MMA-URLS

The last time Danny Castillo got this close to the set of "The Ultimate Fighter," a producer told him he'd fallen just short of being a competitor on the show. Now, Castillo is back in Las Vegas, and he frequently spends time on the set of "TUF: Live" while helping the aspiring lightweights as part of Team Urijah Faber. He doesn't technically work there because, he laments, he doesn't get paid. But he gets compensated in other ways.

Posted in: las vegas, castillo, danny, doesnt, training options

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"He doesn't have a fucking chance. Does anyone? Don Frye if he got off his lazy ass. I said this about a year ago about the same question. [Jones is] gonna run the gamut in the light heavyweight division until he goes to the heavyweight division. He's six four and twenty three years old so he can only stay at 205 for so long, so then age and gravity will kick in and he just won't be able to stay there. So until he moves up to heavy and has a hell of a fight against Junior Dos Santos no one will touch him. Dos Santos is going to run the heavyweight division until Jones gets there. No one can challenge Dos Santos just like no one can challenge Bones at light heavyweight." Sorry, Hendo, but former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Tournament Champion Don Frye (via Middle Easy) doesn't think you have an effing chance of beating reigning 205-pound champion Jon Jones, who continued his divisional dominance by disposing of former titleholder Rashad Evans at UFC 145 last Saturday night (April 21, 2012) in Atlanta, Georgia. "Bones" is expected to welcome his latest challenger, Dan Henderson, in a light heavyweight showdown later this year. Is Don just saying what we're all thinking? Or has he simply had one too many BudFryezers before breakfast? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, jone, heavyweight, year, doesnt

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UFC presidnet Dana White doesn't often reveal hard numbers that he doesn't have to, but he did so recently when talking about streaming fights on Facebook.

Posted in: ufc, facebook, viewer, doesnt, presidnet

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Posted in: number, area, doesnt, code, rashad doesnt

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I was reading over the stuff about the Diaz Condit fight (never saw it, if I am honest) and remembering all that about the controversy. I have almost never seen a really bad decision in Strikeforce, and I feel like it is because the judges have more information available to them. Am I wrong? Either way, that should be a thing. submitted by BantamBasher135 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: strikeforce, information, doesnt, controversy i, bantambasher

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New UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson doesn't yet know who will get the first crack at his belt, but according to him, it doesn't matter who is given the slot. After all, Henderson said, he's more than willing to fight each and every fighter on the UFC roster. And that includes those he's already defeated, including former champ Frankie Edgar.

Posted in: ufc, henderson, ufc roster, doesnt, edgar rematch

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$65,000 for Fight of the Night to Frankie Edgar/Ben Henderson, Anthony Pettis for KO and Vaughan Lee for Sub (he had the only one). Pettis is PROBABLY going to get the next title shot, but Dana doesn't know for sure. Quinton Jackson reveals he had a knee injury and wasn't terribly surprised that he lost because of it. He re-injured it on Ryan Bader's slam and had a hard time cutting weight because of it. Rampage mentioned that his wrestling training with Tyson Jeffries was going very well and that's where he dinged up his knee. He also said he won't be retiring. Pettis looking forward to getting a shot at the title. Dana gives props to Mark Hunt and what he's done. and giving a sarcastic "in the mix". A reporter brings up the size disadvantage for Frank and gets the standard answer of "it's up to him, I'd love to see him do it." Ryan Bader talking about putting the PRIDE music and other distractions away. Confirmed that he got hurt on the slam. Tim Boetsch being really glad about getting the win - a reporter mentions the high ranking of Okami - and Dana gives props for Tim going for broke down two rounds. After all, what do you have to lose? Dana has no news for the Brazilian reporter about where the event will be and the problems with the soccer stadium. Same reporter asked a very awkward question about the Japanese guys fighting home and hearing the boos and the cheers. Riki Fukuda takes it first and says it was the "memory of his life". Takanori Gomi was thrilled as well and wants the UFC to keep coming back. Issei Tamura and Hatsu Hioki echo this. Takeya Mizugaki chimes in as well with the same. Mark Hunt wanted to fight on next week's card in Australia, lol. Dana gives another almost "in the mix" about Hioki's possible shot against Jose Aldo. Frankie Edgar shows up to applause. Rampage wanted to please his fans by using the PRIDE entrance music. Cheer them up for all the problems Japans faced last year. Edgar feels like he won the fight still, would like a rematch, since he had to give rematches to Penn and Maynard. Doesn't want to think about 145 right now, which elicits a sarcastic "I knew that was coming" from Dana. Frank confirms that he doesn't cut any weight - zero pounds, he works hard, but he doesn't diet particularly much. Jake Shields says he feels mixed about his performance, but he's happy about the win. Mizugaki not satisfied. Vaughan Lee happy with his blow-for-blow fight and knew he had the sub when it hit the ground.

Posted in: mark hunt, dana, reporter, doesnt, vaughan lee

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [8 comments]

Posted in: jake, ellenberger, rematch, mattyblayze, doesnt

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Frankie Edgar Doesn't See Any Holes in Benson Henderson's Game Benson Henderson: Frankie Edgar Is Great Champ but Leaves 'Openings' 'Rampage' Jackson Talks UFC 144, Japan Glory Days and Joe Rogan Criticism Ryan Bader Hoping to Right 2011 Wrongs Against 'Rampage' Jackson Jake Shields Doesn't Regret Fighting Immediately Following Death of His Father Takanori Gomi Thinks UFC 144 Will Help Reignite Japanese MMA Cheick Kongo Wants Another Shot at Frank Mir submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ufc, jackson, henderson, frankie, doesnt

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Gina Carano may be moving on to a career as a Hollywood action starlet, but that doesn't mean she still doesn't get excited for the women's division in MMA.

Posted in: gina carano, carano, gina, doesnt, womens division

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Dan Henderson has been waiting for his next fight since his incredible win over Mauricio Rua at UFC 139. It seemed that the fight had put him in line for a title shot but the way the divisions have already been lined up, he has been put on the back burner without a clue what was next. And from what Dana White is saying, he doesn't know what is next for Hendo either. Via MMA Fighting: If Rashad Evans had been upset by Phil Davis, Henderson would have been thrust into a title fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. And even if Evans had won but Chael Sonnen had lost his fight on the same night, Henderson might have received a chance at a rematch with middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. Neither of those scenarios transpired, however, as both Evans and Sonnen won, setting up their own respective title shots. That has left Henderson in a kind of championship purgatory, with no obvious short-term move, according to Dana White."He doesn't want to fight Machida," White said following last night's UFC on FUEL event. "He doesn't want to wait. He's going to have to wait. Who does he want to fight? I don't know what to do with Dan. Dan's either going to have to wait for Jones or wait for Silva. Or fight somebody else." It's unfortunate because Henderson is near his expiration date, turning 42 later this year. I would hope that they can get Dan a single fight and then get him into a title fight of some sort before it's just too late for him to have his one last shot while still a legitimate (read: not old and shot) fighter.

Posted in: fight, henderson, title fight, shot, doesnt

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [8 comments]

Posted in: dave, mattyblayze, dave herman, herman, doesnt

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UFC President Dana White has weighed in on Nick Diaz's failed drug test with a prepared statement that's tamer than most UFC fans would probably expect from White. "I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana," White said in the statement that the UFC distributed to the media. "It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission." The prepared statement comes across like something a PR staffer would write for White, not like something White would say himself: It doesn't contain any F-bombs, and it doesn't say anything about what this does for Diaz's future with the UFC. White has also been silent on Twitter, where he usually doesn't hesitate to mix it up with fans when controversy explodes in the UFC. But the way White is responding may demonstrate just how much he's seething that Diaz continues to refuse to "play the game" the right way. White may be so angry about Diaz's unprofessionalism that he doesn't want to say a word because he knows his anger may lead him to take things too far. Because this is Diaz's second positive marijuana test, the Nevada State Athletic Commission may suspend him for a full year. That would take any decision about what to do with Diaz out of White's hands until February of 2013. By then, White may have simmered down long enough that he's willing to give Diaz another chance. Or by then the UFC's welterweight division may have moved on without Diaz, and White may decide to let Diaz go entirely, and let him be a disappointment for some other promotion.

Posted in: ufc, diaz, nevada state, statement, doesnt

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Just because Nick Diaz doesn't wanna be buddy-buddy with the guys he's fighting, like Carlos Condit at UFC 143, doesn't make him crazy. In fact, he says, that might make everyone else nuts.

Posted in: ufc, nick, carlos condit, doesnt, guys hes

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre doesn't like Nick Diaz, but that won't stop him from cheering for him on Saturday at UFC 143.

Posted in: ufc, nick diaz, saturday, doesnt, gsp doesnt

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Aparently Comcast doesnt get fuel???? whats the best way to watch??? submitted by Fyuryus [link] [14 comments]

Posted in: what, doesnt, fyuryu, fuel whats, comcast doesnt

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: jon jones, silva, anderson, mattyblayze, doesnt

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Perennial Lightweight contender, Jim Miller, who defeated Melvin Guillard in the UFC on FX headlining bout, discusses the victory, as well as his place in the division. Miller admits that he "doesn't really remember much" after being hit by Guillard, but says he's proud of his ability to recover and defeat "The Young Assasin." Photo: Francis Specker

Posted in: miller, melvin guillard, guillard, doesnt, division miller

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Kenny Florian will opt against surgery for his injured back, and if it doesn't heal on it's own, then his time as a fighter may be finished.

Posted in: florian, kenny, kenny florian, surgery, doesnt

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Anthony Johnson was supposed to make the jump from welterweight to middleweight at UFC 142 against Vitor Belfort. After years of struggling to make 170 pounds, he finally was doing the smart thing and moving up to 185. ...then he weighed in at 197 pounds. The official explanation out of Johnson's camp for the weight problems this time was illness. Via MMA Weekly: Robinson says that Johnson started feeling sick and unstable, and so a local doctor came in to check him out to see what exactly was going on. The doctor gave Johnson fluids to see if it would improve his condition, and within a couple of hours, the Blackzilian fighter started to come back to life. Unfortunately, at this point it was too late to cut the weight back down to 186lbs. "It was medical reasons, it wasn't for lack of effort," Robinson said. "The UFC was extremely supportive and said health comes first." Now, Rumble has hit up Facebook and doesn't exactly sound apologetic: I'm already laughing at what ppl are saying. Yeah it was for medical reason and I did what the UFC Dr Told me to do. Believe it or don't I give a f**k cuz the ppl close to me were freaking out but I'm still alive and something like this has never happen before. Say what you want I'm still gonna do my thang. You try not having feeling in your legs and can't move then and see how you look at life after that I have a big problem with this. If Johnson was so bad that the people around him were scared and he's celebrating that he is "still alive." Why is this fight going on? If he was to the point where he had no feeling in his legs and couldn't move them, why should he be allowed to step on the scale three hours later and fight the next day while being forced to not fully rehydrate himself as he has to weigh in again tomorrow? If this is the truth and not just an excuse for blowing his responsibility to make weight, it sounds like health really doesn't come first. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

Posted in: ufc, johnson, weight, problem, doesnt

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UFC veteran and Strikeforce Middleweight title challenger, Keith Jardine, who will look to dethrone division Champion Luke Rockhold this Saturday night, discusses his opponent, as well as the critics who say he doesn't deserve the title shot. Jardine admits that he's avoided the negativity surrounding the match-up, and says that he plans to make it a "real fight."

Posted in: saturday night, title, jardine, doesnt, critic

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Jon Fitch doesn't care if you think he's boring, because he plans on continuing his winning ways at UFC 141.

Posted in: ufc, jon, fitch, jon fitch, doesnt

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Frank Mir has both beaten and lost to Brock Lesnar. He doesn't see good things for Alistair Overeem.

Posted in: overeem, mir, brock lesnar, doesnt, mir doesnt

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Matthew Roth: Most major UFC cards are sold out weeks prior to the event. Does the fact that UFC 140 isn't sold out yet reflect on Jon Jones' lack of star power or should it be attributed to the UFC's inability to market events on a week's notice? Dallas Winston: I would definitely lean toward the latter and the risk of over-saturating the market with so many events. I'm not sure how much more marketable you can get than Jon Jones: he is virtually undefeated and one of the most creative and charismatic champions in UFC history. Even if you happen to dislike him -- which doesn't really make him any less of an attraction -- he definitely has that "What will he do this time?" factor that generally intrigues the audience. The core foundation for my enjoyment of breaking down match ups at the granular level was back when UFC and Pride shows were several months apart. This left an enormous window between marquee fights that definitely built more excitement and anticipation. I spent those months watching a ton of film and absorbing myself in all the relevant elements of the match up, then discussing my opinions at length on the internet with others. I found that this process heightened my anticipation for the event dramatically and I'd be counting down the days 'til the show.I'd wager the high frequency and quantity of events is geared towards permeating the market strongly and attracting new fans or luring casual fans farther in, but the drawback is a feeling of almost monotony. I guess, if you take anything you absolutely love as an individual and completely indulge in it about once every week compared to once every month or so, the latter will typically make you savor and appreciate the finer qualities more. This version of "Deep Thoughts" on the human psyche as it relates to UFC buy-rates brought to you shamelessly by Dallas Winston. Tim Burke: I don't think it's either, really. I think it's the UFC's inability to understand how to market cards in Canada when GSP isn't on them. Not having a Canadian on top is devastating to local ticket sales, especially in a fickle market like Toronto. It certainly doesn't help that the locals see this show as a bit second-rate considering the last one in town was the biggest UFC show of all time. T.P. Grant: I feel it is a little of both. Jon Jones is still a rising star, combat sports athletes are at their height of drawing power normally after their decline has started. Casual fans just aren't all that aware of him yet and the UFC hasn't put serious muscle into marketing him yet the way say Cain has gotten. Also I think we are still in the post-UFC on Fox hang over, so much marketing energy went into that I think things are still getting back to normal with Zuffa. Additionally Canada card with no GSP just isn't going to do as well, this is something we've seen several times. SBN coverage of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida KJ Gould: Canadian cards can and have done well without GSP, but Toronto strikes me as a different market to Montreal. Not to be disparaging to either, but Montreal strikes me as more of a Fight town, and Toronto as a Sports & Event town. Name value may be more important to Toronto and Jones just hasn't connected with certain fans yet. I think just because you become champion doesn't automatically mean you can carry an event especially in new markets and it might have better served the UFC to develop Jones further on American soil before testing his ability to draw elsewhere. The UFC's spat with Spike hasn't helped either, but the "weird transitional period" excuse already feels exhausted. Generally speaking too many events too close to each other is a factor, and flooding the market will decrease value no matter the commodity. It's especially true if cards are put on with more frequency featuring fights that have no meaning beyond short term entertainment. Dana White likes to counter the saturation argument with something like "You don't hear people saying there's too much Football", but Stick and Ball sports have seasons, and the leagues people care about involve teams competing to progress to a championship finale. It's pretty rare you'll find teams paired against each other just for the hell of it because it might produce an exciting game. Sports fans almost always want less sizzle and more steak. David Castillo: Definitely the latter, rather than the former. It's easy for us to see what makes Jon Jones a star: he's talented, exciting, and violent. Plus he's very presentable, hence the appearances on the various talk shows. Media wise, he's diligent, so you'd think he'd slither his way onto GQ by now. The guy just has 'it', even if the MMA media has been hypercritical of just what 'it' means. But on paper, he's a star. However, I don't think he's had an adequate amount of time for the public to think about him. It was only February of this year that he was choking the hell out of Ryan Bader in a fight many felt was 50/50 at the time. When he fought for the title, it was against a champion who was coming off a year long layoff. His 'exposure' to the masses has been brief. He's established himself as the dominant force in the division in less than a year (with this being his 4th fight of 2011). I'm not sure we can claim Jones "lacks star power", and certainly not by gauging how he draws in an indifferent market like Toronto. Matthew Roth: Well then what does this say for next year when the UFC is running 34 shows plus however many for Strikeforce? KJ Gould: It says they better do a better job of pacing their event schedule and make sure the PPV side doesn't have filler fights that have no business being there. Dallas Winston: Further to KJ's point about seasons and "normal sports" teams progressing toward a goal, I've always thought the UFC direly needs some rough form of rankings or basic establishment of a divisional hierarchy. That's another advantage of hosting a Grand Prix, which they've been clear is not of interest. Even we, the dedicated hardcore followers, don't always know who will get the next title shot or who's trying to break into the top five or ten of the weight class. I would love to see Rogan and Goldie discuss who the top guys are, their recent history of wins and losses and a graphic or some type of visual with a list of names. I know that the UFC publishing their own rankings could be messy, but it doesn't even have to really be a concrete ranking. It could just be a list they show of who the top guys in the weight class are and where they think they stack up as contenders.That's just been my idea for a long time that might break up the monotony of so many events. For example, anytime a fight is announced as a number one contender bout, it's immediately given a certain luster that makes it seem more important and also carries a storyline and continuity because the winner goes on to fight for the belt. TP Grant: I agree with you Dallas. It is something I thought was odd when I first crossed over from traditional sports to first watching MMA that there was no rankings, not even a general these guys are contenders put out by the UFC. I think it is something that casual fans could use as to instantly understand who is important and who to watch. Fraser Coffeen: Agreed about the rankings. What made K-1 so awesome during it's peak years was that there was this system, where the winner of THIS tournament moved on to here, who moved on to here, who then fought in the big Grand Prix. And at the end of every year, you knew definitively who the #1 guy in the world was. Come back K-1! As for the original question - I think it's a bit early to say, as we may be confusing "lack of ticket sales" with "lack of PPV buys." Questions of burn-out or star power for the mass audience - let's revisit those after the buyrates come in.What I do think is a factor is the UFC in particular, and MMA in general, failing to capitalize on the regionalism that pretty much every other major sport uses as a massive marketing technique. 129 was huge largely because it was GSP fighting in Canada. Look at the great response live to the Rio show. Strikeforce used to get this when they would do great ticket sales business in San Jose with Cung Le and Frank Shamrock at the top. WEC even did a good job with this when they had Faber fighting in Sacramento. I'd like to see the UFC push this idea more. Example: I live in Chicago, and I see Clay Guida on billboards, Clay Guida on TV ads - why when the UFC returns to Chicago am I not seeing Clay Guida FIGHT? KJ Gould: UFC could do their own internal 'Power Rankings' based on who's been on a tear and who's been impressive in their run, have it as a fan interactive segment on their website to get their audience more involved (or at least make them feel more involved, which may be all that's needed). Because it's 'Power Rankings' it won't matter that much if it's at odds with independent rankings, as long as some case is made for the UFC's charting - even if it's just promotional fluff, that'd be better than Dana White saying something like "He's the best, end of discussion, I'm right, you're wrong, f**k you". Fraser Coffeen: I really loved when the UFC used to do that in the early Zuffa days. I remember they would show a top 5 in the division that would even (gasp!) include Pride fighters. They weren't quite as cutthroat to all competition back in those days. Matthew Roth: I think Jones may be falling into the same trap that Anderson Silva did for years. He's just too dominant of a champion that even legitimate challengers just feel like they're not in his league. The easy in which he defeated Bader, Shogun, and Rampage just makes it a hard sell. It's absurd to say that out loud but without the real chance that he can be defeated entering the fight, it just doesn't make sense to pay for his headlining bouts. On the other side, it's not even the fact that the media just isn't there on the internet for this card. Based on reader responses, the local media just doesn't care. There's no advertisements. It's a tough sell when the pricing is different from 129 and you lack the Canadian champion at the top. KJ Gould: The dominance of champions used to be what drove combat sports from a commercial standpoint. It seems pretty strange to think a similar dominance in MMA would turn fans off. The bigger issue is Jones not connecting with the audience. He's trying too hard with his wannabe role model Martial Artiste persona and many fans feel it's contrived. It's like Carlton Banks trying too hard to impress, instead of the Fresh Prince being cool and natural. Yeah, I decided to squeeze some 90's pop culture in hear, so sue me. Josh Nason: I'm surprised I haven't read more here about the lack of Machida being seen as a powerful contender. It's not like he's been on the path to this title through a dominant run. I don't think he earned it by any means and the only reason this fight is happening is because the UFC felt like this show needed a true main event. Live gate wise to this point, that doesn't seem to have helped. Dana White said that by far, Toronto is the strongest market they have and this has to shake that a bit. I look forward to seeing him fight, but it's not like a true "I can't wait until Saturday" anticipation. I'd really like to see him in a tough fight. The greatest athletes are made through battling through adversity and he's just made it look too easy. That can work one of two ways and I don't think it's fully swung in his favor yet. Honestly, it won't until he fights Rashad Evans. Matthew Roth: That's a good point. I think a lot of Machida's mystique is gone after the knockout against Shogun and losing to Rampage. The crane kick against Couture was awesome but it doesn't make him a top light heavyweight in the same sense that Dan Henderson, Rashad, Evans, and Jon Jones are. And yes, I do realize that Machida beat Rashad. That doesn't change the fact that Rashad is a better 205er than Lyoto. And it really goes back to my point, since Machida doesn't really seem like a legitimate challenge, why should anyone buy the card? Josh Nason: I think there are some fun fights if you like names. No one is talking about Mir/Nogueira or Ortiz/Nogueira. Mark Hominick gets back on the road to be a contender again. Casual fan-wise, this is the same as a lot of cards recently. It's a dead horse story but they need perceived stars to help move the needle. I think we'll have the same discussion in January when Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes headline a PPV and everyone's like, "Huh?" TP Grant: I think Dan Henderson is getting overvalued right now as the #2 LHW in the world and I actually think Lyoto is being underplayed. I still consider Lyoto in that elite contender's class of fighters at 205 lbs. I don't ignore his loss to Rampage, but also don't consider it a massive indictment against him either. Not many complained about Rampage as a contender when his most significant win was in fact that iffy split decision over Lyoto since his 2007 win over Hendo. And Rahsad's biggest enemy is becoming inactivity. Shogun needs a big win or two to warrant a rematch. Holes can be poked in everyone's resume, I have no problem with Lyoto challenging for the belt. Josh Nason: But what about the "win" over Rua that was really a loss and then, the KO loss to Rua in the rematch? The last time he really impressed was in that title win over Rashad Evans...which was May 2009. Yes, he beat Couture in April but it's not like he was an elite fighter at that point. Perhaps the reason Hendo is being pushed so heavily in circles is because the LHW division needs something extra at the top. TP Grant: I said I don't ignore Rampage's win, but didn't hold it over him as a indictment of him as an elite fighter. I approached Lyoto/Rua I the same way. Josh Nason: I'm curious and this may be off-topic: in your opinion, what makes one an elite fighter? TP Grant: Consistent success, including against proven veteran gatekeepers, well rounded skills, and wins over Top 10 competition.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, event, doesnt

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LAS VEGAS - UFC middleweight contender Michael Bisping doesn't think he gassed during his third-round TKO victory over Jason "Mayhem" Miller at Saturday night's The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, and he doesn't think his opponent gassed either. Sure, opposing "The Ultimate Fighter 14" coach Miller looked like he had little left to offer as he wilted in the face of Bisping's offensive onslaught, but that doesn't mean his cardio was an issue. According to Bisping, getting beat up will just do that to a fellow.

Posted in: bisping, doesnt, cardio, saturday nights, micahel bisping

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Promoted from the FanPosts by Kid Nate.It doesn't happen often but every now and then sports embody the purity of competition in almost spiritual ways. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Dan Henderson engaged in one of the most brutal wars I have ever witnessed. And really, that's all that needs to be said. You can't read a PBP or hear people talk about the fight. It's like the Matrix: you have to be shown it. It's the only way to process it. The fight was almost tragic in its brutality. I felt bad about the punishment both men were taking. I felt bad about myself for being lazy and displaying the pile of gut to prove it. People will split hairs about what the greatest fight in MMA history is, but there is no fight more brutal than Rua vs. Henderson. And I suspect there never will be. For that, it deserves a unique place in mixed martial arts lore. For a (wannabe) writer, their performance inspires only cliches. And so I'll skip those except to say bravo you two: if there is a heaven you've earned your spot alongside the gods, with a prime Grace Kelly and Allison Brie by your side for the rest of eternity. I'm convinced Dan has three extra layers of epidermis. Seriously, any human being would have been toast during round 4. Unlike Shogun, Dan never seems to get hurt so much as lose his balance, or grow weary. He has a toughness that seems bound by more by physiology than by resolve. It's just incredible. As for Shogun...I mean, what the hell am I supposed to say? His performance stands alongside A Farewell to Arms.  As for what's next, just give Dan a title shot. Rashad has placed himself in perpetuity, and I don't care. Evans is a really good fighter, but wherever Dan wants to fight for the title, let him have it. As for Shogun, throw him a softball. Softball, thy name is Brandon Vera. The Silva/Le fight was pretty darn interesting. And it was sort of what I expected. Le trying to keep his distance, but actively so with Wand swarming wherever swarming was warranted. While I don't like to see Wand back up I can't help but suspect he sort of has to fight this way. The guy just isn't built for a full tilt brawl anymore, even though his arms are. However, he took a hard spinning back fist, and the ones you don't see coming are the ones that put you down. Silva recovered well. All in all it was a good performance by both men, but I'm a fan of the sport. And a fan of MMA. And for that, I was happy to see Silva win. Why doesn't anyone listen to me? Faber has steadily improved, and I thought he carried his improvements over from the Cruz fight to beat Bowles. Brian doesn't respond well to guys that move, and Faber moves. On top of that, you can't stop his transition abilities. The dude knows how to step on the gas from 0 to 60 in any direction, be it from the feet to the ground, ground to feet, or feet to submission. Bowles is quality, but he gets flustered when someone comes at him. Rick Story showed some nice improvement on the feet but his defensive wrestling is simply not on par with his offensive wrestling. Kampmann will always be hindered by his abilities as a counter puncher with the instincts of a brawler. He stands inside the pocket way too much, looking for the right hand counter but because he doesn't have the power, judges don't reward him and he's not able to turn the fight in his favor. It was still a good performance in a Kampmann way, which is to say it's easy to be impressed by Martin's craftiness in an array of areas while shaming his inability to put together a real gameplan. Why did people think Kyle Kingsbury was some kind of live dog? I realize Bonnar lost to Coleman once, but Stephan is nothing if not incredibly durable. Kingsbury doesn't have much cardio to speak of and as we saw, no ground game to applaud even ironically. The guy just isn't that good. He got trashed by K-Sos and has been feasting on nobodies during his streak. Unkudos to Bonnar for not simply trying to get mount. Instead they were stuck in north south for what seemed like an eternity. In the search for softballs for Shogun, Bonnar is a nice candidate too while I think about it. The SpikeTV fights were interesting because Michael McDonald and Ryan Bader both slept their opponents. Brilz fell into REM in record time, and Alex Soto did his best Steve Nelmark impression. Chris Weidman is a stud. There's no two ways about it. Lawlor tries to secure half guard and Weidman counters with a beautiful and brutal d'arce. The only negative to take away from the fight was referee Dan Stell, unwilling to do his job and actively look to see if Lawlor wasn't passed the hell out. Miguel Torres picked up a win over Nick Pace. That's about it. I was impressed with his performance a first, but there's something weird about Miguels' standup. He doesn't really throw a jab with conviction and when he backs up he relies on slipping the punch. Except he's not Mayweather and even a second rate fighter like Pace (who still doesn't seem to know what the BW weight limit is) can land punches.    Rua, Henderson, Le, and Silva all won FOTN bonuses of 70 thousand a piece. Michael Chandler is your new Bellator LW champion. Awesome fight. Eddie Alvarez has amazing recovery abilities. We are a spoiled bunch.  

Posted in: fight, way, dan, performance, doesnt

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It doesn't happen often but every now and then sports embody the purity of competition in almost spiritual ways. Mauricio Rua and Dan Henderson engaged in one of the most brutal wars I have ever witnessed. And really, that's all that needs to be said. You can't read a PBP or hear people talk about the fight. It's like the Matrix: you have to be shown it. It's the only way to process it. The fight was almost tragic in its brutality. I felt bad about the punishment both men were taking. I felt bad about myself for being lazy and displaying the pile of gut to prove it. People will split hairs about what the greatest fight in MMA history is, but there is no fight more brutal than Rua vs. Henderson. And I suspect there never will be. For that, it deserves a unique place in mixed martial arts lore. For a (wannabe) writer, their performance inspires only cliches. And so I'll skip those except to say bravo you two: if there is a heaven you've earned your spot alongside the gods, with a prime Grace Kelly and Allison Brie by your side for the rest of eternity. I'm convinced Dan has three extra layers of epidermis. Seriously, any human being would have been toast during round 4. Unlike Shogun, Dan never seems to get hurt so much as lose his balance, or grow weary. He has a toughness that seems bound by more by physiology than by resolve. It's just incredible. As for Shogun...I mean, what the hell am I supposed to say? His performance stands alongside A Farewell to Arms.  As for what's next, just give Dan a title shot. Rashad has placed himself in perpetuity, and I don't care. Evans is a really good fighter, but wherever Dan wants to fight for the title, let him have it. As for Shogun, throw him a softball. Softball, thy name is Brandon Vera. The Silva/Le fight was pretty darn interesting. And it was sort of what I expected. Le trying to keep his distance, but actively so with Wand swarming wherever swarming was warranted. While I don't like to see Wand back up I can't help but suspect he sort of has to fight this way. The guy just isn't built for a full tilt brawl anymore, even though his arms are. However, he took a hard spinning back fist, and the ones you don't see coming are the ones that put you down. Silva recovered well. All in all it was a good performance by both men, but I'm a fan of the sport. And a fan of MMA. And for that, I was happy to see Silva win. Why doesn't anyone listen to me? Faber has steadily improved, and I thought he carried his improvements over from the Cruz fight to beat Bowles. Brian doesn't respond well to guys that move, and Faber moves. On top of that, you can't stop his transition abilities. The dude knows how to step on the gas from 0 to 60 in any direction, be it from the feet to the ground, ground to feet, or feet to submission. Bowles is quality, but he gets flustered when someone comes at him. Rick Story showed some nice improvement on the feet but his defensive wrestling is simply not on par with his offensive wrestling. Kampmann will always be hindered by his abilities as a counter puncher with the instincts of a brawler. He stands inside the pocket way too much, looking for the right hand counter but because he doesn't have the power, judges don't reward him and he's not able to turn the fight in his favor. It was still a good performance in a Kampmann way, which is to say it's easy to be impressed by Martin's craftiness in an array of areas while shaming his inability to put together a real gameplan. Why did people think Kyle Kingsbury was some kind of live dog? I realize Bonnar lost to Coleman once, but Stephan is nothing if not incredibly durable. Kingsbury doesn't have much cardio to speak of and as we saw, no ground game to applaud even ironically. The guy just isn't that good. He got trashed by K-Sos and has been feasting on nobodies during his streak. Unkudos to Bonnar for not simply trying to get mount. Instead they were stuck in north south for what seemed like an eternity. In the search for softballs for Shogun, Bonnar is a nice candidate too while I think about it. The SpikeTV fights were interesting because Michael McDonald and Ryan Bader both slept their opponents. Brilz fell into REM in record time, and Alex Soto did his best Steve Nelmark impression. Chris Weidman is a stud. There's no two ways about it. Lawlor tries to secure half guard and Weidman counters with a beautiful and brutal d'arce. The only negative to take away from the fight was referee Dan Stell, unwilling to do his job and actively look to see if Lawlor wasn't passed the hell out. Miguel Torres picked up a win over Nick Pace. That's about it. I was impressed with his performance a first, but there's something weird about Miguels' standup. He doesn't really throw a jab with conviction and when he backs up he relies on slipping the punch. Except he's not Mayweather and even a second rate fighter like Pace (who still doesn't seem to know what the BW weight limit is) can land punches.    Rua, Henderson, Le, and Silva all won FOTN bonuses of 70 thousand a piece. Michael Chandler is your new Bellator LW champion. Awesome fight. Eddie Alvarez has amazing recovery abilities. We are a spoiled bunch.    

Posted in: fight, way, dan, performance, doesnt

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Anderson Silva certainly doesn't want to fight Chael Sonnen, but fortunately for everyone he doesn't get to make these decisions. Ceasar calls the shots, and Ceasar follows the money. On Wednesday Dana White confirmed that Chael would be next up for the Spider: "It's the fight that everybody wants to see. People want to see Chael vs. Anderson," White said. "Anderson is in this position where he feels like the guy is so disrespectful he doesn't want to give him a shot."But Anderson will end up fighting Chael. The answer is yes."White did not say when or where the fight would take place. Silva is currently recovering from a shoulder injury. Now we just have to hope that shoulder injury doesn't conveniently leave Anderson Silva sidelined forever and ever. Hey, it wouldn't be the first time people have suspected Anderson of overstating an injury in order to make the UFC 'reconsider' who he's going to fight.

Posted in: fight, anderson, chael, doesnt, decisions ceasar

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For fans, Nick Diaz is an endless supply of entertainment. Either when he fights, or speaks, what he has to say is as exciting as how he speaks with his fists in the cage. The critics are less forgiving. To them, Diaz is just a child. Not literally, but childish enough to look down on him in a "Stockton kids say the darndest things!" way. And when he fumbles the opportunities given to him, he has no one to blame but himself. Even moderate observers feel forced into having a strong opinion. In case you missed the press conference following UFC 137, Nick Diaz was granted what he wanted: a title shot in the UFC. But when the news broke, he went on a lengthy rant. At this point, I don't consider Nick's rambling incoherent, or aimless. Nick's "polemic" is certainly structured that way. His points meander from location A to location B like billiard balls in the presence of a drunken 16 year old playing pool for the first time. But Nick's point is simple: it's not funny (as if having listened to a David Cross album). By "it", I mean life. Well, I guess. I'm not sure, but in the interest of writing an article, I'm pretending to be sure. There's a moment during the press conference when Nick begins talking about what it's like to run from his house, presumably in a low income neighborhood, to the higher income section. To Nick, this is insulting. And what's worse, media members laugh at this anecdote (which Nick explicitly takes issue with).  Dana White actually takes Nick to task, and perhaps rightfully so. "Bro, you have enough money to move if you want to". Nick's jumbled response is to reference how unlike GSP, Nick trains all the time, and can't take time out of his fight schedule to move elsewhere. He can't just 'pull out with a fraudulent injury', like he believes GSP has done. On this point, Jordan Breen articulated this theme on Sherdog radio: "Another factor there is that when Nick Diaz has a camera on him, it's the intersection point of a lot of things he doesn't like. He doesn't like a whole lot of people he doesn't know. He doesn't really like to have to talk and sell fights in that way, and to have to constantly explain himself and his thoughts. He doesn't like being looked at by an entire room of people who are inevitably judging him if not outright laughing at him due to some of the things that come out of his mouth. The situations that normally give rise to Nick Diaz' rants...comes from very muhc the same place. He's suddenly confronted with all of these thoughts where people are asking him about fighting for titles, and in his mind he knows he doesn't make as much as boxers he's seen on television. It becomes this volatile witches brew that seems to make him go positively ape and air his dirty laundry in a very visceral and public way." Nick Diaz, and forgive me for stating the obvious, is an angry dude. Something Breen points out further along through the show, are the mental gymnastics required for Nick to perceive an opponent as an enemy. Nick's not just fighting GSP for the title. He's fighting GSP who faked an injury to pull out of their fight. Now scared, GSP is holding Nick back from making more money while Nick must sacrifice everything, including the quality of life, just to get a shot. Amidst this self imposed turmoil, Nick's gotta be the bad guy for the media because that's how title shots happen (indicating that perhaps Nick has always known how to play the game). It'd be easy to sit here and mock Nick's logic. Yes, it's ridiculous. But it's a familiar kind of ridiculous for boxing aficionados, who know their history all too well, and what it's like to encounter an athlete who must compete as much with his opponents as he does with himself. The MMA media just isn't used to "real fighters". I'm quoting that because I don't consider Nick any different from anyone else. Nick Diaz is a dedicated fighter. So are plenty of other fighters, and I mean fighters who don't make 200 thousand in one fight (as Nick does), yet lead peaceful lives and don't bitch about life every press conference or youtube video. But I can't help but feel if it wasn't for that angry spirit, he wouldn't fight the way he does. Russell Crowe once asked, "are you not entertained?!" Nick is asking the world the same question, with the exact same sneer. Nick is everything the critics say he is: spoiled, paranoid, selfish, bitter, and quixotic. These adjectives inform Nick's character. But that character, in turn, informs his performance. There is a sort of hypocrisy to exalting one side while condemning the other, and if so, consider me a hypocrite. I despise Nick's attitude. But Nick...please don't ever change.

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Filed under: UFCQuestions, concerns, comments, and even a little statistical analysis, sort of: UFC 137 gives us a chance to sort through it all, in no particular order. I don't know about you, but to me it sounds like a perfect way to while away the hours on a Friday. I. Has Nick Diaz ever been happy or content with any situation, ever? I don't want to call the guy a complainer, but...no, he's a complainer. It's always something with Diaz. Either he's not making enough money or he's being forced into a fight he doesn't want or he wishes he'd taken that boxing contract instead. It makes you wonder, has he ever felt like he got what he wanted in this business -- in this life! -- even once? Most fighters I know go to great lengths to avoid negative thinking, but Diaz seems to thrive on it. It's almost as if the thing motivating him to work so hard in the gym is his belief that the deck is stacked against him. As if he has to be better than everyone else, because the world wants to see him fail. In reality, it's the other way around. Plenty of people want to see Diaz succeed. That's why they keep giving him one opportunity after another, even when he torches olive branches as quickly as they are extended. But hey, whatever works. If, in order to succeed, Diaz needs to feel like he is constantly mired in misery thanks to a universe looking to cheat and crush him at every turn, then so be it. You'd just like to see the guy enjoying the ride a little more while he's on it, because it won't last forever. II. Age difference, in months, between Mirko Filipovic and Roy Nelson: 27. Believe it or not, "Cro Cop" is just a shade over two years older than Nelson, though you'd swear he had a decade on him. In fighter years, maybe he does. In addition to his kickboxing career, Filipovic is a veteran of nearly 40 pro MMA bouts, while Nelson has about half that many. Nelson also benefitted from fighting the Bo Cantrells and Vince Luceros of the world early in his career, while Cro Cop came up in the Pride heavyweight division back when it was stocked with household names. Still, when you think about this fight it seems like a contest between the old school and the (at least somewhat) new. It doesn't seem like a fight between two dudes who could have, theoretically at least, played on the same high school basketball team. More Coverage: Watch UFC 137 Live Online | UFC 137 Fight Card | UFC 137 Results III. How much did his knockout of Pat Barry really help Cheick Kongo's confidence? Without a doubt, it was one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history, but did you see his face afterward? He looked like a man who had just woken up from a terrible nightmare, and while relieved to find out it wasn't real, was still not totally convinced that there were no monsters under the bed. That's as close as you can come to getting knocked out and still win. It makes for an exciting finish, but it's the kind of excitement most fighters would like to avoid. When you get close enough to the edge to feel your wheels slipping, the temptation to slow down and play it safe after that can sometimes be overwhelming. IV. Maybe, whether he knows it or not, Nick Diaz is exactly what B.J. Penn needs right now. The last time we saw a truly terrifying Penn was when he got into the cage against Matt Hughes for the third time, muttering to himself like a crazy man at the bus stop. Jon Fitch failed to elicit such a reaction in him (or in UFC fans generally), but how about Diaz, who usually has some choice words for his opponent's mother once the fight gets started? At this point in his career, maybe Penn needs an opponent who will throw his hands in the air like he just doesn't care and taunt his family like they're from separate clans of feuding hill people. If that doesn't help Penn find the old fire, nothing will. V. Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone could be the best Spike TV prelim fight in ages, and just when the UFC needs it the most. The Pettis-Stephens and Maia-Santiago bouts on the UFC 136 prelims probably didn't sell many pay-per-views. In fact, they might have even convinced some fans to turn off the TV and go see a movie instead. But the Siver-Cerrone fight looks like a can't-miss scrap, at least on paper, and this card could sure use the boost. Siver's won four straight, while Cerrone's notched five in a row. They both like to stand and mix it up, and Siver's Russo-German stoicism is perhaps the best counterweight to Cerrone's swaggering redneck routine. If this fight turns out to be even half as good as I'm expecting, it won't even matter that the night's other televised prelim -- Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski -- seems like the perfect opportunity to get up and prepare some snacks. VI. Combined record of UFC 137's curtain-jerking newcomers: 13-0. Neither Dustin Jacoby nor Clifford Starks has lost a professional MMA bout as of yet. Just be advised that, when it comes to guys coming up off local shows, not all undefeated records are created equally. VII. Now that Jeff Curran is finally here, where can he go? It took a long time for the "Big Frog" to finally make his UFC debut. But look around at the UFC's bantamweight division right now and you'll see a list of guys who already hold wins over him. Joe Benavidez, Takeya Mizugaki, Urijah Faber, "Kid" Yamamoto -- it's almost as if beating Curran is a condition of getting your UFC bantamweight merit badge. I don't mean to be hard on Curran, who's a great guy and a legend of the sport, but it does make me think that maybe this chance has come too late in his career. Going up against a grinder like Scott Jorgensen, that doesn't help matters much. VIII. It's not hard to see what the UFC brass is thinking with the Brandon Vera-Eliot Marshall match-up. Vera they cut and more or less had to bring back when it was revealed that the last man to beat him was, in Vera's words, a "juice monkey." Marshall they cut and then brought back when they needed a warm body to throw in against Luiz Cane on short notice, and his willingness to be that body earned him the tiniest bit of slack, resulting in this fight. The UFC doesn't seem interested in keeping both of them around for long, so why not make them fight each other for the last spot on the lifeboat? The winner gets to stick around and survive on rain water and fish guts, hoping for an unlikely rescue. The loser gets thrown overboard, but at least he knows where he stands...or doesn't. You have to admit, there's a certain cruel, yet satisfying economy to it all. IX. Can Hatsu Hioki avoid the fate of other Japanese transplants to the UFC? One after another, they've come on a wave of hype only to dissipate quickly on rocky shores. From Takanori Gomi to "Kid" Yamamoto, several Japanese fighters have arrived only to appear as if they were much better when we were viewing them from across the Pacific. The big difference is that Hioki seems much closer to his prime, and sure, a UFC debut against George Roop isn't exactly the same as one against Kenny Florian. It's a slightly gentler introduction to life in the UFC than the one some of his countrymen have received. If Hioki can't make the most of it, things aren't likely to get much easier from here on out. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, guy, doesnt

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