in the third round, giving him the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title and a renewed vigor as a champion in the sport. But without any real divisional depth, Kid Nate wanted Hendo to fight Fedor Emelianenko...and he'd eventually get it. Other Stuff That Happened At UFC 126, Urijah Faber made his UFC debut count over Eddie Wineland and earned a shot at Bantamweight Champion and rival Dominick Cruz in the process...Phil Davis remained undefeated and Anthony Johnson ensured that Dan Hardy's struggles continued...Chan Sung Jung submitted Leonard Garcia with an awesome looking twister, which Eddie Bravo broke down. Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, which affected the ailing Japanese scene and martial arts community as a whole...Thiago Silva admitted he cheated on his pre-UFC 125 drug test...Matt Lindland suffered some reefer madness...Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley was booked for Strikeforce's April show, even with Daley's tenuous standing with Dana White...Diego Sanchez got beat up by Martin Kampmann but still squeezed out a decision...it was announced the 14th season of TUF would feature 135 and 145'ers for the first time...Cristiane Santos was rumored to be in conversations with WWE. March's full archive of stories Past Monthly Recaps: February 2011 January 2011

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, champion, year, march

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Filed under: UFCThe final UFC event of the calendar year takes place on Friday night, with a heavyweight clash pitting former UFC champion Brock Lesnar against former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem. At UFC 141 in Las Vegas, the pair will be vying for the division's No. 1 contender spot and a chance to eventually face current champion Junior dos Santos. The UFC recently produced a "Countdown" video to spotlight the important matchup, and the full episode is after the jump.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, champion, las vegas, heavyweight clash, countdown video

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If anyone knows the brute strength and wrestling abilities that Brock Lesnar brings to a mixed martial arts (MMA) fight, it's former heavyweight champion Frank Mir. Having stepped into the Octagon opposite Lesnar twice before (UFC 81 and UFC 100), Mir has first-hand experience at just how hard it can be to get out from underneath the massive 265-pound monster. That's because Mir has found himself under the mountain of a man Lesnar in both contests. And he's had mixed results. In 2008 at UFC 81, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt found himself on the bottom of the former WWE star as Lesnar rained down his 4XL-sized fists on Mir's head; however, Mir was able to capitalize on a split second concentration lapse from Lesnar to sink in a fight-ending knee bar that forced a tap. At UFC 100 the following year, Mir once again found himself being suffocated by Lesnar as the former NCAA wrestling champion was able to take him down and followed up with some vicious ground-and-pound that forced the stoppage. Mir tells "The MMA Insiders" on ESPN1100/98.9 FM (via Yahoo Sports), Alistair Overeem and his muscles will struggle with the wrestling abilities of Lesnar when they square off inside the Octagon this Friday (Dec. 30, 2011) in the UFC 141 main event. Check it out: "Brock doesn't shoot that low. He'll put his forehead in your chest, and he's going to run you through. If he's not able to take you down with that initial blast, he's going to run you against the cage. Then he's going to rip your legs out from under you. Now, you should have gotten taken down in the middle of the area, but instead, you've been taken down against the cage. Speaking from experience, that sucks. Now, you have a guy who is not a black belt in jiu-jitsu and who is not a wrestling All-American who is going to be able to get back to his feet, so what does he do? Are you going to try to tell me he's going to wrestle with a national champion wrestler for five minutes? His cardio is going to suck. I've seen guys with muscles like that, and that's why he slows down." Saying Overeem doesn't have near the wrestling credentials that Lesnar possesses would be an understatement. He is, however, no slouch on the ground in submission department, registering 17 submission victories throughout his professional MMA career. Preferring to strike, the former K-1 kickboxing champion will certainly look to avoid the takedown at all costs, but won't be in unchartered waters should the fight eventually get to the mat. What's your take, do you agree with Mir's assessment that Overeem's muscles will do him more harm than good? And will Lesnar's wrestling be the deciding factor in the monstrous heavyweight clash this weekend? Opinions, please.

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre wants to help you get in shape for 2012. His RushFit training program will do just that. Check it out inside.

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"His weaknesses are my strengths" - hear what former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is bringing to the Octagon against Brock Lesnar.

Posted in: overeem, champion, alistair, brock, strength

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This Friday, the UFC will bring a stacked event to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas as a heavyweight blockbuster battle will take place, pitting former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem against former UFC champion Brock Lesnar in the main event of the evening.

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After outpointing Billy Evangelista on Saturday, K.J. Noons is already getting asked about a potential matchup against Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

Posted in: strikeforce, champion, melendez, noon, outpointing

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The MMA year that was 2011 will be remembered for a lot of big news events, great fights, a little controversy and always plenty to talk about. This kicks off our series looking back month-by-month at what happened, who did what and what was to come. January 2011 Fittingly, the year kicked off with a UFC event, headlined by a quietly built and non buzzworthy rematch between Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard at UFC 125. Nothing much was made of the fight going in, but a Fight Of The Year candidate came out of it even thought it went to a draw. There was plenty of immediate post-fight chatter about a rematch, but initially UFC President Dana White was hesitant and insistent that WEC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis was going to get his promised opportunity. Within hours, however, that changed and White made the call for Edgar/Maynard III.Also of note on that card, Thiago Silva's destruction of Brandon Vera, Clay Guida's submission win over Takanori Gomi, Brian Stann's big knockout of Chris Leben and two well-known fighters competing for what would be their last time in the UFC in Phil Baroni and Marcus Davis. **** The bizarre year for Chael Sonnen began to take shape as he pleaded guilty to federal money laundering charges and would plea bargain down to a fine and probation with no jail time. While he avoided going behind bars, he didn't escape the punishment of the UFC who temporarily suspended Sonnen so he could get his life back in order. This put off a rumored bout against Yoshihiro Akiyama and any immediate hope of a rematch with 185-pound champion Anderson Silva. **** What would turn out to be the most-attended event in UFC history began to take shape as it was confirmed that Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre would face Jake Shields while Randy Couture would meet Lyoto Machida in a battle of former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions at UFC 129 in Toronto. **** There was plenty of chatter about the Strikeforce Grand Prix tournament and whether the world's No.2 promotion had leapfrogged the UFC with their heavyweights. The promotion ended the month with an event featuring a fun scrap between Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz and Evangelista Santos and Herschel Walker's decimation of Scott Carson. In general, there was a lot of buzz and positivity about Strikeforce. There was talk of a lightweight Grand Prix and their announce team was called the best in the business. In a few months, the landscape would drastically change. In Other News UFC fighter Jacob Volkmann called out President Obama after a win and then was questioned by Secret Service…Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum were booked for the Grand Prix...UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio Rua vs. Rashad Evans was made official for UFC 128. Brock Lesnar released his autobiography and was announced as one of the coaches on season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Junior dos Santos with a fight to come at some point...the UFC aired their first ever Facebook fights on their Fight For The Troops 2 event. On that show, Melvin Guillard destroyed Evan Dunham in the headliner...St. Pierre split with his longtime manager. For the entire archive of Bloody Elbow posts from January 2011, click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, event, champion

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The odds for a couple of upcoming main events have been released with a champion and a former champion coming in as slight favorites.

Posted in: ufc, champion, odd, odds favorites, favorite

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Every year in the world of combat sports, there are a handful of fighters who either defy the odds or support them wholeheartedly, laying waste to all in their path in unexpected (or entirely expected) fashion. Loved, loathed, or regarded with mild disinterest once their rampages get dull, these warriors command the attention of viewers through the universal language of violence. As such, we’ve seen the meteoric rise (or surprising rebirth) of a select few over the past 12 months. But which combatant was the best of 2011 in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) overall? Follow me after the jump for some of this year's top candidates and to cast your vote for 2011's "Fighter of the Year:" (Insert Rocky and/or Hulk music here) Jon Jones Photo via Yahoo! Sports Despite caving in Brandon Vera’s eye socket and unleashing a hailstorm of elbows on Vladimir Matyushenko’s face the previous year, Jones still had plenty of questions to answer as he entered 2011. Unfortunately for the rest of the light heavyweight division, he quickly proved himself up to the task, throttling Ryan Bader at UFC 126 before defeating Mauricio Rua for the 205-pound title on short notice and defending it in dominating fashion against former champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida. The young phenom is quickly running out of obstacles in the way of uncontested dominance of the division, and MMA fans await his 2012 campaign with bated breath. Nick Diaz Photo via UFC.com Diaz has long been known for laying a physical and verbal smackdown on anyone unlucky enough to be on the opposite side of the cage, but his low level of competition left his status as a top welterweight up for debate. After submitting Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, however, Diaz took steps to correct that issue, becoming the first man to ever knock out Paul Daley before returning to the UFC and absolutely decimating former champion B.J. Penn. Now scheduled to face former WEC champion Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title while champion Georges St. Pierre recovers from knee surgury, Diaz has the chance to finally be recognized as the premiere welterweight in the world on Super Bowl weekend. Donald Cerrone Photo via UFC.com WEC lightweights had a stigma attached to them of being second-rate, and the only thing that frustrated Donald Cerrone more than being disrespected was his apparent inability to win a title. After an illegal knee on his end forced an early end to his title fight with Jamie Varner, leading him to lose a technical decision, he took on Ben Henderson twice, falling both times. After getting revenge on Varner, though, "Cowboy" made his way to the UFC and commenced a thorough obliteration of everyone in his path. This year alone, he submitted Paul Kelly, battered Vagner Rocha, scored his first-ever (T)KO over Charles Oliveira, and pummeled Dennis Siver before choking him out. With his fifth fight of 2011, against Nate Diaz, scheduled for Dec. 30, Cerrone may be dangerously close to challenging for the title once again, only this time on the biggest stage there is. Junior dos Santos Photo via static.enlapelea.com Junior dos Santos only fought twice in 2011, but he made up for lack of quantity with sheer brutality. After coaching in Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), "Cigano" was matched up against notorious knockout artist Shane Carwin, who was replacing the ailing Brock Lesnar. Dos Santos barely broke a sweat over the course of the fifteen-minute beatdown, crushing the American wrestler with brutally-precise punches. Impressive as this win was, his greatest highlight was yet to come; the hard-charging Brazilian got the opportunity of a lifetime this past November, headlining the UFC’s first show on FOX opposite heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. Stunningly, dos Santos flattened his foe in a grand total of sixty-four seconds despite a torn meniscus, becoming the first Brazilian heavyweight champion since his mentor, "Minotauro" Nogueira, who guillotined Tim Sylvia for the interim title. At only 27, the best is yet to come for dos Santos, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that’s a bloody scary thought. Dan Henderson Photo via mmaweekly.com Dan Henderson has always had a right hand that he needed to register as a concealed weapon to wear a glove on, but in 2011, he truly, unequivocally mastered it. He started the year off by capturing yet another title, knocking out Strikeforce 205-pound champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante. He went on to score one of the biggest upsets of the year in late July, putting the legendary Fedor Emelianenko to sleep for the first time with a hard uppercut from behind. Not content with just making history, however, Henderson also won arguably the best fight of 2011, battering Mauricio Rua for three rounds and fending off a late rally from the deposed champ. On the cusp of a title shot and widely regarded as one of the best light heavyweights in the world, Henderson has defied age and expectations to establish himself as one of the finest fighters in the world. That's a wrap. Be sure to let us know if we missed anyone sufficiently awesome in the comments below and be sure to stop by tomorrow for the finale of our "Best of 2011" series, when we look for "Event of the Year." To see our 2011 "Fight of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. To see our 2011 "Knockout of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. To see our 2011 "Submission of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. Poll The best fighter of 2011 was: Jon Jones Nick Diaz Donald Cerrone Junior dos Santos Dan Henderson Someone else (see comments)   32 votes | Results

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A few sound bytes. Brock Lesnar: "I don't even know the guy. Never heard of him. To my understanding, he was a champion of some other company." Alistair Overeem: "I'm the K-1 2010 champion, the Strikeforce heavyweight champion and the DREAM heavyweight champion. In America, I'm not that famous because I've not fought there that much. I've not fought in the UFC. I do expect that to change once I've fought Brock." Pat Barry: "Alistair Overeem's debut in the UFC, unfortunately, is against Brock Lesnar. That's whack! That's not a really good welcoming fight. He's gonna be thoroughly disappointed." UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" will blow the roof off the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, when Brock Lesnar collides with Alistair Overeem on Dec. 30, 2011, for a future title shot against Junior dos Santos. There's also a fantastic lightweight battle between Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone on the main card that is an early candidate for "Fight of the Night." Read all about it here and here.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, champion, lesnar, brock

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The biggest name in MMA has signed a deal with one of the biggest names in combat sports gear and apparel as Everlast announced a partnership with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar Wednesday. The "exclusive, multi-year equipment contract" calls for Lesnar to train exclusively with Everlast equipment and be a public face for consumer and retail marketing initiatives. The company will also outfit Lesnar's DeathClutch Gym in Minnesota and have already installed a 30-foot training cage in the facility."Brock Lesnar's combination of size, athleticism and elite wrestling ability is truly unmatched," said Matt Cowan, VP of Marketing and Products for Everlast said in a press release. "His strength, determination and individuality makes him resonate with our brand ethos and we are excited to welcome Brock to our storied family of champions." Lesnar joins UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and UFC Hall-of-Famer Randy Couture as MMA stars that Everlast sponsors. Lesnar (5-2) is just over a week away from returning to action against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 on Friday, December 30th. It will be the 34-year-old's first competition since losing his title to Cain Velasquez in October 2010.

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So far, December has witnessed the usual: the champions fought, and the champions won. On Dec. 10, Jon Jones had his most trying fight in memory, as Lyoto Machida was able to stifle Jones for all of five minutes.

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Before we get started, will someone pick up that ball? You know, the one Gilbert Melendez dropped last night? If Dana White -- and Melendez himself considering his broad, sweeping post-fight challenge -- is to be believed, the Strikeforce lightweight champion is staying put and will likely serve as the new face of the promotion. Melendez is, after all, ranked as a top five 155-pounder and can serve as the anchor for a company looking to avoid being written off as a second-rate league. If that is in fact the plan, someone in the Zuffa chain of command is going to get a stern talking to on Monday morning because it certainly didn't seem like "El Niño" was privy to it. Whether Melendez is staying or leaving, last night's main event was extremely important for his career and he turned in a rather uninspired effort. He got the job done, defeating Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision, however where was the seamless mixing of striking and grappling fans saw in his rematch with Josh Thomson? Where was the brutal ground and pound that took Tatsuya Kawajiri out? Where was the Melendez that was supposed to take the UFC by storm? Strikeforce is hurting for star power. It has already lost Alistair Overeem, whose defection to the UFC -- combined with an overall shallow talent pool sport-wide -- gave Zuffa all the reason it needed to cut the weight division from Strikeforce's ranks. Also gone is Nick Diaz, the former welterweight champion. Here is a man any combat sports company -- be it mixed martial arts (MMA), boxing or pro wrestling -- could build its promotion around. Even Dan Henderson has returned to the Octagon after winning three out of four fights inside the Strikeforce cage. Already well-known thanks to his stint as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and his subsequent decapitation of Michael Bisping, "Hendo" brought that name recognition to San Jose with him but absconded back to Las Vegas with it just as quickly. The void that the departure of those three men has created is prime to be filled by any number of Strikeforce's stars. New middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has youth and 12 pounds of gold helping him along that path while contender Tim Kennedy can play up his military background to gain more traction with fans. But no fighter is better suited to become THE guy in Strikeforce than Melendez. Going into last night's bout against Jorge Masvidal, "El Niño" was already a two-time champion with two defenses to his name. An impressive win over "Gamebred" would have sealed the deal for Melendez in one of two ways. Either he makes the jump to the UFC and puts his top five ranking to the test against lightweights like Ben Henderson, Gray Maynard, and champ Frankie Edgar or he sticks around in Strikeforce and uses his status as a top 155-pounder to help legitimize the rest of the roster while continuing to fatten his bank account. Despite winning a rather one-sided decision, he was still taken to the limit -- and busted up -- by a fighter who barely registers as a top 25 lightweight. I don't know if that ranking correctly gauges Masvidal's talent; no one does. It's impossible for anyone to get a proper read on his skill level and compare it to the top fighters at 155 pounds as he's been fighting mid-tier talent so far. In this situation, two lines of thinking arise but only one is given any serious thought. Either Masvidal is for real and last night -- despite losing -- would be looked back on as his coming out party or Melendez -- who couldn't finish off the guy who got upside down choked in Bellator -- just isn't that good. I'm sure you can figure out which point of view prevails. As unfair as it may be -- to both Melendez and Masvidal alike -- a lot of fans are going to look at last night's performance and decide the Strikeforce champ isn't on par with the top flight of the Octagon. Wins are important in the fight game; the most important part but perception comes in a close second. "El Niño" had the power to control public opinion with his performance. Friday night, Melendez was seen as possibly being the uncrowned number one lightweight in the world. He simply needed his chance to prove it. Sunday morning, he's the champion of a second-rate promotion who talks bigger than he bites. Which is true?

Posted in: night, strikeforce, champion, masvidal, melendez

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In the main event for tonight's (Sat., Dec. 17, 2011) Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main card in San Diego, California, Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez looked to successfully defend his strap against the always dangerous Jorge Masvidal. "El Nino" had not a lot to gain and much to lose as he sought to prove he truly belongs at the top of the 155-pound heap of fighters. He also hoped to prove himself worthy of a shot at a contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). "Gamebred" had no intention of just rolling over and letting Melendez have an easy night. Anyone who has seen Masvidal fight in his last two opportunities knows that he has been beating people up and doing it violently. It was the biggest fight of Masvidal's career. He looked to be up the challenge. At the end of the day, Melendez was too tough and showed himself to be a worthy champion, winning the fight via unanimous decision after five grueling rounds. The fight started off with a patient pace, as each fighter looked to find the distance and figure out what the other sought to do. After about a minute, the fists began to fly. Midway through the round, Masvidal started to showboat and he paid for it. Melendez punished the challenger every time he dropped his hands with one-two punch combinations that knocked him backwards. Masvidal landed a few good shots of his own, after he figured out that he was in a fight and that he needed to be a bit more cautious. With one minute left, the champion caught a kick, rushed in and tied Masvidal up in a front headlock that did not threaten to finish the fight, but did seem to slow Masvidal down a good deal. It was a close round, but Melendez appeared to do enough to outpoint Masvidal in the opening frame. In the second round, Melendez began to pick his shots more cleanly and delivered a decent amount of punishment during the stand-up exchanges. Though Melendez did get tagged a few times, the surly champion looked like a train, unwilling to alter its course. He never stopped coming forward. As the fight went on, it became more and more apparent that Masvidal was simply not in Melendez's class. Each punch received a counter-punch. Each combination was answered a combination that looked a little better and crisper. Masvidal fought with bad intentions. Melendez's intentions were worse. Through three rounds, Melendez had the lead in power strikes, with a whopping 55-to-8 margin. By the time the fight made it to deep waters of the championship rounds, Melendez's right eye appeared to be fairly swollen. It's hard to say if the swelling was a problem for Melendez in the fifth round, but it did end up being the only round in which Masvidal appeared to have been more effective. Though Masvidal a lot of respect with this performance, Melendez proved why he is a deserving champion. The signs would seem to strongly suggest that Melendez's next fight will be in an eight-sided cage. Remember to check out MMAmania.com's ongoing coverage of the Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main card by clicking here.

Posted in: fight, round, champion, masvidal, melendez

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After nearly three years away from MMA, former IFL lightweight champion Ryan “The Lion” Schultz is ready to make his return to the cage.

Posted in: champion, ryan, return, schultz, ifl

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Video: Jorge Masvidal confident he is better than Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez everywhere, including in the wrestling department, and will prove it on Saturday night (Dec. 14, 2011) when they collide in the main event that will air on Showtime.

Posted in: strikeforce, video, champion, jorge, melendez

Read the full article at MMA Mania

After beginning his mixed martial arts (MMA) career with 16 straight wins and earning a reputation as "untouchable" due to his elusiveness and unorthodox style of fighting with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Lyoto Machida has now dropped three of his last four fights within the promotion. Dropping consecutive fights to Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson, the former UFC light heavyweight champion was able to get back to his winning ways by sending Randy Couture into retirement with a "Karate Kid" inspired front kick at UFC 129 this past April. His momentum quickly came to a halt, as he suffered a second round submission loss, which put him to sleep after refusing to tap, to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 140 this past weekend (Dec. 10, 2011) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Soon after giving "Bones" what many would call his toughest five minutes of competition during his tenure with the UFC in the first round, Jones was able to catch "The Dragon" in a standing guillotine, forcing referee Big John McCarthy to step in and stop the fight only after Machida was out cold. After taking some time to reflect on his loss, Machida tells Fighters Only that even though he lost to Jones at UFC 140, he feels he may have found a path to get to the young champion and also mentions a possible shift in weight classes. "Of course any loss is painful for a fighter. I lost but I still have three more fights at UFC and now my main goal is to be the champion of the weight class and bring the belt back to Para. Now it is a challenge to beat Jones and bounce back. We already know the path to get to him and in the next fight the things should happen with more ease. I wanted to thank the fans for the support. I know we gave our best and I know we did our best. We hired everybody we could but the result is not always the way we want. I think we always have to be learning something out of this and it is through the loss that we learn more than with the victory. I have been reading some messages on Twitter, on the Internet, and I only got to say thanks and say everything is okay with me, it's alright, let's go to the next one. I am a professional and it is part of my career: to win or to lose. I hope the next time we can celebrate together!" After seeing better days early in his UFC career, the Shotokan Karate specialist seems to have come to a crossroads. With plenty of contenders lining up to be the first to dethrone the 205-pound division kingpin Jon Jones, it could be a while before Machida earns another title shot. Perhaps a change in weight class could rejuvenate the former champion: "Now, I don't want to change - but if I am not the light heavyweight champion it really could happen." A drop down to the 185-pound division could be an option, but his hopes to capture another UFC world title could prove rather testy, as everything begins and ends with current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, who also happens to be one of Machida's training partners over at Team Black House. Though "The Dragon" has competed as an undersized heavyweight at 225 pounds against B.J. Penn at a K-1 Heroes event in 2004; the heavyweights in the UFC are a whole different animal, tipping the scales of over 250-pounds and higher. What do you say Maniacs, should "The Dragon" work his way back up the ladder of the 205-pound division and hope to earn a rematch against Jones, or whoever the champion may be at the time? Or should the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt look for greener pastures in another division? If so, where?

Posted in: ufc, jone, heavyweight, champion, machida

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Strikeforce and Showtime officially announced their new deal on Thursday that keeps the UFC-owned promotion on the premium channel for eight events per year beginning with “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” on January 7, which will be available to more than 60 million households as part of a free preview weekend.Strikeforce will now be dropping its heavyweight division to focus on lighter weight classes and women’s divisions, but Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett will still meet in the finals of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix early next year and may fight one more time for the promotion before likely moving to the UFC.Strikeforce will also discontinue its prospect-focused Strikeforce Challengers series, but Strikeforce prelims will now air live on Showtime Extreme. New champions will be crowned in the welterweight and light heavyweight divisions in the coming months after Nick Diaz and Dan Henderson respectively returned to the UFC.Strikeforce and the UFC will combine for at least 40 events in 2012, not including live fights from The Ultimate Fighter on FX.Strikeforce returns on Saturday with lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez taking on Jorge Masvidal and women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos facing Hiroko Yamanaka, while middleweight champion Luke Rockhold meets UFC veteran Keith Jardine in the Jan. 7 main event.For the latest Strikeforce news and Strikeforce rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.Pictured: Gilbert Melendez

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, event, champion, division

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It has been speculated for months, but it was finally made official today.  Strikeforce and Showtime have reached an agreement to televise live MMA for 2012, starting with the January 7th event headlined by Keith Jardine vs Luke Rockhold, which will air during a free preview weekend for the premium network. Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE® have entered into a new broadcast agreement to continue producing live MMA events on the premium television network, SHOWTIME. The agreement was announced jointly today by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, Dana White, UFC® President, and Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO.   Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos, women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME. The new deal kicks off during the network’s Free Preview Weekend, Saturday, Jan. 7, as champion Rockhold defends the STRIKEFORCE 185-pound title against dangerous veteran Keith Jardine at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Notable STRIKEFORCE contenders such as Robbie Lawler, “King Mo” Lawal and Tyron Woodley are also set to compete on the televised card, which—as part of Free Preview Weekend—will be available in more than 60 million households nationwide across SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HD™ and SHOWTIME On Demand®. Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The live SHO Extreme preliminary telecasts will afford network subscribers with expanded live fight coverage by up to two hours and provide invaluable exposure for the sport’s next generation of STRIKEFORCE contenders. Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow. “Since its advent on SHOWTIME in 2007, live mixed martial arts has always performed well with our subscribers, particularly in the younger demographics,” said Espinoza, who now heads the division of the network responsible for programming live boxing, studio shows from National Football League and NASCAR as well as multiple sports documentary series. “As the one and only premium network in the MMA business, we are proud to renew our commitment to the sport and to our partners at Strikeforce.  This agreement ensures that we can continue to deliver the edge-of-your-seat programming that each live MMA event produces in the New Year and beyond. “This exciting announcement could not have come at a better time,” he continued. “During our nationwide Free Preview Weekend a whole new crop of MMA fans will have the opportunity to sample the Strikeforce brand free of charge.” “We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big STRIKEFORCE events next year,” White said.  “I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building STRIKEFORCE and working very closely with SHOWTIME.”  “SHOWTIME has been a great TV partner for us and we’re happy to renew our agreement with them,” Coker said. “Together, we’ve put on some really amazing events and we’re going to keep doing that with this new deal. We have a great core of talented fighters on our roster and MMA fans are in for a real treat.” STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL airs live on SHOWTIME this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast) as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defends the title against hard-hitting contender Jorge Masvidal. In the night’s co-main event, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos meets gifted Japanese star Hiroko Yamanaka.  

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, event, champion, showtime

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UFC President Dana White told us "Strikeforce lives" and he wasn't lying. It was announced today that Strikeforce has reached a new broadcast agreement with Showtime to continue broadcasting events through the year 2014. From the press release: Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women's featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos, women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME. Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The live SHO Extreme preliminary telecasts will afford network subscribers with expanded live fight coverage by up to two hours and provide invaluable exposure for the sport's next generation of STRIKEFORCE contenders. Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow. More on this in just a bit. To get quotes and notes on this deal right away, check out the conference call live blog right here.

Posted in: strikeforce, event, champion, showtime, blog right

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It’s official. Strikeforce lives, at least for now. Strikeforce and Showtime announced today that they have reached a new broadcast agreement that will kick off on Jan. 7 with Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine.” According to the press release, the Showtime will produce and broadcast up to eight live events in 2012 with the prelims airing on Showtime Extreme. It was also noted that Strikeforce champions Gilbert Melendez, Luke Rockhold, Cris Cyborg, Miesha Tate and the heavyweight grand prix champion (Josh Barnett or Daniel Cormier) will continue to fight for Strikeforce in 2012. Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos, women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME. Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow. “Since its advent on SHOWTIME in 2007, live mixed martial arts has always performed well with our subscribers, particularly in the younger demographics,” said [Stephen] Espinoza, who now heads the division of the network responsible for programming live boxing, studio shows from National Football League and NASCAR as well as multiple sports documentary series. “As the one and only premium network in the MMA business, we are proud to renew our commitment to the sport and to our partners at Strikeforce.  This agreement ensures that we can continue to deliver the edge-of-your-seat programming that each live MMA event produces in the New Year and beyond. “This exciting announcement could not have come at a better time,” he continued. “During our nationwide Free Preview Weekend a whole new crop of MMA fans will have the opportunity to sample the Strikeforce brand free of charge.” “We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big STRIKEFORCE events next year,” White said.  “I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building STRIKEFORCE and working very closely with SHOWTIME.” “SHOWTIME has been a great TV partner for us and we’re happy to renew our agreement with them,” Coker said. “Together, we’ve put on some really amazing events and we’re going to keep doing that with this new deal. We have a great core of talented fighters on our roster and MMA fans are in for a real treat.” A conference call with Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza, UFC President Dana White and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker is scheduled for 3pm ET today. We’ll update this post with additional details following the call.

Posted in: strikeforce, event, champion, showtime, agreement

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Dominant featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s struggles while growing up in Brazil are well-documented. Dealing with abject poverty from a young age, Aldo was fueled more by an overwhelming desire to become a professional fighter more so than by actual food. Now, with his dream fulfilled and status as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA, Aldo has turned his attention towards one day coaching a season of the Ultimate Fighter set in his home-country. The 20-1 Aldo spoke some about it earlier this week at a press conference related to his upcoming bout at UFC 142, a show taking place in Rio de Janeiro, where he mentioned he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort who are poised to coach the inaugural run of TUF Brasil. Aldo Staying at 145 for Foreseeable Future “I dream about it and I hope someday I can be a coach of TUF. I hope it’s here in Brazil, because it’d be wonderful, so that I can show you a new champion as good as me in Ultimate,” said Aldo in a post-presser interview with TATAME. In fact, Aldo believes he actually has some insight into the process even though he’s never been part of the popular reality show before. Before hitting his stride in WEC/UFC Aldo lived with a group of his Nova Uniao teammates. “I lived in the gym with people from other places in Brazil and I became a champion. That’s the result of a lot of work. My past was great, it helped me to become the champion I currently am.” Aldo will face Chad Mendes on January 14 in the main event at UFC 142. He will enter the bout on a thirteen-fight winning streak including past victories over Urijah Faber, Mark Hominick, and Kenny Florian. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fighter, champion, brazil, aldo

Read the full article at Fighters.com

New M-1 Global champion Yasubey Enomoto, following a big year in 2011, wants to give back by representing M-1 in other promotions.

Posted in: champion, champ, enomoto, yasubey, rep

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, bantamweight, mattyblayze

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Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE® have entered into a new broadcast agreement to continue producing live MMA events on the premium television network, SHOWTIME. The agreement was announced jointly today by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, Dana White, UFC® President, and Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO.   Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos, women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME.The new deal kicks off during the network’s Free Preview Weekend, Saturday, Jan. 7, as champion Rockhold defends the STRIKEFORCE 185-pound title against dangerous veteran Keith Jardine at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Notable STRIKEFORCE contenders such as Robbie Lawler, “King Mo” Lawal and Tyron Woodley are also set to compete on the televised card, which—as part of Free Preview Weekend—will be available in more than 60 million households nationwide across SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HD™ and SHOWTIME On Demand®. Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The live SHO Extreme preliminary telecasts will afford network subscribers with expanded live fight coverage by up to two hours and provide invaluable exposure for the sport’s next generation of STRIKEFORCE contenders. Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow. “Since its advent on SHOWTIME in 2007, live mixed martial arts has always performed well with our subscribers, particularly in the younger demographics,” said Espinoza, who now heads the division of the network responsible for programming live boxing, studio shows from National Football League and NASCAR as well as multiple sports documentary series. “As the one and only premium network in the MMA business, we are proud to renew our commitment to the sport and to our partners at Strikeforce.  This agreement ensures that we can continue to deliver the edge-of-your-seat programming that each live MMA event produces in the New Year and beyond. “This exciting announcement could not have come at a better time,” he continued. “During our nationwide Free Preview Weekend a whole new crop of MMA fans will have the opportunity to sample the Strikeforce brand free of charge.” “We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big STRIKEFORCE events next year,” White said.  “I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building STRIKEFORCE and working very closely with SHOWTIME.” “SHOWTIME has been a great TV partner for us and we’re happy to renew our agreement with them,” Coker said. “Together, we’ve put on some really amazing events and we’re going to keep doing that with this new deal. We have a great core of talented fighters on our roster and MMA fans are in for a real treat.”STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL airs live on SHOWTIME this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast) as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defends the title against hard-hitting contender Jorge Masvidal. In the night’s co-main event, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos meets gifted Japanese star Hiroko Yamanaka. 

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, event, champion, showtime

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The UFC is going all-out in establishing their newly-announced flyweight division. That's because Tatame.com reports that Brazilian bruiser John "Mão de Pedra" Lineker (19-5), who captured the Jungle Fight 61 kg. title in September with a split decision over Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Brazil hopeful Ilarde Sabino Belo dos Santos, has been signed by the world's largest fight promotion and will compete at 125-pounds. Lineker, 20, joins the UFC in the midst of a fantastic 13-fight winning streak. Seven of those have come in in 2011 alone. The mohawked brawler, after losing five of nine fights in 2009, established himself as one of the premier prospects in Brazil with an iron chin, reckless abandon, and serious power in his hands. Throughout his rampage, Lineker frequently expressed a desire to fight inside the Octagon. Looks like he got his wish. And considering he's been my favorite Brazilian prospect for a while, let me be the first to tell you all you're in for a treat. Videos of Lineker in action after the jump. The flyweight division is set to debut March 3, 2012, with a doozy of a four-man tournament, featuring TPF champion Ian McCall, Shooto champion Yasuhiro Urushitani, and former bantamweight contenders Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez.

Posted in: fight, champion, lineker, iron chin, tatamecom reports

Read the full article at MMA Mania

With three events in the month of December the UFC top ten rankings surprisingly only had a few changes. Post UFC 140 the biggest jump into the rankings occurred at featherweight where Chan Sung Jung (12-3) rocketed into the top ten with a first round knockout of ex title challenger Mark Hominick (20-10). On the fringe of the top ten at 145 pounds prior to UFC 140, Jung enters the UFC featherweight rankings at number seven. The outside of the cage antics of former WEC champion Miguel Torres (40-4) and his release from the UFC opened up a spot in the promotion's bantamweight top ten. Former top prospect Michael McDonald's (14-1) first round KO at UFC 139 and 4-0 record under Zuffa promotions slides him in at number seven at 135 pounds. Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson's (29-8) addition to the UFC's 205 pound weight class is the biggest shake-up to the UFC rankings over the past month. Henderson's instant classic win over Mauricio Rua (20-6) vaults him into the upper half of the UFC's somewhat stagnant light heavyweight. At the number two spot Henderson's next fight in the UFC may come versus light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (15-1). Heavyweight (over 205 pounds)UFC Champion: Junior Dos Santos 14-1 1. Cain Velasquez 9-1 2. Brock Lesnar 5-2 3. Shane Carwin 12-2 4. Frank Mir 16-5 5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 33-7-1 6. Cheick Kongo 17-6-2 7. Roy Nelson 16-6 8. Brendan Schaub 8-2 9. Travis Browne 11-0-1 10. Matt Mitrione 5-1Light Heavyweight (205 pound limit)UFC Champion: Jon Jones 15-1 1. Rashad Evans 16-1-1 2. Dan Henderson 29-8 3. Mauricio Rua 20-6 4. Quinton Jackson 32-9 5. Lyoto Machida 17-3 6. Forrest Griffin 18-7 7. Phil Davis 9-0 8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 20-5 9. Tito Ortiz 16-10-1 10. Ryan Bader 13-2Middleweight (185 pound limit)UFC Champion: Anderson Silva 31-4 1. Chael Sonnen 26-11-1 2. Vitor Belfort 19-9 3. Yushin Okami 25-6 4. Mark Munoz 12-2 5. Demian Maia 15-3 6. Brian Stann 11-4 7. Michael Bisping 21-3 8. Chris Leben 26-8 9. Alan Belcher 17-6 10. Wanderlei Silva 34-11-1Welterweight (170 pound limit)UFC Champion: George St. Pierre 22-2 1. Jon Fitch 23-3-1 2. Carlos Condit 27-5 3. Josh Koscheck 16-5 4. Jake Ellenberger 26-5 5. B.J Penn 16-7-2 6. Jake Shields 26-6-1 7. Diego Sanchez 23-4 8. Martin Kampmann 18-5 9. Rick Story 13-5 10. Thiago Alves 19-8Lightweight (155 pound limit)UFC Champion: Frank Edgar 14-1-1-UFC 143 vs. Ben Henderson 15-2 1. Ben Henderson 15-2 2. Gray Maynard 10-1-1 3. Clay Guida 29-12 4. Jim Miller 20-3 5. Anthony Pettis 14-2 6. Donald Cerrone 16-3 7. Denis Siver 18-7 8. Joe Lauzon 21-6 9. Melvin Guillard 29-9-2 10. Evan Dunham 12-2Featherweight (145 pound limit)UFC Champion: Jose Aldo 20-1- UFC 142 vs. Chad Mendes 11-0 1. Chad Mendes 11-0 2. Kenny Florian 14-6 3. Diego Nunes 16-2 4. Dustin Poirier 11-1 5. Tyson Griffin 15-5 6. Erik Koch 13-1 7. Chan Sung Jung 12-3 8. Mark Hominick 20-10 9. Darren Elkins 12-2 10. Michihiro Omigawa 12-10-1Bantamweight (135 pound limit)UFC Champion: Dominick Cruz 19-1 1. Urijah Faber 26-5 2. Joseph Benavidez 15-2 3. Brian Bowles 10-2 4. Demetrious Johnson 9-2 5. Scott Jorgenson 12-4 6. Renan Barao 27-1 7. Michael McDonald 14-1 8. Takeya Mizugaki 15-6-2 9. Brad Pickett 20-6 10. Eddie Wineland 18-8-1

Posted in: ufc, pound, henderson, champion, limitufc

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When the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) merged with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and, in turn, absorbed all its talent, they also brought in two new weight classes, featherweight and bantamweight. Known for their lighting speed and cat-like maneuvering around the cage, the smaller weight classes have never disappointed, often being referred to as the most entertaining fighters in the sport. After seeing the little guys go at it, it's easy to see why. Now, the UFC will have an even smaller weight class; the flyweights, who compete at 125-pounds. At the UFC 140 press conference, UFC President Dana White announced the introduction of the new division that will include a four-man tournament, which will begin on March 3, 2012, at UFC on FX 2. The tournament will include two promotional newcomers in Tachi Palace Flyweight Champion Ian McCall, who is considered to be the best flyweight on the planet, and Yasuhiro Urushitani, current Shooto bantamweight champion. Their opponents will be current UFC bantamweights Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, respectively. Benavidez, who's only two losses have come to UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz, has been speaking about the opportunity to compete in a division that he feels is custom made to display his abilities as an overall fighter. Speaking to Larry Pepe on ProMMARadio, Benavidez says that not only does he feel this is the proper weight class for him, but he will make history by becoming the very first UFC flyweight champion. On the excitement of the new weight class and the importance of being the first ever UFC flyweight champion: "I'm just motivated all over again and I'm more inspired than I've ever been, I can't wait and it's just a great opportunity. It's huge at just being the first ever (champion). That's like immortality; no one can ever take that away from you. For the rest of time in the sports world you are the first ever person to hold that title. People are really excited about the weight class right now. It's really going to do a lot for my career itself. So just being a part of history it's huge. I feel this weight class is made especially for me and I'm looking forward to being a great champion. The other thing I'm looking forward to is finally getting some notoriety on the pound-for-pound list. If you're a champion, they kind of have to throw you in there too and pound-for-pound is about fighting in different weight classes and I have proven what I can do at 135 and now 125." With stablemates Urijah Faber and Chad Mendes lined up to compete against Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, respectively, Team Alpha Male is on pace to potentially have three champions at the same time: "It's awesome and we are hoping to have three champions on team Alpha Male. Chad going for the championship, Urijah and Me, you know how amazing would it be for the three of us to be world champions. I was going to keep plugging away at 135 and be world champion again, and I wasn't going to lose to anybody else, but this was just meant to be you know, for all three of us to be champions." Finally, Benavidez discussed his upcoming opponent and the difference between American and Japanese fighters: "I don't know much about him, I know just from other people that tell me how great of a fighter he is and how he is been the top flyweight in Japan for a long time. So I did watch his fights and I'm pretty impressed by him. He is the typical Japanese fighter, very technical, but not that athletic and explosive, has lots of heart and he's a southpaw. I think it's going to be a great fight; he is so respected internationally and in Japan, so he is going to come down and try to take his crack at the best, and I think it's going to be a great fight but I definitely see myself coming out on top. I want it a lot more than he does. I'm definitely looking forward for people see me dominate him and say, "Wow, another Japanese guy I'm not impressed with." I like the Japanese fighting style and respect it. I think it's just the genetics. Athletically, Americans are just a little bit more aggressive. You see these guys come in and they are super technical, but the guy that they are fighting is just as technical with a little more speed. I've trained with a lot of Japanese people, and I think their intensity is what they are lacking. That is how most of them get overwhelmed." His size, combined with the fact that two of his stablemates are contesting for titles in the weight classes immediately above him, made a drop to flyweight essentially inevitable. Not lacking confidence, Benavidez knows he has a tough road ahead of him if he wants to achieve his goal of capturing a UFC title as three other eager competitors are looking to make some history of their own. Now that the participants have been announced, who do you think is the early odds on favorite to win the first ever UFC 125-pound tournament once the flyweights are unleashed on March 3, 2012?

Posted in: ufc, champion, class, weight, flyweight

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Former Smackgirl openweight champion Hiroko “Cats Eye” Yamanaka is counting on her experience to carry her to a victory over Strikeforce champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos.

Posted in: champion, yamanaka, cyborg, experience, hiroko

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Former Smackgirl openweight champion Hiroko “Cats Eye” Yamanaka is counting on her experience to carry her to a victory over Strikeforce champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos.

Posted in: champion, yamanaka, cyborg, experience, hiroko

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

After his big win at UFC 140 in Toronto, Jon Jones is not only a dominant champion but he has the potential to be the greatest of all time.

Posted in: ufc, jone, toronto, champion, showdown

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JONES MAKES HIS ‘BONES’Any article written about Jon Jones is laced with superlatives. Conversations border on hyperbole. Anyone who watched him compete on Saturday night now understands why.Jones ran into formidable opposition in the form of Lyoto Machida at UFC 140. The former champion was able to confuse and frustrate Jones throughout the first round. He darted in and out with punches. He countered Jones’ kicks with stiff left hands. And he continually moved and feinted.The youngest champion in UFC history simply could not figure out the Machida puzzle through the first five minutes of the fight. He went to his corner with a look of concern for the first time ever. But I seriously doubt that trainer Greg Jackson was overly bothered by what he saw, because for all the frustration that Jones suffered in the opening round, two things were made abundantly clear to those closely watching the action. First, Machida did not have the juice to stop Jones with a single shot. The champion ate at least two bombs right on the button. Both got his attention. Neither truly hurt him. That was in stark contrast to how Rashad Evans, Rameau Sokoudjou, Tito Ortiz, Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans reacted when Machida hit them. For that matter, even iron-jawed Quinton “Rampage” Jackson seemed more affected by the punching power of “The Dragon” than Jones was. Thus, the only real question hanging over Jones heading into the fight—the quality of his chin—was answered with an exclamation point.Second, Jones did not flip out when he faced a bit of adversity. He instead appeared to be adjusting to Machida’s speed and tactics as the round wore on. That is a major hurdle for most opponents to overcome. At first, Jones seemed completely befuddled by Machida’s speed. But toward the end of the round, he appeared to be settling down a bit. He appeared to be trying to time Machida coming in, something that would ultimately lead to the end of the bout.Jones scoring a submission win over Machida was nothing short of spectacular. Sure, Machida has now lost three of his last four fights, which raises some very real questions about where he truly stands among the division elite. But nobody has ever submitted him before. Jones is the first, and that is a very noteworthy accomplishment.Another noteworthy accomplishment is becoming the first champion since Chuck Liddell to successfully defend the 205-lb title more than once. In fact, Jones is only the fourth man in history to do that, joining Tito Ortiz, Liddell and Frank Shamrock in the ultra-exclusive fraternity. It suffices to say that Jones has now officially made his “Bones” as a champion.WHAT IS NEXT FOR JONES?That is the proverbial $64,000 question. My guess is that he will take a well-deserved, somewhat lengthy vacation. He has mentioned a couple of times this year that he wanted to take some time off to rest, recover and work solely on technique, rather than preparing for a fight. For someone who competed four times in the last 10 months, that is a very reasonable request. But remember that we are talking about a guy who is still only 24 years old. He is in his absolute athletic prime, though still not yet in his fighting prime. My guess is a “lengthy vacation” means a couple of weeks of absolutely nothing and then a fierce return to the gym shortly after the New Year with an eye on a spring return to action. That is what I would be pressing for, if I was managing the champion. He should be looking to remain active so that he can continue to build upon each win, rather than remaining stagnant or even regressing from the lack of gym time during a long layoff.A spring return quickly brings two names to mind—Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans.Hendo is fresh off his thrilling, Fight of the Year caliber win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua a few weeks ago. He isn’t getting any younger, so my guess is that he will want a relatively short turnaround, which means February or March. But there is no doubt that he would wait a month or two longer, if it meant the opportunity to face Jones for the 205-lb championship.Evans is currently busy preparing for his January 28 battle against highly touted prospect Phil Davis on Fox. If he is able to defeat Davis, which is no safe assumption, by the way, then there is no doubt that he will get the title shot that has been promised to him for nearly a year. The key for Evans will be winning the fight without sustaining any injuries, so that he can quickly gear up for a spring bout.Either one of those guys is a great matchup to test Jones’ skills. Hendo is arguably right there alongside Rampage as the most powerful puncher in the division. Evans is just a hair slower than Machida, in terms of foot speed, but he probably has equally quick hands. And both men are tremendous wrestlers. While the questions surrounding the sturdiness of Jones’ chin were answered on Saturday night, nobody still has been able to question his ability to either get up from his back or successfully defend from that position. Hendo and Evans are probably the two most likely suitors to successfully put Jones on his back. Remember, styles make fights. Could either of those two men be Jones’ kryptonite? Is Phil Davis, a tremendous amateur wrestler in his own right, going to throw a wrench into everything and secure a shot against Jones by dominating Evans? It is tough to imagine someone apart from those three men getting the next shot, but UFC President Dana White and matchmaker extraordinaire Joe Silva have surprised me more than once.MIR BACK AMONG THE VERY BESTFrank Mir had to feel like he was at a career crossroad when he was annihilated by Shane Carwin back in March of last year. His title prospects seemed all but gone after losing twice in three fights to cartoon-sized monsters like Carwin and Brock Lesnar. Sandwiched in between there was an extremely impressive win over Cheick Kongo, one in which Mir knocked the kickboxer on his backside with a strike before choking him out. Nonetheless, the Carwin loss had to be frustrating for the former champion.Fast forward to today and everything seems different. Mir looked fantastic in his first round win over all-time great Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The world has always known that Mir was one of the very best submission artists among all heavyweights. Many believed, however, that Nogueira was in a class of his own in that regard, standing a safe step above Mir and everyone else. Not anymore. Defeating Nogueira via kimura corrected that misconception. In my opinion, this is the best Frank Mir that the world has ever seen. He has completely evolved as a mixed martial artist since his terrible motorcycle accident in late 2004. Before the crash, he was nothing more than an average sized submission artist. He is now a monstrous submission guy with the standup chops to compete on the feet with just about anyone, except for maybe the very best strikers in the division. That makes for one heck of a fighter.I still think that Mir is likely to struggle with Lesnar and Carwin. Again, styles make fights. But I certainly think he matches up much better against current champion Junior dos Santos or former champion Cain Velasquez than he does Lesnar or Carwin. I also think he matches up extremely well against Alistair Overeem, the man who faces Lesnar on December 30 for the right to next challenge for the heavyweight crown. In other words, I firmly believe that Mir has a good shot at yet another run at the greatest title in sports. I think the perfect next fight for him would be a bout with newly conquered former champion Velasquez. That could easily serve as a next-in-line bout after Lesnar-Overeem. Plus, it is a terrific test for both men.Tune in tomorrow for more thoughts on last Saturday’s UFC 140 event…

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After fighting four times in 10 months against the toughest competition that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 205-pound division has to offer, defeating three former champions, reigning light heavyweight kingin, Jon Jones, has earned some time off. And then some. Throughout his historic run in 2011, Jones, 24, has not taken sustained significant damage in any fight, allowing him to have quick turnarounds and compete often with limited breaks. He's made it look way too easy -- it's a feat unheard of in any combat sport. Even though "Bones" may have yet to be on the receiving end of any major damage -- or fallen victim to a major injury in training or in competition -- one has to take into account the long, grueling training camps that the young champion has endured to prepare for his title defenses. One must also consider his family, who have sacrificed time away from their father, significant other, son and brother in order for him to achieve his goals. Having said all that, it's easy to assume the UFC light heavyweight champion will take a much-deserved vacation after a breakneck fight schedule in 2011. Well, maybe. Speaking at the UFC 140 post-fight press conference (watch the full video here) after his submission win over Lyoto Machida (get all the details right here) in the main event of the evening, Jones admits he is ready to take a break; however, if the promotion needs him in a pinch, he is ready to start off 2012 the same way he ended 2011 ... and that's fighting: "I would like to take up to four months of, maybe even five. Come on Dana, give me a break, give me a break please. Yeah, fighting maybe three times in 2012 would be nice, but you know a break sounds nice, too. So, it's really up to the UFC, one of my goals is to be a company guy, so if the UFC asks me to do something, I probably won't put up much of a fight. So it's really up to Dana." Company man indeed. Though no one will blame Jones if he decides to take a long break to enjoy the fruits of his labor and spend time with his family, the fact still remains: Jones is healthy, which is a state that other box office draws such as Georges St. Pierre and Brock Lesnar are not. Therefore, a quick turnaround to fight in 2012 is not so far-fetched ... especially if FOX Sports comes a calling. What's more, Dan Henderson has an empty dance card and the always stacked SuperBowl weekend event needs some much needed star power now that aforementioned Canadian superstar has been shelved because of a major knee injury. What do you say Maniacs, should "Bones" take some well-deserved time off, or should he jump right back on the horse and keep riding his momentum and add to his rapidly growing legacy? "Hendo," 41, isn't getting any younger.

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Yasubey Enomoto stopped former champion Shamil Zavurov in the last minute of the bout to claim the gold at M-1 Challenge XXX: Zavurov vs. Enomoto II.

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In the waning hours of May 23, 2009, Rashad Evans tumbled to the mat and landed in a crumbled mess. This markied both an end to UFC 98 and his own brief reign as Champion. As medics attended to the former champion, it was Lyoto Machida who had his hand raised and the belt strapped around his waist. It was then that Joe Rogan utter the now infamous phrase, "Welcome to the Machida Era!". And at the time it made perfect sense, the Brazilian was now 15-0 and in four UFC matches had dazzled and puzzled his opponents with his karate based style. He had defeated Pride super-prospect Rameau Sokoudjou, former champion Tito Ortiz, and Brazilian Muay Thai machine Thiago Silva. All these wins came in impressive fashion using techniques not often seen in the UFC. And by claiming the Championship, it felt like Machida was the man to finally bring sanity back to the Light Heavyweight division. He was a Nogueria black belt in Jiu Jitsu and Judo and an enigma on the feet that fighters all over were scrambling to solve. When Machida was crowned champion, Jon Jones was preparing for his UFC 100 date with Jake O'Brien. Jones was coming off his head turning win over Stephan Bonnar but title dreams were still off in the distance. His skills were impressive but still raw. At UFC 104, Machida had his fateful encounter with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua where Rua's athleticism, aggression and leg kicks proved the perfect foil to Machida's footwork and lunging strikes. Their first meeting resulted in the one of the most controversial judges decisions in MMA history. Machida's aurora of perplexing invincibility was removed, but he was still champion. Then in the rematch, where fans and pundits alike expected another five round classic, a heavy right hook from Shogun floored Machida in the first round and just like that the Machida era was over. It is a story that has been repeated over and over in the sport of MMA. Be it Chuck Liddell being knocked out by Randy Couture, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic being flattened by Kevin Randleman, Matt Hughes being submitted by B.J. Penn or Georges St. Pierre's famous defeat at the hands of Matt Serra, fighters are often the most vulnerable when they seem invulnerable. Jon Jones certainly seems invulnerable and into the cage steps his most interesting challenge in Lyoto Machida. Jones' striking is still developing and he is most comfortable keeping fighters at the edge of his range and that range is where Machida thrives. The Brazilian's calling card in the UFC is dashing in openings created by countering and landing quick, accurate and hard punches and then escaping from the pocket before an opponent can respond. On the feet Jones does have the explosive athleticism to match and exceed that which Shogun used to catch and punish Machida, but does not have the technique or fluidity of footwork to replicate the success. Jones will have to either catch Machida on the way in or take Machida down for victory. Now Jones certainly looks unbeatable and he may very well be, his blend of skills and ability make him look like an all time great in the making. But MMA is full of upsets and there is nobody better than a former champion who is motivated, focused and still on top of his game to provide that excitement. Losing brings a certain wisdom in MMA, and Machida would love to impart some wisdom to Jon Jones and keep imparting that wisdom until the ref pulls him away. SBN coverage of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida

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TORONTO, December 10 – We can’t say UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones looked human yet, but in his second title defense in the main event of UFC 140 at Air Canada Centre Saturday night, “Bones” did actually get punched by challenger Lyoto Machida. But soon enough, the inevitable sunk in, Jones found his range, and he cut, hurt, and then submitted the Brazilian in the second round, capping off a year in which he handed Ryan Bader his first loss, defeated Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the 205-pound title, and then defended his belt with submissions of former champs “Rampage” Jackson and Machida.And he’s only 24. Just how do you top that in 2012? Expect Jones to find a way.“He’s just smart,” said Jones of Machida. “He’s definitely a very tough puzzle. He didn’t have me hurt, but he did punch me pretty good and wobbled me a bit.”But that was it. From there, it was all Jones, but Machida did present some interesting problems for the young champion at first.Coming out of his corner in a crouch, Jones slowly rose to his feet and scored first with a leg kick. Machida, eyes fixed on the champion, did his best to stay out of range as he backpedaled and looked for an opening to fire back. Jones did his part, staying the aggressor as Machida aimed to counter, but neither fighter was landing with anything of consequence and the brief exchanges were sloppy at close range. A slapping left kick from Machida drew a roar from the crowd, with Jones firing back but missing. With a minute left, a quick flurry knocked Jones off balance, and the crowd erupted. In response, Jones kept pressing, but he was unable to get a clean shot off before the bell sounded.Jones continued to seek out Machida’s legs for kicks as round two commenced, following the strategy Mauricio “Shogun” Rua used in his first fight with “The Dragon.” With two minutes gone, Jones moved in, but got cracked with a hard right hand for his trouble, but moments later, he landed with a hard right of his own before shooting for and getting his first takedown of the fight. After eating a couple strikes, one that cut his forehead, Machida made it to his feet, but referee John McCarthy wanted to have the Octagonside physician check the cut out. After getting the green light to resume, Machida escaped Jones’ grasp against the fence, only to get nearly dropped by a left hand. Jones, staying calm, locked in a guillotine choke on the stunned challenger. Seconds later, at the 4:26 mark, Machida was asleep and the new champion had finished perhaps the greatest year a UFC fighter has ever had with another impressive victory.With the win, Jones improves to 15-1; Machida falls to 17-3.

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Despite being at the center of a whirlwind 2011 campaign that saw him go from phenom to champion to defending champion in the space of the year, Jon Jones likes to keep things as simple as possible when it comes to his fighting career. There’s no running down the list of contenders, no tape watching of challengers he may fight a year from now. It’s all about what’s right in front of him – now.“I watch the fights, especially if there are top contenders involved, but as far as really studying them or being obsessed with them or anything like that, I just take them as they come and I just focus on the one I’m fighting next,” said Jones, who’s upcoming opponent, Lyoto Machida, may be the only fighter out there to break that mold.See, the former 205-pound titlist has been attached to Jones for longer than the time it took to announce their UFC 140 main event this Saturday night in Toronto. And Machida might not even know it, but Jones certainly does. “I remember it vividly.”It was Machida the champion who Jones was asked about by a USA Today reporter in June of 2009, and when the New Yorker replied that the Brazilian was “very beatable,” he got caught in a storm of criticism considering that he was only two fights into his UFC career and here he was, talking about the champion of the division.Little attention was paid to the fact that Jones was the one asked about Machida, and that he later explained that “a great Muay Thai champion” would be the one to beat Machida.“It started me off with a big group of haters because they were like ‘who’s this kid to be talking about Lyoto Machida?’” recalled Jones. “’ That was my first controversy of my career where people lashed out at me for what I said. But it was something I felt that was true, and my prediction was a hundred percent correct – “Shogun” (Rua) was that great Muay Thai fighter.”The backlash was a taste of what Jones would get in the aftermath of his March 2011 win over Rua, and that’s usually how it goes for young, gifted, and charismatic athletes like the 24-year old, who has nonetheless taken the negativity with grace and a smile. And as soon as he defended his title for the first time with a fourth round submission win over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in September, the critics began to fade into the background. Even Jackson gave the champion his just due in a post-fight interview, something that made the fight a win on a number of levels.“It meant a lot to me,” said Jones of Jackson’s post-fight praise. “But the way I look at Rampage means more. He was so gracious, and he totally earned my respect. He made me a huge fan.”More importantly though, the win let Jones know that he is on the right track as a fighter and champion.“That fight really just helped me to believe even more in my abilities, that nothing’s been a fluke, and that our hard work is truly paying off in the Octagon,” he said. “That’s what I believed the whole time, even when I had no right to believe, and I’m really starting to believe now and getting even more comfortable in my own skin, more comfortable with my skill set, and trusting in it.”The statement of Jones believing when he “had no right to believe” is a telling one, mainly because it shows you how a fighter must think if he’s going to do anything in this sport. You may not blurt it out to the world, but if you want to make it, you have to believe, even against all odds. Jones, despite his status as a junior college national wrestling champion, had no other significant fighting credentials when he entered the UFC for the first time in 2008 against Andre Gusmao, and he’s even admitted to learning some of his early striking moves off youtube.com videos. So what gets you by in situations like that, in addition to natural talent? Guts, smarts, and belief.“I just realized how cold the world can be, and this is a world with very little mercy,” said Jones. “You gotta go out there and make something of yourself, believe in yourself, and trust in your own abilities, or else the world will pass you by. There’s a quote that says ‘you might as well be happy, because nobody cares if you’re miserable,’ and it’s kind of the same way in MMA. You gotta believe in yourself because the odds are always against you.”Not anymore. In fact, as Jones encounters Machida, he is the favorite and no longer the hunter, but the hunted. He kinda likes it though.“I’m definitely very comfortable with it,” he said. “Where they can all watch and try to come up with a strategy for what they need to do, I’m watching the one that’s in front of me and becoming obsessed with his style and everything about that guy. I think that target being on my back is only gonna force me to become better.”As for Machida, Jones says, “I don’t think he’s adjusted his game too much. The thing about karate is that it’s strict on form and strict on repetition and a way of thinking, and he’s been doing it for so many years that it’s in his hard drive to fight a certain way. No matter who he fights against, it’s nearly impossible for him to try to truly change his style for a certain fighter. I guess he can become better at wrestling or learn some more skills of Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu, but he’s a karate fighter because that’s his life. It’s almost impossible to change a fighter who’s been fighting his whole life a certain way. The Lyoto Machida that fought Shogun, the Lyoto Machida that lost to Rampage, the great Lyoto Machida that originally came to the UFC, I’ve been studying his fights repeatedly, and it’s the same exact thing. There’s not that much unpredictability once you really break him down and study to see what he’s doing.”If you were anyone else but Lyoto Machida, this would be the right time to hit the panic button, because it’s the moment you realize that as good as young Jon Jones has proven to be thus far in his career, he’s also studied your every move in order to knock you out or submit you. That’s scary, but it’s also something Machida has done to his opponents in the past. On Saturday, we’ll find out who has done their final homework assignment of 2011 the best.Jones is betting he’s the one. And he hasn’t been wrong yet.

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Former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres has been released from the UFC. Company president Dana White revealed the news about Torres on Thursday.

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At the young age of 24, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is on a vision quest to become one of the (if not the) most dominant champion in the promotion's history. That's quite a tall task, given the fact that his mixed martial arts (MMA) predecessors have had very impressive runs in the past. Tito Ortiz defended his 205-pound title a record five times, while Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes have each had some of the most impressive championship reigns during their respective tenures as UFC light heavyweight and welterweight champions. Today, Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva currently are riding two of the most impressive championship runs in the history of the UFC. "Rush" has defended his 170-pound title six consecutive times, while "The Spider" undoubtedly has the greatest championship success ever, defending his 185-pound belt a record-breaking nine times. With one title defense under his belt, Jones has his work cut out for him if he ever wants to be mentioned in the same sentence as the aforementioned greats to ever compete in the sport. Consecutive wins over two former light heavyweight champions in Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson are a good start. And one major advantage that "Bones" has going for him is youth. He has time to slowly but surely build an impressive streak much like the champions of yesteryear and present day. However, with youth comes inexperience, and with inexperience comes lack of knowledge. And according to Jones, he really doesn't know anything when it comes to MMA. Read the young champion's explanation at today's UFC 140 press conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, after the jump: "I think to start, the reason why I know I'm not invincible is because I have seen lots of people do great and then they end up losing you know. I want that to never happen to me, so I stay on the prowl and I always work hard. The biggest part is training with Greg Jackson and Jackson's mixed martial arts center. I am surrounded by some of the top talent in the world. You guys just saw Diego Brandao and Jon Dodson win The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and those are just the little guys. Our whole team is stacked with studs; Cowboy, Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez, Andrei Arlovski, Travis Browne, Keith Jardine and myself, there is so many of us that I can't' even name us all, Cub Swanson. I can keep going. I am four years into my MMA (mixed martial arts) career and there is so much that I don't know. Jiu-Jitsu is a whole culture, Tae Kwon Do is a whole culture, Muay-Thai is a whole culture, boxing, the sweet science, I'm not even close to that yet. There is so much that I don't know and there is so much stuff that my teammates are way better than me at. I just happen to be one of the better ones at merging them all together, but I have teammates that are so much farther ahead at different disciplines and that is what keeps me aware of the fact that I don't really know anything. A lot of times people will come in and see me do pads and they will be like, "Wow his pad work isn't really that nice." Well, that's because there are better kick boxers on my team, and there is way better everything on my team. Being around Jacksons MMA makes me realize that I am good at mixing it all together, but I am not the best at any discipline." Jones has a chance to wrap up an impressive year by defeating another former UFC light heavyweight champion in Lyoto Machida when the two meet this weekend (Dec. 10, 2011) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at UFC 140. In the process, he will have the chance to be the first UFC light heavyweight champion in the past five years to defend the division title more than once. The last person to do it was Chuck Liddell way back in 2006, when he defended his belt four consecutive times. The always growing and still inexperienced Jones feels there is still tons of room for improvement in his ever expanding repertoire if mixed martial arts skills. Which begs the question: If Jon Jones is this good now, how great will he be five years from now? And does he have the potential to have the greatest championship era when it's all said and done?

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Dana White announced today via twitter today that UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre had torn his ACL, required surgery on his knee and would be out of action for at least ten months. In that same tweet, White announced that the February 4th match up of Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit would be for the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship. It is said then when a door shuts a window opens, but in this case for UFC welterweights the window has flown open. The shadow St. Pierre casts over the division is long. When he first became champion, there was no shortage of challengers but as his dominance grew challengers where picked because they represented a new style that could possible give the Canadian troubles. Elite Welterweights who had their chance at St. Pierre and faltered have been relegated to gatekeeper status, but keep scrupulously away from the most promising prospects so not to derail new possible challengers to the Champion. But now those concerns are a thing of the past, at least for a year. Welterweights under UFC contract had extra energy in their training today because they have a chance for UFC gold if they can put a few wins together. On February 5th either Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit will be the defending champion of the division, and then the question of who is next can be addressed. The welterweight schedule is wide open as the majority of high level welterweights are currently still waiting for their next fight. Names like Jake Ellenberger, Diego Sanchez, and Martin Kampmann were already in title talks before this news and now they are almost certainly one big win away from a title shot. I fully expect Jake Ellenberger vs Diego Sanchez fight winner to be matched with the winner of Diaz/Condit. And even after that there is still a long line of possible challengers; Jon Hathaway, Mike Pierce, Johny Hendricks, Mike Pierce and even Rick Story are still present in the title picture. And then there is the laundry list of elite fighters that have already had title shots against GSP. Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves, Josh Koscheck, Jake Shields, and BJ Penn are still top level welterweights who were left searching for their place in a division where a title shot was no longer an option. While they likely will not be the first in line for this interim title because Zuffa brass may fear the image of a man GSP has already beat being hailed as champion, but it is highly likely that the UFC will be less nervous about throwing these elite fighters in against each other and against prospects. This is not meant to celebrate the injury of a great champion and fighter, I wish Georges St. Pierre a swift and complete recovery. One thing is certain, when St. Pierre returns from injury there will be a new cream of the welterweight division chopping at the bit for a chance to face him.

Posted in: ufc, pierre, st, welterweight, champion

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Okay, there's good news and bad news when it comes to Georges St Pierre blowing out his ACL. First, let's be positive for a second: Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit is going to be a sick fight, something I think half the fans have forgotten and half have decided to chant like a mantra until their blood pressure returns to normal levels. Second on the upside, Georges' doctor says he'll probably only be out for 6-9 months, not the full 10 that was stated yesterday. The bad news? Georges might flip his lid in that time. Listen to him talking about the interview: "A few months ago I was on top of the world and I'm now I'm in a downfall," St-Pierre said. "But you recognize a champion from how he comes back from things that don't go well. Everybody that says bad things and says bad stuff about me right now, mark my words. I'm going to tell you right now, I'm in a downfall in my life, but in a few months, I'll be back stronger than ever, and I will be champion again. I promise."..."Some people will say bad stuff about me, that 'he's finished,' and stuff like that," he said. "What I'm going to tell you is t's very easy to hit a guy when he's down. We have a saying in France, 'The life goes up and down.' People will laugh because I'm in a downfall, I'm hurt, I'm not a threat to them. But I'll be back on top, mark my words." The downfall of your life, huh Georges? Relax. It's not like you just dropped the belt to a 20-1 underdog or something. The guy hurts himself because he's so anal about training and now he's talking like he's not even the champion any more. That's just the kind of pressure Georges puts on himself. It's great for accomplishing things like becoming a world champion - or driving oneself into a nervous breakdown.

Posted in: champion, george, he, im, downfall

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Dec. 8, 2011) to promote UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida", which is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2011. The conference will begin at 1 p.m. ET live from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, the home city of the event. Scheduled to attend will be UFC president Dana White, as well as the headlining fighters of the evening, Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, Frank Mir, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tito Ortiz and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Jones is the current UFC light heavyweight champion. "Bones" has risen to the top of the light heavyweight heap in 2011, winning the title from Mauricio Rua and then recently defending it last month with a submission against Quinton Jackson. On the opposite side of the podium will be the challenger to his title, former champion Lyoto Machida. "The Dragon" was awarded a title shot after a knocking out MMA legend Randy Couture in highlight reel fashion at UFC 129. He stepped up when Rashad Evans couldn't heal up his injured thumb in time. Frank Mir is a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion and has boosted back into the title picture after consecutive victories over veterans Mirko Filipovic and Roy Nelson. He'll be rematching the resurgent Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, a former interim UFC heavyweight champion who lost his title to Mir in 2009. Lastly, former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz, one fight removed from an emotional first round upset of Ryan Bader, will be taking on veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who's dropped two tough fights in a row to strong wrestlers. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 140 press conference after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The conference is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. eastern time.

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, conference, champion

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"So ... another change of opponents. It's been kind of a crazy ride the last couple months, but you know, just gotta kinda roll with it. The good thing is that I've been training and focusing on what I need to be doing to win a fight no matter who they put in front of me. I'm really excited. I've been wanting to step into the Octagon with Nick Diaz for a really long time. Great fighter. Great skill set. I think that we're really going to put on a good show for the fans. I'm sure everybody's excited. Like I said, I'm stoked. I will be the UFC interim champion. And then when Georges gets better, I will be the undisputed UFC champion." -- Carlos Condit's glass is always half full and eventually, good things happen to those who wait. Then again, the rollercoaster continues, as Condit has once again been reinserted into a welterweight championship fight thanks to an injury suffered by Georges St. Pierre. Because "Rush" will be out of action for up to 10 months, Condit will now fight Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 5, 2012, in Las Vegas for an interim 170-pound title. "The Natural Born Killer" says he's "stoked" to win that belt before unifying it with the strap St. Pierre is still carrying around once the French-Canadian is healthy enough to compete again. A winning attitude is half the battle, folks, and Condit has that market cornered. What are the chances he fulfills his ambitious goals, though?

Posted in: ufc, nick diaz, nick, champion, condit

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir says he's ready for his rematch with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on Saturday night.

Posted in: night, mir, champion, saturday, fight day

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos underwent successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday morning.

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, knee, surgery

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Light-heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones says he has more tools than Machida.

Posted in: jone, champion, machida, lightheavyweight, tool

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ONE Fighting Championship's next card will be on February 11, in Jakarta, Indonesia. As reported here earlier, the planned super-fight between Martial Combat Champion, Ole Laursen and CFC Champion, Bernardo Magalhaes has been called off because of a training injury suffered by the Australian. Laursen will remain on the card, but as of this writing, no replacement has been named. Aside from Laursen, multiple sources have also confirmed several of the more high-profile participants on the card, such as Igor Gracie, DEEP welterweight champ Yuya Shirai, BJJ Champ Alex Silva, URCC Champion Kevin Belingon, and former boxing champion Yodsanan Sityodtong. Although it's a huge possibility, it was unclear whether the two welterweights, Shirai and Gracie, and two bantamweights, Belingon and Yodsanan would be facing off against each other. It was also suggested that the CFC bantamweight champion could also be on the card as part of the partnership they have with the Australian promotion. Gustavo Falciroli will be defending that title on tonight's CFC 19 main event bout, so if this is the case, they would be waiting and hoping that the participants to come out uninjured, and would be ready to compete just two months after. As a treat for the locals, the promotion also picked up Youne Senduk, a recent silver medalist of Wushu / San Shou during last month's South East Asian Games held in his home country of Indonesia. Interestingly enough, the gold medal winner for that event is Mark Eddiva, who is also a Filipino MMA fighter, that is teammates with Folayang and Belingon at Team Lakay Wushu. In relation to what we reported on earlier about a TV Deal, BloodyElbow.com has now confirmed that the promotion has finalized a deal that will air their events on free TV. Sources close to the situation have told us that ONE FC has reached an agreement with MNC, the largest television network on the country, and will begin broadcast events on their sports channel, Global TV. As always, follow me on twitter, and stay tuned for more updates.

Posted in: event, champion, card, belingon, laursen

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UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones visited the Connected studios to discuss his rise to stardom and his bout at UFC 140.

Posted in: ufc, jone, champion, studio, jones visits

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UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones visited the Connected studios to discuss his rise to stardom and his bout at UFC 140.

Posted in: ufc, jone, champion, jones visits, visit

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones took in a Rangers game on Monday according to the Madison Square Garden twitter.

Posted in: champion, light, monday, rangers game, madison

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Ronda Rousey may very well get her wish to fight Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate after all.

Posted in: fight, champion, tate, rousey, ronda

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones talks his UFC 140 fight with Lyoto Machida.

Posted in: ufc, jon, jone, champion, machida

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ADCC Superfight champion Braulio Estima is getting into the Christmas spirit early at his gym in Birmingham, Engand by dressing up as Santa, and abusing his reindeer Rodolfo.

Posted in: champion, gym, estima, christmas spirit, birmingham engand

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Tito Ortiz hadn't won a fight in nearly five years and was on a three-fight losing streak. His 36-year old body carried the bumps and bruises of nearly a decade and a half of fighting and simply didn't respond the way it used to. Before, when Ortiz commanded his arms to grab the likes of Evan Tanner and and his legs to help slam the challenger against the mat into unconsciousness, his body didn't hesitate to comply. Losing to former champions Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, and Lyoto Machida isn't anything to be ashamed about but a fighter can only lose so many times in a row -- especially at a certain age -- before the thought of retirement begins to creep into his mind. After a loss to Matt Hamill, a fighter who never cracked the upper echelon of the light heavyweight division, it seemed time had passed by "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy." So when a fight between him and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 winner Ryan Bader was signed, it was seen as merely a way to get "Darth" back on the winning track after dropping his first fight to eventual and current champion Jon Jones. But Ortiz had a different plan. And it didn't involve being anyone's stepping stone. The former champion steps inside the Octagon this weekend as part of the UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida" event to take on another longtime veteran and fan favorite in Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. He does so with a recent win under his belt for the first time in years. Let's take a closer look at his UFC 132 bout with Bader. Going into the bout with Bader, Ortiz was starting to be better known for his squabbles with baby mama Jenna Jameson than as being one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Arrested on domestic violence charges, Ortiz claimed innocence and rather placed blame for the altercation on the actress. He was becoming more of a fixture on websites like TMZ and Perez Hilton than MMAMania and for any combat sports athlete -- Floyd Mayweather aside -- that can be a death knell for their career. Ortiz was determined to make a 180 and right ship, however. He did so at UFC 132. The fight opens up with both fighters looking to stand and bang. Bader begins to employ leg kicks early on, hoping that putting his opponent's leg out of commission will ensure less takedown attempts should the fight carry on into the later rounds. Las Vegas being like a second home to "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy," those in attendance begin to chant his name. Like a giant skulled Hulk Hogan, Ortiz seems to draw off the crowd's energy and absolutely demolishes Bader with a right hook on the jaw that floors the TUF alum. The audience goes from supportive to ravenous. They explode into cheers as their hero jumps on his fallen opponent in vintage Ortiz fashion. An attempt at ground and pound is foiled as Bader gets to his knees and tries to reverse position on the former champion. Ortiz allows the reversal simply to sink in the guillotine choke he was working towards. Zero wins in five years, three losses in a row. None of that matters when Ortiz has his arm wrapped around your neck and squeezing the air from your throat. Short of going unconscious, Bader has no other choice than to tap. An emotional Ortiz completed his signature "burial celebration" for the first time since defeating Ken Shamrock in 2006. For longtime fans of the sport, it was like seeing an ex you hadn't seen in a while. Time had quelled all bad blood so instead, you only reminisce about all the good times you had. Ortiz went on to lose his next fight, a bout he took on extremely late notice against former foe and champion Rashad Evans. At one point, it seemed lightning would strike twice when "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" nearly slapped on the same choke that felled Bader. Considering the circumstances, no one was calling for the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" to hang up his gloves. He may be arrogant, he may make excuses but Ortiz is passionate about what he does and will continue to do it until his body finally gives up on him. It may not do what it used to but it did enough to beat Bader that night. Does Ortiz have enough to beat "Minotouro" this weekend?

Posted in: fight, ortiz, champion, bader, huntington beach

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Cyborg Santos spinning back-kick KO (Video). Strikeforce Women's 145-pound Champion Cristiane Santos opens up (in English!) to MMAprime.tv about a possible move to 135-pounds, the recent challenge from Ronda Rousey, training at Chute Boxe for her Dec. 17 fight and a whole lot more.

Posted in: pound, video, champion, chute boxe, backkick

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Strikeforce has a long history of making very questionable matchups, especially pertaining to their titles, but they've really out done themselves this time. It appears their new middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold, will not be fighting Tim Kennedy after all. Instead he'll meet Keith Jardine of all people. I really don't understand what they are thinking anymore. I assumed now that they were under the Zuffa umbrella, these ridiculous matchups would stop; I was wrong. Keith Jardine in no way deserves to be fighting for a title, in any organization. Besides never having fought at 185, he's coming off a draw (realistically it was a loss, Mousasi was robbed), and two wins against nobodies. Before that, he dropped five fights in a row. I understand they are working with a limited roster, but if they want to make one sided matchups like this they should drop the belts completely. This is not a relevant fight, this is a UFC washout being fed to a rising prospect. How do you make the argument that Jardine is a champion caliber fighter with his current record? And what if by some miracle, Jardine actually wins? What would that say about the titles and other Strikeforce champions? It would absolutely ruin any semblance of importance that the belts hold, and tarnish the promotions reputation as a whole. This is a big mistake. If they need to keep Rockhold busy, why not bring over a mid-tier middleweight from the UFC? They've had no problem moving most of Strikeforce's talent to the big leagues, and so the opposite shouldn't be an issue. It's not like the UFC can't spare the likes of Alan Belcher, Tim Boetsch, or Nick Catone. Any of these guys would be a tough challenge for the middleweight champion. It seems Strikeforce is simply buying time until the promotion folds in 2012. Most of their top talent has already been moved over to the UFC, and matchups like this don't exactly renew any interest in their champions. It's just a shame they aren't going out with some more memorable fights.

Posted in: title, strikeforce, champion, keith jardine, jardine

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: boxing, champion, move, mattyblayze, boxing champion

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In this very candid interview with MMAprime.tv, the female 145lbs StrikeForce Champion opens up about life as the champion. Cyborg talks about how she managed to stay motivated after a year without fighting, her opponent when she defends the title December 17th, fighting 20 feet away from her home gym and more. The Champion also mentions that she will attempt a move to 135lbs after this fight. Cyborg finds it amusing that people call her out at 145lbs for her title and then move down to 135lbs to avoid the fights. Therefore, in attempt to get more fights in the more abundant 135lbs female division, Cyborg will try to make the cut down in weight. Cris also talks about what it is like to train with her husband; fellow pro fighter Evangelista Cyborg and her time at Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil. (Source: MMAprime.tv)

Posted in: champion, lb, cyborg, mmaprimetv, husband fellow

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Today the UFC will be hosting a conference call to promote the UFC 140 event next weekend headlined by Jon Jones defending his light heavyweight belt against Lyoto Machida. Starting at 2 PM ET/11 PM PT, the following UFC stars will participate: UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones; former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida; former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir; former UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira; former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz; UFC light heavyweight contender Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. For live updates follow Matthew Roth on twitter (@mattroth512) and afterwards the tweets will be posted here. I'll also post any major news or notes coming away from the conference call. UFC 140 will be the UFC's return to Toronto, Canada and takes place December 10th at the Air Canada Centre. Jon Jones - Lyoto Machida - Frank Mir - Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - Tito Ortiz -

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, champion, light, machida

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a special media conference call today (Dec. 1, 2011) to promote UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida, which is scheduled to take place at the Canada Centre in Torontofor Dec. 10, 2011. The call, which begins at 2 p.m. ET, will feature Jon Jones,Lyoto Machida, Frank Mir, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tito Ortiz and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Jones is the current UFC light heavyweight champion. "Bones" has risen to the top of the light heavyweight heap in 2011, winning the title from Mauricio Rua and then recently defending it last month against Quinton Jackson. His challenger is former champion, Lyoto Machida. "The Dragon" was awarded a title shot after a knocking out MMA legend Randy Couture in highlight reel fashion at UFC 129. He stepped up when Rashad Evans couldn't heal up his injured thumb in time. Frank Mir is a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion and has boosted back into the title picture after consecutive victories over veterans Mirko Filipovic and Roy Nelson. He'll be rematching the resurgent Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, a former interim UFC heavyweight champion who lost his title to Mir in 2009. Lastly, former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz, one fight removed from an emotional first round upset of Ryan Bader, will be taking on veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who's dropped two tough fights in a row to strong wrestlers. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 140 conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The call is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. eastern time.

Posted in: ufc, title, nogueira, heavyweight, champion

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When you become a world champion you are put on a hit list for potential opponents and contenders. When you look at boxing you see time and time again that so called “champions” hardly ever fight all comers, but this is where MMA has learned from boxing’s short comings. One of the most dominant athletes [...]

Posted in: time, boxing, champion, michael, world champion

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UFC welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, recently trained with middleweight contender, Vitor Belfort in Las Vegas: Alvaro Romano introduced his unique training to GSP and his champion crew. It was a day of full throttle intense training. The introduction was his core principles then followed by BJJ three world time champion Gilbert Durinho showing some inside information. Aside from those mentioned above, the training session also included guys like Nate Marquardt, Brendan Schaub, and Francis Carmont, among others. More photos after the jump. HT: MMA Mania (via VitorBelfort.com) The dominant UFC welterweight champion, is currently preparing for a future showdown against Nick Diaz, who recently impressed everyone by completely dominating a future UFC Hall of Famer, in B.J. Penn. Vitor Belfort on the other hand, is scheduled fight at UFC 142, in his home town of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His opponent will be the top 10 welterweight, Anthony Johnson, who will be moving up to middleweight. Photos via rayalamo.com

Posted in: ufc, welterweight, champion, belfort, training

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The Light Heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida is fast approaching and as is often the case, the gamesmanship is beginning to ratchet up. Jones, the current champion and Machida, the former champion will meet on December 10 in Toronto, Ontario. Machida will be Jones’ fourth fight this year, and many believe he will present the biggest challenge to date for the 14-1 champion.  On the other hand, many have said that Jones is the future of the Light Heavyweight division, with

Posted in: jone, jon jones, champion, lyoto machida, machida

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CHICAGO (Nov. 29, 2011) – M-1 GLOBAL welterweight (170 lbs.) champion Shamil Zavurov will defend his title in a rematch against Yasubey Enomoto in the main event M-1 Challenge XXX live on SHOWTIME on Friday, December 9 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast) from The Hangar at the O.C. Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. Zavurov (18-1), a three-time world champion in Combat Sambo, two-time champion of the CIS in hand-to-hand combat, winner of international tournaments in wrestling and Wushu Sanda and champion of Dagestan in Wushu Sanda, Zavurov has accumulated more than 50 victories in combat Sambo and 50 victories as an amateur / semi-professional MMA fighter. Flying under the radar of North American fans until recently, Zavurov has amassed a vault of experience and holds an impressive 18-1 record. After the successful defense of his belt last year Zavurov spoke about his opponent saying, "This was one of the most important fights in my career. Enomoto is a really good fighter and dangerous opponent. The stronger the opponent, the more you learn from the fight and the more you improve as a fighter yourself. It was a really hard fight for me and I am glad I came away with my belt." Enomoto (8-3) is coming off two wins over Rafal Moks (Majority Decision) and Josh Thorpe (Submission, Triangle Choke). Prior to that, he stepped in as a last minute replacement for an injured Rashid Magomedov to compete against M-1 Welterweight champion Zavurov. Taking the fight on eight days notice, Enomoto lost via unanimous decision in a full five round battle. "I’m going after that title one way or another", said Enomoto after the loss. "Zavurov has my belt. I asked him to give it to me once and he didn’t let me take it. Looks like I’ll have to work a bit harder to get to it." Enomoto knows this is his opportunity to become champion. He knows what to prepare for and that the win will not come easy under any circumstances. In the co-main event, Francisco Drinaldo (10-1) will take on Alexander Sarnavsky (15-0) in a lightweight (155 lbs.) bout. Also featured on the televised portion of the event will be a rematch between Jose Figueroa (10-5) and Artiom Damkovsky (9-6) in a lightweight bout. In their first meeting this past July, Figueroa violently stripped Damkovsky of his lightweight title by second round TKO. Figueroa lost the title to Daniel Weichel in Moscow at M-1 Global’s "Fedor vs Monson" event. Tyson Jeffries (7-6) will take on Eddie Arizmendi (15-5) in a middleweight matchup. And opening the evening of fights on SHOWTIME, Alessandro Ferriera (10-1) will take on Bao Quach (18-10) in a featherweight (145 lbs.) bout. "This entire card is expected to be extremely entertaining from start to finish." said Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations at M-1 GLOBAL. "We are very excited for these fights and excited to have our fourth event with SHOWTIME". Mauro Ranallo will call the action from ringside with Pat Miletich serving as expert analyst. The telecast will be produced by Chuck McKean and directed by Craig Farrell. The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins, Jr. For information on M-1 Global, go to the official M-1 website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global Facebook fan page For information on SHOWTIME Sports programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go to the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.

Posted in: fight, event, champion, showtime, zavurov

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My guess is Frankie og Cruz. While Frankie might truly be the greatest lightweight at the time the division is so fierce that one slip will make him lose his belt. Cruz, well, because... I don't really know! I guess the other champions are already legends in their own way, also I think he has a real handfull against Faber. submitted by Kingstein [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: champion, cruz, frankie, i dont, belt cruz

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has reigned as Sportsnet's Canadian Athlete of the Year for three straight years. Can he make it a fourth? Vote now.

Posted in: gsp, champion, year, canadian, sportsnet

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Newly crowned UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior "Cigano" dos Santos shared thoughts about his future challenges inside the Octagon. Dos Santos is exected to face the winner of UFC 141 main event bout between the former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar and the reigning Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, which will take place on December 30th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dos Santos stated it makes no difference who wins between the two, since both Lesnar and Overeem are "big, strong guys" who are

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, event bout, cigano dos

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New Bellator champion Michael Chandler surprised more than just Eddie Alvarez when he took the lightweight belt from him last weekend.A relative unknown...

Posted in: bellator, champion, chandler, eddie alvarez, work confidence

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Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki has agreed to put his title on the line against former Sengoku champ Satoru Kitaoka on New Year's Eve.

Posted in: dream, champion, year, aoki, kitaoka

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Cain Velasquez may have lost his UFC title to Junior dos Santos, but that's only proving to be an opportunity for him to prove he truly has the heart of a champion.

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, velasquez, ufc title

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submitted by trollfoot [link] [10 comments]

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Undefeated Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler talked about his finish of Eddie Alvarez Saturday with Sherdog.com’s Greg Savage.

Posted in: champion, chandler, alvarez, greg, mma ’s

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With just weeks remaining till UFC 140 in Toronto, we sit down five-time UFC Light Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz.

Posted in: ufc, toronto, week, champion, fivetime

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Filed under: UFCThe path to UFC 139 began in 2007 with the acquisition of Pride, continued in 2010 with the absorption of World Extreme Cagefighting, and was finished in 2011 with the purchase of Strikeforce. The six fighters in the top three fights from Saturday night's card all came to the UFC from those business moves. Pride never died, the WEC never died, and Strikeforce never died. At least they all still seemed alive at UFC 139. The main event was a classic, with former Pride and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson beating former Pride Middleweight Grand Prix champion Shogun Rua. This was exactly the type of bout that fight fans hoped we'd see inside the Octagon when the UFC purchased Pride: A brutal, bloody battle between two Pride stars that had all the best elements of the Pride glory days. More Coverage: UFC 139 Results | UFC 139 Post-Fight Press Conference But it was more than just that. It was Wanderlei Silva, perhaps the greatest of all the Pride stars to sign with the UFC after the Pride purchase, having perhaps his greatest victory inside the Octagon. And doing it against former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le, who came to the UFC after it purchased Strikeforce. And there was also another tremendous fight that's probably going to be largely overlooked this morning, thanks to all that came after it: Former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber beating former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles. Faber and Bowles both came to the UFC from the WEC, and they gave the kind of great show that the WEC was famous for. In theory I like the idea of competition among MMA promotions, and I watch MMA regardless of the promotion: I was watching two TVs on Saturday night, one with the UFC and one with Bellator, which put on a tremendous fight of its own between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez. So I don't necessarily want the UFC to swallow up every MMA promotion on earth. But I must say that I can't think of many times I've ever enjoyed the top three fights on a card more than I enjoyed the top three fights at UFC 139, and we got to see all of them because the UFC has absorbed Pride, Strikeforce and the WEC. Saturday night was a night when it was hard not to enjoy the UFC's dominance of the MMA landscape. UFC 139 Notes -- Miguel Torres won an easy unanimous decision over Nick Pace, 30-27 on all three judges' cards, but he didn't do anything spectacular, which is what he's going to need to do if he wants to fight for the bantamweight belt. There's a lot to be said for fighting smarter and fighting safer, which is what Torres has tried to do recently, but when it comes to earning a shot at the title, the fact is there are style points. Torres may need to regain some of his old reckless form if he wants the UFC to give him a chance to fight for the title. -- You can make a good case that it's really not fair to the rest of the bantamweight division to give Faber another shot at champion Dominick Cruz, but realistically I think that's the only option available to the UFC right now. From a business perspective, Cruz-Faber 3 is really the only bantamweight title fight that the UFC can sell, and the UFC is, ultimately, a business. UFC 139 Quotes -- "I felt really disrespected at the weigh-in. You're supposed to be professional. Don't come in two pounds overweight and then tell me you can't lose any more weight." -- Danny Castillo after beating Shamar Bailey, who had come in at 158 pounds for their lightweight fight. Castillo is absolutely right: Professional fighters need to make weight, period. -- "He's a super gnarly dude. I knew I had a fight on my hands." -- Seth Baczynski after submitting Matt Brown with a guillotine choke in the second round. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-139928% Good Call Chris Weidman is to be commended for immediately alerting the referee that he had choked out Tom Lawlor. The fighters and the referee are all in a difficult position when a fighter passes out from a choke and the ref doesn't realize it, but Weidman did the best thing he could, telling the ref that Lawlor was out. The ref then stepped in and separated the two of them, and Lawlor was back on his feet moments later. Bad Call The judge who gave Rafael dos Anjos a 29-28 decision over Gleison Tibau should be forced to publicly explain it -- that's a tough score to understand. The other two judges scored it 30-27 and 29-28 for Tibau. Stock Up Michael McDonald looks like a future UFC bantamweight champion. McDonald needed just 56 seconds to knock out Alex Soto -- a man who entered the fight undefeated -- and is now 14-1 in his MMA career, at only 20 years old. I'd love to see McDonald get a Top 10 opponent in his next fight. Stock Down Jason Brilz is reeling right now, with back-to-back ugly knockout losses, first to Vladimir Matyushenko in April and now to Ryan Bader on Saturday. When Brilz lost a hard-fought split decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in May of 2010, a lot of people thought he deserved to win and would have some big fights ahead of him. Unfortunately, Brilz now looks like he's on the verge of getting cut from the UFC. Fight I Want to See Next Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans. Henderson vs. Evans would be a great fight, and a great way to determine who's the next contender for the light heavyweight belt. Evans has already been promised a title shot, of course, but the way the timing has worked out, I don't think it's realistic for Evans to wait around for the Jon Jones-Lyoto Machida winner. If Henderson and Evans are both healthy and ready to fight in early 2012, that's the fight to make. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, pride, wec

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UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is currently nursing an injured shoulder and it appears he will be on the shelf for several months.

Posted in: silva, champion, anderson silva, anderson, shoulder

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At UFC 139, Dan Henderson faces Mauricio Rua in the main event. It's a fight being built partly around the idea of the invading Strikeforce champion, with Henderson, the last Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champ, coming back to the UFC against Shogun Rua, the last UFC Light Heavyweight champion. It's a good story, right? Maybe, but it also ignores a key word. A word that holds special meaning to any long time MMA fan. And a word that gives a new level of depth to this fight. Pride. No, not each fighter's pride, I'm talking about the beloved PRIDE organization, the former home to both Henderson and Shogun. Because this fight is truly a Pride dream match. And sadly, it may be the last one. To take a look at the true history behind this fight, we have to roll back to 2005, and the 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix. Starting in 2000, Pride put a heavy emphasis on the Grand Prix format. It was a great idea - get 16 (or so) of the world's best, and have them square off over a few months to determine the true greatest. The format produced some of the all time great Pride, and indeed MMA, fights - fights like Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Royce Gracie and Wanderlei Silva vs. Rampage Jackson. The greatest of these Grand Prix events was held in the Middleweight division (today's equivalent of Light Heavyweight). And heading into the 2005 GP, there was one man to beat: Wanderlei Silva. At that time, Silva was the long reigning Pride Middleweight champion. He had held the belt for 4 years, and had not lost at Middleweight in over 20 fights (though he had suffered one loss to the much bigger Mark Hunt in a controversial decision). He was also the defending Grand Prix champion, having won the 2003 tournament with his nasty KO of Rampage. But in the opening round of the GP, a new contender emerged. Shogun Rua was just 23 years old at the time, and 8-1 in his young career. But as part of the opening round, he made a huge impact, destroying Rampage in less than 5 minutes. Suddenly this aggressive whirlwind of a fighter was another tournament favorite. The only problem? Shogun and Wanderlei were teammates at Brazil's Chute Boxe. They were on opposite sides of the draw, but would they be willing to fight each other in the finals? This was a huge question heading into the final 4, as a Wanderlei vs. Shogun final seemed inevitable. As it turned out, the question never was answered. In the semi-finals, Silva was defeated in a moderate upset by Ricardo Arona, while Shogun stopped Alistair Overeem to make his own way to the finals. There, it took Shogun only 3 minutes to stop Arona, avenging his teammate's loss and establishing his own role as the new top dog in Pride. The story continues in the complete entry. Despite the GP win, Shogun had to settle for being the uncrowned Pride champion, as Silva's belt was not on the line in the tournament, and he remained champion. That all changed on February 24, 2007 in Las Vegas. There, at Pride 33, Dan Henderson knocked Silva out cold to take away the title that had been in The Axe Murderer's grasp for so many years. With the Middleweight title off the waist of his Chute Boxe teammate, Shogun could finally pursue the belt. A Henderson vs. Shogun dream match to determine the true top Middleweight in Pride seemed destined to happen. But it was not to be. Not long after, the now Zuffa-owned Pride organization folded. Dan Henderson walked away the last ever Pride Middleweight champion, while Shogun never got his chance at the belt. But here we are. Nearly 5 years later, we are finally getting the fight that should have been. 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix champion Shogun Rua vs. the last ever Pride Middleweight champion Dan Henderson.  What makes this Pride war great is the fact that it is still a relevant fight today. The winner here is planned to move on and face the winner of Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida for the UFC Light Heavyweight title. This is not just a historical oddity or a treat for the hardcore fans - it's also an important bout between two top 10 fighters with a lot on the line. Sadly, it may also be the last of its kind. Henderson and Shogun are on the extremely short list of Pride fighters who remain truly relevant at the top of their divisions today. And they are perhaps the only fighters that can provide a fresh match-up with this kind of deep history reaching back into the Pride era. So at UFC 139, enjoy the fight for its impact on MMA today, and enjoy the Strikeforce vs. UFC angle. But don't forget about what brought these two men to this point, and don't forget to savor the moment. Pride never die.

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Michael Chandler neither dreads nor embraces failure. He merely views it as part of his chosen profession

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Two of the most historically successful light heavyweights in mixed martial arts (MMA) will finally meet tomorrow night (Nov. 19, 2011) as former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua takes on former two-division Pride FC and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson in the UFC 139 main event. "Shogun" Rua bounced back from losing his title by ferociously thumping former champion Forrest Griffin earlier this summer in his rousing return to Brazil. It was the third time he's avenged a loss during his UFC career. And if he wants a chance to avenge the loss to 205-pound division champion Jon Jones, he'll need an impressive showing against "Hendo." Easier said than done. Henderson is still bringing it at 41 years old. He destroyed Renato Sobral and Rafael Cavalcante to become the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion earlier this year. And he followed it up with perhaps the biggest performance of his career with a first round knockout of the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. He's looking for one last run at a UFC title, but he's got a dangerous Brazilian currently standing in his way. Will Rua make Henderson regret signing (again) with the UFC with a big victory? Can Henderson keep Father Time at bay for a final sprint to UFC gold? What is the key to victory for both legendary light heavyweights? Let's find out: Mauricio Rua Record: 20-5 overall, 4-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Lyoto Machida (UFC 113), Alistair Overeem twice (Pride 33, Pride Final Conflict 2005), Quinton Jackson (Pride Total Elimination 2005) Key Losses: Jon Jones (UFC 128), Forrest Griffin (UFC 76) How he got here: Shogun was a prodigy while competing in Japan for the Pride FC organization. He absolutely smashed everyone in his path, including "Rampage" Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Alistair Overeem, among others, en route to winning the Pride 2005 middleweight grand prix. Seven of his eight victories were by way of knockout. He finished his Pride FC run with at 12-1 before making his Octagon debut against Griffin. Things didn't go exactly as planned, however, as Rua slowed drastically in the second round and never recovered, losing via rear naked choke right before the final bell in a huge upset. After getting back on track, Shogun would smash former champion Chuck Liddell, which would earn him a title shot against Lyoto Machida. He would lose a highly controversial decision after five rounds of action. However,  afterward he was granted an immediate rematch, which he used to knockout "The Dragon" to become the UFC light heavyweight champion. The champ would be forced to sit on the sidelines for 10 months while rehabbing a knee injury and was welcomed back to the cage by the rising phenom Jon Jones. Jones battered Rua for two and a half rounds, taking his title in dominating fashion. Afterward, "Shogun" signed on to fight Griffin in Brazil for UFC 134, where he would knockout the inaugural The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner and UFC champion in the first round. This would be the third of his five career losses that he's avenged. With the quick victory, he had a short turnaround to welcome Henderson back to the UFC this Saturday night. How he gets it done: Standing and trading punches only really makes this fight about as even as it can get. Rua hits incredibly hard, but so does Henderson. Also, with all the surgeries to his knees over the years, Shogun has lost some of that explosion that made him so violent. One major thing Rua has going for him is his kicks, and they could be the deciding factor in the bout if used properly. The Brazilian should attack Henderson's legs and body with repeated heavy kicks. With every blow he lands, it's one less ounce of power that will be sapped out of the "H-Bomb" that the former Olympian possesses. In addition, Henderson is not the quickest guy out there so he should be a pretty good target for the kick attacks. If he can get him to slow down even more, it'll also open up more avenues to get inside and do damage with his punches. Rua should try to avoid clinches and takedowns in this fight because he's much better off and more dangerous at the cage center. Dan Henderson:  Record: 28-8 overall, 5-2 in the UFC Key Wins: Fedor Emelianenko (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson), Michael Bisping (UFC 100), Vitor Belfort (Pride 32) Key Losses: Anderson Silva (UFC 82), Quinton Jackson (UFC 75), Jake Shields (Strikeforce: Nashville) How he got here: Henderson started out as a Greco Roman wrestler, competing twice in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic games for the United States. He had immediate success after transitioning to MMA The first four events Henderson competed at were single night tournaments, and he won them all, winning nine fights overall in four nights. Afterward, he would sign with Pride FC, where he would have an up and down career, never really stringing together a huge run of victories. That is until the inaugural Pride FC welterweight (185-pound) Grand Prix. He would knockout consecutive opponents on one night to make it to the finals and then go on to win the tournament with a split decision victory against Murilo Bustamante. After defeating Vitor Belfort at 205 pounds, he was offered a title shot against Wanderlei Silva, an opportunity to avenge his initial Pride FC loss from six years prior. He would capitalize on the opportunity with an incredible third round knockout to become the Pride FC champion in two weight classes. Henderson would earn back-to-back title shots in his UFC return, losing to both Anderson Silva and Quinton Jackson, but would put up strong performances in both. After three consecutive victories in the UFC, including the 2009 "Knockout of the Year" against Michael Bisping, he left the promotion and signed a very large deal with Strikeforce. Henderson would lose his first Strikeforce bout to middleweight champion Jake Shields, but he would follow it up with consecutive knockouts of Renato Sobral and "Feijao" Cavalcante to become the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. He capped off his Strikeforce career with an incredible knockout of MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko earlier this summer in Chicago. After that incredible victory, he negotiated a deal with the UFC and stepped in to take on "Shogun" in his third tour with the promotion. How he gets it done: Henderson has a few solid methods to getting the job done. First, of course, is to land that killer right hand of his. If he can knockout Fedor with it from an uppercut on the ground, he can put Shogun to sleep, too. Obviously, Rua will be looking for the right hand, as every opponent Henderson has ever faced in the last three years has been cautious of it, but they still keep getting tagged. Henderson, despite his age, does a pretty good job of closing the distance. And, he's still got some explosion in him when he needs it. He could be looking to set up the right hand with a takedown attempt or perhaps just lunging in with a lead left jab. Another advantage for Henderson would be in the clinch. He did a pretty good job of controlling Emelianenko along the fence and he should be able do be even more powerful along the fence against Rua. If he can keep him pinned down, it'll open up some dirty boxing attacks and he's always capable of throwing a huge right hand on the break. If all else fails, he could even attempt some Greco takedowns along the fence if he's not winning the striking exchanges.  Fight "X-Factor:" The X-Factor for this fight is very simple. Both men have some of the best finishing instincts in MMA. Seriously, when was the last time you can remember either of these fighters letting an opponent off the hook when they had them hurt? If either man gets rocked, they are likely going to get swarmed and finished very quickly. It may sound cliche, but the outcome of this fight is likely going to come down to who lands a big strike first. Whoever lands that big blow and rocks their opponent is likely going to be able to score a knockout with follow-up strikes. Bottom line: This is a terrific match up between two MMA legends. Both Henderson and Rua hit incredibly hard and they can also take a punch or two. Henderson's been dropped in his last two fights, but his immediate response afterward has been terrific. He has great recovery -- either shooting for a takedown or grabbing a single leg -- and slipping to safety and he's proven that he might be even more dangerous when he's been hurt. Rua is also one of the most tenacious light heavyweights in the history of the sport, so this bout is almost guaranteed to be exciting. The winner of this bout would also likely be either one fight away from a title shot or he could be a title shot alternate in case of an injury. Keep your eyes peeled for this one. Who will come out on top at UFC 139? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which legendary light heavyweight will earn a huge victory in the UFC 139 main event? Mauricio Rua Dan Henderson   0 votes | Results

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Bellator 58 is officially a go with lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and challenger Michael Chandler making weight on Friday.

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Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson believes he should've received an immediate title shot against UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones upon his matriculation to the UFC -- but he's fighting "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 anyway. MMA Nation's Luke Thomas explains why right here.

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UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar has agreed to give up his babyface to grow a moustache during the month of "Movember" as part of his "Answer" to men's health awareness. Find out how to support the champ and his epic 'stache (coming soon) by clicking here.

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Brazilian banger Junior Dos Santos made a minimum of US$265,000 in dethroning UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be holding a public press conference today (Nov. 17, 2011) in advance of Saturday night's UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson" event. The conference will begin at 4 p.m. ET live from the Fort Mason Center's Golden Gate Room in San Francisco, California, the although the event will be held in San Jose.. Scheduled to attend will be UFC president Dana White and headlining fighters of the evening: Mauricio Rua, Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva and Cung Le. "Shogun" Rua is the former UFC light heavyweight champion and recently avenged his first UFC loss with a destruction of Ultimate Fighter season one winner and fellow former champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 134 in Brazil. He'll be challenged by Dan Henderson, the former simultaneous multi-divisional champion of Pride who was crowned the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion earlier this year. Henderson is coming off a monumental knockout victory over Fedor Emelianenko this past July and signed with the UFC afterwards. Wanderlei Silva has fallen on hard times after a legendary run in Pride although he's still a fan favorite in the UFC. He was recently stopped short by the heavy-handed Chris Leben this summer and stepped up in place of the injured Vitor Belfort to take a fight against Cung Le. Cung Le was the Strikeforce middleweight champion and possesses a very exciting arsenal of diverse strikes which helped turn him into a superstar in California. He's been distracted by a career in movies but a bout in his hometown and in the UFC was enough to call him back to MMA. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 139 press conference after the jump. Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

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In July 2009, I wrote the following words:"He might not admit it publicly, but Dan Henderson knows that he is in the twilight of his illustrious fighting career.  The former two-division PRIDE champion is just a few short weeks from his 39th birthday, an age that basically qualifies him for the 4:30 p.m. senior citizen dinner discounts in the UFC chow line.  He remains one of the fiercest competitors in the game, as evidenced by his hard-fought, split decision win over former 185-lb champion Rich Franklin back in January.  His days at the top are numbered, however. Nobody knows when Hendo will finally succumb to Father Time.  His effort against Franklin suggests that he is no less spry today than he was when he scored a dramatic knockout win over Wanderlei Silva to become the first man to ever simultaneously hold titles in two PRIDE weight divisions.   No matter, Father Time is going to rear his ugly head in Hendo’s corner sooner rather than later.When it happens, it will be an overnight phenomenon, not a gradual slide.  The fighter who happens to be standing opposite him on that fateful night should be able to score a career-defining win."Hendo was preparing to face top UFC middleweight Michael Bisping at the time. Many thought that Bisping would use the former two-time US Olympian as a stepping stone to future greatness. Instead, Hendo was in top form, scoring one of the most jaw-dropping knockouts of the year.Fast forward the clock 28 months. Hendo is now 41 years young. But he appears to be at the absolute peak of his career. In fact, the former champion won three of four fights since annihilating Bisping and temporarily leaving the UFC, including three in a row that culminated in a career-defining knockout win over heavyweight great Fedor Emelianenko.On Saturday night, Hendo makes his UFC return after 28 months away. He will face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to determine where he stands in the 205-pound pecking order. Champion Jon Jones is set to defend his title against Lyoto Machida on December 10. After that, it is anyone’s guess. Rashad Evans appears to be a frontrunner for “next in line” status. But the winner of Hendo-Shogun can certainly jump to the front of the line with the right performance.If Shogun wants to succeed where so many others have recently failed, then he needs to stay true to his Chute Boxe Academy ways and turn this thing into an all-out brawl. Shogun is anything but a measured, tactical standup fighter. I’ll concede that he was precisely that in his two bouts with Lyoto Machida, but that was an aberration for the former champion. He is, and likely always will be, at his best when he employs a berserker style because it is part of his fighting DNA. That latter part is the big key to victory for Shogun. The Brazilian is a pressure-first fighter. Hendo is used to being the stalker, not the stalked. He has never truly seemed comfortable when forced to engage in a real slugfest. Shogun, on the other hand, thrives during apparent chaos. It is like second nature to him, after growing up as a fighter in the vaunted Chute Boxe Academy’s full-speed sparring sessions. The world slows down to Shogun during those moments. He is never out of control, calmly attacking and defending during what seem to be frenzied moments to everyone else. He has to stay mindful of Hendo’s right hand because he has enough stopping power in that punch to knockout Shogun or anyone else. Beyond that strike, Shogun enjoys a healthy advantage on the feet, but that one strike could be the difference in this bout.Hendo’s entire game revolves around landing his big right hand. That is a shame because this guy is one of the best wrestlers in the history of the sport. And wrestling is one of the best tools to use when trying to win a fight.Hendo would be well served to remember that takedowns are what won him the closely contested battle with Rich Franklin in his penultimate UFC bout before his 28-month hiatus.  Takedowns, or the threat of takedowns, were a major reason why Shogun got dominated by Jones and defeated in his first bout with Forrest Griffin. Hendo is a much better wrestler than Jones or Griffin, so there is little reason to think that he will struggle to control Shogun if he relies on his wrestling game. Focusing on takedowns may seem counterintuitive because Shogun is a submission wizard. Some might mistakenly believe that he would be comfortable fighting on his back against Hendo. No chance. Henderson’s submission defense is nothing less than stellar, until he gets winded, so he should be able to control Shogun on the ground and hammer away with some of that patented Team Quest ground and pound without much worry, until late in the fight.  Yet, Hendo almost always eschews his wrestling skills in favor of a stalk and bomb strategy. He does that in basically every fight. The former multiple-division PRIDE champion has a bad habit of loading up with his always-coiled right hand and throwing little else.  He should disguise it with jabs, lead left hooks and leg kicks--anything to make Shogun momentarily forget about his deadliest weapon.  But he probably won’t do any of that. He really didn’t do much of that stuff in his last two fights against Fedor and Rafael Cavalcante. He just bombed away with his right hand again and again. Sure, he threw other strikes from time to time, but none were designed to bring the fight to an instant end, and none of them will likely cause Shogun any grief. Hendo doesn’t care. He knows that as soon as he lands his right hand anywhere close to its mark, the fight will be over. Thus, he will stalk and bomb on Saturday night. Trust me.Conventional wisdom suggests that this is Shogun’s fight to lose. He is the younger, faster, stronger fighter.  He is also one of the deadliest standup fighters in the sport, across all divisions. Yet, Hendo appears to have found the Fountain of Youth. His win over Fedor proved that he remains one of the best fighters in the world, pound for pound. My heart, therefore, thinks that Hendo will pull it out.Then again, if Father Time appears in Hendo’s dressing room prior to the fight, which is going to happen sooner, rather than later, then Shogun might just get that knockout win that he so desperately needs to catapult himself back into title contention.QUICK FACTSDan Henderson•    28-8 overall•    41 years old•    4-1 in last 5 fights; riding 3 straight wins•    7-3 in last 10•    46.4% of wins by KO/TKO (13 out of 28)•    46.4% of wins by decision (13 out of 28)•    7.2% of wins by submission (2 out of 28)•    Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion•    Former PRIDE Middleweight Champion (205 lbs)•    Former PRIDE Welterweight Champion (183 lbs)•    Former PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix Champion•    Only man to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes in a major promotion (PRIDE Middleweight and Welterweight)•    UFC Fight of the Night against Anderson Silva•    UFC Knockout of the Night against Michael Bisping•    8-6 against current or former champions•    Current layoff is 142 days•    Longest career layoff is 357 daysMauricio “Shogun” Rua•    20-5 professional record•    29 years old (turns 30 on November 25)•    3-2 in last 5 fights•    7-3 in last 10 fights•    6-4 against current or former UFC champions •    85.0% of wins by KO/TKO (17 out of 20)•    10.0% of wins by decision (2 out of 20)•    5.0% of wins by submission (1 out of 20)•    Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion•    Former PRIDE Middleweight (205 lb) Grand Prix Champion•    Knockout of the Night twice (Machida and Liddell)•    Fight of the Night against Mark Coleman•    Current layoff is 114 days •    Longest UFC or PRIDE layoff is 483 days

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As you can tell by the plaudits which preface his name, former two-division PRIDE champion and Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Dan Henderson has...

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Spotlighting UFC 139's bantamweight prelim bout between former WEC champion Miguel Torres and Nick Pace.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold a special media conference call today (Nov. 16, 2011) to promote UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson," which is scheduled to take place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2011. The call, which begins at 1 p.m. ET, will feature headlining fighters Mauricio Rua and Dan Henderson, as well as co-headliners Cung Le and Wanderlei Silva. "Shogun" Rua is the former UFC light heavyweight champion and is coming off a quick first round destruction of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season one winner and fellow former champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 134 in Brazil. He'll be challenged by Dan Henderson, the former simultaneous two-divisional champion of Pride FC who recently became the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. Henderson is coming off a monumental knockout victory over Fedor Emelianenko this past July and re-signed with UFC in the fallout. Wanderlei Silva was a legend in Pride FC and is still a fan favorite in the UFC. He recently had his run in the middleweight division stopped short by the heavy-handed Chris Leben and accepted a bout against Cung Le in place of the injured Vitor Belfort, staving off retirement for at least one more fight. Le was the Strikeforce middleweight champion and possesses a very exciting arsenal of diverse strikes, which helped turn him into a superstar in California. He's been distracted by a career in movies, but a bout in the UFC was enough to call him back to mixed martial arts (MMA). Join us for complete LIVE updates of the UFC 139 conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET.

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Luiz Carlos Dorea won the WBC International welterweight title in his short professional career before hanging up his gloves and moving into coaching.He...

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Three. That's the number every UFC Heavyweight champion is trying to reach. Three consecutive defenses of the belt. So far, no one has been able to get there, with only three men (Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture and Tim Sylvia) ever defending the belt more than once. After UFC 121, the question was asked of Cain Velasquez - could he break the record? At the UFC on Fox show, Junior dos Santos proved that he couldn't - not yet at least. So now, it's dos Santos in the hot seat, and the question has to be asked again. Can Junior dos Santos break the record? Can he finally bring stability to the UFC Heavyweight division? History is not on his side. The Heavyweight title is the oldest belt in UFC history, dating back to the days of men like Dan Severn and Maurice Smith. It's jumped around numerous times, sometimes due to unsuccessful title defenses, sometimes because out of the cage activities have left it vacant. Yet through all these years, no man has made a real claim as the definitive UFC Heavyweight champion the way men like Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, and Anderson Silva have done in other divisions. Perhaps that is simply the nature of the Heavyweight division. With their large frames and heavy hands, Heavyweight fighters add a greater air of unpredictability to their fights, and run the risk of burning out from injury faster. Cain Velasquez is a perfect example. Touted as a possible dynasty building champion, he went down to injury shortly after winning the belt, and in his first defense suffered a 64 second KO loss. Which brings us back to the new UFC Heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos. So, can he do it? My honest opinion? No, he can't. As Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg like to point out, dos Santos is a specialist. He uses those heavy hands to knock out his opponents, and he's had great success with that so far. He's fought wrestlers like Shane Carwin and jiu jitsu experts like Fabricio Werdum, and he's forced them all to fight his fight - to stand up and trade, and eventually, to fall. But when I look at the UFC Heavyweight division, I see too many fighters that pose real question marks for dos Santos. Brock Lesnar - can Cigano regain his feet if the massive Lesnar does manage to take the fight to the ground? Alistair Overeem - can dos Santos outstrike a K-1 champion? And what about Strikeforce Heavyweight Josh Barnett - can the champ avoid Barnett's catch wrestling takedowns and ground control? To bring that stability to the division, dos Santos will have to answer each of these questions with a definitive yes, all while staying healthy. It's a tall order, one that has taken down some of the sport's best Heavyweights, and given dos Santos's extreme reliance on those big punches over all else, I'm not sure he can get there. Of course, if dos Santos can pull it off he can be the man to finally, after over 15 years, stake his claim as the UFC's definitive Heavyweight champion. History may not be on his side, but the power in his right hand definitely is. We'll see which one wins.SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Poll How many times will Junior dos Santos successfully defend the UFC title? None 1 2 3 or more   123 votes | Results

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Shane Carwin is currently on the sidelines due to another back surgery suffered while training. Carwin, known for his impressive run of first round knockouts, is looking at a return to the Octagon in 2012. However, while away from competition,Carwin isn’t ignoring what is happening in MMA. Recently, Carwin went online to show his level of respect for recently beaten former champion Cain Velasquez. Velasquez dropped the UFC heavyweight title to Junior dos Santos in the main event of UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos this past weekend. “I know we are about to call the Cain hype train derailed. I want to remind you guys how young and talented he is,” Carwin wrote on The Underground. “Junior hits hard and is accurate. This should not be a surprise to any of you. Cain is a young talented fighter and if you want to see the qualities of a UFC Champion you have to look no farther than Cain. Everyone loses it is what they do with that loss that deflates them. I am certain that Cain will be a champion again.” Carwin lost to dos Santos earlier this year in a #1 contender bout after replacing Brock Lesnar in the fight. He also lost to Lesnar in his fight prior to meeting dos Santos. The 12-2 Carwin has finished all dozen of the opponents he’s beaten including seven TKOs and five submissions. He holds notable past wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Frank Mir. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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UFC welterweight champion GSP reveals when he'll be returning to training in this exclusive interview at UFC on FOX.

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When brick-fisted engineer Shane Carwin spent the entire first round of the UFC 116 main event playing Brock-a-mole, I was pretty confident we'd be seeing him defending the heavyweight title against undefeated contender Cain Velasquez later in the year. What a difference a round makes. Carwin was gassed and passed en route to a second-round strangulation, and to date, is still looking to get back into the win column after burying 12 straight victims. With that in mind, it's no surprise to hear him come to the defense of Velasquez, who was cranium-cracked by Brazilian bomber Junior dos Santos at last Saturday night's UFC on FOX debut. Straight from the horse's mouth (via The Underground): "I know we are about to call the Cain hype train derailed. I want to remind you guys how young and talented he is. Junior hits hard and is accurate. This should not be a surprise to any of you. Cain is a young talented fighter and if you want to see the qualities of a UFC Champion you have to look no farther then Cain. Everyone loses it is what they do with that loss that defines them. I am certain that Cain will be a Champion again." Velasquez rolled into the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, to defend the 265-pound title he ursurped from Brock Lesnar back at UFC 121. Unfortunately it was the first appearance for the former blue-chip prospect in over a year, thanks to major shoulder surgery and an extended recovery period. Whether or not his "cage rust" -- or questionable gameplan -- had anything to do with his 64-second loss is unknown, but let's also not forget he was facing a certifiable killer. Shane Carwin, who survived "Cigano's" attempted murder at UFC 131, is proof of that. Do you believe him when he says Cain will be champion again? Or is it too soon to tell? And who should Velasquez face on the rebound? Lots to discuss here Maniacs ... go to work.

Posted in: ufc, champion, velasquez, carwin, shane

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By Darnell Myrick Yesterday night, we all were treated to the debut of the UFC on FOX. The debut of the UFC kicked off with a bang. The one hour live telecast featured a heavyweight title fight between UFC Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez, and number 1 contender, Junior “Cigano” dos Santos. It only took 64 seconds for a victor to be decided. Dos Santos landed a right hand to the temple of Velasquez that dropped him and dos Santos was able to finish the fight with ground and pound which marked the end of Cain Velasquez’s reign as UFC Heavyweight Champion. Dos Santos also one Knockout of the Night, which was a 65K bonus. At the post-fight press conference, Junior said that he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee 11 days before the fight while training. His training partner, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, said that he was on crutches for five days. He did not want to pull out of the fight, because it was the biggest fight of his career. With assistance from his doctor, Fabio Costa, he was able to pull through and he received clearance to fight. However, dos Santos will require surgery to repair his knee. Costa anticipates that it will take Junior a month to recover from surgery. In defeat, Cain Velasquez (9-1) gave Junior credit and he believes that the stoppage was a good called as he lost he equilibrium when he went down and he was pounded out. Velasquez apologized to his family, friends, and fans for disappointing them. Then, he vowed that he would be back and that he will get his belt back. Dos Santos (14-1) is currently riding a 9-fight winning streak. He is expected to make his first title defense sometime next year. I expect him to defend the title in the spring. He will defend the belt against the winner of the UFC 141 main event between former UFC Heavyweight Champion and opposing coach on the Ultimate Fighter Season 13, Brock Lesnar, and former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion and UFC newcomer, Alistair Overeem. This fight will take place on December 30 in Las Vegas.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, champion, do

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It comes as no surprise that dethroned UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was the victim of unrealistic expectations in the aftermath of his knockout loss to Junior dos Santos on Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. After all, we've been spoiled by the impressive rise of the former champion, maintaining an unblemished record while destroying every opponent put in front of him. Surprisingly, Cheick Kongo was the only man to give Velasquez trouble on his climb to the summit, yet even in that fight, we could glean the thought that Velasquez has the mental fortitude to overcome anything. In the lead-up to the fight, informed fans knew the dangers that awaited Velasquez inside the Octagon. Junior dos Santos was a devastating striker who was a far more technical boxer than Cheick Kongo. If Kongo could land combinations on Velasquez, what's to stop Dos Santos from finding a home for his powerful right hand?  During the post-fight coverage on Fox, however, UFC President Dana White's comments made it sound like this should have been an easy fight for Velasquez, suggesting that the former champion should have immediately worked for takedowns. Even UFC commentator Joe Rogan spoke of the questionable rational of Velasquez when he spoke with MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani after the fight. My question is when did it become so easy to just take fighters down? Dana White wanted us to believe that it shouldn't take more than sixty-four seconds for a NCAA Division I wrestling champion who trains with world class wrestlers like Muhammed Lawal and Dan Cormier to take down the Brazilian striker. Forget about setting up the takedowns with strikes. Just come out and bullrush Dos Santos and take him down! Even the most credentialed wrestler can't do that when punches are involved.  Let's also not forget that Junior dos Santos has a history of being tough to take down. He hasn't been tested by a NCAA champion, but that's not what stands out in my opinion. Shane Carwin was supposed to challenge Dos Santos with his strength and better wrestling abilities, and like Velasquez -- Dos Santos used his footwork and movement to evade the pressure and batter his opponent from range. Furthermore, Dos Santos didn't pop off combinations that featured four or five punches. He limited his output in order to lessen Velasquez's window of opportunity. It's unfair to criticize Velasquez after spending such a short time inside the Octagon. It isn't like Dos Santos was a layup win for Cain. He was the #1 contender for a reason, and he showed fans in his previous bouts that he has the crushing force in his punches to level anyone in a split second. How that got lost in the aftermath of this fight is beyond me. Instead of focusing on Dos Santos' triumph, we witnessed a rant about how Velasquez should have worked for the takedown immediately. Apparently more immediate than sixty-four seconds. As fans, we tend to thrust unrealistic expectations onto many of the best fighters in the sport. I can handle the everyday arguments I have with casual fans. It's fun to argue with some level of ridiculousness from time to time. I can't, however, stand to watch gifted athletes like Cain Velasquez be thrown under the bus because expectations were high that he should take down a brilliant fighter like Junior dos Santos whenever he wants. This isn't ten years ago when there were only a handful of fighters who possessed well-rounded skill-sets. This is the modern era, a time when nearly every fighter at the apex of a division has the skills to compete in any area of a fight. The new champion used his strengths to win, and Cain didn't have time to set up his takedowns and capitalize. It's as simple as that. Focus on the positives that Junior dos Santos displayed in victory, not the unrealistic expectations that Velasquez didn't meet. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, do, velasquez

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After weeks of build-up, an hour long "UFC Primetime" special and 40 full minutes of build-up, Ultimate Fighting Championship's network debut on FOX barely lasted one full minute last night (November 12, 2011). But boy, oh boy, was it a wild minute. Despite apparently suffering from a torn meniscus ligament in his knee, Junior dos Santos cracked champion Cain Velasquez with an overhand right and finished the American Kickboxing Academy fighter with swarming ground and pound. With the victory, "Cigano," one of the nicest fighters in the sport, proved true his recent talking point in the lead-up to the fight that, "good things happen to good people." His emotional post-fight reaction combined with his dominant stoppage hopefully put him over with mainstream America and he instantly became superstar in Brazil. So how did dos Santos pull it off? And where do both talented heavyweights go from here? Perhaps knowing about the knee injury or simply looking to wear down his opponent's lead leg, Velasquez attacked dos Santos with repeated leg kicks early. "Cigano" countered with a nasty overhand right, setting it up with a lead left hand to the chest to catch Cain by surprise. It worked, but the shot wasn't at full force, although we'd be seeing that exact same strike very shortly. The most important part of the bout was nearly 30 seconds in. Dos Santos threw a push kick that was caught by the champion. As Velasquez pushed forward looking for a takedown, the Brazilian challenger pulled his leg back and spun away from danger. He'd never be threatened by a takedown attempt again. Velasquez landed a nice left hook during an exchange and this was probably a bad thing for the champion. Giving him some confidence in his stand-up, he put himself in the perfect position for the fight-ending sequence from dos Santos. Watch how Velasquez is flat on his feet, and simply not in a good position to get out of the way of the incoming assault from the challenger. Just like he did 18 seconds in, dos Santos stepped forward deep with his lead left leg put his left hand on the champion's chest and came over the top with a HUGE overhand right that clipped Velasquez behind the year. Just like previous title bouts featuring Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua 2, Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture and Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre, the punch behind the ear completely destroyed the champion's equilibrium. Velasquez dropped and unlike his fight with Cheick Kongo, there was no escaping danger by using his wrestling. He was simply hurt too much and dos Santos swarmed him with heavy punches on the ground that forced him to turn away from danger. Once "Big" John McCarthy stepped in and put a halt to the onslaught, Junior dos Santos was the new UFC heavyweight champion of the world. For Cain Velasquez, he's obviously devastated. The UFC's marketing campaign had worked and he'd been put over with the budding latino MMA fanbase. A quick glance at the pro-Velasquez crowd in Anaheim last night was a testament to that. While the dreams of creating a similar buzz with Mexican fans in MMA as they have in boxing isn't dead, it was definitely delayed last night. Those who jumped all over the champion for his performance last night need to give it a rest. Velasquez attempted a takedown and it's not like he'd have been a tremendous success if he'd gone in diving at dos Santos' legs from the opening bell. He needed to stand a bit to make his takedowns more believable, he just didn't get enough time to do it properly before he got caught. There are a few options for his next fight. A rematch against recently resurrected Cheick Kongo would make sense, as that was the toughest fight Velasquez had before dos Santos. Other options include recent Strikeforce Grand Prix losers Antonio Silva or Fabricio Werdum. For Junior dos Santos, what more can be said about his stellar showing? While we wish we could have seen him work a little longer, there's no complaints about what he accomplished. He finished a man who seemed potentially unstoppable in 64 seconds, and he did it with a torn ligament in his knee. Hopefully the UFC seizes this opportunity and begins marketing him as one of the most dangerous men in the world, capable of knocking anyone out in a minute if he can connect. There's no big secret who he'll face next. "Cigano" will square off with the upcoming UFC 141 main event winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem. With a season of The Ultimate Fighter previously building up the Lesnar match-up and an Overeem fight that would feature the two best heavyweight strikers on the planet, prospects are definitely good for another thrilling heavyweight title fight. Hopefully dos Santos won't be sidelined too long while recovering from the torn ligament. So what did you think, Maniacs?  Were you blown away by dos Santos' stunning knockout of the previously undefeated Velasquez? Or did you see it coming all along? How do you like his chances against the Lesnar vs. Overeem winner? Sound off! For complete UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. dos Santos" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here. All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.

Posted in: fight, vs, champion, do, velasquez

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The biggest loser last night was not Cain Velasquez, but Dana White and his ill timed comments on the Fox debut. The heavyweight fight ended in surprising fashion, with Junior dos Santos finishing Cain in two minutes of the first round. Not exactly what the UFC brass were looking for in terms of displaying the UFC to a new audience, and his frustration was very evident in his post fight comments. Listen, I'm no strategist and I'm nobody's coach but I don't understand why they didn't go for the shot early. They should have shot in on Junior Dos Santos knowing that he has the power early in the fight and tries to knock you out. But the truth is that Junior Dos Santos gets tired at the end of fights, you know? Here he is standing right in front of him trying to trade and bang with Junior Dos Santos and gets hit with that big right hand right behind the ear and down he goes. Down goes his heavyweight championship. I'll say it again, not saying that I'm some strategy coach but I don't know why they wouldn't take the shot on him and wrestle early.It's one thing to feel a fight out but when you're standing right in front of a guy that you know his biggest weapons are his hands and he can knock you out and this thing is a five round fight. Get in there and start working him. Stay busy and put him against the fence. Rough him up and tire him out a little bit and bring it into the later rounds where Junior Dos Santos is well known for getting tired. These kinds of remarks are unacceptable by someone in his position, especially now that they have the attention of much more respected media outlets. He not only discredits the previous champion, he also trashes his current champion in the process. I understand he was frustrated the fight didn't go longer, the UFC has put a lot into this night and a lot was riding on their performance, but it's a fight. Things happen that you can't predict and Dana of all people should understand that. He's now inadvertently hurt Junior's creditability as a champion, and did so on Fox in front of possibly millions of viewers. Instead of praising the champion for not only coming into the fight injured, but defeating the champion in impressive fashion, he decides to attack JDS's cardio. This is easily one of the most foolish things Dana has ever done, and for his sake, I hope the mainstream media doesn't pick up on these comments. So is Dana White the wrong person to represent and introduce the UFC to a new audience (and a potentially more conservative audience)? In the past, people have connected with his brash honest approach to running a company, but now the UFC is attempting to become recognized as a mainstream sport and the majority of his comments would be deemed offensive and out of place by most media outlets. We all know his history with running his mouth at the wrong time, and now it seems he's done it again. It's time for either Dana White to change, or for the UFC to find a new man to represent their product.

Posted in: ufc, fight, dana, champion, do

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was on the red carpet tonight (Nov. 12, 2011) live from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, for UFC on FOX 1, featuring a heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos. The promotion's network television debut, which will kick off a seven year broadcast agreement worth upwards of $100 million, is attracting more than just the mixed martial arts (MMA) community. Riding the red carpet earlier this evening was an influx of sports and entertainment celebrities, including UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, UFC 141 headliner Alistair Overeem, Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke and of course, plenty of attractive women. UFC on FOX red carpet pics, courtesy of Fuel TV and Facebook, after the jump. Pro BMX Rider Mike Escamilla Blink-182 Drummer Travis Barker UFC 141 headliner Alistair Overeeem with TapouT's Skyscrape Hot women UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke UFC middleweight Brian Stann Hollywood actor Ron Perlman UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz Okay Maniacs, help me out here. Who is this? Mystery guests part two. Anyone? That's it from the red carpet at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Now it's time to see why they all turned out in the first place. A little thing called UFC on FOX. Maybe you've heard of it? For complete UFC on FOX results and live play-by-play for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" click here.

Posted in: ufc, fox, champion, honda center, carpet

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There's never much rest for a champion and even after a historic night where the UFC debuted on Fox and Junior dos Santos captured the UFC heavyweight title, everyone is already talking about what's next.

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, what, ’ll fight

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I'm not sure how casual fans and neophytes might have reacted to tonight's fight. After all this build up, we were left with the image of Cain Velasquez in a crumpled mess not even two minutes into the fight. The result led to the most accurate description of tonight's festivities compliments of one Bill Simons: "UFC loses its network virginity to Fox and it's over in under 90 seconds. Just like real life!" Well said. I think. The fight clearly wasn't what many of us expected, but to virgin viewers, there was no question about the outcome. No worrying about whether or not the fight would go the judges' scorecards. No worrying about whether or not both guys would put on a stinker. No mater what universe, tonight's outcome was at least one of the best possible worlds. Junior dos Santos is the new HW Champion and he did it with a bang. Don't tell Dana that though. Following the fight, Dana would go on a bizarre monologue about Cain not following the gameplan. In a description that will be familiar to MMA historians who mocked White's adventure into Japan that saw Chuck Liddell enter the Pride Tournament and lose, Dana seem hung up on what Cain failed to do as opposed to what Junior accomplished. This will surely be the talking point for the MMA media, and to be sure, you'll get some hyperbolic analysis: "Why the FOX adventure was a failure", or something equally and incredibly dumb. The outcome does deserve analysis: casual fans are used to the fight culture of boxing, where matches seem to play out like stories rather than footnotes. Will they accept this footnote? I'd say that the event was a success, but with caveats. The positive is that the UFC has a new exciting young champion. While some observers may be concerned about what fans react now, JDS is a marketable as hell fighter, and that bodes well for his future. Second, the UFC now has 3 Brazilian champions, which also bodes well for the success of their international expansion. Dana wouldn't shut up about Cain not following the gameplan (at the time of the press conference, Dana is still in Buzz Killington mode). Where does this crap come from? The fight lasted less than two minutes. As a promoter, you'd think he would thrilled to talk up Dos Santos as the new HW champion, especially in the fashion that he did. Instead he can't refrain from playing armchair critic. I know Dana means well, but Junior blasted Cain before he could even consider a gameplan: this is the nature of MMA. Brock Lesnar did an excellent job. People tend to forget that for all of his strange beliefs about healthcare, and horse shoes, he's a lucid speaker. His thoughts flow when he speaks his mind, and his mind is nothing if not organized. Plus he was a good sport about the highlights they kept replaying of him getting obliterated by Velasquez. Ben 'Daigo" Henderson went into beast mode once again. Against Clay Guida, he put on another phenomenal performance. He hurt Clay early, and everytime Guida tried to wrestle, Ben would shrug off his attempts, displaying supernatural balance. It was a highly competitive fight, but with a clear winner. WEC NEVER DIE! I think Edgar beats Henderson, but he's gonna have a hell of a time doing it. That fight will likely be fight of the year for 2012, and Ben Henderson will finally be certified as a national treasure. Perhaps the only other news worth mentioning were some of the other heroes on the facebook prelims: Dustin Poirier, and Ricardo Lamas put in solid performances.  

Posted in: ufc, fight, dana, champion, hw champion

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Junior dos Santos knocked out UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in just 64-seconds to win the title as the UFC made its network debut on Fox on Saturday night from Anaheim, California. Dos Santos caught Velasquez with a punch to the ear that sent the champion stumbling to the canvas and followed up with unanswered punches on the ground that forced referee “Big” John McCarthy to stop the fight just over a minute into the scheduled five-rounder. In the UFC on Fox co-main event, lightweight contender Ben Henderson outpointed Clay Guida to earn the next shot at champion Frankie Edgar.  

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, fox, champion, do

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Ben Henderson answered an important question. He is next in line for lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

Posted in: henderson, champion, shot, upend, secure

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Saturday night’s ‘UFC on FOX 1’ event saw a new heavyweight champion crowned.Junior Dos Santos needed just 64 seconds to put Cain Velasquez...

Posted in: ufc, fox, champion, do, rsquo

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After the UFC 121 main event, Cain Velasquez became the 15th man to be recognized as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. It's an honor that has been placed upon mixed martial arts (MMA) legends such as Randy Couture, Mark Coleman and Bas Rutten, among others. He also joined the likes of Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez, and other men who won the belt but couldn't hold onto it beyond a single defense. Tonight (Nov. 12, 2011), we find out if the Mexican-American will begin a path toward heavyweight immortality or if his opponent, Junior dos Santos, will bring his reign to an abrupt and unceremonious end. The two men headline the inaugural UFC on Fox 1 event, a bout that Dana White has called the biggest in the promotion's history. Dos Santos finds himself in the challenger's position, winning all seven of his fights inside the Octagon. Velasquez earned his spot by winning the title last year in Anaheim, punishing then-champ Brock Lesnar to earn a devastating first round stoppage. Let's take a closer look at that fight: Immediately the champion bull rushes Velasquez in an attempt to get the fight to the mat. The challenger struggles against Lesnar's advances, so the former WWE Superstar begins throwing knees as the two clinch. The champion remains aggressive, leaping into the air with a flying knee that barely misses its mark. He fights tooth and nail to get a handle on his opponent, but Velasquez does his part to create some distance between him and the champ. Pinned up against the cage, Lesnar sticks a jab out before throwing an uppercut. He avoids a combination and takes down Velasquez as the crowd roars with approval. But, as he tries to advance into half-guard, the challenger is able to get back to his feet. Unwilling to give up the advantageous position, the champion clings onto his opponent's left leg. Lesnar pins Velasquez against the cage and the two begin to jockey for position, fighting for the slightest bit of leverage. The champion wants nothing more than to get back down to the mat, his opponent wanting the exact opposite. This contest -- a fight between two monstrous men -- has suddenly become a battle of inches. In a "blink and you miss it" moment, the champion is able to drop Velasquez to the mat, but the Mexican-American immediately gets back to his feet. His ground game is solid, but that's Lesnar's bread and butter. In the stand up is where the challenger would have the advantage. The champion's striking acumen is crude and unpolished, while Velasquez has the technique and power to put even the most durable heavyweights to sleep. Just ask Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Finally, with a little more than three minutes remaining in the opening round, the challenger is able to fully escape his opponent's grasp and the two fighters reset in the center of the cage. Two jabs from the challenger begin to open Lesnar up under his left eye and it becomes startlingly apparent the reason Velasquez wanted to keep the fight on its feet. The two behemoths are throwing single strikes, neither wanting to commit fully to an exchange. Velasquez then throws a quick right, which Lesnar tries to counter, but the strike was merely a diversion for the unexpected takedown the challenger busts out. Already looking a bit fatigued, the champion is now forced to defend a takedown from his younger, fresher challenger. Lesnar doesn't defend long as he soon finds himself on the mat with Velasquez blanketing him from above. Punch after punch rain down on the champion, who offers up little to no defense. Memories of his UFC 116 bout with Shane Carwin flood into the viewers' minds, images of a nearly five-minute beating consuming their every thought. Could Lesnar find a way to survive again? The champion is able to get back to his feet, but his left eye is becoming a mangled mess. He's hurt, tired and his opponent smells blood. In the wilderness, it'd be fight or flight time for Lesnar whose chances of retaining his title are hanging on by a string. Halfway through the first round, the champ throws a backhand punch, which in my opinion, signals the beginning of the end. Lesnar simply doesn't know what to do at this point, how to keep Velasquez from imposing his will for the remainder of the fight. A weak takedown attempt is easily shrugged off by the challenger and forces Lesnar to take a now infamous and oft-animated GIFed tumble across the Octagon. When he returns to his feet on the other side of the cage, the champ is met with what else, but Velasquez's fists slamming their way into his face. A brutal two-punch combination drops the champ to the mat where the Mexican-American begins to take him apart with surgical precision until the referee has no other choice than to separate him from the bloody heap that is Brock Lesnar. And with that stoppage -- his eighth in nine fights -- Velasquez becomes the UFC Heavyweight Champion. Shoulder surgery has kept him on the shelf since then, but he aims to make his first defense a successful one tonight. Will he succeed?

Posted in: fight, challenger, champion, velasquez, lesnar

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In the primes of their respective careers, they stand on the precipice of an historic moment -- an undefeated champion and his challenger. Five rounds stand between them and the ultimate glory of their profession

Posted in: champion, showdown, do, glory, prime

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Not to look past the importance of tomorrow night and the UFC heavyweight championship that will be decided between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos but the fun in the division happens at UFC 141, when former UFC champion Brock Lesnar returns and faces off against the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem. The UFC [...]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, champion, lesnar, tomorrow night

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MTV UK documentary spotlights BAMMA middleweight champion Jack Marshman (@jackmarshman), UCMMA light heavyweight champion Jimi Manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM), and UCMMA featherweight champion Cory Tait (@CapcomCory). Manuwa was the #3-ranked light heavyweight on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report.

Posted in: heavyweight, champion, light heavyweight, ucmma, bamma

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There's been a lot of talk this week about what the UFC on Fox event means historically. While true perspective can't be calculated until after things have concluded, Saturday will mark a pretty important day and milestone for the world's largest MMA promotion.It may sound like a 'duh' statement, but a lot can happen in a short amount of time in MMA. Just this year alone, we've seen No. 1 buy No. 2, No. 1 sign a network deal, champions cross over, miss press conferences and then get title shots, stars get injured and more. December will be a fun month for those year-end retrospective pieces as there's a ton to discuss.But with Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos set to go in front of potentially the biggest audience to ever watch an MMA bout, it got me to thinking about where the current crop of UFC champions were five years ago. To paraphrase the Talking Heads, how did we get here? Be the Sherman to my Mr. Peabody and jump in the time machine with me to November 12, 2006, when the UFC was ready to close out their second year of the boom period and had just wrapped their fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter. The UFC Five years ago today, the TUF 4 finale was set for Las Vegas and would feature Matt Serra picking up a split decision win over Chris Lytle to win a shot at the welterweight title and Travis Lutter submitting Patrick Cote in the first round to get a shot at the middleweight gold. TUF 4 was entitled "The Comeback" and featured all former UFC fighters looking to get back to the big time. Serra would take advantage of his opportunity, while Lutter couldn't make weight and failed at his. An interesting note on this card: Martin Kampmann beat Thales Leites by unanimous decision in the night's opening fight.One week later, then-UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes was preparing to defend against Georges St. Pierre at UFC 65 with Tim Sylvia defending his heavyweight gold against Jeff Monson. For perspective, Sylvia just headlined for ProElite while Monson is preparing for a fight in Russia against Fedor Emelianenko. A lot can happen in five years. UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez The man that is preparing for the first defense of his gold was a month removed from the first pro win of his career five years ago, a 1:58 TKO win over Jesse Fujarczyk on the undercard of a Strikeforce event featuring Paul Buentello vs. Tank Abbott in the main event. UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick CruzThe reigning 135-pound kingpin was 9-0 and coming off his featherweight debut in a decision win over Shad Smith at a regional show. He was less than five months away from getting his only career loss at the hands of Urijah Faber in his WEC debut. UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones How quickly has Jones shot up the ranks? Five years ago, he had yet to compete professionally. That wouldn't happen until April 2008 and now he's beating up guys like Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Rampage Jackson.UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo Five years ago, Aldo was sitting at 8-1 in the Brazilian MMA scene but had only fought once in 2006. It would be about 18 months until he went on his path of destruction in the WEC that would eventually lead to his current reign in the UFC. UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva "The Spider" was enjoying his first month as UFC Middleweight Champion after his destruction of Rich Franklin at UFC 64 -- the kickoff to a reign that is still going strong five years later. In that time, Silva is 12-0 in two weight classes and has defended his belt nine consecutive times. UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar The 4-0 Edgar was a week out from a tilt with Jim Miller for the Reality Fighting group in Atlantic City, NJ -- a fight he'd win by unanimous decision. He would get his first taste of UFC action four months later in a UFC 67 Fight Of The Night against Tyson Griffin and never looked back. UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. PierreReferenced earlier, St. Pierre was one week out from his first title shot and what would become a short first title reign that ended at the hands of the aforementioned Serra. St. Pierre has done just fine in the last five years with the majority spent being recognized as one of the two best fighters in the world. In November 2016, what will this list look like? Will we be talking about how the next UFC/Fox deal should double in rights fees? Will pay-per-view still be alive? Could any of these champions still be on the list? SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, time, champion, year, month

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

When Zuffa purchased Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) back in 2001, they surely had lofty goals for their acquisition and the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) in general. Some of those hopes become realized this Saturday (Nov. 12, 2011) when UFC on Fox debuts with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez taking on Junior Dos Santos in the promotion's first-ever fight on broadcast television. It's been a rollercoaster ride for the company, one that mirrors the heavyweight division itself. Once as shallow as a kiddie pool, it now boasts a stable of fighters that could represent the future of the sport. When last we left you, Randy Couture had returned to the Octagon to recapture the title he never lost. He became the promotion's first two-time champion and the face of the heavyweight division as it entered a new era under Zuffa management. Since then, seven other men would be recognized as the champion along with an eighth holding an interim title. Couture himself would capture the title a third and final time, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Before Saturday's landmark fight, let's take a look at how the heavyweight title got there. It's time! After defeating Kevin Randleman, Couture went on to defend the title twice - a record for the heavyweight division - against Pedro Rizzo. The Brazilian took "The Natural" to the brink at UFC 31 and lost what many felt was a bogus decision. Their immediate rematch was at UFC 34 where Couture left nothing up to the judges as he stopped "The Rock" in the third round. It was Rizzo's third title shot in five fights and he failed to capitalize on each attempt. Nearly five months later, the UFC Hall of Famer would be on the opposite end of a technical knockout (TKO) stoppage when he stepped inside the cage with Josh Barnett. The much larger heavyweight imposed his will on Couture and pounded him out in the main event of UFC 36 with less than a minute remaining in the second round. The kudos for "The Baby Face Assassin" were short-lived, however, as a post-fight drug test came back hot and the newly crowned champ was stripped of his title. Barnett denied any wrongdoing and left the promotion. Since the heavyweight title was officially introduced in 1997, there had been five champions and three vacancies in its lineage. First when Couture walked away during a contract dispute, second when Bas Rutten retired and now a third with Barnett. Not wanting to keep the division without a champion for too long, a fight between "The Natural" and Ricco Rodriguez was booked three events later with the young Latino fighter coming out on top. For "Captain America," it was a sign that perhaps the division had gotten too big for him and he found a new home at 205-pounds soon after. "Suave" entered 2003 as the champion but wouldn't even get a fourth of the way through the new year before he was usurped. At UFC 41, it only took Tim Sylvia three minutes to become the ninth heavyweight champion. At UFC 44, he successfully defended his title against Gan McGee and infamously called out Pride FC champion Fedor Emelianenko. While he would eventually get that fight - albeit outside the UFC - the more pressing matter was the tainted urine sample he provided the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Like Barnett, "The Maine-iac" was popped for steroids but unlike the catch wrestler, Sylvia owned up to his wrongdoing. He said he wanted a more chiseled physique and threw himself at the mercy of the proverbial court. When he returned from his suspension, he took on Frank Mir for the opportunity to win the title he was stripped of six months prior. He failed and as a consolation prize had his arm snapped by the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt in one of the more gruesome moments in MMA history. Mir might have thought that winning UFC gold was cause for celebration but in the case of the heavyweight title, a curse seems to follow it wherever it goes. The curse fell upon Mir in the form of a motorcycle accident that nearly ended his career. When it appeared as if the champion would be able to return after a brief recovery period, an interim title bout was set up between - you guessed it - Tim Sylvia and newcomer to the UFC heavyweight elite Andrei Arlovski. "The Pitbull" was able to take advantage of Sylvia's newfound apprehension towards submissions and earned a first round stoppage after dropping the former champ with punches. What followed the next two years were some of the darkest days the heavyweight title would ever see. It survived multiple positive drugs tests, a retirement, and a contract dispute. But could it survive defenses against Justin Eilers and Paul Buentello? When Mir sat on the shelf longer than expected, Arlovski was promoted from interim to undisputed champ. While the former, he took on Eilers and during his reign as the latter, he defeated Buentello. It took his old rival Sylvia to wrest the title away from the Belarusian. At UFC 59, Sylvia became the second two-time heavyweight champion when he knocked out "The Pitbull." Their rubber match less than three months later remains near the top of many fans' "worst fight in history" list. Sylvia would go on to once again match an accomplishment of Couture's when he successfully defended the title a second time when he defeated Jeff Monson. So who better than "The Natural" himself to come out of retirement to slay the goliath? In one of the most thrilling bouts in UFC history, the 43-year old became the first fighter to become a three-time champion within a single weight division. He caught Sylvia in a matter of seconds as the fight opened and never looked back. "Captain America" defended against Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 74 and it seemed that maybe, just maybe, there would be some stability at the top of the heavyweight class. But old habits die hard, it would seem. Once again, Couture threatened to walk away from the promotion and the title, citing unhappiness with his contract. In a legal maneuver, the UFC refused to strip him of the title and instead booked a second interim title match between recent Pride crossover Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and of course, Tim Sylvia. "The Maine-iac" seemed to be the go-to guy when the promotion needed a fighter for a title bout. The Brazilian took a beating from his American opponent but in typical "Big Nog" fashion pulled off a come-from-behind submission to capture the belt. He would go on to lose it to Frank Mir after the two coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter. But just to further complicate matters, Couture and the UFC had reconciled and "The Natural" was booked opposite Brock Lesnar just a month prior to the Mir/Nogueira fight. After Lesnar defeated Couture to win that particular belt, he sat in the audience 42 days later and saw Mir stop "Minotauro" to win another belt. The matter was settled when both champions collided at UFC 100. Lesnar walked out of Las Vegas as the undisputed champion but once again, the curse reared its ugly head. The former WWE wrestler's first bout with diverticulitis threatened to end his career so a third - yes, a THIRD - interim title was created and contested between Mir and Shane Carwin. To put that into perspective, across the other six weight classes, there have only been two other interim titles in the UFC's history. "The Engineer" knocked Mir out and took on Lesnar at UFC 116 when the champion returned from his illness. For the second time, the former pro wrestler took on an interim champ to unify the heavyweight belts and for the second time came out on top. But less than four months later, he would lose the title to Cain Velasquez. Over a year has passed since then without a single defense thanks to a shoulder injury the Mexican-American required surgery for, yet another case of the curse that has taken hold of the heavyweight title. Can the young Velasquez end the curse on Saturday? Or will a victory by Dos Santos continue the revolving door that seems to be ever present at the top of the heavyweight division? We will find out when the UFC makes it historic broadcast television debut.

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, champion, sylvia

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A lot of mixed martial arts fans had a problem with the way Nick Diaz, egged on by his coach and manager Cesar Gracie, called out reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. Flashback to UFC 137 on Oct. 29, 2011, when Diaz secured a dominant three round unanimous decision win over former division champion B.J. Penn. In his post fight interview with color commentator Joe Rogan, a victorious Diaz declared, "He's scared." Right after Gracie shouted "Call that (expletive) out!" While the tried-and-true call-out is the quickest and easiest way to land a title shot (see Sonnen, Chael), it did nothing to help Diaz overcome the bad-boy reputation he's earned throughout his career. But as the wily Stockton slugger explains to Fight Hype, he wouldn't have had to call St. Pierre out, if "Rush" would have simply asked for the fight. "I had to come out and do what I had to do and fight, and come out all dramatic and act up, and next thing you know, I got a fight, so I'm sure he can't blame me for that. That fight is important anyway because that's the fight that people want to see because I beat all of these important people. I have three Strikeforce belts. If I was him, I would be asking to fight me. If he would have automatically asked for it, then we wouldn't be in this situation he's in where he's not saying nothing. He should have said, 'This is who I want to fight.' It's not about being a challenger; it's about who is champion at the weight. I'm holding three titles, you know? And I got that DREAM champion too, so you can make that four. It's just as important as anything else and I know I would want to fight another champion before I would want to fight a high contender. Even if I know that high contender is better than the champion, I would still want to fight the champion because he's considered the best guy. That's the route I would have took." Diaz will get his shot at the 170-pound title when he locks up with St. Pierre at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Anyone have a problem with the way Diaz earned his crack at the crown? Was it St. Pierre's job to ask for this fight? Or Joe Silva's? What say you?

Posted in: fight, diaz, pierre, st, champion

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Cain Velasquez is the UFC heavyweight champion, but he’s not too important to mop up the floor at his hometown gym.

Posted in: sport, champion, velasquez, success, floor

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(London, 09/11/2011) MTV’s The Wrap-Up presents ‘3’, a cutting edge documentary focusing on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts in partnership with HALO MMA. In follow up to UFC 138 when the world's eyes are turned upon UK talent, the film takes an in-depth look at three of the UK’s most sought after, upcoming mixed martial artists. Starring UCMMA Light Heavyweight Champion, Jimi "Posterboy" Manuwa, UCMMA Featherweight Champion, "Capcom" Cory Tait and BAMMA British Middleweight Champion, Jack "Hammer" Marshman, the documentary directed by British Filmmaker Demetrio Marquez and produced by UK journalist Aundre Jacobs, showcases the lives of the three fighters, before and after a fight. Ground-breaking in MMA for its quality and craftsmanship, the film presents an intimate portrait of the athletes and explores what drew them into the sport and what lights their fires. Undefeated UCMMA Light-Heavyweight Champion, Jimi Manuwa (10-0-0) has won 8 of his fights by knock out; 6 of his fights have been title bouts or defences; and it has never taken him more than two rounds to finish an opponent. Manuwa commented: "It's great being a part of this documentary and good to see UK fighters showing their skills. We've got a strong core of fighters coming through the ranks and I'm going to lead from the front. Hopefully this documentary will give people a chance to see my talents and show what goes on behind the scenes. It's a tough sport to be in but lions always eat first." The lightning fast UCMMA Featherweight Champion, Cory Tait (4-1-0) -touted as UK's the upcoming Anderson Silva- had this to say about the documentary: "It’s a great way to show people in the UK and around the world how hard working the UK MMA scene is, the following it has and the fighters it produces. I’m excited to be a part of this project." Undefeated BAMMA British Middleweight Champion, and serving British Armed Forces Afghan vet, Jack Marshman has a record of 9-0-0. Marshman recently wowed audiences at BAMMA 7 with his tremendous heart, after he came back from a sustained GnP battering at the hands of Carl Noon and turned fortune around to secure a legendary victory in the third round. Marshman said: "It's fantastic to be seen as a rising star in UKMMA and I'll do my best to meet those expectations. I've been overwhelmed by the support of UK fans, and the boys from 3 Para are always very vocal at my fights. It's good for people to see behind the scenes a bit and get to know me better. I'm learning and growing all the time as I'm hungry for more belts and tough opponents." Film-maker Demetrio Marquez commented: "Making '3' has been an amazing experience. A personal win for me is seeing people involved in the project who had no previous interest or opinion of MMA suddenly trying to school me with a bit of Wikipedia knowledge. That's why through our MTV documentaries, it's important that we aren't just covering the intricacies of the sport but humanising the athletes. This will help attract a new audience to MMA, just through simple things like having that one thing in common with a fighter.....be it you both like jerk chicken, have children, stay in for Jools Holland and so on. I honestly wouldn't be interested in telling their stories, if that wasn't the case; and I'm not in there asking the guys to talk trash about their opponents. I'm just trying to find the best opportunities to offer the audience a glimpse of their real characters both in and outside of fighting. This is why I'm delighted with the documentary- because I think particularly with Jimi Manuwa's part, you really get past that stone-cold killer image he has and uncover the true Poster Boy. So a massive thanks to Jimi, Cory and Jack and all of their team for welcoming us. They were all brilliant to work with and I wish them the best in their future fights. OSS!" Izzy Carnwath from HALO MMA commented: "It's really fantastic to see a prestigious media outlet such as MTV taking an interest in MMA in the UK and help to push the sport forward. Talent like Marquez's is sorely needed by the scene, to present this exciting and very technical sport in a way that does it and its athletes justice. Beautifully crafted cinematography is the best medium I can think of to explain MMA to the mainstream and to set it above the tawdry image it often has in the UK". 3 is the documentary that fans, not just across the UK but across the world, have been looking forward to. With the likes of Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett already cutting a name for themselves over in the States, 3 showcases a new breed of fierce MMA talent you can't afford to miss. 

Posted in: mma, sport, champion, uk, documentary

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As the inaugural contest to be broadcast on network television, Saturday’s UFC heavyweight title fight between champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos on FOX has already earned a place in the history books.The very real possibility exists that it finds a place in the organization’s annals because of the events that transpire inside the cage as well.The champion and challenger stand as the undisputed top two heavyweights in the UFC — dominant forces with matching 7-0 marks within the confines of the Octagon. Both have climbed to the summit of the sport’s marquee division, sweeping aside a combined 14 challengers, only three of whom survived until the final horn sounded.With the potentially historic encounter rapidly approaching, here’s a look back at five other epic heavyweight encounters from the past.Randy Couture vs. Ricco RodriguezUFC 39 (September 27, 2002)Six months after losing the UFC heavyweight title to Josh Barnett, the then 39-year-old Couture and budding star Rodriguez were paired to battle for the vacant championship in the main event of UFC 39: The Warriors Return.Couture got the best of things early, but tired in the championship rounds. Losing on the scorecards at the time, Rodriguez took Couture down in the fifth and began dropping elbows on the former two-time champion, breaking his orbital bone and forcing a verbal submission from Couture to claim the vacant UFC heavyweight title.It was the first time in UFC history a bout was finished in the fifth round, a result that has only been repeated two additional times since — BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez, UFC 107 and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen, UFC 117.Tim Sylvia vs. Frank MirUFC 48 (June 19, 2004)At the time, Sylvia was a perfect 16-0 and looking to reclaim the UFC heavyweight title he had been stripped of nine months earlier. Mir had just turned 25 the month prior, was riding a three-fight winning streak, and had the right combination of skills, charisma, and looks to become a huge star as the UFC’s popularity continued to grow.This one may have only lasted 50 seconds, but its place in the history books can’t be denied. Mir caught Sylvia in an armbar, and when the former champion went to pull free of the hold, the heavyweight jiu-jitsu player torqued on his arm a little more, prompting referee Herb Dean to step in and signal the end of the bout.Everyone thought Dean had acted prematurely, but replays — and later x-rays — showed he made the right call; Sylvia’s arm was broken.Tim Sylvia vs. Randy CoutureUFC 68 (March 3, 2007)Sylvia was once again on top of the heavyweight mountain, having reclaimed the title from Andrei Arlvoski at UFC 59.  After a pair of successful — though uneventful — title defenses, “The Maine-iac” was short on challengers.Enter Couture.Nearly 13 months after announcing his retirement following his loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 57, Couture returned to the Octagon, fighting at heavyweight for the first time since UFC 39.In one of the most unexpected and memorable performances in UFC history, Couture dropped Sylvia right out of the gate, and continued to dominate the heavily favored champion for the duration of the bout’s five rounds.Couture earned a unanimous decision win, claiming the UFC heavyweight title for a third time, the fifth and final championship victory of his illustrious career.Brock Lesnar vs. Frank MirUFC 100 (July 11, 2009)After winning his MMA debut, former WWE superstar Lesnar joined the UFC heavyweight division, and was paired with Mir for his Octagon debut.The former champion submitted the athletically gifted MMA neophyte 90 seconds into the opening round of their bout at UFC 81. Though Lesnar showed promise, his inexperience cost him.Later that year, both men would stake a claim to being the UFC heavyweight champion. Lesnar followed up his victory over Heath Herring by beating Randy Couture at UFC 91, while Mir stopped fellow TUF 8 coach Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira for the interim title a month later at UFC 92.Originally scheduled for UFC 98, their second meeting would headline UFC 100, the biggest event in the organization’s history at the time. Both men entered with titles, but only would emerge as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.Mir had no answers for Lesnar’s raw power and brute strength. Clinched along the cage, Mir attempted a jumping knee, but Lesnar still managed to secure the takedown. He proceeded to pin Mir against the cage and rain down a torrent of unanswered blows, leading to the fight being stopped 1:48 into the second round.Brock Lesnar vs. Shane CarwinUFC 116 (July 3, 2010)A year after unifying the UFC heavyweight titles at UFC 100, Lensar returned to the cage following a career-threatening battle with diverticulitis to face another interim champion, unbeaten Shane Carwin.With a perfect 12-0 record and a 4-0 mark in the UFC, Carwin had spent just over seven minutes in the Octagon. His victory over Frank Mir at UFC 111 lasted longer than his previous three bouts combined, and his explosive knockout power was something Lesnar had not yet experienced in his young career.Carwin rocked Lesnar early, relentlessly pounding on the returning champion throughout the first round, with referee Josh Rosenthal looking like he could stop the fight on a couple different occasions.The bout continued, however, and took a turn in the opposite direction in the second frame.After surviving the opening stanza, Lesnar gave Carwin a smile at the start of the second round. Carwin was spent, and Lesnar capitalized, easily taking him down. Lesnar forced Carwin to tap to an arm triangle choke at 2:19 of the second round, handing him the first loss of his career and unifying the heavyweight title for the second time in his career.

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, champion, lesnar

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Anderson Silva doesn't want tough fights. Almost every time a potential contenders name starts to be thrown around as next in line, Silva always seems to have a reason why they shouldn't fight. It's perfectly okay for Silva to have an opinion on future opponents, but I can't remember a time when he's been open to what many expect to be a real challenge. What got me thinking about this were Silva's recent comments to SporTV in which the champion seemed surprised that Mark Munoz, a former training partner, had called him out. According to Silva, he thought they were friends, but it's hard to justify his position here. Munoz had only trained with Silva on a few occasions from what I can tell, and had even said in interviews while training with the champion that he'd still like to fight for the belt. So it's a bit strange that Silva would assume Munoz had no intentions of winning the middleweight championship. He's also recently said that Chael Sonnen, the only man in the UFC to ever come close to defeating the champion, doesn't deserve another title shot. This is a bit more understanding when you consider Sonnen was caught using PED's in the post fight drug test, but it's still aggravating. Sonnen is possibly the only real challenge left for Silva at middleweight, and it doesn't help his credibility when it appears he's dodging the fight. Of course we can't forget his new found friendship with light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. When asked if he'd fight Jones, Silva said, "No chance. He's in a different weight class, we are friends and we won't fight each other." An interesting response from someone who has gone up in weight twice now, and has never had a problem with it. The only reason Silva had avoided fighting for the light heavyweight belt in the past was due to Lyoto Machida, but if Jones is the champion I don't see what the problem is. The only fight Silva or his management actually seem interested in, is Michael Bisping. As much as I'd like to see Bisping brutally knocked out again, this match-up is comical at best. He has nothing to offer on the feet against someone like Silva, and though his MMA wrestling has become moderately effective, it's incredibly unlikely he'd have any success holding Silva down for 5 rounds. I want to make it clear; I don't think Silva is afraid to fight anyone. He is the best fighter in the world for a reason, but it's not unreasonable to assume he or his management might be trying to protect his record. Silva is nearing the tail end of his career, and has more to lose than ever before. I doubt his or his managements opinion has much sway over the UFC brass, but comments like these could certainly change public opinion on a particular match-up. What do you think?

Posted in: fight, silva, champion, sonnen, he

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UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez opens up about the last time a movie made him shed a few tears.

Posted in: ufc, champion, velasquez, tear, ufc champ

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London/Chicago, November 7, 2011 – FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, today announced a global rights deal with Bellator Fighting Championships for FME to exclusively represent the rapidly growing brand’s international TV distribution rights, as well as handle the licensing, digital and ancillary rights for the US and international markets. Since its launch in 2009, Bellator has rapidly gained momentum in the US and abroad, and is now the No. 2 promoter and producer of mixed martial arts worldwide. Currently in its fifth season, Bellator airs in over 80 million homes on MTV2, in high-definition in 30 million homes on EPIX and can be seen weekly on Spike.com. Recognizing the growing popularity of the brand, Viacom, parent of MTV Networks, recently acquired a majority stake in the company. Additionally, Viacom has announced that Bellator will debut on Spike TV in early 2013, where it will be seen in over 100 million homes. David Ellender, FME’s Global CEO, commented, "This deal further diversifies FME’s third party slate and builds on our reputation as experts at identifying and exploiting the potential of emerging brands. The sport of mixed martial arts is gaining momentum with fans worldwide, and we can see huge potential for the Bellator brand across all platforms, both in the US and internationally." "The incredible athleticism and intensity exhibited in all of our mixed martial arts tournaments translate into any language," said Bjorn Rebney, Chairman, CEO and Founder of Bellator. "With FME as our partner, we will have the ability to showcase our high-intensity brand of fighting to millions around the globe." Bellator Fighting Championships showcases a unique format of world-class fighting with 12-week, eight-man tournaments featuring some of the most dynamic fighters in the world. Bellator’s fifth season currently airs Saturday nights on MTV2 and simulcast in HD on EPIX2. Its preliminary bouts are also streamed live worldwide on Spike.com. Bellator’s events emanate from venues across the United States and Canada. The organisation’s stable of championship fighters includes lightweight world champion Eddie Alvarez, middleweight champion Hector Lombard, welterweight champion Ben Askren, bantamweight champion Zack Makovsky, heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and Women’s 115-pound champion Zoila Frausto.

Posted in: bellator, champion, brand, home, fme

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Though Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez has a fight lined up against Mike Chandler on Nov. 19, 2011, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney already has a fight planned for his lightweight champion for early 2012. Specifically, a rematch against the last man to defeat him, DREAM lightweight champion and limb tearing submission specialist, Shinya Aoki. Alvarez and Aoki were first matched up at Dynamite 2008 in Japan. It wasn't much of a fight, though, as it lasted all of 92 seconds. Aoki caught Eddie early in the opening stanza with a heel hook that forced a tap. Since then, Alvarez has been on a tear, winning his last eight fights and capturing the Bellator lightweight title in the process. Time now to get that Aoki thorn out of his side. Speaking to MMA Weekly, Rebney reveals that the wheels are in motion to have the rematch setup in Bellator in early 2012. "Eddie and I have been talking about that fight now for the last two years. Ever since Eddie got submitted over in Japan, Ed's been calling me saying ‘how can we make it?' Now we've finally got it done. To be completely honest, Ed has got his hands full against Mike Chandler. Mike Chandler is an absolute freak of nature in terms of his wrestling. Ed's completely focused. He's 110-percent as good as he's ever been. So we'll see what happens in that fight. That is going to be a wickedly difficult fight for both of those guys If Ed wins that fight then we would look at doing the Aoki fight probably February sometime. An early February date, cause Ed's fight's going to happen right around Thanksgiving, and then you want at least a couple of months. You want at least a couple of months before you jump in there with one of the best lightweights in the world." Aoki gives his thoughts: "Yes, I will fight him next year. I am looking forward to it." Before the rematch can even take place, Alvarez will have to defend his lightweight belt against the winner of the most recent Bellator lightweight ournament, the dangerous and undefeated, Mike Chandler. Aoki, on the other hand, was last seen in action at Dream 17 on Sept. 24, 2011, where he defeated Rob McCullough via neck crank. The Japanese judoka is riding an impressive six fight winning streak since losing to current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez on April 17, 2010. Should this champion vs. champion rematch take place? If so, who wins and why?

Posted in: fight, bellator, champion, alvarez, aoki

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The early days of the UFC were like the wild west, a landscape of very few rules where the man with the biggest gun ruled.  But a little over three years into the promotion's life, they knew something had to change. They realized there was a legitimate sport to be made from the bare-knuckle brawling scraps that remained from the first handful of events and while a fight between a 180-pound man soaking wet and another who tips the scales somewhere close to 250 pounds may fun, it's ultimately archaic if the UFC was to be kept from being labeled as a bloodsport. At UFC 12, that began to change. It wasn't the meticulously planned weight classes we have now but it was a start. Two weight classes which amounted to everything at and above 200 pounds and then everything underneath was the first step to the sport we enjoy today. That event also hosted the promotion's very first heavyweight title fight. More men have worn that title than any other in the UFC, giving it a rich and sometimes complicated history. This Saturday (Nov. 12) with the debut of UFC on Fox, the title takes center stage in another significant moment.  Before current champion Cain Velasquez steps inside the Octagon against challenger Junior Dos Santos, we'll take a look at the lineage of the belt that they are fighting over. Pay attention, Maniacs, it's time for a history lesson! At UFC 12, Mark Coleman -- who had won the previous two tournaments -- was booked opposite Dan Severn who was the reigning Superfight champion to decide the company's first heavyweight champion. "The Beast" had defeated Ken Shamrock nearly a year prior for that honor which was regarded as somewhat of a de facto heavyweight crown. That night in the small town of Dothan, Alabama, "The Hammer" continued his dominance and routed Severn. Sinking in a neck crank/choke-type submission less than three minutes into the bout, Coleman forced his opponent to tap and celebrated despite now having a giant bullseye on his back as the heavyweight champ. His first defense should have been a cakewalk for "The Hammer." Maurice Smith was his opponent despite the fact the kickboxer was making his Octagon debut. "Mo" was the heavyweight kingpin with Extreme Fighting and in an early attempt at co-promotion, the two companies booked their champs against each other. Smith was a huge underdog due to the combination of him having never fought in the UFC and his awful 4-7 record. Coleman, on the other hand, pretty much destroyed each opponent placed in front of him. The kickboxer was seen as simply a placeholder until "The Hammer" was able to take on a more deserving challenger. Instead it was Smith who would be taking on those challengers. The Extreme Fighting champion used a modified rope-a-dope strategy to tire out his muscle-bound opponent during the regulation period before turning on the striking gas in overtime. Coleman has Frank Shamrock to thank -- or condemn -- for Smith's performance as he had been training with the mixed martial arts (MMA) legend to prepare for the big title bout. Smith won via decision and would later best Tank Abbott by pummeling the brawler with a litany of leg kicks. After eight minutes of having "Mo's" shin smacking against his leg, the original "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" could barely stand and had to give up. Next up for the champ was a fighter that MMA fans are all duly familiar with, Randy Couture. "The Natural" had won the tournament at UFC 13 and upset Vitor Belfort two events later. It was enough to earn the wrestler a shot at the title and he made the most of it. He fought Smith for 21 minutes, showing hints of the impeccable gameplanning he would later become renowned for by using his wrestling acumen to control the bout. At UFC Japan, Couture earned the decision and with it, the heavyweight title. The first test for "Captain America" was to be former champion Mark Coleman but an injury kept Couture out of the Octagon and "The Hammer" took on UFC debutee Pete Williams, losing in spectacular fashion. So another recently signed fighter, Bas Rutten, was then thrown around as a possible challenger but in a theme that would be no stranger to Couture's career, a contract dispute led to him dropping the title and putting the entire division on hold.  The UFC then held an informal, unofficial heavyweight tournament dubbed "Road to the Heavyweight Title" which spanned a handful of events. At UFC Brazil, Williams took on Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Kosaka and lost while Pedro Rizzo handed Tank Abbott his second knockout loss.  "TK" then took on the debuting Rutten, a fight "El Guapo" won. The victory placed him in one half of the bout to determine a new champion. The other slot was seemingly Pedro Rizzo's for the taking as he defeated Mark Coleman at the same event but the Brazilian was skipped over in favor of Kevin Randleman who defeated Maurice Smith two months later. There was very little rhyme or reason to justify either fighter getting the nod over "The Rock" but at UFC 20, Rutten defeated "The Monster" in a decision that is debated to this day. The UFC finally had a heavyweight champion. And then suddenly, it didn't. Despite spending his entire career at heavyweight, Rutten felt he was more suited for a lighter weight class and made his intention clear to drop down. Before he even could, however, he was forced to retire due to a laundry list of injuries that had accumulated over his career. Not wanting to go through the trouble of another long, winding tournament to crown yet another new champion, the UFC simply booked Randleman against Williams who was now 3-1 inside the Octagon. "The Monster" walked away after 25 minutes with the heavyweight crown. Randleman's title reign is best known for two things: the aborted main event of UFC 24 and having the first successful defense since Smith brutalized Abbott's leg way back at UFC 15. At UFC 24, ironically dubbed "First Defense," Randleman was set to take on Rizzo but slipped on some pipes in the back, fell, and concussed himself. Ah, the early days of the UFC. He would eventually take on "The Rock" two events later, coming out on top. Five months later, a familiar face was there to wrest the title away from him. It was none other than Randy Couture who had returned to the Octagon and was now the first-ever two-time champion in any weight class. It was only the last heavyweight title the original owners, SEG, promoted before the UFC was bought out and revived by Zuffa. Next: The Zuffa-era begins! From Couture to Tim Sylvia to Velasquez, part two of the heavyweight title's history is up next!

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, champion, smith

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Fun Fact: Dos Caras Jr - aka the guy in a wrestling match who got his head kicked off by Mirko Crocop - is now better known as Alberto Del Rio, the current WWE champion.

Posted in: champion, do, head, mirko crocop, mirko

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Rashad Evans sat down for an in-depth video interview, talking at length about the rift between him and former teammate and current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Posted in: champion, rashad, evan, teammate, rift

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“Suga” Rashad Evans is currently in the UK for UFC 138.  WHOATV caught up with the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in the days before the Chris Leben versus Mark Munoz fight card and spoke to Evans on a variety of topics, one of which, of course, was current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.   Evans pulled no punches when talking about Jones, "What happened between us, it’s all gonna play out, so it’s not so much about, it’s about like stealing your

Posted in: jone, heavyweight, champion, chris leben, evan

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Nick Diaz's post-fight antics at UFC 137 have angered welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Posted in: ufc, champion, showdown joe, showdown, george

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Nick Diaz's post-fight antics at UFC 137 have angered welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Posted in: ufc, welterweight, champion, showdown, stpierre

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Diego Nunes vs. Manny Gamburyan, take two. Their upcoming featherweight battle, originally scheduled for UFC 135 back in September, has been rebooked for UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada, now that both fighters are all patched up and off the injured reserves. The promotion passed along word of the pending match-up earlier today. Nunes, of course, came up just short in his bid to earn a title shot against division champion Jose Aldo when he welcomed Kenny Florian to the 145-pound division at UFC 131 back on June 11. "The Gun" was unloaded from the featherweight title holster thanks to a judge's decision that didn't go his way and he is likely to have something to prove before beginning his 2012 fight campaign anew. Gamburyan also has something to prove: Namely that he should remain gainfully employed by the world's largest fight promotion. That's because he's dropped his last two fights and it's no secret what usually happens when a fighter gets that third strike. The level of competition he's been facing is nothing to scoff at and no one is face-palming for his losses to Jose Aldo and Tyson Griffin, but this is a results driven business. Time to shape up or ship out. UFC 141 will take place on a Friday, on Dec. 30, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be headlined by a mega-fight pitting former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar taking on former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. Jon Fitch is also scheduled to return from shoulder surgery against budding welterweight contender Johny Hendricks. For more on UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, judges decision, gamburyan

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The next UFC Featherweight title fight is set, as champion Jose Aldo will face Chad Mendes at UFC 142 on January 14. The bout has been confirmed at UFC.com: After the success of UFC Rio in August, UFC officials promised that they would stage another event in the country as soon as possible. That return has now been confirmed as UFC 142, to be held January 14 in a to-be-named Brazilian city. Besides the date, a title-fight main event was also confirmed. Pound-for-pound superstar Jose Aldo will fight in Brazil for the first time since 2007 when he defends his UFC featherweight title against unbeaten powerhouse Chad Mendes. Jose Aldo has been the combined WEC / UFC Featherweight champion for over two years. He's defended the belt a total of four times, including two defenses in the UFC. During this time, he's moved up the ranks to be considered one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world by many fans and analysts. Chad Mendes poses an interesting threat to the champion. The 11-0 fighter is a wrestler who trains with Aldo's former for Urijah Faber as part of Team Alpha Male. He's also 2-0 in the UFC. That wrestling background will make him a unique challenge for Aldo. So far, Aldo has not faced a fighter who has focused his game and taking down the champion and grinding him out. We've also seen Aldo struggle with the weight cut to 145 pounds and talk openly about leaving the division. Against Mark Hominick, Aldo slowed in the later rounds. Mendes, like his Alpha Male teammates, can push a furious pace. He's never been in a five round championship fight, but if he can keep the pace on Aldo, it could be his path to upsetting the champion. Look for more updates on the UFC's return to Brazil in the coming weeks. Jose Aldo (20-1)W - Kenny Florian (Unanimous Decision, UFC 136)W - Mark Hominick (Unanimous Decision, UFC 129)W - Manny Gamburyan (KO R2, WEC 51 Chad Mendes (11-0)W - Rani Yahya (Unanimous Decision, UFC 133)W - Michihiro Omigawa (Unanimous Decision, UFC 126)W - Javier Vasquez (Unanimous Decision, WEC 52)

Posted in: ufc, champion, aldo, chad, mende

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A two time UFC champion. One of only two men to hold belts in two different weight classes. A fighter who has fought everywhere from Lightweight up to Heavyweight against the best in the world. And now, he's gone. B.J. Penn, one of the most exciting fighters in the sport, has retired. After a decision loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137, Penn quietly stepped away from the game, bringing his 10 year, 26 fight career to an end. There's no question that he accomplished much in those years, but where does he stand in the all time ranks? Penn entered the sport as a dynamic 22 year old... well, "Prodigy." It's a fitting nickname, given to Penn after he became a top ranked jiu jitsu competitor a mere three years after he started training. With that background, he came to MMA, immediately diving into the UFC and challenging for a world title less than a year after his debut. Of those early fights, it was Penn's 3rd fight that really turned heads - a blistering 8 second destruction of Caol Uno that remains one of the sport's all-time great highlights. Based on the strength of that win, Penn challenged Lightweight champion Jens Pulver in what was only B.J.'s fourth fight. Pulver outpointed Penn, earning a unanimous decision victory. Most fighters would take a decision loss to the champion in their fourth fight as a positive accomplishment, but Penn had loftier goals. Right from the beginning, he stated that his goal was not simply to be champion, but to be the best ever. Losing was not a part of the equation for him, and the Pulver loss was a shock to the young fighter. When Pulver left the UFC, Penn had a second shot at the now vacant title, but once again was thwarted when he and Uno battled to a Draw. Penn was frustrated, but as it turned out, he was also on the verge of his greatest glory. More on the career and legacy of B.J. Penn in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 137 Results: Penn vs. Diaz After the Uno fight, the UFC began disbanding the Lightweight division. Penn took a fight outside the company, defeating top Japanese Lightweight Takanori Gomi. Penn then returned to the UFC and was surprisingly given an immediate title shot at Welterweight champion Matt Hughes. This despite the fact that Penn had never before fought at Welterweight. Hughes at the time was absolutely dominant, on a 13 fight win streak that included 5 straight title defenses. He was a heavy favorite, but Penn shocked the world by taking Hughes's back and choking the champion out in the first round. Finally, B.J. Penn was a champion. But the celebration didn't last long. Penn left the UFC over an ugly contract dispute, citing a lack of competition for him in the company. Over the next two years, he fought around the world anywhere from Welterweight to Heavyweight, facing men like Renzo Gracie and Lyoto Machida.  In 2006, Penn returned to the UFC, touting himself as the real Welterweight champion. Unfortunately, his Welterweight return left something to be desired, as he dropped back to back fights to Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes before leaving the Welterweight division to return to Lightweight. After a coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter and earning revenge by defeating old rival Jens Pulver, Penn got his third shot at the Lightweight title. He faced Joe Stevenson for the vacant title, choking Stevenson out in a brutal bloodbath to claim his second UFC championship. Penn would prove to be the most dominant Light weight champion to date in the UFC, defending the belt three times, all in impressive fashion, before being upset by Frankie Edgar in two straight fights. During that title run, the wandering eye of Penn returned. Unhappy with simply ruling over the 155 ranks, Penn moved up to challenge Georges St. Pierre, for GSP's Welterweight title. The champion vs. champion fight was huge, but in the end, once again Penn could not topple his old foe. After the Edgar loses, he returned to Welterweight for one final run, going 1-1-1 against Hughes, Diaz, and Jon Fitch. When you look at these accomplishments, there can be no question that B.J. Penn is a Hall of Fame fighter. And yet, his career still leaves a lingering air of disappointment. Why? Perhaps it's the lofty goals B.J. set for himself early on. Not just greatness, but THE greatest. That's a high bar, and Penn never cleared it. But it's more than that. It's also the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he could have cleared it. What if Penn had not left the UFC after losing to Hughes? What if he hadn't moved up to fight in divisions that allowed him to go easy on his training? What if, every time he had stepped into the cage, B.J. Penn had been dedicated and focused and had fought up to the potential he showed in many of his fights? "[T]he thing with BJ Penn is sometimes you don't know what BJ Penn will show up to the fight. If he's well prepared or injured - I don't know. Sometimes, I saw him perform very well at the best of his ability he's the best guy. But when he doesn't perform at the best of his ability he can be beat." That's the reality of B.J. Penn as spoken by a man who knew it well - Georges St. Pierre.  In the end, B.J. Penn managed to be two seemingly contradictory things - one of the best the sport has ever seen, as well as a man who never quite lived up to his fullest potential. It's a career 99% of fighters would be proud to have. For Penn's sake, I hope he's in that 99%.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, penn, bj

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Loretta Hunt of Sports Illustrated recently interviewed Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez to discuss a slew of topics. One that definitely sticks out is the champion's view on the current state of the MMA market domestically. It seems that with the UFC purchasing organizations left and right, the champion got a bit antsy. So much so that he approached Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney about potentially buying into the company. It wasn't for any reason other than an investment opportunity, one that could pay off had a buy out occured. Now, a year late, the champion revisited his reasoning with Loretta saying: Originally, when the UFC purchased Strikeforce (last March), I got very on edge. I called (Bellator owner) Bjorn Rebney to ask him if there was any possible way that I could buy stake in Bellator. The way (the UFC) was buying up promotions like that, I didn't want them to come in on Bellator without me being able to capitalize on it. Turns out Rebney was open to the idea. It would guarantee that his champion would never leave for the greener pastures that exist under the Zuffa umbrella, and it would bring in additional capital. Unfortunately, the follow up talks never happened and Alvarez never bought into the company. Fate it seemed had a bigger plan. When the UFC announced they had signed a seven-year network broadcast deal with Fox, everyone knew that Bellator would likely be transitioned over to Spike TV. The Viacom owned companies in MTV2 and Spike TV had already begun making preparations for the eventual move airing commercials for other Spike-owned television properties and television events. They even began to air the Bellator preliminary fights on Spike.com.  Last week Viacom and Bellator finally announced that the parent company of MTV, MTV2, and Spike had purchased a majority share of the fighting organization. It's a best case scenario for both. Bellator is ensured a broadcast partner that has been in the MMA business since 2005 when they aired The Ultimate Fighter. Alvarez is excited because with Spike's experience, he only sees ways they can improve the Bellator product: Spike knows what it takes. They know the UFC's production value. They know the UFC's game plan. They're probably going to follow the formula that the UFC does and just tweak it because Bellator has its own flavor with the tournaments. I'd imagine they'll try to create a product that is similar in value when you turn on the TV, but the tournament structure will make it different. He definitely has a point. The UFC and Spike TV were intertwined for the greater part of a decade with the deal not fully over until 2013 when Spike loses rights to the UFC's video library. If there is any singular entity that knows the Zuffa product it would the production team at Spike. There are concerns regarding the Viacom/Bellator deal. As long as Spike has access to the UFC's video library, no other organization can air their product on the network. It means that Bellator will be left to flounder on the rarely watched MTV2. Perhaps it is a case of wearing "rosey lensed glasses" but the champion can't see any negatives to the Viacom/Bellator deal. It makes sense as he is looking at the situation from a fighter's point of view. For him it comes down to familiarity. Once more fans have access to the Bellator product, they will accept that the fighters are as elite as their peers in the UFC and Strikefoce. As he explains to Hunt:  You're going to see, and mark my words, I'm going to say it now. Spike TV is behind Bellator now. Watch how good Hector Lombard becomes. Watch how good I become. Watch how good Zach Makovsky becomes overnight as soon they start promoting us. Look how excellent of fighters we become. The reality is I'm not any better today than I am tomorrow. It's just more people will know. It is an interesting point of view as there are plenty of top fighters around the world outside of the Zuffa-owned organizations. The champion is correct that once fans become familiar with a fighter, it is easier to accept that they are considered "elite" in the sport. It is a sentiment that is shared by Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky who echoed this very point to me when I interviewed him earlier this month. However, speaking as a member of the MMA Nation/USA Today rankings panel, my reasoning for not ranking a Bellator champion higher than UFC title contenders is due to the belief that the level competition that the organization brings in for their "super fights" is exponentially lower than what a champion in the UFC or Strikeforce will face. In the end, I'll concede that the fighters will benefit from this Viacom deal. It ensures that they have another option outside of Zuffa and that's what really matters at the end of the day. It will attract top-tiered talent from the UFC which will only raise the level of the product that fans will receive. That's the most important part. And it's good that Eddie Alvarez views this the very same way. There are no losers with Viacom buying Bellator. It's literally a win-win situation for everyone, including the UFC who will benefit from a real sense of competition in the market. It will force them to produce an even better product and promote even better card for fear that they could lose a foothold in the market place. It's what fans have been begging for and it's what fans will finally receive.

Posted in: ufc, bellator, champion, spike, product

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Georges St-Pierre is more motivated than ever to face Nick Diaz and responds to the former Strikeforce champion following UFC 137.

Posted in: diaz, nick, gsp, champion, strikeforce champion

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its been a pleasure, true legend, true champion, you will always be one of the greats! so long http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M43wsiNBwmo submitted by 2WAR [link] [7 comments]

Posted in: right, champion, kick, kick cemetery, great

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By Shaun McElreath UFC 137 on Saturday October 29th will be headlined by former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn. Standing across the cage will be former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz. As compiled in this breakdown, Penn is able to end the fight on the feet or the ground and will be the [...]

Posted in: ufc, bj penn, champion, penn, breakdown penn

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir discusses his rivalry with Brock Lesnar, his upcoming bout with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and much more.

Posted in: ufc, mir, champion, brock lesnar, brock

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After dominating the 170-pound division for more than four years, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has considered moving up to 185 pounds for a super fight with middleweight champ Anderson Silva, but St-Pierre’s trainer would rather see him shed an extra 15 pounds and move down to lightweight. Tri-Star trainer Firas Zahabi recently told Sherdog Radio (via Bloody Elbow): “Well to be honest with you, I have recommended to Georges, you know…the only reason I don’t recommend it now is because Frankie Edgar is the champion, but I’d want him to move down to 155 if Frankie was not the champion. Obviously we’re part of the Renzo Gracie team and we’d never fight Frankie Edgar, because obviously we’re all Renzo Gracie fighters. But if it wasn’t the case, you know, I’d rather him go down to 155 because Georges is not a very big welterweight. People might think he is, he’s actually not very big. And him making 170 is extremely easy for him. Honestly, it’s probably one of the easiest weight cuts from all that I coach, and I coach a lot of professional fighters. Georges making 170 is getting a little too easy for him, so I’d recommend to him in the future, who knows what the cards hold, but if we don’t have a team member that’s champion or anything like that, I would recommend him to go down first before going up.” Would you rather see St-Pierre drop to lightweight, move to middleweight, or stay at welterweight? For the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: champion, move, george, stpierre, i coach

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Here's a 3-minute preview of the upcoming UFC Primetime special that focuses on the monumental UFC on Fox bout between heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, and number 1 contender, Junior dos Santos. The actual Primetime show will be on October 30th. On Saturday, Nov. 12, two giants of the Octagon will meet when unbeaten UFC champion Cain Velasquez collides with Brazilian knockout artist Junior dos Santos. Velasquez, the first Mexican heavyweight champion in combat sports history, returns after defeating Brock Lesnar for the title last year. Meanwhile, dos Santos has been equally impressive, dominating former interim champion Shane Carwin in his last bout. Two Giants. One Title. Which man leaves the Honda Center on Nov. 12 as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world? Check out the complete fight card after the jump. Main Card:Cain Velasquez (9-0) vs. Junior dos Santos (13-1)  [HW Title]Preliminary Card:Ben Henderson (14-2) vs. Clay Guida (29-11)Pablo Garza (11-1) vs. Dustin Poirier (10-1)Norifumi Yamamoto (18-4, 1 NC) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (6-3)Ricardo Lamas (10-2) vs. Cub Swanson (15-4)Clay Harvison (9-3) vs. DaMarques Johnson (12-9)Robert Peralta (15-3) vs. Mackens Semerzier (6-3)Paul Bradley (18-3) vs. Mike Pierce (12-4)Aaron Rosa (16-4) vs. Matt Lucas (14-2)Alex Caceres (5-4) vs. Cole Escovedo (17-8)

Posted in: vs, champion, do, heavyweight champion, velasquez

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Would Georges St. Pierre moving to lightweight be "awesome?" One former champion seems to think so. Find out who right here.

Posted in: right, pierre, st, champion, george

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After losing back-to-back fights,Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic was being called upon to retire. But the former Pride open weight champion isn't ready to hang up his gloves.

Posted in: champion, pride, cro cop, cop, cro

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Chael Sonnen wants a rematch with Anderson Silva, but the UFC middleweight champion and those around him, at least publicly, seems hesitant to oblige.

Posted in: silva, champion, anderson silva, coach, chael

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Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that its former welterweight champion Lyman “Cyborg” Good will make his return against Michael...

Posted in: bellator, welterweight, champion, championship, bellator champ

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Twelve straight times, a Bellator champion had their arm raised following a non-title victory. There were some close calls (Joe Warren vs. Marcos Galvao anyone?) but the stat still held up. When champions fought, they didn't lose. That changed this past Saturday at Bellator 55 when Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu found that 13 is indeed an unlucky number, breaking the streak in a unanimous decision loss to Travis Wiuff. Bellator now finds itself in the unique position of what to do next with both men. The easy thing to do would be to simply guarantee Wiuff a slot in the promotion's next 205-pound tournament. However, that tournament likely wouldn't take place until next March or April based on past scheduling which means a winner wouldn't be crowned until May or June. That pushes a potential title match back to early fall -- a flaw in the tournament setup. You would have to think that M'Pumbu isn't going to want to wait nearly a year before fighting again, but would it make sense to put him in another non-title situation? No, it doesn't. You run the risk of him losing again and then you have a weak 205-pound champion on your hands. The right call: give Wiuff a shot at M'Pumbu's title on the same night the assumed 205-pound tournament concludes next season. He's beaten the champ in a non-title fight and has earned it. To do otherwise doesn't make sense from any angle. "Good" News Former Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good will return to action on Saturday, November 26 in a Season 6 tournament qualifying bout against Michael Costa. Good (11-2) was last seen dropping a close split decision to Rick Hawn in April's welterweight tournament semifinals. He was the first 170-pound champion in company history, but lost the belt in his first title defense against Ben Askren a year ago. Costa (10-5-1) will be making his promotional debut and will seeing his first action in a year when he steps in the Bellator cage. Bellator 59 will also feature Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Friere, the bantamweight tournament finals and the Bellator debut of former TUF competitor Phillipe Nover. Bantamweight Finals Set Speaking of the 135-pounders, Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila both advanced last Saturday and will compete in a month's time for a shot at current champion Zach Makovsky. Dantas (12-2) won his fifth straight with his split decision over Ed West, while Vila (11-0) remained undefeated with a controversial split decision win over Marcos Galvao -- a fight many observers saw in Galvao's favor. Between this and the Warren defeat, Arizona's judges have not been kind to him. Injured Champ Asks For Help In an unusual story, Bellator 115-pound women's champion Zoila Gurgel is asking for help from fans and the MMA community to cover medical expenses related to a recent ACL tear. Gurgel (formerly Frausto) had to pull out of her scheduled November 12 fight with Carina Damm due to the injury and a lapse in medical insurance has put her and husband Jorge Gurgel in a tough spot. Bellator does not fully cover out-of-competition medical insurance like Zuffa and therefore fighters are on their own in situations like this. Nearly $2000 of the $5000 target has been reached and fans can donate here. Bellator 56 This Saturday The aforementioned Askren returns to action Saturday in his first title defense, facing Season 4 tournament winner and MMA veteran Jay Hieron. Askren (8-0) last defeated Nick Thompson in a non-title fight in April, while Hieron (22-4) earned the shot with wins over Anthony Lapsley, Brent Weedman and Rick Hawn earlier this year. Hieron goes into Saturday on a 10-fight win streak. Both men have significant wrestling backgrounds so expect a lot of ground work in this one. The heavyweight tournament semifinals will also take place with Eric Prindle vs. Ron Sparks and Neil Grove vs. Thiago Santos. Prindle (8-1) advanced with a decision win over Abe Wagner while Sparks (8-0) knocked out Mark Holata. Grove (11-4-1) was defeated by Mike Hayes in the quarterfinals but got a second life after Blagoi Ivanov had to bow out due to injury. Santos (9-1) is also an injury replacement, ironically subbing in for Hayes. Santos submitted Josh Burns in an alternate bout to earn the shot. Ratings Dip This past Saturday's event saw a slight ratings downturn to 168,000 fans on MTV2 -- down from the 185,000 viewers the week prior, according to MMA Junkie. The replay did just 45,000 viewers.

Posted in: bellator, decision, champion, tournament, saturday

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Terence McKenna once said 'If something can be told so as to be understood, it will be believed.' Granted, McKenna also claimed he saw 'self-transforming machine elves' that appeared to be jeweled self-dribbling basketballs. The point I'm trying to make is if DirecTV is the holder of truth and they proclaim BJ Penn is the former Strikeforce champion while Nick Diaz is a generic former 'world champion,' then it's hard not to believe them. Check out what MiddleEasy reader Michael W. found on his DirecTV iPhone app earlier today regarding UFC 137.

Posted in: bj penn, nick diaz, champion, strikeforce champion, directv

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The dreams of a “superfight” between UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva seemed to dim even further today when St. Pierre’s trainer Firas Zahabi dropped a bomb on Sherdog Radio. Zahabi was asked if a move up to 185 seemed possible and his response was a bit shocking, “I have recommended to Georges – the only reason I don’t recommend it now is because Frankie Edgar is the champion, but I’d want him to move down

Posted in: pierre, champion, george, frankie edgar, reason i

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Former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz returns to the Octagon with one mission in mind - "I gotta win these fights."

Posted in: diaz, nick, champion, return, mind i

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In this week's edition of UFC Central, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre talks about withdrawing from UFC 137.

Posted in: ufc, week, welterweight, champion, weeks edition

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"I'm very confident. It's going to be a knockout victory in the first round. He's not going to get out of the first round. It will not come to the second round. He's a strong guy, a very dangerous guy. But, I think I've got what it takes to stop him. And I got what it takes to stop him in the first round." -- Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem, will make his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 30, 2011. "Demolition Man" is being thrown to the wolves right out the gate, getting paired opposite former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar in the UFC 141 main event. It's a classic match up of contrasting styles, with Overeem -- a K-1 kickboxing champion -- holding the significant stand up advantage, while Lesnar -- a decorated amateur wrestling champion -- boasting the dominant edge on the ground. The dangerous Dutch striker doesn't seem very worried, confident that his strengths and experience will lead him to imminent, and sudden, victory on New Year's Eve weekend. Agree or disagree?

Posted in: overeem, round, champion, garden arena, round hes

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A month ago, he was talking retirement. Now, Jamie Varner may have put himself back on the path to relevance

Posted in: champion, retirement, jamie varner, varner, wec

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In the span of 14 days four UFC champions put their titles on the line. Jon Jones (14-1), Dominick Cruz (19-1), Jose Aldo (20-1) and Frankie Edgar (14-1-1) all remained at top of their divisions following one of the most active event stretches in the history of the UFC. Apart from the champions continued success there was surprisingly little movement inside the top ten of the UFC's seven weight divisions. More fighters were removed from the top ten due to inactivity, Thiago Silva (14-1) and Sean Sherk (36-4-1), than men who fought their way into the top ten like Joe Lauzon (21-6). Across the seven UFC weight divisions Lauzon made the biggest jump after the UFC 135, UFC on VS 6 and UFC 136 string of events. In the lightweight division Lauzon was well outside the UFC top ten prior to his first round submission of Melvin Guillard (29-9-2). Lauzon enters the UFC lightweight top ten at number eight, while Guillard falls to number nine after a prolonged stay inside the division's top five. Heavyweight (over 205 pounds)UFC Champion: Cain Velasquez 9-0-UFC on Fox vs. Junior Dos Santos 13-1 1. Junior Dos Santos 13-1 2. Brock Lesnar 5-2 3. Shane Carwin 12-2 4. Frank Mir 15-5 5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 33-6-1 6. Cheick Kongo 16-6-2 7. Roy Nelson 15-6 8. Brendan Schaub 8-2 9. Travis Browne 11-0-1 10. Mirko Filipovic 26-9-2Light Heavyweight (205 pound limit)UFC Champion: Jon Jones 14-1 - UFC 140 vs. Lyoto Machida 17-2 1. Rashad Evans 16-1-1 2. Mauricio Rua 20-5 3. Quinton Jackson 32-9 4. Lyoto Machida 17-2 5. Forrest Griffin 18-7 6. Phil Davis 9-0 7. Tito Ortiz 16-9-1 8. Ryan Bader 12-2 9. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 19-5 10. Alexander Gustafsson 12-1Middleweight (185 pound limit)UFC Champion: Anderson Silva 31-4 1. Chael Sonnen 26-11-1 2. Vitor Belfort 19-9 3. Yushin Okami 25-6 4. Mark Munoz 11-2 5. Demian Maia 15-3 6. Brian Stann 11-4 7. Michael Bisping 20-3 8. Chris Leben 26-7 9. Alan Belcher 17-6 10. Wanderlei Silva 33-11-1Welterweight (170 pound limit)UFC Champion: George St. Pierre 22-2 1. Jon Fitch 23-3-1 2. Carlos Condit 27-5 3. Josh Koscheck 16-5 4. Jake Ellenberger 26-5 5. B.J Penn 16-7-2 6. Jake Shields 26-6-1 7. Rick Story 13-4 8. Thiago Alves 18-8 9. Diego Sanchez 23-4 10. Martin Kampmann 17-5Lightweight (155 pound limit)UFC Champion: Frank Edgar 14-1-1 1. Gray Maynard 10-1-1 2. Ben Henderson 14-2 3. Clay Guida 29-11 4. Jim Miller 20-3 5. Anthony Pettis 14-2 6. Donald Cerrone 16-3 7. Denis Siver 18-7 8. Joe Lauzon 21-6 9. Melvin Guillard 29-9-2 10. Evan Dunham 12-2Featherweight (145 pound limit)UFC Champion: Jose Aldo 20-1 1. Chad Mendes 10-0 2. Kenny Florian 14-6 3. Diego Nunes 16-2 4. Dustin Poirier 10-1 5. Mark Hominick 20-9 6. Tyson Griffin 15-5 7. Erik Koch 13-1 8. Darren Elkins 12-2 9. Michihiro Omigawa 12-10-1 10. Manny Gamburyan 11-6Bantamweight (135 pound limit)UFC Champion: Dominick Cruz 19-1 1. Joseph Benavidez 15-2 2. Brian Bowles 10-1 3. Urijah Faber 25-5 4. Demetrious Johnson 9-2 5. Miguel Torres 39-4 6. Scott Jorgenson 12-4 7. Takeya Mizugaki 15-6-2 8. Brad Pickett 20-5 9. Eddie Wineland 18-8-1 10. Renan Barao 26-1These ranking appear courtesy of ULTMMA (Uniting Locals Through Mixed Martial Arts).Added: Alexander Gustafsson, Joe Lauzon,Dropped: Thiago Silva, Sean Sherk

Posted in: ufc, pound, champion, lauzon, limitufc

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"Champion vs. Champion", "Champion vs. The Killer", and "Expect the Unexpected". Those are the three tag lines that got weirder and weirder as all these last minute changes kept coming in for UFC 137. Here's to hoping that third time's the charm for them. "Champion vs. Champion", "Champion vs. The Killer", and "Expect the Unexpected". Those are the three tag lines that got weirder and weirder as all these last minute changes kept coming in for UFC 137. Here's to hoping that third time's the charm for them. Here's the current UFC 137 fight card after all those changes: UFC 137: Penn vs. DiazOct 29th, live on Pay-per-view from Las Vegas, NV: B.J. Penn (16-7-2) vs. Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC)  Cheick Kongo (16-6-2) vs. Matt Mitrione (5-0) Mirko Filipovic (27-9-2) vs. Roy Nelson (15-6) Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) vs. George Roop (12-7-1) Brad Tavares (7-1) vs. Dustin Jacoby (6-0)  Spike TV card: Dennis Siver (19-7) vs. Donald Cerrone (16-3, 1 NC) Tyson Griffin (15-5) vs. Bart Palaszewski (35-14) Facebook card: Brandon Vera (11-5, 1 NC) vs. Eliot Marshall (10-3) Scott Jorgensen (12-4) vs. Jeff Curran (33-13-1) Ramsey Nijem (4-2) vs. Danny Downes (8-2) Chris Camozzi (15-4) vs. Francis Carmont (16-7)

Posted in: ufc, vs, champion, tag lines, weirder

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Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre vs. Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar, Cain Velasquez vs. Jon Jones, Mauricio Rua vs. Anderson Silva ... ok, maybe that last one is just a personal dream fight of mine.  All those fights mentioned are potential UFC "super fights" that fans worldwide dream of seeing one day -- and rightfully so.  Who doesn’t want to see the best fight the best, champion vs. champion? It seems that is all media and fans alike talk about these days. However, if history has showed us anything, it’s that those fights are likely to never develop and we will always be left longing for them. Join me after the jump as we take a look at the history of past "superfights." Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre vs. Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar, Cain Velasquez vs. Jon Jones, Mauricio Rua vs. Anderson Silva ... ok, maybe that last one is just a personal dream fight of mine.  All those fights mentioned are potential UFC "super fights" that fans worldwide dream of seeing one day -- and rightfully so.  Who doesn’t want to see the best fight the best, champion vs. champion? It seems that is all media and fans alike talk about these days. However, if history has showed us anything, it’s that those fights are likely to never develop and we will always be left longing for them. Join me after the jump as we take a look at the history of past "superfights." We have to go all the way back almost three years to UFC 94 on January 31, 2009, that is the last superfight that the UFC staged as the UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre was set to defend his title against the UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn. The hype around this fight was incredible, the anticipation unbearable; however, this fight was a rematch of a fight that took place three years prior, so the enigma of "superfight" quite wasn’t there as these two men had already fought each other. This time, the only difference was the fact that both men had a title around their waist, though only one would be up for grabs that night. For years fans begged and pleaded all over MMA forums for promoters to make a "superfight" between Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell. Wanderlie Silva was the reigning PRIDE middleweight champion and wreaking havoc in Japan, while Chuck Liddell was knocking people out left and right in the UFC while defending his light heavyweight title in the United States. Dec. 29, 2007, the fight finally came to fruition.The fight lived up to expectations, however, fans were left wanting more as the fight was only three rounds and many fans felt the fight happened too late, as many felt both fighters were out of their prime. Four years prior, UFC president in Dana White entered Chuck Liddell in the PRIDE middleweight Grand Prix in 2003 in hopes that the two men would be paired up in the tournament or somehow find a way to meet in the finals. Enter Quinton Jackson. "Rampage" and Chuck met in the second round and eventually Liddell’s corner was forced to throw in the towel. In the process, they ended all hopes of a super champion vs. champion fight that everyone was hoping for. May 27, 2006; another "superfight" was set to take place as UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes was set to take on UFC legend and hall of famer, Royce Gracie. From the get-go, it was apparent that this indeed was not a "superfight" but more like a mismatch. The much younger Hughes ran through the legend Gracie, forcing the referee to stop the fight in the very first round as Hughes blasted the hall of famer with a barrage of punches. Many fans felt that if BOTH fighters were in their prime, then the fight may have been more competitive, but the fact of the matter is that Hughes was in his prime and Gracie was obviously way past it. Present day. With the ZUFFA purchase of Strikeforce, many believed that finally, the "super bowl" of events was to take place. Fans quickly realized this was not the case. If anything, it was deja-vu all over again as the similar thing happened when ZUFFA purchased PRIDE and fans had so many champion vs. champion expectations that never came to fruition. Dan Henderson was brought into the UFC and eventually lost both his middleweight and welterweight title to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Anderson Silva.  Whether or not those fights were considered "superfights" is up for debate. Even with the absorption of many of the top talents of Strikeforce into the UFC; we have yet to see a champion vs. champion fight. Alistair Overeem was the Strikeforce heavyweight champion and when he was drafted into the UFC, he was not paired against the champion; instead he was given Brock Lesnar.  Dan Henderson, the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion was not pitted against Jon Jones; rather he was matched up against "Shogun" Rua.  The UFC actually did try to set up a champion vs. champion match between Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz against UFC welterweight champ, Georges St. Pierre. However, we all know how that went. In the end, "superfights" and "dream" fights have been few and far between and it is unlikely that we will see any come to light anytime soon. It is not the fact the the UFC does not want to put them on, but the fact of the matter is, too many things have to go right and most of the time they don’t. There will always be someone playing spoiler by defeating the champion. There will always be injuries. Time is also a very important factor. Champions these days only fight once or twice a year if we are lucky.  During the time gaps of their next defense, a fighter ages and a new challenger at their weight emerges; ending their work at that division incomplete.  There is simply too much to lose for a fighter to leave their division and risk losing to another division’s kingpin.  Most champions wouldn’t want to risk losing their "aura" or "invincibility" by jumping up or down to a weight they are not familiar with when they have already cleaned out and dominated their true division. We can hope that we see these superfights one day, however, if history is any indication, it will be a while ... if at all.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, champion, superfight

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MMA will never again know a man like Evan Tanner. Director Gerard Roxburgh condensed more than 150 hours of footage into a feature-length documentary on the life of the fighter, the adventurer, the philosopher and the alcoholic - the man who passed away due to dehydration, alone in a Southern California desert, on Sept. 8, 2008. MMAjunkie.com's Danny Acosta looks deeper at the film, titled "'Once I Was a Champion."

Posted in: champion, evan tanner, champion mma, featurelength documentary, california desert

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Anderson Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, expects the UFC middleweight champion to fight next in the first quarter of 2012.

Posted in: silva, champion, shot, soare, quarter

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Outspoken Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren joins the Next Big Thing podcast.

Posted in: ben, champion, podcast, thing, askren

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Just 10 days out from a pay-per-view event, The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be holding a media conference call to build up next Saturday's (October 29, 2011) UFC 137: "Penn vs. Diaz" event today, (October 19, 2011). Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters of the evening: B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz. B.J. Penn is the former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion. Since dropping his lightweight title in back-to-back bouts to current champ Frankie Edgar, he's gone 1-0-1 in a return to the welterweight division, destroying former champion Matt Hughes and drawing with conventional number two welterweight Jon Fitch earlier this year. His opponent will be none other than Nick Diaz, who left Strikeforce as the promotion's welterweight champion and is currently riding a 10 fight winning streak. Diaz was originally offered a title shot but had it taken away after failure to show up at back to back press conferences. That original disappointment turned out to be a benefit when champion Georges St. Pierre suffered a training injury yesterday and pulled out of the UFC 137 main event. Diaz is now back into the spotlight. We'll see how he handles the pressure. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 137 media conference call after the jump. Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.

Posted in: ufc, diaz, conference, welterweight, champion

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The UFC 137 fight card just took a major hit as UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been forced off...

Posted in: ufc, gsp, sport, welterweight, champion

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is pretty confident he could stop UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.The Cesar Gracie fighter thinks...

Posted in: ufc, champion, melendez, title strikeforce, melendez eyes

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UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz recently underwent surgery to repair his damaged right hand. Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin also recently went under the knife, having an injured shoulder worked on.  On Saturday, former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion revealed that he will add his name to the list of fighters undergoing surgery. "As I ramped up my training for UFC 141 my body locked up during training. It wasn’t like the Lesnar fight but my back just tightened up and I

Posted in: ufc, champion, heavyweight champion, wasn ’t, surgery

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UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones reflected on his activity throughout 2011, and the fact that the UFC 140 encounter with Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida will be his fourth fight this year. According to Jones, "the more active the better", especially when you're a twenty-four year old Champion "with a small window of opportunities to do great things". Other UFC Champions defended (or will defend) their title only twice this year, excluding Cain Velasquez who will have his first title defense

Posted in: jone, jon jones, champion, year, ufc champions

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M-1 Champion Vinny Magalhaes enduring an armbar by Fabricio Werdum at the ADCCs Heavyweight final this year, from Nottingham, England.

Posted in: champion, werdum, fabricio werdum, adccs heavyweight, .... m

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UFC light heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones is getting comfortable in the role of UFC champion.

Posted in: ufc, jon jones, champion, ufc champion, role

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M-1 Global light-heavyweight champion Vinny Magalhaes retained his belt on Friday with a third-round stoppage of Mikhail Zayats.Impressively, the finish...

Posted in: champion, friday, magalhae, mikhail, mikhail zayats.impressively

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Fresh off his second featherweight title defense inside the Octagon at UFC 136 against Kenny Florian, Jose Aldo made it clear he has no intentions of moving up to the lightweight division. Why bother? He's the man at 145-pounds. But there is a certain challenger who currently resides in the 155-pound division that fans and pundits alike think needs to happen sooner rather than later. Even UFC President Dana White expressed his desire to see Aldo square off against current Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Regarding the possibility of a future showdown between the two, Aldo says he's good to roll -- on one condition: "Man, I think it's great. Frankie is the lightweight champion, so, if he moves down, no problem. Just like Kenny did and others are doing... To me it's ok. I'll always fight the guys they point out for me to fight. Move up is bullshit. If someone's deciding it someday, it's Pederneiras." Speculation of champion vs. champion superfights are all the rage these days, and the smaller guys are no exception. Both Aldo and Edgar proved why they are the best in their respective divisions by soundly defeating their opponents, Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard, respectively, at last weekend’s Texas-sized UFC 136 event live in Houston. A move from lightweight to featherweight would be a rather easy cut for the undersized Edgar. However, with his success in his current division and plenty of challenges still ahead of him, it may be a while before we see this match-up. Boo. Would an eventual showdown between these two seemingly unstoppable champions be enough to spend your hard-earned coin? If so, who takes it? And how?

Posted in: champion, division, jose aldo, edgar, aldo

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When Jason Miller became the first fighter to make the jump from Strikeforce to UFC after the Zuffa buyout back in March, it was explained away by the fact that "Mayhem's" contract had already run out and he simply went where the money was. But as time went on, moves were made in a far more obvious manner. Nick Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight champion, was brought over and signed to fight Georges St. Pierre, although that's not happening anymore. Alistair Overeem, the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, was yanked around before finding his way to "Sin City" to sign a bout agreement to fight Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 on Dec. 30. Even Dan Henderson, the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion who has had so many problems with UFC in the past, brought his brand of violence back to the Octagon. To top it off, UFC President Dana White has made it clear he wants Gilbert Melendez and he'll do whatever it takes to get him. That will make four of the five champions from the San Jose based promotion. Despite the roster gutting, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker maintains the company line that Zuffa is committed to continuing the organization and that it's all up to Showtime. "Zuffa is committed to continuing Strikeforce. And really, it's in Showtime's hands. There's dialogue and negotiations going back and forth right now and I'm hopeful that Strikeforce will be renewed and we'll put on some great fights for many years." If it is, indeed, up to Showtime, the future looks bleak. Ken Hershman, the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports and Event Programming who cut the original deal to bring Strikeforce to the popular cable channel, has left for the greener pastures of HBO. Does that, in and of itself, signal the end of Strikeforce? Of course not, but it's certainly yet another bad sign that the boys from San Jose are going bye-bye.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, san jose, champion, zuffa

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"The Prodigy" discusses his UFC 137 bout with former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz.

Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick, champion, prodigy

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Only days after an injury to M-1 heavyweight champion Guram Gugenishvili altered the M-1 Challenge 27 main event, all 14 fighters competing on the card made their contracted weights.

Posted in: event, champion, challenge, weight, competitor

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Former UFC middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin underwent shoulder surgery this week to repair his torn labrum, an injury that occurred...

Posted in: champion, surgery, franklin, shoulder surgery, shoulder

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Carlos Condit expects to lose a decision if he cannot beat Georges St Pierre inside the distance.He faces the French-Canadian welterweight champion at...

Posted in: decision, gsp, champion, condit, carlos condit

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Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin underwent successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday.

Posted in: champion, surgery, franklin, shoulder surgery, shoulder

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Winning a Bellator tournament is not only a career-defining moment for its winner, it's usually a financial milestone as well. In the sport of mixed martial arts, there isn't a single promotion that gives prospects the opportunity to earn $100,000 bucks in the span of a few months. The only thing close is the possibility of a lowly newcomer earning a submission, knockout, or fight of the night bonus in the UFC. That normally never happens because more popular and prominent fighters are given those checks over buried undercard performances. The allure of cash has been the cornerstone of Bellator's recruiting process. Sign with our promotion, fight often, bank a boatload of money, increase your star power, and become a world champion. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, life as a Bellator champion isn't all it's cracked up to be. MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani sat down with the Bellator bantamweight champion to talk about his upcoming non-title bout with Midwest journeyman Ryan Roberts at Bellator 54 this coming weekend. During the interview, Makovsky alluded to one of the major problems with Bellator's tournament model from the perspective of a champion: ZACH MAKOVSKY: ... there is obviously a downside as far as once I've won the tournament, I've had a lot of downtime between fights. I've fought six times in 2010, only gonna fight twice in 2011, no title fights. If they didn't have the non-title fights, I wouldn't have fought at all this year. There's ups and downs. ARIEL HELWANI: It seems like winning the tournament is a blessing and a curse because if you get the title, you don't get to fight as much. ZACH MAKOVSKY: It probably would have been better financially to... ARIEL HELWANI: To lose! ZACH MAKOVSKY: To make it to the finals, then get back into the tournament again. And try it again, but... I don't know. You're right, Zach. It would have been better for you to take a dive in the finals, then get a spot back in the tournament to win another $100,000 bucks. The fact that this scenario is even possible is not only a major concern, but it's an indication that it doesn't pay to be a Bellator champion.  The issue's source stems from Bellator's tournament format. Two seasons per year without a guarantee that both seasons will feature the same weight classes tends to hurt Bellator's champions. Makovsky might fight a season winner by mid-year, or perhaps last fall's season winner in the spring, but he's then sidelined for the rest of the year awaiting the outcome of the next tournament. In the meantime, Bellator brings in a relatively unknown veteran like Ryan Roberts to keep their champion active while eliminating any risk he'll lose his title. Fans don't care about the fight because a guy like Ryan Roberts isn't drawing in anyone. The fact that there is next to no talent outside of the promotion to bring in to challenge their champions is a broader issue that affects what the promotion can do to remedy the problem. It's a secondary factor, piled on top of the restrictiveness of their contracts and the notion that they may only fight twice in one year if they achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a champion. Once that initial lump sum is made, there isn't a whole lot of incentive to remain the champion.  Those factors may lead to trouble in terms of talent acquisition. While Bellator has been successful in signing talent under the watchful eye of Sam Caplan, these increasingly problematic issues are already steering away talent. I've spoken with a few managers in the last six months who have expressed the concern they have about being stuck in that type of contract for a lengthy period of time. Younger fighters are more willing, but it seems illogical for a guy like Alexis Vila to take this chance.  There are very few solutions to these problems however. The tournament format is what makes Bellator unique, so I don't think it's a matter of moving away from Bellator's identity. I think non-title fights should go away. Perhaps if a champion is upset by an outsider, enter him into next season's tournament as a challenger and allow that outsider to defend the belt. What about allowing the champion to fight in every single tournament? If he gets beat, then he's out of the bracket, but he must still defend his title against the eventual winner. If you want to make it even more intriguing and crazy, replace the champion mid-tournament if a challenger beats him. Eliminate that side of the bracket, then the winner of the other side of the bracket faces the new champion. Bellator could then set up a title fight between the former champion and new champion during the summer series or over the winter break. Keep these guys fighting consistently, and keep money in their pockets. It might not seem like a major problem right now because you've got these guys locked down into contracts, but prospects and their managers are watching. All of the great talent acquisition that Bellator has done over the years could begin to slow down considerably if champions are outspoken about their lengthy downtime and financial problems. 

Posted in: fight, bellator, champion, tournament, problem

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With the UFC crisscrossing the globe and hosting events almost every other weekend, it’s difficult to tell which region is the Octagon’s favorite. That was until UFC President Dana White said at Wednesday’s UFC 140 presser in Toronto, Canada, that “Without a doubt, this is the strongest market on the planet.” To which the crowd of rowdy fight fans from the Great White North cheered most appreciatively. Yes, Canada loves the UFC and the UFC loves Canada. On April 30th, 2011, Toronto was the staging ground for the biggest night of fights in UFC history for UFC 129. A record 55,000+ screaming fans packed the Rogers Center to see two titles on the line, including that of the country’s favorite son, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Less than a year later, the Octagon returns to “The Megacity” on December 10th with another bit of gold on the line: the UFC light heavyweight championship.In the span of nine months, Jon “Bones” Jones earned himself a title shot by defeating Ryan Bader at UFC 126, won the belt from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, and defended the title for the first time in a dominant submission victory over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 135. Now, Jones will put the 205-pound division’s prize on the line against former champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida. But before these two can clash in the cage, they had to make a pilgrimage to Toronto to meet the Canadian fans and answer the media’s questions. And if one thing was learned, Jones and Machida won’t be trash-talking each other anytime soon. “I'd prefer if the fights were a bit more respectful - this is martial arts,” admitted Jones, who had to sling just as many punches in the cage as heated words in the lead up to the fight with “Rampage”, but things are very different in this title defense with Machida. “Some guys have that discipline, honor, warrior spirit, and the other guys have that ‘I'm going to knock you out’ cagefighting attitude. I'm getting used to dealing with both.”To add to the pre-fight politeness, both “Bones” and “The Dragon” see the other’s advantages in this main event bout exactly the same. “My biggest advantage is my youth and versatility and the way I approach the sport,” said Jones, and Machida countered, “I guarantee I will be very well prepared and I'll overcome his athleticism with my technique.” In conclusion, neither fighter can deny Jones of the physical foothold being 6-foot-4 with an 84 inch reach and being nine years Machida’s junior. Meanwhile, “The Dragon” is one of the most versatile light heavyweights the UFC has ever seen, with elusive speed, knockout power, a dynamic grappling game, and a downright tricky style in the Octagon. For the 24 year old champion, Jones’ 2011 seems almost never ending as he prepares to tangle with his third former UFC light heavyweight champion in just as many fights, but “Bones” is still hungry. “I realize what I can lose and what I can lose in this upcoming fight, so it's not hard to get up for the fight,” explained Jones, who reached the top of the 205 pound mountain in his eighth fight in the organization, and has not shown any wear from the pressure, even in his first title defense last month. “I feel as if I’m handling it pretty well and balancing it pretty well. I envisioned myself as the champion and I’ve always tried to carry myself as the champion before I even had the belt. Not too many negatives come with a dream coming true.”For the challenger, the people of Toronto get to see “The Dragon” in action for the second time this year, as Machida delivered arguably the Knockout of the Year to Randy Couture at UFC 129. “I felt very welcomed by the crowd here and I fought a legend in Randy Couture and I'm very excited to fight for this crowd,” asserted Machida, who dropped the Hall of Famer with a jumping front kick, aka the “Crane Kick” from The Karate Kid, and who is already planning on some new moves from a very reputable source: the UFC middleweight champion. “Anderson (Silva) has already called me and he wants to come out to my hometown and show me some things.”On December 10th at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, another slab of UFC gold will be disputed in the Octagon in front of the raucous and loyal Canadian fan base. UFC light heavyweight champion Jones will be put to the test against the title’s former owner and a savvy veteran in “The Dragon”. A contrast of styles of raw athleticism vs. honed experience should prove UFC 140 to be another can’t miss event in what’s become the Octagon’s favorite home.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, champion, machida

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As surprised as many fans were to hear that Lyoto Machida would be the next challenger for light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones, the man himself is a little...

Posted in: title shot, champion, shot, lyoto machida, machida

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I had the pleasure of joining Sherdog's Jordan Breen once again on his Press Row segment (listen and download here) and we spent about forty minutes talking about a variety of topics. We started off discussing Jose Aldo's performance against Kenny Florian at UFC 136 and why I was left more impressed than others with what I saw. That conversation turned into expectations versus realities as far as fighting styles: Breen: It seems like once guys get to a certain level, that there is a certain style of fighting that is demanded to go out and retain a title over and over again. I don't think it's any mistake that Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, Jose Aldo and Frank Edgar who, no matter how you arrange them are the four that are going to comprise the top four fighters in the sport right now, along with Jon Jones as well...Jones is maybe the only exception who has gotten to this level who continues to finish guys time in time out for it to be expected. We've gotten Anderson Silva knockouts which have been brutal lately, but maybe the spectres of Demian Maia and Thales Leites aren't that Far behind us. Do you think that maybe That says something for what it means for elite level mixed martial artists now for all of these guys who we see as great athletes who time and time again beat great fighters to fight in a strategic such a way that, even when they're showing dominance over twenty-five minutes, we're maybe not getting bone breaking knockouts and things that make us go crazy. Is there something to be said for just what it means to face top five, top ten guys every three to four months inside the UFC Octagon? Brookhouse: Yeah, to a degree it's that you're constantly preparing for a top level opponent in a sport where there are so many different ways to lose. It's not fan friendly to go in and fight in a way that's risk averse or whatever, but it's maybe intelligent in terms of...you know, you make one mistake and you're knocked out. You make one mistake and you slip to the ground because you're throwing an ill advised headkick and all of a sudden someone is on your back. There's just so many way to lose and when you're facing the best your division has to offer every single time you go out it build maybe a bit of an aversion to risk into a fighter. I mean, you had Anthony Pettis in the wake of his fight with Jeremy Stephens that "this is how you win in the UFC, by holding guys down. And maybe that was a shot at, you know, losing his last fight and the method that Clay Guida used to beat him. But I think there is kind of a feeling among fighters and camps that this is a way that seems to work to get you to the top. And it's just as valuable to get a win this way if you do it consistently. It's hard to say if it's just the top level fights being a consistent part of your schedule or if it's just a mentality that is being built in by being in camps by training with other high level guys. After more discussion about upcoming fights we'd like to see, we settled into a discussion about if the UFC is doing a poor job of selling the champions in an era which features truly dominant fighters: Breen: One thing that came through very interestingly to me after UFC 136, I had the good fortune of watching Aldo/Florian with the sound off, but many people seemed outraged and had a significant amount of rancor for Joe Rogan who attempted to make the fight seem more competitive than it was as, outside of a good first round, Florian didn't really do a whole hell of a lot over the last 20 minutes of the fight and was basically dominated despite being competitive for certain stretches of the fight. With Rogan and, in general a very, very well traversed path of pathologically making fights sound close, in conjuction with Dana White who has now come out and said "Oh, Georges St. Pierre is slipping down my pound-for-pound list" as though he hasn't achieved immesurably fantastic things in mixed martial arts...I was thinking about an e-mail that I got recently where the person brought up the idea that...doesn't it seem weird to you that we talk now about how the UFC is in this "dominant champion era" and yet they don't really seem to be able to respond to it? Because in other sports when champions are GREAT and outstanding, they're championed for being such. And yet, in mixed martial arts and as far as the UFC's promotional focus, we never hear about, or it's not emphasized to the extent that "oh, Anderson Silva's unbeatable! Oh, Georges St. Pierre is unbeatable! These are great athletes!" It's always "this is the guy, this is the guy who can do the thing to beat this guy!" It always seems that the emphasis is on detracting from the champion to try to pump up the challengers. And, when you get into a fight like Aldo/Florian, it kind of paints an ugly and distorted picture of the champion because Jose Aldo did his job to a high degree. He took out a perenial top ten lightweight and did it with a high level of proficiency and in turn it seems a lot of people felt like "Oh, Kenny Florian...he actually did somet stuff" and they're down on Aldo as a result. Do you think there's any merit to that thought that the UFC and Zuffa process of trying so desperately to pump up and manufacture challenges ends up kind of marring their champions when they do win, if they don't win in the most superlative fashion possible? Brookhouse: Yeah, it's kind of...there's a lot of different layers to it. The first is that I think the UFC is always been very cautious to try to prevent any single star from being built up as you know "above the UFC brand." And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does lead to kind of the situation you were talking about where... Breen: Is that even a feasable worry anymore though? Like, what are the odds of, even if they poured all their resources into a champion to turn him into a star that that person would become such an overwhelming star that it could be contaminous to the UFC down the line? I know they're maybe trying to guard against the unknown unknowns but...what are they? What is going to threaten the UFC if they turn these guys into stars? That's what kind of bothers me. When I think a lot about that e-mail and maybe what the e-mailer was getting to. It seems to me that maybe it's an outdated kind of point of view in that, at a certain point in time I could kind of understand why maybe that was the case. But I think it's a different landscape now. And I was talking about this on radio last week, when you reach a point..because I think MMA or at least the UFC...what's ended up happening now is that you have a more boxing-like set-up where you have two or three stars, six to ten guys that people are aware of and might buy on PPV and then kind of everything else. People will buy for superstars and to a lesser extent for commodities, but in general there's just so many things happening that people have to pick and choose and they pick the highest of peaks normally to throw out their PPV dollars on. And that seems to be more in line with boxing than anything else. And with that in mind it would seem you would want to emphasize and make those things that people are banking on even stronger. We want on the boxing side, we want guys like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao and we also want guys who are commodities but aren't stars like a Sergio Martinez maybe. We want to be able to provide them with some sort of profile so that people are able to watch great fights and they care about these things. It seems like the UFC and Zuffa maybe haven't adapted their promotional strategies to the reality of how people are rocking and getting into the UFC and mixed martial arts now. Brookhouse: Well yeah, you can even look at the boxing method. Selling Mike Tyson was never about selling his opponent's ability to beat him. Of course you want to sell enough that you're not paying your money to see "come see the dominant force knock out a bum." You want to see this guy..then when a guy like Buster Douglas comes along and knocks him out, you get a transfer of star power naturally because nobody expected it and he did it in a surprising and vicious fashion. SO there's a natural transfer that isn't just setting the champion up to fail. And when you establish that...you know, when you focus entirely on the risks present to the champion, you take away what's unique and what value there is to seeing him. If they had sold that Aldo is an explosive knockout artist with good ground skills, but he is also a technically proficient striker...then you have the framework for your commentary during the fight to explain exactly what is good about what he is doing instead of just focusing so much on what is good that Florian is doing while he's losing round after round. I think it's also a case where the UFC doesn't do a very good job, in my opinion, of differentiating between its champions. As far as really digging into what makes each guy particularly unique. I think right now Aldo is being sold as "this guy is really good, he's a Brazilian Striker" and it just doesn't feel all that much different than how...say, Shogun was sold when he had the title. That only scratches the surface of all the ground we covered as there's about twenty-two minutes more after that (plus another 6 in between the stuff I transcribed. I fully advise checking out the entire thing. I'm going to have a little bit more in an article tomorrow, expanding on some of these ideas...so look forward to that. Or don't. Whatever.

Posted in: ufc, fight, guy, champion, aldo

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

UFC lightweight champion Jon Jones, former champion Lyota Machida and UFC president Dana White talk live at the Air Canada Centre.

Posted in: ufc, conference, champion, machida, centre

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Toronto, Ontario (CANADA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to Toronto this December with an epic light heavyweight title fight pitting champion and rising superstar Jon “Bones” Jones against dynamic striker and former titleholder Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida. A mere eight months after holding its largest event ever in Toronto, UFC® 140: JONES vs. MACHIDA hits the Air Canada Centre on Saturday, Dec. 10.UFC’s return to Toronto will also feature a rematch between former UFC heavyweight champions Frank Mir and “Minotauro” Nogueira, as well as a highly anticipated light heavyweight collision between former champion Tito Ortiz and “Lil Nog,” Rogerio Nogueira. Plus, Ontario’s own Mark “The Machine” Hominick takes on “The Korean Zombie,” Chan Sung Jung, in featherweight action, while British Columbia’s Rory MacDonald looks to continue his ascent up the welterweight ranks when he meets Brian Ebersole.“After his performance against Rampage, there’s no doubt that Jon Jones is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport,” UFC President Dana White said. “He’s already beaten Shogun and Rampage this year and now he gets Machida, a former champion. Machida is one of the most elusive and dangerous strikers in the UFC and he’s motivated to get the belt back. We’re giving the fans in Toronto a really great title fight.”Tickets for UFC® 140: JONES vs. MACHIDA, which is presented by TapouT, go on sale on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $700, $500, $350, $225, $175, $125 and $85. Tickets will be available at the Air Canada Centre Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-855-985-5000 or online at Ticketmaster.ca. UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. Non-members may join at Ticketmaster on Thursday to take advantage of the pre-sale. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Friday, Oct. 14, starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.UFC® 140: JONES vs. MACHIDA will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, BellTV, ShawTV, SaskTel,Viewer’s Choice Canada and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$54.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.After capturing the UFC light heavyweight crown by stopping Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in March, Jon Jones (fighting out of Endicott, N.Y.) made his first title defense at UFC 135 in Denver by dominating Rampage Jackson to improve to 14-1. The 24-year-old also owns wins over the likes of Stephan Bonnar, Vladimir Matyushenko and Ryan Bader, but knows Machida brings another dimension that he has never faced in the Octagon – one he must prepare intensely for.“I am thrilled to be fighting Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 in Toronto, which is just a few hours from my hometown, Endicott, N.Y.,” Jones said. “He is an incredibly skilled fighter and one who poses numerous challenges inside the Octagon. He has only been defeated twice in his career and is coming off a big victory in April. For me, it will be important to just continue to focus on making myself better as a fighter, and keeping the fight at my intensity and aggression levels. It is my goal to become the first UFC fighter to defeat three former champions in one year.”With his unique and unorthodox style, Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida (fighting out of Belem, Brazil) is one of the most dynamic and technical fighters in mixed martial arts today. The 33-year-old former lightweight champion has defeated the likes of Randy Couture, BJ Penn, Rich Franklin and Stephan Bonnar and looks to end Jones’ reign as 205-pound champion. “I’m really excited to be fighting for the light heavyweight title again,” Machida, owner of a 17-2 record, said. “Jon Jones is a great fighter and a great champion. It’s going to be my experience and technique against his youth and athleticism. It’s going to be a great fight.”  In a long-awaited rematch, Frank Mir (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) faces “Minotauro” Nogueira (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a clash of former heavyweight champions. The 32-year-old Mir (15-5) returns to the Octagon® following a unanimous decision victory over Roy Nelson in May. He’ll look to stretch his win streak to three straight when he meets the Brazilian legend. The 35-year-old Nogueira (33-6-1, 1 NC) is coming off a highlight reel knockout of Brendan Schaub in August and looks to avenge his 2008 loss to Mir when the two meet again in Toronto.Meanwhile, Nogueira’s brother Rogerio (also fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) faces off against a candidate for comeback fighter of 2011, Tito Ortiz (fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.). “Lil Nog” and the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” were originally set to meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night in March, but an injury sidelined Ortiz, and Phil Davis fought in his place. Since that time, the 36-year-old Ortiz (17-9-1) has had a resurgence in his storied career, scoring a submission win over Ryan Bader in July and battling with Rashad Evans on short notice in August. Now he meets Rogerio (19-5), a powerful boxer and grappler who owns wins over Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and Luiz Cane. Ontario native Mark “The Machine” Hominick (fighting out of Thamesford, Ontario, Canada) returns to Toronto – site of his valiant battle with featherweight champion Jose Aldo – to face sensational UFC contender “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (fighting out of Po-Hang, South Korea). The 29-year-old Canadian striker looks to return to his winning ways, having won five of his last six. He now faces Jung, who became the first fighter to pull off the ‘twister’ submission in the UFC to defeat rival Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night in March. Two fighters fresh off wins at UFC 133 in August will now battle each other to see who comes out on top in the jam-packed welterweight division as highly-regarded phenom Rory “Ares” MacDonald (fighting out of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) meets the always entertaining and unorthodox Brian Ebersole (fighting out of Melbourne, Australia). The third youngest fighter in the UFC at 22 (behind Michael McDonald and Charles Oliveira), MacDonald (12-1) has impressed with wins over Mike Guymon, Nate Diaz and Mike Pyle en route to becoming one of the organization’s hottest contenders. His opponent, “Bad Boy” Ebersole (48-14-1, 1 NC), made quick work of Dennis Hallman in Philadelphia and dispatched of veteran Chris Lytle in Sydney to move to 2-0 in his UFC career.All bouts live and subject to change.

Posted in: ufc, jone, fighter, champion, machida

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"I got tunnel vision. I'm after the belt. Period. I'm not making any apologies or qualms about it. And the rest of the cowards in the back that just want to get their faces on TV and don't want to carry any heavy water, I've got no time for those guys. All of them. Every damn one of them that isn't named Chael Sonnen is nothing but a coward…. When you're the greatest fighter in the world the day they've got a name for you. They don't call you a great fighter, they call you Chael Sonnen." -- Chael Sonnen, the self-proclaimed true champion, linear champion, peoples champion and best damn middleweight there has ever been, informs the mixed martial arts (MMA) community about a distinguished honor to which the best fighters in the world can now aspire. Forget "pound-for-pound" and "all-time great" discussions and replace them with Chael Sonnen because, well, that's apparently the new gold standard. One that nemesis Anderson Silva -- widely regarded as the best in the business and the best there has ever been -- will likely like to avoid like the plague. Sonnen, fresh off a big win, his first in more than one year, over Brian Stann at UFC 136 this past weekend, immediately executed the full court trash talk press on "The Spider," who was sitting ringside at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. And it doesn't appear that he intends to let up anytime soon. Not until he gets his rematch, at least, which he unofficially scheduled for Super Bowl weekend in early 2012. Will Sonnen emerge as the best Chael Sonnen in the middleweight division or will Silva maintain his Chael Sonnen status when the enemies finally collide?

Posted in: fighter, champion, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez would like some recognition.In an appearance on The MMA Hour this week he discussed his recent talk of...

Posted in: mma hour, week, champion, melendez, ufc-level recognition

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Tickets go on sale this week for the UFC 140 fight between light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and his challenger Lyoto Machida.Former champion Machida...

Posted in: ufc, week, champion, sale, ticket

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Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsStrikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez sat down with UFC President Dana White recently and put it out there that he'd love to get a crack at the UFC lightweight title. "I just wanted to discuss my future with the organization," Melendez said Monday on The MMA Hour. "It looks like I have a good future. ... I just expressed that I want to fight the best." Although Melendez described himself as a loyal Strikeforce fighter who still has four fights left on his contract, he made no secret of the fact that his ultimate goal in the sport is to be the champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. "The UFC title is the best belt," he said. "I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible." Melendez said he believes he matches up well with UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and has done enough that he deserves the next shot at Edgar's belt. "I'm definitely impressed by Frankie. He's an amazing fighter. He's great," Melendez said. "I honestly feel like I'm the No. 1 contender and I feel like I'm ready for the title shot now." The UFC has already brought in Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem and Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, and Melendez is hoping he's next. Melendez stressed, however, that he's not allowing the possibility of fighting in the UFC distract him from his planned December 17 Strikeforce fight with Jorge Masvidal. "I've been focusing on Jorge Masvidal," Melendez said. "He's the first guy in line. I think he's the No. 1 contender, as of now, in Strikeforce, and as of now I have to focus on that guy. He's real tough. But it's hard not to get excited when you hear all these rumors." Melendez had nothing but positive things to say about Strikeforce, but he has been frustrated at times that the general public recognizes only UFC fighters as the best in the world. "The most frustrating thing is the recognition," Melendez said. "A lot of people don't recognize me as a great fighter because I haven't beaten any UFC guys." Melendez hopes to change that soon. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, belt, champion, melendez

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THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Zuffa, LLC today announced that reigning UFC® middleweight champion Anderson Silva has been named the cover athlete for UFC Undisputed® 3, the forthcoming installment in the critically acclaimed mixed martial arts (MMA) videogame franchise from the Ultimate Fighting Championship®. The Brazilian-sensation Silva, who most recently defeated top contender Yushin Okami at UFC® Rio in August to retain his middleweight championship, currently holds both the longest winning streak and longest title defense streak in UFC history. In a franchise-first opportunity, fans were invited to vote online for one of five current UFC champions – Silva, UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones or UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez – to be this year’s cover athlete.  More than 110,000 votes were cast by fans from around the world, with Silva garnering the largest percentage among his fellow competitors.“Enabling fans worldwide to select the UFC Undisputed 3 cover athlete has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ.  “Anderson Silva possesses a tremendous work ethic and incredible prowess inside the Octagon, making him an excellent choice to serve as our cover athlete for the game.”“The fans have voted and Anderson Silva will be on the cover of UFC Undisputed 3,” UFC President Dana White said. “This game has a ton of new features, including the PRIDE mode, and we can’t wait for fans to get a chance to play it.”

Posted in: ufc, silva, champion, anderson silva, fan

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UFC 136 featured two very important lightweight match ups with hearty divisional implications. First, in the third fight between Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, we finally arrived at a resolution (for now), with the champion now the unquestioned head of the totem pole. Second, in the fight between Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon, we witnessed a very unexpected positional flip-flop that will certainly impact the standings in the 155-pound contender picture. And while the showdown between Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens may not have been anywhere near as important as the two aforementioned bouts heading into this weekend, it was still very relevant nonetheless, considering that "Showtime" was the next number one contender at the start of 2011. Let's take a deeper dive into the many implications this card will have on what is perhaps Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) most talented and stacked division: The rubber match between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard was a decisive one. No stone was left unturned. This means two things, which are both very important: 1.) Maynard is now further from the title picture and will need to fight his way back in, and 2.) Edgar has earned the right to move on and face a new challenger. Who could that challenger be? Things just got very real and very exciting for mixed martial arts (MMA) fans. Especially for fans of the "little guys." After UFC 136 wrapped, company president Dana White voiced his desire to see current featherweight champion Jose Aldo move up to lightweight to fight Frankie Edgar. This makes a lot of sense, primarily because of Aldo's apparent difficulty making the 145-pound weight limit. He's still young and growing into his frame. There'd be no shame in him seeing what he can do against opponents who are a tad larger. Very few fans have trouble admitting that Strikeforce is currently surviving on a wing and a prayer. Its heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem, has made the move to the Octagon and will fight Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Similarly, its light heavyweight champion, Dan Henderson, has also made the move and will headline UFC 139 against "Shogun" Mauricio Rua on Nov. 19 in San Jose, California.  Recently, White and others have hinted that Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, Gilbert Melendez, will also soon follow suit and join the UFC fold sooner, not later, and be granted an immediate title unification bout. All this despite that fact that "El Nino" is expected to defend his strap against top contender Jorge Masvidal some time soon; however, nothing has been made official either way. Let's review. We've got an unidsputed champion in Edgar who needs a challenger. We've got  a featherweight champion (Aldo) who has been called one of the "pound-for-pound" greatest in the sport possibly moving up to the 155-pound division. We've got a Strikeforce champion (Melendez) who is ranked first or second in nearly every MMA lightweight ranking system on the planet. But hold on. That's not all. On Nov. 12, 2011, Clay Guida will collide with Ben Henderson in another lightweight match up of significant proportions at UFC on Fox 1 in Anaheim, California. If "Smooth" wins, it's likely not as big an issue; however, if "The Carpenter" notches the victory, it would be difficult for the promotion to pass over him on a five-fight tear. Head spinning, really, when all the options are considered. So where do you Maniacs weigh in on all this? Who truly deserves the next shot at Edgar's strap? Share your constructive feedback in the comments section below. Make your case for the next lightweight number one contender. It's really hard to go wrong.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, &nbsp, edgar

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… And the best damn middleweight there has ever been: "Anderson Silva is a nuisance to me and a thorn in my side. But, Im not delusional. I understand what his skill set is, I understand that he's got what I want. I'm not crazy. I get it that he's a good, skilled guy. At the same time, he's a chicken, he's a coward and he won't fight me. [In the rematch] We're going to play for keeps this time. Winner takes all." We're off, just like that. For more on the rematch between Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen, which Dana White said would be a fight he'd be stupid not to make as soon as possible, click here. To check out Sonnen's epic UFC 136 post-fight victory speech after submitting Brian Stann, click here. Anyone got an early favorite?

Posted in: champion, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, hellip ;&nbsp

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Kenny Florian has been here before, knocking on the door of becoming a world champion under the prestigious Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner. Twice, actually. And three if we count his loss to Diego Sanchez in the finale of the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Always the groomsman, but never the groom. The unlikely mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar from Brookline, Mass., has another chance to reel in his big white whale once again tonight when he takes on arguably the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport today, Jose Aldo, in the co main event at UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3." Florian wore out his welcome at lightweight despite an impressive record (13-3) that he compiled over the course of five action-packed years. The proverbial straw the broke "Ken Flo's" 155-pound back was none other than current number one division contender, Gray Maynard, who earned a three-round unanimous decision win over the ESPN MMA Analyst in Aug. 2010. With two losses in two championship fights, as well as another to a top-ranked "Bully," a move down in weight was perhaps his only viable option. And with just one win under his belt, a unanimous decision over Diego Nunes earlier this year at UFC 131, Florian was already back in the title picture. Now he needs to prove he belongs or risk descending into limbo once again ... and perhaps forever. More than just that, Florian needs to prove to fans, UFC President Dana White -- who has said he "chokes" in big fights -- and even himself that he has what it takes to be a world champion. We've seen flashes of his brilliance throughout the years, whether it was his destruction of Alvin Robinson, domination of Clay Guida or Takanori Gomi's rude Octagon introduction. Remember those? Today, it's relatively easy to recall those impressive performances. But that's not really how most folks will remember Kenny Florian, especially if the third time really isn't the charm. On the contrary, he'll be remembered as one of the most talented fighter's of his generation to never win the big one. He'd be the MMA equivalent of Charles Barkley, Dan Marino and Ted Williams.  Kenny Florian wants what featherweight champion Jose Also has got. And this belt, specifically, means more to Florian than any other for so many short- and long-term reasons. It's now or never.

Posted in: ufc, champion, florian, kenny, kenny florian

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UFC lightweight champion Frankie (The Answer) Edgar and challenger Gray (The Bully) Maynard locked glares again Friday.

Posted in: ufc, champion, edgar, maynard, champion frankie

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Gray Maynard and UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar feel like they've been waiting forever for their rematch.

Posted in: ufc, champion, rematch, edgar, maynard

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Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard are both looking for final resolution to their rivalry at UFC 136.

Posted in: ufc, champion, edgar, maynard, rivalry

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Now that Jon Jones is set to defend his light heavyweight title against Lyoto Machida in December, the oddsmakers have set the defending champion as a decided favorite.

Posted in: jon, jon jones, champion, lyoto machida, machida

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Former Pride FC champion and UFC interim heavyweight champion Rodrigo Nogueira faces the toughest challenge of his career soon - and it isn’t in...

Posted in: nogueira, champion, rodrigo nogueira, isn &rsquo, rodrigo

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Twelve consecutive opponents have tried and failed to solve the violent riddle that is UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Posted in: riddle, champion, jose, jose aldo, aldo

Read the full article at Sherdog

Fight fans across the country slept in to make up for the hours they spent in the early morning celebrating the arrival of another new year. They awoke with heavy eyes and a pounding inside their skull. Aspirin and water helped alleviate some of that self-inflicted torture while cold pizza served to soak up the alcohol still left in their system. In Las Vegas, a city built on decadence and excess, at least two men refused to engage in the debauchery that consumed nearly everyone the night before. Their celebration -- at least each hoped -- would come a few hours later after UFC President Dana White wrapped the lightweight title around their waist. Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard fought as well as they could have hoped to but that sought after celebration didn't come for either man. Their main event bout -- one of the most exhilarating in the history of the sport -- ended with no winner. One judge ruled in favor of the champion, the second for the challenger. The third scored the bout an even 47-47. Once the usual dissatisfaction that comes with draws subsided, the thought that raced across everyone watching was, "I can't wait until they fight again." But wait we did. We waited for injuries to heal and for training camps to start and end. In approximately 48 hours (Oct. 8), at UFC 136, the two best lightweights in mixed martial arts (MMA) will return to their battlefield once again to finally settle who truly belongs on the throne atop the 155-pound division. Before they do, let's take a look back at their historic bout from earlier this year. In January, the two fighters stepped inside the Octagon opposite each other for the second time in their careers. In 2008, "The Bully" lived up to his moniker and earned a unanimous decision over Edgar. It was this fight that had many calling for "The Answer" to jump ship to World Extreme Cagefighting's (WEC) featherweight division. Edgar remained at 155-pounds, winning his next three bouts which included a victory over former lightweight champ Sean Sherk. And at UFC 112, he accomplished what many thought was impossible at his weight: he beat B.J. Penn. Four months later, he replicated the result and effectively ended the Hawaiian's career at lightweight. But there was one man who scoffed at "The Answer's" status as undisputed champ. At UFC 118 -- the same event where Edgar proved he was no fluke champion -- Maynard staked his claim at the title when he defeated Kenny Florian in a number one contender's bout. The two met for a second time but the stakes were considerably higher than they were at Fight Night: Florian vs. Lauzon. The first round started like most championships bout do. Edgar and his challenger circled the Octagon, throwing out jabs in an attempt to find their range. One minute in, all hell broke loose. "The Bully" found his mark and dropped the champion. Well, not so much dropped as he made Edgar nearly do a backflip. As the champion got back to his feet -- the Las Vegas crowd probably sounding like they're miles away -- he narrowly avoided getting plastered with an uppercut from Maynard. "The Answer" staggered backwards, trying to create some distance between himself and his opponent but Maynard kept up the attack. A right from the challenger cracked Edgar on the jaw as he shot in for a takedown. It was stuffed and "The Bully" used the position to hammer away at the champion's skull. As they rose to their feet, two uppercuts plowed into the New Jersey-native's chin and dropped him for the second time in as many minutes. To his credit, "The Answer" never stopped working. He never gave the referee the opportunity to step in and call the bout. Even as Maynard landed punch after punch, Edgar continued to work towards getting back to his feet, back to a more neutral position. And this was all in the first 120 seconds. As the two reached the midpoint of the first round, Maynard found himself in almost total control of the bout while Edgar found himself dazed and bleeding from the nose. The pace slowed for a bit but a hook from the challenger caught "The Answer" right on the temple and he yet took another tumble. Back to their feet, a straight saw the champion get dropped to the mat once again. Throughout the entire round, it felt like any one of these punches could be the kill shot even though none followed through on that promise. Either due to a lack of knockout power on Maynard's part or a granite chin on Edgar's, the fight somehow made it to the second round. The next five minutes played out more like a round from either fight Edgar had with Penn. "The Answer" was sticking and moving, not allowing Maynard to find any rhythm in his stand-up while peppering the challenger with lightning quick punches. A cross halfway through the round snapped "The Bully's" head to the side and drew a loud reaction from the crowd. Maynard himself? Not so much. With a little over a minute to go, Edgar was able to duck under some Maynard punches and unleashed a monster of the slam that didn't do a whole lot of damage but looked mighty impressive. The champion continued connecting with combinations and after 10 minutes, "The Bully" was also showing the wear and tear of a championship scrap. It was also at this point that fans knew, after watching the champion get absolutely brutalized in the first only to come back and win the second round, they were watching something special. In between rounds, Maynard's corner offers this advice, "You're trying to knock his ass out! Just beat him up, alright?! Don't try to knock him out, that'll come!" As blunt as it may have seemed, it was excellent advice. "The Bully's" corner does him another solid when they tell their fighter that he lost the round. It lights a fire inside of him. Of the remaining rounds, the third and fifth remain the most contentious. Takedowns seemed to have sealed the deal for the challenger in the third but the fifth remained almost entirely vertical. That said, we'll get to it in a moment. As far as the opening championship round went, it was all Edgar. He opened up with two impressive takedowns and a guillotine choke attempt and never looked back. He fought like a man on a mission to keep a belt almost no one thought he would win in the first place. He shoved off takedown attempts from the bigger Maynard and worked him over with the same impeccable boxing that felled Penn not once, but twice. The fifth and final round oddly played out like what felt like a first round. Both fighters were patient and picked their shots carefully. If not for the cuts and blood on their faces, one might swear they were watching the beginning, not the end, of a title fight. Takedown attempts were stuffed like neither fighter had just spent nearly half an hour fighting and jabs snapped as crisp as they would during the first or second minute. As the final horn sounded, both champion and challenger raised their arms in triumph. Edgar's camp congratulated their fighter on a successful second defense while Maynard's crew hugged who they felt was the new champ. Bruce Buffer read off the first score in favor of the champ. Then he read the second score awarding the bout to the challenger. And then the third... Pucker up and grab your sister, folks. Naturally, each fighter thought they had done enough to win the fight but accepted the decision -- one that would affect and dictate their career for nearly a year -- handed down by the three men assigned to judge the bout, three men neither fighter likely had never met before or ever would. One of Dana White's most oft quoted sound bites is, "Don't leave it in the hands of the judges." It's become somewhat of an MMA meme to describe the judging problem that often negatively affects our beloved sport. But a fighter doing so can determine the amount of his paycheck or even his employment status. In Edgar and Maynard's case at UFC 125, it actually determined nothing. We still don't know who the best 155-pound fighter on the planet is but that should change come Saturday evening. Who will it be, Maniacs?

Posted in: bout, round, champion, edgar, maynard

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Bellator has taken can crushing to a new extreme with the recent announcement that their middleweight champion Hector Lombard would be facing the over matched Trevor Prangley at Bellator 58. Talk all you want about how well Bellator is doing these days, but pitting a fighter on a 19 fight win streak against an opponent on a 2 fight losing streak (and only 1 win in his last 5) is absolutely appalling and goes to show how shallow Bellator truly is. I don’t know if it’s an attempt to protect the champion’s record, or just a lack of depth in the middleweight division outside the UFC, but this matchup is wrong, plain and simple. Prangley has decent name recognition and has even competed in the UFC a handful of times but is clearly on the tail end of his fighting career. Some will look at his record and see the win over Jardine as reason enough for this match up but Jardine himself has looked far from impressive lately. This is also his only notable win since defeating Travis Lutter at UFC 54. There is no way you can look at this fight as relevant to the division; it’s just another easy win for Lombard to inflate his record. This is not real competition. Bellator’s stature in the MMA world has risen significantly since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce and if they want to continue that progress, they’ll need to put together more compelling match ups for their champions. If by some miracle Prangley managed to defeat Lombard, what would that say about not only Lombard as a champion, but the belt itself? I understand they’re in a tough position considering the majority of top ranked middleweight fighters are under the Zuffa umbrella but I’d rather they put Lombard on the shelf. Feeding him cans like Prangley (and yes, at this point in his career he is a can) will only diminish any prestige the belt currently holds. Something needs to change.

Posted in: lombard, bellator, champion, &rsquo, prangley

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UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard got in each other's face at the pre-UFC 136 news conference.

Posted in: ufc, champion, edgar, maynard, pre-ufc

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UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen may have tapped to a triangle armbar submission against champion Anderson Silva, but the brash Team Quest fighter has continually poked fun at Silva and other Brazilian fighters. Silva, one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, was controlled by Sonnen on the ground before trapping the American wrestler in the fight-ending choke during the fifth round of their August 2010 fight. Since that fight, Sonnen has attacked Silva on numerous occasions, while the middleweight champion has ignored the public statements. “It’s getting harder and harder to deny he should be shown that appreciation,” Sonnen confirmed while promoting his upcoming middleweight fight against Brian Stann. “He ducked Okami for years, but he did finally get in there and he made it look easy. So I think you’ve got to look at that. If you’re asking if I’d ever concede that Anderson’s better than me, no. I would refer you to the tape (of our fight). I think he and I are vastly different and that I could come down a lot and still be ahead of him. I also think he ducks and dodges opponents constantly, but his wins and losses speak for themselves. The fact of the matter, whether I like to admit this or not, is he’s done a better job than anybody, done a better job than me, and he is the champion.” If Sonnen is able to get by Stann later this week at UFC 136, a possible rematch with Silva seems likely sometime in 2012. I think it’d be interesting to see what adjustments Silva would make if he had to fight Sonnen again — he spent a large portion of the fight on his back, so he would clearly need to make changes.

Posted in: fight, silva, champion, middleweight, sonnen

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  Evolve MMA in Singapore is home to some top talent such as Shinya Aoki and Rafael Dos Anjos and is also developing an entire crop of up and coming fighters like Bryan Choi, Eddie Ng and Zorobabel Moreira. The Evolve fight team's 2011 MMA record stand at  12-1 with wins at the UFC, Dream, One Fighting Championship and Dare Championship. That equates to a 92% win rate which very few teams consistently competing at such an elite level of MMA would be able to rival. The last wins came a couple of weekends ago when Alex Silva and Rodrigo Ribeiro both won by first round submission at Dare Championship 2/11 while Aoki defended his Dream lightweight title by defeating Rob McCullough. Next up is Dos Anjos who will be looking to move up the lightweight ladder when he takes on Gleison Tibau  at UFC 139. Thai businessman Chatri Sityodtong is the founder and chairman of Evolve MMA and takes a very hands on approach, he can normally be found in his fighter's corner giving them advice and instructions. He spoke exclusively to MMAmania.com about how he founded Evolve MMA and has taken it to the point where it is widely recognized as being the top MMA academy in Asia. What is your martial arts background? I'm from Thailand and I've been doing Muay Thai for almost 25 years as a student, a fighter, a teacher, and a coach.  Kru Yodtong Senanan (the Grandmaster of Sityodtong Camp in Thailand) has been my teacher since I was a kid growing up in Thailand.  I've grappled for about three years. I'm not very good at it, but I love it and I have a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie. As an MMA coach, I have taught and cornered fighters such as DREAM FC Champion Shinya Aoki (pictured below), UFC fighter Rafael dos Anjos, WBA Boxing World Champion Yodsanan Sityodtong, BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira, MCFC Champion Mitch Chilson, BJJ World Champion Leandro Issa, ONE FC fighter Eddie Ng, and many others. The Evolve Fight Team has had a very successful year.  Why do you think that is? In fighting, you are only as good as your team.  For me, I believe that the best attract the best and the best produce the best.  At Evolve MMA, we have a great family of world-class teachers...51 full-time instructors to be exact...17 of whom are World Champions in their discipline.  Evolve MMA is the only MMA academy in Asia with current or former world champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, and No Gi Grappling. As the leader of Evolve MMA, I try my best to foster a strong cross-learning environment.  I don't believe in MMA as a stand alone art.  I believe that you have to learn each discipline deeply before applying it to MMA. Where do you find fighters and trainers and what is the selection process? In the early days of Evolve MMA it was much harder to recruit and I had to travel a lot to find talent. We've been lucky in that our win streak has given us a good reputation and today I get about 100 emails a week from fighters and coaches asking to join the Evolve Fight Team. It's mostly around Asia, but we've even gotten inquiries from the US, Australia, and Europe too.  Every day I spend a couple hours a day scouring the globe for new talent. and when I spot someone we usually invite them to train with us for a tryout process. Other times, professional fighters just show up without any advance warning to try out for the team. In a nutshell, I am looking for fighters that Evolve MMA can turn into World Champions so I look at natural athleticism, gameness, coachability, humility, work ethic, body type, etc.  Luckily, our retention rate has been 100%.  We've never had a fighter or instructor leave us voluntarily.  I try my best to invest my time in people that I truly believe in for the long run.  Right now, I am still looking to recruit two to three wrestling champions for the Evolve Fight Team...NCAA D1 champion caliber. Who devises the Evolve MMA fighter training program? Is one person in overall charge? I am the leader of the Evolve Fight Team and I am ultimately responsible for everything. That being said, our day-to-day training is taught by our 51 instructors. When we have fights, I am the one who comes up with the game plan and strategy for each of our fighters. I've had some great input from friends who visited Singapore to train with us such as Renzo Gracie, Matt Hume, Rich Franklin (pictured below), etc, we regularly share knowledge with each other.  And of course, all of our World Champions at Evolve MMA are walking encyclopedias on fighting. The wealth of knowledge at Evolve MMA is incredible, there is really so much cross-learning here. The Fighters Program at Evolve MMA is a constant work-in-progress; we are constantly trying to incorporate new methodologies into the training.  I believe in continuous improvement.  If you don't evolve, you wither away. Your send your MMA fighters to compete in Muay Thai fights, boxing matches and BJJ competitions, why is that? I don't believe in MMA as a discipline in itself. I believe that, to be truly great at MMA, you need to learn each individual discipline in depth. So I strongly encourage all of our fighters to compete in every discipline. The results have been quite good. For example, BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira has fought a few times in professional Muay Thai in Thailand and his confidence in his standup game has skyrocketed. I mean if Zoro can hang in Muay Thai with a Thai fighter in Thailand, what can an MMA striker do to Zoro that he hasn't seen before?  Those invaluable minutes in actual striking combat, coupled with his training under our Muay Thai World Champions, has translated into his excellent performances in MMA. Are you looking to recruit any more fighters or trainers at the moment? Yes, of course.  I am constantly looking for new fighters and instructors every day, it's one of my top priorities. Evolve MMA has been growing rapidly and I am constantly looking for world-class talent. I can't say his name yet, but I just recruited a 21 year old Lumpinee Muay Thai World Champion to come train full-time in MMA. As a full-time employee at Evolve MMA, his only job will be to train and to fight for us. He will be training every day in BJJ, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Wrestling. He will be arriving at Evolve in late October. How exciting an opportunity is One FC for the Evolve MMA fighters? ONE FC is an excellent opportunity for our fighters. I hope the show succeeds because Asia is missing a world-class organization like ONE FC right now. I love DREAM FC and I hope it does well too. How much difference has Shinya Aoki made to the fight team since he joined earlier this year? I always look for win-win situations. Clearly, Shinya (pictured below) is one of the top lightweight MMA fighters in the world but if he wants to take his game to the next level, he needs a team like Evolve MMA. Here at Evolve MMA, Shinya is exposed to the best of the best in the world in each discipline and as a result, every aspect of his game has really improved dramatically - his striking, his takedowns, his ground game, etc.  Shinya and I get along very well...we both share the exact same philosophies in martial arts. We are both martial artists, not fighters. A fighter only trains when he has a fights but a martial artist trains every day with the purpose of perfecting his craft.  We both believe strongly in continuous improvement.   On the flip side, Evolve MMA is also lucky to have Shinya; he has shared his wealth of MMA experience with the rest of the Evolve Fight Team and he's a very unselfish teammate. He's always trying to help everyone on the team. This incredible cross-learning environment is the heart of what the Evolve Fight Team is about. As the saying goes, iron forges iron. How many months a year does Rafael Dos Anjos spend in Singapore? Rafael spends a few months a year in Singapore.  His Muay Thai game has really skyrocketed.  I truly believe that he has what it takes to become a UFC World Champion.  For more information about Evolve MMA visit www.evolve-mma.com  If any NCAA Division One level wrestlers are interested in being offered a very competitive salary to join the Evolve MMA fight team they can contact me here.

Posted in: world, mma, fighter, champion, .&nbsp

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Stefan Struve pose for a staredown last night after UFC on Versus 6.

Posted in: ufc, champion, light, stefan struve, stefan

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Demetrious Johnson almost reached the peak of the mountain, but came up short in his bid to become UFC bantamweight champion.

Posted in: champion, johnson, demetriou, mountain, demetrious johnson

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is reportedly coming to the UFC. MMAWeekly’s Damon Martin reports that UFC President Dana White says the deal is currently being worked on and that the UFC wants Melendez in the octagon. Melendez’s agent, Malki Kawa, has apparently not received the offer but expressed over twitter that “Melendez would love nothing more than to come the UFC today! Dana White just has to make that call and he’ll be there. Meeting with the boss on monday. Got a couple of champs that got business to handle.” Kawa’s company, First Round Management, also represents UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. If the deal is completed, Melendez will become the fourth former Strikeforce champion to join the UFC following teammate and former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, former heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, and light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson. The move would leave only middleweight champion Luke Rockhold as the remaining Strikeforce men’s champion. Melendez is currently scheduled to put his lightweight title on line against hard-hitting Jorge Masvidal this December at Strikeforce 37 in San Diego, California. Melendez is generally considered one of the top three lightweights in the world and has lobbied for a move to the UFC several times since UFC parent company Zuffa LLC. purchased a controlling interest in the company earlier this year. For more on this story and all your MMA needs, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, champion, jorge masvidal, melendez

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The WEC was built on the premise that the lighter weight classes in Feather and Bantamweight were the most exciting in the sport. To a certain extent this was true. The WEC cards never failed to impress and from top to bottom were some of the best fights the audience had ever seen. With champions Urijah Faber and Miguel Torres it was believed that the casual fan base of the sport would finally accept the fighters below 155 pounds. Faber became the face of the organization. Torres to a lesser extent became the man to beat at bantamweight. Both fighters dominated the divisions and the WEC was planning on running an eventual pay per view headlined by the two competing against one another.  Unfortunately, Mike Brown knocked out Faber and Torres was stopped by Brian Bowles. The divisions were in a state of flux until Jose Aldo defeated Mike Brown in dominant fashion. Jose Aldo throughout his WEC career excited people with his muay thai and fan friendly fight style. Bowles was supposed to be the future of bantamweight as a wrestler possessing knockout power. Unfortunately, in his first title defense Bowles was bested by Dominick Cruz and since then, the division hasn't received the same attention.  Dominick Cruz has become one of the most dominant champions under the Zuffa umbrella in the history of the organization. Besides Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre, there is no other champion in Zuffa that has successfully defended their belt as often as Cruz. There also has never been an easy fight for him either. Miguel Torres never faced the same level of competition during his title reign. Brian Bowles never got the chance to go on a run. So why hasn't Cruz caught on like his peers? Hindsight being what it is, we know that the WEC went all in marketing-wise with Miguel Torres as champion. When he lost to Bowles they were forced to get behind Brian Bowles who was also an equally as exciting fighter. When Cruz became champion it was almost as if the Zuffa brass gave up on the division. They had a champion that was a ratings disaster who was much so much better than the rest of the division that there really was no way for him to ever be defeated. Cruz is perhaps one of the most humble champions in the UFC. He's got a style of fighting that not only confuses opponents but also the audience. He doesn't win by knockout or submission and rarely has his opponent in danger of being finished. And he's possibly on of the best fighters in the world. The UFC booked a grudge match between Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz earlier this year. The fight was marketed as Cruz's toughest test to date and it was a fight of the year performance. Yet the booking was also intended to dethrone Cruz with the far more marketable Faber. Dominick Cruz won a hard fought decision and now is set to face Demetrious Johnson tonight in Washington, D.C. The fight is not on pay per view. It seems that the UFC sees Dominick Cruz as a box office failure and is attempting to save face with a defense on free television.  Dominick Cruz defends his belt tonight. He knows that he's one of the best in the world. He needs to learn that he needs to begin to fight for the fans. At the end of the day this a pay per view business and if Cruz can't draw people into watching his title defenses then he's a lame duck champion. He'll be in the awkward position where the UFC can't have him headline a PPV yet also can't feel comfortable with putting him on Fox or FX. His style is the very definition of elusive and his inability to finish an opponent has made his fights ones that fans are willing to DVR instead of watch live. The UFC needs to figure out a plan to market him in the future because he's not going to be dethroned for a while. There is no one at 135 that can defeat him and he may even possess the skill set and talent to defeat Jose Aldo should the opportunity for a superfight occur. If that does happen, they may need to back their champion instead of finding challengers to bet on. He'll defeat almost everyone at bantamweight and potentially at featherweight. It may be time for the UFC to appreciate the greatness that is Dominick Cruz and treat him like the champion he is and the fighter he can be.  SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, cruz, dominick

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It's early Saturday morning, I'm up early, I'm bored, but I've been thinking. If all 3 of the dominant champions moved up in weight, and it was announced that there would be a tournament to crown the new champions in each weight class, who would be in it, and who do you think would win? In the case of GSP and Silva, you can put them in the middleweight and light heavyweight tournaments respectively if you want. Standard 8 man tournament, so the winner will have to earn it. What are your thoughts? submitted by col0rado [link] [comment]

Posted in: champion, tournament, weight, saturday morning, weight class

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Afghan fighter and Shooto light-heavyweight (185lbs.) champion Siyar Bahadurzada has signed with the UFC. Bahadurzada announced the move via twitter, stating: “Long before becoming a champion, you should train and act like a champion. Once you get the champions attitude, the belt will be the reward! I signed with the UFC!!!! I’m very excited to be a part of the UFC and test my skills with the crème de la crème of MMA. I wanna thank the UFC and [UFC President] Dana White for this opportunity. I will shake up the [welterweight] division!!! Also special thanks to my team Golden Glory! Thank you all so much for the support and all the great and motivational tweets! I strongly believe my time has come!” Siyar’s main skillset is his strong Muay Thai but he has trained with Mark Munoz and others to round out his game over the years. In Siyar’s last sixteen fights he last lost only twice, both by submission to Jorge Santiago and Kazuo Misaki, with the last loss being to Santiago three years ago at Sengoku’s 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix semifinal. No opponent or event has been named for Bahadurzada at this time.

Posted in: ufc, champion, bahadurzada, siyar, cr ème

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The UFC on Versus 6 headliner talks about beating the top 5 challengers in the division and bringing some attention to the bantamweight division.

Posted in: champion, division, dominick cruz, bantamweight division, under-appreciated champion

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The resurgent ProElite has inked Nov. 5 for its next major event, and two ex-UFC heavyweight champions have...

Posted in: heavyweight, proelite, event, champion, inked nov

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submitted by kingpape26 [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, champion, kingpape, number, ufc champions

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I feel like we are reaching a sort of plateau in the evolution of MMA as a sport. We have fighters emerging in each weight division who are exemplars of every area of specialization relevant to MMA. We have champions who are so completely dominant that it becomes an exercise in futility even trying to find a viable opponent for them. I'd like to have a discussion to see what you all think. My personal thoughts are that this is a sort of Age of Heroes for MMA. These champions who are emerging are the forefathers of what MMA will be for the foreseeable future, just an amalgamation of everything great that has come before them. Just a really fucking exciting time in the sport's history. submitted by applesforadam [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, sport, champion, weight division, sort

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Former foes in the cage, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and England's Dan (The Outlaw) Hardy are now training together.

Posted in: gsp, champion, training, england, gsp trains

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UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz has a unique opportunity this Saturday night (Oct. 1) in the main event of UFC on Versus 6 opposite Demetrious Johnson. To find out what it is, and which former champion he may need to emulate to help make it happen, click here.

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, champion, saturday, demetrious johnson

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Multi-time MMA Champion Urijah “The California Kid” Faber will return to action on November 19th, fighting the former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles at UFC 139. The fight will be featured on the main card portion of the night, alongside the co-main event attraction between Wanderlei Silva and Cung Le, and the headlining bout between Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.In his last bout, Faber went toe-to-toe with the reigning UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz,

Posted in: ufc, champion, wanderlei silva, faber, faber returns

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be holding a public press conference today (Sep. 27, 2011) to officially announce the upcoming event UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson" which is scheduled to take place later this year (Nov. 19, 2011). The conference will begin at 4 p.m. ET live from the San Pedro Square Market in San Jose, California, the home city of the event. Scheduled to attend will be UFC president Dana White and headlining fighters of the evening: Mauricio Rua, Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva and Cung Le. "Shogun" Rua is the former UFC light heavyweight champion and is coming off a quick first round destruction of Ultimate Fighter season one winner and fellow former champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 134 in Brazil. He'll be challenged by Dan Henderson, the former simultaneous multi-divisional champion of Pride who came up short with two title shots in the UFC before becoming the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. Henderson is coming off a monumental knockout victory over Fedor Emelianenko this past July and returned to the UFC afterwards. Wanderlei Silva was a legend in Pride and is still a fan favorite in the UFC. He recently had his run in the middleweight division stopped short by the heavy-handed Chris Leben and accepted a bout against Cung Le in place of the injured Vitor Belfort, staving off retirement for at least one more fight. Cung Le was the Strikeforce middleweight champion and possesses a very exciting arsenal of diverse strikes which helped turn him into a superstar in California. He's been distracted by a career in movies but a bout in the UFC was enough to call him back to MMA. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 139 press conference after the jump.   Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

Posted in: ufc, conference, henderson, champion, wanderlei silva

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UFC 139 is now official with former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson returning to the Octagon to face former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua in the main event.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, champion, shogun, hendo official

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

After winning a national title at Arizona State University and signing with American Top Team, Bubba Jenkins has now signed with Tachi Palace Fights to make his pro-MMA debut on December 2. The bout will take place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino against an unknown opponent but Jenkins is very excited about his pro debut. The fight will take place at lightweight. Jenkins joins a list of former Arizona State wrestlers to join MMA that includes current UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson, UFC hall of famer Dan Severn, Ryan Bader, CB Dollaway, and Aaron Simpson. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for more on this story.

Posted in: champion, debut, jenkin, ryan bader, ncaa divison

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With his dominant submission win over Quinton Jackson at UFC 135, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, 24, is arguably the best fighter in the sport today. Agree or disagree? Read one of those arguments here.

Posted in: jackson, submission, champion, quinton jackson, sport today

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We look back at UFC 135 from Denver, Colorado where light heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones dominated former champion Quinton (Rampage) Jackson.

Posted in: ufc, jackson, week, champion, champion quinton

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We look back at UFC 135 from Denver, Colorado where light heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones dominated former champion Quinton (Rampage) Jackson.

Posted in: ufc, jackson, week, champion, champion quinton

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Well they say you aren't truly a champion until you defend your title. UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones did more than that last night (September 24, 2011) in an absolute four round destruction of former titleholder Quinton Jackson in the main event of UFC 135. This wasn't the out of shape movie star "Rampage" either. This was Jackson at his absolute best after training for two-plus months exclusively in elevation. And he didn't stand a chance. So how did Jones mystify the heavy-hitting UFC and Pride veteran and stop Jackson for the first time in his UFC career? The answer lies inside. Jones baffled Jackson early, pressing him against the fence and pounding on him with short knees. After they separated, he really utilized his range to absolute perfection, blasting the former champion with jabs, front kicks and side kicks. "Bones" particularly attacked Jackson's legs, nailing him with leg kicks and kicks to the front of the knee, which may have put some fear into "Rampage." Jackson repeatedly looked frustrated, even voicing his displeasure to the referee and losing his focus on the task at hand. Because the Greg Jackson-trained champion was able to utilize his reach so well, it made nearly all of Jackson's attacks look sloppy and wild. Notice here in the third round how Jackson is so far away that his huge looping hook completely falls short and out of frustration he dives forward with a 1-2 hook combination that is so wild and aggressive that he crashes into the fence. Jones' distance gave him more than enough notice to duck and spin out of the way of an incredibly heavy attack that may have hurt someone with a lesser reach. If the Wolfslair fighter did anything well, it was his takedown defense. He was able to pummel under and sprawl very effectively in the first three rounds and the one time he was taken down, he scrambled free from a dangerous position in which Jones had him in full mount. Even Jackson's vaunted takedown defense betrayed him in round four when Jones wrapped up his neck and basically leveraged him to the canvas with brute force.  When Jackson attempted to scramble to his feet, Jones took his back and baited him badly with his right arm. Watch how he keeps his right arm threaded under Jackson's right armpit. As "Rampage's" attention is focused on that arm, Jones stealthily slips his left arm under Jackson's exposed neck. Jones quickly puts his second hook in and rolls Jackson over. When he tightens the choke with the palm-to-palm grip, Jackson is forced to tap or risk going unconcious in front of millions of people. For Quinton Jackson, there's not much to say about this performance. He showed up in terrific shape but he could never get comfortable against Jones. He had to worry about takedowns with every strike he threw all-the-while getting punched and kicked in the face as well as absorbing leg and knee kicks. He never once got in the proper range to land his powerful counter left hook and the story of the fight could be told on Jon Jones' unblemished face. "Rampage" called out Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, the former UFC champion and a man who had previously been the last fighter to stop Jackson back in Pride. That would be an interesting fight, but Rua has to face Dan Henderson first. The only way that fight gets made is if Rua loses to Henderson.  If the UFC really hates Forrest Griffin right now, that's another fight that could be a possibility. Jackson has campaigned for a rematch with Griffin in the past. If Joe Silva wants to get creative with his matchmaking and if Strikeforce is dead at the beginning of 2012, perhaps they could book a fight against another hated rival, Muhammed Lawal. For Jon Jones, that was a performance that was near perfection. He utilized his range perhaps better than any fighter has ever done. He kept Jackson at bay with a vast array of kicks and his tremendously long jab. Even when he came inside with aggressive power strikes or elbow attacks, "Bones" would immediately clinch to avoid staying inside Jackson's range. He never gave the former champion an opportunity to be effective. Up next for the champion will be his former teammate and current rival "Suga" Rashad Evans, who has twice now stared Jones down after his title victories. Evans earned his title shot with a dominant stoppage of Tito Ortiz at UFC 133 this past August and Jones is not happy with him, stating he's "ruined his night" on both occasions that he's celebrated his title fight victories. The build-up to that fight should be incredible. So what do you think Maniacs?  Were you impressed by the clinic Jon Jones put on the former UFC light heavyweight champion? Was there anything "Rampage" could have done differently to create a different outcome? Sound off! All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, jackson, champion

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Bellator newcomer Alexis Vila brutally knocks out Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren in the main event of Bellator 51 last night (September 24, 2011). Vila quickly ended Warren's dream of being a multi-divisional champion.

Posted in: bellator, champion, warren, vila, multi-divisional champion

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The youngest champion in Ultimate Fighting Championship history has now successfully defended one of the sport’s most volatile titles.

Posted in: title, rampage, champion, championship history, sport ’s

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The prodigious light heavyweight champion put on another impressive performance, finishing Jackson via rear naked choke in the fourth round.

Posted in: rampage, jackson, jon jones, rampage jackson, champion

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Unorthodox is fast becoming too mundane a word to describe UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Who else would commence their first ever defence of...

Posted in: jon, jone, jackson, champion, light-heavyweight

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SAITAMA, Japan -- Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki racked up another submission finish in the main event of Dream 17 at the Saitama Super Arena, this time over former WEC lightweight champion “Razor” Rob McCullough.

Posted in: dream, champion, aoki, saitama, tap

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It took DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki just under five minutes to submit former WEC champion ‘Razor’ Rob McCullough at DREAM 17. The...

Posted in: dream, champion, aoki, wec champion, lsquo ;razor

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Filed under: DREAM, JapanLarge-scale Japanese MMA is finally back on Saturday night with DREAM.17, the first numbered event from the leading Japanese promoter in exactly twelve months. On the card at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki clashes with former WEC champ "Razor" Rob McCullough in a non-title match, perennial top ten lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri makes his featherweight debut against former Shooto and DREAM champion Joachim Hansen and the DREAM Bantamweight World Grand Prix gets underway with four quarterfinal bouts. After the break, predictions from the biggest Japanese event of the year. What: DREAM.17 When: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2010. Live on HDNet on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3AM ET. Where: Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan Shinya Aoki vs. Rob McCullough The DREAM lightweight champion has spent a significant amount of time working his Muay Thai at the Evolve MMA gym in Singapore but regardless of what he was been saying to the Japanese press, don't expect him to spend any time with the twelve-time Muay Thai champion on the feet. McCullough, a former WEC champion, has never been submitted in his 26-fight career but it is a challenge that a newly more well-rounded Aoki should be up to. Aoki sinks in the first round rear naked choke. Pick: Aoki Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Joachim Hansen In there first meeting, a 2006 Shooto world title bout, Kawajiri took a devastating kick to the groin only eight seconds into the bout and was unable to recover. Let's hope for the former Shooto champ's sake that that doesn't happen again. Kawajiri was always a large lightweight so it's mind boggling that he has been able to make the cut to featherweight so well. Kawajiri gets revenge for the low blow and takes the former DREAM lightweight champion down, grinding out an exhausting yet competitive decision. Pick: Kawajiri Caol Uno vs. Takeshi Inoue Both former Shooto world champions, Caol Uno and "Lion" Takeshi Inoue are at similar positions in the featherweight ladder - both recently picking up solid wins but were also both suplexed into oblivion by Kazuyuki Miyata. Powerhouse wrestling will not be making an appearance here thoug - Uno will be looking to take advantage of the scrambles while Inoue will settle and look for counterstrike KOs. In an entertaining but scrappy match, Uno takes the decision and wisely avoids any extended time on the feet. Pick: Uno Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Yan Cabral Cabral, a Barcelona-based Brazilian, is relatively unknown in the MMA world but his perfect record of 9-0 with all wins coming by submission does make you sit up and pay attention. Cabral is particularly proficient in the head-arm triangle and although that is the only submission that has brought the aged Japanese legend to tap, his lack of up of stand up ability will prove his downfall. Sakuraba's striking will give him the winning edge in an entertaining grappling-heavy decision. Pick: Sakuraba Satoru Kitaoka vs. Willamy Freire Freire, a former Shooto world champion, is a dangerous match for the former Sengoku ace. Kitaoka is incredibly adept at ripping opponent's feet off or attacking their neck, but if he is unable to secure the submission he tends to take a large amount of damage and then implode. Freire pounds his way to a late KO victory after narrowly escaping early heel hooks. Pick: Freire Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Gerald Harris With Nakamura focused on running Yoshida Dojo and his campaign to promote judo in Japan, his attention to his MMA career has waned and against a hungry and powerful fighter like Harris, that's dangerous. This is Harris' highest profile fight since his surprising cut from the UFC and he will be looking to make a statement. In his pre-fight interview he promised slams but look for Harris to get the TKO via punches on the mat. Pick: Harris Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Baru Harn "Minowaman" versus an inexperienced super heavyweight plays out like this: energetic entrance, heelhook, fist pumping with a Japanese flag cape. Pick: Minowa Dream Bantamweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinals Hideo Tokoro vs. Antonio Banuelos A difficult fight to predict as we really don't know what kind of bout Tokoro will fight. As he showed in the Bantamweight Japan tournament final against Imanari, he can win big fights if he is focused on winning. Too often though he gets too aggressive and takes too many risks and his record reflects that. Banuelos has also been inconsistent in the past and in his last bout got jabbed out of the UFC by Miguel Torres - and it just so happens that Tokoro has an excellent jab. If Tokoro can keep pumping his fists in Banuelos' face, he can take the decision. Pick: Tokoro Bibiano Fernandes vs. Takafumi Otsuka Not much has changed since their first meeting in the 2009 Featherweight GP, so expect Bibiano to control the fight with his wrestling and threaten with submissions. Otsuka has limited submission options on the ground and no finishing ability on the feet and so when it inevitably goes to the judges, the former DREAM Featherweight champion gets the nod. Pick: Fernandes Masakazu Imanari vs. Abel Cullum It's not like we don't know the two-time Deep champion wants to win, it's just that it's so hard to stop it. Cullum, a former King of the Cage champ, has trouble fighting disciplined bouts and his loose style will lead to him getting caught in a heel hook by Imanari. Pick: Imanari Yusup Saadulaev vs. Rodolfo Marques Both fighters are new to most fans, Saadulaev competing in regional promotions in the States and Marques in Brazil. Saadulaev is an extremely well-rounded fighter, bringing his backbone of wrestling from Russia, his Pan American BJJ champion credentials and a dangerous Muay Thai game to the ring. Saadulaev's flawless record must be taken with a grain of salt though, his last win came against a 0-10 opponent. Marques comes from the vaunted Nova Uniao camp and has faced a high level of competition on the Brazilian circuit, coming out with an excellent 13-1 record. Marques will prove too great a test for Saadulaev. Although the Russian is a legitimate prospect, his recent inactivity and lack of quality opposition sees him lose a decision. Pick: Marques Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: world, bout, vs, dream, champion

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The late career success of dinosaurs like Randy Couture notwithstanding, fighting is a young man's game. All the attributed required to sustain success in the world of MMA today fade rather quickly the older one gets. Naturally, that means it's far more desirable to get a jump start on the competition. And with UFC growing into the mainstream powerhouse that it is, more and more budding martial artists are training earlier in life to get a leg up on the relics of yesteryear. This is evidenced by the success of those on the following list, the top eight UFC fighters who are 25-years-old or younger. In fact, two of these men are already champions. Furthermore, they're both in consideration for top spots on most pundits pound-for-pound list. Indeed, the future, it seems, looks bright for the world's largest fight promotion. Without futher ado, here's the list (via UFC.com): 8. Erik Koch - 22, 13-1 A high school dropout, Koch is quickly making a name for himself as a legit contender in the featherweight division. Since a tough loss to Chad Mendes back in March 2010, "The New Breed" has ripped off four wins in a row, including three finishes and two "Knockout of the Night" awards, one of which came in his Octagon debut. 7. John Hathaway - 24, 15-1 A talented Englishman fully capable of heading up the British invasion, Hathaway put himself on the map by mopping the floor with Diego Sanchez in his native land just last year. He followed that up with a loss, unfortunately, but quickly rebounded and is still on track to become one of the promotion's top overseas stars. 6. Anthony Pettis - 24, 13-2 Famous for his "Showtime off-the-wall Kick" and the innovative techniques he manages to execute inside the cage during highly competitive contests, Pettis is a former WEC champion who recently made the jump to the world's largest fight promotion. And while he dropped a close decision in his debut with the UFC, he's still poised to become a staple in the lightweight division for years to come. 5. Alexander Gustafsson - 24, 12-1 They call him "The Mauler" for a reason. 12 wins in 13 career fights and just one of them came by way of decision. His lone defeat, a submission loss to Phil Davis, came in April 2010 and he's since rebounded with three consecutive victories, two submissions and a knockout of Matt Hamill that sent him into retirement. 4. Demetrious Johnson - 25, 14-1 Probably the fastest man in the fight game at 135-pounds, Johnson parlayed wins over Damacio Page, Norifumi Yamamoto and Miguel Torres into a title shot against Dominick Cruz at UFC on Versus 6 on Oct. 1. 3. Rory MacDonald - 22, 12-1 Pegged as the next Georges St. Pierre, the 170-pound MacDonald has shown a freakish combination of size, speed, strength and athleticism rivaled only by the champion of the division and his training partner, the previously mentioned St. Pierre. His lone defeat, a close loss to Carlos Condit, only served to solidify such claims. The future is bright for this one. 2. Jose Aldo - 25, 19-1, UFC featherweight champion 12 wins in a row over the best competition the WEC and UFC could find for him at 145-pounds should say it all. In fact, there are those that feel he could very well become the first simultaneous two-divison champion in the history of the UFC. 1. Jon Jones - 24, 13-1, UFC light heavyweight champion The most notorious member of the list is also, perhaps, the most talented. His unbelievable size and reach, coupled with an elite training camp and natural ability has combined to make an unstoppable freight train that shows no signs of slowing down. Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans are waiting in the wings to attempt to dethrone the king of the 205-pound mountain but he's quickly gaining steam as one pound-for-pound great. And maybe, just maybe, the best ever. That's the list, Maniacs, like it or not. If you've got a problem with it, you know exactly where to voice it. Did they get it right? Or horribly wrong? Let's see your list.

Posted in: ufc, loss, fight promotion, champion, list

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] This Sunday marks the second big K-1 event of the year, the 70kg MAX Japan tournament. Last year's tournament featured Yuichiro Nagashima and Hiroki Nakajima scoring knockouts in their quarter and semifinal bouts which culminated in a dramatic 3rd round knockout by Nagashima in the finals in a wild brawl. This year's tournament is extremely interesting because, for the first time, K-1 has placed a former K-1 MAX World Champion into the field in Albert Kraus. It is also interesting because of the new blood brought in by K-1. They have brought in young prospects in RISE Middleweight champion Takafumi Morita, Krush 70kg tournament champion Kenta and K-1 Koshien 2009 70kg champion Shintaro Matsukura. Returning from last year's tournament are 2010 Japan MAX tournament finalist Hiroki Nakajima, 2009 K-1 World MAX semifinalist Yuya Yamamoto, 2008 Japan MAX tournament winner Yasuhiro Kido and Yuji Nashiro. Despite losing tournament mainstays Ryuji and Tatsuji as well as last year's winner Yuichiro Nagashima and semifinalist Hinata, the tournament field is as strong as ever and could produce a couple new stars for K-1. I have decided to rank the fighters in this tournament by their likelihood of winning to give people who may not know much about some of the participating fighters an idea as to where each fighter stands entering the tournament. Read More...

Posted in: champion, year, tournament, max, japan

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Before he even stepped into the ring, Quinton (Rampage) Jackson was already landing punches. Only, these were mental jabs aimed at defending champion Jon (Bones) Jones.

Posted in: rampage, jackson, champion, landing punches, champion jon

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Before he even stepped into the ring, Quinton (Rampage) Jackson was already landing punches. Only, these were mental jabs aimed at defending champion Jon (Bones) Jones.

Posted in: rampage, jackson, champion, landing punches, champion jon

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This is a guest post by Ben Thapa, part of the Bloody Elbow Grappling Coverage Team As part of the Bloody Elbow and MMA Nation grappling coverage, we bring you this preview of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Championships (ADCCs). This elite, invitation-only tournament will be held in Nottingham, England on September 24th and 25th, 2011 and can be streamed live from BudoVideos.com. With a hundred or so grapplers competing, the live coverage of the stream will be somewhat fractured and the commentators may assume that viewers tuning in are already familiar with the storylines, favorites and the up-and-coming grapplers looking to make their name. We are here to help those new to the sport of submission grappling to get up to full speed and to provide some talking points for those who already know this stuff. The ADCCs are broken down into weight divisions and an open weight competition (called the Absolute) is held after the divisional champions are decided. The open weight competition is usually a sight to behold as there are many dream match-ups that can and do occur. As part of the ADCCs, a Superfight is generally held between two of the most esteemed grapplers on Earth. This year, there are two Superfights, with Braulio Estima grappling against Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Ze Mario Sperry taking on Renzo Gracie in a "Legends" bout of sorts. Both matches are relatively even and are highly anticipated.Below the jump is a breakdown of each division. Feel free to argue or agree with them in the comments. Men's 66 kg / 145 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Rafael Mendes. Summary: All of the sixteen competitors in the 66 kg/145 lb division are strong, fierce, seasoned competitors with multiple titles, cool video highlights and razor sharp skills. However, it is likely that only a handful will seriously contend for the title. Can anyone beat Rafael Mendes? The Favorites: In the past two years, Rafael Mendes won the European open twice, the 2011 Pan Am championship, a no-gi World Pro championship and the last two Mundials titles in this division. In winning that boatload of titles, Mendes has mostly moved past his stalling reputation and displayed stunning skill in dispatching his divisional competitors. He also performed exceedingly well against much larger grapplers in reaching the finals of the absolute of the no-gi World Pros in Abu Dhabi. To put it lightly, he's on fire and the most likely threat to prevent him from repeating as ADCC champion is Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles - the other half of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's Federer/Nadal-like rivalry. Cobrinha is a legendary competitor in his own right and his flashy open guard and back-taking game has legions of fans worldwide. Cobrinha lost to Rafael in the finals of ADCC 2009 in a thrilling overtime match and has regularly been a semi-finalist or finalist with many tightly disputed matches against Rafael that did not go his way. He has been looking to avenge that string of defeats for a while now. Rani Yahya may be best known from his MMA fights in the WEC and UFC, where he has fought and lost to the top-flight fighters at 145, but be warned that Yahya is the ADCC 2007 champion and was the runner-up to Leo Vieira in 2005. He has serious game and lost to Cobrinha in the semi-finals of the 2009 competition. Yahya will be in the medals picture for sure and may dispatch a fan favorite or two on the way there. The Possibles: Speaking of those beloved by the crowds, Ryan Hall has an enormous fan base and has been steadily improving for some time now. He competed for and won the bronze in ADCC 2009 (due to injuries to Leo Vieira and Rani Yahya). A recent training switch-up brought him in closer contact with Marcelo Garcia and Hall may be ready to push himself firmly into the medals conversation this year. Bruno Frazzato is one of the other Atos kings and may be at a slight size disadvantage in comparison to the others. He will attempt to show that exceedingly sharp skills and excellent scrambling abilities can tip the balance back in his favor. Robson Moura is perhaps the most decorated bantamweight fighter the sport has yet seen and has already had a legendary career at age 33. He too is smaller than the favorites and perhaps more comfortable in a gi; however, it may be possible for him to work some magic on the mats. Seasoned competitors like Jeff Glover and Barret Yoshida may be undersized tough outs as well. Men's 77 kg / 170 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Pablo Popovitch. Summary: Pablo Popovitch, the ADCC 2009 divisional champion, is moving up to 88 kg. His absence will be noted, but since the 77 kg division is absolutely stacked with elite competitors, thrilling fights are certain to result. Can Marcelo Garcia win it again? The Favorites: Marcelo Garcia won the Mundials championship without a point being scored on him and won the 2007, 2005 and 2003 ADCC championships. He also placed second in a controversial decision to Popovitch in ADCC 2009. If the quietly dominant Garcia lost before the finals, it'd be an upset of truly shocking magnitude - at least according to conventional thinking. Kron Gracie is the son of perhaps the finest grappler to walk the Earth and a fierce, fierce competitor in his own right. The 2009 match-up between Kron and Marcelo was eagerly anticipated and Marcelo finished it with a lightning-quick guillotine. Kron has had a good year, most notably splitting a pair of high-profile matches with Gilbert Burns (the Mundials champion who is now focusing on MMA), and with Rickson Gracie in his corner, he'll be well prepared. Claudio Calasans is an Atos teammate of Rafael Mendes and has fought Marcelo numerous times before, as well as being the winner of World Pro and European titles. Calasans has a strong background in judo and plays a very heavy, pressing game. The Possibles: Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes is a brilliantly skilled fresh face on the competition circuit and has beaten many of the Atos army this year. However, his unusual strength and base at featherweight may be slightly less spectacular in the heavier division of 77 kg. Tanquinho still shuts down the 50/50 guard better than anyone at the lighter weights and could show that his youth and smaller size is little issue at all. Murilo Santana is the ADCC South American Trials winner and had to take out a slew of hungry Brazilians to reach the top of that pedestal. He will present a strong challenge  to the others. Leo Vieira, the 66 kg ADCC 2005 and 2003 champion, is also competing in this division. His super-exciting passing game is certain to be a fixture in the later rounds of this division, although  like Tanquinho, he may be slightly undersized in comparison to larger competitors like Calasans and Victor Estima, Braulio's brother. SBNation ADCC 2011 Coverage Men's 88 kg / 194 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Braulio Estima. Summary: With Braulio Estima, the 2009 88 kg/194 lb divisional champion, facing Jacare Souza in the Superfight on the last day, this divisional title is also up for grabs. Popovitch and Galvao in the finals? The Favorites: Andre Galvao came in second to Braulio in 2009, third in 2007 and third in the Absolute of that same year. Galvao's astounding athleticism and ability to crack open the guard has allowed him to amass heaps and heaps of titles for years now. I can see Andre spending much time riding turtled-up opponents en route to the finals. Pablo Popovitch is the reigning 77 kg champion and his nearly superhuman strength and crushing top game will likely see him make a deep run in this heavier division as well. It takes a certain kind of magic to beat Pablo and although there are a few who can display it, it'll be tough. It may be iffy for me to put Romulo Barral here as a favorite, but with his long, lanky frame and dynamic guard game, Romulo is usually in the title hunt of every competition he enters. The Possibles: Rafael Lovato Jr. is a world champion and actually beat Rodolfo Vieira, 2011's best grappler, earlier this year. The big Oklahoman is going to have to make zero mistakes and utilize his size to smash opponents into defeat. Sergio Moraes, an Alliance teammate of Marcelo Garcia, is perhaps the most subtle dark horse to win a medal here. He plays within the rules perfectly and manages to escape almost every fight with a victory on points - when he's not finishing in dramatic fashion. Moraes is usually known for winning in gi divisions, but if he can replicate that success in no-gi, he'll be tough to beat. If Rousimar Palhares, the Brazilian tree stump from the UFC, competes, every single competitor in this division will be drilling leglock defenses with particular care. However, I do not rate his ability to get a points victory highly and with the ADCCs being full of truly elite grapplers, he will likely not get a submission every time out. Jimmy Harbison is a recent and dynamic wrestling-based product of the Lloyd Irvin academies and has been a buzzsaw in the World Pro and in the Mundials. He is even better out of the gi and could be another young warrior ready to make his name stand out amongst the talented crowd here. Men's 99 kg / 218 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Alexandre Ribeiro. Summary: The 99 kg division is probably going to come down to whether the reigning champion Alexandre "Xande" Ribeiro can defeat Rodolfo Vieira, the most dominant force in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu over the last year. The Favorites: Xande is known for being somewhat fragile, but but he remains one of the few genuine threats to beat anybody in the world at any time. Xande is one of the few people to beat Roger Gracie in the last few years and was an Absolute runner-up in 2009. Rodolfo Vieira is unstoppable at this point, with numerous titles to his credit. Many fans and commentators were speculating as to how a match between Rodolfo and Roger Gracie would turn out. Unfortunately, that won't happen on this platform this year, but we can hope for the future and see how Xande and Rodolfo fare this year. The Possibles: This in no way denigrates the other competitors, but with Roger Gracie and Robert Drysdale not competing this year, the division isn't as crowded as it could be. It is possible Dean Lister, a former ADCC Absolute champion, or Joao Assis, the 2011 Mundials bronze medalist, could upset either Xande or Rodolfo. Antonio "Batista" Peinado won a bronze in the Super Heavyweight division at the 2011 Mundials and could beat one of the older, more established competitors. Men's +99 kg / 218 lb and above. 2009 Champion: Fabricio Werdum. Summary: The ultra-heavyweight division could be wide open for someone to make a statement. Fabricio Werdum, of Strikeforce notoriety, is the 2009 champion, but I count at least four credible threats to a repeat performance. The Favorites: Werdum is perhaps the best heavyweight grappler in MMA and has always been a strong competitor in the submission grappling world as well. If he competes, he could repeat his 2009 performance very readily. Joao Assis won bronze at the 2011 Mundials this year and has usually been a bit better outside of the gi. Vinicus "Vinny" Magalhaes blew the minds of MMA fans everywhere with his mount/off-set gogoplata in his M-1 fight back in April. Back in 2009, he won two bronzes in the Absolute and the 99 kg division in spectacular fashion. Vinny cannot be counted out in any competition he enters. Lucio "Lagarto" Rodrigues is back in full from his battle with Hodgkin's and given his recent training with Braulio and other BJJ greats, I'm fairly sure he'll be in the medal picture. Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu is perhaps more famous now for his Tornado Guard seminars and DVDs, yet his competition success is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. He too scored a bronze medal in the Mundials this year and could make a run to the top with ease. Bruno Bastos has been around for years and is a tough competitor to beat. He generally plays a slower game than the others and likes to win without taking too many risks. The Possibles: Jeff Monson is another familiar face, but I believe his time as a truly elite competitor may be past him. I may be stretching in my next pick, but I truly believe Alexander Trans (winner of every major title at brown belt for the last year and training at Alliance headquarters) has a shot to make a big statement in his first tournament at this elite level. Speculation on Men's Absolute Nobody ever counts Marcelo Garcia out in any competition, but it is getting harder and harder for the smaller guys to win medals in the absolute. On the flip side, Rafael Mendes made it to the finals of the no-gi World Pro. If he enters, Rafa is probably going to be a nightmare for whoever matches up with him, due to his movement and impeccable timing. However, I predict that size will win the day with Rodolfo matching up against Xande or Vinny Magalhaes. Andre Galvao could enter and surprise some people again - like he did in 2007. Werdum and Lister are previous Absolute medalists. The picture is somewhat fuzzy, since nobody knows exactly who will enter, but Rodolfo is probably an odds-on favorite to win it all right now. Speculation on Superfights Everybody with a brain knew that Royler would probably stomp Eddie Bravo in the re-match that fell through. However, we are still getting a battle of legends in the match between Ze Mario Sperry and Renzo Gracie. Ze Mario will probably enjoy a slight size advantage, but the two are closely matched in their accomplishments, age and reputation. I have a feeling Renzo will take this, as he remains super-active in coaching and grappling with today's MMA and grappling superstars. We can all expect excellent and fluid submission grappling from both legends. In Ronaldo 'Jacare' de Souza vs. Braulio Estima, we are seeing perhaps the single best athlete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu go up against the reigning two time ADCC champion. Jacare recently suffered a setback in losing his Strikeforce title to Luke Rockhold by a close decision and Braulio missed the Mundials due to an injury. I have a feeling Braulio's brilliant guard game can and will surprise Jacare, but I have knowledgeable friends who are willing to bet on Jacare winning. The match-up is truly worthy of the Superfight title and it could be over in a second with both guys enjoying considerable submission acumen. Women's 60 kg / 132 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Luana Alzuguir. Summary: With several of the Mundials medalists competing, will Luana Alzuguir win again? The Favorites: Luana Alzuguir is tearing things up in the lightweight divisions of the sport. She won the Mundials title and looks poised to come back from the cracked rib that forced her to sit out the Absolute in that tournament. Michelle Nicolini won gold in the Mundials featherweight division and could give Luana a tough match. The Possibles: Kyra Gracie is perhaps the most recognizable name in women's grappling. Her family name may have something to do with that fame, but she does have considerable skill to back it up. She lost to Nicolini in the finals of the featherweight division and could avenge that defeat. Rosi Sexton is a newly minted brown belt who could make some noise for the British scene. Women's +60 kg / 133 lbs and above. 2009 Champion: Hannette Staack. Summary: Gabrielle Garcia is the most dominant woman grappler on the planet. Conventional wisdom debates who will face her in the finals. The Favorites: Like Alexander Karelin in Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling, Gabi Garcia looms over the field. Although anything can and does happen in sport, if Gabi loses, it would be the upset of the tournament and perhaps of the year. Hannette Staack is a three time ADCC champion and is usually very entertaining to watch. Penny Thomas has been a perennial medal threat in every tournament she enters and came up with a silver and a bronze at Mundials this year. The Possibles: Talita Nogueira upset Penny at Mundials in the divisional finals this year and could repeat that stellar performance. Ida Hansson lost by spectacular flying armbar to Hannette and may have shored up her game and confidence. Speculation on Women's Absolute It depends on who enters, but Gabi Garcia will probably win another gold to add to her collection. Her size is a massive advantage, but her technique is now catching up to the point where she genuinely is becoming a Karelin-like figure.

Posted in: champion, division, year, adcc, kg

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Filed under: DREAM, JapanIn 2008, three of the most ruthless grapplers in MMA, DREAM champion Shinya Aoki, former Sengoku champion Satoru Kitaoka and two-time Deep champion Masakazu Imanari, founded Nippon Top Team. Three years, and a host of brutal submission victories later, a significant number of top fighters and former foes have joined the quirky trio to make Nippon Top Team the most star-studded team in Japanese MMA. MMA Fighting was allowed inside the doors of Nippon Top Team to capture Satoru Kitaoka mercilessly piledrive and submit his sparring partner, a slimmed down Tatsuya Kawajiri prepare for his featherweight debut and Takafumi Otsuka work his wrestling with former Shooto champion Hideki Kadowaki, all in preparation for their respective bouts at DREAM.17 on Sept. 24.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, team, dream, champion, nippon

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Filed under: UFCDENVER -- Quinton "Rampage" Jackson walked into the UFC 135 pre-fight press conference on Wednesday looking more irritated than upset. Between the oddsmakers and fans who are counting him out of this weekend's title fight entirely, to the grinning young champion who Jackson insists is too "cocky," everywhere Jackson looks he finds another reason to scowl. Now that fight week is finally here, even that familiar gesture seems barely worth the effort to him. "I don't want to sit here and disrespect 'Rampage...'" UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones said when asked how he sees Saturday night's fight ending. "Go ahead, Jon," Jackson all but sighed into the microphone. "You've been doing it before." "You've been doing it, too," Jones shot back. And he had a point. Only minutes earlier Jackson had talked about how much he enjoyed his training camp in Denver, where he visited the zoo and "made a friend" -- a monkey that he said looked just like Jones. Somehow, though, it didn't seem to matter. Jackson and light heavyweight nemesis Rashad Evans have branded Jones as cocky and it seems to have stuck. Jones, not surprisingly, chalked it all up to fellow fighters looking for any insult they could find and their fans going along for the ride. "It could have been any other word," he said. As for claims from both Jackson and Evans that he puts on a phony persona in public, the champ insisted it was "funny" to him, saying, "a lot of people don't even know me, so how do you know if I'm fake?" If Jones is feeling good about his chances, there are plenty who think he has a reason to. The 24-year-old champion is as high as a 7-1 favorite against the 33-year-old Jackson, according to some oddsmakers. It's a faith in the relatively untested Jones -- or, if you prefer, a lack of confidence in the weary veteran Jackson -- that UFC president Dana White called "crazy." "Seriously, all of us sitting here today, all the media and all of us who have been involved in the sport for as long as we have, do you honestly think that Rampage is a 5-1 underdog in this fight?" White said. To hear the UFC boss tell it, this is exactly the kind of fight that Jackson needed to get his head right and his body ready. He's been in Denver training at the Muscle Pharm gym for the last few months, which, at least to White, demonstrates a level of commitment to his preparation that Jackson hasn't always been known for. "Rampage is pretty miserable right now," White said. "We were in the back...he's pretty nasty for this fight. This is going to be an interesting fight. He hates Jon Jones. Hates him. He feels like he's been disrespected and wants to win this fight. It's good for Rampage. This is what Rampage needs." But as nice as it is to think that Jackson finally got fired up enough to train hard, that might not be enough against the young phenom Jones. The champion is taller, faster, and younger. At the press conference he showed off his Hollywood smile as he explained that he can take a shot better than most older fighters because he has a "fresh chin" that hasn't been hammered by too many blows just yet. "I'm a 24 year-old guy, still growing pubic hair," he joked, explaining that he trains not get hit at all, rather than simply not getting hit hard. "I focus on things like evading and slipping and..." Here, Jackson interrupted again, suggesting, "...and running." "I haven't disrespected you, have I?" Jones asked. "Not today," Jackson replied. But then, the day was still young. And when you're looking for signs of disrespect around every corner, as Jackson seems to be, it never takes long before you find it. It could be as simple as a smiling young opponent on the other side of the podium, joking with fans, mugging for cameras, looking as unconcerned about you as he was about any of the other challenges he's faced and -- at least so far -- easily overcome. And why should he worry, when he's never known anything but success in this business? Why should he think this time will be any different? How could he? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, rampage, jone, jackson, champion

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Junior dos Santos talked about his battle with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1.

Posted in: champion, do, heavyweight champion, opportunity ’., advantage

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Now that three of the five champions employed by Strikeforce having jumped the fence to the greener grass of the UFC, a couple patterns are emerging. Simply holding a title upon entry into the world's largest fight promotion is not grounds to be inserted into an immediate championship fight. It is, however, enough to earn a number one contender bout. We've seen this with welterweight champion Nick Diaz (blew his opportunity but will earn it again with win over B.J. Penn), light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson (will likely shoot to the top of the food chain with a win over Mauricio Rua) and now heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. Here's the word from UFC President Dana White on "The Reem" earning a chance at the division crown with a win over Brock Lesnar, who he'll take on at UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Yeah, it is (a number one contender fight). That's a crazy fight. Imagine when those two square off at the weigh-ins. It's going to be awesome. I'm excited for that fight too. I'm excited to see, and I know the fans are too, I'm excited to see what Alistair Overeem has. People can yap and say whatever they want; when these guys come over to the UFC, it's a whole 'nother ball game. It's going to be a real good gauge to find out where Alistair really sits in the heavyweight division. I'd say it's pretty safe to say (that the winner of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos will fight the winner of Lesnar vs. Overeem)." "Demolition Man" hasn't lost a fight since 2007 and his stock is as high as it's ever been. Adding Lesnar to his long list of victims would make it damn near impossible to deny him a shot at the title. Hear more from White in the full entry, including whether or not he ever considered having this fight headline UFC on FOX 1 on Nov. 12 and the Velasquez vs. Dos Santos bout that will happen that night instead.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, champion, alistair

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Don't expect too much groundfighting on November 19th when "The Axe Murderer," Wanderlei Silva welcomes former Strikeforce champion and renowned Sanshou fighter Cung Le to the Octagon in UFC 139 action. Silva replaces his countryman, Vitor Belfort (who was forced out of the bout due to injury) in what promises to be a slugfest to remember.  In the UFC 139 main event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, a light heavyweight dream fight finally becomes a reality when former UFC champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua takes on the returning Strikeforce and former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson.Light Heavyweight Wars Scheduled for November updated August 23“Verbal agreements are in for a fight that promises non-stop action as Kyle Kingsbury will take on the ‘American Psycho’ Stephan Bonnar at UFC 139,” said UFC president Dana White today.Both light-heavyweight sluggers are coming off decision wins earned in three-rounds wars -- Bonnar against Igor Pokrajac at the TUF 12 Finale in December and Kingsbury over Fabio Maldonado at the TUF 13 Finale in June. Also agreed to on that same fight card is a second light heavyweight showdown, this one between Jason "Hitman" Brilz and Ryan "Darth" Bader. Story-Kampmann on Tap for UFC 139 updated August 17Welterweight contenders Rick Story and Martin Kampmann will return to the Octagon this November in a bout guaranteed to produce fireworks.“A potential fight of the night has been verbally agreed to as Rick ‘The Horror’ Story will face Martin ‘The Hitman’ Kampmann at UFC 139,” said UFC President Dana White.Tibau vs. Dos Anjos in Battle of Brazilians“Two of the best Brazilian lightweights in the UFC have verbally agreed to fight as Rafael Dos Anjos takes on Gleison Tibau at UFC 139," confirmed UFC president Dana White. The two black belts will war in San Jose this November. Faber vs. Bowles Agreed to for UFC 139 in Nov. updated July 21Two of the top bantamweights in the world will meet in one of the most intriguing bouts of 2011, as Urijah Faber takes on Brian Bowles. This verbally agreed to clash of former WEC champions will take place at UFC 139 in November.“Before a possible trilogy can be considered between Urijah Faber and his rival, Champion Dominick Cruz, he will take on one of the division’s truly elite fighters, former Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles," said UFC President Dana White. "A win over Faber would be massive for Bowles’ bid to challenge for the belt that was once his. The stakes are high and the fight will be intense.” Weidman vs. Lawlor Agreed to for UFC 139This November's UFC 139 card has begun to take shape, as middleweight phenom Chris Weidman has verbally agreed to face Ultimate Fighter veteran "Filthy" Tom Lawlor in what promises to be a fast-paced battle in one of the sport's most competitive divisions.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, champion, november

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By Darnell Myrick After defeating Fedor Emelianenko in July, current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, Dan Henderson maybe on his way back to the UFC to face a current champion. Henderson is at the end of his Strikeforce contract and he has expressed interest to fight again in the UFC in champion vs champion match against the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. The way that the top of the UFC Light Heavyweight division looks with Rampage Jackson, Jon Jones, and Rashad Evans, that match likely will not happen. On the other hand, another champion vs champion match might happen for Henderson. He might be facing Anderson Silva again in November depending on the outcome of the fight that Anderson has this Saturday against Yushin Okami. This fight would be the main event of the 1st UFC event on FOX which is scheduled for November 12 in Anaheim. If Anderson Silva wins his fight against Yushin Okami and come out of the fight with no injuries, Dan Henderson could face Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight championship pending Henderson’s approval. If Henderson declines the fight, we potentially could see the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, which would mean pulling him from his fight in October against Brian Stann. Sonnen’s replacement possibly would be Vitor Belfort. Henderson fought Silva at UFC 82 in 2008 to unify the PRIDE Welterweight Championship and the UFC Middleweight Championship and to . This bout saw Henderson controlling the fight in the 1st round with on the ground. In the 2nd round, Silva was able to quicken the pace of the fight and was able submit Henderson with a rear-naked choke late in the second round.

Posted in: ufc, fight, henderson, champion, anderson silva

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