MMA-URLS

As expected, Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett have emerged from a five-roung slugfest with significant medical suspensions following "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final." Both are suspended for six months - unless cleared by a doctor - for hand injuries, and both earned additional two-month terms for lacerations. "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" took place this past Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and aired live on Showtime and Showtime Extreme.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight

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Go behind the scenes with Junior dos Santos in the days leading up to his UFC on Fox heavyweight title win over Cain Velasquez in Part 1 of this two-part video. We'll bring you Part 2 on Tuesday...

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, do, twopart video

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It took more than a year, but the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finally came to an end on Saturday night. If you’d told me at the start of this thing that an alternate would be the one to win it all, I’d have said that it was just Strikeforce’s luck. But actually, it worked out well, all things considered.Cormier is not only a major up-and-comer in the MMA world, he’s also something of a homegrown talent for Strikeforce. He began his career there, working his way up from Challengers undercards to a Saturday night main event, and now he’s the last big man standing in the most ambitious tournament since the demise of Pride. Not bad at all, if you ask me.With Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier now in the books, we turn our attention to the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between. Biggest Winner: Daniel CormierI’ll just come right out with it: if the former Olympic wrestling team captain is going to turn out to be that good of a kickboxer, then no one is safe. Lock your doors, barricade your windows, and don’t let Cormier get within kicking or shooting distance of you. With the striking skills we saw on display on Saturday night, he’d have little problem picking apart many top heavyweights. Those who could land more strikes than they absorb would no doubt find themselves on their back from a takedown soon enough, maybe after they’ve gone for a fun little ride like the one that upended a 250-pound expert grappler in the Grand Prix finals. It almost doesn’t seem fair for Cormier to have come so far, so fast as a mixed martial artist. It also doesn’t seem fair that he should have to stick around in Strikeforce for one more fight, when the victory over Barnett clearly showed that he’s ready for the best big men the UFC has to offer. At the moment, the only significant weakness in Cormier’s game is his hand. That is to say, the bones in his hand, which keep breaking as a result of him flinging it against the skulls of his opponents. If he can fix that while also continuing to improve along the same trajectory, he’ll be a nightmare of a matchup for anyone in the UFC.Biggest Loser: Mike KyleQuestion: when does it make absolutely no difference whether your fight is for number one contender status? Answer: when you lose in the first minute. When that happens, you might wish you had played it a little cooler before the fight. Kyle’s a talented fighter. When he gets his game working (and when he doesn’t blatantly violate the rules), he’s a problem for a lot of light heavyweights. He also seems like a bit of a head case at times, and going off about Scott Coker’s refusal to promise him a shot at the vacant, essentially non-existent Strikeforce light heavyweight strap is one more example of it. If he felt like MMA almost wasn’t worth the effort before this bout, you have to wonder how he feels now.Most Impressive in Defeat: Josh ThomsonHe came on strong late in his rubber match with Melendez and made things interesting on the judges’ scorecards. Maybe if he’d had a greater sense of urgency earlier in the fight we might be talking about his shocking upset this morning, and it would be Melendez sitting around and complaining about the state of judging in MMA. Instead, Thomson will have to settle for the ‘attaboy’ that comes with putting up more of a fight than many expected out of him. Melendez, meanwhile, gets to go home with the belt.Least Impressive in Victory: Gilbert MelendezIt’s not his fault. Not really. This is what happens when you have to keep defending your title against challengers who are supposed to have no chance. If you don’t absolutely crush them, it looks bad. If you come in as a 5-1 favorite and let it go to the judges, in a way you’ve already lost. That’s the situation Melendez is in, and there’s no easy way out. He’s going to keep on fighting these mostly meaningless battles, and every one that he doesn’t thoroughly dominate will take a little more of the shine off that Strikeforce gold. His only solution is to treat these fights like it’s not enough to simply win. He has to give people the destruction they crave, even if he risks self-destruction in the process. At least it would be better than this slow decline via decision. And at least then his fiance wouldn’t have to face mush her way out of the arena when it’s all over.Making the Most of Unexpected Opportunity: Chris SpangHow a little-known, 4-1 fighter ended up on the televised portion of this card is anybody’s guess, but Spang made it count with his first-round TKO of Nah-Shon Burrell, who was out on his feet for roughly half the fight. It got the Strikeforce broadcast off to an exciting start, and gave fight fans a reason to remember Spang’s name. His nickname, however? "The Kiss"? Yeah, that could use some work.Least Secure Future: Josh BarnettI still think the UFC would be wise to try and make a deal with Barnett when it comes time to talk contracts, but his negotiating position was significantly weakened by the one-sided loss on Saturday night. Yes, he broke his hand in the first round. And yes, he still went the full five with a guy who is probably only a fight or two away from a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. At the same time, Barnett comes with baggage. His history of failed drug tests makes him the wrong kind of risk ad the exact worst time for the UFC, and he also has a tendency to overestimate his value. That’s not to say Barnett wouldn’t be a great pickup for the UFC. Even with the heavyweight division now more flush than it’s ever been, the big show could still use a seasoned self-promoter like "The Warmaster" who can take and deliver beatings with the best of them. Then again, even though the UFC could use him, it doesn’t need him right now. Not as much as he needs it. Hopefully he keeps that in mind when sitting down at the bargaining table. Most Surprising: Guto Inocente and Virgil ZwickerIf you didn’t tune in to the prelims on ShoExtreme, buddy, you messed up. While the "Rezdog" may have been outmatched against a dynamic fighter like Inocente, he hung tough and made a battle out of it, delivering some of the best action of the card in this three-round slugfest. I’m still not sure how Zwicker survived some of those shots, and I’d wager that Inocente was just as mystified at certain points. Mostly, I’m just grateful that the new Strikeforce has a way of airing great prelim bouts like this one. In the old days, this one wouldn’t have made its way onto any TV broadcast. Then again, in the old days, this bout wouldn’t have happened here at all. It would have been saved for a Friday night Challengers event that no one watched, and its spot on the prelims would have gone to local boys who could guarantee a couple hundred bucks worth of ticket sales to their friends, family, and teammates. Sort of makes you glad it’s no longer "business as usual" in Strikeforce.

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett

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The MMA Hour is back in your life. Here's a rundown of who will be stopping by the show on Monday and when: 1:00 pm ET -- Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier. 1:20 -- Bellator 115-pound champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel. 1:40 -- UFC lightweight Jacob Volkmann 2:00 -- UFC heavyweight Shane del Rosario 2:20 -- UFC welterweight Dan Hardy 2:40 -- World Jiu Jitsu Expo promoter Junior Nalty, who will discuss why the Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima match never happened. 3:00 -- Heavyweight Bob Sapp 3:20 -- MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta 3:40 -- #mioenergystrikes viewer questions. Plus, we'll be taking your calls on anything and everything. 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 / 6 p.m. GMT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here or via TuneIn here.

Posted in: show, mma hour, heavyweight, pm, video feed

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There is something magnetic about the heavyweight division.No matter how much talent resides in the lighter weight classes or how frequently the mighty mites of the sport put on incredible displays of technique and conditioning bouncing around the cage and punching each other in the face non-stop for 15 minutes, there is still something uniquely enticing about seeing a pair of heavyweights staring each other down across the cage.While the various other divisions within the UFC have consistently boasted deep, talented ranks, the heavyweight division has experienced good times and bad. Even now, with the division deeper than perhaps it’s ever been, the need for identifying prospects and putting them through the paces to see if they have what it takes to contend with the best heavyweights in the business is both daunting, and crucial.Finding solid additions to the roster is challenging enough, yet alone coming across a six-foot-four-inch, 240-pound collegiate wrestler with Golden Gloves credentials who is athletic enough that he got a look from Major League Baseball once upon a time. That’s why people have been paying close attention to Stipe Miocic’s arrival and advancement in the UFC heavyweight division.The 29-year-old Strong Style Fight Team member entered the UFC having generated a great deal of buzz in earning six consecutive stoppage victories on the regional circuit. None of his foes lasted to the third round; three didn’t make it out of the first.His potential was put to the test in his opening appearance in the Octagon in a matchup against durable veteran Joey Beltran at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas. He went to the cards for the first time in his career, but as he had in his previous six bouts, Miocic came away with the victory.Four months later, the Croatian-born Cleveland native showed the power that made him such an intriguing prospect on the regional circuit when he needed just 43 seconds to dispatch fellow unbeaten up-and-comer Phil De Fries in a Knockout of the Night-winning performance in February.“It’s awesome. I really can’t say much,” Miocic offers, truly at a loss for words when asked to explain how his two-fight tenure in the UFC has been. A staccato burst of expression is all he can muster. “It’s fantastic. I’m excited. It’s been great, and keeps getting better. Keep winning, that’s the name of the game.”The chain reaction of changes to the UFC 146 fight card resulted in Miocic being presented with a third opportunity to step into the Octagon by filling the opening opponent slot opposite fellow undefeated prospect Shane del Rosario in the former Strikeforce standout’s UFC debut.Getting the call on short notice doesn’t give Miocic any reason for concern, and he’s well aware that del Rosario is going to be looking to make a strong first impression when they collide Saturday night in Las Vegas.“I’ve been training, so I’m in shape. He’s a gamer; he’s a tough dude, and I’m sure he’s going to come to fight. My coaches have been breaking videos down, but it’s hard to say (what’s going to happen) because he’s been out of the cage for a year-and-a-half after a terrible accident.”After pushing his record to a perfect 12-0 with a first-round submission win over Lavar Johnson in February 2011, del Rosario’s car was struck by a drunk driver, forcing him to withdraw from a scheduled bout with Daniel Cormier, and press pause on his promising career until now.Each win thus far has increased the attention on Miocic, and should he emerge from his meeting with del Rosario with a zero still holding down residency in his career loss column, the spotlight is sure to get even brighter. That kind of scrutiny can be unnerving for some, regardless of age and experience, but the former Division I All-American from Cleveland State University isn’t worried about succumbing to the pressures or buying into his own hype.“(The key is) just having the right people behind you — coaches, family, and friends — and not worry about the hype,” says Miocic. “Just keep doing what you’ve been doing; the reason you got there.“I just take it in stride, (and try to) keep getting better each fight. I have my coaches on me, telling me stuff to keep working on. I have no say in who I fight — they give me the call, and I’m fortunate and thankful that they’ve given me this fight at UFC 146. (It’s a great opportunity), but you’ve got to keep getting better, and keep winning. That’s what people want to see.”Miocic gives a great deal of credit to the team of coaches and fighters he trains alongside as a part of the Strong Style Fight Team, a group that includes former UFC competitor Forrest Petz, and Bellator veterans Chris Lozano and Brian Rogers.“We’re hard workers, and we’re a close, tight group with great coaching. (Head coach) Marcus Marinelli is phenomenal. He helps us get better at our games, and uses things that are going to help us, not just give us stuff that we should try. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, and he’ll think of something that would work in our arsenal.”The 8-0 heavyweight prospect already possesses a solid arsenal, with his weapon of choice being the big right hand he used to halt De Fries’ unbeaten streak in Omaha, Nebraska earlier this year. After getting tagged with a couple early shots, Miocic seemingly decided, “Enough is enough” and went on the offensive, an explanation he agrees to with a laugh before elaborating.“I just started off slowly, and I can’t do that. I thought he was going to take me down; I didn’t think about his hands too much. He hit me, but (it wasn’t anything) I wasn’t prepared for; I think I can take a punch. And then I hit him with the right hand.”Simple as that — “and then I hit him with the right hand.”That’s why heavyweights draw casual and hardcore audiences alike, and why the upcoming battle of the unbeaten prospect between Miocic and del Rosario might be the most intriguing fight on the all-heavyweight main card at UFC 146.Miocic is eager to get back into the cage and test himself against his toughest opponent to date. But where some fighters are worried about living up to the hype, the talented heavyweight prospect is focused on one thing and one thing only.“It’s going to be a war; I’m looking for a three-round war, and I’m expecting him to be tough as nails, but I’m going to get that W no matter how it ends. Decision, submission, knockout, I don’t care — just get that W.”TO GET READY FOR THE BIG EVENT, CHECK OUT THE UFC 146 E-PROGRAM BY CLICKING HERE

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, ’t, miocic

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Given the chaos that plagued the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, the tournament finale that took place last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) in San Jose, California, featuring Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett was a pleasantly entertaining capper, if for no other reason than there were so many distracting chapters outside the cage preceding it. With its kickoff in Feb. 2011, the grand prix marked a kind of all-in move for Strikeforce, which, at the time, was clearly losing the marginal ground it was holding against the overwhelming onslaught of success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Market share being what it is -- an eminently finite commodity not earned easily, nor yielded without a fight -- Strikeforce assembled what was, given the available resources, the most potent programming move they or anyone else could have imagined. With a lineup of eight heavyweights, including Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem, the grand prix was scheduled to unfold across 2011 and take Strikeforce to the next level as a promotion. It was the kind of move that even the biggest UFC shills -- both in and out of the press -- openly praised. That was the plan, at least, until it all went to hell, helped in no small part by the UFC's shocking and out-of-the-blue acquisition of Strikeforce back in March 2011, which scuttled any sense of long-term stability the promotion was hoping to build, at least independent of the UFC. But it would recover. The February kickoff card saw Emelianenko -- fresh off his shocking submission loss to Fabricio Werdum the summer previous -- get pounded, dominated and stopped by Antonio Silva. This scuttled the hoped-for showdown of Emelianenko vs. Overeem, as well as the backup plan of Emelianenko taking on Werdum if he managed to best Overeem in their first round match. Overeem vs. Werdum, held in June, was a dreadful affair, punctuated by Werdum's endless guard-flopping and Overeem's woeful inability to land a strike of significance against an opponent who refused to engage. It hardly endeared stateside fans to "The Reem," now the tournament's biggest attraction with Fedor's exit. Then, Overeem bolted the grand prix after his dubious showing, obviously for the greener pastures of the UFC, which were noticeably so now that Fedor was no longer available. With Daniel Cormier filling in for him as a semifinalist against Silva last September, Cormier's broken hand put a damper on an otherwise outstanding performance as he battered the massive Brazilian in a rousing knockout victory. Barnett, meanwhile, cruised through Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov in workmanlike fashion. The injury delayed the finals until May. All said and done, the Strikeforce grand prix ended on a positive note. Cormier's impressive work over five rounds showed the beginnings of what should be a top-flight heavyweight in the years ahead. Given the twists, turns, and chaos that marked the 15-month journey of the tournament, fans took a lot of lumps waiting for the conclusive end. It was a pretty good one, though, even if it was nowhere near what anyone predicted would happen.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, strikeforce, heavyweight, prix

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Daniel Cormier put a beating on Josh Barnett last night in Strikeforce. Barnett looked to be in excellent shape, to have improved his striking and all around looked like a very skilled Heavyweight, and it just didn't matter as Cormier won every single round very clearly. The win puts Cormier at 10-0 and his prospects are looking extremely bright. As mentioned on the broadcast, Cormier is an accomplished international wrestler. In 2004 he came very close to earning a medal at the Athens Olympics and in 2008 he was the captain of the U.S. team, but was unable to compete due to kidney failure during his weight cut. Cormier has put that wrestling pedigree to good use in his MMA career and last night he threw Barnett, a celebrated catch wrestler, around like a grappling dummy. Once on the ground with Barnett, Cormier seemed very well prepared for Barnett's unique style of guard play by his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach, Leandro Vieira, one of the famous Vieria brothers. Founders of the BJJ team Checkmat, the three Vieira brothers are some of the best competitors and coaches in the submission grappling community. While not a submission wizard, Cormier showed excellent awareness of Barnett's leg lock attacks and even when Barnett was able to enter into a leg lock out of a scramble Cormier was able to stay calm and escape. more after the jump... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier What is most exciting to fans is how developed Cormier looks on the feet. In his last three fights Cormier has been extremely impressive with his boxing. Cormier is a small heavyweight and what he lacks in size he more than makes up with speed. Before tonight you could see Cormier learning to use his speed to set up strikes against Jeff Monson and Antonio Silva, and he continued that progress against Barnett. Throw in that Cormier appears to have natural power in his hands, and it looks we have a legitimate heavyweight contender on our hands. There were holes in Cormier's performance last night. While he did not gas out, Cormier slowed towards the end of the fight. This expected in a heavyweight fight to some degree but it is something a fighter can always strive to improve. Also Barnett had a lot of success catching Cormier with a knee thrown at distance, trying to time it with Cormier's head movement. This is likely a simple fix in the gym, but it does show that Cormier's striking game is still developing and there could be other flaws, still waiting to be exploited. The other concerning point is that Cormier again broke his hand, at 33-years-old Cormier doesn't really have much time to lose and spending large amounts of time rehabbing hand issues could stunt his growth. The obvious match to make coming out of this would be with Fedor Emeliankenko. They are both about the same size, both like to strike and Fedor's aggressive sambo/judo style matching up against Cormier's freestyle wrestling would fun to watch. Cormier likely wins, but i'd wouldn't count out a dramatic Fedor submission win, If Cormier is able to jump to the UFC there will be plenty of excellent matches to make. Alistair Overeem or Shane Carwin would make for intriguing matches as both fighters would give a good sense of how Cormier is able to handle the size and strength of the UFC heavyweight division. With a few more fights, Cormier could very well develop into a UFC Champion caliber of fighter.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, barnett, cormier, fights cormier

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He isn't your everyday world-class wrestler. And with a diverse striking repertoire flowing seamlessly from a compact, 5'10'' frame, Daniel Cormier served notice to the heavyweight division: it's only gonna get worse from here as the former Olympian improves and gains experience. Cormier's masterpiece, a five-round domination of ever-tough veteran Josh Barnett last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, was a revelation on multiple levels. First, for a guy that only has ten fights, he is incredibly effective on the feet given his lack of a striking background. Second, for such a short heavyweight, he seems to make his height work for him, parlaying his quickness and adept head movement and speed to stand in the pocket and drill home shots, pouncing on openings with verve and accuracy. The fact that he was drilling head kicks to the 6'3'' Barnett was also impressive. How many short heavyweights, outside of Pat Barry, can do that? To top it all off, Cormier's wrestling is, indeed, "world-class," a phrase to often tossed out without qualification. In this, his compact frame will serve him well, as he's got an incredibly resilient fulcrum to deal with, assuming anyone in the near future can get close enough for a plausible takedown attempt. Cormier also showed excellent submission defense, escaping a late Barnett submission attempt as Josh rolled and transitioned, wrenching a leg in a chained series of setups, only to have Cormier wiggle free. On top of it all, Cormier had never gone past three rounds, and went a hard five for the first time against one of the best heavyweights in the world. With Strikeforce's uncertain future, it's obvious that Cormier will be a welcome addition to the UFC. It would also behoove the promotion to, perhaps, let Cormier develop a bit more, given the stacked heavyweight division he'd be thrown into. He's damned good right now. With a tad more seasoning and experience, he might be the best heavyweight in the world a year or two from now. He'll possibly have to make some technical tweaks in his standup -- it's hard to imagine him dropping his hands and daring an Alistair Overeem, Shane Carwin or Junior dos Santos to unload at him while he slips and rips shots in return. But with the insanely good wrestling he has, it's important to note that he basically was willing to stand and outpoint Barnett for most of the bout; given Barnett's top-notch submission skills, Cormier wisely avoided the ground until Josh was worn down and well behind on points. That wouldn't be nearly as much of a problem against most UFC heavies, who are dominated either by wrestling types that don't have Cormier's grappling chops, or oversized, quasi-athletic big guys that he could take down virtually at will, and soften up as he did the far more dangerous Barnett. But after Saturday night, it's obvious that this is a rare blend of fighter and athlete, and with just ten matches, he's going to be an exceptionally difficult proposition as he keeps improving.

Posted in: saturday night, heavyweight, barnett, cormier, rips shots

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After a convincing performance against Josh Barnett, do you think Daniel Cormier, as Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix winner, should get the next shot at the UFC Heavyweight title? Do you think Cormier has what it takes to compete against Junior dos Santos or Frank Mir? Make your

Posted in: heavyweight, josh barnett, shot, daniel cormier, cormier

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Daniel Cormier's win over Josh Barnett at last night's Strikeforce : Barnett vs. Cormier was the end of an era. Barnett being slammed and punched and completely outmatched by the former Olympic wrestling hopeful was the last guttering flicker of the light that once illuminated the world-wide mixed martial arts landscape. I refer of course to the legendary Pride Fighting Championship's Heavyweight division. From 2000 when Mark Coleman won the first Pride Open Weight Grand Prix and became, for the 2nd time in his career, the MMA lineal heavyweight champion, until the beginning of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2011, Pride veterans reigned at the top of the division. That era is no more. Let's run through the leading lights of the Pride HW's and review where they are today: Fedor Emelianenko: The Last Emperor was uncontested at the world's best Heavyweight from March 2003 when he defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira until he was submitted by Fabricio Werdum in June, 2010. He went on to lose two more fights before being cut by Strikeforce and becoming largely irrelevant in the HW picture. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: Remained the world's #2 HW with only occasional slips to #3 until he lost to Frank Mir at UFC 92. He fought his way back to relevance only to allow a stunned Mir to come back and break his arm at UFC 140. He's 2-3 in his last 5 fights. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic: When Cro Cop came to the UFC in 2007 he was expected to immediately take over the HW division. Instead he got head kicked by Gabriel Gonzaga in his second UFC bout and went on to put together a 4-6 record in the UFC before leaving the promotion as a spent force in MMA. With Barnett's loss to Cormier, the fall of the old guard is complete. It's a new era that will likely be dominated by UFC Heavyweights for the foreseeable future. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, pride, barnett, cormier

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The Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix was created with the idea of crowning the sports 265-pound king. Instead, it created a veritable star. The tournament had its ups and downs but really, it couldn't have gone any other way. Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but it seems Fedor Emelianenko was simply destined to lose three fights in a row after being so dominant throughout his legendary career. Alistair Overeem was always bound for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC); the manner in which he got there was just a bit odd. But, again, it created an opening for an up-and-coming mixed marital arts (MMA) competitor who just needed the right stage and the right opponents to become a star. Enter Daniel Cormier. He had all the right credentials to be a first alternate. On top of being an Olympic level wrestler, he had worked his way up through the ranks of the Strikeforce heavyweight division, literally starting his career with the promotion, one of its few homegrown stars. His knockout victory over Antonio Silva in the semifinals of the grand prix was unexpected but not altogether shocking. Sure, he wasn't exactly given much of a chance against the man who had just thoroughly dominated one of the best heavyweights to ever live, but there was always that nagging suspicion that the skill and rapid growth Cormier had shown throughout his career would continue even when the level of competition jumped. Did it ever. He destroyed "Bigfoot," hitting him so hard in his oversized skull that it both knocked the Brazilian out and shattered the bones in Cormier's hand. That's the only reason it took so long to set up the final match-up against Josh Barnett, a well-rounded veteran of the game who would surely drag "DC" into deep waters and show him what it's like swimming with the sharks at the top of the heavyweight division. Wrong again. Instead, Cormier once again proved to be even better than advertised as he showed off all the skills that made him such a hot prospect to begin with. He even broke out a few new tricks, like a seriously powerful slam that sent Barnett flying through the air like a child instead of a 250-pound man. Or the slick submission defense he used to escape the clutches of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with more taps on his record (17) than Cormier has total fights (10). After five rounds and 25 minutes of battle against a man who goes by the moniker "The Warmaster," it was clear it's time to stop underestimating Daniel Cormier and start wondering just how far he can go in this sport. He just turned 33-years-old but the sky, as they say, is the limit. One thing's for certain. Cormier became a star last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The Octagon awaits.

Posted in: star, heavyweight, josh barnett, daniel cormier, cormier

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Daniel Cormier talks about his Saturday win over Josh Barnett in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, josh barnett, prix, strikeforce heavyweight

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The once hotly anticipated Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix came to a close last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., as Daniel Cormier claimed his crown (or belt, as it were) with a five-round unanimous decision victory over veteran grappler Josh Barnett. Despite his lack of experience in professional mixed martial arts (MMA), at least in comparison to his opponent, Cormier was able to overcome "The Warmaster" after 25 minutes inside the cage with the vested veteran. Really, he did exactly what he said he would. The same can't be said for Barnett, who promised death, destruction, and the derailment of the heavyweight division's biggest hype train. It didn't happen. And that's because he was outgunned, outclassed and overmatched. Period. No two ways about it. So how did "DC" pull off such an impressive victory over such a game opponent? Follow me after the jump for a complete fight review and some additional analysis on "Cormier vs. Barnett." The bout had a lot less hype than it should have, especially considering the stakes. But amongst fight fans who knew the background, this was an even match-up on paper with the x-factor seemingly being the youth vs. experience play. There may be plenty of times when it's prudent to take the latter but this isn't one of them. That's because Cormier showcased his growing set of skills that got him to the big show in the first place. It was impressive when he was throwing around guys like Devin Cole but for him to pick a 250-pound Barnett up over his head and flip him on his back mid-fight was truly a sight to behold. The standing exchanges favored Cormier all throughout the proceedings. Surprisingly enough, though, he wasn't just throwing a big overhand right like a wrestler who found a nifty new tool he wanted to use. No, he was launching head kicks that were connecting with the smooth precision of a seasoned pro. It turns out, the reason he was doing so was because he re-injured the hand he broke that put this bout on hold for so many months early in the fight. It's amazing, really, that his need for improvisation resulted in the discovery of a new facet of his ever-improving game. Add another to the arsenal. Let's not act as though Barnett just laid down to die. He, too, suffered what he believed to be a broken hand. This apparently occurred early enough in the fight that it changed the complexion of the remainder of the contest. After all, there's only so much a man can do when his hand is throbbing out of his glove. "The WarMaster" was game, firing off submission attempts when the opportunities presented themselves and utilizing his knees like missiles inside the clinch. He was effective at points but he couldn't manhandle Cormier in the same manner he did Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov, the two men he defeated to get to the tournament finals. The result was a battered and bruised face, a busted limb, and an uncertain future. Really, though, this may have been a blessing in disguise, at least for Barnett. Because he broke his hand, if that turn out to be the case, he can lobby for a rematch before Cormier skips off to the Octagon to swim with the sharks in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Remember, the grand prix winner is contracted to fight one more time under the Strikeforce banner, even if the promotion no longer houses a heavyweight division. Why not a rematch once Barnett and Cormier both heal their hands? That's an angle Barnett can attack, if it's something he desires. Surely, his competitive drive will lead him to such a conclusion, no? Unless, of course, he's got a UFC contract awaiting him. But what does that leave for Cormier? There are few options for Strikeforce, especially considering where Cormier now is in his career progression. Is there a heavyweight better than Barnett who is a free agent that can be brought in for a one-and-done scenario? Not likely. So unless UFC President Dana White decides he wants to watch his new heavyweight star beat up on someone like Tim Sylvia, there really isn't a fight that makes sense. And let's not even get into any talk of Fedor Emelianenko. It's not worth the headache. What do you think, Maniacs? Were you as impressed with Cormier as I was? And who should he fight next before heading off to the UFC? Sound off! For complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here and here.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, hand, barnett, cormier

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It could've been that adventurers around the world were slaying the dark lords in Diablo 3, thereby weakening Josh Barnett, or it could be that Daniel Cormier is just that good. Frighteningly good, and with this convincing victory over The Warmaster the coming out party is complete; Daniel Cormier is a huge problem for anyone at heavyweight or light heavyweight and should be feared accordingly. From the outset Cormier threw the enchanted anvils he calls fists at the head of Barnett, connecting with loud, audible thuds and smacks. Barnett responded to the relatively small demigod before him with flurries of his own, but gets absolutely outclassed on his feet by the Olympic wrestler. As the fight goes on, Barnett succumbs to a Cormier takedown then eats a few extremely hard elbows, opening up multiple cuts as Barnett bleeds his own blood all over his own face. By the end of the third round he looks like the album cover of some of the bands he listens to. They move on into the championship rounds with more of the same, Barnett refuses to give up and continues to march down Cormier but eats more shots for his tenacity and even gets thrown like a ragdoll by Cormier. After 25 minutes, Cormier's hand is raised by Josh Rosenthal and a new heavyweight contender enters the game with Strikeforce HWGP on his resume. Nice Daniel Cormier, very nice. Click to see some gif highlights of Cormier's impressive (explosive) performance.  

Posted in: heavyweight, barnett, daniel, daniel cormier, cormier

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Daniel Cormier has just claimed the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix championship following a hard fought five round decision victory over Josh Barnett. Showing much improved striking, Cormier largely used his striking, mixed with a small amount of wrestling, to dominate the former UFC heavyweight champion en route to scores of 49-46, 50-45, and 50-45. With [...]

Posted in: heavyweight, josh barnett, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, prix championship

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SAN JOSE, Calif. - Maybe it was a fluke. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante needed just 33 seconds to earn a submission win over the man that beat him in 2009. The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime and served as the second of four "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale" main-card matchups.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, hp pavilion, place saturday, strikeforce heavyweight

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Get all your live round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final main card here at HeavyMMA starting at 10 p.m. Eastern.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, fightbyfight coverage

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Get all your live round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final prelims here at HeavyMMA starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, fightbyfight coverage

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Live round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final preliminary card starts at HeavyMMA at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, fightbyfight coverage

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There was a time when the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament was going to take the mixed martial arts (MMA) world by storm. The smaller San Jose based promotion had managed to assemble eight heavyweights with legitimate credibility (for the most part) that rivaled that of Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) 265-pound weight class. But, like most things in life, nothing ever goes the way you plan it. Indeed, Fedor Emelianenko was bounced in the first round while Alistair Overeem was released and ran off to the greener pastures of UFC. The two biggest names in the bracket failed out, albeit in differing ways, leading many an MMA fan to simply write off the grand prix as a failed experiment by a promotion in over its head. The good news in all this is it finally, mercifully, comes to an end tonight (Sat., May 19, 2012) with the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event that takes place on Showtime from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, featuring Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier. At the very least, it should go out with a bang. That's because Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier are undoubtedly two of the most talented heavyweights in the division. The fact that they have yet to move over to the UFC is not a testament to their abilities so much as it's simply an issue of timing. Gotta finish the business at hand, of course. The match-up is intriguing on a few levels. Both are strong wrestlers with legitimate credentials in the grappling arts. "The Warmaster" is far better served once they start breaking out submissions but Cormier has shown he can hold his own standing and trading punches. Just ask Antonio Silva and his gigantic noggin. What this fight could really come down to is experience. Though Barnett is just one year older than his counterpart, he's just 36 professional fights under his belt to just nine for Cormier. That's a 27 fight gap for all you math wizards out there. Just think of how much a man can learn in that much time inside the cage. You'll find out tonight. Last chance for predictions, Maniacs. Who ya' got?

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, vs, barnett, cormier

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Strikeforce is hosting the biggest heavyweight fight this weekend, but UFC 146 is just one week away and features a main card full of the big men. UFC.com talked to the combatants in the main event (UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir) and the co-main (Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva) and asked them who they thought was going to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final bout between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. Here's what they had to say: Junior dos Santos, reigning UFC heavyweight champion, said: "They are both great fighters and this is a fight that could end very quickly for each guy. But Cormier is more explosive and has the better chances to end this early. It could be very exciting, but I think Cormier wins." Frank Mir, two-time UFC heavyweight champion, said: "I think Cormier takes this. I can't see Barnett getting him to the ground, his wrestling is too strong. And on the feet I think Cormier has the power to end things. But with two top heavyweights, anything can happen. That's why this division is so exciting - anyone who is world class can beat anyone else with one punch. You can't say that about the lighter weight classes and that's why heavyweight fights are so cool to watch." Cain Velasquez, former UFC heavyweight champion said: "I pick Daniel Cormier. Number one, because I train with him but also because he's so hungry in this sport, I don't think he will be denied. He was really raw when he came into our gym the first time a couple of years ago but he picked up everything a lot faster than most. He has dangerous strikes and I can't see Josh getting him to the ground. Daniel's wrestling is too good; I think he takes this fight and makes a statement about his future in the division." Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, who reached the Grand Prix semi-final stage before losing to Cormier, also picked his old rival for the win, saying: "I think Cormier will win this fight and be the Grand Prix Champion. I was very surprised by him in our fight. I think he is too strong, too powerful in this fight. He punches very hard and his wrestling is very good. I think he will win inside the distance unless Josh Barnett gets this to the ground quickly." SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, barnett, cormier

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Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" goes down tonight (Sat., May 19, 2012) from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, and features the conclusion of the ambitious heavyweight grand prix tournament. Finally. Josh Barnett got to the big show by running through his side of the bracket via consecutive arm triangle submission victories over Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov, respectively. Daniel Cormier, meanwhile, needed just one win to get to the finals thanks to his replacing Alistair Overeem after he was dumped from Strikeforce in favor of the UFC. "DC" knocked out Antonio Silva in the first round of the semifinals but broke his hand in the process, leading to the long wait for tonight's final showdown. So who wins this titanic clash of big men? Our resident Nostradumbass sees the match-up going the distance and Barnett riding his experience to a split decision victory. But what about the pros? Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) got predictions from a few of the heavyweights competing on the UFC 146 card on May 26 in Las Vegas. Let's see who Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva think will win tonight's showdown. Junior dos Santos, reigning UFC heavyweight champion, said: "They are both great fighters and this is a fight that could end very quickly for each guy. But Cormier is more explosive and has the better chances to end this early. It could be very exciting, but I think Cormier wins." Frank Mir, two-time UFC heavyweight champion, said: "I think Cormier takes this. I can't see Barnett getting him to the ground, his wrestling is too strong. And on the feet I think Cormier has the power to end things. But with two top heavyweights, anything can happen. That's why this division is so exciting - anyone who is world class can beat anyone else with one punch. You can't say that about the lighter weight classes and that's why heavyweight fights are so cool to watch." Cain Velasquez, former UFC heavyweight champion said: "I pick Daniel Cormier. Number one, because I train with him but also because he's so hungry in this sport, I don't think he will be denied. He was really raw when he came into our gym the first time a couple of years ago but he picked up everything a lot faster than most. He has dangerous strikes and I can't see Josh getting him to the ground. Daniel's wrestling is too good; I think he takes this fight and makes a statement about his future in the division." Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, who reached the Grand Prix semi-final stage before losing to Cormier, also picked his old rival for the win, saying: "I think Cormier will win this fight and be the Grand Prix Champion. I was very surprised by him in our fight. I think he is too strong, too powerful in this fight. He punches very hard and his wrestling is very good. I think he will win inside the distance unless Josh Barnett gets this to the ground quickly." That's four picks for Cormier, none for Barnett. You Maniacs agree with the UFC heavyweights?

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, barnett, cormier

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Check out highlights from Friday's official weigh-in event for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final in San Jose.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, video check

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The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament, featuring a live finale of Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, finally concludes after a long and tumultuous journey. Not that anyone still cares. It's a disappointing end to one of the promotion's most ambitious endeavors, which has now become less about crowning a tournament king and more about padding a resume for prospective employers in Las Vegas. We recently learned that Strikeforce has torched its heavyweight division and most of the valuable parts have already been picked from the burning wreckage. Look no further than the UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card for proof, where Shane del Rosario, Lavar Johnson and Antonio Silva try to get themselves "into the mix" later this month in "Sin City." Expect the winner, and perhaps even the loser of "Barnett vs. Cormier," to soon follow. I called it a disappointment, but I'm not suggesting "The Warmaster" and "DC" won't hold up their end of the bargain and deliver a thrilling finale -- they most likely will -- but it's hard to flash back to the opening brackets and not wonder what could have been, rather than what was. So what went wrong? The easy "out" is to blame ZUFFA's inevitable purchase of Strikeforce. While it certainly complicated matters, there's very little evidence the tournament would have unfolded any differently. Here's why. In late 2010, when Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker first gave birth to the idea of a heavyweight grand prix, it mattered. It mattered because the 265-pound division was like the Devil's Island of mixed martial arts (MMA). Name one other weight class at that time, not shackled by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), with four fighters ranked in and around the top ten? That means Strikeforce had an eight-man tournament with half its participants widely considered to be among the world's best. But most importantly, it had Fedor Emelianenko. Despite a shocking submission loss to Fabricio Werdum earlier in the year, the former PRIDE champion was pegged as the tournament favorite from the onset. An eventual showdown with Alistair Overeem, who had recently captured the K-1 World Grand Prix title (to hang alongside his DREAM and Strikeforce belts), was all but a foregone conclusion. Too bad "Bigfoot" didn't stick to the script. "The Last Emperor" was smashed by the Brazilian behemoth in the opening round with a performance that turned the grand prix on its head -- but only temporarily -- since we still had another fan favorite to keep the momentum going. Except we didn't. That's because Andrei Arlovski was knocked clean out by a Russian paratrooper that most causal fans had never heard of. Popular among the fanatics and Japanese crowds who recognized him from PRIDE, Sergei Kharitonov could barely utter a few words in English, let alone hype a stateside fight. But hope was not lost. Down late in the game, "Demolition Man" was prepared to take over and crank out a few innings of relief -- until he bombed against Fabricio Werdum in a fight he nearly lost. Not that it mattered, seeing as how he stubbed his toe and decided to withdraw from the grand prix altogether. Enter Cormier. The undefeated (but unheralded) tournament reserve came in and made Emelianenko's loss look even worse by knocking out Silva with relative ease and sashaying his way into the championship final. And just like that, the entire left side of the original bracket had been eliminated. Over on the "other" side, embattled free agent and grappling wizard Josh Barnett had it so easy he might as well have earned two byes. His first bout paired him against a former tire mechanic, who could punch your head into the second row, but had the ground game of an overturned turtle. Tapping Brett Rogers was simply a tune-up for his submission win over the equally mat-challenged Kharitonov. So here we are, over a year later, thanks in part to Cormier's hand injury and the ZUFFA red tape that came with the Strikeforce acquisition. That kind of thing happens when the two sides (Showtime and the UFC) can't stand the sight of each other. So what went wrong? Well, to be fair, nothing. You know the old expression about "The best laid plans." The tournament was a noble idea and it had the best heavyweights that Strikeforce could produce; however, they failed to produce. Emelianenko (Plan A) couldn't get the job done, Overeem (Plan B) proved to be as reliable as his testosterone levels and Arlovski (Plan C) was about as durable as a Faberge egg. That leaves Barnett vs. Cormier. Probably not the way anyone expected the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament to finish, but at least this odyssey has a happy ending. After all, within the next year, the remaining heavyweights (at least the ones worth their salt) will be repackaged and later opened inside the Octagon with a new lease on life. And if UFC 146 is the heavyweight appetizer, I can't wait for the main course.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, tournament, prix, cormier

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The UFC‘s heavyweight division has plenty of interest in tonight’s Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier final in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. The two will collide in the main event at the company’s show in San Jose with the bout being broadcast live on Showtime. In a recent conversation with the UFC’s website, several of the organization’s finest big men offered up their input on the Barnett-Cormier fight including heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, former champs Frank Mir/Cain Velasquez, and ex-Strikeforce fighter Antonio Silva. The four will square off, with dos Santos facing Mir and Velasquez tackling Silva, in the two main bouts at UFC 146. Check out their picks/predictions below… Dos Santos: “They are both great fighters and this is a fight that could end very quickly for each guy. But Cormier is more explosive and has the better chances to end this early. It could be very exciting, but I think Cormier wins.” Mir: “I think Cormier takes this. I can’t see Barnett getting him to the ground, his wrestling is too strong. And on the feet I think Cormier has the power to end things. But with two top heavyweights, anything can happen. That’s why this division is so exciting – anyone who is world class can beat anyone else with one punch. You can’t say that about the lighter weight classes and that’s why heavyweight fights are so cool to watch.” Velasquez: “I pick Daniel Cormier. Number one, because I train with him but also because he’s so hungry in this sport, I don’t think he will be denied. He was really raw when he came into our gym the first time a couple of years ago but he picked up everything a lot faster than most. He has dangerous strikes and I can’t see Josh getting him to the ground. Daniel’s wrestling is too good; I think he takes this fight and makes a statement about his future in the division.” Silva: “I think Cormier will win this fight and be the Grand Prix Champion. I was very surprised by him in our fight. I think he is too strong, too powerful in this fight. He punches very hard and his wrestling is very good. I think he will win inside the distance unless Josh Barnett gets this to the ground quickly.” PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, josh, cormier

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Is there really much at stake in Strikeforce fight cards in 2012? There's certainly something up for grabs. The fighters are prominent enough as is the stage. More often than not, though, the relevancy of the action in today's Strikeforce exists closer to the margins of the fight game, not the center. There are carved out spaces Strikeforce has held onto that still matter to the larger mixed martial arts world. Mercifully, many of them that escaped UFC gerrymandering are on display tonight. There is a very important heavyweight bout, a top-tier lightweight defending his title and a few others notable figures plying their trade. All of that is worth underscoring and appreciating. Yet, Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier can't help but be compared to the state of Strikeforce at the beginning of the heavyweight grand prix. Tonight's event and the tournament opener from February of 2011 serve as book ends in the study of Strikeforce's diminished state. This evening and the beginning of the grand prix are supposed to be married in the minds of fight fans as a reminder of the stature and significance of both the moment and what brought us to our present position. I cannot speak for the MMA fan base, but the opening of this heavyweight tournament feels much more like a disconnected footnote in prize fighting history. There's plenty on the line this evening, particularly in the main and co-main events. We should not lose sight of that. Relative to what could've been or what sixteen months ago Strikeforce was placing at stake and on display, though, it's hard to not notice the difference. Let's examine the stakes each of today's main card fighter faces in their bouts. Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier At stake: a secured future as an elite heavyweight. I suspect (and certainly hope) regardless of outcome both Barnett and Cormier will end up in the UFC heavyweight division. Both are too talented to be anywhere else and their injection into the division creates a host of interesting and very legitimate match-ups. Cormier has stated the winner of this bout deserves to move into the top five in terms of rankings and it's basically impossible to argue otherwise. They need the UFC more than the UFC needs them, but there's mutual gain to be had all the way around. Truth is, however, no future in MMA is ever secured. The only insurance a fighter has is popularity and wins, neither of which are easy to manufacture or maintain. That said, winning tonight could serve as a crucial springboard for the next chapter in their careers. Barnett is 34 years old. Cormier is 33. Both are still very capable, elite heavyweights, but they are also in a position where they need to maximize the time they have left in the sport. Winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix and transitioning to the UFC's deeper waters presents a huge opportunity for attention, money and big fights. Accomplishing something like that is always important, but as a prize fighter in one's early thirties that task becomes as important as it ever will be. Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson At stake: everything and nothing. There's a title on the line in this fight. That makes this fight important by default, at least at this level of the game. Thomson is, in this sense, a very dangerous opponent. Moreover, because Melendez has everything to lose - and does so in a fight against an opponent he is expected to handily defeat - there is a real threat to the Strikeforce champion. Facing opposition you pretty clearly outclass can be a temptation to coast or under prepare. That risk is compounded when there's a physical title on the line. Yet, there's nothing to gain from this fight for Melendez (although there's plenty for Thomson). If he wins, he earns a check and little more. It does nothing to advance his position in the rankings or earn him a fight against a more worthy adversary. Melendez risks a lot here, but he can only move backwards. There's no true upside to the bout. All one can hope for Melendez is that he doesn't inventory his circumstances to the point where he no longer cares about the stakes. Then he really will lose everything. Mike Kyle vs. Rafael Cavalcante At stake: revenge. Kyle's win over Feijao is arguably his best and most unexpected. With the backing of UFC middleweight Anderson Silva and standout performances in the IFL and EliteXC, Feijao was expected to immediately make waves in the Strikeforce light heavyweight division. Yet, in his first fight - a bout with Kyle - he was stopped by strikes in the second round. This is an opportunity for Feijao to prove his freshman Strikeforce fight's outcome was a fluke and all of the promise that surrounded his career is still worth holding onto for fans and media alike. This may be a bit of a strained metaphor, but Kyle might be looking for 'revenge', too. Since his win over Feijao, Kyle hasn't lost at light heavyweight. He's suffered a couple of setbacks at heavyweight, but that isn't his natural weight class. Yet, Kyle vs. Feijao tonight won't be named a title eliminator for the light heavyweight strap by Strikeforce brass, something that visibly angered the AKA product at yesterday's presser. For Kyle, beating Feijao twice could serve as a repudiation to the suggestion he doesn't belong in title contention talk and that their first meeting was no accident. Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang At stake: visibility. While I'm not certain this event will draw huge ratings, it's still nevertheless good exposure for two young, athletic and striking-inclined talents. There is reason to believe both Burrell and Spang have upside, so watching their progress tonight and in the future is a worthy exercise. As for tonight, Strikeforce's rosters are thin and a standout performance can presumably do quite a lot for young fighters. Besides, they are on the main card for a reason. Strikeforce believes both in their talent and ability to deliver action. That's opportunity knocking.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, there, stake

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Strikeforce holds one of its final cards with heavyweight matches tonight with the event marking the conclusion of the end of the Heavyweight Grand Prix.  It seems like so long ago that the idea of a gathering of some of the best heavyweights outside of the UFC was a good one.  Names like Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko ran our collective imaginations rampant with possibilities. However, few could have predicted what really happened from injuries to upsets to the organization’s heavyweight roster being absorbed by the UFC. Some fun facts about the Grand Prix dominate this abbreviated edition of By the Numbers: 0 – A bit unrelated to this event, but of Strikeforce’s 59 events none have left the United States.  One of the missed opportunities for Strikeforce has been attempting to cater to the globalized Mixed Martial Arts market.  While focusing on capturing large American audiences through through numerous broadcasting arrangements (including the CBS events,) Strikeforce has never left American soil to reach out to the International markets.  In comparison, fighters from six different countries have held Strikeforce gold in their various divisions. 1 – In the entire Heavyweight Grand Prix, only one fight has gone the distance, and in fact, past the second round. Overeem and Fabricio Werdum battled in an fairly uneventful battle last June.  The match saw Overeem overpower Werdum, fighting out of his attempts to take him to the ground and little else.  Overeem’s game plan worked, however, as he took the decision win.  Circumstances as they were, this fight marked the last Strikeforce appearance of both men as both were in the UFC by year’s end. 2 – The number of submission wins in the Heavyweight Grand Prix, both of which belong to Barnett.  Barnett, holder of 19 career submission wins, has submitted three of his last four opponents, and has not gone the distance in a fight since 2008. 3 – This is the third fight between Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez and is the famed “rubber match” between the two.  Thomson holds a decision victory over Melendez in 2008, while  Melendez defeated him just shy of eighteen months later in their rematch.  Oddly, that was also a unification bout.  A broken ankle forced Thomson into a year long absence from the cage, resulting in Melendez fighting Rodrigo Damm for an interim title along the way.  There have also been three TKO victories in the Heavyweight Grand Prix thus far: Antonio Silva‘s doctor’s stoppage against Emelianenko, Daniel Cormier‘s Round 1 victory over Silva, and Sergei Kharitonov‘s stunning knockout of Andrei Arlovski. 4 – The number of original tournament participants still under contract to Zuffa (Barnett, Werdum, Silva, Overeem.)  Only Barnett of these remain with Strikeforce, and Overeem’s contract with the UFC is currently in a purgatory-esque state with his suspension.  In comparison, four of the eight original reserves (Chad Griggs, Shane del Rosario, Lavar Johnson and tournament finalist Cormier) are still under contract as well. 5 – Career fights for Chris Spang, the least of any fighter on the card.  Spang faces Nah-Shon Burrell in a fight that has come come under scrutiny for the fact that it appears on the main card and nothing else.  The consensus amongst many fans and MMA media is that perhaps Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante and Ike Vallie-Flagg should be on the main card.  Burrell and Spang, however, have combined for wins in ten of their last eleven bouts, though the one loss was Spang’s last fight against Ricky Legere. 6 – Career fights, and wins in debuting Yuri Villefort‘s career.  Villefort’s time with Strikeforce has been tumultuous to say the least.  After bursting on the scene at age 18, Villefort rang up six quick victories by his 19th victory. However, has been on the wrong side of injuries as of late.  Recurring knee troubles forced him out of his original debut date against Travis Bush, and Villefort now steps into a Strikeforce cage some 11 months after he was first scheduled.  He will face former King of the Cage Welterweight Champion Quinn Mulhern. 7 – Career knockout wins by Virgil Zwicker and Bobby Green, the most of any of the prelim fighters coming into the event.  Zwicker’s seven knockout victories are more wins than his opponent Carlos Filho (aka Guto Inocente) has in his entire career.  Inocente, however, is an undefeated 5-0, having never gone farther than the second round.  Green fights James Terry, whom after starting his career winning ten of twelve, has now dropped two of three. 8 – Barnett’s consecutive win streak coming into this fight.  The seven stoppages in those eight fights (the only decision is a 2008 victory over Jeff Monson) include KO victories over Pedro Rizzo and Gilbert Yvel, and his two Arm-Triangle Choke tournament victories over Brett Rogers and Kharitonov. 9 – Not to be outdone, Cormier rides a nine fight win streak into his matchup with Barnett.  Amongst them, he also holds a decision win over Monson, as well as knockout victories over Soa Palelei and his most recent over Silva which booked his ticket to the finals. 10 – The longest unbeaten streak of anybody on this card, held by Vallie-Flagg.  The streak is comprised of nine wins and a single draw. Vallie-Flagg has not lost since July 28th, 2007, but will be in tough when he faces Cavalcante. 12 – This is Melendez’s 12th appearance in Strikeforce, and 10th in a title fight capacity.  Melendez has just a single Strikeforce loss, that being the aforementioned decision loss to Thomson. 13 – Not to be outdone, this is appearance number thirteen in Strikeforce for Thomson.  This is Thomson’s sixth title related fight under the Strikeforce banner. 14:41 – Between Cormier and Barnett, the elapsed in-tournament time (reserve bouts aside) in which both men have fought to get them to the finals.  Barnett’s submission victories over Rogers and Kharitonov total 10:45 total, while Cormier knocked out Silva in a shade under four minutes. 463 – The length of time, in days, this tournament has taken to reach its finals.  The first bouts for the Heavyweight GP occurred on February 12 2011.  This will officially be the final heavyweight bout in Strikeforce, as Zuffa has committed to moving all applicable contracts over to the UFC. The Strikeforce Grand Prix Final kicks off its prelim show on Showtime Extreme before transitioning over to the main Showtime network.  Canadians can catch the event on Superchannel.  Check your local listings for showtimes. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, victory

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The UFC returns to its Sin City home next week, as UFC heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos puts his belt on the line against former titleholder Frank Mir. Additionally, four other heavyweight matchups join the headliner on the evening's main card. In anticipation of the pay-per-view event, UFC officials recently announced that fans are invited to both a UFC 146 open workout session and pre-event press conference.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, ufc returns, workout session, heavyweight matchups

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

The odds were not in Daniel Cormier's favor. Sure, he had been wrestling since high school but he had only made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut less than two years prior to his Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix semifinal bout against Antonio Silva. This is the same Silva who was coming off an absolute trouncing over potential G.O.A.T. Fedor Emelianenko. Cormier's toughest test up to this point was a fight against Jeff Monson, a veteran heavyweight whose best days are definitely behind him. The former OIympian dominated his opponent over the course of three rounds in an impressive but altogether uninspiring affair. Silva, meanwhile, was undefeated since 2007 aside from a decision loss to Fabricio Wedrum. Wins over Andrei Arlovski and Mike Kyle punctuated a three fight win streak along side the aforementioned technical knockout (TKO) over "The Last Emperor." Cormier wasn't given much of a chance. It's a far different story going into tomorrow's (May 19) Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event where he takes on Josh Barnett to -- finally -- crown the promotion's heavyweight grand prix winner. Despite Barnett's experience, Cormier is seen by many as the favorite. Perhaps it's because of how well he performed against "Bigfoot." Let's take a closer look at that bout. The Brazilian takes the center of the cage to start off the bout while the American is forced to stay on the outside and work his way in. Silva connects with a leg kick and catches the one Cormier throws in response. "Bigfoot" rushes his unbalanced opponent but fails to land anything solid before smothering Cormier along the cage. The Olympian immediately shoves his opponent off and makes his way back to the center of Strikeforce's hexagon. Seconds later, his right fist flies through the air as if it's done this a million times before, betraying Cormier's inexperience, and connects flush with Silva's chin. The massive Brazilian crumbles to the mat as the Cincinnati, OH crowd roars in approval. Cormier follows him to the canvas, standing over his opponent to deliver devastating ground and pound. Although staggered, "Bigfoot" recovers quickly enough to avoid more damage and the two heavyweights fight to a standstill, forcing the referee to restart the action on the feet. Silva begins throwing one-two combinations out but none connect. Meanwhile, a sneaky jab from Cormier finds its home right on the Brazilians' nose and he's momentarily -- but visibly -- rocked by the punch. Cormier dodges another punch from Silva and answers back with a fast three-punch combination, the last strike of which again staggers "Bigfoot." Before our very eyes, a heavyweight star is being born. The Brazilian eats a hook to the jaw and laughably attempts to take down the Olympic-level wrestler. Cormier easily stuffs the takedown and winds up on top of his opponent before allowing Silva back to his feet. There, Silva lands a body kick on his smaller opponent, but his leg is caught by Cormier and "Bigfoot" is then tripped, ending up on the canvas for the third time in as many minutes. He spends some time chipping away at the Brazilians's thighs until the referee once again restarts the bout. Once the two heavyweights get back to their feet, "Bigfoot" is much more aggressive than he's been so far in the bout. And it ends up costing him the fight. He pressures Cormier along the cage, throwing punch after punch, none of which land. In fact, the wrestler smiles after the barrage, either out of disbelief none of the strikes landed or out of a bit of cockiness. Perhaps a bit of both. Another body kick from Silva is caught and he throws a punch before spinning around to free his lower limb. When he is once again facing his opponent, however, Cormier is there to greet him with a combination of punches. They separate and the American lands a stiff jab and then a short hook before going inside with a vicious uppercut. Silva's knees immediately buckle and falls to the mat for the fourth and final time. Two hammerfists across his jaw are the cherries on top. The wrestler had outstruck the heavy-handed Brazilian and secured a date in the grand prix finals. Cormier surprised everyone -- except perhaps himself and his training partners -- that night. If he beats Barnett tomorrow, will it be as shocking?

Posted in: heavyweight, silva, opponent, bigfoot, cormier

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All fighters for Saturday's Strikeforce card in San Jose made weight on Friday, including main event heavyweights Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett and lightweight title fighters Gilbert Melendez and...

Posted in: heavyweight, san jose, josh barnett, strikeforce heavyweight, weighin results

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Two of the top heavyweights in the world will be battling for the coveted Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix championship tomorrow night (May 19, 2012) as veteran Josh Barnett takes on undefeated former Olympian Daniel Cormier in the main event of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" in San Jose, California. Josh Barnett has returned from MMA purgatory to become a prominent player in the heavyweight division again. After cruising past former title challenger Brett Rogers, he manhandled Sergei Kharitonov to advance to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals. If he can get past Cormier, he could be in line for the UFC title picture once the remainder of the division is consolidated. Daniel Cormier emerged from prospect to powerhouse in 2011, defeating veteran Jeff Monson and then obliterating top 10 ranked heavyweight Antonio Silva via first round knockout to literally punch his ticket to the tournament finals. Cormier exploded from unranked to top 10 talent himself with his performance and the American Kickboxing Academy product is hoping to continue to build on his tremendous momentum. Will the grizzled "Warmaster" be able to utilize his tremendous experience advantage against Cormier? Will Cormier's Olympic caliber work ethic and athletic ability be the big equalizer? What's the key to victory for both men? Let's find out: Josh Barnett Record: 31-5 overall, 2-0 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Sergei Kharitonov (Strikeforce: Barnettt vs. Kharitonov), Aleksander Emelianenko (Pride Total Elimination Absolute), Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride Final Conflict Absolute) Key Losses: Mirko Filipovic 3x (Pride 28, Pride 30, Pride Final Conflict Absolute), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride Shockwave 2006) How he got here: Josh Barnett has had a roller coaster of a career. The craziness began back in 2002 when he defeated Randy Couture at UFC 36 for the UFC heavyweight title. He didn't have long to celebrate as he tested positive for a banned substance and was stripped of his belt. Barnett has never returned to the UFC and would instead spend the next six years of his career fighting in Japan. He fought nine times in Pride where he mixed results, primarily due to three defeats at the hands of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. His most impressive victory, a split decision over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira would be avenged in his final fight with Pride. After Pride was bought out by Zuffa, Barnett would fight for World Victory Road's Sengoku Raiden Championships and he then teamed up with the upstart Affliction promotion in the United States. He won his first two fights and was all set up for a "mega-fight" with superstar Fedor Emelianenko before again testing positive for steroids while applying for his license to fight in California. This final steroid test would force him to back out of his fight with "The Last Emperor" and it crippled Affliction, causing the cancellation of its third event and forcing head honcho Tom Atencio to give up on his promotional dreams and return to the role of sponsoring fighters. He next signed a deal with Strikeforce to participate in the Heavyweight Grand Prix and was grandfathered in when Zuffa purchased the promotion, where he has apparently made peace with Dana White at the Fight Summit earlier this year. "The Warmaster" crushed Brett Rogers in the first round of the grand prix and proceeded to steamroll Sergei Kharitonov in the semifinals, defeating both men easily via submission. How he gets it done: Josh Barnett is a catchwrestler at heart, even competing in professional wrestling matches in Japan on the side of his mixed martial arts career. While the ground is his home, he's got some underrated striking and don't take that lightly. I wouldn't be surprised one bit to see him stand for a bit with Cormier to at least test the waters and see how he holds his own. If he is indeed the better striker, he'll just keep it there and try to score in the stand-up. At some point in the fight, however, you should expect Barnett to drop down for a takedown. Even if he doesn't get it right away, he'll push Cormier into the fence, keep a low base and try to lift him up into the air and slam him to the ground with authority.It won't be easy with Cormier's Olympic caliber freestyle wrestling background, but it's likely his best method of victory. Barnett would likely be completely comfortable just grinding on Cormier against the fence, using his size to wear down the wrestler, mix in some dirty boxing and just frustrate and stifle him. If and when the fight goes to the ground, Barnett will be patient. Barnett has extremely tight top control and it's very difficult to escape once he has you on the ground. He'll be just as happy to smother Cormier and make the Russian carry his weight forup to five rounds as he would be to give up top position and go for a fight ending submission hold. Daniel Cormier Record: 9-0 overall, 6-0 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Antonio Silva (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov), Jeff Monson (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum), Tony Johnson (KOTC: Imminent Danger) Key Losses: none How he got here: Daniel Cormier was an incredibly accomplished American wrestler. He was a high school All-American, a junior college national champion and after transferring to Oklahoma State, he was also a national runner-up. Daniel took his wrestling to the international stage, competing on the United States' world team five separate times including twice in the Olympics. He just missed medaling at the 2004 Olympics and after becoming captain of the team in 2008, was forced out of the competition with kidney problems due to cutting weight. To avoid any further issues with weight cutting, Cormier decided to transition to MMA as a heavyweight. He made his professional fighting debut less than two years ago in Strikeforce, smashing Gary Frazier via TKO. Cormier would fight a very hectic schedule, competing in multiple Strikeforce events and also mixing in fights with other promotions to stay busy. Upon returning to Strikeforce, he would begin to utilize his striking, outlanding Devin Cole over the course of three rounds to take a decision. He would face his first test in former UFC title challenger Jeff Monson this past June and would pass with flying colors, defeating "The Snowman" primarily with his much-improved kickboxing attack. Cormier earned an alternate position in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, stepping in for Alistair Overeem and he would take advantage of his opportunity, knocking Antonio Silva senseless in the first round, by far the most impressive performance of his young fighting career. Now he's got an opportunity vault himself to an even higher status against Barnett in the finals. How he gets it done: I wouldn't have said this before his last performance, but it might be Cormier's striking that could be the difference in this fight. He utilized incredible footwork and it was his speed that was the difference, giving him the ability to get in and out against the bigger, slower Silva. Cormier also showcased some serious power if he can connect cleanly with his straight punches. I think the best plan of attack in this fight would be to avoid going to the ground completely, use his Olympic wrestling in reverse to keep the fight standing and try to outwork Barnett on the feet. If the fight goes to the clinch or the ground, Cormier should do everything in his power to either take inside position along the fence or work to get back to his feet. He's got terrific scrambling and position skills on the ground, but it might not be wisest to mess around with someone as dangerous as Barnett on the canvas. Fight X-Factor: One of the biggest X-Factors for this fight has to be Daniel Cormier's hand. He was supposed to fight at the end of 2012 but he broke his hand in the Silva fight and then broke it again rushing to come back. That's the reason the finals have been delayed as long as they have. With his hands being so injured, Cormier likely hasn't had as much of an opportunity to improve his stand-up and striking at the same rate that he had been prior to the Silva fight. Also, one has to wonder how much confidence he'll have to throw his fists as hard as possible while hunting for a potential knockout. If he can't threaten to hurt Barnett or if he reinjures his hands during the fight, his biggest strength will be going right out the window. Bottom Line: This is one of the toughest fights to call of 2012. Both Cormier and Barnett are very talented and they are equally dangerous in different areas. Both are dangerous with their grappling ability and have the skills to stand and trade on the feet. The odds are even in the betting department as well, -115 each last I looked. There's potential that this is one of the best back and forth heavyweight fights of 2012, but there's also potential that Barnett wall-and-stalls or tries to smother Cormier on the ground if he can close the distance. There could be a very exciting finish or there could be a very drawn out and ugly decision. I'm leaning on the excitement side, however. Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tomorrow night? Daniel Cormier Josh Barnett   3 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, cormier

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It has taken more than a year, but the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix has reached its final leg.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, point, strikeforce heavyweight

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Brent Brookhouse: Supposedly, the winner of tomorrow night's Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will have to fight one more time in Strikeforce despite there no longer being a heavyweight division in the promotion. What is the best way to handle the next fight for the winner of the GP? KJ Gould: Man, this is a bizarre situation. It just seems weird to keep them in Strikeforce, and bring in a heavyweight for one fight before the whole division truly crosses over to the UFC. If it's a close fight with some judging controversy, a rematch is the no brainer. Fedor Emelianenko supposedly still has one fight left with Showtime, but I can see Zuffa being dead against it, plus Fedor has hinted at Pedro Rizzo being his last fight meaning he'd likely hold out for a big pay day to 'come back'. A complete wildcard would be the winner of James Thompson vs Todd Duffee. It'd be pointless, but then that's what this Grand Prix has ultimately been anyway. Fraser Coffeen: One word - Fedor. He's really a great choice in that he still has a degree of name recognition, plus they can play up the angle that he's 3-0 since leaving Strikeforce (assuming he beats Rizzo). But in reality, he's not really a threat to either man, so they'll have an extra win heading into the UFC. The one drawback is his possible price tag. M-1 plays hardball with Fedor, and his cost was a contributing factor in Strikeforce running into financial problems last year. If M-1 perceives that SF needs Fedor, they'll crank that price up and won't budge. In that case, I really don't know what to do. The options become either 1) a Cormier vs. Barnett rematch, 2) tell Showtime to stuff it and don't do one last fight, or 3) find someone like Jeff Monson or Tim Sylvia to step in. None of those sound very good to me, but if 2 isn't a viable option, I guess I'd pick Sylvia over an unnecessary rematch. KJ Gould: Considering how Strikeforce has been dragging this out, maybe Alistair Overeem fights in Strikeforce again, as a punishment for messing up the fight with Junior dos Santos. He wouldn't be in that much of a bargaining position to do so, considering the dog house he's currently in. Fraser Coffeen: I considered Reem, and it's a possibility maybe. But I think the best bet is to use this last fight as a way to further boost the GP winner before making his way into the UFC. So give him a softball. KJ Gould: The paranoid conspiracy theorist in me believes if Cormier wins, he'll be given a softball, but if Barnett wins Zuffa is sending in a 'gunslinger' to try and take him out (like an Overeem). Tim Burke: I don't think it'll be Fedor. He costs too much, and maybe it's the fanboy in me talking, but I think he presents a credible threat to both men. They need someone with name value, isn't that much of a threat, and isn't going to break the bank. And I know the guy: Mirko Cro Cop. Yes, Barnett's faced him three times already. Yes he was released by Zuffa and is a 27-fight losing streak. But if Barnett wins, it gives him another crack at getting a win over Mirko and it's a rematch of the 2006 Pride Openweight GP Final. If Cormier wins, it's another name on his resume before the move. It works. Ben Thapa: The best way for Strikeforce to handle this after the GP is to shove somebody passable in there for the winner to get a quick payday, while screaming his head off about the people he'd destroy in the UFC - which for either guy would be at least three-quarters of the current UFC roster. Here's my off the wall idea: Thiago Santos. Yes, the Nutcracker. Or the Really Big Squirrel. I can't decide which is the better nickname. Anyways, Santos actually looked fearsome in his lone Bellator appearance and was then tossed aside like deadwood after missing the heavyweight limit in his schedule bout with Eric Prindle. To me, Santos presents enough of a challenge that Barnett or Cormier would have to train seriously, but not one that risks taking the shine off the GP winner, whomever it may be. As an added bonus, poaching Santos from Bellator would send a warning shot across the bow of the upstart promotion. You can't tell me that Coker, White and the other Forza employees wouldn't love to do that. Dallas Winston: I'm perpetually baffled as to why there isn't an open door between the UFC and Strikeforce, and this is a perfect example for a situation where it makes the most sense. Since the UFC has plucked all the interesting talent from Strikeforce's roster and heavyweight is the thinnest division overall, the only option is the aforementioned "softball" of an opponent for the Grand Prix winner. Fedor is a great idea -- and I agree that his speed, striking and submissions would still make him a game opponent for either -- but I just don't see it happening. Overeem and Werdum are legit suggestions because of their history with Strikeforce but, if they're willing to move a UFC heavy over, why not capitalize on the breadth of their talent to make an appealing match up? Big Country, Big Nog and/or Dave Herman would all be interesting potentials, depending, of course, on how the UFC 146 heavyweight extravaganza unfolds. Otherwise we're left with a brand new acquisition or "barely acceptable" choices like Monson, Rizzo, Sylvia, etc. KJ Gould: I suppose there's always Shane Carwin, if he ever comes back from his various ailments. It's a name Heavyweight with legit stopping power, but beatable by either Barnett or Cormier. I'd definitely prefer that option over the 'Punter of Pereineums', Thiago Santos. Poll Who should face the winner of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in their next bout? Thiago Santos Jeff Monson Tim Sylvia Mirko Cro Cop Fedor Emelianenko Alistair Overeem A different UFC heavyweight   12 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, winner

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Rewind to the evening of February 12, 2011, and you'd find Strikeforce on top of the MMA world. In just hours they'd unveil their masterpiece -- an ambitious, star-studded eight-man tourney featuring the most distinguished collection of heavyweight talent money could buy: Emelianenko, Overeem, Barnett, Werdum, Silva, Arlovski and Kharitonov. (And Brett Rogers, but we don't need to bring that up). In theory, it was genius. If history has proven anything, it's that fight fans love two things -- tournaments and heavyweights. Put them together, and the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix was guaranteed to be commercial gold. But things didn't quite work out that way, and only now, 16 months later, is the tourney finale within our sights. Never mind that it pits the field's least marketable superstar against an injury replacement. The simple fact that we got here is enough. So here's a brief (and utterly bizarre) rundown of how it all went wrong, but still ended up oh-so-right. January 2011: Quarterfinal pairings are revealed. Emelianenko vs. Silva. Kharitonov vs. Arlovski. Overeem vs. Werdum. Barnett vs. Rogers. MMA nerds everywhere rejoice. February 12, 2011: Valentijn Overeem, Chad Griggs and Shane del Rosario blast their way to first-round tourney-reserve victories. Sergei Kharitonov nearly beheads Andrei Arlovski. Then the (expletive) hits the fan. Bigfoot Silva stuns the prohibitive favorite, turning Fedor Emelianenko's face into a bloody mish-mash of Russian regret, and just like that, Strikeforce officials lose their most bankable star. Much hand-wringing ensues. Early March, 2011: The second leg of the Grand Prix is delayed from April 9 to June 18 in order to give officials "the proper amount of time to promote in one of the country's biggest markets," says CEO Scott Coker. March 12, 2011: Out of nowhere, Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, stuns the MMA world and purchases Strikeforce. UFC President Dana White ominously declares Strikeforce will "continue to run, business as usual." May 2011: A tourney-reserve bout between Del Rosario and Daniel Cormier is scrapped when a drunk driver rear-ends Del Rosario's car in Newport Beach, leaving the fighter out of commission. 40-year-old Jeff Monson hastily takes his place. June 18, 2011: Griggs and Cormier win their respective tourney-reserve bouts to stay in contention. Josh Barnett embarrasses Brett Rogers (who promptly gets cut and doesn't taste victory again until a 2014 fight against Cabbage Correira). Alistair Overeem outpoints Fabricio Werdum in an utterly bizarre fight that actually sees Werdum clasp his hands together and plead for Overeem to follow him to the ground. More hand-wringing ensues. July 2011: Overeem, the then-Strikeforce heavyweight champion, is inexplicably removed from the tournament and released from the promotion due to a "toe injury" that would prevent him from competing. Cormier is tapped to fill the vacant spot despite having a significantly less impressive résumé than Griggs. September 6, 2011: Overeem signs with the UFC and is immediately thrown into a blockbuster mega-fight against Brock Lesnar. Giggles can be heard from inside the Zuffa offices. September 10, 2011: Cormier pulls off the second shocking upset of the tournament, demolishing Silva in less than four minutes. Barnett does what Barnett does, submitting Kharitonov in the first-round. A Cormier-Barnett final is set. September 13, 2011: Cormier confirms a broken right hand from face-punching. Strikeforce officials push the tourney final to "early 2012." December 15, 2011: Dana White unleashes the knockout blow, announcing the dissolution of the Strikeforce heavyweight division, effective immediately (sans Barnett and Cormier). January 2012: Cormier reveals he may have re-broken his hand. A timetable for the finals remains hazy. Scott Coker is seen sobbing into a gallon of Cherry Garcia Ben & Jerry's. March 3, 2012: Six months after the semifinals, and more than a year after the tournament began, Strikeforce slates the heavyweight grand prix finale for May 19. Fight fans everywhere are reminded that, oh yeah, Strikeforce has a heavyweight grand prix going on. May 18, 2012: And now we're here. To quote the Grateful Dead, what a long, strange trip it's been. But guys, you know what's even crazier? I'm actually really excited for Barnett vs. Cormier. So somehow, in a weird way, maybe this all worked out. (It really didn't. But who's keeping track?) 5 MUST-READ STORIES Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. Preview the long-awaited conclusion to Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix with detailed predictions, undercard dissections and bettings lines. Mark Hunt injured. A late knee injury forced a devastated Mark Hunt out of his UFC 146 bout against Stefan Struve. Fresh off a victory two weeks ago, upstart bruiser Lavar Johnson jumped at the opportunity to fill the vacant spot. UFC on FUEL 3 salaries. Donald Cerrone ($60,000) and Amir Sadollah ($48,000) led the charge on the reported payroll from Tuesday's UFC on FUEL 3 fight card. B.J. Penn not interested in Koscheck. Former UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn shut down rumors of a return bout against Josh Koscheck, instead electing to remain retired. Bellator 69 weigh-ins. It took a few attempts, but all fighters made weight at Thursday's official Bellator 69 weigh-ins, including middleweight headliners Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang. MEDIA STEW Daniel Cormier was a relative unknown when he entered the Strikeforce Grand Prix as an injury replacement for Alistair Overeem. But then he went and did this, and hell, now he might be the next heavyweight star. For anyone who thinks Josh Thomson has no way to beat Gilbert Melendez tomorrow night, it's worth checking out the first leg of the pair's trilogy from back in 2008. (But really, the biggest takeaway from this fight has to be how awesome Bas Rutten is.) Honestly, Josh Barnett's dominance has been the only reliable part of this tournament. Gilbert Melendez may have overlooked Josh Thomson the first time they fought. But the second time -- it was all business. LEAN AND MEAN Eating heavy and feeling light. Ready to show what a real championship fight looks like. twitpic.com/9m45b6 — Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) May 17, 2012 #RALLYFORMARKHUNTSKNEE thank u so much for your support u can understand how gutted i am.but i did not want to give a easy fight to struve,if u want to win — mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) May 17, 2012 from me u going to have to come a take that sh t — mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) May 17, 2012 thanks alot army i must go cry to my wife about thistalk soon — mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) May 17, 2012 AND THAT'S THE END OF THAT @joshkoscheck I know it costs a lot of money to live that lavish lifestyle, big house, fast cars & you need big (cont) tl.gd/hf1d5v — BJ PENN (@bjpenndotcom) May 17, 2012 THE BOSS IS BACK All good!!! Thanks everyone — Dana White (@danawhite) May 17, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Thursday, May 17, 2012): - UFC 146: Mark Hunt (8-7) out, Lavar Johnson (17-5) in against Stefan Struve (23-5) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is a surprising theory from hobbie, though the title may give you an aneurism: Nick Diaz is a Genius Hobbie's finally lost it. I know that's what most of you are thinking after reading that title. Either that, or I'm a dozen puffs in to one of Nick Diaz's pre-fight "supplement" cigarettes. No, my mind is clear thank you very much. Well, I did sort of black out a tiny bit between my bowl of breakfast paint chips and my post-shower hit of crystal meth this morning, but that happens most mornings so...whatever. Oh, I also had half and half in my coffee because I was feeling crazy. But back on topic: I hope your brain has a napkin or old gym sock handy to wipe up, because I'm about to blow your mothaf***in' mind! Here goes - Nick Diaz is MMA's shrewdest businessman. "Nick Diaz" and "businessman" in the same sentence!? Am I nuts? Aren't I aware that the only time the word "businessman" ever came out of Nick's mouth was when he said "Mind your own business, man!" to the commission doctor asking about the contents of his urine sample. Before I can explain the genius of Nick Diaz, let me dispel you of a simple notion that is held sacred in the MMA world: acting like a complete tool is bad for your career. This theory goes that if a fighter doesn't keep obligations, fails drug tests, engages in criminal behaviour, courts as much controversy as possible and generally acts as selfishly as possible, this results in damage to his career. History - and MMA history especially - shows what hogwash this really is. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, cormier

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Looking over Josh Barnett’s resume, the list of men he’s faced in his career is a mix of heavyweight royalty and tough, talented fighters a notch below the elite. After accumulating 31 wins over a 15-year career, you might be tempted to think that getting motivated is a challenge or that the end of the road is within sight for the 34-year-old catch wrestler.Think again.“I really like the sport, and I like training,” explains the articulate, well-spoken heavyweight. “When I’m not training for fights, I’ll often play with other martial arts like Silat or Panantukan, whatever I can get my hands on. I enjoy the movement, and the challenge of learning something new, and adding to the skills that I already possess.“When it comes to the fighting, the prime motivation is that I want to be the best in the world. I’ve still got years left to do this, and I’m not gonna stop until I can’t do this anymore. When that athletic window is over, I’ll know it, and I’ll at least be able to say that I have no regrets.“And (it’s also) because I really enjoy fighting,” adds Barnett with a slight laugh, echoing the sentiments shared in the “I Am A Fighter” video he recently filmed for Showtime. “I enjoy the violence, the combat. I like being in there having this guy trying to hurt me, and having the free rein to do whatever it takes to put this guy into the floor.”Saturday night in San Jose, the guy he will be trying to put through the floor is undefeated former Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier, as the pair square off in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Having already dispatched both Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov in dominant fashion, Barnett is one more win away from being the last man standing in the Strikeforce heavyweight ranks.Achieving that feat will be no easy task.Brought into the tournament as a replacement for Alistair Overeem in the semifinals, Cormier earned his place opposite Barnett with an impressive first round knockout victory over Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. Many viewed the Brazilian heavyweight as the favorite following his opening round dismantling of Fedor Emelianenko and Overeem’s removal from the competition, but Cormier used his superior movement and improved striking to rock the former Elite XC champion before earning the stoppage just ahead of the four-minute mark of the opening round.It was the type of performance that elevates a fighter from prospect to contender, and while Barnett is acutely aware of the dangers Cormier presents, defeat is not an option when your mission is to establish yourself as the best heavyweight in the sport today.“I’ve gotta win this tournament, and I’ve gotta beat Daniel, but it’s not just Daniel — I’ve gotta beat everybody that I get into the ring with. I can’t really allow for…”Barnett’s voice trails off as he stops to put his thoughts on losing together.“Not that I ever allow for losses to have any precedent or any sort of space in my life — I know that that is something that you have to accept — but I really try my utmost to keep that so far from even acceptance because I don’t want to allow the concept of losing, anything other than complete and utter victory to be foremost in my mind at all times.”Save for Barnett and Cormier, the Strikeforce heavyweight division has been boarded up, though the Grand Prix champion will remain in the organization for at least one more fight after Saturday night.For the most part, the best of the best in the big boy ranks reside in the UFC. It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of seeing Barnett return to the Octagon seemed impossible, but UFC President Dana White has said that he’d be ready to have Barnett join the rest of the former Strikeforce fighters on the UFC roster at the conclusion of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, win or lose.Barnett last fought in the UFC more than a decade ago, departing after being stripped of the heavyweight title he won from Randy Couture following a positive post-fight drug test at UFC 36.While most would assume returning to the UFC would be one of the chief goals of a fighter determined to establish himself as the best in his weight class, Barnett says not so fast.Though he allows the current MMA landscape makes it very difficult for a fighter to considered the best in their respective weight class while competing outside the UFC — “Yes, to a degree, this is true.” — Barnett’s focus is on who he beats, not where he beats them.“To beat all those guys is very important, and this may seem contradictory, but it’s not important to get back to the UFC. It’s important to be the best fighter I can be, and be as confident and devastating in the ring as possible, and the rest will work itself out.”Comments like that are part of why Barnett remains an intriguing figure in the heavyweight ranks 15 years into his career. Not only does he deliver entertaining fights and pile up victories, the part-time pro wrestler also isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind, before he’s stepped in the cage or after he’s had his hand raised in victory.“The inherent similarity is there, and it’s plain for all to see,” says Barnett of the relationship between wrestling and mixed martial arts. “It’s just that most fighters don’t have much personality or lack the ability to put it out there in a very interesting way. Not my fault.“I’m gonna go out there and put my feelings out there, let the world know what I’m thinking, create interest, and give them something to hate or love, but nonetheless care about, and I don’t see any other way to really be the best I can be without bringing that part of the equation into play.“I don’t think it’s for everyone — everyone’s going to find their own way to do it — but just gimme a mic, gimme a camera, and a room full of people, and that’s all I need. The stage is set.”It is for Saturday night in San Jose, where Barnett will look to add another name to his impressive list of vanquished foes, and take another step towards reaching his goal of conquering the heavyweight division.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, heavyweight, ’t, barnett

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While the odds-makers make Josh Barnett the betting favorite to win the STRIKEFORCE World Heavyweight Grand Prix Saturday night in San Jose and live on SHOWTIME®, Barnett’s peers respectfully disagree.As a former UFC heavyweight champion and PRIDE® Grand Prix finalist, Barnett has seen it all during his 15-year, 31-5, career as a mixed martial artist. He has defeated the likes of Dan Severn, Randy Couture, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mark Hunt and has looked almost unstoppable in the STRIKEFORCE GP thus far, tapping out Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov to reach tomorrow’s final.However, the main and co-main eventers of next weekend’s UFC 146 event all tip 9-0 Daniel Cormier to make a mockery of the odds and win the Grand Prix after he stormed the field as an alternate, defeating Jeff Monson and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.Junior dos Santos, reigning UFC heavyweight champion, said: “They are both great fighters and this is a fight that could end very quickly for each guy. But Cormier is more explosive and has the better chances to end this early. It could be very exciting, but I think Cormier wins.”            Frank Mir, two-time UFC heavyweight champion, said: “I think Cormier takes this. I can’t see Barnett getting him to the ground, his wrestling is too strong. And on the feet I think Cormier has the power to end things. But with two top heavyweights, anything can happen. That’s why this division is so exciting - anyone who is world class can beat anyone else with one punch. You can’t say that about the lighter weight classes and that’s why heavyweight fights are so cool to watch.”Cain Velasquez, former UFC heavyweight champion said: “I pick Daniel Cormier. Number one, because I train with him but also because he’s so hungry in this sport, I don’t think he will be denied. He was really raw when he came into our gym the first time a couple of years ago but he picked up everything a lot faster than most. He has dangerous strikes and I can’t see Josh getting him to the ground. Daniel’s wrestling is too good; I think he takes this fight and makes a statement about his future in the division.”Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, who reached the Grand Prix semi-final stage before losing to Cormier, also picked his old rival for the win, saying: “I think Cormier will win this fight and be the Grand Prix Champion. I was very surprised by him in our fight. I think he is too strong, too powerful in this fight. He punches very hard and his wrestling is very good. I think he will win inside the distance unless Josh Barnett gets this to the ground quickly.”STRIKEFORCE® HEAVYWEIGHT GRAND PRIX FINAL will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while four preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). UK fans can watch the main card at 1 am on Primetime.In addition to the previously mentioned matchup, the four-fight main card will also feature an exciting trilogy fight between champ Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson for the STRIKEFORCE lightweight title, a light heavyweight grudge match between Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante and Mike Kyle, as well as a welterweight battle between Nah-Shon Burrell and Chris Spang. 

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, prix, cormier

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Before next weekend's Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title fight between Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC 146, which features all 265-pounders on the main card, there will be another important clash going down in the land of the giants as the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament, which began over a year ago, finally reaches its conclusion. In the finale, Josh Barnett will take on late entry Daniel Cormier, who was a last-minute replacement for Alistair Overeem after "The Reem" dropped out of the tournament in late 2011. Cormier defeated Jeff Monson in a tournament reserve match and then proceeded to demolish Antonio Silva by brutal first round knockout to earn his place in the final. Barnett, on the other hand, breezed through Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov by submission to secure his spot. The two men who are the sole remaining heavyweights in Strikeforce, will meet inside the Hexagon this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) in San Jose, California to see who will be crowned the tournament champion, and for all intents and purposes, earn promotion bragging rights. Though the winner will likely remain in Strikeforce for one more fight, it is very possible that both men will receive UFC contracts down the line -- even Josh Barnett -- who's had his differences with the powers that be over at Zuffa in the past. UFC President Dana White has stated he would have no issue bring Barnett back into the UFC ranks, as long as they continue to play nice with each other. Appearing on The MMA Hour, Barnett talks about a possible jump to the UFC and gives his assessment on his upcoming opponent, Daniel Cormier. Check it out: "For me, it's not always about whether I can get in there. It's also about whether we are amenable to the offer. It takes two to make these things work. Sometimes you just don't find that common ground. That's difficult, but that is just something that happens in any aspect of business. But I'd love to be in the UFC, beating up all their guys and being the best heavyweight in the world, which I believe I am. So why wouldn't I want to be there?" Before "The Warmaster" can look forward to ‘beating up' the UFC's heavyweights, he has a tall order ahead of him in San Jose as he will lock horns with former Olympian Daniel Cormier, an athlete he says he has tremendous respect for. However, Barnett isn't convinced is ready for the big time just yet: "I think it's too early to say that about him. I think, give him some more time. Plus, I think he's fast-tracking. With his inherent athletic ability and his wrestling background, it allows him to do that. In the current MMA landscape, being a good athlete or, I should say, being a great athlete, because he was an Olympian with an extensive wrestling background, that can take you very far, very quickly. I don't believe that that alone has enough staying power to be at the top, but he's got time to acquire all the things that will be necessary to be a long-standing figure at the top of the heavyweight heap. With just the skills that he has now, he's proven that he can take just about anybody out when given the opportunity to get in the cage with them. I also know that he's smart. I know he's working on his submission game. I know he's working on his hands and his feet and becoming a more complete fighter. But he hasn't really had the great luxury to open up his skills all the way and go into the areas that are likely the most difficult for him." Though he only has two and a half years in the MMA game, Cormier has proven he is indeed a force to be reckoned with, going undefeated in his young career. Heading into the next couple of weeks, MMA's elite heavyweights will be on full display and will set up some interesting match-ups for the upcoming months with Cormier and Barnett kicking off the action this Saturday night. Who's your pick Maniacs? The much more experienced veteran in Josh Barnett -- or the accomplished wrestler in Cormier?

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, barnett, cormier, he

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So you remember that one MMA organization…Strikeforce? Yea, they have this little thing going on this weekend, you probably haven’t really heard much about it. It is really no big deal, just a former UFC heavyweight champion taking on some Olympian and one of the top lightweights in the world having a rubber match with [...]

Posted in: right, heavyweight, deal, game right, yea

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Pic: Former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion and Strikeforce castaway Fedor Emelianenko was recently elected president of the newly-formed Russian mixed martial arts (MMA) union. "The Last Emperor" is scheduled to fight Pedro Rizzo in St. Petersburg on June 21, 2012. Props: Middle Easy

Posted in: heavyweight, fedor, pic, st petersburg, newlyformed russian

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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

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Bellator has released the finalized lineup for next Friday’s (May 25) Bellator 70 event, which is scheduled to take place at the New Orleans Convention Center inside the Harrah’s New Orleans Casino in New Orleans, Louisiana. The fight card is set to feature a heavyweight title fight between champ Cole Konrad and Eric Prindle in the main event, as well as a final and semifinal match in the promotion’s sixth season lightweight and bantamweight tournaments, respectively. Bellator 70′s main card will air on MTV@, with the preliminary card running via live stream on Spike.com. Tickets for the event are on sale now. Check out the lineup below: Main Card: Heavyweight Title Fight: Cole Konrad vs. Eric Prindle Lightweight Final: Rick Hawn vs. Brent Weedman Bantamweight Semifinal: Luis Nogueira vs. Hiroshi Nakamura Rich Clementi vs. Derek Campos Preliminary Card: Josh Shockley vs. Keith Schneider Charlie Rader vs. A.J. Matthews Jonas Billstein vs. Mike Seal Kyle Bradley vs. John Harris Blake Dufour vs. Derek Arcement  Jeremiah Riggs vs. Kelvin Tiller MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, vs, card, spikecom tickets

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Pic: Vinny Magalhaes claims to have sold his M-1 light heavyweight championship belt on Ebay for $100,000, just days after putting it up for auction to stick it to Evgeni Kogan and the rest of the M-1 crew. Find out why right here.

Posted in: heavyweight, claim, pic, evgeni kogan, ebay

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Junior Dos Santos, UFC's Heavyweight champion, will defend his belt for the first time when he faces former champion Frank Mir at UFC 146. This Heavyweight title bout is scheduled for May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Go inside the personal lives and training camps of these two fighters in the weeks leading up to their title fight at UFC 146.

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, title fight, training camps

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We can't confirm it, but all signs point to Chad Griggs' sideburns being enchanted with +5 in rawesomeness. We don't know who created this enchantment, what the required mats (materials) are for said enchantment or who had the enchantment level required to perform the delicate act of enchanting a man's sideburns with pure rawesomeness (which we assume is a high-level enchant). But it's undeniable there's something supernatural about those chops on Chad Griggs' face. That's why we hope they survive the Gravedigger's cut to light heavyweight, because he's going to need every ounce of their power for Phil Davis at UFC on Fox 4. Yep, now the light heavyweight division has a dude with legit heavyweight power and supernatural sideburns to deal with. Then again, maybe the natural explosiveness that resides within Phil Davis can offset Chad's sideburns of power...There's no doubt these questions will be lighting up MMA messageboards across the world for months to come, until finally we have the answers to our questions delivered directly to our brains August 4th via our eyes and FOX.

Posted in: heavyweight, light heavyweight, phil davis, chad, sideburn

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In an odd bit of matchmaking, the UFC announced today that Phil Davis will be welcoming Chad Griggs to the light heavyweight division late this summer at UFC on Fox 4. A highly touted prospect on the quick path to the championship, collegiate wrestling standout Phil Davis (9-1) had his momentum halted when he met former champ Rashad Evans at UFC on Fox 2 this past January. Davis was outclassed in that bout, but not so much so that it erased the memory of promotional wins over Alexander Gustafsson, Brian Stann, Tim Boetsch and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Chad Griggs (11-2) brought his mutton chops to the UFC for the first time at UFC 145 this past April. Griggs fought Travis Browne and was hurt by a knee and submitted in short order, demonstrating just how much a size disadvantage can hurt you in the competitive heavyweight division. The 33-year-old now heads south to light heavyweight for the first time in his career. UFC on Fox 4 is scheduled to take place on August 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The fight card will feature the promotional debut of Hector Lombard, who’ll be taking on Brian Stann in the night’s main event. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, davi, grigg

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A devastating first-round knockout loss to Travis Browne was all it took for Chad Griggs to reconsider his heavyweight status. Announced Monday, Griggs will be welcomed into the 205-pound division by Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 4, which is slated for August 4, 2012 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Both men have verbally agreed to the match-up, though UFC officials did not detail if it will take place on the network broadcast. The light heavyweight clash joins a card already featuring high-profile matches between Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader, Brian Stann vs. Hector Lombard and Travis Browne vs. Ben Rothwell. Davis (9-1) hopes to rebound after suffering the first setback of his young career, a listless unanimous decision loss to former champion Rashad Evans in January. Prior to that, the 27-year-old All-American wrestler blazed through nine straight victories, including five under the Zuffa banner over the likes of Brian Stann, Alexander Gustafsson and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Griggs (11-2), meanwhile, looks to right the ship after having a surprising six-fight win streak snapped by the loss to Browne in his UFC debut. The former Strikeforce heavyweight has proven to be a mighty finisher thus far in his career, knocking out or submitting all 11 of his victories, including a stunning second-round TKO of Bobby Lashley back in 2010.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, phil davis, chad griggs, grigg

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Chad Griggs' UFC debut didn't exactly go as planned for the Strikeforce vet as he was choked out by heavily hyped Travis Browne. With Chad clearly being on the smaller side of things at heavyweight, it looks like he'll be dropping to 205 pounds for his next bout. But things won't be getting any easier as he'll face a top ten opponent in his first light heavyweight bout. Via the UFC's official website: After losing to Travis Browne at UFC 145, heavyweight Strikeforce veteran Chad "Grave Digger" Griggs has verbally agreed to drop to the light heavyweight division. Welcoming him at 205 pounds will be Browne's teammate, pedigreed wrestler Phil "Mr. Wonderful" Davis. The two have verbally agreed to meet at the UFC on FOX event in August. While Griggs' toughness and willingness to mix it up are commendable, this feels like a desperation move. He looked flat out overmatched by Browne and now he'll be looking to gain a size advantage with the weight drop. For Davis, it's an opportunity to get things moving back in the right direction. He had gotten to the point of being considered "in the mix" for a title shot before running into Rashad Evans at the UFC's second Fox TV effort. Davis was unable to do much against Evans, getting beaten in pretty much every dimension of the fight. At 27, it is far too young to write off Davis because of his performance against Evans, but that performance certainly put things back in perspective. Davis was on the short list of guys people thought might be able to challenge Jon Jones, but we're clearly a few years away from that.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, thing, davi, chad

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Leading up to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final, Showtime Sports is releasing the full video of the tournament fights. Check out Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva vs. Daniel Cormier. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: heavyweight, prix, showtime sports, strikeforce heavyweight, bull

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May is a big month for kickboxing. Later this month we get two major shows from Glory and the resurrected K-1. Those shows contain a wealth of big fights including the opening rounds of two separate 70kg Grand Prix tournaments, the K-1 returns of Badr Hari and Mirko Cro Cop, and the pound for pound #1 Giorgio Petrosyan in action. This past weekend, May kicked off in earnest with a pair of smaller, but still notable shows from It's Showtime and SuperKombat. Top European organization It's Showtime was in action on Saturday with a show in Belgium. The biggest name on the card was It's Showtime Heavyweight champion Daniel Ghita, who took on Brian Douwes. Ghita defeated Douwes via KO in the 2nd round. With that win, Ghita is now on a 5 fight win streak, with a number of those wins coming via impressive stoppage. Because the Heavyweight division was essentially shut down in 2011, it's hard to create accurate rankings at the moment, though I see Ghita as the #2 Heavyweight in the world right now behind Semmy Schilt (though some may argue for Ghita at #3 and Badr Hari at #2). Another great win for the young star. Five Things To Know About The K-1 MAX 2012 Final 16 Also on the It's Showtime card, 77kg champion Sahak Paparyan successfully defended his title with a Unanimous Decision win over Andrew Tate in a close fight, while Sergei Lascenko continued his resurgent run with a KO win. Full It's Showtime and Super Kombat results, plus video of Ghita vs. Douwes and more in the full entry. The weekend's other big show was from SuperKombat, an Eastern European organization that has been around for some time, but is now beginning to assert themselves as a true player in the international kickboxing scene. The main feature on their card was a one night 4 man Heavyweight tournament with the winner moving on to the SuperKombat Heavyweight Grand Prix this December. Raul Catinas emerged the victor in that tournament, defeating Daniel Sam by decision in the finals. Good win for Catinas. Also victorious on the card were Andrei and Bogdan Stoica and Alexandru Lungu. Full results from Super Kombat below. And in one last weekend result, former K-1 great Alexey Ignashov was in action in Budapest. The one time phenom continued to struggle, losing a decision to Ali Cenak. Ten years ago, Ignashov looked ready to become the next big thing in kickboxing, but personal issues have derailed that promising career seemingly forever. He had a bit of a comeback in 2010, but even that comeback seems like a thing of the past now. With two upcoming 70kg tournaments ready to start in just a few weeks and the pieces coming together for three separate high level Heavyweight tournaments before the year is out, it certainly looks like kickboxing is once again alive and well. And I couldn't be happier. Now if we can just convince these organizations to start working with each other more... Look for much more on the May Glory and K-1 events in the coming weeks. It's Showtime 56May 12, 2012 Cheick Sidibe def. Jason Wilnis, UDSonny Dagraed def. Eric Denis, UDSergei Lascenko def. Salahdine Kandoussi, KO R1Sahak Parparyan def. Andrew Tate, UDRustemi Kreshnik def. Michael Duut, TKO R1Daniel Ghita def. Brian Douwes, KO R2 SuperKombat World Grand Prix II QualificationMay 12, 2012 Semi-Final: Raul Catinas def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, KO R2Semi-Final: Daniel Sam def. Sam Tevette, KOBenny Adegbuyi def. Patrick Liedert, KO R2Sebastian Ciobanu def. Redouan Cairo, TKO R2Andrei Stoica def. Rodney Glunder, DecAlexandru Lungu def. Wieslaw Kwaniewski, SDBogdan Stoica def. Ivan Stanic, UDFinal: Raul Catinas def. Daniel Sam, UD Daniel Ghita vs. Brian Douwes

Posted in: ko, heavyweight, showtime, daniel, ghita

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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

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Official fighter weigh-ins for "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale" take place Friday. HP Pavilion's main concourse in San Jose, Calif., plays host to the festivities, which are free and open to the public. Among those weighing in are headliners and heavyweight-grand-prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier.

Posted in: heavyweight, san, place friday, strikeforce heavyweight, prix finale

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is said to be as dangerous on the ground as he is standing. A brown belt under the Nogueira brothers, the theory goes that the only reason we haven't seen dos Santos' jiu-jitsu is because he's so efficient on his feet, he hasn't needed to use it in UFC competition. Frank Mir, the UFC's resident limb-snapper, isn't buying the notion. In a one-on-one phone interview Friday, Mir, who challenges for the heavyweight title on May 26 in the main event of UFC 146 in Las Vegas, scoffed at the idea that dos Santos has the skills to keep up with him on the ground. "Have you ever seen how he's reacted when he's been off his feet?" Mir asked. "He gets right up and runs away as soon as he can. That doesn't look like someone who's too confident in his ground game to me." Such talk might seem boastful, but when you've been through the career peaks and valleys the Nevada native has experienced, you've already proven you can back up your words. The former heavyweight and interim champion has emerged as one of the UFC's true survivors. Since submitting Roberto Traven in his company debut at UFC 34 in 2001, there have been 14 UFC heavyweight and interim title reigns. In a division with a high rate of turnover at the top even by mixed martial arts' warp-speed standards, Mir has been through it all, taking some of the sport's most spectacular wins and devastating setbacks in stride. "I mean, you just have to keep the faith," said Mir (17-5). "No one is guaranteed a spot at the top, no one is guaranteed a title shot, but all you can do is win your fight, keep training, and then maybe somewhere down the road you'll get your opportunity. I can't actually stop and take the time to think about everything that's happened, you just have to erase doubt from your mind and keep pushing forward." That attitude has served Mir well as he worked his way back to another title shot. Mir's run as a title contender seemed to hit a brick wall just two years ago, when he was on the wrong end of a brutal TKO at the hands of Shane Carwin in an interim title fight at UFC 111. That was his second loss in three fights, as he was manhandled by Brock Lesnar in their UFC 100 rematch. But since then, Mir has responded with three straight victories, the last of which was one of the most memorable finishes in MMA history, as he snapped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm with a Kimura at UFC 140. The move was honored as Submission of the Year in the World MMA Awards, but Mir says he didn't plan on snapping his opponent's arm. "The best analogy I can come up with is this: The other day, I went to get something out of my fridge and I knocked over a can of parmesan cheese, and I caught it out of midair. I didn't stop and think ‘Oh my god, if I don't reach out and grab this, it's going to make a mess and I'll have to clean it up.' It was just an instinctual thing, I just reached for it and that was it. "It's the same with Nogueira. When you're in the heat of the fight with a guy as dangerous as him, you don't have the time to think it through. You just keep applying the pressure and try to get him to tap." Mir was originally slated to face Cain Velasquez at UFC 146, but ended up with the shot at dos Santos' title after Alistair Overeem's well-publicized troubles. With a victory over dos Santos, Mir would join Randy Couture and Tim Sylvia as the only multiple-time UFC heavyweight champs (not including interim title reigns). But Mir's in no mood to talk about his legacy at the moment. As he sees it, he's got a long way to go in the sport. "You have to remember I got started in this early," said Mir. "When I was fighting guys like Tank [Abbott] and Wes Sims, I was 21 years old. ... People don't usually have long careers as heavyweights because they mature into the role. Look at amateur wrestling, you don't usually see guys go to heavyweight as freshman. I was just blessed that even though I wasn't as big as some of the other guys, I was able to step in right away at heavyweight. "Trust me, I don't think I'm anywhere near done. I'm only 32. I think I'm about halfway through my career." If that's the case, who knows? Maybe somewhere down the road we'll see a trilogy fight with Lesnar, with whom Mir split a pair of bouts. "Oh yeah, I'd take that fight in a heartbeat," Mir said when posed with a hypothetical fight. "Look, it would be easier for him to come back [to MMA] than for me to chase him into wrestling. I'm a terrible actor."

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, mir, heavyweight

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Strikeforce held a conference call yesterday for their upcoming May 19th event, and CEO Scott Coker had a few things to say about his organization. After months of negotiations late last year, Zuffa/Forza was able to secure an eight-card, one year extension with Showtime. At that time it was decided that the heavyweight division would move over to the UFC at the conclusion of the heavyweight grand prix and one more "big heavyweight bout". Coker claims that it was a mutual decision to move the heavys over (transcribed by 5thRound.com): "The heavyweight division, they all agreed that there wasn’t going to be enough athletes to support both [UFC and Strikeforce] and they wanted to bring some of the fights over there at that time," Coker shared during Thursday’s conference call. "But now that the Showtime relationship has been renewed and it’s been solid, I think you’re going to see those great fights on the lighter weights – starting with light heavyweight on down in Strikeforce." And he believes that Strikeforce will be able to stay on Showtime for a lot longer than the rest of this year: "We have a great relationship with Showtime, I think we have provided great fights with great ratings. I think you’ll continue to see Strikeforce on Showtime for many years to come." I'm probably the biggest Strikeforce mark you're going to find and even I don't believe this. The ratings for their three cards in 2012 have not been good, and while I commend them for trimming down the roster, getting their website back up, and promoting the heck out of Ronda Rousey, it still seems clear that SF is dying. Either way, I'll enjoy them while they're around because they usually put on good cards, and the May 19th show (Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier in the main event) looks like one of them.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, showtime, year, heavyweight division

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Jon Jones will defend his light heavyweight title for the fourth time at UFC 151

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, dan henderson, light

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos has issued the latest scouting report on Frank Mir, who fights the Brazilian bomber in the main event of UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" on May 26, 2012 from the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. And I wouldn't call it flattering. "Cigano," who was asked to switch up his training camp when his original opponent, Alistair Overeem, flunked a pre-fight drug test, isn't buying into any of Mir's pre-fight bravado. In fact, he's doing a little trash talk of his own, telling USA Today that Mir can only dream of being faster than him and also has a tendency to crumble when the going gets rough. Those comments, after the jump. "He previously said that he was faster than me. That's only in his dreams. Mir's boxing is reasonable. It's OK. He takes advantage sometimes, just from the fact that he's left-handed, but he's really just pretty average with his boxing. All heavyweights hit hard. But compared to other heavyweights, compared to me, compared to my boxing — I'm faster than him; I hit harder than him; and I'm better technically. I think when Mir's in a good spot in the fight — when he's in a good moment and in a good position — he's very dangerous. But Mir doesn't really know to get through rough spots in a bout. When he gets in those rough spots, his courage goes out the window; his aggression goes out the window. What happened against Nogueira in his last fight was really an anomaly, because Mir got caught standing up. He got caught. He was ready to go down, ready to go out; and he was able to get through that and come back. That never happens in Mir's fights. Usually when Mir gets into a little bit of trouble during a fight, he can't come back from it." Dos Santos is referring to Mir's UFC 140 submission win over friend and mentor Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. "Minotauro" had his former ex-TUF coach on queer street, but got sloppy when jumping into guard and left Toronto with his arm in a sling. Now it's payback time for the Brazilian, who can also help answer some lingering questions about his ground game -- assuming Mir is conscious long enough to implement it. Early predictions on this heavyweight hoedown?

Posted in: fight, mir, heavyweight, do, he

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With Brock Lesnar dabbling in the land of make-believe, Shane Carwin out of the title picture and Alistair Overeem riding the pine, has Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) seen the end of the era of super heavyweights? That may depend on how well current and former Strikeforce fighters like Daniel Cormier and Shane del Rosario do in their respective bouts this month en route to bigger and better things within the division. Here's what Del Rosario told MMA Prime about his upcoming bout against Stipe Miocic at the UFC 146 pay-per-view (PPV) event on May 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada: "I think that as a heavyweight I definitely have an advantage that I'm one of the faster heavyweights. Because of my Muay Thai background I do have good footwork. At our gym unfortunately we don't have a lot of heavyweights but I think it's helped me out because I train with a lot of smaller guys so in a sense, I fight like a smaller guy. I can move around, I got speed, I got quickness and it's gonna do really well for me in the UFC against some of these bigger heavyweight guys." Del Rosario was on the fast track to superstardom in the Strikeforce heavyweight division before fate intervened. Undefeated after 11 professional fights, he was slated to take on fellow undefeated ex-Olympic wrestler, the aforementioned Daniel Cormier, in June 2011 in a clash between two of combat sport's top heavyweight prospects. It never happened. On April 14, 2011, he was involved in a bad car accident -- another driver crossed the median and T-boned Del Rosario's car, causing serious damage to the former Muay Thai world champion's back, herniating multiple discs and putting his mixed martial arts (MMA) career on hold. Until now. His last professional fight happened way back in Feb. 2011 when he submitted Lavar Johnson with a first round armbar at the "Fedor vs. Silva" event in an alternate match for Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix, which now features none other than Cormier in the finals against Josh Barnett. Is Del Rosario destined to collide with "DC" somewhere in the near future? Stay tuned. For more on his upcoming fight and UFC debut against Miocic, as well as a detailed account of his long road back to the sport, check out Del Rosario's complete video interview right here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, rosario, del

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Leading up to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final, Showtime Sports is releasing the full video of the tournament fights. Check out Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: heavyweight, prix, showtime sports, strikeforce heavyweight, bull

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Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is set to take on former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson on September 1 in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White announced the matchup via twitter. While there is currently no event scheduled for September 1, the bout will likely headline UFC 151 with UFC 150 and UFC 152 already scheduled. The matchup was originally planned for UFC 149 but the bout was scrapped after Jones needed more time to rest after his UFC 145 victory over Rashad Evans. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for more on this developing story.   MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, jone, september, heavyweight, rashad evans

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A new pair of heavyweight confrontations has been added to the UFC on Fox 4 bill, promotion officials announced Wednesday.

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, bill, heavyweight confrontations

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Next week, we finally get the culmination of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament. Take a look back at how we got to the finals between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier.

Posted in: strikeforce, week, heavyweight, josh barnett, prix recap

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Leading up to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final, Showtime Sports is releasing the full video of the tournament fights. Check out Fedor vs. Bigfoot. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: heavyweight, prix, showtime sports, strikeforce heavyweight, bull

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Check out this video profile of Strikeforce heavyweight Daniel Cormier, who talks about his fighting roots ahead of his heavyweight tournament finale fight against Josh Barnett.

Posted in: heavyweight, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, video profile, fighter check

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CHICAGO, Ill. (May 8, 2012) - All eyes will be on Bellator as the promotion returns to Lake Charles, Louisiana for Bellator 69 from L'Auberge Casino Resort on Friday, May 18. The night will feature the long-awaited battle between No. 1 ranked women's 115-pound fighter Megumi Fujii and No. 2 ranked Jessica Aguilar, as well as the semifinals and finals of the $100,000 welterweight and middleweight tournaments respectively, along as a Heavyweight Tournament qualifier as knockout specialist Ron Sparks takes on rising star Kevin Asplund, who is currently riding a 15-fight win streak. Tickets for the event are on sale and are available through Ticketmaster.com or at the L'Auberge Casino Resort Box Office. Tickets are priced from $40-$65. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST. Fans must be 21 years or older to enter the Event Center. Maiquel "Big Rig" Falcao will bring his explosive knockout power to the Bellator Middleweight Tournament Finals as he battles Swedish born Andreas Spang as both fierce competitors look to lock up a guaranteed title shot later this year. Spang delivered a vicious knockout to Brian Rogers in the semifinals and will look to continue his impressive run with another dominating victory. After Brian "The Beast" Baker punched his ticket to the Bellator Welterweight Finals at Bellator 67, David "The Caveman" Rickels and Karl "Psycho" Amoussou will look to do the same at Bellator 69. Both fighters can end a fight in the blink of an eye, and are sure to provide fireworks on May 18 from L'Auberge. Lake Charles native Josh Quayhagen will have the hometown support in the Bellator cage when he takes on fellow lightweight Cliff Wright Jr. in a 155lb affair. Quayhagen gained popularity when he defeated Brazilian Muay Thai Kickboxing Champion Cosmo Alexander at Bellator 52 last year and is looking to keep the momentum going when he fights in front of family and friends from L'Auberge Casino Resort. Bellator 69 will feature the return of unbeaten Russian import, Andrey "Spartan" Koreshkov as he faces Shreveport's Derrick Krantz in a welterweight matchup. Koreshkov put on a phenomenal display when he made his promotional debut at Bellator 63, knocking out Tiawan Howard, and will try to build off the win when he faces Krantz in enemy territory. Also, a pair of light heavyweights step into the cage as Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament fighter Josh Burns makes the drop to 205lbs to take on Richard "Rare Breed" Hale. Hale, a well-rounded mixed martial artist that has posted 15 stoppages in 18 wins is most known for his Bellator 38 inverted triangle choke submission over Nik Fekete that had the MMA world abuzz. The heavyweights return to L'Auberge as Mark Holata is eyeing victory when he takes on Abe Wagner. No stranger to the Bellator cage, both competitors bring incredible knockout power anytime they step into the cage, and are prepared for a slugfest on May 18. The card will be rounded out as fast-rising prospect Emanuel "E.J." Brooks will put his undefeated record on the line when he squares off against Kalvin Hackney in a lightweight contest. Brooks is looking to earn his fourth consecutive victory under the Bellator banner while Hackney, fighting out of nearby Alexandria, Louisiana, will attempt to rebound from a Bellator 45 submission loss. MAIN CARD: Middleweight Tournament Final Fight: Maiquel Falcao (30-4) vs. Andreas Spang (8-1) Welterweight Tournament Semifinal Fight: David Rickels (10-0) vs. Karl Amoussou (14-4-2) Women's Feature Fight: Megumi Fujii (25-1) vs. Jessica Aguilar (13-4) Heavyweight Feature Fight: Ron Sparks (8-1) vs. Kevin Asplund (15-1) PRELIMINARY CARD: Heavyweight Feature Fight: Abe Wagner (10-5) vs. Mark Holata (11-3) Welterweight Feature Fight: Andrey Koreshkov (9-0) vs. Derrick Krantz (11-5) Lightweight Feature Fight: Kalvin Hackney (11-2) vs. Emanuel Brooks (6-0) Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Josh Burns (6-5) vs. Richard Hale (18-4) Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Quayhagen (3-0) vs. Cliff Wright Jr. (6-2) 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, heavyweight, vs, feature

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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

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The lineup is set for next week's "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale" event. The event takes place May 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and in the headliner, Josh Barnett takes on Daniel Cormier in the finale of the 15-month-long, eight-slot heavyweight tournament. The five-round non-title fight airs as part of a four-fight main card on Showtime following prelims on Showtime Extreme.

Posted in: heavyweight, hp pavilion, finale, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight

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How a week makes a difference... the future of AB2100, as proposed last week, is entirely different now.

Posted in: week, heavyweight, difference, ab, politician

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Josh Barnett will seek to add the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix title to his resume later this month when he takes on Daniel Cormier. Barnett, a former UFC heavyweight champion, has not lost since 2006 against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. While he has traveled from country-to-country in the last 15-plus years, one thing has remained the [...]

Posted in: heavyweight, josh, barnett, strikeforce heavyweight, prix title

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Another match up has been added to the UFC 149 fight card, with SportsNet.ca reporting that light heavyweights Ryan Jimmo (16-1) and Anthony Perosh (13-6) have agreed to square off at the event. UFC officials confirmed the bout today. Jimmo vacated his Maximum Fighting Championships light heavyweight title to make his UFC debut; the Edmonton, Canada native was scheduled to face Karlos Vemola this past January at UFC on FX 1 in his first octagon appearance, but was forced out of that fight with an injury. The 30-year-old has not lost a bout since his first professional appearance. Perosh debuted in the UFC in 2006 as a heavyweight, losing two straight before he was handed his walking papers. He made his way back to the promotion in 2010 and, after suffering a loss to Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and cutting to light heavyweight, the 39-year-old has posted a three-fight winning streak, with all of his wins ending within the distance. UFC 149 is expected to take place on July 21 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and will be the first event that the promotion has brought to the province. In its current incarnation, the fight card looks like this: Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch  Mauricio Rua vs. Thiago Silva Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cheick Kongo Thiago Alves vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama Anthony Perosh vs. Ryan Jimmo George Roop vs. Antonio Carvalho  Nick Ring vs. Court McGee Bryan Caraway vs. Mitch Gagnon Mitch Clarke vs. Anton Kuivanen MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, vs, jimmo, perosh

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Strikeforce “Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale” takes place Saturday, May 19, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The latest Strikeforce “Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

Posted in: heavyweight, hp pavilion, place saturday, prix, finale

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Before the sweat had a chance to dry on Jon Jones' brow following his dominant performance against Rashad Evans, Dana White had already announced that the next challenger to his 205 pound throne would be Dan Henderson. By early next week, rumors were starting to spread that the fight would take place later this summer, at UFC 149 in Calgary. The UFC has shot those rumors down, instead stating that they would likely hold the fight in the early fall. By this time, everyone is well aware that there are precious few challengers remaining for Jones at the light heavyweight weight limit. In fact, after Henderson, there is really no one else who fits the bill. Some will argue that Alexander Gustafsson will be ready by that time but he has yet to be booked into a fight following his victory over Thiago Silva at UFC on FUEL TV 2 earlier this month and he has exactly zero victories over top ten opponents in his current five fight win streak, leading me to believe that such talk is a little premature. With this decided lack of challengers, most of the talk about Jones' future involves a move up to the heavyweight division, and soon. The move seems a foregone conclusion to such an extent that Dana White is already cautioning Jones against doing it too soon. I have to admit that I'm a little surprised to hear such strong declarations about Jones' future. After all, there has been a grand total of zero UFC champions who have vacated the title in one division to pursue a second title in the weight class above. Middleweight champion Anderson Silva has twice dipped his toes into the water at light heavyweight, both times destroying his opponents. Yet Silva has refused to make the jump a permanent one despite going through a considerable stretch of less than stellar challengers, something very similar to what Jones could be facing should he defeat Henderson. Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has been long rumored to be on the verge of moving up to the middleweight division to challenge Silva in a highly anticipated superfight but he too has stayed at his natural home. It's not only the champions who avoid this practice. Very few UFC fighters have ever moved up a weight class during a successful stretch in their career. Randy Couture, Dan Henderson and B.J. Penn are essentially the only fighters to have had success at two weight divisions in the UFC's history, although their situations are quite different than Jones': Penn jumped between the 155 and 170 pound divisions and rarely cut weight for the fights at 170. Henderson fought at 185 and 205 numerous times during his Pride and early UFC careers, and his story is similar to Penn's: Cut weight to get to 185, basically fought at 205 as a 205 pounder. Couture fought at 205 and as a heavyweight, yet he rarely weighed in at more than 220 for his heavyweight tilts. Trying to find a fighter that added a bunch of weight and moved up a division permanently during the prime of their career is pretty difficult, if not impossible. So why are people so confident that Jones will just move on up in the next year or so? I believe that Alistair Overeem has a lot to do with it. Overeem, of course, spent the majority of his career at light heavyweight before putting on a bunch of muscle in his late 20's, becoming a heavyweight and re-igniting his career. Jones' size compares very favorably to that of Overeem, when the Dutchman was fighting at 205 pounds: Jones is 6'4 with an 84.5 inch reach and cuts from about 225 pounds. Overeem is 6'5 with an 81 inch reach, and he also cut from about 225-230 pounds. It would be pretty reasonable to say that, all things being equal, Jones will follow a path similar to Overeem and end up in the heavyweight division. Except not all things are equal. Overeem has long been suspected of using performance enhancing substances to help him put on muscle. Since he signed with the UFC, he has been involved in two very suspicious situations relating to performance enhancers. He failed to provide the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) with a urine sample in a timely fashion for a random drug screening in December of last year, prior to his UFC debut against Brock Lesnar. Overeem was granted a conditional license to fight Lesnar, one of the conditions being that he undergo two more random drug screenings within the next six months. One of those drug screenings took place following a press conference to promote UFC 146 in late March. Overeem failed the screening. His testosterone to epitestosterone ratio was reported as being 14:1, more than twice what the NSAC allows (6:1). Overeem explained to the NSAC that the reason for his elevated ratio was an anti-inflammatory shot he was given to heal a rib injury. While the commission ultimately believed that Overeem did not intend to cheat, they still ruled that he could not apply for a license to fight in Nevada for a period of nine months. Of course, none of this proves that Overeem used performance enhancers to gain all that weight. It simply makes it a lot more likely that he did. And if he did, then should we really be sitting here, expecting Jon Jones to undergo a similar growth spurt? I say no, we shouldn't. Even more troubling is if Jones eventually does move up to heavyweight, will he be forced to answer the same questions that have been asked of Overeem? It seems to me that it would be incredibly unfair if that was the case.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, jone, heavyweight, weight

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A pair of bouts has been added to the UFC’s “UFC on Fox 4″ card. In a light heavyweight clash, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will face the former Sun Devil standout Ryan Bader. The second bout pits two fighters coming off big UFC 145 victories as heavyweights Travis Browne and Ben Rothwell will go head to head. The UFC announced both bouts earlier via UFC.com. Lyoto Machida will be looking  to right the course after falling to 1-3 in his last four, the most recent being to champion Jon Jones at UFC 140. The karate-based fighter will face off against former ASU wrestler Ryan Bader. Bader will be looking to extend his current two-fight win-streak to three coming off his dominant performance over another former champion, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. In a plus-sized match up, powerful heavyweights Ben Rothwell and Travis Browne will face off. Both are coming off respective wins over Brendan Schaub and Chad Griggs at UFC 145. Both fighters love to stand and trade and both are over 6’4″. While Browne will enjoy his usual height advantage, he will be giving up a 2″ reach advantage to the Duke Roufus product. UFC on Fox 4 takes place August 4 live from Los Angeles, Californina. For more on UFC on Fox 4 and all your MMA needs, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, browne, bader

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has dealt with some of the best trash-talkers in the UFC’s light heavyweight division since securing the belt. After taking care of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and his “spy-gate” claims last year, Jones downed one-time-teammate Rashad Evans earlier this month. Now, as he prepares to face Dan Henderson later this [...]

Posted in: jone, heavyweight, henderson, dan, year jones

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Yesterday came word that Hector Lombard would be making his UFC debut against Brian Stann at UFC on Fox 4. Today, the card got an elite light heavyweight fight. Brazilian website iG says that former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will meet Ryan Bader on August 4th in Los Angeles. The bout will be on the main Fox card. Machida (17-3) hasn't competed since his loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones by second-round submission at UFC 140 in December. After starting his career 16-0, he is just 1-3 in his last four fights. Bader (14-2) is coming off the biggest win of his career over Quinton Jackson at UFC 144 in February. The Ultimate Fighter 8 winner is currently on a two-fight winning streak. The only other scheduled bouts for the card this far are the aforementioned Lombard vs. Stann bout and a lightweight bout between Terry Etim and Joe Lauzon.

Posted in: ufc, bout, heavyweight, hector lombard, bader

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Pic: Joey Beltran drops to light heavyweight. "The Mexicutioner" (left), who was cut from ZUFFA after getting pasted by Lavar Johnson at UFC on FOX 2 earlier this year, has gone back to the drawing board and started over at 205 pounds, winning his debut fight via unanimous decision this past weekend in Oklahoma. Could a return to the Octagon be far behind?

Posted in: heavyweight, light heavyweight, lavar johnson, debut fight, pic

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The most impressive thing about UFC 145 (to me) was Ben Rothwell’s transformation from whatever his body looked like before to what it looks like now. How he managed to weigh in close to the 265lb limit but appear to lose about 30lbs of non-muscle mass is crazier than Snooki being in a monogamous relationship.  His subsequent performance spoke for itself when it came to fight night.  Diets are awful, but their results speak for themselves, and we’re huge fans of hard-hitting heavyweights moving down to fight at light heavyweight.  Props to Joey Beltran for dropping to 205 and sharing this photo with his fist held high, illustrating which hand he wants to place into his next opponent’s mandible. [Source]

Posted in: heavyweight, lb, joey beltran, hardhitting heavyweights, nonmuscle mass

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Let's take it from the top. After liberating the WBC and The Ring light heavyweight belts from Jean Pascal and becoming the oldest champion in boxing history, living legend Bernard Hopkins took on once-beaten Chad Dawson in his first title defense. Things quickly took a turn for the UFC, however, as Dawson essentially flung Hopkins to the ground with his shoulder, in turn injuring Hopkins' shoulder and forcing an early end to the proceedings. While the referee inexplicably called it a TKO victory for Dawson, the result was eventually changed to a No Contest. MMAmania.com will have LIVE coverage of the pair's second go-round tonight, starting with the HBO broadcast at 10:15 p.m. ET. In addition, heavyweight prospect Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell will lock horns with veteran Chazz Witherspoon in the opening attraction. Live results and play-by-play after the jump. Light Heavyweight Championship: Bernard Hopkins (c) vs. Chad Dawson Heavyweight: Seth Mitchell vs. Chazz Witherspoon WBC and The Ring Light Heavyweight Championship: Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson Round One: Round Two: Round Three: Round Four: Round Five: Round Six: Round Seven: Round Eight: Round Nine: Round Ten: Round Eleven: Round Twelve: Final Result: -end- Heavyweight: Seth Mitchell vs. Chazz Witherspoon Round One: Round Two: Round Three: Round Four: Round Five: Round Six: Round Seven: Round Eight: Round Nine: Round Ten: Round Eleven: Round Twelve: Final Result: -end-

Posted in: round, heavyweight, vs, hopkin, dawson

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Dana White weighs in on the idea of Jon Jones moving up to the monstrous heavyweight division sometime sooner rather than later. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: jon jones, heavyweight, heavyweight division, idea, bull

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, championship, light, mattyblayze

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Randy Couture is well-known for being one of the most gifted athletes to ever grace the Octagon. Couture, who well into his 40s, won multiple championships at both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. As someone who knows what it takes to spend countless hours in the gym training, “The Natural” is a perfect person [...]

Posted in: heavyweight, light heavyweight, randy, heavyweight divisions, trt randy

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UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir Date: May 26, 2012 Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena Location: Las Vegas, Nevada   Articles Videos Main Card (on Pay-Per-View): -Junior dos Santos (14-1; #1 Heavyweight) vs. Frank Mir (16-5; #5 Heavyweight) -Cain Velasquez (9-1; #3 Heavyweight) vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (16-3) -Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) [...] Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: mir, heavyweight, vs, do, bull

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Former UFC heavyweight champion and Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett spoke to MMA Fighting before UFC 145 about his impending bout with Daniel Cormier in May. Barnett discussed the need for fighters and fans to know more about MMA history, his brotherly dynamic with Cormier, the state of his relationship with UFC President Dana White and why he isn't concerned with 'what could have been' in the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, strikeforce heavyweight

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Heavyweight Lavar Johnson survived tragedy to take Strikeforce by storm, and now the UFC. He faces Pat Barry on the main card of UFC on Fox next week in New Jersey.

Posted in: ufc, week, heavyweight, johnson, lavar

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It's been over a year since I slaved over my pirated copy of Adobe Photoshop and created the MiddleEasy variation of the official Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix bracket when the tournament was announced back in January 2011. This was a time when Strikeforce was not a part of ZUFFA, Sengoku still existed and FORM Athletics essentially ran MMA apparel. Boy, have things changed in a year -- including the roster of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix. After Alistair Overeem was exiled from Strikeforce due to the confusing Golden Glory vs. ZUFFA beef only to be hired by UFC weeks later, Daniel Cormier stepped in for The Reem to face Bigfoot Silva in the semi-final of the grand-prix. We all witnessed Cormier apply the one-two piece (without any sides) directly to Silva's chin, resulting in a remarkable TKO and a place in the grand-prix finals. Josh Barnett is the only fighter in the entire tourney that successfully completed two victories within the grand-prix, yielding a shot at the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix belt that everyone forgot existed. We care about the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix because everyone else seemed to have turned their back on the MMA tournament that had people on the edge of their cheap computer chair when it was announced. That's why we still will promote the hell out of the finals, which include showing you this fan-made video hyping Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett next month in San Jose, California. Also, I'm just kidding about the pirated copy of Adobe Photoshop -- relax, government authorities.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, grandprix, adobe photoshop, i slaved

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Stefan Struve vs. Sean McCorkle Fight Video Fuel TV released footage of that UFC 124 heavyweight bout, as part of their "UFC Ultimate Knockouts" series. The 24-year-old Struve (23-5) will take on Mark Hunt (8-7) this May on UFC 146.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, struve, footage, knockouts series

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From Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, Ariel Helwani talks with UFC light heavyweight contender Dan Henderson, following the official announcement of his upcoming bout with UFC 205 kingpin, Jon Jones. Also on the show, UFC heavyweight title challenger Frank Mir discusses the Overeem situation, and his bout with Junior dos Santos, Bellator lightweight Eddie [...]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, official announcement, eddie, overeem situation

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As we approach the newly rebuilt UFC 146 card next month in Las Vegas, analyst Joe Rogan tells "UFC Ultimate Insider" on Fuel TV why the heavyweights are most exciting.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, joe, fuel tv, rogan

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Posted in: tekprodfx, heavyweight, rogan, there, riff

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Four consecutive wins over former Light Heavyweight champions, three of whom were stopped inside the distance, and suddenly Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 205-pound kingpin, Jon Jones, is being hailed as the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.) among many mixed martial arts (MMA) fans. "Bones" has ripped through the divisional cupboard, battering Mauricio Rua, submitting Quinton Jackson and leaving Lyoto Machida for dead in the build up to the biggest fight of the 24-year-old's professional career last weekend when he dominated his former friend and current arch enemy, Rashad Evans, in the UFC 145 main event en route to a unanimous decision victory. Just writing that long-winded sentence is tiresome, much less having the skills and ability to accomplish it all in just 13 months. UFC President Dana White is still reluctant to call him the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. That distinction, he contends, belongs to Middleweight champion Anderson Silva. "The Spider," however, hasn't breezed through a Murderer's Row of decorated fighters like Jones, which isn't to say he has accomplished any less throughout his legendary career. Jones and Silva are both bad, bad men. There should be no argument there, and if there is, you can go bananas in the comments section below and make a fool out of yourself because this is a blog and that's the sort of thing that happens quite often around these parts. Anyway, Jones is a special fighter whether you like him or feel the need to hate. And he's already got his next opponent lined up, Dan Henderson, and White hinted earlier today that he plans to ask his main event workhorse to headline another upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event, UFC 149, which is slated for the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 21, 2012. It will be great news for White and fight fans in the Great White North if Jones is amenable to yet another tight turnaround to fight yet another former champion. However, if he blitzes "Hendo" like he has most of the other top competition in the division, there isn't much intriguing depth leftover. In other words, Jones would have essentially cleaned out an entire division in less than 18 months. And according to White, the next best option, which is a move up to Heavyweight, isn't something he would like to see Jones do at such a young age. From the Ithaca Journal: "Jon Jones is a physical specimen. The guy is huge at 205 pounds.... He can make 205. Once he cleans out a division and [expletive] starts getting a little old and stale, then maybe he makes that move to heavyweight. He’s 24 years old, and as he gets older, it’s going to be harder to cut that weight. It’s going to be harder to stay as lean as he is. If I was him, and I’m not his coach or advisor or anything, I’d wait until that naturally happens....You move up to heavyweight, and you've got Junior Dos Santos up there. Dude's got bombs in his hands. ... You've got some big serious dudes at heavyweights. It's a big jump. It's not going to be that fun at heavyweight." White might not be eager to "advise" Jones on a move up to heavyweight, but he's really leaving him with no other options. Seriously, unless I'm missing something, Alexander Gustafsson is the only viable opponent who currently makes sense. And that doesn't even really make that much sense because "The Mauler" would only get the opportunity to challenge Jones because there is no one else left standing. And neither would Gustafsson once Jones got done with him at these stages of their careers and development. It's no secret that Evans is one of the shorter top light heavyweight fighters and Jones is among the tallest. However, Jones looked like Hong Man Choi circling around that Octagon in Atlanta, Ga., the other night, stalking "Suga" and slashing him with those crazy elbows. He even revealed prior to the showdown that he now walks around at 230 pounds. Here's the convoluted bottom line: Jones will eventually graduate to heavyweight, but White doesn't want that to happen before his body does it naturally. Meanwhile, White is rushing him into a fight with Henderson this summer, but if he wins, the division for all intents and purposes is not just cleaned out, but sterilized. There's a lesson, and perhaps a solution, in all of this, but I just can't put my finger on it. Perhaps Chael Sonnen can help at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012. Or, even his old friend from Team Quest, Henderson, can somehow delay the inevitable. If not, I'm out of light heavyweight ideas for the future of Jon "Bones" Jones.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, heavyweight, move

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The MFC is resurrecting its heavyweight division, and they've signed local favourite Tim Hague to get it relaunched.

Posted in: heavyweight, division, mfc, heavyweight division, hague

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The heavyweight shuffle continues at UFC 146 with Roy (Big Country) Nelson now facing Gabriel (Napao) Gonzaga on May 26 in Las Vegas.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, country nelson, domino effect, heavyweight shuffle

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans failed in his quest to take the title from Jon Jones Saturday night in the main event of UFC 145 from Atlanta. Following the decision loss – just the second defeat of his MMA career – “Suga” was asked about a possible drop to the middleweight ranks. You [...]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, light heavyweight, evan, middleweight ranks

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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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You can't teach 6'7'', and that's why Travis Browne is fun to watch. The massive Hawaiian heavyweight prospect scored big last night (Sat., April 21, 2012) with a quick submission of Strikeforce veteran Chad Griggs at UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" in Atlanta, Georgia. Scoring a nice flying knee in an early exchange which set the stunned Griggs up for the takedown and finishing hold, Browne fought tall while displaying impressive athleticism for such a rangy guy. Typically, heavyweights Browne's size can seem plodding, as though they're incredibly powerful monsters fighting underwater, but "Hapa" is a very nimble fighter for his size. It's encouraging to see him display his "A" game, because after his dreadful decision win over limited Rob Broughton in his last outing, you wondered if Browne had simply seemed a mirage. Earlier performances dangled the kind of big-man potential that makes for heavyweight excitement, as Browne devastated James McSweeney and Stefan Struve, while drawing with veteran Cheick Kongo in a very tough bout. The Broughton fight showed every bad heavyweight stereotype a young prospect can display -- low work rates, stumbling technique, long mutual pauses in the action, and no definitive statement. But that was clearly a learning experience Browne has put under his belt and taken to improve himself. Griggs is a chronically underrated fighter, and a no-frills heavy hitter that comes to bang. His punishing, hammer-fist-flurry stoppage of Bobby Lashley was one of the feel-good moments of 2010, as Griggs basically came from nowhere to destroy a hyped prospect that felt more WWE than MMA. Brown is in a good position to develop with some more gut-check style fights and to gain experience, and for his next match, a showdown against Ben Rothwell would make perfect sense. Rothwell dispatched Brendan Schaub last night, and is the kind of opponent that won't go easily. Plus, his renewed commitment to physical conditioning suggests he's tackled his biggest career impediment. With a renewed Browne using his size to deliver strikes, that's a match any fan should want to see. Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst and Jason@jasonprobst.com

Posted in: heavyweight, prospect, browne, size, grigg

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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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Posted in: jon, heavyweight, move, iluvurkidz, heavyweight dana

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Our very own Sergio Hernandez stated that if Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones were to defeat Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Georgia on Sat., April 21, 2012, he should be considered the greatest light heavyweight of all time. It's a difficult point to argue, especially in light of the fact that "Bones" took care of business to make the hypothetical situation a reality. He's now won a dominant seven fights in a row, and if you discount his DQ loss to Matt Hamill (and you should), he's technically been perfect in all 17 of his pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fights. Jones has run through the UFC's light heavyweight division like a tropical storm that none of the residents were prepared for. The sad thing is, his opponents all said they were ready to take him down off his high horse. In particular, his last three opponents, Evans, Lyoto Machida and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, all claimed to hold the key to unlocking the mystery that is Jon Jones. The real question becomes: Can anyone beat this guy? Jones is starting to look more and more like a legend. Every time he steps into the cage, he comes off a little bit more polished and well-rounded. His stand up game is flat out scary. He looks like a kid who has a toy that he's still learning to use. Unfortunately for every other fighter in the world, that "toy" is his MMA skill set. Even though we're only a day removed from his last fight, it's never too soon to look ahead to the future, especially considering the fact that it's entirely possible Jones could be back inside the Octagon in three short months at UFC 149 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Normally, we would use this space to speculate on the light heavyweight champion's next opponent. But we don't have to do that this time, thanks to UFC President Dana White announcing at the UFC 145 post-fight press conference that Jones will defend his title against Dan Henderson his next time out. It's an intriguing match-up if for no other reason than the fact that we know "Hendo" has a bomb for a right hand. And if he lands that thing, "Bones" could find himself staring up at the lights. But we've seen very little to make us believe that will happen other than the hope of Jones haters the world over that Henderson will be the guy to finally get the job done. We'll find out in just a few months. Until then, what are your thoughts on the match-up, Maniacs? Is Jones poised to continue his reign of terror on the light heavyweight division? Or will "Dangerous" Dan shock the world?

Posted in: ufc, jone, jon jones, heavyweight, light

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The future for Jon Jones is likely at heavyweight. But, for now, the UFC light heavyweight champion still has work to do in the division. UFC president Dana White talked about the future of “Bones” following his win over Rashad Evans Saturday night in the main event of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans. Jon Jones [...]

Posted in: ufc, jone, jon jones, heavyweight, light heavyweight

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The UFC heavyweight division was put on notice last night at UFC 145 when unbeaten Travis Browne continued his winning ways with an opening round finish of the previously-streaking Chad Griggs. Browne came up sharp, landing a flying knee early to set the tone. The 29-year old then proceeded to take Griggs down, work his BJJ from the top, and sink in an Arm-Triangle Choke to earn the tap less than midway through the frame. Browne’s finish of Griggs was named Submission of the Night and brought him $65,000 for the distinction. Equally impressive, Browne’s fellow heavyweight Ben Rothwell was awarded Knockout of the Night after rendering Brendan Schaub into a puddle of goo 70 seconds into their scrap. The finish was the first for Rothwell under the UFC’s banner. He too won $65,000 as a result of the honor. A Passionate Rothwell Explains Exactly How Much Beating Schaub Means to Him Finally, Fight of the Night and the involved cash went to Mark Hominick and Eddie Yagin for their entertaining offering highlighted by both men’s ability to overcome adversity. Each was left bloodied and battered at the end of the bout, while Hominick was nearly finished twice with strikes but held on nonetheless. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, night, heavyweight, rothwell, browne

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Last night UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell lived up to his nickname by showing up “big” at UFC 145 where he flattened fellow heavyweight Brendan Schaub a little over a minute into their main card clash. The performance marked Rothwell’s first strike-based finish in nearly five years despite being the eighteenth of his career. Rothwell’s stoppage of Schaub was named the evening’s Knockout of the Night and, in addition to securing his spot on the roster, earned the 30-year old an additional $65,000 on top of his regular earnings. Submission of the Night (and 65k) went to another heavyweight with Travis Browne taking home the honors. His bonus-winning brutality also occurred in the opening round of action, forcing newcomer Chad Griggs to tap out to a textbook Arm-Triangle Choke. Last but not least, the little guys came through on the Fight of the Night front, as the three-round tilt between Eddie Yagin-Mark Hominick was awarded with the distinction. The two went back and forth for the entire fifteen minute frame, bloodying each other up and weathering a handful of storms including two instances of Hominick being dropped and seemingly on the brink of being finished. Each man received an extra $65,000 for his efforts. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, night, heavyweight, rothwell, schaub

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After fourteen months of leadup to the showdown between UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Rashad Evans at UFC 145, it was going to be tough to live up to the hype. So it's not really surprising that it didn't. The bout was fine for what it was, but it certainly didn't deliver the kind of closure that a finish would have. And while the rest of the card was decent, eight fights going to decision (including the first five in a row) definitely muted fan excitement to a degree. It will be interesting to see how well the pay-per-view does, and if it affects the UFC's promotion of one-fight cards. Anyway, let's get onto the fighters. Winners Jon Jones: It wasn't the home run that Jones was looking for, but it was enough for people to immediately start crowning him as the best light heavyweight in UFC history. Evans got to him more than anyone else has and made him look human at times, but it's clear that Bones was just on another level. The elbows were beautiful, and he showed off some other new facets of his game last night. This was the biggest victory of his career on both a personal and professional level. A lot of eyes were on him tonight, and he delivered. It will definitely aid his goal to be a mainstream star and get bigger endorsement deals. Rory MacDonald: Rory Mac wasn't in an enviable position in Atlanta last night. If he won (and he did), people will just say he beat a nobody and he needs to fight stronger contenders. If he had lost or was ever in trouble against the relative unknown, his stock would have plummeted. Fortunately for him, he shook off 30 seconds of offense from Che Mills to start the bout and just mauled him the rest of the way. The UFC is grooming his as a star by using him in the co-main event, and he's holding up his end. "The next GSP" is premature, but he's definitely a contender. Ben Rothwell: The expression "hard work pays off" is very fitting here. Rothwell transformed himself from a blob of a man into a svelte, athletic-looking heavyweight (okay, that might be a little bit over the top), then stepped into the octagon and had Brendan Schaub asking the heavens what the hell just happened to him in seventy seconds. He effectively resurrected his career with one left hook, and left fight fans with a moment that will live in infamy. Oh, and he picked up a knockout of the night check for $65,000 dollars too. I respect people that have the inexhaustible will to succeed, and Ben Rothwell proved he has just that. Michael McDonald: Mayday made the leap from prospect to contender with his knockout of Miguel Torres. All the questions about his lack of killer instinct in the octagon should be silenced now. The UFC bantamweight division had just one real contender that might face the winner of the third bout between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, and his name is Renan Barao. Now there are two. Should the UFC match up Mayday and Barao? Or allow them to take separate paths to a title shot? The 135 pound division got a lot more interesting tonight. Travis Browne: Hapa's double flying knee on Chad Griggs had me in awe. That's a big, big man, and that type of athleticism is great to see from a heavyweight. He walked right though Griggs, and deserves a shot at a name opponent. There aren't many guys the UFC can throw in there with him that can match his length and explosiveness, and it's time for him to move up the card. Dan Henderson: I know he didn't even fight on the card, but he got two big presents tonight - a confirmed shot at the UFC light heavyweight title, and a champion that looked somewhat vulnerable for the first time in the octagon. Fan support for Hendo will be through the roof, and many people think the ageless wonder is now the man that can knock Jones off his perch. Is that realistic? I'm not sure, but I can't wait to see him try. Losers after the jump! SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans Losers Rashad Evans: It's tough to see where Rashad goes from here. He has already fought everyone near the top of the UFC light heavyweight division except for Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. He confirmed at the post-fight press conference that he has no interest in moving to middleweight, and he's probably not going to be getting a rematch anytime soon. Evans is clearly an excellent fighter that can take out just about any light heavyweight on any given night. But sitting one step below his former friend Jones in the UFC pecking order is going to be tough for Evans. Che Mills: I almost left him out of this category. Yes he lost a bout co-main event bout, but he wasn't expected to win it anyway. His lack of a ground game was exposed, but it's not like he's going to fall way down the welterweight rankings or anything. He wasn't on them to begin with. He'll just settle in as a mid-level 170-pound fighter, and will probably engage in some good undercard fights in the future. It wasn't a major setback, it was a lost opportunity. That's how I look at it. Brendan Schaub: From top prospect to goofy gif fodder in no time. Schaub is a skilled fighter, but his chin is continually failing him. Ben Rothwell is a big boy and he hits hard, but he's not exactly known for one-punch KO's. Neither was Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He's turning into the new Andrei Arlovski, which is really not a good thing. I'm not sure where Schaub goes from here, but I think he's going to be hearing about his post-knockout crazy arm thing for quite a while. Miguel Torres: I thought Torres beat Demetrious Johnson in their UFC 130 bout. He was clearly still a contender, and his new fighting style had suited him well until he ran into Mayday. That was just the second knockout of Torres' career, but he's been in a lot of wars and the former WEC bantamweight champion suffered a huge, huge setback tonight. The division is still fairly thin and he's only 31, so there's plenty of time for him to climb back up the ladder. But it's going to take a while. Mark Hominick: Hominick was probably the first guy that was still a 6-1 favorite in his next bout despite getting knocked out in seven seconds. Eddie Yagin was no Korean Zombie though, that's what people thought. It turns out that the problem wasn't the opponent, it's Hominick's chin. With 31 MMA bouts and 21 kickboxing bouts under his belt, maybe Hominick just can't hang with the heavy hitters anymore. It's heartbreaking to see many of Shawn Tompkin's former fighters struggling since he suddenly passed away last year. Mark will be back, but he'll likely never be in the title picture ever again. Stephen Thompson: Wonderboy was a victim of hype. His sick knockout of Dan Stittgen had fans clamoring for more, but the man had just six MMA bouts coming in to a fight with the tough-as-nails Matt Brown. It's clear that he has some major work to do on his takedown defense and cardio, but all is not lost. The fans might move onto the next flavor of the month, but that will give Thompson time to balance his game out and come back stronger without the magnifying glass on him. Thompson will most definitely be winning more bouts in the UFC..

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

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Just hours after defending his UFC light heavyweight championship for the third time, Jon Jones already knows who will try to take his title next.

Posted in: ufc, jon, heavyweight, dan henderson, light

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Rashad Evans just took Jon Jones went to his first five round decision, but don't be fooled, Bones just about dominated Suga for twenty five minutes in the octagon tonight. This guy makes everyone in the cage look small. No one can beat him at 205. No one. I want the distance from his elbow to his fist measured to see if Bones' 'elbow jabs' are equidistant to a 'normal' light heavyweights total reach. You could place an army of nerds on the task of marrying an Action Replay and a Game Genie and even then you couldn't create an offspring that could defeat the Jon Jones end boss. Never. Even with 99 continues. It's impossible. Rashad Evans had nothing on Bones, and now we see that Bones can take a punch and go the distance. But...There is an H-Bomb : Now it's official: Dana just announced Jon Jones Vs. Dan Henderson This comes straight from the post fight presser: Does the man who defeated Fedor have anything for Bones? Does anyone in the light heavyweight division have anything for Bones? [Source]

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

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ATLANTA - Ben Rothwell's improvements aren't simply cosmetic. The veteran heavyweight entered a heavyweight bout with odds-on favorite Brendan Schaub in the best shape of his life, and it carried him to a quick and shocking TKO win. The fight was part of tonight's UFC 145 event at Atlanta's Phillips Arena. It aired on the pay-per-view main card following prelims on Facebook and FX.

Posted in: tko, heavyweight, heavyweight bout, brendan schaub, veteran heavyweight

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ATLANTA -- Surging heavyweight Travis Browne stayed unbeaten in his MMA career, rocking Chad Griggs early and then taking him down before finishing with an arm triangle choke submission. The athletic heavyweight blasted Griggs seconds into the fight with a flying knee that dazed the Strikeforce veteran before using a bodylock to put him on the mat. There, Browne blasted him with a series of left hands before locking in the fight-ending choke. The finish came at 2:29 of the first round. Afterward, Browne credited Griggs on his toughess, wondering how he could have stayed upright following the knee, but said he was offering a message to the rest of the division as well. "I belong here. UFC heavyweights, watch out, baby," he said. Browne improved to 13-0-1 with the impressive victory. He's 4-0-1 in the UFC. Meanwhile, Griggs suffered his first defeat since 2007, and fell to 11-2. Griggs had been making his UFC debut after moving over from Strikeforce.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, browne, grigg, unbeaten chokes

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones recently said Tito Ortiz was the greatest 205-pound fighter of all time. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" has many different accomplishments he can hang his trademarked flaming beanie on but that may not be one of them. He was the face of the promotion during the "Dark Ages," a period where nearly every single cable and satellite carrier dropped UFC events from its programming. His style of fighting and personality gave the company the star it needed to survive those turbulent times. Ortiz's career has spanned a decade and a half during which he found himself opposite legends in the sports and stars in the making. Names like Ken Shamrock, Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva and Rashad Evans litter his fight résumé. He holds a record five light heavyweight title defenses, one more than Frank Shamrock and Chuck Liddell, both of whom are regarded as two of the best fighters to ever step foot inside the Octagon and three more than "Bones" himself. But a closer look at these defenses reveal Ortiz was a great fighter but not the greatest. After tonight's (April 21) UFC 145 main event, the honor may very well go to Jones. Revisionist history can be bothersome but bear with me for a moment. Ortiz won the light heavyweight title from a before-his-prime Wanderlei Silva in 2000. Had the fight taken place three years later, it would have been much more impressive but at the time, "The Axe Murderer" hadn't come into his own. Ortiz's first defense would come against natural middleweight Yuki Kondo blown up to 205-pounds to challenge for the title in his native country. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" then put his belt on the line against Evan Tanner and thoroughly trounced him. There's nothing I can take away from this victory. Tanner had an unblemished UFC record at the time and had only lost twice in over two dozen mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts going into his fight with Ortiz. The next title defense for the champion was a farce, however, as he took on Elvis Sinosic. A barely over .500 fighter, the Aussie was granted a five rounder against Ortiz after pulling off a surprising submission victory over Jeremy Horn. The next two title defenses would come against Vladimir Matyushenko -- a late replacement for Vitor Belfort -- and Ken Shamrock -- who at 38 years old was well past his prime -- two bouts which fall victim to extenuating circumstances. Fast forward nearly a decade and Jon Jones is experiencing a similar level of domination in the light heavyweight division albeit against much tougher competition. Jones won the belt from Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 after "Shogun" had knocked out the once thought to be unbeatable Lyoto Machida. Rua, who in 2005, walked through the PRIDE Fighting Championships grand prix and took out Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona. "Bones" battered him for two and a half rounds before the fight was stopped. Next up for the Greg Jackson product was Jackson who was the first man to become the undisputed number one light heavyweight in the world after unifying his UFC title with Dan Henderson's strap from PRIDE at UFC 75. Jones dominated "Rampage," barely allowing the Memphis native to land a single punch. And then last December, Machida got his second crack at the title but fell short when Jones choked him unconscious at the end of the second round. And tonight, it's Rashad Evans. Four opponents, all of which were at one point recognized as the best 205-pound fighter in the world. Should Jones win tonight, there's no doubt who the greatest light heavyweight of all time is. Could there even be any doubt he is the greatest fighter period?

Posted in: ufc, title, jone, ortiz, heavyweight

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MMAFighting’s Luke Thomas catches up with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones on the eve of his bout with longtime rival Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC 145. For more clips like this, check out MMAFighting.com.

Posted in: ufc, jon, jone, heavyweight, rashad evans

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While most of us were sleeping, Fedor Emelianenko’s next opponent was named. The once-great heavyweight will face three-time UFC heavyweight title contender Pedro Rizzo in the main event of a M-1 Global card from St. Petersburg, Russia on June 21. The fight is scheduled for the Ice Palace, with the card likely airing on pay-per-view [...]

Posted in: heavyweight, contender, fedor emelianenko, ice palace, oncegreat heavyweight

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Dan Henderson is in a position to challenge for either the UFC light heavyweight or middleweight championship belt. While most feel like Henderson will go after the light heavyweight title, many would prefer to see him rematch against Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title. Back in 2008, Silva earned a second round submission victory [...]

Posted in: title, heavyweight, silva, henderson, anderson silva

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With UFC 145 on the horizon everyone has been voicing their thoughts on the main event which will see former teammates Rashad Evans and Jon Jones battle one another for Jones’ light heavyweight title – who will win, how will they win, and was Jones wrong for seemingly breaking the vow he and Rashad made never to fight one another. Many wonder whether or not Evans will be able to control his emotions and not allow his them to get the better of him. It’s one of the hottest topics to hit MMA in a long time and one Randy Couture was eager to talk about in a recent conversation with Five Ounces of Pain. “I really don’t have a prediction and I could make a case for either fighter winning the bout,” admitted Couture. “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 skillset 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 headkick 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 gameplan 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,” continued Couture. “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.” If by chance Evans isn’t the one legitimately defeat Jones for the first time in his career, the next question becomes one relating to whether or not anyone out there can. Essentially, what skills does that fighter have to possess to finally derail the Jones Express that has been running roughshod over the UFC light heavyweight division since his debut in August of 2008? “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,” replied Couture to the topic. “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.” As chance would have it, Henderson is in line for a shot at the light heavyweight title, possibly setting up the very fight Couture sees as being troublesome for Jones. Of course, “Bones” has to get by Evans first this weekend before it truly matters. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, jone, heavyweight, rashad, evan

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

It's well-known by now that Dan Henderson is waiting for a shot at a UFC belt. Whether it's at middleweight, light heavyweight, or even heavyweight, Hendo wants to get another chance at that one thing that has eluded him in his storied career. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Hendo made it pretty clear that he doesn't need a rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and that he's more interested in the winner of Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 145 (transcribed by MMA Mania): "The 205 belt, the Light Heavyweight belt. I'm not real keen on fighting at 185 but it's still a possibility, I'm not ruling it out. I'm not real worried about it but right now I'd like to fight at 205. I fought [Anderson Silva] and lost awhile back and if it happens, it happens. I'm not in need of a rematch just to redeem myself. I know what I'm capable of and it would be nice to fight him when I'm having a good day and not a bad day but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. Both (Evans and Jones) are tough and have been around for a little while but for me the bigger thing is getting that UFC belt. It's the only thing I haven't gotten. That would be the motivation and it would definitely be a good sense of accomplishment." You can catch the whole video interview with the former Strikeforce and Pride champion after the jump.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, belt, im, ufc belt

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With his latest victory Alexander Gustafsson edges up the light heavyweight rankings.

Posted in: heavyweight, light, ranking, gustafsson, rank

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Some fighters ignore the question when presented before them. Not Alexander Gustafsson. This past weekend, following his victory over Thiago Silva, Gustafsson was asked about going after the UFC light heavyweight champion. “I want to fight the top-five guys in the world in my division, but if (UFC) were to give me a title shot, [...]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, alexander gustafsson, gustafsson, topfive guys

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CHICAGO, Ill. (April 16, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships will make their 2012 Summer Series debut from The Mountain State when the promotion brings Bellator 71 to The Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia on June 22. Bellator 71 will feature the quarterfinals of the Bellator Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament, along with a host of preliminary fights. Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Etix.com or by visiting The Mountaineer Casino Players Club. Tickets are priced from $25-$200. 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, and the preliminary card, featuring some of the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST. "We've been in discussions with the team at Mountaineer Resort for quite some time, looking to bring a major nationally and internationally televised event to this spectacular Casino Resort" Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "When the chance came to host the opener of our Summer Series, we jumped at the chance." Canadian native Roger "The Hulk" Hollett will get his first taste of tournament action when he locks horns with explosive Slovakian finisher Attila Vegh. A 14-time Hungarian Kempo karate champion, Vegh brings an impressive resume into the tournament and should be a force to be reckoned with. "I came here to Bellator with one goal, and that's to be the next Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion," said Vegh. "Becoming a Bellator champion is my main mission in my career. I want to be recognized as the best light heavyweight in the world, and after that my mission will be complete." Former Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Rich Hale is back for another run and will be looking to top his incredible inverted triangle finish that earned headlines when he takes on Beau Tribolet in opening-round action. After compiling a 2-0 record within the Bellator cage, longtime MMA veteran Travis "Diesel" Wiuff will get his shot in the Light Heavyweight Tournament in this tournament debut. Wiuff has amassed an incredible 66 wins during his incredible MMA run, and has his sights set on a Bellator Tournament Championship. Finnish submission ace Marcus Vanttinen is looking to lock up a semifinal appearance when he battles promising Brazilian striker Philipe Lins. Both 205-pound fighters are regarded as two of the top light heavyweight prospects in the world, and will have their talent on display at Bellator 71. 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: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, light, summer

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Bellator Fighting Championships will make its 2012 Summer Series debut from The Mountain State when the promotion brings Bellator 71 to The Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia on June 22. Bellator 71 will feature the quarterfinals of the Bellator Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament, along with a host of preliminary fights. Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Etix.com or by visiting The Mountaineer Casino Players Club. Tickets are priced from $25-$200. 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, and the preliminary card, featuring some of the area’s top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST. “We’ve been in discussions with the team at Mountaineer Resort for quite some time, looking to bring a major nationally and internationally televised event to this spectacular Casino Resort” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “When the chance came to host the opener of our Summer Series, we jumped at the chance.” Canadian native Roger “The Hulk” Hollett will get his first taste of tournament action when he locks horns with explosive Slovakian finisher Attila Vegh. A 14-time Hungarian Kempo karate champion, Vegh brings an impressive resume into the tournament and should be a force to be reckoned with. “I came here to Bellator with one goal, and that’s to be the next Bellator light heavyweight champion,” said Vegh. “Becoming a Bellator champion is my main mission in my career. I want to be recognized as the best light heavyweight in the world, and after that my mission will be complete.” Former Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Rich Hale is back for another run and will be looking to top his incredible inverted triangle finish that earned headlines when he takes on Beau Tribolet in opening-round action. After compiling a 2-0 record within the Bellator cage, longtime MMA veteran Travis “Diesel” Wiuff will get his shot in the Light Heavyweight Tournament in this tournament debut. Wiuff has amassed an incredible 66 wins during his incredible MMA run, and has his sights set on a Bellator Tournament Championship. Finnish submission ace Marcus Vanttinen is looking to lock up a semifinal appearance when he battles promising Brazilian striker Philipe Lins. Both 205-pound fighters are regarded as two of the top light heavyweight prospects in the world, and will have their talent on display at Bellator 71.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, light, summer

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

The first event of Bellator Fighting Championships’ 2012 Summer Series has a date, a venue and a host of light heavyweight contenders to occupy its next 205-pound bracket.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, series, summer, west virginia

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submitted by MMAnytt [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: heavyweight, video, vs, winner, career trt

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The two Top 10 light heavyweights had a fallout, but they can’t let their animosity cloud their judgment.

Posted in: jon jones, heavyweight, rashad evans, emotion, animosity cloud

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Well we know that the K-1 card in Madrid on May 27 will be the the MAX Final 16, but there's also going to be some super fights. There have been a lot of rumors going around as to what heavyweights are going to be on the card. K-1 just sent out a press release, announcing the heavyweight participants for the card on May 27 in Madrid. They are as follows: Mirko Cro Cop (Croatia) Daniel Ghita (Romania) Anderson "Braddock" Silva (Brazil) Paul Slowinski (Poland/Australia) Rico Verhoeven (Netherlands) Loren Javier Jorge (Spain) Sergei Lascenko (Ukraine) The super fights for the heavyweights will be announced soon, and with that, so will the match-ups for the MAX Final 16, probably. Don't be surprised if a few other names show up when they announce the fights. Read More...

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, card, liverkickcom part, heavyweight participants

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While many fans would have been content to shell out a handful of cash to watch then-UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar's rematch against Frank Mir in July 2009, the addition of welterweight titleholder Georges St-Pierre made UFC 100 one of the most highly anticipated events in MMA

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, event, lesnar, ufc history

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Remember that "big announcement" former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia was teasing for April 14? Well he revealed all on his Twitter account and while some were surely hoping Dana White had changed his mind about bringing "The Maine-iac" back to the UFC, that's simply not the case. Instead, it was just as my colleague Jesse Holland said it would be: a simple fight announcement on a regional show later this year. Indeed, Sylvia announced at the Fight Night 2 event in Biddeford, Maine, that he will be returning to action on June 16 in Lewiston, Maine, against an opponent to be announced later. That doesn't mean Timmah is giving up his dream of making a return trip to the Octagon one day. In fact, when he's not outright begging to be let back in or retweeting fans pleading to the powers that be, Sylvia was telling The Hammerfisting Podcast that he would go through The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) house to earn his spot. Seriously. But don't take my word for it. Here's the quote from the man himself: "Absolutely. I helped coach season two with Matt (Hughes) and Rich (Franklin) because it was half heavyweights and half 170 or 185-pounders. Matt being a 170-pounder and Rich being 185-pounds at that time and needing some help with the big boys, so, those are two of my best friends in the fighting industry. I went out there and stayed with those guys and helped them with their heavyweights and made some pretty good friends with that heavyweight division as well. But yeah, I watch The Ultimate Fighter and I would definitely do it if I needed to." After an embarrassing knockout loss to geriatric pugilist Ray Mercer in 2009, Sylvia rebounded to win six of his next seven fights with five finishes. He most recently outpointed Andreas Kraniotakes at ProElite 2 last November, prompting him to declare he could defeat 80-percent of the current crop of UFC heavyweights. UFC President Dana White insists that Sylvia is not only past his prime, but wasn't very good to begin with, having been champion when the promotion's 265-pound division was at its weakest. Still, that hasn't stopped "The Maine-iac" from getting into fighting shape, even going into BEAST MODE. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Alright, Maniacs, now you've heard the news. Disappointed it wasn't any bigger?

Posted in: ufc, fighter, heavyweight, announcement, sylvia

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Here we go. The final weight class. The heavyweights. To clear up any confusion, these are not anyone’s personal rankings. They are compiled rankings from our staff and do not mirror any one member’s list. Our rankings are heavily based on the fighters’ more recent performances, the strength of their competition and the relevancy of [...]

Posted in: heavyweight, ranking, weight, weight class, mirror

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Fans’ desire to see the UFC ask Jon Jones to face Junior dos Santos in late May has slowed down as of late, as the current UFC light heavyweight champ has a date with Rashad Evans set for later this month and it appears Alistair Overeem may be cleared to face Dos Santos over Memorial Day Weekend for the UFC heavyweight title after all. However, that’s not to say they couldn’t eventually face off. In a recent interview with Prickly Pair Studios, “Bones” was asked about squaring off with Dos Santos inside the Octagon should he get past Evans and was only mildly apprehensive to the idea. “It is something I would totally entertain,” said Jones. “But at the same time, I have so much respect for Junior dos Santos. He’s such a cool dude. He treated me like his brother when we were in Brazil together. If it was somebody else, I would definitely go for it. But it’s Junior.” “I’m not even a heavyweight so to pick a fight with Junior…that doesn’t really make sense to me,” Jones continued, turning his focus back to his current divisional home. “There’s a lot of work to be done in the light heavyweight division.” Jones has stated in the past that he believes a move to heavyweight is in his future, even pushing to make that jump this year before the UFC bosses stepped in and said he still had unfinished business at 205. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, jone, jon jones, heavyweight, do

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir will be a guest on MMA Uncensored Live tonight (April 12, 2012) at 11pm ET on Spike TV. Expect a lot of talk about the UFC 146 fiasco and his role as possible replacement for Alistair Overeem. Props: Twitter

Posted in: ufc, mir, heavyweight, guest, spike tv

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Time for the light heavyweights… As always, our rankings can easily be referenced on our dedicated rankings page. Light Heavyweight Jon Jones Rashad Evans Dan Henderson Mauricio “Shogun” Rua Phil Davis Alexander Gustafsson Ryan Bader Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Lyoto Machida Rampage Jackson Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Posted in: heavyweight, light, ranking, machida, rogerio

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And the list grows one name longer. When Alistair Overeem tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone and pissed off his bosses at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) not long ago, it threw the main event of UFC 146 on May 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada into doubt. "The Reem" was scheduled to challenge Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight championship for the promotion's annual Memorial Day weekend extravaganza, but is now facing a hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on April 24 to determine whether or not he will be granted a license to fight. He'll need a damn good explanation for why his T/E ratio was so high and as Larry Pepe notes right here, he may already have a strategy in place. Interestingly enough, the UFC has elected to wait until after Overeem's hearing to make a decision on who will be fighting dos Santos. That could be because they hope to see "Demolition Man" come up with a good reason for his drug test failure to clear his name. Then again, maybe it's because they want to wait for the outcome of the light heavyweight championship showdown taking place just three days prior at UFC 145 when Jon Jones defends his belt against Rashad Evans. Because hey, why not throw "Bones" into the mix if he emerges victorious? Sound crazy? It may be. But it's not any more crazy than fans clamoring for Mark Hunt to be given a crack at the throne or for writers to openly hope for Fedor Emelianenko to finally make his way to the UFC or for Dan Henderson -- a puffed up middleweight -- to step up to the plate and garner a great deal of support while doing so. Adding fuel to the flames is a recent interview Jones did with PricklyPairStudios saying he would "definitely entertain" taking the fight. "You know, it's hard to even say because of two factors: First, it would be disrespectful of me to just look past Rashad completely like, 'Oh, this fight's already done.' Rashad is going to be a huge test and I'm excited for this great challenge. And you know, honestly, it is something I would totally entertain. But at the same time, I have so much respect for Junior dos Santos. He's such a cool dude, you know what I mean? He's just such a cool dude. Fighting him is just like... Me and him, he treated me like his brother when we were in Brazil together. We did a lot of fun stuff in Brazil. He's just a cool dude. Challenging him out of nowhere would be hitting him upside the head like, 'Where did Jones come from? Why does Jones want to fight me?' I'm not saying he's scared of me, by any means, I'm sure he's not. If it was somebody else, I would definitely go for it. But it's Junior. I don't know, I'm not even a heavyweight so to pick a fight with Junior doesn't really make sense to me. There's a lot of work to be done in the light heavyweight division." Now that's interesting. Jones has already expressly stated his desire to move up to the heavyweight division once he completely overruns the landscape at 205-pounds. After all, he's a massive man and the move has long been thought an inevitability. But would he really rush it and jump straight into a title fight against the best heavyweight in the world just 35 days after (hypothetically) defeating one of the best light heavyweights in the world? That's a tall order and while fight fans may salivate at such a scenario, it's patently unrealistic. That's all without mentioning the fact that the UFC would never want to (potentially) sacrifice its brightest young star by rushing him into a fight he's not ready for, even if it looks the opposite. Even if the idea of him winning that fight isn't all that far fetched. No fighter in the history of the UFC has held titles in two different weight classes at the same time and there may have never been a candidate to do so as gifted as Jon Jones. And maybe one day he'll get that chance. But that day isn't likely to be May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Overeem could still receive a license to fight and even if he doesn't, the UFC would probably make the smart play and match "Cigano" up with a credible heavyweight who has already earned his way to a title shot within the division. Plus, it would be a grave mistake to ever count out "Suga" Rashad Evans. Believe that. Still, what do you Maniacs think of a Junior dos Santos vs. Jon Jones bout? It's not likely to happen, sure, but that doesn't mean we can't explore the possibilities of the match-up. Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts on this fantasy fight.

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

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Bellator Fighting Championships announced Wednesday that its sixth-season finale will feature Cole Konrad’s first defense of his heavyweight title, as “The Polar Bear” takes on Season 5 tournament winner Eric Prindle on May 25.

Posted in: title, season, heavyweight, heavyweight title, sixthseason finale

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As expected a title fight between heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and de facto tournament winner Eric Prindle will be part of Bellator 70 on May 25. MMAjunkie.com passed along news of the bout, which initially was slated for Friday's Bellator 65 show, on Tuesday. Bellator officials today announced the fight and Bellator 70's location: the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Posted in: fight, bellator, title, heavyweight, title fight

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One more time! Bellator will close its sixth season with one final attempt at putting on a major heavyweight bout between Cole Konrad and Eric Prindle.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, heavyweight bout, cole konrad, time bellator

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The headliner is set for Super Fight League 3: heavyweights Bobby Lashley vs. James Thompson. The Indian-based organization today announced the fight, which takes place May 6 at IGI Stadium in New Delhi. The entire lineup streams on YouTube. Other announced SFL 3 bouts include light heavyweights Trevor Prangley vs. Baga Agaev, middleweights Doug Marshall vs. Zelg Galesic, and 125-pounders Lena Ovchynnikova vs. Joanne Calderwood.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, vs, igi stadium, lineup streams

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Remember the days when everything in the UFC heavyweight division was so simple? Like when Cain Velasquez fought Brock Lesnar for the heavyweight title at UFC 121? Ahh, the good ol' days. Relive that...

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

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Guess whose fight is delayed again?If you automatically assumed Eric Prindle's upcoming Bellator heavyweight title shot against champion Cole Konrad, you guessed right. After announcing that he would be out of the title fight late last week, Prindle tweeted today that his title fight had been rescheduled for May 25, which is planned to be Bellator 70, although the location and venue have yet to be announced. The reasoning for the delay hasn't officially been announced, but Prindle informed the Cagejunkies podcast that it was "all his own fault." This delay just further continues the horrible string of bad luck which has affected Prindle ever since he made it to the finals of the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament late last year. It all started when Prindle was kicked squarely in the groin at Bellator 59 in the main event against Thiago Santos. He was unable to continue and the bout was ruled a no contest. With no official winner of the season five heavyweight tournament, the rematch was scheduled for Bellator 61 last month. Unfortunately, the rematch between Santos and Prindle was delayed by a combination of Prindle coming down with the flu and Santos being unable to make the 265 pound weight limit. After getting one week to recuperate, the rematch was set for Bellator 62, although when Santos reportedly missed weight by 11 pounds, the bout was cancelled completely and Prindle was crowned the season five tournament victor. The title fight between Prindle and champion Cole Konrad was immediately scheduled for Bellator 65 this week, although now it has once again been delayed, this time by injury. Hopefully, the planned Bellator 70 bout goes off as planned, although with the track record of these high profile heavyweight fights in Bellator, the odds are not in its favor.

Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, title fight, prindle

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Since Alistair Overeem's positive drug test theories and speculation abound about what would happen if he is removed from his UFC 146 bout against UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos. While he has not officially been removed, many fans are playing matchmaker and trying to pick the ideal man to replace Overeem to contend for the title. One fighter getting very vocal fan support is Mark Hunt. A decorated kick-boxer, Hunt competed in the competitive K-1 kickboxing promotion and won the 2001 K-1 Grand Prix. Hunt is currently on a three fight winning streak, most recently his one round KO win over Cheick Kongo. A kickboxing based fighter with an exciting style with three straight wins seems like an ideal fighter to fill in for Overeem, a fellow K-1 Champion. While I am certainly a horrid match maker there seem to be clear problems with Hunt receiving a title shot. The first issue with Hunt is his record in MMA. While most fans know that records in MMA are very different than in other combat sports, the fact that Hunt's last win put him at a 9-8 record can't be ignored. Can a fighter just one win over .500 really be competing for the biggest Heavyweight title in the sport? While this is mostly a cosmetic issue, it would not look good for the UFC for a fighter to all appearances a journeyman fighting for a title. Now I know what your thinking, you want to bring up Brock Lesnar getting a title shot with 2-1 record, but that was a very different situation. First the true Heavyweight title, held by Randy Couture, had been inactive for over a year and the UFC had created an interim title. The UFC decided to host a mini Heavyweight tournament and Lesnar was selected to face Randy in the semi-finals. It was a smart move for the UFC, if Couture had won Lensar would have been an excellent fight to build towards the finals and Lesnar was a huge PPV draw, so his win only made the finals against Frank Mir the biggest event in UFC history. And even then the UFC did face critiques from sporting media who didn't fully understand MMA records for having a champion with so few fights. Hunt does not have that kind of marketing gravity and the heavyweight division is not anything close the same situation today than it was in 2008. Another problem is that a big part of Hunt's revival is based around this idea of improvements in his grappling. While he does appear to have made strides on the ground, he is still not a well rounded fighter. His only recourse against Junior dos Santos is to attempt to strike with him, because he will not be able to grapple with him. And while many will say that a K-1 Champion would have the edge on the feet, it has been proven time and again that MMA is a different sport. A sport in which accomplished strikers can get beat up on the feet by guys who have never had a professional kick boxing match. In fact, dos Santos has already dispatched one former K-1 Champion in Mirko "Cro Cop" Flilpovic, soundly beating the him on the feet, forcing a stoppage in the third. This would be a showcase fight for the champion, and while not unheard of, the UFC is really trying to build the resume of the Heavyweight division. They have a crop of truly elite fighters at the that weight now, both in the UFC and in Strikeforce, and now is the time make the Heavyweight division into that casual fan division. Throwing in a one dimensional fighter to get pounded by the Champion flies in the face of the UFC's best fighting the best model. The final problem is that there are far more deserving fighters in the UFC of a heavyweight title shot. While champions have been thrown fighters who may not have been ready for title shots before, like Dan Hardy facing Georges St. Pierre or Thales Leites challenging Anderson Silva, that has been in a situation where challengers have been lacking. There is no lack of challengers for Junior dos Santos. Frank Mir and Cain Velsaquez came up almost instantly and Dana White seems committed to those two fighting each other. This seems like an ideal #1 contender match if the UFC is willing to wait for another heavyweight championship fight. Mir would be very interesting to see against the Champion as the two have never faced each other, and while Velsaquez lost his belt to dos Santos that rematch is just a matter of time. Also, much improved Fabricio Werdum is sitting idle and his fresh off his three round destruction of Roy Nelson. Both of these matches make much more sense for the UFC than Mark Hunt fighting for the title. And with Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett moving to the UFC, Shane Carwin returning from back surgery, and prospects like Travis Browne and Shane Del Rossario continuing to develop there doesn't appear to be a place in the title picture for Hunt. While an entertaining notion, Mark Hunt fighting Junior dos Santos for the UFC title would not be a good move for the UFC. This is not to demean Mark Hunt as a fighter or a man, and his fight with Stefan Struve is the perfect contest for him. Hunt has a clear path to victory and Struve could test Hunt's improved grappling if the fight hits the mat. The UFC has worked hard in the past years to bring legitimacy to the much maligned Heavyweight division. And with an infusion of talent coming from Strikeforce it makes no sense to rush into a fight that will make no sense when we look back on it.

Posted in: ufc, hunt, title, fighter, heavyweight

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

"He could be number one. It's very possible. Barnett, not having him in the UFC is a huge disservice to MMA fans. He was great back then (in his first stint with the UFC). He beat Randy (Couture), back in the day. He's just very seasoned. One of the most seasoned guys in the heavyweight division. When you look at quality of opponents, there's really no one that's fought the type of guys that he's fought, that's at the top right now. You know, there's very talented guys, like dos Santos and Overeem, but when it comes to fighting the best MMA fighters and fighting the best heavyweight guys in the world, Josh, he's right up there with everyone, with all the elites. So, I think it's imperative that get in the UFC. I hope him and Dana become buddies. They just need one night of drinking together." -- That's what Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) color commentator Joe Rogan had to say during an appearance on HDNet's "Inside MMA" this evening (April 9, 2012). According to Rogan, Barnett -- who fights next versus Daniel Cormier for the Strikeforce heavyweight gran prix championship at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" in San Jose, Calif., on May 19, 2012 -- should be considered one of the top five heavyweights in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). If he were to defeat Cormier, it seems as though his return to the Octagon would be a no-brainer. That's assuming "The Warmaster" is able to play nice with UFC President Dana White. As we've seen recently with the Alistair Overeem fiasco, it certainly never hurts to have a surplus of talented heavyweights in the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, mma, guy, heavyweight, mma fans

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: agent, heavyweight, prospect, mattyblayze, sign

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Russian heavyweight Ruslan Magomedov is the latest addition to the Bellator Fighting Championships roster. MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the signing with sources close to the once-beaten prospect. Magomedov's debut fight has yet to be scheduled, but he could fight in a season-six non-tournament fight.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, prospect, russian, magomedov

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Alistair Overeem's recent failed drug test leaves Junior dos Santos without an opponent for UFC 146 in May. With Dana White confirming that Frank Mir will still challenge Cain Velasquez in a heavyweight eliminator bout, the list of potential replacements for Overeem has...

Posted in: ufc, overeem, bout, heavyweight, drug test

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As interest in the all-heavyweight main card for UFC 146 begins to heat up, skeptics are beginning to wonder if maybe we're expecting too much from the event. Specifically, can this many consecutive heavyweight fights offer enough long-lasting action to satisfy fan expectation over the course of a full pay-per-view event? There is a belief in the larger MMA community - partly rooted in the experience of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix - that a full main card of heavyweight bouts could lead to an exceedingly short night of fights. It's true quick finishes are hardly something to be reviled. Perhaps it's also true, though, that there is something to be said for having a balanced fight card that offers as much carrot as it does stick. Is it even true heavyweight fights on average end more quickly than fights in other divisions? If so, what is the average length of time for a fight in each division? Let's take a look at the numbers to see what they tell us about the complexion of heavyweight fights. Below are the average lengths of time for a fight for each weight class since UFC 28, which is when the Unified Rules were put in place: Weight Average Time HW 7:59 LHW 9:02 MW 9:06 WW 9:54 LW 10:34 FW 11:12 BW 11:19 The most obvious takeaway is, quite clearly, heavyweight fights on average do end more quickly than fights in other divisions. In fact, the data tells us heavyweight fights are approximately 30% shorter than bantamweight fights on average. We can also see the difference between heavyweight and light heavyweight marks the biggest increase in average time between any two weight classes. The difference between the weight classes seems to be incremental from there, but there's virtually a negligible distinction in time between light heavyweight and middleweight bouts. That's the same for featherweights and bantamweights. Speaking of bantamweights, the numbers here do not tell us precisely why their fights go longer than other UFC divisions. One common theory is they simply lack the striking power to do away with one another prior to the final bell seems. Again, these numbers do not speak directly to that theory (we'd need more information about the rate of knockouts), but that intuition seems to at least be on the right track and worth further exploration. As for the heavyweights at UFC 146, no one is suggesting their fights have a predetermined destiny to be abbreviated. In this modern era of the UFC and with a main card with so much ranked heavyweight talent, perhaps they will serve as outliers and resemble more the pitched back and forth their lightweight contemporaries. But that's the key word: outlier. The data is pretty unequivocal. We are right to expect a night of quick action, fast endings and a fight card with rapid turnover once the main card goes live. I am also not suggesting the UFC won't be able to offer a compelling television pay-per-view product even with an exceedingly short main card. The preliminary card for UFC 146 is as stacked as any and it stands to reason UFC will find ways to fill extra time to the extent it exists. In fact, it could be just that balance - longer bouts on the preliminary card, quick bouts on the main card - that could improve the television experience altogether. I'm further not even asserting that should the main card fights all end early that it'd necessarily be a bad thing. The criticism in the aftermath of Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez in some ways missed the mark. It'd be disingenuous to suggest fight fans as well as the general public weren't left wanting more, but since when is that the least desirable outcome? A quick knockout generally satisfies the violence quotient fans are expecting and typically does so without larger controversy. We could all be so lucky to have those conditions met at UFC 146. What will be interesting to see is how these upcoming fights stack up in UFC heavyweight history in terms of their speed. The two records to keep an eye on when May arrives are fastest finishes among heavyweights in UFC history and fastest main cards. The record books tell us the UFC 146 main card fighters will have to beat these top five fastest heavyweight finishes in UFC heavyweight history (since UFC 28) to earn their place among the quickest ever: 0:07 - Todd Duffee, UFC 102 0:15 - Andrei Arlovski, UFC 55 0:17 - Antoni Hardonk, UFC 80 0:39 - Roy Nelson, UFC Fight Night 21 0:43 - Stipe Miocic, UFC on FUEL 1 Higher ranked talent and those known for their durability (Roy Nelson) aren't so easily dispatched. It's far easier to put away Paul Buentello as Arlovski did at UFC 55 than it is Junior dos Santos at any point. But firepower is firepower. I'd be slightly surprised to see anyone on the UFC 146 main card knocked out this quickly, but would it really be so shocking? As for the shortest main cards in UFC history, how can UFC 146 earn a place among the top five? Simple: each of the five main card fights that night will have to average less than four minutes each to beat these events: 19:10 - UFC 29 (no heavyweight bouts) 19:23 - UFC 91 (two heavyweight bouts) 20:05 - UFC 32 (one heavyweight bout) 21:19 - UFC 55 (two heavyweight bouts) 23:22 - UFC 142 (zero heavyweight bouts) I don't know that UFC 146 will beat these previous efforts. And it's interesting to note it doesn't necessarily take a certain threshold of heavyweight bouts per fight card to achieve early endings. The chaotic, offensive nature of MMA allows for virtually any fighter in any division to make quick work of matters. But if there is any kind of card that one can put together to beat these aforementioned rankings while still offering competitive fights, there aren't many that wouldn't look similar to UFC 146. This is the first edition of Crunching Numbers, a new weekly feature that explores the numbers of MMA and what they tell us about the sport and its fighters. All quantitative data provided by FightMetric.

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

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Barring some sort of divine intervention where St. Slobberknocker comes down from above to turn Alistair Overeem’s “B” sample into holy water it seems the only thing “The Demolition Man” will have destroyed by the end of May 2012 is the UFC 146 main event. Scheduled to face heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos for the divisional title, Overeem’s recent hit for testosterone abuse has left the UFC in a unique position where a huge headliner is in limbo with a lack of adequate replacements compounding the issue. Though Frank Mir is the most logical substitute, UFC President Dana White seems intent on maintaining Mir’s match-up with Cain Velasquez at the same event in order to determine a clear-cut top contender. That being said, to save the Zuffa matchmaking team anymore trouble I’ll provide three solid options the UFC should consider in Overeem’s place who are all relatively available and would make for intriguing adversaries. Overeem Appearing in Front of NSAC on April 24 Fabricio Werdum – Werdum is the only heavyweight on the UFC’s roster who isn’t booked at UFC 146 and could conceivably be bought as an actual replacement rankings-wise for Overeem. “Vai Cavalo” is 5-2 in his last seven fights with the losses coming to Dos Santos and Overeem, the first of which was far more dominant in nature. He’s currently in line to face Mike Russow in late June, so it would obviously push his camp up, but for a title-shot and chance at redemption against “Cigano” I’m sure the Brazilian would be down to make the adjustment. Daniel Cormier – This is a stretch since Cormier has Grand Prix commitments in line but sometimes you have to think outside the box when adversity calls. Though perhaps not as deserving, he’s more desirable than Josh Barnett based on his Olympic credentials, non-association with steroids, and lack of negative history with White. He’s also undefeated which never hurts. With Cormier preparing to fight on May 19 the date would work and, perhaps with a little arm-twisting and the promise of a major heavyweight on a Strikeforce card later this year, Showtime could be open to listening. Dan Henderson – In no way does Henderson deserve a crack at Dos Santos’ championship simply because he beat Fedor Emelianenko and holds wins over a handful of respectable guys in a different division. However, Henderson is a fan-favorite and has said he’d fight JDS if called upon to do so. It would also give him a fight to maintain his activity while he wants for the winner of Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans to heal up for the title-shot he has coming. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, heavyweight, henderson

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Barring some sort of divine intervention where St. Slobberknocker comes down from above to turn Alistair Overeem’s “B” sample into holy water it seems the only thing “The Demolition Man” will have destroyed by the end of May 2012 is the UFC 146 main event. Scheduled to face heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos for the divisional title, Overeem’s recent hit for testosterone abuse has left the UFC in a unique position where a huge headliner is in limbo with a lack of adequate replacements compounding the issue. Though Frank Mir is the most logical substitute, UFC President Dana White seems intent on maintaining Mir’s match-up with Cain Velasquez at the same event in order to determine a clear-cut top contender. That being said, to save the Zuffa matchmaking team anymore trouble I’ll provide three solid options the UFC should consider in Overeem’s place who are all relatively available and would make for intriguing adversaries. Overeem Appearing in Front of NSAC on April 24 Fabricio Werdum – Werdum is the only heavyweight on the UFC’s roster who isn’t booked at UFC 146 and could conceivably be bought as an actual replacement rankings-wise for Overeem. “Vai Cavalo” is 5-2 in his last seven fights with the losses coming to Dos Santos and Overeem, the first of which was far more dominant in nature. He’s currently in line to face Mike Russow in late June, so it would obviously push his camp up, but for a title-shot and chance at redemption against “Cigano” I’m sure the Brazilian would be down to make the adjustment. Daniel Cormier – This is a stretch since Cormier has Grand Prix commitments in line but sometimes you have to think outside the box when adversity calls. Though perhaps not as deserving, he’s more desirable than Josh Barnett based on his Olympic credentials, non-association with steroids, and lack of negative history with White. He’s also undefeated which never hurts. With Cormier preparing to fight on May 19 the date would work and, perhaps with a little arm-twisting and the promise of a major heavyweight on a Strikeforce card later this year, Showtime could be open to listening. Dan Henderson – In no way does Henderson deserve a crack at Dos Santos’ championship simply because he beat Fedor Emelianenko and holds wins over a handful of respectable guys in a different division. However, Henderson is a fan-favorite and has said he’d fight JDS if called upon to do so. It would also give him a fight to maintain his activity while he wants for the winner of Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans to heal up for the title-shot he has coming. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, heavyweight, henderson

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Frank Mir may have been the odds-on favorite to replace Alistair Overeem opposite Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, but according to UFC President Dana White, the promotion has decided to look elsewhere to solve their heavyweight dilemma. "Mir vs. Cain (Velasquez) will happen," White revealed via Twitter early this morning, referring to UFC 146's co-main event, a No. 1 contender's match between Mir and former champion Cain Velasquez. Mir was the first to cast his hat into the ring upon the announcement of Overeem's failed drug test, releasing a press release via his management just hours after the UFC 146 title bout was thrown into jeopardy. "I would be excited if given the opportunity to compete for the UFC's heavyweight title at UFC 146 if the reports released earlier today regarding Alistair Overeem failing his 'A' sample drug test are true," Mir stated. "I have been fortunate to be able to fight in the UFC for more than a decade, and it is a dream of mine to become the first three-time heavyweight champion in the UFC. Being able to fight Junior Dos Santos would put me one step closer to that dream." Despite Mir now being removed from the table, and Fedor Emelianenko officially busy in Russia, the UFC's options remain plentiful. A fan-driven campaign for Mark Hunt to receive the title shot has generated the most momentum, as fight fans have over-flooded the UFC's various social media outlets with calls for the Samoan via the #RallyForMarkHunt hashtag. Additionally, Fabricio Werdum and both of Strikeforce's grand prix finalists -- Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier -- have heard their names mentioned in the discussions. However Werdum is currently slated to fight Mike Russow inside his home country of Brazil at UFC 147, and Strikeforce officials would likely be hesitant to cancel a tournament finals a year in the making. Nevertheless, one surprise name did arise on Friday afternoon. When asked by a fan if he would be open to fighting dos Santos, 41-year-old former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson aptly responded, "For sure." "Hendo" fought at heavyweight just once in his professional career, defeating Emelianenko via first-round TKO back in July of 2011. He weighed-in at 207 pounds for the match-up. Henderson is currently scheduled to receive the next available title shot at middleweight or light heavyweight after edging Shogun Rua in UFC 139's legendary main event.

Posted in: ufc, title shot, mir, heavyweight, alistair overeem

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A few days after Alistair Overeem failed a drug test and likely cost himself a title shot, UFC officials have announced no replacement for his UFC 146 bout with heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos. However, there have been some interesting developments. Veteran middleweight and light heavyweight Dan Henderson has expressed his interest in the bout, and UFC president Dana White seemingly has ruled out the possibility of Frank Mir stepping in.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, heavyweight champion, alistair overeem, drug test

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If UFC president Dana White comes calling, Dan Henderson would be willing to accept the challenge of fighting UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. Currently, we are all awaiting word on what will happen with Alistair Overeem following his failed drug test. Henderson, on his Twitter account, was asked if he would accept a match with dos Santos at UFC 146 in May if it was offered to him. For sure. Henderson is currently awaiting a shot at either the UFC light heavyweight title or middleweight belt, but the opportunity to get back inside the Octagon much sooner than either of those titles will likely present could push “Hendo” to compete at heavyweight again. In his last Strikeforce bout, Henderson defeated former heavyweight king Fedor Emelianenko. Photo credit: James Law/MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, henderson, dan henderson, twitter account

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There could be a "huge" change in the line-up for the upcoming UFC 146 main event, scheduled for the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012. That's because Alistair Overeem, who was expected to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos in the "Sin City" headliner live on pay-per-view (PPV), has yet to be licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after failing his pre-fight drug test. And Junior dos Santos called it. Well, sort of. If we run it back to April of 2011, "Cigano," who recently went on record to declare himself "clean," was awestruck by how "huge" his heavyweight counterparts were, including former division champion Brock Lesnar and of course, "Demolition Man," who was wearing 265-pounds of gold under the Strikeforce banner. Here's what he told UFC Sem Limites about the performance-enhancing drug (PED) abuse in his weight class while hyping his upcoming coaching duties on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13: "No I've never seen (someone taking performance-enhancing drugs [PEDs]), but I think at Heavyweight that happens a lot for sure. When you see people like Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, look at the size of those guys, they're really big. As Mario (Yamasaki) said, a lot of people use them but a lot of people don't. I'm someone who has never used (PEDs), I think I came in the good phase of MMA and I've never used them." There are no secrets in mixed martial arts (MMA) and when "The Reem" got word of the Brazilian's "nice comment," he threatened to exact revenge at a later date. See what he told the MMA Fight Corner after the jump. "Cain Velasquez (is who I want to fight the most). And why? Because he is the UFC champion, and believe you me when the tournament is over, I'll be coming for him. And after I'm done with him, we're gonna go after dos Santos for his nice comment." The Overeem War Wagon lost one of its wheels in the middle of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. After a lackluster win over Fabricio Werdum last June, the Dutch striker balked at ZUFFA's proposed timeline for his next fight, then withdrew from the tournament altogether with a mysterious toe injury. It was not the first time Overeem bailed on a stateside fight, either, blowing off a potential showdown with Brett Rogers in 2009 because of a cut sustained during a bar fight in Amsterdam. And let's not forget that whole drug test fiasco that resulted in a conditional license prior to his participation at UFC 141 last December. In short, it's been a rocky road for Overeem and producing a drug test result with a staggering testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 14:1 only serves to reinforce Junior's previous suspicions. All that stands in the way of pitchforks and torches is Alistair's "B" sample, but in order to do that, he must first come forward and ask to have it tested. Overeem ... Overeem ... Bueller ...

Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, heavyweight, drug

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With the scheduled heavyweight championship fight between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem now likely not taking place due to Overeem’s drug test coming back positive for testosterone, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir has suggested a fighter who he feels would be the perfect replacement opponent- him. Mir released a statement following Overeem’s drug test results becoming public, even though Overeem has not been officially removed from the matchup. Overeem, who was granted a conditional license prior to his match at UFC 141 in December, was not fully licensed for this upcoming fight in May. Because of that, he was in line to request a license for the fight in May. Now with the news of his positive drug test, that will not be happening. With that, Mir put his name into the hat to replace Overeem. “I would be excited if given the opportunity to compete for the UFC’s heavyweight title at UFC 146,” said Mir. “I have been fortunate to be able to fight in the UFC for more than a decade, and it is a dream of mine to become the first three-time heavyweight champion in the UFC. Being able to fight Junior dos Santos would put me one step closer to that dream.” Mir is coming off of a historic win at UFC 140 against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. In that rematch, Mir submitted Nogueira with a kimura, breaking Minotauro’s arm in the first round. That win extended Mir’s win streak to three, which also includes wins over Roy Nelson and Mirko Cro Cop. The UFC has not commented on the situation with Overeem, nor has it announced what will happen with any of the currently scheduled matchups. In addition to the main event featuring the heavyweight championship, all four other bouts on the main card will also be heavyweight matchups, a UFC first.

Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, mir, heavyweight

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In what has to be considered among the most disappointing MMA headlines of 2012, the heavyweight title-bout between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem scheduled to main event UFC 146 this summer is in severe jeopardy of being cancelled. In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past 72 hours, the NSAC revealed Overeem failed a pre-fight drug test following a press-conference for the May fight card. The limit for T/E ratios is 6-to-1 and Overeem’s “A” sample exceeded 10-to-1, massively over that maximum. Of course, the former Strikeforce heavyweight champ will be granted the right to request the “B” sample be screened and if that comes up negative he will still be given a license to fight. However, chances are this epic heavyweight collision will not be taking place as planned. Certainly the situation is an unfortunate and frustrating one, but given Overeem’s reputation it is astonishing how few people saw this coming. Listen, Overeem can talk about his horse meat diet all he wants, but unless he is devouring an entire stable of horses and a couple of small ponies on a daily basis, his Godzilla-esque physique is coming from something else he is putting into his body. The positive drug test is unfortunate but it isn’t something that comes completely out of left field. Pundits have accused “The Reem” of utilizing PEDs for years. He may have gotten away with it up until this point but now that he foolishly got caught it is going to be very difficult for Overeem’s reputation to recover from this. I’m not saying Overeem is a bad guy but a majority of the MMA audience is going to look at the man in a much more negative light. The ones who claimed Overeem was using performance enhancers all along now have more ammo to belittle him and the ones who clung to his bandwagon will quickly hop off. Of course, like any fighter of his status he will always have a handful of dedicated followers that will ride with him no matter the circumstances but it seems even some of his most loyal fans are put off by this news.  Though it is going to be tough for Overeem to bounce back it’s not necessarily impossible either. For starters, Overeem needs to be honest when discussing this incident in public. If he comes out and blames the positive test on tainted supplements, like almost every fighter that gets caught does these days, it is not going to help his reputation at all. At the end of the day, fans appreciate honesty so it is very crucial for Overeem to admit his mistake and give a sincere apology. Think back to 2003 when former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia tested positive for steroids and publicly admitted he was using the banned substance to shed excess body fat. Sylvia recovered quite well and eventually reclaimed the heavyweight title three years later without being referred to as a “cheater”. I also believe it would help Overeem’s public image if he admits that he does not deserve to fight for the championship in the midst of all of this. Sure, it sounds absurd, but if he says that he wants to earn his way back into the title picture and start from scratch the audience will be completely blown away and respect he may have lost will start coming back. Obviously, judging by Dana White’s recent comments on the issue he isn’t going to put Overeem back into a main event spot right off the bat anyway so the smart approach on Overeem’s part is to talk about building himself back to the top from the ground up. Realistically he may only need one more fight to earn another title shot, but if he convinces the audience that in light of his mistake he is going to fight his way through the gauntlet and earn the respect of the organization and fans back it will go a long way. At the end of the day what Overeem did is inexcusable but there is no sense in beating a dead horse… because chances are Overeem already did and is about to throw it up on his grill. In all seriousness, everyone makes mistakes and we all get caught, but it’s what you do next that counts. Let’s see how “The Demolition Man” bounces back and if he can shake off the negative labels that now stick to him. He just has to be the one to take the first step towards that goal. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, overeem, heavyweight, test, reputation

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UFC president Dana White seems to have a soft spot in his heart for Josh Barnett. The former UFC fighter is currently scheduled to face Daniel Cormier in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in May. IT was announced last year that the heavyweight division in Strikeforce would be absorbed by the UFC, and several fighters have already been signed to appear in the Octagon. Barnett, who was released following a positive drug test during his last stint with the UFC, would be a welcome addition according to White in a recent interview with HDNet’s Ron Kruck. The way that Showtime wants to do it is when that fight finally happens, whoever wins it, they wanna do another fight on Showtime, so that guy would probably come to the UFC. We’ll see what happens, you know? Josh and I have been playing nice with each other for a little while, since he got into the UFC. It’s more than just, ‘Does he win? Does he do this?’ If he wins the fight, I can’t see why he wouldn’t come here, unless we weren’t able to make a deal with him. Barnett won the UFC heavyweight title in 2002, but was stripped of the title following a positive test for a banned substance. Since a 2006 loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Barnett has went undefeated, including wins over Sergei Kharitonov and Brett Rogers in the grand prix. He would make a nice addition to an already deep heavyweight division in the UFC, especially with a victory over Cormier.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, josh barnett, heavyweight division, barnett

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Could it be? With the possibility that Alistair Overeem is no longer eligible to compete for Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) heavyweight title on May 26 in Las Vegas, any "big announcement" coming from a 265-pound fighter is worth paying attention to. Even if it's from Tim Sylvia. "The Maine-iac," who in recent weeks has resorted to begging his old boss for another crack at fame and fortune under the ZUFFA banner, will be a special guest at the upcoming Fight Night 2 event on April 14 in Biddeford, Maine. That's where he's expected to drop some major news regarding his fighting future. Could Sylvia find himself plugging one of the massive holes created by Overeem's (expected) absence? Stranger things have happened, but it's unlikely the New England mauler will participate in the upcoming UFC 146 "Heavyweight" fight card. Instead, look for his possible inclusion on a regional show scheduled for later this year. From Tim-eh: "I'm excited to be coming home to Maine in the next week or so... and I have a big announcement my fans won't want to miss!" After an embarrassing knockout loss to geriatric pugilist Ray Mercer in 2009, Sylvia rebounded to win six of his next seven fights with five finishes. He most recently outpointed Andreas Kraniotakes at ProElite 2 last November, prompting him to declare he could defeat 80-percent of the current crop of UFC heavyweights. UFC President Dana White insists that Sylvia is not only past his prime, but wasn't very good to begin with, having been champion when the promotion's 265-pound division was at its weakest. Still, that hasn't stopped "The Maine-iac" from getting into fighting shape, even going into BEAST MODE. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Alright Maniacs, you've heard the news. What should we expect from Tim Sylvia come April 14?

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, sylvia, tim sylvia, zuffa banner

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"I would be excited if given the opportunity to compete for the UFC's heavyweight title at UFC 146 if the reports released earlier today regarding Alistair Overeem failing his 'A' sample drug test are true. I have been fortunate to be able to fight in the UFC for more than a decade, and it is a dream of mine to become the first three-time heavyweight champion in the UFC. Being able to fight Junior Dos Santos would put me one step closer to that dream." - MMAHeat Former UFC Heavyweight champion Frank Mir

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, alistair overeem, mir i, dream mmaheat

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The momentum behind the highly anticipated title-bout between UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos and devastating Dutchman Alistair Overeem ran smack dab into a brick wall this afternoon when the NSAC revealed “The Demolition Man” had shown an elevated level of testosterone in his blood stream and would not be licensed as things currently stand. He will need to appear before the commission and have a “B” sample cleared before being permitted to compete, a decision likely indicating his dance with Dos Santos is officially done for. Overeem was subjected to random drug testing at a recent press conference promoting UFC 146 where he is/was scheduled to scrap with Dos Santos. All other fighters who submitted samples were cleared. However, while Overeem’s status is up in the air, at least one heavyweight contender is willing to step in to face “Cigano” on short notice – Frank Mir. Mir is already booked to battle on the May 26 card and viewed as the closest thing to a #1 challenger after Overeem. “I would be excited if given the opportunity to compete for the UFC’s heavyweight title at UFC 146,” said Mir in a press release from his management team. “I have been fortunate to be able to fight in the UFC for more than a decade, and it is a dream of mine to become the first three-time heavyweight champion in the UFC. Being able to fight Junior Dos Santos would put me one step closer to that dream.” The UFC has yet to comment on the matter. PHOTO CREDIT – K-1/STRIKEFORCE

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

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Heavyweight Alistair Overeem has failed a drug test, throwing his UFC 146 title fight with champion Junior Dos Santos in jeopardy and enraging UFC president Dana White.

Posted in: overeem, heavyweight, alistair, test, drug test

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Current UFC heavyweight No. 1 contender and former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem has failed the surprise pre-fight drug test given by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. MMA Junkie’s Steven Marrocco confirmed with NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer that Overeem’s “A” sample was flagged for an elevated T/E ration that exceeded a 10-to-1 ratio. The limit is 6-to-1. Kizer added that Overeem’s can request to have his “B” sample tested, and if that passes, he could apply for a fight license in the state. Overeem and Junior dos Santos were set to meet for the UFC heavyweight title on May 26 at UFC 146 on an all-heavyweight main card. The five other heavyweights who were tested – dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Roy Nelson and Antonio Silva – all passed. As it stands, we will all wait and see what the UFC and Overeem decide to do about this. One thing is for certain, UFC president Dana White is not a happy person right now. Photo credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, nevada state, fight license

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A light-heavyweight bout between Virgil Zwicker and Guto Inocente has been added to next month's "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" event. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today tweeted news of the bout. "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final," which features a tournament finale between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, takes place May 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, virgil zwicker

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Former heavyweight prospect Gian Villante will return to the Strikeforce cage on May 19 when the New Yorker squares off with Derrick Mehmen in a preliminary light heavyweight duel, the promotion confirmed Tuesday.

Posted in: heavyweight, san jose, strikeforce cage, derrick mehmen, yorker squares

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"The way that Showtime wants to do it is when that fight finally happens, whoever wins it, they wanna do another fight on Showtime, so that guy would probably come to the UFC. We'll see what happens, you know? Josh and I have been playing nice with each other for a little while, since he got into the UFC. It's more than just, 'Does he win? Does he do this?' You gotta be able to come to terms with the guy and be able to deal with him. If he wins the fight, I can't see why he wouldn't come here, unless we weren't able to make a deal with him." -- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White discussed the future of the organization's heavyweight division with HDNet's Ron Kruck. The point of emphasis revolved around the new faces that the UFC has imported from Strikeforce within the last few months. The only two heavyweights who are technically still on the Strikeforce roster are Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett, who will face each other in the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" in San Jose, Calif., on May 19, 2012. Presumably, both fighters would head over to the UFC when all is said and done, but Barnett's sketchy history with White and his promotion leaves some wondering if it's a sure thing that he will make the transition. Stranger things have certainly happened, and if we know one thing, it's that Dana White finds ways to forgive those who he can make a profit on. Money makes the world go, Maniacs.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, josh barnett, barnett

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Now, I don't know the first thing about professional wrestling. Never watched it as a kid, never got into the whole mystic growing up. (Though WWF King of the Ring for the original Game Boy was pretty radical.) So when people tell me that Brock Lesnar heading back to the WWE is big deal for pro wrestling, I tend to believe them at their word. After all, the guy can draw numbers. That much is obvious. But after watching a replay of last night's glorious return, I can't help but feel happy for Lesnar. That world seems to appreciate him much more than this one ever did. The Monday Night Raw crowd actually looked like it was on the verge of spontaneously combusting. Lesnar could have fought for ten years in the UFC, and he would have never heard a reception close to that. (You could hear the "HO-LY S***" chant through the broadcast.) So kudos to Brock for his success. MMA will probably never see another transcendent persona quite like him. Now let us never speak of pro wrestling here again. 5 MUST-READ STORIES The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani and The MMA Hour hit the airwaves with another packed show headlined by Wanderlei Silva, Cain Velasquez, Greg Jackson, Ben Askren, Che Mills and Brian Green. Brock Lesnar appears on WWE Monday Night Raw. Three months after falling to Alistair Overeem via first-round TKO at UFC 140, former heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar returned to his pro wrestling roots with a surprise appearance on WWE Monday Night Raw. Nick Diaz' lawyer shoots back. Las Vegas attorney Ross C. Goodman, lawyer to suspended UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz, shot back to the NSAC's latest claim, declaring that there was no need for Diaz to seek a therapeutic marijuana use exemption. Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson III confirmed. Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has agreed to defend his title against the only man to have defeated him over the past four years, former champ Josh Thomson. Cain Velasquez picks Junior dos Santos over Alistair Overeem. Cain Velasquez explained his side of the beef between Josh Koscheck and AKA, and predicted Junior dos Santos to defeat Alistair Overeem at UFC 146. MEDIA STEW Not too long ago Dana White said some pretty ridiculous things about soccer. Given that soccer is the most popular sport in the world, it probably wasn't the smartest move. So, taking matters into his own hands, former U.S. National player Jimmy Conrad issued this challenge to the UFC boss. Cyborg Santos did it. Ronda Rousey did it. Now it's Marloes Coenen's turn to fight a Japanese man on Honoo No Taiikukai TV. We don't know what it is with Japanese game shows pitting grown men against female wrecking machines, but it's hard to look away. (Thanks to @pegson for the tip.) So this is Bob Sapp pushing Inoki Unko Ba Ye Laxative Tea. That's all we've got. There are really no words to describe this. (HT: Middle Easy) If you've never seen a 45-year-old man fight a 37-year-old man, you should probably check out Murilo Bustamante vs. Dave Menne from this past weekend's Amazon Forest Combat 2. (HT: Reddit) BROCK IS BACK I think he'll kick some ass now that he knows how to fight for real! RT @bubbacr @StephanBonnar Did you hear that Brock returned to the WWE? — Stephan Bonnar (@StephanBonnar) April 3, 2012 I think Lesnar going back to @WWE is bad ass. Good for him. Bad for us @UFC fans, but I doubt we've seen the last of him. — Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) April 3, 2012 DANA WHITE ACCEPTS YOUR SOCCER CHALLENGE @JimmyConrad_com @jakesjournal @kick I'm in bro!!! — Dana White (@danawhite) April 2, 2012 @JimmyConrad_com :) — Dana White (@danawhite) April 2, 2012 HARD TO ARGUE WITH THAT Press tour with UFC 146's Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, hereafter known as "Bighand" Silva @BigfootSilva @UFC_Brasil twitpic.com/94uuwl — UFC (@ufc) April 2, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Monday, April 2, 2012): - Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final: Gilbert Melendez (20-2) vs. Josh Thomson (19-4, 1 NC) - Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final: Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (11-3) vs. Mike Kyle (19-8-1) - Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final: Nah-Shon Burrell (8-1) vs. Bobby Voelker (24-8) - KSW 19: Bob Sapp (11-12) vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski (3-2, 1 NC) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is a video-packed primer of Scandinavia's newest UFC hopeful from BE's Norreshizzle: Let me introduce you to Jörgen Kruth I'm positive everyone knows that the UFC will be coming to Sweden, and its already happening the 14th of April. I'd like you to meet one of our legends, the greatest kickboxer Scandinavia has ever seen, Jörgen "The Last Viking" Kruth. He have been fighting most of his kickboxing career in K-1 and at Heavyweight with a total record of 71 Wins (T)KO's, 39 Decisions), 14 Losses, and lately Kruth have been focusing more on his MMA career. He had his first fight early 2009 and thus far into his career he is 5 - 0, with all bouts ended in the first round, with a combined time of 9 minutes and 35 seconds. I'll start off with some of the positive things about Kruth, he is as I mentioned a very decorated kickboxer, to be more specific he's got his base in Muay Thai. He got the feared "K-1 level striking". He used to fight at Heavyweight when he was the WMC Super Heavyweight Muay Thai World Champion, but he has since moved down to Light Heavyweight (205). He's a tall man, 6'2" and has a nice reach aswell. I would say that his strenghts are his fast kicks, hard knees and sharp ellbows. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, lesnar, brock, april

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Travis Browne has a challenge for his UFC 145 opponent Chad Griggs.“I wasn’t going to put it out there,” he says through the laughter, “but I’ll extend the challenge: I have my cute little beard-thing going, and he has his muttonchops, so I want to put out the challenge that whoever loses shaves their facial hair off for a month.“I’ve been putting as much into my beard as he has his muttonchops. I’ve gone through stages,” continues the affable heavyweight. “If you look back at all my different fights, I did the chinstrap, and I tried to get all fancy and did like a fade. If he’s game, we can set something up. Maybe the other person will videotape the loser shaving it off our something.”The 29-year-old Hawaiian is excited and talkative, happy to be closing in on his return to the Octagon, ready to replace the memory of his last appearance with something more representative of his robust talents.“It was a dominant performance over Rob Broughton,” says Browne of his UFC 135 battle with the British heavyweight last September. “I mean, it was 30-27, and there was no time that I was ever in trouble — so it worked, but it wasn’t the most fun or exciting fight that anyone has ever seen.“That being said, I’ve taken a lot from that fight, and learned what I need to do in my next fight in order to be successful. Not only successful, but try and be spectacular in winning. Sometimes you can be successful, but feel like you lost, and that’s what happened with Rob Broughton.“I was expecting so much out of myself. I put so much pressure on myself, we were trying new things, and I was thinking a little bit too much instead of just reacting like I normally would. There was a lot that went into it, but we learned a lot, and corrected a lot of mistakes, and we’re going to keep pushing, and keep moving forward.”Browne’s fight against Broughton was his first since relocating his training camp to Albuquerque, New Mexico to work with coaches Greg Jackson, Mike Winkeljohn, and the team of talent assembled at their gym.After earning Knockout of the Night honors for his Superman punch finish of Stefan Struve at UFC 130, the unbeaten rising star was expected to run through Broughton in Denver. Instead, he never really found his rhythm.The first four fights of his UFC career have produced a 3-0-1 record, but it has been an admittedly up-and-down run according to Browne. That’s why he’s had April 21 circled on his calendar for a couple of months now, when he’ll get to return to the Octagon and prove to everyone that he deserves to be considered amongst the best of the UFC’s suddenly deep heavyweight division.“People are saying that I’ve had kind of a rollercoaster between finishing (James) McSweeney in four minutes, going to a decision and getting a draw with (Cheick) Kongo, then having that nasty knockout against Struve, and then having like a lackluster performance against Rob Broughton.“I think this is the fight that is really going to make people either believe in me or push me aside. This is a fight where I have to come out and prove myself — that I do belong in the UFC, that this is my home, and I need to show people that. “Circumstances are a little bit different for this camp,” adds Browne, noting that there were communication issues between he and his new coaches last time around that have since been rectified. “I’ve learned what kind of fighter I’m going to be, and I’m excited to see how I progress now that Coach Jackson has got a hold of me, and is going to start molding me into the fighter I’m going to be.”Coming off of his highlight reel victory over Struve last spring, Browne was tabbed by many as “The Next Big Thing” in the heavyweight division. Because of the lack of depth within the weight class, his climb up the ranks appeared to be headed towards the fast track prior to his sub-par performance against Broughton in the thin air of Denver, Colorado.Seven months later, the heavyweight ranks have been restocked with former Strikeforce competitors, and Browne couldn’t be happier.“It feels like I retired and now I’m on my way back,” he jokes about the time it has taken for him to make his way back into the Octagon. “I’m actually glad that they’re bringing over the guys from Strikeforce — that way the heavyweights can have more fights. I think that’s one reason why it took seven months for me to get a fight: there just wasn’t the right guy to line up.“I think it opens everything up; it gives (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva a lot more to work with. It just makes for more exciting fights for the fans as well. We have (Alistair) Overeem and (Fabricio) Werdum. There’s going to be (Daniel) Cormier and (Josh) Barnett, and there’s (Antonio) Silva, and that guy Lavar Johnson. All those guys coming over just makes for a lot more interesting matchups.”Included in that collection of transplanted heavyweight challengers is the man he’ll face at UFC 145, Chad Griggs.Less than two years ago, the 33-year-old IFL veteran was unknown to all but the most ardent MMA fans before he was brought in by Strikeforce to face former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley in a fight few expected him to win.After outlasting an exhausted Lashley, Griggs scored a pair of first round wins over prospect Gian Villante and veteran Valentjin Overeem to push his record to 3-0 under the Strikeforce banner, and 11-1 overall. His straightforward, aggressive approach and outstanding muttonchops have made him a fan favorite, while his unexpected three-fight winning streak in Strikeforce (he’s won six straight overall) has made him a member of the UFC heavyweight ranks.In addition to being able to put the aforementioned facial hair wager on the table heading into their meeting on April 21, Browne also welcomes the pairing with Griggs as an opportunity to put what he’s been practicing with Jackson and company in Albuquerque to use inside the cage.“A fight with Chad Griggs is actually really good because it puts me on track to becoming the fighter that I’m going to be,” discloses the six-foot-seven-inch tall heavyweight, who has amassed nine of his 12 wins by way of knockout. “Our game plan for Chad is the same way that I’m going to be fighting when I’m going for the title, so it’s exciting to see and be a part of. It’s a work in progress, and I have some of the best coaches in the business working on it.“The thing about Chad is that he’s unpredictable,” asserts Browne. “He doesn’t know what he’s going to do when he gets in the cage. All he knows is that he’s going to come forward and try to hit you, and that’s what I admire about him: he fights off of instinct, and he comes out and just tries to get it done.“For us, that’s great because it gives me a chance to really work everything that I’ve been learning. It’s not like we know he’s going to jab, overhand, and then shoot in for a double or he’s just going to try and press me into the cage or he’s just going to try and standing the middle and just bang it out with me. We don’t know what Chad’s going to do. He could try to back me into the cage. He could try to slug it out, or he could shoot in for a double; who knows? And that’s something we look forward to. It’s exciting for both Chad and I as fighters to have that, and it’s exciting for me in terms of my development as a fighter.”More than anything else, Browne is looking forward to returning to the aggressive form he displayed throughout his career prior to the fight with Broughton last September.“My last fight, I was trying to be a little more careful, and I fought not to lose,” he admits. “I didn’t really understand that when (UFC president) Dana White or these other people would say, `You need to fight to win; you can’t fight to not lose.’ I didn’t understand that until my last fight. Looking back at that fight, I was fighting to not lose, so if I fight that same fight against Chad Griggs, I’m losing. I can’t just sit back and let him dictate what goes out, because he’s way more dangerous than Rob Broughton will ever be.“I keep referring to Chad Griggs as a pit bull because that’s the way that he fights, and I think I have to go out there and match that intensity. I can’t hold back. I can’t be worried about `oh, I’m going to try and do too much and get caught’ because I tell you what: everybody gets caught.“Sooner or later, you get caught,” Browne adds with a laugh. “If it’s Chad Griggs or if it’s in the championship fight, I don’t give a crap. I’m going to go out there, fight my hardest, and bring the fight to him the same way he’s going to try and bring the fight to me.”Though he’s 12-0-1 thus far and unbeaten in four trips to the Octagon, Browne expects this fight to be the one where he really establishes himself as a threat in the heavyweight division, and he predicts that the judges’ scorecards won’t be needed.“This is definitely going to be one of my breakout fights. I heard him say in an interview that somebody is going to be bleeding, and I welcome that. We each have nine knockouts, and we want to put somebody to sleep.“It’s not going to the judges.”

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, ’t, browne, ’m

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Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is set to defend his belt against top contender Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament Final, slated for May 19, 2012 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Strikeforce officials confirmed the booking on Monday. Heavyweight grand prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier headline the night's main card, which airs live on Showtime. All undercard bouts are expected to broadcast live on Showtime Extreme. UFC imports B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis were at one time linked to Melendez for his next title defense, and Melendez himself recently revealed he was expecting a name other than Thomson to be given the shot. However both sentiments eventually failed to come to fruition. Melendez and Thomson have met twice before, with each man taking home a win. Thomson struck first blood back in 2008, stealing the lightweight strap away via a five-round unanimous decision. However 17 months later "El Nino" exacted his revenge, taking the judges' scorecards in another 25-minute decision. Melendez (20-2) has yet to stumble since his initial loss to Thomson, ripping through six straight victories, capped by a hard-fought win over Jorge Masvidal. Thomson (19-4, 1 NC), on the other hand, struggled with injuries for much of the last two years, before returning from a 15-month layoff to defeat K.J. Noons in a lethargic unanimous decision at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Following his win, "The Punk" was heavily critical of his own performance, boldly stating, "It was s***." In addition, a light heavyweight rematch between former Strikeforce champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (11-3) and Mike Kyle (19-8-1), and a welterweight bout between Nah-Shon Burrell (8-1) and Bobby Voelker (24-8) have been confirmed for the night's fight card.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, josh, melendez, thomson

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After beginning his mixed martial arts (MMA) career undefeated (9-0), including winning the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight title against Brock Lesnar at UFC 121: "Lesnar vs. Velasquez" on Oct. 23, 2010, Cain Velasquez suffered his first defeat in a little more than one minute of the opening round in his first title defense against Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." The Brazilian bomber blasted Velasquez with a powerful right hand that sent him crashing to the canvas and followed up with a few more good shots to finish the job, ending his undefeated streak and taking his recently won title in the process. Now, the former NCAA Division 1 All-American wrestler looks to get back inside the Octagon to start a new streak and prove that regardless of his recent setback, he is still one of the top and most well-rounded heavyweights in the sport today. His first challenge will be against another former UFC Heavyweight Champion, as he takes on Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Frank Mir, at UFC 146 in the promotion's first-ever all Heavyweight main card on Memorial Day weekend (May 26, 2012) for the right to face the winner of that night's main event, Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem. Appearing on the "The MMA Hour" today (April 2, 2012), Velasquez talks about what he could have done different against "Cigano," the recent problems inside his gym, American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), and who think will win the title fight between "The Reem" and "Cigano." Check it out: "I could have attacked more, but I stayed in the punching range and it's not the smartest thing to do against Junior. I could have used more wrestling and attacked and I didn't do any of these things. But, it is something that I have learned from moving forward." One of his former training partners, Josh Koscheck, parted ways with AKA, citing personal differences with head trainer Javier Mendez. Velasquez says that regardless of the beef going on between the two, that it is their business and he has no plans on getting in the middle of it and remains friends with both parties: "I have not read what he said or anything. I've heard from other people. I don't listen to anything people say online or anything. My job is just to train and fight, that is all I stick to. The tension is between he and Javier. If they have the time to sort to they need to. My relationship with Javier and "Kos" is not going to change, he is still a friend of mine. Javier is my top coach and that is just the way it is. I do not get involved in other people's business. We are a close group of guys it sucks to have a close friend leave, but we have to move on with our lives and we have done that." Serving as co-main event at UFC 146 to the much anticipated Heavyweight title fight between Overeem and Dos Santos, Velasquez makes no secret as to who he thinks will win and who he is rooting for: "It's going to be a tough one. I think in the clinch and in the distance, obviously the kicking range, Overeem will have a better shot. But, in the punching range, dos Santos can win the fight whenever.I hope Dos Santos wins so I can have a rematch. I think he will win, he is an athletic guy, his boxing is really good" Indeed, a rematch between he and dos Santos would be intriguing to say the least, given the fact that their first encounter wasn't much of a fight, lasting all of 64 seconds. Before the two can have a second go at it, many things have to fall into place. Dos Santos has to defeat one of his, if not the most toughest test to date, as he steps into the Octagon against a fighter who may have a slight advantage in the striking department. That's an advantage that not to many heavyweights can stake claim to, but Overeem's K-1 pedigree gives him that edge. On the flip side, Velasquez has to get passed a fighter who always seems to be lurking at the top of the division, taking on submission wizard Frank Mir, though Mir isn't a stranger to standing-and banging when the time calls for it. What's your take Maniacs, can Cain get past the wily veteran on his way to another chance to reclaim his UFC title? Or will Mir prove that he is still one of the top big boys in the UFC and hand Velasquez his second consecutive loss en route to his own road to gold? Opinions, please.

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

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With five heavyweight bouts on the main pay-per-view card of UFC 146 on May 26 from Las Vegas, Nevada, fans are right to expect thunderous action. Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos makes his first title defense against former Strikeforce and K-1 champ Alistair Overeem. Also on the card Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez will meet to sort out who's a contender and who's got a long climb back ahead of them. Roy Nelson welcomes Antonio Silva to the UFC. Veteran Gabriel Gonzaga does the same for up-and-comer Shane del Rosario and Stefan Struve puts Mark Hunt to the test. Luke Thomas and the guys at Fight Metric have taken a hard look at the fights in the heavyweight division and some very interesting things pop out. Most notably the fact that the big boys have the shortest fights of any of the divisions. Here are the stats: Below are the average lengths of time for a fight for each weight class since UFC 28, which is when the Unified Rules were put in place: Weight Average Time HW 7:59LHW 9:02MW 9:06WW 9:54LW 10:34FW 11:12BW 11:19 The most obvious takeaway is, quite clearly, heavyweight fights on average do end more quickly than fights in other divisions. In fact, the data tells us heavyweight fights are approximately 30% shorter than bantamweight fights on average. We can also see the difference between heavyweight and light heavyweight marks the biggest increase in average time between any two weight classes. Luke also breaks out the shortest UFC main cards in pay-per-view history: 19:10 - UFC 29 (no heavyweight bouts)19:23 - UFC 91 (two heavyweight bouts)20:05 - UFC 32 (one heavyweight bout)21:19 - UFC 55 (two heavyweight bouts)23:22 - UFC 142 (zero heavyweight bouts) What do you think? Will the unprecedented number of heavyweights make UFC 146 the quickest card ever?SBN coverage of UFC 146 Poll Will UFC 146 be the quickest UFC main card ever? Yes No   40 votes | Results

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

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If you've ever found yourself craving the musty smell of middle age or telling people how Dramarama never got their due, the sensory overload must have been overwhelming after this latest throwback MMA weekend -- a three-day period that saw 50-year-old Maurice Smith kick Father Time right in the face, 41-year-old Pete Spratt backfist his way into a walkoff knockout, 45-year-old Murilo Bustamante and 37-year-old Dave Menne settle a score ten years in the making, and 38-year-old Paul Buentello fall to the most unfortunately nicknamed fella in The Ultimate Fighter history. Add in victories from a slew of former UFC guys -- Karo Parisyan, Patrick Cote, Thales Leites, Gilbert Yvel and Drew Fickett -- and gorged fight fans everywhere broke into a cold sweat at the thought of shoveling down another bite. But then Bellator or TUF popped back on the screen and everybody sighed and said, why not, there's always room for a little more. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Weekend MMA results. Catch up on another weekend of furious MMA action with results for The Ultimate Fighter: Live, The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Bellator 63, ONE FC 3: War of the Lions, Amazon Forest Combat 2, WMMA 1 and RFA, plus grappling results for the IBJJF Pan Ams, and fight videos of David Rickels vs. Jordan Smith, Gilbert Yvel vs. Houston Alexander and 50-year-old Maurice Smith vs. Jorge Cordoba. If Brock Lesnar is headed back to WWE, Dana White won't stand in his way. According to various unconfirmed reports, former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has signed a new one-year contract with WWE. When asked, UFC President Dana White insisted Zuffa wouldn't take action to stop the rumored deal. Video: riot breaks out at Lockdown MMA event. London's 'Lockdown MMA' show met a premature end after belligerent fight-crazed fans broke into a full-blown riot, throwing bottles and chairs at each other for several minutes. Fedor Emelianenko rumored for October M-1/ONE FC card. M-1 Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan attended Saturday night's ONE FC 3 show as a special guest of CEO/Owner Victor Cui, fueling rumors that a cross-promoted card headlined by Fedor Emelianenko could be in the works. Muhammed 'King Mo' Lawal apologizes, may be considering WWE. Exiled former Strikeforce champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal reportedly expressed interest in taking his talents to the WWE after apologizing to Nevada Athletic Commissioner Pat Lundvall. MEDIA STEW Now here's an idea we can totally get behind: POLITICIAN FIGHTS. Sounds good, right? But that's not even the best part. You can gamble on them. Yes, in an bizarre awesome showing of depravity, bookies listed 37-year-old conservative senator Patrick Brazeau as a 3-to-1 favorite to bust up 40-year-old liberal parliament representative Justin Trudeau when the two Canadians brawled (for charity) on Saturday night in Ottawa. United States congress, start taking notes. (Thanks to @Gabe_Lewis for the tip.) It's Monday morning, you're a responsible adult, you have things to do. Hey, we get it. But for all the slackers bored at work out there, do yourself a favor and check out Ole Laursen vs. Eduard Folayang's crazy 'Fight of the Year' candidate from ONE FC 3. (For the lazy, jump to 3:07:22. Or just spend the entire afternoon watching four hours of spectacular violence. We promise not to tell anyone.) In a lot of ways, Rashad Evans gets a bad rap. The guy is showered with boos inside the cage, even though outside of it he's nothing but nice to fans and media alike. So big props to 'Shad for the restraint he showed after this dum-dum fan asked for an autographed "Rashadface" poster. Another gem from the weekend: check out Patrick Cote making a pretty damn strong case for a UFC contract (plus Mario Yamasaki failing badly at his job) at Saturday's Amazon Forest Combat 2 event. (HT: Reddit) Melvin Manhoef and DEEP champion Yoshiyuki Nakanishi were two minutes into what looked like to be an electrifying scrap at ONE FC 3, before an errant kick opened up a canyon-of-a-cut on Manhoef's right shin. Needless to say, this sucker ended in a 'no contest.' (Photo via Anton Tabuena/Bloody Elbow.) I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN MOM AND DAD FIGHT . @smgathletes one day @evgenikogan said that if we ever got an UFC offer,he'd let me go. Now we know he's a lier piece of shit. — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) April 2, 2012 @evgenikogan You're pathetic. I wasn't the one jumping like a high school girl when her boyfriend was getting kicked in the neck. — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) April 2, 2012 @evgenikogan also "Cry me a River" isJ. Timberlake's song. I thought you were a fan of Brittney Spears. — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) April 2, 2012 WELL ALRIGHT THEN @ufcyou are crazy if you think you've seen the last of this twitter.com/CesarGracieBJJ… — Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) March 30, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced over the weekend (Friday, March 30, 2012 - Sunday, April 1, 2012): - UFC 148: Melvin Guillard (29-10-2) vs. Fabricio "Morango" Camoes (14-6-1) - UFC on FX 3: Charlie Brenneman (15-3) vs. Erick Silva (13-2), according toGlobo - Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier: Gian Villante (9-3) vs. Derrick Mehmen (12-4), according to Newsday - Bellator 65: Cole Konrad (8-0) vs. Eric Prindle (7-1) - Bellator 67: Ben Saunders (13-4-2) vs. Bryan Baker (17-3) - Bellator 67: Karl Amoussou (14-4-2) vs. David Rickels (10-0) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day comes from BE's Jack Slack, and he warns it may ruffle some feathers: New Breed? A Realistic Assessment of the UFC Heavyweight Division The heavyweight division has traditionally been sparse on talent. Yet with the upcoming all heavyweight spectacular at UFC 146, all eyes are focused on the division and fans are more excited for a card as a whole than they have been for some time. Perhaps people think that they are excited because the heavyweight division is ever improving, and the men competing today would trounce the heavyweight division of three or four years ago? Probably not. The reason most fans are excited is because the heavyweight division promises FINISHES. Big ones. Why You Buy Heavyweight Fights Heavyweight fights have always been viewed as the ticket sellers, which is why the atrocious Frank Mir vs Cro Cop match up (replacing the only slightly less atrocious Frank Mir vs Big Nog 2 match up) was still able to headline a UFC event, despite a wealth of talent elsewhere on the the same card. People pay to see heavyweights because big men can generate a lot of force in their punches, tend to have a harder time covering up (due to their massive frames) and gas so quickly that a knockout delivered by the second man to tire is pretty much assured. When heavyweight matches go the scheduled distance however, they tend to be open mouthed panting, clinched against the fence affairs which put a dampener on the whole evening of fights. Sean Sherk vs Evan Dunham was a back and forth technical exchange with significant ramifications at lightweight, buried in the memory of fans beneath 3 rounds of Frank Mir failing to take down an opponent who was 30lbs lighter than him, with an injured eye. Much of the talk three years ago, when Fedor Emelianenko had turned down the opportunity to fight for the UFC, was around the "new breed" of heavyweights. Men just as skilled as Fedor who were bigger, and a marked improvement on anything that had come at heavyweight before. How much of this "new breed" was hype? We'll examine that below. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, vs, fan

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Light Heavyweight veteran Dan Henderson, who was last seen in action defeating Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in November, confirms reports that he is, in fact, next in line to challenge for the Light Heavyweight title, and discusses a potential rematch with Middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. Henderson says that though he would be interested in a rematch with Silva, it is the only fight he wants at 185-pounds.

Posted in: title, heavyweight, silva, henderson, dan henderson

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LAS VEGAS – The much-anticipated conclusion of the STRIKEFORCE® GRAND PRIX HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT has been announced for Saturday, May 19, as STRIKEFORCE® returns to HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Former UFC® title holder Josh Barnett will meet two-time Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), to determine the eight-man tournament champion.The fight card will also feature a rubber match for the STRIKEFORCE lightweight championship between two long-time rivals when champion Gilbert Melendez defends his title against number one contender Josh Thomson. Additionally, former STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight champion Rafael ‘Feijão’ Cavalcante takes on the heavy-handed Mike Kyle and Bobby Voelker clashes with Nah-Shon Burrell in a welterweight tilt.STRIKEFORCE® GRAND PRIX HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT FINAL will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). Additional fights scheduled for the event are expected to be released shortly.“STRIKEFORCE is coming back to where it all started – San Jose,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “The Bay Area has some of the best fight fans in the world and we can’t wait to get back with an event like this on May 19. With the Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, along with Gilbert Melendez’s lightweight title defense against longtime rival Josh Thomson, you don’t want to miss this card!”Tickets for the STRIKEFORCE® GRAND PRIX HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT FINAL go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 6 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $175, $125, $75 and $45. Tickets will be available at the HP Pavilion ticket office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, April 5 at 10 a.m. PT until 12 p.m. PT, via the website www.UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter and STRIKEFORCE Insider subscribers Thursday, April 5, starting at 12 p.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.UFC.com.Currently riding an eight-fight win streak that includes tournament victories over Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov, Josh Barnett (fighting out of Fullerton, Calif.) is hoping to conclude his run in the heavyweight tournament with an exclamation point by finishing his third opponent and claiming the trophy belt. At 31-5, the catch wrestling expert has proven he possesses a complete MMA skill set to compete with anyone he stands across the cage from. Now known as “The Warmaster”, Barnett owns career wins over legendary veterans including Randy Couture, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Pedro Rizzo and Dan Severn, and will look to add Daniel Cormier to his long list of conquests.  Daniel Cormier (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) has experienced an incredible ascension through the heavyweight ranks since he began his professional MMA career in September 2009, after representing the U.S. at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics as a member of the freestyle wrestling team. Training at the famed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Cormier has had the advantage of training with some of the sport’s best athletes. The Oklahoma State University All-American wrestler earned his way into the tournament as an alternate after defeating experienced veteran Jeff Monson last summer in a reserve bout and went on to knock out Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in dramatic fashion in his semi-final matchup. With a record of 9-0, “DC” looks to stay undefeated and make the most of this opportunity that will surely catapult him to the top of the heavyweight division. Considered by most to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA today, current STRIKEFORCE lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez (fighting out of San Francisco, Calif. by way of Santa Ana, Calif.) is looking to continue his dominance and extend his six-fight unbeaten streak with a successful title defense in the finale of this exciting fight trilogy. In addition to splitting wins with Thomson, “El Niño” also owns victories over Jorge Masvidal, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Shinya Aoki and Clay Guida, bringing his overall record to an impressive 20-2. Former STRIKEFORCE lightweight champ and UFC veteran Josh Thomson (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) steps back into the cage looking to reclaim what he feels is his and to earn his spot back atop the division. With a record of 19-4, 1 NC, “The Punk” recently outpointed KJ Noons in a number one contender’s match, and has defeated top stars such as Melendez, Duane Ludwig, Nam Phan and Pat Healy. Fans can expect these fighters to leave it all in the cage and pull out all the stops in this historic all-Bay Area championship matchup.In what many considered a huge upset at the time, Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) was defeated by the always dangerous Kyle in June 2009 in his STRIKEFORCE debut. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt would rebound nicely and go on to defeat “King Mo” Lawal for the STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight championship, and more recently he knocked out Olympic wrestler Yoel Romero. At 11-3, he will look to even the score when he gets his rematch with American Kickboxing Academy powerhouse Mike Kyle (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.). Never one to settle for an easy fight, “MAK”’s wars with fighters like “Bigfoot” Silva and Fabricio Werdum are well noted throughout his career. This matchup seems tailor-made for the 19-8-1, 1 NC kickboxing pro who is looking to build off his win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima in September and firmly establish himself in the division.  Bobby Voelker (fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) steps back into the cage for the first time since defeating Roger Bowling in back-to-back welterweight battles. With a current record of 24-8, “Vicious” has developed a reputation for being an exciting fighter who never likes it to go to the judges, as evidenced by his 19 finishes. He meets Nah-Shon Burrell (fighting out of Philadelphia, Pa.) who owns an 8-1 overall record and is currently riding a six-fight win streak, including a victory over James Terry. At only 22, “The Rock-N-Rolla” is looking to make a name for himself in the welterweight division with an impressive performance over an MMA veteran. For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit the STRIKEFORCE Twitter page. All bouts live and subject to change.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, tournament, san

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Are you ready for some title fights? Hopefully you said "yes" because Bellator is going to be bringing them in bunches in the next few weeks. On top of the two planned championship fights taking place this week and next week with the welterweight and bantamweight divisions, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced during MMA Uncensored Live that the heavyweight title was going to be defended on April 13th at Bellator 65 in Atlantic City. The bout, which will feature Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and the season five tournament winner Eric Prindle, will be the second title fight that evening as the Bellator bantamweight championship will be fought for with Zach Makovsky and Eduardo Dantas. There will be a remarkably short amount of preparation time for both men, but that doesn't seem to bother them. Prindle was just crowned the Bellator season five tournament winner last week when his original opponent Thiago Santos failed to make the 265 weight limit despite having three months and even an extra week to prepare. Konrad was raring to go and expecting a short tournament finale so Bjorn Rebney announced that the fight would likely happen in the next four weeks. Crazy as that sounded, it was even wilder to hear that the fight would happen this soon. Cole Konrad doesn't want to wait. He's spent enough time waiting. He only fought once in 2011 after the first seven fights of his career all took place in 2010. "The Polar Bear" likes to fight often and he's getting his wish. So what do you think, Maniacs? Will Prindle be able to become the Bellator heavyweight champion with only two weeks to prepare for the bout? Do you think Konrad's gamble will pay off? Sound off!

Posted in: fight, bellator, week, heavyweight, konrad

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Lyoto Machida was in desperate need of a win heading into his light heavyweight bout against Randy Couture at UFC 129. Let's just say he delivered.

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

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As interest in the all-heavyweight main card for UFC 146 begins to heat up, skeptics are beginning to wonder if maybe we're expecting too much from the event. Specifically, can this many consecutive heavyweight fights offer enough long-lasting action to satisfy fan expectation over the course of a full pay-per-view event? There is a belief in the larger MMA community - partly rooted in the experience of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix - that a full main card of heavyweight bouts could lead to an exceedingly short night of fights. It's true quick finishes are hardly something to be reviled. Perhaps it's also true, though, that there is something to be said for having a balanced fight card that offers as much carrot as it does stick. Is it even true heavyweight fights on average end more quickly than fights in other divisions? If so, what is the average length of time for a fight in each division? Let's take a look at the numbers to see what they tell us about the complexion of heavyweight fights. Below are the average lengths of time for a fight for each weight class since UFC 28, which is when the Unified Rules were put in place: Weight Average HW 7:59 LHW 9:02 MW 9:06 WW 9:54 LW 10:34 FW 11:12 BW 11:19 The most obvious takeaway is, quite clearly, heavyweight fights on average do end more quickly than fights in other divisions. In fact, the data tells us heavyweight fights average are approximately 30% shorter than bantamweight fights. We can also see the difference between heavyweight and light heavyweight marks the biggest increase in average time between any two weight classes. The difference between the weight classes seems to be incremental from there, but there's virtually a negligible distinction in time between light heavyweight and middleweight bouts. That's the same for featherweights and bantamweights. Speaking of bantamweights, the numbers here do not tell us precisely why their fights go longer than other UFC divisions. One common theory is they simply lack the striking power to do away with one another prior to the final bell seems. Again, these numbers do not speak directly to that theory (we'd need more information about the rate of knockouts), but that intuition seems to at least be on the right track and worth further exploration. As for the heavyweights at UFC 146, no one is suggesting their fights have a predetermined destiny to be abbreviated. In this modern era of the UFC and with a main card with so much ranked heavyweight talent, perhaps they will serve as outliers and resemble more the pitched back and forth their lightweight contemporaries. But that's the key word: outlier. The data is pretty unequivocal. We are right to expect a night of quick action, fast endings and a fight card with rapid turnover once the main card goes live. I am also not suggesting the UFC won't be able to offer a compelling television pay-per-view product even with an exceedingly short main card. The preliminary card for UFC 146 is as stacked as any and it stands to reason UFC will find ways to fill extra time to the extent it exists. In fact, it could be just that balance - longer bouts on the preliminary card, quick bouts on the main card - that could improve the television experience altogether. I'm further not even asserting that should the main card fights all end early that it'd necessarily be a bad thing. The criticism in the aftermath of Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez in some ways missed the mark. It'd be disingenuous to suggest fight fans as well as the general public weren't left wanting more, but since when is that the least desirable outcome? A quick knockout generally satisfies the violence quotient fans are expecting and typically does so without larger controversy. We could all be so lucky to have those conditions met at UFC 146. What will be interesting to see is how these upcoming fights stack up in UFC heavyweight history in terms of their speed. The two records to keep an eye on when May arrives are fastest finishes among heavyweights in UFC history and fastest main cards. The record books tells us the UFC 146 main card fighters will have to beat these top five fastest heavyweight finishes in UFC heavyweight history (since UFC 28) to earn their place among the quickest ever: 0:07 - Todd Duffee, UFC 102 0:15 - Andrei Arlovski, UFC 55 0:17 - Antoni Hardonk, UFC 80 0:39 - Roy Nelson, UFC Fight Night 21 0:43 - Stipe Miocic, UFC on FUEL 1 Higher ranked talent and those known for their durability (Roy Nelson) aren't so easily dispatched. It's far easier to put away Paul Buentello as Arlovski did at UFC 55 than it is Junior dos Santos at any point. But firepower is firepower. I'd be slightly surprised to see anyone on the UFC 146 main card knocked out this quickly, but would it really be so shocking? As for the shortest main cards in UFC history, how can UFC 146 earn a place among the top five? Simple: each of the five main card fights that night will have to average less than four minutes each to beat these events: 19:10 - UFC 29 (no heavyweight bouts) 19:23 - UFC 91 (two heavyweight bouts) 20:05 - UFC 32 (one heavyweight bout) 21:19 - UFC 55 (three heavyweight bouts) 23:22 - UFC 142 (one heavyweight bout) I don't know that UFC 146 will beat these previous efforts. And it's interesting to note it doesn't necessarily take a certain threshold of heavyweight bouts per fight card to achieve early endings. The chaotic, offensive nature of MMA allows for virtually any fighter in any division to make quick work of matters. But if there is any kind of card that one can put together to beat these aforementioned rankings while still offering competitive fights, there aren't many that wouldn't look similar to UFC 146. This is the first edition of Crunching Numbers, a new weekly feature that explores the numbers of MMA and what they tell us about the sport and its fighters. All quantitative data provided by FightMetric.

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

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UFC 146, which has been formally announced for May 26 in Las Vegas, will be something like the Final Four of the UFC's heavyweight division: A rare opportunity to see the four best fighters in one weight class paired off against each other in the Octagon on the same night. Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem in the UFC 146 main event will determine the UFC heavyweight title, and Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir in the co-main event is a 3 vs. 4 matchup that will likely determine the next contender for the heavyweight belt. So the top four heavyweights in the sport will sort themselves out soon. Find out how I rank the rest of the heavyweight division below. Top 10 Heavyweights in Mixed Martial Arts 1. Junior Dos Santos: The heavy hands of Dos Santos are enough to make him the favorite to retain his title when he takes on Overeem, although if there's anyone who can test Dos Santos's chin, Overeem is the man who can do it. 2. Alistair Overeem: Trading punches with Dos Santos wouldn't be a wise idea for Overeem, but Overeem will have a size and strength advantage over Dos Santos, and the best way for Overeem to beat Dos Santos is to use that strength advantage to grab hold of Dos Santos and control him in the clinch. 3. Cain Velasquez: It's hard to believe Velasquez hasn't won a fight since defeating Brock Lesnar a year and a half ago. I think he'll get back on track against Mir, however, and I believe Velasquez will be fighting for the UFC belt again by the end of the year. 4. Frank Mir: Now on a three-fight winning streak with victories over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson and Mirko Cro Cop, Mir will earn a title shot if he beats Velasquez. 5. Fabricio Werdum: Werdum returned to the UFC with a victory over Roy Nelson, and he'll be a heavy favorite to make it two in a row over Mike Russow, who's a fine fighter but not in Werdum's class. 6. Daniel Cormier: The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is finally coming to a close when Cormier takes on Josh Barnett in May. Cormier can make a major statement that he deserves to be considered one of the elite heavyweights in all of MMA. 7. Josh Barnett: For Barnett, the Cormier fight is one last chance to gain back some of the respect he lost when multiple failed drug tests nearly derailed his career. Barnett can fight, and if he wins against Cormier he'll have a lot of big fights ahead of him, in Strikeforce and the UFC. 8. Antonio Silva: Silva is coming off a loss to Cormier, but he's got a big heavyweight fight of his own at UFC 146, when he takes on Roy Nelson in his UFC debut. 9. Shane Carwin: Carwin has fallen far since the knockout of Mir that improved his record to 12-0: That fight was two years ago, and all he's done since then is lose to Brock Lesnar, lose to Junior Dos Santos and undergo back surgery. If he can come back at something close to full strength he can be one of the best in the world again, but that's a big "if." 10. Fedor Emelianenko: The best heavyweight ever is a long way from his prime, but back-to-back wins over Jeff Monson and Satoshi Ishii, and the general lack of depth in the heavyweight division, are enough to get him back into the bottom of the Top 10.

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

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir has fought in four UFC heavyweight title fights. If he gets past Cain Velasquez at UFC 146 on May 26, he'll earn the opportunity to compete for UFC gold a fifth time.

Posted in: ufc, mir, heavyweight, heavyweight contender, ufc gold

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How different would the heavyweight landscape be if Shane Del Rosario didn't get have his car totaled by a maniac driver, sidelining the up and comer for a year, and Del Rosario actually fought Daniel Cormier at Overeem Vs. Werdum? Somewhat different, that's for sure. As we know, Cormier ended up defeating Jeff Monson, who filled in for the injured Rosario in a one sided victory, then knocked out Bigfoot, sending the former Olympian to face off with Josh Barnett in the finals of the HWGP. All of this happened while Shane Del Rosario was recovering from his injuries that at one point threatened his promising career. It's cool though, Shane is back and in good health, he was even a downloadable character for Supremacy MMA while he was out. It's funny how these things work, a career threatening injury and the dissolution of your weight division in Strikeforce later and now Shane Del Rosario is fighting Gabrielle Gonzaga on the biggest (pun kind of intended) heavyweight card in MMA history at UFC 146. Fight Magazine caught up with the undefeated heavyweight and were allowed to pull the curtain back on Del Rosario the fighter to reveal what so many already know about him: he's one hell of a good guy. [Source]

Posted in: heavyweight, shane, rosario, del, del rosario

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The heavyweight division has traditionally been sparse on talent. Yet with the upcoming all heavyweight spectacular at UFC 146, all eyes are focused on the division and fans are more excited for a card as a whole than they have been for some time. Perhaps people think that they are excited because the heavyweight division is ever improving, and the men competing today would trounce the heavyweight division of three or four years ago? Probably not. The reason most fans are excited is because the heavyweight division promises FINISHES. Big ones. Why You Buy Heavyweight Fights Heavyweight fights have always been viewed as the ticket sellers, which is why the atrocious Frank Mir vs Cro Cop match up (replacing the only slightly less atrocious Frank Mir vs Big Nog 2 match up) was still able to headline a UFC event, despite a wealth of talent elsewhere on the the same card. People pay to see heavyweights because big men can generate a lot of force in their punches, tend to have a harder time covering up (due to their massive frames) and gas so quickly that a knockout delivered by the second man to tire is pretty much assured. When heavyweight matches go the scheduled distance however, they tend to be open mouthed panting, clinched against the fence affairs which put a dampener on the whole evening of fights. Sean Sherk vs Evan Dunham was a back and forth technical exchange with significant ramifications at lightweight, buried in the memory of fans beneath 3 rounds of Frank Mir failing to take down an opponent who was 30lbs lighter than him, with an injured eye.Much of the talk three years ago, when Fedor Emelianenko had turned down the opportunity to fight for the UFC, was around the "new breed" of heavyweights. Men just as skilled as Fedor who were bigger, and a marked improvement on anything that had come at heavyweight before. How much of this "new breed" was hype? We'll examine that below. The New Breed: Fact or Fiction? Fedor Emelianenko, wherever you stand on his legacy, is the single best rounded heavyweight to have had major success in MMA. HIs stand up was the best in the division, his clinch work was also world class and he was equally dominant from the top and from his back. In addition to this he was one of the few heavyweights in the world to not visibly have trouble with going the distance. He has declined massively since his heyday, and from his fight with Tim Sylvia onward seemed to only want to swing wild at his opponents, but none have matched his effectiveness in all areas. In order to understand just how routine the "new breed" of heavyweights are when compared to the standard set by The Last Emperor, it is necessary to examine them one by one. Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin: When forum members and MMA journalists spoke of the "new breed" in the heavyweight division, they always used the generic example of the "big wrestler". And by this they usually meant Brock Lesnar or Shane Carwin. Brock Lesnar made his way to the UFC heavyweight title with no skill other than his wrestling, which had severely decayed since his dominating NCAA Division I run. The assertion that this "big wrestler" with relentless top control would be able to smother and pound out anyone in the heavyweight division was more based in the imaginations of fans than in reality. Brock Lesnar's takedown success rate was just 57%, most of which came against only semi-competent wrestlers Heath Herring and Frank Mir. Factor in that of Lesnar's 11 career takedowns, Couture stood up again twice and Velasquez stood up again twice. Only 7 of Lesnar's takedowns were of any effect. 5 of these takedowns also came against a washed up Heath Herring, who Brock was unable to finish. Impressive strength? Hell yes. But not the modern Smashing Machine that we were promised. Shane Carwin's takedown percentage meanwhile is just 29%. That's not too bad when you consider that Carwin's M.O is to stand and bang, but aside from a crisp 1-2 he wasn't the most technically proficient at this. Gabriel Gonzaga was able to put him on the brink of a TKO loss with a half foot reach disadvantage and limited punching ability himself. Carwin was able to rally admirably against Gonzaga and KO the Brazilian moments later, but a man with an 80 inch reach should never be in trouble on the feet. Carwin has a ton of heart, as demonstrated against Junior dos Santos, but his cardio, if anything, is worse than old school heavyweight gassers Kevin Randleman, Mark Coleman, Mark Kerr. Both Lesnar and Carwin were intimidating presences in the octagon... but not in any way a "new breed". Mark Kerr was ragdolling opponents and then gassing out ten years before these guys. Cain Velasquez: A relentless wrestler who can also kickbox well. Or so it seemed. But a closer inspection of his three biggest fights, against Kongo, Lesnar and Dos Santos reveal an inability to get away from punches that removes all suggestion of his being the best rounded heavyweight in MMA. Cheick Kongo threw about five real punches in his fight with Cain Velasquez, while running backwards, and dropped the American twice. Brock Lesnar, a horrific striker, was also out jabbing Cain Velasquez until he realized that he hated being hit. Junior dos Santos finished Cain's night as Cain turned his back on Junior's overextended, sloppy overhand so that it connected on the back of his head. Cain Velasquez can do it all on offense, but hasn't learned to defend himself adequately on the feet just yet. His amazing cardio is the main argument for his being an improvement on the original heavyweight model, and it's a convincing one. But he is one of the smallest heavyweights in the UFC, which counters the notion that big wrestlers are the future of the division. Following the dos Santos fight, in which Cigano had to do no defending of takedowns and knocked Cain out with a sloppy overhand, there is little argument that even at this late, brawling exclusively stage of his career, Fedor couldn't knock Cain out. Cain Velasquez puts in one of the best cases for being "new breed", but ultimately is just a skilled light heavyweight who doesn't like cutting weight. Hmm... that sounds familiar. Frank Mir: Frank Mir deserves a lot of respect for what he has attempted to do with his career. In the PRIDE years he was seemingly unwanted by the largest organisation in the sport and carved out a niche submitting heavyweight also-rans. But since then he has attempted to improve his stand up relentlessly and has had decent success doing so. The only issue is that striking wasn't Frank's main weakness. His weakness, as displayed by Pe de Pano, Ian Freeman and later Brock Lesnar, was getting stuck on the bottom and pounded out when he used all his strength on a failed submission. He lacks the positional game of a Nogueira or a Werdum, who are able to sweep or simply stand up from a takedown, rather than sit under the opponent eating punches. Then there is Frank's wrestling, failing to take down a decayed Cro Cop despite a 30lbs weight advantage is fairly bad, but to be out muscled by Nogueira in the clinch is just bizarre. An entertaining finisher who often puts on great fights, but Mir's rounded game is an illusion brought about by fighting terrible opposition. If Big Nog and Cro Cop are still looking passable against him (and even rocking him) a decade after they lost to Fedor, he can hardly be considered a "new breed". Junior dos Santos: An astounding fighter, but hardly a case for well rounded heavyweights. Competent takedown defense and rumored excellent Jiu Jitsu, Cigano has still showed signs of gassing in his fights with Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin (it just so happened that they gassed worse). Cigano's success with two or three punching combinations in the heavyweight division really just demonstrates how lackluster the standard of kickboxing there still is. The fact that a decent boxer with an average sprawl sits atop the heavyweight division is damning to the idea of a new breed. A spectacular finisher, and the owner of some of the fastest, heaviest hands in MMA, but hardly "new breed". Sprawl and brawlers have been around for years, he's just Andre Arlovski before the chin declined. Cheick Kongo: I don't think I need to go in to detail as to why Cheick Kongo isn't a well rounded heavyweight. He's a kickboxer who lacks boxing ability. Alistair Overeem: A powerful submission grappler, a world class kickboxer and a 265lbs collosus, nobody makes the case for being a "new breed" of heavyweight as well as Alistair Overeem does. He is, however, a new acquisition of the UFC, and not one of fighters who had been hyped as well rounded by Zuffa for the last three years. Conclusions Ultimately the new breed is almost entirely a myth, (you might well have noticed my failure to even mention Todd Duffee, once marked to be the next big thing in the UFC's rebranded heavyweight division). We have a top quality match up for the heavyweight title coming up between Overeem and dos Santos, but it is not the battle of well rounded athletes that others are making it out to be. It is simply one of the few times that two competent strikers have met at the top of the heavyweight division. The sad truth is that Overeem will probably choose to grind Cigano out on the ground or against the cage, and that will be another "new breed" heavyweight's lack of depth exposed. There are a handful of better rounded, fairly well conditioned heavyweights in the UFC, but that has always been the case with the division. The rest are still the same cut and paste punchers who end up panting by the end of the first round, and swinging with their hands by their knees by the third. But isn't that what makes heavyweight fights entertaining? This piece is from Jack Slack's blog, Fights Gone By http://www.fightsgoneby.com/2012/03/new-breed-realistic-assessment-of-ufc.html Be on the lookout for Jack Slack's first ebook: Advanced Striking: Tactics of Kickboxing, Boxing and MMA Masters, out over the Easter break.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, division, heavyweight division, breed

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According to a Yahoo! Sports report, former UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez has a chance to get back on top of the division if he can get past Frank Mir at UFC 146 on May 26 in Las Vegas, NV. His clash against Mir is the co-main event of a card headlined by a heavyweight title...

Posted in: ufc, mir, heavyweight, yahoo, comain event

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Eric Prindle will receive his shot at heavyweight champion Cole Konrad on April 13 at Bellator 65.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, konrad, eric, heavyweight gold

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If Josh Barnett takes care of Daniel Cormier and wins the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, who would you like to see Barnett face in the “final” Strikeforce heavyweight match. How about if Cormier, an Olympian, takes care of Barnett and wins the title, who would you prefer to see him face? Well, if you are UFC president Dana White, that answer still remains a mystery. White, in a recent interview with Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie, explained they are unsure who that final opponent will be. Who knows. We could bring somebody else in. There’s probably another heavyweight. I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. I can’t even think about that yet. We’ve got to get that tournament done first. Barnett and Cormier will finally end the year-plus grand prix when they face off on May 19 from San Jose, California. The bout, which will be the main card for the night, will be televised by Strikeforce. Photo credit: Twitter.com/Strikeforce

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, face, barnett, daniel cormier

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On May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the UFC will host an all-heavyweight main card at UFC 146. There will be a title fight and several bouts between the division’s top competitors. The announcement of an all-heavyweight pay-per-view show set the mixed martial arts world a-buzz, much more so than would have an announcement of an all-bantamweight or all-middleweight fight card. At the press conference held to officially announce UFC 146, UFC president Dana White, along with six of the fighters competing at UFC 146, gave their best assessment as to why the heavyweight division provokes such interest. Dana White: I think because the heavyweights bring that excitement of, you know, you’re probably gonna see a knockout. But, in this heavyweight show, there could be knockouts, there could be submissions, whatever. … The main heavyweight (fight) for the belt is a very, very exciting fight. And then, as you go right back down the card, you’ve got guys that are strikers, Frank Mir – obviously, pretty scary after his last win and what he was capable of doing – this isn’t your typical ‘allure of the heavyweights’ card. These guys can do anything. Roy Nelson: I think if you just do percentages, we actually finish fights. It’s one of those things, everybody likes the home run ball in baseball and everybody likes a good dunk in NBA – we’re just the guys that you like to see us finish. It’s pretty much that simple. Cain Velasquez: Yeah, just big guys that throw exciting fights. Showing that the big guys are athletic, with punches and kicks, that move around the ring really well, or the octagon. Just the power that these guys possess. Heavyweights, we’re known for a lot of power. Junior dos Santos: Just heavyweights, too much power involved. And also, like Roy said, we finish fights. That’s why I’m here and I’m gonna prepared on the day of the fight to finish one more fight. Alistair Overeem: I would say because the heavyweight division is the biggest and baddest of all divisions. Like the other guys said, a lot of knockouts, a lot of submissions, but basically because we’re the biggest and the baddest. Frank Mir: Yeah, I think it kinda works on the fact that, when you see a 135lbs fighter fighting, he could be the baddest dude at 135 – or 145 and 155 – but I think that, a lot of people, when they’re watching the fights in the back of their mind they kind of feel that, ‘Yeah, but I’m 220. Even though he can fight, I can probably kick his ass.’ We’re the heavyweights. If you’re thinking that, you’re stupid. Antonio Silva: Heavyweights always bring fantastic fights. Everybody on this podium today is a top notch fighter. And you’re gonna see some fantastic fights on May 26, it’s gonna be a good war.

Posted in: fight, guy, heavyweight, division, heavyweight division

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Cain Velasquez begins his redemption from a stunning loss in a heavyweight division that has become increasingly competitive.

Posted in: heavyweight, sport, velasquez, heavyweight division, redemption

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UFC 146's all-heavyweight main card isn't a declared tournament, but it is the closest relative to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix the UFC has ever produced. In fact, one can barely consider the novelty of the UFC card without acknowledging the obvious Strikeforce influence. While there are obvious differences between the two events, the two rosters between the organizations can be meaningfully compared. And given that comparisons have to be limited but not out of bounds, the most pressing question is which event had the stronger roster of heavyweights? It's true the UFC's absolute and comparative advantages here are hard to overstate. However, it's also true the deck is stacked slightly in Strikeforce's favor. We are not measuring or comparing what kind of tournament or what the best possible all-heavyweight main card is the UFC can put together. We are merely comparing Strikeforce's best historical heavyweight event against an excellent but not resource-draining creation by UFC. There are a few methods to compare rosters, but the most obvious is rankings. Despite debate among the community as to the accuracy or value of fighter rankings, they are the best if very imperfect method of evaluating status and accomplishment. The first leg of the Grand Prix kicked off in February of 2011. Therefore, let's take at the rankings of the Strikeforce heavyweights on the cusp of the tournament's beginning. According to the USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings (a measure of the MMA rankings community aggregate view), they were as follows: Fedor Emelianenko - #3Fabricio Werdum - #4Alistair Overeem - #7Antonio Silva - #10Josh Barnett - #11Brett Rogers - #12Andrei Arlovski - #17Sergei Kharitontov - unranked By comparison, here's where the top eight of UFC 146's ten main card fighters rank as of the time of this writing: Junior dos Santos - #1Alistair Overeem - #2Cain Velasquez - #2 (tied with Overeem, there is no #3)Frank Mir - #4Antonio Silva - #10Roy Nelson - #14Stefan Struve - #20Mark Hunt - #22 What's the major takeaway? The Strikeforce roster is very competitive, but not as top heavy or deep as the upcoming UFC 146 main card. There are more, higher-ranked fighters on UFC 146 than there were at any point in the Grand Prix. That's also true in terms of top ten talent. One could argue several of the Strikeforce fighters were underrated. But several of them bottomed out in the course of the tourney. Those that succeeded have climbed the ranks. The case for a major recalibration of the February 2011 rankings is a tough sell. The Strikeforce top eight are competitive, though. Like the top eight of the UFC's main card, Strikeforce's tournament featured four fighters who at some point held a major heavyweight title in MMA (Emelianenko for PRIDE, Overeem for Strikeforce, Barnett and Arlovski for UFC). And two of the UFC main card fighters - Alistair Overeem and Antonio Silva (del Rosario was an alternate) - were a part of the Strikeforce tournament. Due to Overeem's victory over Werdum in the tournament and dominating performance of former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, today they're in an accumulatively improved rankings position than they were before the tournament started. It's true and regrettable the Strikeforce tournament is limping to an end. And as aforementioned, it's also true several participants have fallen on hard times. Emelianenko would lose first round to Silva and subsequently to Dan Henderson, ultimately resulting in his dismissal from Strikeforce. Arlovski would lose first round to Kharitonov - his fourth in a row - and would also leave the organization. Brett Rogers, too, would be cut due to his run-in with the law on charges of domestic abuse after being easily bested by Barnett. Given Golden Glory's poor relationship with Zuffa, Kharitonov's MMA future remains uncertain. Hindsight is always 20/20, though. It's easy today to dismiss Arlovski's or even Emelianenko's inclusion in the tournament as evidence of strong competition. We've witnessed their decline. Trying to appreciate the original February 2011 context is psychically impossible. There were reasons to be skeptical of their merit then, yes, but decline in fight sport is precipitous. And given Strikeforce's limited resources, what they were able to cobble together at the time was rather remarkable. That, too, is a benefit of retrospection. The tournament's legacy will not be that the best heavyweight in MMA was crowned. Nor will it be a positive referendum on Strikeforce's ability execute on a vision. Instead, it's that permutations on the sort of fights and format Strikeforce lined up are very promotable at the highest level. That's not the success Strikeforce sought in February of 2011, but a rose by any other name smells just as sweet. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. All of this also suggests UFC 146's main card deserves some extra acknowledgement for what it says about those staging the event. Strikeforce's collection of tournament fight cards relied on the best their division had to offer. It's not as nimble or elegant a feat as constructing a single fight card that can more than rival the tournament's talent. Also consider several ranked UFC heavyweights - Fabricio Werdum, Shane Carwin, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - are not even part of this upcoming card. There is a disconnect between what the UFC is capable of and what they're doing. Given how well they're doing, it's staggering to consider how much better it could be. The UFC is significantly more powerful than Strikeforce both then and especially now. Appreciating or acknowledging as isn't a particularly difficult task. One can naturally infer even with a more limited platform they'd be able to create a product to surpass any of their competitors. As we look back on the Strikeforce experiment, though, we can recognize the UFC 146 card succeeds by poaching several Strikeforce stars and aping what's alluring about the heavyweight tournament: a night(s) of top talent in bouts of both significance and slugging and the promise of more to come. UFC 146 feels as if Zuffa capitalized on what was right about the Strikeforce tournament while shrinking or eliminating that which held the tournament back. The May 26 fight card is the single best showcase of ranked, heavyweight talent in a single night in MMA history. For that, UFC deserves credit both for having the resources and executing on them. But credit, too, goes to Strikeforce. Although they stumbled along they way, they birthed a clever idea. In more capable hands, that idea turns out to be fun for fans, record-setting for the sport and excellent for the UFC's financial bottom line.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, tournament, card

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As we all digest the news of what happened to Muhammed Lawal and keep waiting for UFC 145 to get here already, MMA Fighting felt it appropriate to have my colleague Mike Chiappetta and I debate the weighty topics of today in another installment of the MMA Roundtable. This week: Mike and I discuss whether Zuffa made the right call in cutting Lawal for his comments about the NSAC on Twitter, if there's a case to be made to change Bellator's tournament format, what chances Chael Sonnen has in his rematch with Anderson Silva and how the UFC heavyweights of today compare with PRIDE's best heavyweight era. 1. King Mo's cut: is that the right call by Zuffa?Chiappetta: No. I would have preferred he was simply fined. It would have been one thing if they released Lawal due to his nine-month suspension ruling by the Nevada state athletic commission stemming from a positive steroids test. At least then they could say they were punishing him for an illegal act related to the sport. Instead, it seems he has been let go due to his reaction to the suspension. More specifically, a tweet he sent out aimed at NSAC commission member Pat Lundvall, which referred to her as a "racist b----" for asking him if he could read and write English.Now, two wrongs don't make a right here, so Lawal wasn't exactly justified in his words. You can't have your athletes going around firing off venom, because that sets a terrible precedent. Policing the fighters has to be done. But stripping him of his livelihood for it seems a little bit harsh. I can understand his anger for being asked such a degrading question. He's not exactly a nobody, and any cursory knowledge of his background -- something by the way, that should exist in a ruling body judging him -- would clearly indicate his level of schooling. By the way, commissioner Lundvall had been speaking to him for a while by the time she asked the question that offended him, and clearly she knew he spoke English. Again, this doesn't excuse Lawal's tweet, but at least it gives some context into the emotion that led up to it. Sadly, the whole situation turned out like a fiasco on every side. Thomas: Mike's absolutely right here. Certainly Lawal's words were incendiary. They were also unprofessional. But in the absence of a defined social media policy all fighters sign and agree to (like a terms of service agreement), any kind of punishment is capricious and unfair. The UFC is trying to encourage use and novel application of social media among it's fighters (who, by the way, are not really employees but 'independent contractors'; would you fire your plumber for insulting others on Twitter?). That's a truly excellent idea and the vast majority of the times yields positive results. But fighters need to have a clear sense about what is and isn't expected of him. Relying on some notion of 'common sense' is plainly negligent on the part of the UFC. Let's also make note of how utterly rude and patronizing commissioner Lundvall was in asking Lawal if he understood English. The notion that line of questioning is somehow common is total myth. Alistair Overeem failed to properly take a drug test in the specified amount of time and English is his second language. Was there any questioning about whether his proficiency in reading or writing English inhibited him from following through on his responsibilities? Please. The commissioner may or may not be racist, but they are most certainly condescending. 2. Bellator's heavyweight tourney ended terribly. Can their model be tweaked? Chiappetta: Of course it can be tweaked, but should it be? I think the answer is no. The way the heavyweight tournament ended was unfortunate, but it's no different than when a title challenger or No. 1 contender drops out of a UFC bout and has to be replaced. In a way, Bellator has to face the same problem the UFC does: an unrelenting schedule. The shows must continue even when the fighters can't, and so there is only so much wiggle room when an injury takes place.In the past, Bellator has delayed title fights with one injured participant, but the tournament bouts must continue on and generate a winner, otherwise they become pointless. The heavyweight tourney had gone on so long, I can understand why CEO Bjorn Rebney basically threw his hands up and surrendered. Of course we want to see things decided in the cage, but you can only try to set up a fight so many times before it becomes obvious it's not going to happen. The tournament format is one of the few things that differentiates Bellator from other promotions, and they shouldn't give up that uniqueness to be just another fight promotion. Unforeseen issues are going to be pop up from time to time, but you just have to do your best to plug in the hole and move forward. Thomas: There are obviously tweeks that can be made to Bellator's format. You know who knows that? Bellator. The question is how much? Therein lies the more challenge part of this problem. This past week on The MMA Hour, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said as much. They'll be having more tournaments per season, moving to three hour shows and more. I can even see a case for abandoning heavyweights and focusing more on women. But all of those alterations still keep the tournament model in tact. That, above all else, should not be abandoned. It's the key differentiator and a boon to the company. Moreover, there is time to get things right before moving to a bigger and much more important platform. While on MTV2, Bellator has the opportunity to make the adjustments necessary to properly leverage and execute on their business model. Those who argue about lackluster ratings fail to realize Viacom doesn't really care about them. In this window of opportunity, Bellator has the chance to get things right. As long as they don't abandon the tournament format, they'll likely move in the right direction. 3. Sonnen-Silva II was recently announced. What is Sonnen's realistic chance of winning?Thomas: I'd say his chances are slightly diminished from the last time, but still very real. It's well-known (though not exactly proven) Silva suffered from a rib injury during their first bout. He managed to win late, but took a beating along the way and looked dreadful at defending the takedown. He looked better at UFC 134 when he easily bested another strong wrestler in Yushin Okami, but Okami's a significantly different type of fighter. Among other notable differences, he isn't nearly as aggressive and doesn't run through his takedowns.The question on my mind is Silva. If he's healthy, is he still up to to peak performance? His game is so heavily predicated on speed and reflexes. At 37, are they still there? Liddell was cruising up through the second Tito Ortiz bout before his career fell off a cliff. I have no idea if he's there or not, but it wouldn't totally surprise me to see him not move, bounce and counter with the same nimbleness we are accustomed to seeing.I don't know if Sonnen will get rattled when a soccer stadium full of prideful Brazilians are wishing him to lose the fight or his life. There's arguments to be made Sonnen is both properly game for challenges and a bit of a choke artist. Either way, I expect a tough fight that will close inside the distance.Chiappetta: Sonnen has a very real chance to win. Luke makes some valid points, particularly the question we must ask every time Silva walks out to the octagon: Have we already seen his last great performance? This rematch will only intensify that question, only because the 10-month layoff will be his longest inactive stretch since a multi-year rest from 1997-2000 when he was still a young buck. He's been extremely active since then, and that's allowed him to be consistently sharp over the years. Will that time away from the cage adversely impact him against Sonnen? It's certainly possible. On the other hand, Sonnen didn't look particularly terrifying against Michael Bisping last time, though he got the job done. The one thing Sonnen has going for him is he knows he can repeatedly take down Silva, and that's a huge boost for his confidence as he walks into hostile territory. As long as he can stay out of traps, he has a very legitimate chance to win. The odds have Silva as a 3-to-1 favorite. I may be going out on a limb here, but I think it's closer to a coin flip, with Silva a slight favorite. It's not like Sonnen didn't come within two minutes of beating him last time around. 4. Are today's UFC heavyweights better or worse than PRIDE's best era of heavyweights?Thomas: I'd say they are at least as good if not better.Make no mistake: PRIDE's heavyweights were an elite group. And the major triumverate of rivals - Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko CroCop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - mirrored the close contests among the sport's top light heavyweights at that time (Tito Ortiz. Vitor Belfort, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell) that helped push MMA forward. A lot of credit goes to them for helping to create a spectacle while competing in sport. Beyond the big three, there were MMA and heavyweight pioneers who grew the game with their outsized personalities as well as the technical evolutions they introduced (Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman and Gary Goodridge). And there were x-factors like Aleksander Emelianenko, who before catching a blood-borne disease, showcased the type of excellent boxing-for-mma skills rarely seen at that time in the sport's growth.But let's be serious: outside of the big three in their prime, none of the other heavyweights would stand a chance not only with the UFC's top three today, but possibly even their top 10 or top 15. Do I really believe a prime Kevin Randleman or Mark Coleman have anything for Frank Mir or Antonio Silva? In defense of the PRIDE heavyweights, some are still floating around among the UFC's top ranks. Nogueira may have had his arm broken against Frank Mir at UFC 140, but he was winning that bout and is still a top ten talent. Mark Hunt, for all his faults, is in the top 15 as well. At the top, it's arguably competitive. Across the division, though, the UFC ranks are significantly deeper.Chiappetta: It's always difficult to compare eras due to improvements in training and technique, but it's a fun debate. Let's imagine an eight-man tournament of the UFC's best four current heavyweights against PRIDE's four best all-time. If I'm doing the picking, I have Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir for the UFC, and Fedor Emelianeko, Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Josh Barnett for PRIDE.I think a prime Fedor beats Dos Santos, Velasquez mauls Cro Cop, Nogueira submits Overeem and Mir tops Barnett. So we have Fedor vs. Velasquez and Nogueira vs. Mir in the semis. Well, we already know that Mir beats Nog, and Fedor squeaks past Cain to set up Fedor vs. Mir. I've got Fedor in that final, but of course, if you re-seed them and set up the matchups differently, you might get a different result. Still, I think that's a very competitive scenario, and if that's the point, we can't say they're any worse than the old PRIDE set. That said, it's just another reason why rolling the Strikeforce heavies into the UFC is a great move. We won't have to have this debate again five years from now.

Posted in: ufc, bellator, time, heavyweight, sonnen

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I guess foreign reality shows are all the rage these days. Not long after we brought you Cristiane Santos and Ronda Rousey getting down and dirty on a Japanese program, comes video of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones mixing it up with a tiny Brazilian. From the video description: The first international episode of Sensei Noção, the Brazilian reality show about sick and insane challenges in a MMA world, will be released in April 14, one week before Jones vs. Evans. The journalist and Sensei SporTV´s host Mario Filho (aka Marinho), after faced and being smashed by the former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, the heavyweight champion Junior Cigano dos Santos, the 4X world boxing Champion Acelino Popó Freitas, now put his head on the line against the current number one light heavyweight of the UFC Jon "Bones" Jones!!!! Pay close attention to the first time that Jonathan Jones was ever taken down! Jones will put his 205-pound title on the line against "Suga" Rashad Evans at UFC 145 on April 21, 2012, from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. More on that upcoming fight right here.

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

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The Octagon might need to be reinforced because the big boys are coming to play. On May 26th at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, one weight class will take center stage, with an entire pay-per-view card dedicated to their cagefighting combat: the heavyweights. To save time on the weigh-ins, let’s just agree that these guys on the main slate of Octagon action are big - real big. Besides their gargantuan size, it’s a new era of top competition in the UFC, as these scale-tippers are agile, mobile, versatile, and, most importantly, hostile. Simply put, if you like heavyweights, you’ll love UFC 146.From top to bottom, it’s a who’s who of colossal knockout artists and, arguably, the best and bulkiest submission specialist in UFC history. To set the tone for these plus-sized fighting festivities, the hard-hitting Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva will make his Octagon debut against fan favorite fist-bombardier Roy “Big Country” Nelson. Next up, a contest between two of the most dynamic fighters in the division who are also former UFC champions: Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir. Lastly, in the main event, kickboxing sensation Alistair Overeem takes aim at the title against current heavyweight king Junior “Cigano” dos Santos. Yesterday, these six titans, plus UFC President Dana White, managed to share one stage to promote this literally enormous event and to answer questions from both press and fans alike. A popular query voiced by many in the media was also the most straightforward, why have an entire card of heavyweights? Easily, the most memorable answer came from the longest tenured UFC fighter on the dais, who noted that fellow fighters in all divisions are certainly talented, but the big guys are scary too. “When you see a 135 pound fighter fighting, he could be the baddest dude at 135, 145, and 155,” tells Mir. “But I think a lot of people when they are watching the fights, in the back of their mind, they kind of feel, ‘Yeah, but I'm 220. Even though he knows how to fight, I can probably kick his ass.’ We're the heavyweights. If you’re thinking that, you’re stupid.”A less comical, but just as effective response came from White that these super six are really exciting to watch. “If you look up at everyone who is sitting at this podium and look at their last five or six fights they have had, there are not many boring fights,” says White in a wild understatement, as all of these fighters are revered finishers with punching power and dangerous ground games. “You're probably going to see a knockout. With this heavyweight show, there can be knockouts, there can be submissions. This isn't your typical allure of the heavyweights card - these guys can do anything.”A perfect example of how well-rounded these gigantic gladiators are is the bout is between two BJJ black belts who knock people out: the 16-3 “Bigfoot” Silva will make his Octagon debut against the 17-7 “Big Country” Nelson. Both highly-regarded fighters are coming off losses in their last outings, but a win over the other would easily put them back in the title hunt. As for Silva’s start in the UFC, White referred to “Bigfoot” as a “man on a mission” to get a shot at the crown, which is highlighted by Silva leaving the Blackzillians gym because Overeem joined, believing that the two are on a “collision course”. For “Big Country”, he has at least a few more marquee matchups of guaranteed entertainment before his improbable drop to light heavyweight.“We actually finish fights,” states Nelson. “Everybody likes the homerun ball in baseball and everybody likes a good dunk in basketball - we're the guys you just like to see finish.”The next contest pits two previous owners of the UFC heavyweight belt who have phenomenal, but different, ground skills: Velasquez vs. Mir. On one side of the Octagon, Velasquez is a two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University and, on the other side, Mir is a BJJ black belt who owns the most submission wins in the UFC heavyweight division (eight). Besides contrasting grappling styles, Mir is riding a three fight win streak topped by his kimura submission of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140, while Velasquez is coming off the first loss of his career at the hands of dos Santos and his one punch knockout power in November at UFC on FOX“Implement the game plan sooner,” asserts Velasquez about what he learned in his last fight. “I love what I do. In wrestling, you have a loss and it's not the end of the world. You have to come back stronger and be healthy. Learn from your mistakes. Move forward and get better.”Along with Velasquez and Mir trying to reclaim their spot at the top, Mir would like to defeat a skill set that has plagued him in the past. “Wrestling is something I have had a hard time with stylistically,” admits Mir, who has evolved tremendously in his decade plus fighting inside the Octagon, but a win over a top wrestler like Velasquez would be a personal career high point. “I think wrestling is a huge factor in all fights. Typically, the guy who is the wrestler can decide where the fight goes - whether it is standing or on the ground. I just hope to make it where both of those are not viable choices.”In the main event, punches and kicks will collide as Overeem looks to add another belt to his display case and dos Santos looks to remain undefeated inside the Octagon. “The Reem” recently debuted in the UFC with a memorable TKO of Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, and, before that, Overeem was a champion in several MMA organizations and is a former K-1 kickboxing champion. At the same time, dos Santos has been battering his Octagon opponents with his fearsome fists, including winning the belt from Velasquez. Also very impressive is the fact that neither knockout artist has recorded a loss since 2007. At 31 years old and with a combined 60-plus MMA and kickboxing matches, Overeem has almost an incomparable amount of standup experience and credentials, but he’s not taking dos Santos lightly at all.. “I definitely see him as the best ‘boxer’ in MMA and UFC these days,” reveals Overeem, which is high praise, but he should be prepared considering he’s the easy choice to be the best ‘kickboxer’ in the UFC. “This is definitely the biggest fight of my career. This is my biggest challenge. I'm training hard every day and it's going to be a great show.”Brazilian bomber dos Santos will continue to rely on what recently won him the gold: his fists. “I'm a really confident guy with my hands and I really believe I can knock anyone out,” affirms dos Santos, 27, who won his first and last fight in the UFC by a thunderous single punch. “He has very good standup skills. He's a striker, I'm striker. I think somebody is going to get knocked out.”On Memorial Day weekend in sunny Las Vegas, the UFC superstars of the “biggest and baddest” division will tangle to set the new pecking order for the second half of 2012. Opening the Pay-Per-View card will be intriguing showdowns between Mark Hunt and Stefan Struve and Gabriel Gonzaga and Shane del Rosario. Then, the TUF 10 winner Nelson will test chins with debuting Strikeforce slugger Silva, and two former UFC heavyweight title holders will meet in Velasquez vs. Mir. Finally, the gold is up for grabs in a possible “fists vs. feet” striker’s duel when current champion dos Santos clashes with challenger Overeem. By sheer poundage alone, no event this year is bigger than UFC 146, and with the UFC heavyweight belt on the line - none may be more important.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mir, heavyweight, velasquez

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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

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Todd Harris and Kenny Florian break down the heavyweight main event and co-main event for UFC 146, and take a look at who really is the best heavyweight in mixed martial arts. UFC Tonight airs every Tuesday at 10pm ET/7pm PT on FUEL TV.

Posted in: heavyweight, kenny florian, comain event, overeem dos, arts ufc

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The fighters who appeared on the dais for today’s UFC 146 official announcement press conference were given surprise drug tests upon the presser’s conclusion. UFC 146 will take place on May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was also the site of today’s press conference. Inside MMA’s Ron Kruck first reported the news of the unannounced testing, with MMAFighting confirming the report shortly thereafter with Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director, Keith Kizer. Having just recently received the budget room to perform out-of-competition drug testing for mixed martial arts events, this instance marks the first time in NSAC history that drug testing has been conducted so far out from a fight. The fighters tested were main event competitors Junior dos Santos (UFC heavyweight champion) and Alistair Overeem, as well as supporting fighters Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Roy Nelson and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. Of the fighters tested, only Antonio Silva has tested positive for a banned substance in the past, having registered the presence of the anabolic steroid boldenone in his system following a 2008 TKO victory over Justin Eilers in EliteXC. Alistair Overeem has been hounded by speculation of steroid usage ever since bulking up from light heavyweight to heavyweight, but has never tested positive in the past, despite being put through rigorous testing for his most recent fight against Brock Lesnar, which took place in Las Vegas.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, heavyweight, drug, testing

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Leave it to Frank Mir to bluntly answer a question that's been asked ad nauseum. Since the announcement of UFC 146's all-heavyweight main card, many have wondered what exactly it says about us that we seem to care more about MMA's biggest than any other weight class.The former UFC champ addressed that question on Tuesday at a press conference to promote the event. Using the bantamweight division as an example, Mir said that a lighter weight fighter could be the best at his division, but that doesn't mean he has the total respect of everyone watching. Human nature being what it is, some will inevitably walk away with a twinge of doubt."I think a lot of people, when they're watching the fights, in the back of their mind, they kind of feel like, 'I'm 220. Even though he knows how to fight, I can probably kick his ass,'" Mir said. "We’re the heavyweights. If you’re thinking that, you’re stupid." As a result, you have relevant fights that are likely to capture the public's attention. From the estimation of UFC president Dana White, it's the strongest division the promotion has ever boasted. In fact, he said, it may even come close to equaling PRIDE at its best."Their heavyweight division was awesome," he said. "That's where a lot of legends were built, over there. Absolutely, I think that's where our heavyweight division is finally getting, and the division has been great and stacked for a few years now." UFC 146's 10 fights feature 2,539.5 pounds of heavyweight monster, those numbers coming at last count of the most recent weigh-ins. While the event booking might be seen as an advertising gimmick, it's at least a good one, with a championship on the line as well as a near-certain reshuffling of the top 10 based upon the night's outcomes. But what does it say about the future of the UFC's biggest weight class that the smallest of the 10 heavyweights scheduled to populate the main card is the division's champion?Two-hundred-thirty-nine pound Junior Dos Santos reigns over the land formerly controlled by giants like Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, who threatened to run the lighter, more agile fighters out of the division. At least for now. The rest of the story will be told on May 26, when the MGM Grand reinforces its famous buffet for the event's arrival.The night's key matchups will no doubt rock the boat one way or the other. Aside from Dos Santos' first title defense against Alistair Overeem, Mir faces Cain Velasquez in the former champ's first fight back since losing his belt.Velasquez admitted that his defeat was the first time he'd suffered a loss in competition since wrestling in the NCAA collegiate championship tournament way back in 2006. That means he's been living in a foreign world for the last few months, attempting to rebound into the win column rather than continuing on the momentum he had built for himself.To hear him tell it, he's been able to draw upon those experiences to help him move forward after this more recent setback."It's not difficult, no," he said. "I love what I do. In wrestling, you have a loss, it's not the end of world. You have to come back stronger, be healthy, watch film and see what you did wrong. Learn from your mistakes. You can't dwell on that kind of stuff. You have to move forward and try to get better." That's the same thing the UFC did with its biggest division, which went through some lean times a few years ago. In the years since, talent has been added, most recently bolstered by the arrival of the Strikeforce heavyweights. It's an improvement that's been welcome by even the old guard. As Mir explained, it's for the benefit of all. "Back in the day, the fights got spread out a bit farther because there wasn't as many guys to match up against. Anytime you're trying make a run towards the title, the worst thing in the world is to get an opponent, that when you tell people you're fighting him, they ask who that is. At least now, we don't have that issue. Almost everyone in the top 10 of the UFC is a household name, recognizable, and that makes it much more pleasurable to train and fight. There’s always a risk when you walk in the octagon, I’d rather take that risk against someone who's considered dangerous than take that risk against an unknown."

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, division, that

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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

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, do, las vegas

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UFC President Dana White, UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, #1 contender Alistair Overeem, and heavyweights Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir, Roy Nelson, and Antonio Silva are at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the UFC 146 pre-fight press conference.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, conference, las vegas, antonio silva

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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

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Continuing with the series of in-depth divisional breakdowns that started yesterday with a look at the Bantamweight division (read it here), Featherweight division (read it here), the Lightweight division (read it here), the Welterweight division (read it here), the Middleweight division (read it here), and Light Heavyweight division (read it here) we move finally on to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight division. With the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the middle of one of its longest stretches of down time in months, (and with the summer season jam-packed with events), I thought now would be the perfect opportunity to take an in-depth look at all the divisions to clearly identify who is in the title picture, who isn't, who is building themselves into a contender and whose jobs are on the line. The UFC is essentially an endlessly on-going tournament, with two brackets: One for match winners and one for match losers. Just about the only time that Joe Silva and Dana White match up a guy coming off a win with a guy coming off a loss is if the guy coming off a loss was fighting for a title. Otherwise, it's almost always winner vs winner and loser vs loser. It's a pretty sensible way of doing things, ensuring that there will always be guys with a few wins in a row and others with a couple of losses in a row, opening up the chance for new blood to enter into the company. So anytime you are looking at a division and trying to see what the future will hold, it's mandatory to know who are the fighter's on win streaks and who are the fighters on losing streaks. As such, I've been organizing each division by wins and losses for a few months now and throughout today I'll be posting up my take on each division based on this data. I'm not going to be doing an in-depth feature on the flyweight division, as there has only been two fights in the division thus far. Therefore, we move on to the Heavyweight division (265 pounds): Eight wins: Junior dos SantosFour wins: Mike RussowThree wins: Frank Mir, Mark HuntTwo wins: Travis Browne, Stefan Struve, Stipe MiocicOne win: Alistair Overeem, Pat Barry, Gabriel Gonzaga, Shawn Jordan, Lavar Johnson, Fabricio Werdum Rookies: Antonio Silva, Shane del Rosario, Chad Griggs One loss: Cain Velasquez, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Matt Mitrione, Brendan Schaub, Jon Madsen, Ben Rothwell, Dave Herman, Cheick Kongo, Edinaldo Oliveira, Roy Nelson, Philip De Fries, Oli ThompsonTwo losses: Shane Carwin, Christian Morecraft, Rob Broughton, Jon Olav Einemo, Joey Beltran Junior Dos Santos is quickly approaching the dominant runs of Georges St. Pierre and Jose Aldo, although I think many people would argue that the heavyweight division is not very deep. This used to be a lot more accurate, as the UFC has added a handful of good heavyweights in the past year since the acquisition of Strikeforce and is preparing to show them off at UFC 146. Mike Russow, Frank Mir and Mark Hunt have the longest streaks behind Dos Santos, which speaks to the fact that the new additions have yet to make a big impact. BOOKED FIGHTS: Brendan Schaub vs Ben Rothwell, UFC 145 Travis Browne vs Chad Griggs, UFC 145 Lavar Johnson vs Pat Barry, UFC on Fox 3 Junior Dos Santos vs Alistair Overeem, UFC 146 Frank MIr vs Cain Velasquez, UFC 146 Mark Hunt vs Stefan Struve, UFC 146 Roy Nelson vs Antonio Silva, UFC 146 Gabriel Gonzaga vs Shane Del Rosario, UFC 146 Fabricio Werdum vs Mike Russow, UFC 147 Obviously the huge story is the main card of UFC 146, which will feature five heavyweight fights, including the championship and the fight for the number one contender spot. Of course Barry/Johnson shouldn't be ignored, nor for that matter should Rothwell/Schaub or Griggs/Browne. Every fight is pretty relevant to the division, with so many unknowns and new faces trying to cut out a spot for themselves. What will the end of the Mark Hunt story be? Is he on his way to a title shot by the end of the year? He'll have four wins in a row if he takes out Stefan Struve, a more than accomplishable task. Very intriguing and exciting time to be a heavyweight fan. UNBOOKED WINNERS: Stipe Miocic, Shawn Jordan Just two men without a fight on the winning ledger, so why not? Miocic is highly regarded and has two straight wins to start his octagon career. Jordan isn't quite as highly regarded but he is well rounded and would be a good test for Miocic as he gets ready to take on some of the top talent. UNBOOKED LOSERS: Shane Carwin, Christian Morecraft, Rob Broughton, Jon-Olav Einemo, Joey Beltran, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Matt Mitrione, Jon Madsen, Dave Herman, Cheick Kongo, Edinaldo Oliveira, Philip De Fries, Oli Thompson A bunch of free guys coming off a loss or two. Big Nog is likely not coming back any time soon so I'll exclude him from my potential match-ups. I think Dave Herman and Matt Mitrione match up quite nicely. Not guys who are going to make a title run this year but exciting stand up brawlers who do have some technical precision to their games. It would be a good fight to put on a free TV card. Shane Carwin and Cheick Kongo seem like a logical pair to put together, as Carwin wants to stay in the top group and has a good argument that he should, having lost only to Brock and Junior, two of the best heavyweights in the past five years. Kongo is a gatekeeper who would provide the perfect re-entry into the active top 10 for Carwin. That wraps up the in-depth divisional breakdowns for spring 2012. Anything stand out that I haven't covered? Almost every division has a champion with a lengthy win streak. Will those streaks continue through the end of the year or are we going to see a new world order of UFC champions? Thanks for reading!

Posted in: ufc, loss, heavyweight, vs, division

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With UFC 146 waiting in the wings following the UFC's extended break, fans should be anticipating some great moments. The all-heavyweight card promises to deliver some exciting moments in the heavyweight division...

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, division, moment, allheavyweight card

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Bellator Fighting Championship CEO Bjorn Rebney may not make the same waves across social media sites as UFC president Dana White, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the same hands-on approach as White. On Thursday, Rebney was forced to cancel the planned Bellator season five heavyweight tournament final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos for a second time. However, instead of cutting Santos and moving on, Rebney plans on trying to get the heavyweight the proper nutrition he needs to compete and make the limit for the weight class, as he told MMA Junkie’s John Morgan during a recent interview. We’re upset, and it is unprofessional. But he’s got unlimited potential. He’s young as can be. He comes from a really poor, really underdeveloped area. He’s not an American wrestler; he doesn’t have any kind of history of cutting weight regularly. Just having talked to the kid and his folks last week, he knows nothing about diet – like an inadequacy of knowledge on diet that was just shocking to me for a professional athlete. Prindle and Santos were set to conclude the tournament earlier, but the bout was ruled a no-contest after an accidental groin strike to Prindle ended it. Last week, they were slated for the main event of Bellator 61, but the fight was pushed to this week’s Bellator 62 card due to Prindle having flu-like symptoms. Reports, however, have stated that Santos was well-over the limit for heavyweights (265 pounds) last week, as well. I was looking at him, and he’s a nice kid. He’s kind of a big teddy bear of a guy, but you looked at him, and he was talking about eating things like mashed potatoes. I was like, ‘What? Wait. No. You’re still 20 pounds over. You should be eating grade-A sashimi and some dry broccoli. Why are we talking about mashed potatoes? Really? Prindle was awarded the tournament title and shot at Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. Santos, however, is very skilled and could get a look down the road if he can improve his health and stay closer to the heavyweight limit.

Posted in: bellator, week, heavyweight, rebney, prindle

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Eric Prindle has been crowned Bellator’s Season 5 heavyweight tournament winner and will receive the next shot at heavyweight champion Cole Konrad.

Posted in: heavyweight, shot, konrad, prindle, champ konrad

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Though just a third of its 12 bouts were under MMA rules, MMA factored in prominently Friday at United Glory 15, as Russian heavyweight upstart Ruslan Magomedov won 15 minutes of target practice over shopworn UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez.

Posted in: heavyweight, rodriguez, target practice, kickboxing ko, magomedov rolls

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Eric Prindle won Bellator's heavyweight tournament, which includes a $100,000 prize and a shot at Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. Prindle did this without having to step in the cage for a rematch of his final with Thiago Santos. How did this happen? In the latest of weird bumps in the road between the two competitors, Santos missed weight by 12 lbs. With Santos so far over the heavyweight limit of 265 lbs, the fight was called off , and Prindle was declared the winner of the tournament. Last week, their fight was delayed after Prindle came down with the flu. In November, they met in the cage for their first attempt at a final. That bout was declared a no contest when Santos threw an illegal kick to Prindle's groin. Prindle got to the final with a decision win over Abe Wagner and a 40-second knockout of Ron Sparks. He will now face Konrad at a later date to challenge for the Bellator heavyweight belt.

Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, tournament, prindle

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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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Dan Henderson beat Fedor. I’m sorry to start on such a disturbing sentence, but it is pertinent. We’re talking about a man who has not only fought at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight, but has beaten opposition right at the top of those divisions. Hendo fought at heavyweight to beat Fedor Emelianenko; he competed at light heavyweight and held the Strikeforce title as well as winning one of the greatest UFC fights against Shogun Rua. He also fought at middleweight, h-bombing Michael Bisping and defeating Rousimar Paul Harris -- with his lone loss against the penultimate of the division, Anderson Silva. While currently a light heavyweight, there has been some confusion regarding his intentions. Dana White has previously stated Dan 'doesn’t seem too picky' and will fight anyone at 185 lbs for the belt, even if it is Chael Sonnen. Like a determined but gluten-intolerant glutton approaching a buffet table, Dan Henderson only wants one thing at middleweight. Recently, Hendo told ESPN UK if he fights at middleweight, it will be against Anderson Silva. “Chael lives up in Oregon but I know him real well. He was with me and Randy when we first started our team. I don't have any real desire to fight at middleweight. The only guy I'd cut weight for is Anderson Silva, win or lose that could still happen. But it's not high up on my list at all. Silva's the only guy I'd cut weight for. I've got the light-heavyweight thing in my mind and that's it. I'd fight Anderson Silva but I'm only interested in the UFC light-heavyweight title right now.” Dan Henderson, a man who made his name fighting in PRIDE is starting to look a lot like the GOAT by beating former legend of PRIDE. First Fedor, then Shogun, and possibly Anderson Silva if Chael Sonnen doesn't devour his soul at UFC Brazil this summer. [Source]

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, silva, dan, anderson

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submitted by Phargo [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, division, phargo

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Top Heavyweight contender Josh Barnett, who meets Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament final, discusses his opponent, as well as the TRT debate that has swept the MMA world as of late. Barnett also shares his thoughts on the upcoming UFC Heavyweight title clash between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem.

Posted in: heavyweight, mma world, barnett, daniel cormier, trt debate

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Ask Dan Henderson, and the former Strikeforce champion will tell you exactly what he wants: a shot at the UFC light heavyweight championship. Currently, “Hendo” is awaiting word on his next fight. The UFC light heavyweight title is tied up, as champ Jon Jones is set to defend against Rashad Evans. That leaves Henderson with a gap between his last fight – a win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua – and a crack at the gold belt. That seems to be fine with Henderson, as he tells ESPN in a recent interview. “I don’t have any real desire to fight at middleweight. The only guy I’d cut weight for is Anderson Silva (current UFC middleweight champion), win or lose that could still happen.” UFC president Dana White had previously told reporters that Henderson would be fine with facing Silva or Chael Sonnen, who is expected to get the next shot at Silva. That, however, seems untrue, according to Henderson. “Chael lives up in Oregon, but I know him real well. He was with me and Randy (Couture) when we first started our team.” Silva and Henderson have fought before, with “The Spider” unifying the UFC and PRIDE middleweight titles with a victory. It remains to be seen when Henderson will accept another fight, or if he will stay true to his word and await a shot at the UFC light heavyweight belt. Photo credit: James Law/MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, silva, henderson, dan henderson

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It’s official. Bellator has moved its Heavyweight Tournament finals to Bellator 62 at Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas this Friday night.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, energy, laredo texas, laredo

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UFC 145 will host one of the most highly anticipated light heavyweight bouts of all time when Jon Jones defends his title against former friend and training partner Rashad Evans. See how the beef...

Posted in: ufc, jone, jon jones, heavyweight, evan

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According to a Yahoo! Sports report, 24-year-old light heavyweight champion Jon Jones wants to be considered one of the greatest in UFC history. With the current path that he's on, which included six straight wins and two title defenses, it's not a far stretch to say...

Posted in: jone, jon jones, heavyweight, ufc history, title defenses

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Beginning his career as a light heavyweight, Alistair showed just how effective his 6-foot-5 frame could be against generally smaller opponents...

Posted in: heavyweight, alistair overeem, light, alistair, mma history

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Prior to Friday, heavyweight Mike "300" Hayes was considering a drop to the light heavyweight division. Now, he's Cage Warriors Fighting Championship's heavyweight champion. Hayes scored a nifty third-round submission over Andreas Kraniotakes in the main event of Cage Warriors Fight Night 4, which took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates and aired on MMAjunkie.com.

Posted in: heavyweight, cage, warrior, thirdround submission, arab emirates

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Former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Randy “The Natural” Couture was on-hand at the 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championships this week in St. Louis, Missouri. Couture was there in support of his alma mater, Oklahoma State University, and to promote his book “The Last Round.” Couture spoke to USA Wrestling during the three-day event about his book, MMA, wrestling, and the grappling championships.  

Posted in: heavyweight, championship, threeday event, book mma, championships videos

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Recent developments in the UFC’s schedule for 2012 have shown that the Heavyweight division will be full of many exciting matchups.  With UFC 146 featuring an all-Heavyweight main card, the coming months will cause dramatic changes to the Heavyweight landscape of MMA.  Coupled with the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix final featuring Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, these developments prove that the heaviest of weight classes is ready to step to the forefront of Mixed Martial

Posted in: mark hunt, heavyweight, heavyweight division, weight classes, heavyweight landscape

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Eric Prindle, Bellator's season five heavyweight tournament finalist, has been scratched from his Bellator 61 headlining scrap against Thiago Santos due to flu-like symptoms following a significant weight cut. As a result, promotion officials have postponed the heavyweight rematch to March 23 at Bellator 62 in Laredo, TX. Friday night's fight card will instead be headlined by a middleweight quarterfinal bout between UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao (28-4, 1 NC) and TUF 11 contestant Norman Paraisy (10-1-1, 1 NC). USA Today first reported the switch, which was then confirmed by Prindle via Twitter. Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) reportedly began vomiting on Tuesday night and has struggled with the illness throughout the ensuing days. The 35-year-old bruiser expressed willingness to fight as planned, but Louisiana officials ultimately felt it best to cancel the bout. The announcement marks another chapter in the ever-expanding history of Prindle-Santos. The two heavyweights initially met last November, at Bellator 59 for season five's heavyweight tournament finals. However, action stopped just 94 seconds into the contest, when Santos (10-1) whizzed a soccer kick straight into the groin of a downed Prindle. Prindle was eventually ruled unable to continue and the match was declared a no contest. The winner of the eventual rematch is expected to receive $100,000 and a shot at Bellator's reigning heavyweight champion, Cole Konrad.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, rematch, prindle, flulike symptoms

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The Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Final at Bellator 59 last November was supposed to have crowned a No. 1 contender to Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. That didn’t happen. Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos’s fight was instead ruled a no contest. Prindle was unable to continue after Santos accidentally kicked him in the groin in the opening minutes of the fight. The two were then supposed to square off at Bellator 61 on Friday night in Louisiana.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, friday night, opening minutes, ’s fight

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The quest to determine a Bellator heavyweight No. 1 contender has been put on ice as the Bellator 61 main event between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos has been scrapped.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, event, eric prindle, bellator heavyweight

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A heavyweight bout between Mark Hunt and Stefan Struve at UFC 146 will complete one of the biggest (literally) main cards in UFC history. The UFC confirmed the matchup earlier today. The match-up is reminiscent of Hunt’s K-1 kickboxing days where the shorter heavyweight battled another incredibly large Dutchman, Semmy Schilt. Struve would do well to learn from that bout, as Hunt struggled with insane reach and height advantage of Schilt before being knocked out. Struve is currently riding a two-fight win streak including two finishes over Dave Herman and Pat Barry. In the fight with Herman, Struve finally used his reach in the second round and it paid off big. With a win over Hunt, Struve would likely put himself “in the mix” as a possible contender. Hunt has recovered nicely since losing his first UFC bout to Sean McCorkle by reeling off three straight wins in the division. Hunt has shown a true commitment to becoming a true mixed martial artist since joining the UFC. Hunt recently devastated Cheick Kongo at UFC 144 by putting his K-1 pedigree on full display. UFC 146 is headlined by a UFC heavyweight title fight between champion Junior Dos Santos and former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem. The event will be in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be co-headlined by a bout between former heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir.

Posted in: ufc, hunt, bout, heavyweight, struve

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The UFC's Memorial Day weekend heavyweight extravaganza just got a little bigger. Revitalized bruiser Mark Hunt and Dutch knockout-artist Stefan Struve have agreed to meet at UFC 146, slated for May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC officials confirmed the match-up on Wednesday morning, which was first reported by Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole. The contest rounds out an all heavyweight main card, featuring a title bout, Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem, a number-one contenders match, Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir, and a pair of barnburners, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva vs. Roy Nelson and Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane del Rosario. UFC mainstays Dan Hardy, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, and Diego Brandao also highlight the undercard. Hunt (8-7) returns with his first win streak since 2006 in tow, after blazing through upset victories over Chris Tuchscherer, Ben Rothwell and Cheick Kongo. The 37-year-old New Zealander, who was initially given a UFC fight due to an unresolved contract situation, now surprisingly finds himself perched on the ledge of contendership, and could conceivably enter the title picture with another win. Struve (23-5), meanwhile, has carved out his place in the UFC's heavyweight division while earning victory in seven of his last nine contests, six of ended by way of finish. At just 24 years old, "Skyscraper" appears to be hitting his stride and now enters carrying a two-fight win streak over Pat Barry and Dave Herman.

Posted in: ufc, hunt, heavyweight, vs, contest rounds

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A heavyweight scrap between slugger Mark Hunt and Dutch skyscraper Stefan Struve is the fifth heavyweight matchup added to UFC 146, and all five fights will be featured on the main card. The plans were first revealed by Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole and have since been confirmed by UFC officials. The card marks the first time in UFC history five heavyweight fights have filled out a main card.

Posted in: ufc, mark, heavyweight, card, heavyweight matchup

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UFC 146 truly is going to be the night of the heavyweights. The UFC has added one more pivotal heavyweight bout to a card already chock full of big men. Dana White revealed to Yahoo! Sports today that a resurgent Mark Hunt will take on the UFC’s tallest fighter, Stefan Struve, on Memorial Day Weekend as part of an all heavyweight main card. 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 three-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. To summarize, the UFC 146 main card will look like this. Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC Heavyweight Championship Frank Mir vs. Cain Velasquez Roy Nelson vs. Antonio Silva Shane Del Rosario vs. Gabriel Gonzaga Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve If that wasn’t enough, there will be plenty of other great match-ups in other weight classes on the prelims including Dan Hardy vs. Duane “Bang” Ludwig, Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins, Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway, Kyle Kingsbury vs. Glover Teixeira and Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann. UFC 146 is without a doubt one of the must-see cards of 2012. Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, bout, heavyweight, vs, card

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UFC 146 is now set to be the biggest heavyweight card in UFC history with the addition of Stefan Struve vs. Mark Hunt. This makes the show's main card a five heavyweight bout affair, something completely new for the UFC. Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports reports: 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. Struve vs. Hunt joins Alistair Overeem vs. Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight championship, Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir, Roy Nelson vs. Antonio Silva and Shane del Rosario vs. Gabriel Gonzaga. It will be a huge night of fights and, amazingly, it appears that we have five heavyweight fights on one card that are all competitive and shouldn't feature lumbering, gassed out big men.

Posted in: ufc, bout, heavyweight, vs, card

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An all heavyweight main card for UFC 146 is set with the addition of Stefan Struve versus former K-1 fighter Mark Hunt.

Posted in: mark, hunt, heavyweight, stefan struve, stefan

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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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Yoshiyuki Nakanishi is only 24 years-old, but the four-time national Sambo champion already has a mixed martial arts (MMA) record of 11-2 and is the reigning DEEP Light Heavyweight titleholder. He is in for the highest profile fight of his entire career when he takes on the heavy-hitting Melvin Manhoef at ONE FC 3 later this month. Nakanishi holds a win over reigning Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu and despite having such a strong Sambo background, he has been known to knock opponents out cold with either punches or head kicks. His last win came by stoppage due to soccer strikes so he will relish fighting under the ONE FC ruleset which allows kicks to the head of a grounded opponent. After spending virtually his entire career competing in Japan, with a 2009 excursion into the Netherlands the sole exception, fighting in front of 7,000 fans at the Singapore Indoor Stadium will be a brand new experience for him and he has every reason to fear the explosive power of his opponent, a K-1 veteran and legendary knock out artist. However Nakanishi is far from overawed by Manhoef, in fact he feels his stand up will be more than a match for the man who once knocked out UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt in less than 30 seconds. "Not only am I confident that I will be good enough to stand with Manhoef, I think I can KO him. He is a very famous fighter in Japan and I have always loved watching him fight. I’m very happy and honored to fight against the fighter who I admire." Nakanishi's base is Sambo which stylistically could make him a dangerous opponent for Manhoef whose devastating leg kicks and lightning fast punches are often undermined by a slightly suspect takedown defense and ground game. Nakanishi claims to be very comfortable fighting on his feet but if he can use his Sambo skills to take the fight to the ground he will be a strong favorite to defeat the experienced Dutchman. He has been studying the stand up game for several years though and says he is much more than just a wrestler. "Anyone who has seen me fight will tell you that I am not just a Sambo fighter anymore because I have been learning the stand up since the age of 21. You can not win MMA fights with only grappling techniques although I do prefer taking the fight to the ground." Nakanishi is also 11 years younger and feels this is another factor which could play into his favour against a fighter who in 34 MMA fights has never experienced a third round. "I feel that the longer the fight goes on the more I will be at an advantage but I have finished fights in the first round myself seven times so why should I wait? I can definitely knock him out in round one and if he thinks that I would need a takedown to do it maybe he will be surprised. I want to strike and grapple because I can win with both." The fight will be taking place at a catchweight of 88 kgs (193.6 lbs) and although Nakanishi won the Deep Light Heavyweight tournament at 205 lbs and holds the title at that weight he has been as low as 185 lbs in the past. Many feel that his long term future is in the middleweight division but for the time being he is happy competing at 205 lbs. "I’d like to defend my Deep title and keep fighting at light heavyweight division but I want the ONE FC light heavyweight belt too. I'm really excited to be fighting for ONE FC, it's an honor to fight on such a big stage against such a great fighter." ONE FC is taking place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31st and is available worldwide on pay per view for $24.99 USD. For more information visit: www.onefc.com.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, light, fc, nakanishi

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Sean McCorkle (16-2) has been booked to take on Brian Heden (17-10) as the featured bout for the debut event for the Worldwide Mixed Martial Arts (WMMA) promotion. McCorkle, who is currently on a six-fight winning streak in which he stopped all of his opponents by submission, was cut from the UFC after going 1-2 and ending on back-to-back losses to Christian Morecraft and Stefan Struve. By contrast, Heden is just 2-3 in his past five bouts and has faced (and lost to) Brett Rogers, Dan Severn and Ron Humphrey during his career. From today's release: According to William McFarlane, President of WMMA, "The super heavyweight clash between McCorkle and Heden is sure to bring fireworks to El Paso as well as leave fans watching at home wanting more. By having two veterans of the sport at the top of this card benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project and the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program, it highlights our commitment to quality competition, respect for the sport, and promise to the local community and our real heroes." "On March 31, 2012, my winning streak will be six," stated McCorkle. "There is no way I am losing this fight. I am walking out of the Don Haskins Center considered one of the top super heavyweights in the world, and if I have to dominate Brian to do it, so be it." The pay-per-view (PPV) event goes down on March 31, 2012, LIVE from the Don Haskins Centre in El Paso, Texas. The card also features a slew of former UFC, Strikeforce, Elite XC and King Of The Cage (KOTC) veterans to bolster the line-up, including Thomas Denny vs. Karo Parisyan, Lyle Beerbohm vs. Derrick Noble and Drew Fickett vs. Kevin Knabijan. The undercard features an intriguing heavyweight tilt between Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10: Heavyweight contestant Darrill Schoonover vs. heavy-handed Paul Buentello. The cost of the show has not been disclosed but the PPV card will be available on the Armed Forces Network (AFN). More details on this upcoming fight card as they become available.

Posted in: heavyweight, vs, card, mccorkle, march

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After long weeks of speculation about his future, it looks like the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, has finally got his wish. Jackson will be released from his Ultimate Fighting Championship contract, but only after the long-anticipated PRIDE rematch with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Here's the official announcement on UFC.com: As reported on Fuel TV's UFC Tonight, UFC President Dana White has revealed that disgruntled former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton

Posted in: ufc, jackson, heavyweight, official announcement, championship contract

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Three weeks ago, Bellator veteran Mike Hayes was making the drop from heavyweight to light heavyweight, and he was just 10 or so pounds from his goal. But then Cage Warriors called and offered him a heavyweight title fight at Friday's Cage Warriors Fight Night 4 event, which streams live on MMAjunkie.com. In a video preview of the event, Hayes discusses why his weight worries him little ahead of his bout with German fighter Andreas Kraniotakes.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, cage, warrior, haye

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Reigning Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones will put his title on the line when he meets former friend and training partner Rashad Evans at UFC 145. The long awaited grudge-match will headline the stacked card, which takes place April 21st from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

Posted in: jon, jone, jon jones, heavyweight, philips arena

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On April 21st in Atlanta, Georgia’s Philips Arena, one of the most highly-anticipated championship bouts in recent years headlines UFC 145, as light heavyweight king Jon “Bones” Jones attempts to successfully defend his crown for the third time against former 205-pound titlist “Suga” Rashad Evans. It’s the latest chapter in the organization’s championship history, and one that fans hope will add to a pretty interesting tale thus far. How interesting? Let’s take a look at some fun facts.THE FINISHERSSure, Jon Jones is the youngest champion in UFC history, and that’s an impressive feat. But what may be more impressive is that he has finished all three of his title fight victories thus far, stopping Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and submitting Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida. That’s not easy, especially at the championship level. Jones is one of 18 fighters to win three or more UFC title fights, yet only Jones and five of his peers have finished all of their championship wins. Those five are Andrei Arlovski (3 finishes), Brock Lesnar (3), Chuck Liddell (5), BJ Penn (5), and Frank Shamrock (5).TAKING THE BELT BACKWhen Rashad Evans steps into the Octagon at Philips Arena next month, he will be the fifth man to attempt to regain the UFC light heavyweight title. History isn’t on his side though, as the previous five attempts (two by Randy Couture, one each by Tito Ortiz, Lyoto Machida, and Quinton Jackson) have yielded just one victory, Couture’s 2004 rubber match win over Vitor Belfort. What makes it even worse is that two of those defeats (Machida and Jackson) were handed out by Evans’ April 21st opponent, Jon Jones.HOT POTATOObviously the late addition of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions in the UFC in 2010 preclude them from having the long history of the other weight classes in the promotion, but just for argument’s sake, what divisional titles have been the toughest to hold on to over the years? Not surprisingly, the big men are in the lead, with 15 titleholders in the heavyweight class (which admittedly was the first division to have a title belt), and 11 at 205 pounds. The welterweights have had seven men hold the 170 pound crown (either full or interim), with the middleweights and lightweights seeing five champions each. As for the lighter weight classes, Jose Aldo (featherweight) and Dominick Cruz (bantamweight) have been the only men to wear gold at 145 and 135 pounds, respectively.TOUGHER THAN MOSTA five round fight is usually all it takes to separate the men from the boys in MMA; that’s why rounds four and five are called the championship rounds. So who have gone more rounds in championship fights than anyone else? Randy Couture (44), BJ Penn (42), and Georges St-Pierre (37). As for total title bouts, again it’s “The Natural” up top with 15 fights, followed by Matt Hughes (12), BJ Penn and Georges St-Pierre (each with 11), Anderson Silva (10), and Tito Ortiz and Tim Sylvia (each with 9).UNBEATENThe UFC is currently home to eight champions (seven full champions and one interim titleholders), with a ninth to be crowned after the flyweight tournament concludes. Of those eight titleholders, seven (Junior dos Santos, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Carlos Condit, Benson Henderson, Jose Aldo, and Dominick Cruz) have never lost a UFC title fight. That’s an amazing stat for those sporting a combined 22-0 title bout record. Who else in UFC history has escaped the agony of defeat in UFC title fights? Josh Barnett (1-0), Murilo Bustamante (2-0), Jens Pulver (3-0), and Frank Shamrock (5-0).NEWBIESWhen Brock Lesnar fought for the UFC heavyweight title in just his fourth pro fight, it was a shocking development for some, but not for the man he defeated for the belt – Randy Couture – who pulled off the same feat years earlier against Maurice Smith. And Lesnar and Couture are not alone, as Mark Coleman (6th fight), Frank Mir (9th fight), and Cain Velasquez (9th fight) also won their titles with less than 10 pro fights’ experience. What do they all have in common? They’re heavyweights. The other 15 fighters to battle for a UFC title with less than 10 fights to their name (with the exception of Kevin Randleman, and some would say he won his heavyweight title bout with Bas Rutten) all failed in their quest, and all are from weight classes ranging from 205 to 155. It’s a star-studded list too, one that includes BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, Georges St-Pierre, Kenny Florian, Matt Lindland, and Nate Quarry.TOURNEY TIMEThe recent flyweight tournament that began in Australia a couple weeks back brought back memories for hardcore fight fans, even if the entire tourney didn’t take place on a single night like they did when the UFC first got off the ground in the early-90s. Before the 125-pounders battled it out, the Octagon hosted 23 tournaments, from no weight class competitions to those waged everywhere from heavyweight down to the under 170 pound class. Of course, the undisputed king of the tournament format was Hall of Famer Royce Gracie, who won three, but Dan Severn, Mark Coleman, Don Frye, and Mark Kerr acquitted themselves well, each winning two. Among modern-day UFC fighters, the only ones on the current roster to have won a UFC tournament are Vitor Belfort (UFC 12) and Dan Henderson (UFC 17).SUPERFIGHTSBack in the early days of the UFC, the precursor to the crowning of proper champions was the Superfight Championship. This title was reserved for the best of the best, with the biggest stars of the budding promotion saved for single fights outside of the tournament format which ruled the early events. The first Superfight Championship bout was waged at UFC 5 in April of 1995, but in a perfect case of Murphy’s Law, there was no champion crowned, as Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock fought to a draw. Gracie would not fight in the UFC again until 2006, but Shamrock took the title for himself in his next bout at UFC 6, submitting Dan Severn. Shamrock successfully defended his belt twice against Oleg Taktarov and Kimo Leopoldo before getting decisioned by Severn in their UFC 9 rematch. The title eventually morphed into the UFC heavyweight title, with Mark Coleman becoming the promotion’s first heavyweight champ by beating Severn at UFC 12.KNOCKOUT KINGSWhen you’ve reached the championship level and the best are facing the best, early finishes are likely to become rarer and rarer. Well, that’s unless your name is Anderson Silva, who holds the record for most knockouts in championship fights with six. Following “The Spider” on the list are Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, and Matt Hughes, each of whom have five title bout KOs. SUBMISSION SPECIALISTSOne of the few championship records not held by Anderson Silva is for most submission wins, a mark held by former 205-pound boss Frank Shamrock with four. Yet while Silva, who sits in third place all-time with two, has time to equal or surpass that mark, he could have been in second place along with Matt Hughes and BJ Penn with three if his UFC 67 opponent Travis Lutter made weight for their title bout, which Silva ended via submission in the second round.

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, heavyweight, championship

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones recently spoke to Sensei SporTV about multiple topics. When asked about a possible fight with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Jones made it pretty clear that he would rather not fight the Brazilian star. Jones also indicated that if he were to get past Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson, and possibly Alexander Gustafsson, he would be interested in a move to heavyweight. On fighting Anderson Silva: “I respect and admire Anderson. For me, the ideal situation is to have him as my mentor and learn from him after he retires. It would be great for me. He could teach me to move my body in different ways. That would be ideal. But the world wants to see us fight. Maybe [Silva] does, maybe not.” On Silva being the best pound for pound fighter: “Yeah, for sure. This is indisputable. Just look at his numbers, he is phenomenal. I’m a huge fan of Anderson. All he does is phenomenal, the way he behaves, as a fighter, the techniques he uses, the way he moves.” On a possible heavyweight move: “I talked to Dana White about fighting at heavyweight in 2012. He said he did not think a good idea at the time. He wants me to focus on light heavyweight to be a dominant champion. But after 2012, after Dan Henderson and Rashad, who knows Alexander Gustafsson, I do not see what to do in that weight class, no disrespect to anyone. Maybe I will fight as a heavyweight in 2013. Who knows?” Jones is currently scheduled to defend his title against Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in Atlanta, GA on April 21.

Posted in: jone, heavyweight, silva, anderson, move

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Since both Jon Jones and Anderson Silva have been looking very dominant as champions on their respective weight classes, naturally there will be people who would be interested in a super-fight between both MMA stars. When Jones was asked about his thoughts on a potential match up, he said he wasn't that interested. Sensei SporTV has it (via MMA Mania): "My job is to be prepared to face the best in the world. I'd rather not deal with Anderson, but if I have to fight him, I will focus on my confidence and on my technique. I respect and look up to him (Silva) so much. For me, the ideal scenario would be having him as my mentor and learn with him after he retires. It would be great for me. That would be ideal, but the world wants to see us fighting." 'Bones' also went on to say that he's still interested in fighting at heavyweight after dispatching of the next few contenders at 205. "I spoke with Dana White about making a heavyweight fight in 2012 but he said he didn't consider it a good idea right now. But after beating Dan Henderson, Rashad Evans and maybe Alexander Gustafsson in 2012, I don't see what to do in this division, not wanting to disrespect anybody." Jones seems to be very confident that he'll continue to eventually clean out his division, and while some fans will probably criticize him for these statements, I have to say, if he does beat those 3 guys, a heavyweight fight would certainly be very appealing.

Posted in: fight, jone, heavyweight, silva, heavyweight fight

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In the dream world of millions of mixed martial arts (MMA) fans across the globe, no other fight is fantasized about as much as a clash between Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight (UFC) Champion Anderson Silva and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Both are at the top of the MMA world and have wreaked havoc in their respective divisions. "The Spider" has won an unheard of 14 consecutive fights inside the Octagon, including nine title defenses and two appearances at 205-pounds. Jones is 9-1 in his relatively young UFC career, with his only loss coming via disqualification to Matt Hamill, a fight he was thoroughly dominating. He's also defeated a murderers row of elite fighters in the light heavyweight field en route to capturing and defending his first world title in 2011. But will two of the best to ever don the four ounce gloves ever meet face-to-face inside the eight-walled cage? Highly unlikely, or at least that's what "Bones" would prefer. Speaking to Sensei SporTV, Jones says that even though the world would like nothing more than to see he and Silva go toe-to-toe, he would rather have him as a mentor than an opponent. "My job is to be prepared to face the best in the world. I'd rather not deal with Anderson, but if I have to fight him, I will focus on my confidence and on my technique. I respect and look up to him (Silva) so much. For me, the ideal scenario would be having him as my mentor and learn with him after he retires. It would be great for me. That would be ideal, but the world wants to see us fighting." Though the chances of Silva moving back up to the 205-pound division in attempts of capturing gold there by facing Jones would probably be slim to none at this point, Jones, on the other hand, is still not ruling out a move to heavyweight: "I spoke with Dana White about making a heavyweight fight in 2012 but he said he didn't consider it a good idea right now. But after beating Dan Henderson, Rashad Evans and maybe Alexander Gustafsson in 2012, I don't see what to do in this division, not wanting to disrespect anybody." If Jones' 2012 fight campaign is as successful as last year's, he would no longer have anything to prove at 205-pounds. A move to heavyweight won't be too far-fetched, as Jones towers over his opposition in his current class. Pack on some extra mass and you have yourselves a very real heavyweight contender. First things first, there is still the matter of a much anticipated fight that Jones has to tend to, as he takes on former training partner turned bitter rival, Rashad Evans, at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 21, 2012. The Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva dream match may never come to fruition; however, should Silva ever consider taking Jones up on his offer to be his mentor, can you imagine a Jon Jones trained by possibly the best fighter to ever compete in MMA? Scary thought.

Posted in: fight, world, jone, heavyweight, silva

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Every mixed martial arts (MMA) fan loves a good conversation about rankings. When phrases like "pound-for-pound" and "best all-around" start flying around, you can bet there will be controversy. Such was the case on Thursday night (March 8, 2012) when the hosts of Spike TV's "MMA Uncensored Live" set out to decide who is currently the best 265-pounder in Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) heavyweight division. One of the hosts of the show, Mike Straka, had some interesting thoughts on who he believes may just be the best heavyweight fighter in the world: "Well, I'm probably gonna take a lot of heat for this, but, after his last fight, Frank Mir is, by far, the best heavyweight out there, right now. He's unstoppable. He broke Nogueira's arm with a kimura. He looks fantastic, and like you said, Cain Velasquez hasn't been that healthy. I would not wanna be a guy, not 100 percent healthy, facing Frank Mir." After the jump, we'll continue the discussion on which UFC heavyweight fighter should be considered number one: Only one man, Junior dos Santos, can lay claim to holding the belt, after he defeated the former champion, Cain Velasquez, with a quick and violent KO victory at UFC on Fox 1 on Nov. 12, 2011 in Anaheim, Calif. But does that cement his status as the best in the weight class? "JDS" will have a chance to prove as much when he takes on former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 on May 26, 2012 in "Sin City." Interestingly enough, the UFC 146 fight card is overflowing with amazing heavyweight match ups. With the UFC absorption of the Strikeforce heavyweight division, a lot of intriguing pairings just became available. In addition to the championship bout, Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem, fans will also be treated to: Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir Antonio Silva vs. Roy Nelson Shane del Rosario vs. Gabriel Gonzaga Not bad, eh? Former UFC Middleweight Nate Quarry, now a co-host on the set of "MMA Uncensored Live," also weighed in with his opinion on who the best 265-pounder is: "I don't know if he's the best or most well rounded, but Overeem is the scariest, by far. The way that he dismantled Lesnar...it was ridiculous." Former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar, who was making an appearance on the show, joined into the discussion as the voice of reason: "I'm gonna go with dos Santos. He's got great boxing, fast hands for a big guy, moves his feet really well, comes out to 'Rocky' ... you can't beat it." It certainly makes for an interesting conversation and adds an extra layer of anticipation to an already potentially thrilling night of fights at UFC 146. We heard from the guys at "MMA Uncensored Live," but now we wanna hear from you Maniacs! In the comment section, weigh in with your well-thought out argument for who is the best heavyweight in the UFC and why. Bring it.

Posted in: ufc, mma, heavyweight, vs, i dont

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Two weeks after being stabbed in the chest at a bar in Sofia, Bulgaria, Blagoi Ivanov has been downgraded from critical to serious condition. However, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney today told MMAjunkie.com Radio that the heavyweight remains vulnerable. "The doctors were still pretty tepid in their willingness to say to us that he was out of the woods," said Rebney, who received an update earlier this week. "He was stabbed in the heart, so he is in a difficult state."

Posted in: week, heavyweight, rebney, bellator ceo, mmajunkiecom radio

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [17 comments]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, mma history, mattyblayze, heavyweight card

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Fourteen months ago we were so insanely excited about the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix we made a movie about it. If you would've told us at the beginning of 2011 that we'd be seeing the conclusion of the tournament almost a year and a half after it's inception with Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett in the finals I would say 'I can see Barnett in the finals easily given his seeding, and Daniel Cormier? The guy who just beat Devin Cole?'. Now here we are, with the fallen tournament members headed to the UFC in full force, clad in their SF HWGP jackets thrown over their shoulder and being held by a single finger, looking all cool. With this sudden injection of heavyweight goodness one could say May 26th, 2012 is shaping up to rival February 12th, 2011 as one of the heaviest (pun 100% intended) cards in North American history. Zuffa announced yesterday that Frank Mir will be battling Cain Velasquez for the right to face the winner of that night's main event: JDS and Reem. Then, to sweeten the pot they threw in Roy Nelson Vs. Bigfoot Silva, which is sure to entertain (it's funny how Roy goes to wanting to drop to 205 to fighting one of the biggest guys in the division). Still, there's more. Shane Del Rosario makes his first return to MMA since Fedor/Silva after having his career threatened by a car accident, and the undefeated talent is taking on Gabriel Gonzaga to round out all of the heavyweight action. Check out the heavies on 146. Junior dos Santos Vs.  Alistair Overeem Cain Velasquez Vs.  Frank Mir Roy Nelson Vs.  Antonio Silva Gabriel Gonzaga Vs.  Shane del Rosario Now let's look at the first Strikeforce HWGP card for no real reason whatsoever. I guess for the sake of comparing cards featuring heavyweights: Fedor Emelianenko Vs. Antonio Silva Andrei Arlovski Vs. Sergei Kharitonov Shane Del Rosario Vs. Lavar Johnson Valentine Overeem Vs. Ray Sefo Chad Griggs Vs Gianpero Villante We need to face facts and get Mark Hunt Vs. Werdum on this card. It's like what Jimmy Darmody says to Nucky Thompson at the beginning of Boardwalk Empire: 'You can't be half a gangster'. [Source]

Posted in: heavyweight, vs, card, daniel cormier, rosario

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I was sitting around last night, leisurely enjoying a nice dinner of microwaved pizza and Old Milwaukee, when I stumbled across a statement posed by a friend of Thapa's -- 'You might be able to argue that (UFC 146) is the single best night of heavyweight MMA action in the history of the sport'. A brief discussion followed and I also took the question to twitter, where some of BE's finest commenters discussed the issue at length. At the end of it all, I drew a conclusion - UFC 146, if it goes off with the scheduled fights it has right now, will indeed be the most stacked heavyweight card ever. Has there ever been a card where the number one guy faced off with the guy tied for number two (Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem) the other number two met number four (Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir), ten met fourteen (Antonio Silva vs. Roy Nelson, and twenty-two met an undefeated prospect (Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane Del Rosario)? No, there hasn't. Some have come close though, and here's a brief synopsis of some other cards that had a lot of highly relevant heavyweight fights (in no particular order). Note - I'm not talking about what card had the most awesome heavyweight KO's or submissions or what you would normally classify as "action". I'm purely speaking from a relevance standpoint. Pride Final Conflict 2004 This was the semi-finals of the 2004 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix. Ron Waterman faced Kevin Randleman, who was bounced in the quarter finals by Fedor Emelianenko, in a non-tournament bout. The prelims also featured a matchup between top heavyweight Mirko Filipovic and Aleksander Emelianenko. It was only Aleks' fourth pro bout though, and Cro Cop was already out of the tournament. The tournament semi-finals featured the (at the time) undefeated Sergei Kharitonov vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Fedor taking on the undefeated (again at the time) Naoya Ogawa. After all that, the finals between Fedor and Big Nog also went down. This is the card that comes the closest to competing with UFC 146 to me. Pride Critical Countdown 2004 The quarter-finals of the same GP , that featured five HW bouts: Mark Hunt vs. Hidehiko Yoshida (non-tournament); Sergei Kharitonov vs. Semmy Schilt; Naoya Ogawa vs. Giant Silva; Heath Herring vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (a huge bout at the time); and Fedor Emelianenko vs. Kevin Randleman, who was coming off a big upset of Mirko Filipovic in the opening round. Affliction: Banned I know it sounds weird, but hear me out. Fedor Emelianenko, the top-ranked fighter in the world, faced former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, who was ranked at number five at the time. Andrei Arlovski (6th) faced Ben Rothwell (10th - seriously). And Josh Barnett (4th) faced Pedro Rizzo (Unranked). The undercard also featured a Paul Buentello vs. Gary Goodridge fight. Two more after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum The opening round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Fabricio Werdum was third in the world at the time, while Alistair Overeen was seventh. Josh Barnett (14th) met Brett Rogers (15th). Daniel Cormier (30th) met Jeff Monson (28th), and Valentijn Overeem (38,242nd) met Chad Griggs. Pride Grand Prix Finals 2000 Not all the guys in the openweight tournament were heavyweights which takes away some of its relevance, but it was still stacked with the top heavyweights of time like Mark Coleman (who ended up winning), Igor Vovchanchyn (beat Gary Goodridge and Kazushi Sakuraba to get to the finals, but lost to Coleman),and a matchup between Kazayuki Fujita vs. the guy whom many considered to be # 1 at the time, Mark Kerr. Ken Shamrock also returned from a four-year absence to face Alexander Otsuka (who honestly wasn't very good). So, those are my five. Can you come up with some other competitors. And are any of those (or any of these better than UFC 146?

Posted in: ufc, time, heavyweight, vs, card

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Undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight phenom Daniel Cormier, who stands at just five-feet, eleven inches tall, lumbered into the cage at 247-pounds for his knockout win over Antonio Silva back in September, which advanced him to the final round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix on May 19 against Josh Barnett. Yet despite all his success in the land of giants, the one question the former Olympic wrestler continues to face, based on his size and speed, is 'have you ever considered a drop to Light Heavyweight?' "DC" has definitely considered it, but coming off a health scare several years back after trying to cut weight, coupled with his flawless performance as a 265-pounder, there exists very little motivation for him to change gears. Unless he was offered a 205-pound "superfight" against an opponent he describes (via Cage Fanatic) as "the best in the world," which until Rashad Evans can prove otherwise at UFC 145 next month in Atlanta, is Jon "Bones" Jones. "I cut weight wrong for a long time in wrestling. The right opportunity would have to present itself, like a superfight against one of the best guys in the world. That's the type of thing that intrigues me. Obviously I'm fighting really big fights now at heavyweight so that's where I'm at right now and that's where I'm focused on being." And this isn't the first time he's hinted at a fight against Jones. If he manages to overcome Josh Barnett later this year at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, he would likely have one more fight as Grand Prix Champion under the Strikeforce banner before the promotion dissolves its heavyweight division. Then, inevitably, he would transition to the grandest stage of them all, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). What's interesting to note is that he may not even need to cut weight to fight Jones. The reigning 205-pound champion has already expressed his desire to move up to heavyweight if and when he can clean out his current weight class. That shouldn't stop us from playing fantasy matchmaker, so how would you predict the outcome of Jones vs. Cormier? And in which weight class? Thoughts?

Posted in: fight, jone, heavyweight, josh barnett, weight

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The boxing career of former EliteXC and UFC "attraction" Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson keeps on rolling along when he meets mixed martial artist Mike Glenn on March 24. Predictably, Glenn is making his pro debut and, like all of Slice's prior opponents, is not actually a heavyweight. Glenn competed in MMA at 205 pounds so he will almost certainly come in the much lighter man when the two meet later this month. This is a continuing trend for Kimbo as he made his debut against then 0-1 James Wade weighing 227 to Wade's 205, took on then 2-3 Tay Bledsoe weighing 244 to Bledsoe's 206 and then beat the debuting Charles Hackmann when he weighed 235 to Hackmann's 211. The only opponent Slice has faced (or is scheduled to face in Glenn's case) who is a listed heavyweight is Hackmann, and that's only because he made his debut at heavyweight. He almost certainly could have cut down to cruiserweight. Every boxing career sees a certain kind of progression to get guys used to the kind of challenges you're going to face in the ring over your career. That is not the point here. The point is that while Jared Shaw runs around yelling about Kimbo being a much needed "injection into the heavyweight division," the reality is that Kimbo remains a sideshow who is proving nothing by beating smaller men. No heavyweight of note has kicked off their career by doing nothing but picking off cruiserweights and at 38 years old, the idea of him challenging for a title as Shaw suggested in the past becomes even more laughable as he hasn't even proven that he can hang with an actual heavyweight. Even small North American titles like the NABA, NABF and NABO are held by guys who would smoke Kimbo. We're seeing a guy with a reputation as somewhat chinny fighting against guys below his weight class. There's a reason for that.

Posted in: guy, heavyweight, kimbo, glenn, boxing career

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The latest in fight bookings, starring tons of heavyweights fighting in May: -- If Roy Nelson's Facebook followers get him to drop to light heavyweight, it will have to happen after UFC 146. He will face former Strikeforce heavyweight Antonio … Continue reading →

Posted in: heavyweight, light heavyweight, matchmaker, fight bookings, matchmaker matchmaker

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Wednesday was looking like a pretty slow news day right up until the moment it wasn't. Two announcements later and the MMA community had experienced a minor explosion. Within a span of a few hours, UFC 146 transformed from a solid card to one of the year's best lineups (and perhaps one of the best in recent memory). What we now had was a heavyweight extravaganza, sporting a mammoth title fight (dos Santos vs. Overeem), a solid number-one contenders bout (Velasquez vs. Mir), and a slobber-knocker duel between lower contenders (Silva vs. Nelson). Score one for the big guys. Around this time, various commentators on this site starting referring to the Memorial Day weekend event as a theme card, the likes of which we haven't seen in quite a while. But why? While booking all heavies surely doesn't do much in the way of diversity, it certainly seems like a cool way to keep a division running smoothly. No more waiting around for everyone's timetable to match up. Instead just have the top six or eight guys slug it out on the same night. Winners fight winners as soon as possible. Everything keeps flowing, unlike some divisions (I'm looking at you, lightweight). Of course, overuse of this would probably get a little boring. But every once in a while, why not just throw a theme card out there to get people's blood pumping? Besides, multiple hours of heavyweight violence is an idea I think most of us can get behind. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir set for UFC 146. Velasquez and Mir have agreed to meet in a Memorial Day weekend match-up to determine the UFC heavyweight division's next number-one contender. Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva vs. Roy Nelson slated for UFC 146. Roy Nelson's drop to 205 pounds may seem inevitable at this point, but right now he's still a heavyweight. So what better way for him to go out than by taking on a giant of a man on the year's premier heavyweight card? Josh Koscheck: If AKA had real coaches, it would have produced more champions. Koscheck blasts his former coaches at American Kickboxing Academy, before discussing his new gym and his upcoming fight against Johny Hendricks. Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono booked for Bellator 67. Bellator's latest "superfight" sees lightweight champion Michael Chandler take on PRIDE/UFC veteran Akihiro Gono on May 4 in Ontario, Canada. Pat Barry planning on letting hair grow until he submits someone in UFC. Ariel Helwani caught up with the always-entertaining Pat Barry and somehow the conversation turned to pizza and haircuts. COUNTDOWN TO A SLIMMER ROY NELSON Started (on March 4th): 32,000 likes.Yesterday's mark: 92,183 likes.As of this writing: 97,282 likes.Goal (by March 18th): 132,000 likes. MEDIA STEW Watch as The Ultimate Fighter 15 coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber go to war at UFC 132's contentious championship match that, even to this day, each man still believes he won. (via UFC.tv) Click the image to watch. Our own Ariel Helwani found himself embroiled in the latest MMA judging controversy on UFC Tonight's "Fighter vs. Writer." Take a look at Myles Jury, one of TUF 15's early favorites, as he takes on Tyronne Holmes at KOTC: Encore. (Check out the bonus cameo by referee Cecil Peoples.) Joe Lauzon provides some refreshing perspective on this final UFC 144 vlog, which documents the before and after of his fight with Anthony Pettis. Click the image to watch. AND IT BEGINS Now May 5 is coming! Mr lucky punch Jonny was a fat lil boy yesterday in NYC. Better get training kid! Bc I am in shape& it's not round! — Josh Koscheck (@JoshKoscheck) March 8, 2012 STEALING A PAGE FROM SONNEN WANTED: no work ethic, no cardio, terrible striking and limited ground game. Brazilians, please send fight applications to Joe Silva. — Mike Pierce (@MikePierce170) March 8, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Wednesday, March 7, 2012): - UFC 146: Cain Velasquez (9-1) vs. Frank Mir (16-5) for number-one contender spot - UFC 146: Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva (16-3) - Bellator 67: Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono (32-17-7), non-title "super-fight" - Bellator 67: Ryan Ford (17-4) vs. Luis Santos (50-7) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's Tim Bernier: Spring Break - Analysis of UFC's First Quarter of 2012 Looking Ahead The UFC doesn't hold another event until April 14th. Until then, TUF has to hold us over, but once we get there, it should be great. The UFC has 8 scheduled events for April, May, and June. Five of those are free, and three are Pay Per Views. In the three Pay Per Views, we get to see three Title Fights as Jon Jones finally fights Rashad Evans (one of them will probably get injured and have to pull out though), then the epic Heavyweight fight between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem, and finally the long awaited rematch between Chael P. Sonnen and Anderson Silva-in Brazil, no less. The UFC better hire extra security. If you thought the "You're gonna die" chants directed at Chad Mendes were crazy, just wait til they see Sonnen. UFC 145 and 147 are both going to do more than 500,000 buys, which the UFC is starving for. 146 is a total wildcard since we have no idea how well JDS or AO will draw. In terms of free events, the UFC will continue to kill it. We're getting 50 to 60 free fights in the next three months. Just think about that for a second. Has this ever happened in UFC or MMA history? Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, day, heavyweight, vs

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Former champions Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez have signed to fight at UFC 146 on a card suddenly filled with heavyweight fights. The show is set to take place May 26 from Las Vegas, Nevada’s MGM Grand Garden Arena. The main event will feature current heavyweight title-holder Junior dos Santos defending his title against Alistair Overeem. The Mir-Velasquez bout will determine the next in line to challenge the winner of Dos Santos’ dance with Overeem. Mir (16-5) has defeated Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Roy Nelson, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in his last three bouts to secure his position in the division. Comparably, Vleasquez will be looking to bounce back from his first career loss coming when dos Santos claimed the title from last year via first round knockout. Also set for the Memorial Day Weekend card, Roy Nelson will welcome former Strikeforce heavyweight Antonio Silva to the Octagon, giving the heavyweights an even stronger presence at the event. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: mir, heavyweight, do, heavyweight fights, career loss

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And UFC 146 just keeps getting better. The May 26, 2012 UFC pay-per-view already features a heavyweight championship tilt between champ Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem, now the UFC has tweeted that fellow heavies Roy Nelson and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva will be mixing it up in the Octagon. Dos Santos-Overeem not enough for you? UFC 146 will also bring you Big Country vs. Bigfoot Silva - Nelson vs. Silva is on! Nelson is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 143. UFC president Dana White has been consistent in his criticism that Nelson needs to cut down to 205lbs and Nelson recently promised to do just that if he gets 100,000 "likes" on his Facebook page. But it appears that the UFC wants Nelson to welcome yet another Strikeforce veteran to the heavyweight division first. Silva hasn't fought since losing by KO to Daniel Cormier in the semi-finals of Strikeforce's heavyweight Grand Prix in September. SBN Coverage of UFC 146

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, vs, silva, nelson

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UFC 146′s recent trend of scheduling big heavyweight fights has continued as a bout between Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir has been verbally agreed to. Fox Sports reported the news earlier today, adding that the bout will determine the next challenger for the heavyweight title according to UFC President Dana White. Velasquez last fought against UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1. Velazquez, reportedly struggling with a knee injury, was unable to get anything going in the short fight and lost his title via TKO. Mir last fought at UFC 140, where he achieved a historic and gruesome submission victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Mir will be looking to extend his current three-fight win streak to four. UFC 146 takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26. The card will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between champion Junior Dos Santos and former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for more on UFC 146 and all things MMA.

Posted in: ufc, mir, heavyweight, heavyweight title, submission victory

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The heavyweight hits just keep on coming.

Posted in: heavyweight, heavyweight title, hit, heavyweight hits, velasquez collide

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [13 comments]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, contender, mattyblayze, mir vs

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UFC 146 is going to be big, and I don’t just mean in star power. In addition to the Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem heavyweight championship main event (which was just made official yesterday by the way) and the recently announced Roy Nelson vs. Antonio Silva and Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane del Rosario heavyweight bouts, the card will also feature a heavyweight number one contender’s match between former champs Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez. Dana White confirmed the news to FOX Sports this afternoon: “Verbal agreements are in for a No. 1 contender match between former UFC world heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez at UFC 146, May 26 in Las Vegas,” UFC president Dana White said. The addition makes for a whole lotta heavyweight action in one night. In fact, I don’t believe we’ve seen this level of heavyweight talent on one card since the opening night of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix over a year ago. As for the fight itself, I don’t think you could find two better heavyweights at this point to compete for the next heavyweight title shot than Velasquez and Mir. What’s great about this is no matter who wins the championship and this number one contender’s bout, we’re going to end up with another great heavyweight championship fight later in the year. True, it could produce Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez 2 which JDS won decisively the first time around, but it wasn’t the type of fight where the loser was beat down and dominated for five rounds. Who knows what would have happened if JDS didn’t catch Velasquez just right with that punch. I don’t think anyone would be too shocked if Velasquez emerged victorious in a rematch. That’s all water cooler talk for another time though. For now, let’s just look forward to the epic night of heavyweight action we have before us. Image via Daniel Herbertson for Sherdog

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, vs, velasquez, contender

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Fox Sports has brought word that Cain and Frank will tangle in Las Vegas for the #1 contender's slot for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. While the fights have been confirmed by the UFC, they aren't technically on the Official Fight Card yet, so they're subject to change, but so far, according to Wikipedia, we've got: Heavyweight Championship bout: Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair OvereemHeavyweight bout: Cain Velasquez vs. Frank MirMiddleweight bout: Jason Miller vs. C.B. DollawayWelterweight bout: Dan Hardy vs. Duane LudwigLightweight bout: Jacob Volkmann vs. Paul SassFeatherweight bout: Darren Elkins vs. Diego BrandaoHeavyweight bout: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane del RosarioLight Heavyweight bout: Kyle Kingsbury vs. Glover Teixeira I'd be surprised if it actually went down like this, as that's a ton of heavies on the card at the moment, and as always, injuries factor in. There's also the fact that Roy is supposedly going to drop to 205, so take that particular booking with a salt shaker.

Posted in: ufc, bout, heavyweight, vs, wikipedia weve

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Antonio Silva's long-awaited Octagon debut is finally on the books. Announced Wednesday, "Bigfoot" has agreed to face Roy "Big Country" Nelson in a heavyweight tilt at UFC 146, slated for May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. UFC officials confirmed the bout via Twitter. Silva and Nelson join their heavyweight brethren on the Memorial Day weekend card, which is headlined by a mammoth title scrap between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem. Notable fan-favorites Dan Hardy, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Edson Barboza, and Diego Brandao are also confirmed participants for the holiday festivities. Considered to be one of the top scores of the Strikeforce heavyweight migration, Silva (16-3) enters the UFC fresh from a roller-coaster run through the promotion's heavyweight grand prix. "Bigfoot" notched the upset of the tourney in the opening round, dominating Fedor Emelianenko en route to a second-round TKO finish and handing the PRIDE legend just his second loss in over a decade. However Silva's storybook run met an abrupt end when he fell victim to an overhand right from injury-replacement Daniel Cormier early in their semifinals match. Likewise, Nelson (16-7) hopes to rebound after dropping a ‘Fight of the Night' decision loss to Fabricio Werdum last month. Following the setback, the 35-year-old former TUF winner has now lost three of his last four contests to top opponents Frank Mir and Junior dos Santos, with his only win coming in a three-round war that would prove to be Mirko Cro Cop's final MMA match. Though despite his struggles, "Big Country" has made waves recently for an online bet he made with the mixed martial arts community, in which he pledged to drop to light heavyweight if he gained 100,000 Facebook ‘likes' within two weeks. Just days into the wager, Nelson is already approaching his mark, so it remains to be seen if UFC 146 will be his final bout at heavyweight.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, silva, nelson, bigfoot

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The day after officially announcing UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will be defending his belt against Alistair Overeem in the main event at UFC 146, another heavyweight matchup was announced today, as Roy Nelson will welcome Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva to the UFC. UFC 146 takes place on May 26th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This will be the fourth consecutive fight for Nelson (16-7) in his hometown of Las Vegas, as he last fought at UFC 143, losing to Fabricio Werdum via unanimous decision. Following the loss, Nelson placed a wager on his Facebook account, stating that if he earned 100,000 “likes” on his page, he would “try” to drop to 205 pounds. That attempt seems to be put on hold until after this fight in May.  Since winning The Ultimate Fighter season 10 against Brendan Schaub, Nelson is just 2-3 in the UFC, which includes losses to Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, and Werdum. Silva (16-3) will be making his UFC debut, having fought in Strikeforce for the last two years. An entrant in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, Silva upset Fedor Emelianenko in the first round in February of last year. He then went on to lose to alternate Daniel Cormier in the semi-finals via knockout. This will be his first fight since that loss. As mentioned, UFC 146 will be headlined by a UFC heavyweight championship fight between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem. The event also features a lightweight matchup between Evan Dunham and Edson Barboza. For complete coverage of UFC 146, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, alistair overeem, las vegas, nelson

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submitted by Phargo [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: heavyweight, division, light, phargo

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Big Country may be teasing a move down to light heavyweight, but it won't happen before May 26 because he's got a big test ahead of him at UFC 146.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, light heavyweight, move, country

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For a while, someone was keeping a twitter account for the UFC Octagon but after a short period of activity they stopped. Presumably because there’s only so many different ways to say “oooh I say, a lot of blood tonight” or “my, I’m straining under the weight of these big chaps”. Thinking about it, tweeting as @UFCOctagon in posh English accent would be pretty cool. Nonsensical maybe, but unique at the very least. If you’re going to create a parody twitter account for an object, you might as well create a character to go along with it. @UrijahFaberschin is the perfect example of a lost opportunity for character development. You can imagine Faber’s chin tweeting in colloqial Californian, constantly making bitter references to being overshadowed and not mentioned in media reports about Faber, despite the prominence it claims on his face, dude. That’s a character I can believe in. If the Octagon twitter account had been developed properly as a character, the lead up to Junior Dos Santos vs Alistair Overeem could have been hilarious. For example, starting a countdown calendar until two of the best heavyweights collide would have been possible, now that the date has officially been set. On the 26th of May at UFC 146, Junior dos Santos will make his first defence of the UFC heavyweight title he took from Cain Velasquez against the man who retired Brock Lesnar and current #1 Frate Trane Alistair Overeem. If Ubereem wins, he will have held the Strikeforce, DREAM, K-1 and UFC heavyweight belts. If JDS wins, who is there left for him to fight that he hasn’t already beat via MMA-math? I’d like to ask the Octagon how much damage it imagine it will take during the course of an event which features both JDS vs Ubereem and the promotional debut of Glover Teixeira but now we’ll never know what it would say in its faux-English phonetic tweet.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, do, twitter, character

Read the full article at Middle Easy

For a while, someone was keeping a twitter account for the UFC Octagon but after a short period of activity they stopped. Presumably because there’s only so many different ways to say “oooh I say, a lot of blood tonight” or “my, I’m straining under the weight of these big chaps”. Thinking about it, tweeting as @UFCOctagon in posh English accent would be pretty cool. Nonsensical maybe, but unique at the very least. If you’re going to create a parody twitter account for an object, you might as well create a character to go along with it. @UrijahFaberschin is the perfect example of a lost opportunity for character development. You can imagine Faber’s chin tweeting in colloqial Californian, constantly making bitter references to being overshadowed and not mentioned in media reports about Faber, despite the prominence it claims on his face, dude. That’s a character I can believe in. If the Octagon twitter account had been developed properly as a character, the lead up to Junior Dos Santos vs Alistair Overeem could have been hilarious. For example, starting a countdown calendar until two of the best heavyweights collide would have been possible, now that the date has officially been set. On the 26th of May at UFC 146, Junior dos Santos will make his first defence of the UFC heavyweight title he took from Cain Velasquez against the man who retired Brock Lesnar and current #1 Frate Trane Alistair Overeem. If Ubereem wins, he will have held the Strikeforce, DREAM, K-1 and UFC heavyweight belts. If JDS wins, who is there left for him to fight that he hasn’t already beat via MMA-math? I’d like to ask the Octagon how much damage it imagine it will take during the course of an event which features both JDS vs Ubereem and the promotional debut of Glover Teixeira but now we’ll never know what it would say in its faux-English phonetic tweet.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, do, twitter, character

Read the full article at Middle Easy

It had been rumored for a while, but you never know for sure until you hear the official announcement. Today, we heard the official UFC 146 announcement. And the main event will see UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos facing off with Alistair Overeem on May 26th. Here's the relevant part of the release: The biggest heavyweight fight of 2012 will land at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 26th, as UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos defends his title for the first time in the main event of UFC 146 against former Strikeforce and K-1 champion Alistair Overeem. Ticket information will be announced soon. Dos Santos claimed the title by knocking out Cain Velasquez in just 69 seconds at the first UFC on Fox event last November. Overeem is coming a first-round TKO win over former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in December, and is riding a twelve-fight unbeaten streak. The bout had been expected for this card since UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta mentioned it in a late-night twitter Q&A last month. Here is the current card for the event: Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair OvereemEdson Barboza vs. Evan DunhamDan Hardy vs. Duane LudwigDiego Brandao vs. Darren ElkinsC.B. Dollaway vs. Jason MillerShane Del Rosario vs. Gabriel GonzagaKyle Kingsbury vs. Glover TeixeiraPaul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem

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

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After months of speculation, Junior dos Santos' first title defense has finally been made official. The UFC's newest heavyweight champion will meet former Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1 beltholder Alistair Overeem at the main event of UFC 146, slated for May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC officials confirmed the booking on Tuesday. Tickets for are expected to go on sale later this month. The heavyweight title fight joins a card already highlighting the return of several known UFC commodities, including Edson Barboza, Dan Hardy, Diego Brandao, and Jason "Mayhem" Miller. Dos Santos (14-1) last appeared in the main event of November's UFC on FOX debut, where he soundly defeated Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds to earn "Knockout of the Night" honors and the UFC heavyweight strap. His victory marked the culmination of a stunning nine fight win streak, eight of which took place under the UFC umbrella and six of which ended in the first round. Throughout that time the 27-year-old dos Santos defeated a who's who of the heavyweight division, including Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, Roy Nelson, and Shane Carwin. Likewise, Overeem (36-11, 1 NC) carries his own 12-fight unbeaten streak into the headlining tilt after collecting championships in nearly every other major MMA promotion, often in violent fashion. Before joining the UFC ranks, the 31-year-old Dutch striker ripped through an impressive run in which he finished eight of nine fights within four minutes against the likes of Mark Hunt, Gary Goodridge, Brett Rogers, and Todd Duffee. After dropping out of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix due to lingering injuries, Overeem made his long-awaited UFC debut against Brock Lesnar last December, needing just two-and-a-half minutes to floor the former champion with a devastating liver kick.

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

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The big boys are coming to Las Vegas. UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will make the first defense of his title on May 26 against Alistair Overeem at UFC 146

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

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia wants back inside the Octagon. Sylvia said Monday on The MMA Hour that he is desperate to prove that he belongs in the UFC heavyweight division, and that he'd gladly accept whatever contract the UFC offered him. "Have me come in, put me against Stefan Struve, Cheick Kongo, (Matt) Mitrione," Sylvia said. "I'll fight anybody. I don't care. And see if I can hang with them. If I can't, I tell you what, it's going to be a hell of a fight." Sylvia said he invested the $800,000 he made for his loss to Fedor Emelianenko and is doing fine financially, and that now he just wants to prove himself in the UFC. In fact, Sylvia said he would accept a contract that pays him only $5,000 to show up and another $5,000 to win, which is as low as a UFC contract gets. For that matter, Sylvia said he'd be willing to fight for free. "If the UFC comes to me with an offer for $5,000 and $5,000 I would take it," Sylvia said. "I know that's very entry level money but I'd have an opportunity to win Knockout of the Night and make $50,000." Sylvia said he disagrees with those who say the UFC heavyweight division is leaps and bounds better now than it was when he was the champion. Sylvia acknowledged that there are a handful of great heavyweights whom he'd struggle to beat, but he said he thinks he would defeat most of the UFC's top heavyweights. "I don't agree with any of that. Right now you have three studs: Alistair, Junior and Cain, and the rest are OK," Sylvia said. "There's also Frank Mir and Shane Carwin, but besides the Top 5, if you put me in there I'll beat them all." Sylvia said he currently weighs 295 pounds and would be able to get himself down to the UFC's heavyweight limit of 265 if the UFC gave him that chance. The only obstacle, Sylvia said, is that he doesn't think the UFC wants him. So why not? Sylvia knows that the UFC is in the business of giving fans the fights the fans want to see, and he said he has reached out to fans through social media to ask him why they're not clamoring to see him in the Octagon again. He said some fans have told him he has a boring style, but he says the biggest problem is that fans don't know enough about him. "I just want to know why, how come the fans don't like me," he said. "Basically it's because they don't know me." And the best way for the fans to get to know Sylvia is for the UFC to promote him again. He'll be waiting by the phone.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, fan, sylvia, dont

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: heavyweight, mattyblayze, ivanov, blagoi, consciousness

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As a mixed martial artist, Blagoi Ivanov knows how to put up a good fight. The Bellator heavyweight, who was clinging to life after suffering a severe stab wound late last month, is reportedly in stable condition following emergency surgery, having regained consciousness over the weekend. The Bulgarian English-speaking news site Novinite has the report: Ivanov is now in a stable condition and is under a milder treatment regimen, doctors have told the BGNES news agency. The fighter's main problem is with one of his lungs and not with his heart, according to the experts that treat him. Ivanov and his friends were involved in an early morning brawl after a night on the town, one that saw the grappling expert get a knife plunged into the side of his body, just below the armpit and deep enough to pierce his heart. The Bulgarian famously ended Fedor Emelianenko's streak of Sambo world titles in 2008, defeating "The Last Emperer" in the semifinals before claiming the gold medal for himself. Ivanov qualified for the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament with a first round technical knockout victory against William Penn. In the tournament quarterfinals, he destroyed veteran Zak Jensen both standing and on the ground, advancing to the final four with a second round guillotine choke. Unfortunately for "Baga," he was forced to pull out of the tournament after suffering an injury in training camp -- although he recovered enough to take a fight against former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez on Christmas Eve late last year, defeating the American via third round technical knockout. There is currently no timetable on his recovery; however, keep it locked in to MMAmania.com for more details on Ivanov's future as they become available.

Posted in: heavyweight, ivanov, knockout victory, morning brawl, emergency surgery

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Remember the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix? Boy that was a grand idea, wasn't it? Not only did the tournament see undesired results mixed with a bit of controversy, it's been on hold for months due to a hand injury suffered by one of its finalists, Daniel Cormier. While he's been healing, the entire heavyweight division dissolved into the UFC so the San Jose based promotion could focus on the lighter weight classes. Or at least that's what they said. The reality is that the weight class seriously lacks depth, even at the highest level. Nonetheless, the two men who advanced to the finals, the previously mentioned Cormier and Josh Barnett, will do battle inside the Hexagon to crown a tournament champion. And, as announced during last night's (Sat., March 3, 2012) "Tate vs. Rousey" event broadcast, the bout will take place on May 19, 2012, at a location to be determined. Barnett's road to the finals wasn't exactly easy but it certainly wasn't as difficult as it could have been. He opened the tournament by submitting Brett Rogers with little trouble and followed that up by doing the same to Sergei Kharitonov, both by arm triangle choke. As for Cormier, he was an injury replacement for Alistair Overeem and needed only one victory to reach the finals. He earned it, too, blasting "Bigfoot," Antonio Silva, and knocking him out in the first round. He broke his hand in the process, which is what led to all this waiting around as noted. Speaking at last night's show, "DC" says he's eager to get back at it: "My hand is finally healed. I'm back, and I'm ready to fight. Replacement or not, I was given an opportunity, and I took it. Now I'm in the biggest fight of my career, and I can't wait." There's no word on what the winner of this fight will receive but it seems obvious a UFC contract is up for grabs, if nothing else. Better incentive than a meaningless title, no? Mark it down on your calendars, Maniacs, May 19, 2012, will see the thrilling conclusion of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix. Who takes it -- Barnett or Cormier?

Posted in: heavyweight, tournament, barnett, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight

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Strikeforce has finally set the date for the conclusion to the organization’s entertaining albeit slightly ill-fated Heavyweight Grand Prix. Announced more than a year ago, the Grand Prix pitted a number of the top heavyweights in the world against each other including Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, and Fabricio Werdum, as well as eventual finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. According to Strikeforce, Barnett and Cormier will collide on May 19 at still-developing event. No location was revealed in relation to the bout. Barnett is a longtime veteran of the sport with both experience in the UFC and PRIDE. The 31-5 catch-wrestler earned his spot in the final by taking out Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov. He has won his last eight fights and also holds past wins over Pedro Rizzo, Jeff Monson, and Randy Couture. Comparably, Cormier lacks Barnett’s in-ring experience though is an accomplished grappler with ever-improving hands. The former Olympian is 9-0 thus far since transitioning to MMA, picking up notable victories over Monson and Antonio Silva. Cormier Calls Broken Hand “Worst Case Scenario” The fight will mark one of the final heavyweight tilts under the Strikeforce banner with the bulk of the group already having been absorbed by the UFC. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, daniel cormier, cormier

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A date has been set for the conclusion of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix, as promotion officials Saturday announced that Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will collide on May 19.

Posted in: heavyweight, josh barnett, josh, daniel cormier, cormier

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Over a year since its inception, the end is in sight for Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix. Tournament finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier are scheduled to meet in main event of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier on May 19. The long-awaited finale will air live on Showtime. Strikeforce's eight-man tournament debuted to heavy fanfare last February, drawing record ratings with a field that included Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva. However, the competition ultimately lost steam after Emelianenko's stunning loss and the removal of Overeem. Mired by an underwhelming promotional push and wavering contract negotiations, the semifinals aired seven months later to Strikeforce's lowest ratings of the year. Considered by many to be the tourney's premier dark horse, the 34-year-old Barnett (31-5) strolled in on a six-fight win streak and wasted little time making his presence felt. "The Warmaster" opened festivities by storming through Brett Rogers en route to a second-round submission victory, before one-upping the performance with a dominant first-round submission of Sergei Kharitonov. A perennial top-ten heavyweight throughout his career, Barnett's last loss came over half-a-decade ago at PRIDE Shockwave 2006, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Across the cage, surprise challenger Cormier (9-0) traversed a far different road to reach the tournament finals. The 32-year-old former Olympian initially found himself on the outside looking in, before besting former UFC contender Jeff Monson in a tourney-reserve match. Upon Overeem's controversial exit, Cormier jumped at his opportunity and shocked a heavily-favored Silva, catching the vertically-gifted Brazilian with an overhand shot to the jaw early in the opening round. A pair of hammer-fists later and "DC" had punched his ticket to the finals, but not before breaking his hand on Silva's skull. Cormier's injury was originally expected to heal quickly, however several complications have risen to delay his match-up with Barnett. In the meantime, Strikeforce dissolved the rest of their heavyweight division and announced that the grand-prix winner will fight one as-of-yet unnamed top opponent to determine the final Strikeforce heavyweight champion. Following the bout, Strikeforce plans to disband the division completely. Showtime's official trailer for Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier can be viewed below.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, tournament, barnett, cormier

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(Warning: The following article is over 3000 words long.) I knew very little about either Mark Hunt or his fighting career going into UFC 144. I knew that he was an aging Samoan heavyweight with an iron jaw and iron fists. I knew that he was a former Pride fighter and a former K-1 Kickboxing world champion but if you had asked me what year he won, or who he had defeated, I would have had to look it up. I knew that Hunt was on a two fight win streak in the UFC and I knew that many fans were claiming that a third consecutive victory, over Cheick Kongo, would elevate him to contender status. I had a hard time reconciling this. After all, Hunt had most recently defeated Ben Rothwell in a pretty uninspiring performance, at least by my standards. Both men looked gassed by the time the third round rolled around, with Rothwell looking particularly out of shape. That Hunt had out-grappled Rothwell was the lone bright spot in the fight; Hunt had not shown much proficiency in the ground aspect of mixed martial arts competition, with all but one of his losses coming due to submission. His previous UFC victory was a knockout over Chris Tuscherer, who never really belonged in the UFC in the first place. So I found the talk of a title run to be extremely pre-mature, even if he could manage to earn a victory over Kongo. Then I started doing some research. My first stop when learning about a fighter is to check out their record. I look for things like most used method of victory, number of times they've been knocked out, strength of scheduled, length of time between fights, etc. etc. Mark Hunt has a very interesting MMA record: He is 8-7 overall, but is 3-1 in the UFC. He entered the UFC on a five fight losing streak, surely the first and only time this will ever happen. His first 10 fights included Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Wanderlei Silva, Mirko Cro Cop, Josh Barnett and Melvin Manhoef. He fought each man when they were at their absolute prime, save for perhaps Overeem. No one has, or will ever face that level of competition in their first 10 fights ever again. What's more, he was the man who brought an end to Wanderlei Silva's 20 fight Pride unbeaten streak, when Wanderlei was considered the best fighter in the world. I also learned that Hunt was told by the UFC not to bother coming to fight for the organization when his contract was included in the deal that saw Zuffa purchase Pride Fighting Championships. So skeptical of his ability to compete that Dana was content to simply pay him the money on his contract, no questions asked, but no fights either. Hunt turned down the offer and demanded that he be allowed to earn his pay. It was an attitude that might seem typical of a fighter, but when you consider that he was on a five fight losing streak and would be entering an organization which was far more wrestling-centric than Pride, it would be understandable if Hunt had taken the president up on his offer. I was intrigued, to say the least. Then Hunt went out and absolutely destroyed Kongo in the first round, finishing what Pat Barry had started, in clinical fashion. He joked around with Ariel Helwani in his post fight interview, although he was very serious when he stated a desire for his next fight to be this weekend in Australia. I was now sold on Hunt as a character, but wasn't yet on board with the idea that he was a legitimate heavyweight title contender. I wrote that a match-up with Mike Russow would be appropriate for Hunt, as Russow is on a nice little four fight win streak himself and has exactly the type of game that would vet Hunt's chances against the top of the division (a strong chin and solid wrestling). Yet over the past few days, I've read in many places that Hunt is a contender right now. Could it really be? Even though I wasn't convinced, I set about to analyze every potential match-up for the "Super Samoan" on the road to the title, just to see if maybe I was wrong and everyone else was right. See how Hunt stack's up against the UFC's current top 10 heavyweights following the jump. 1. Junior dos SantosStrengths: Boxing, Speed. Dos Santos has destroyed everyone he's faced in the UFC, with only Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin managing to make it to the judges scorecards. I could be wrong but I don't believe that he has lost a round in the UFC. He has a devastating uppercut and closes distance like a heavyweight Georges St. Pierre.Weaknesses: One dimensional. If you were to find a weakness, it would be that dos Santos has only shown that he can win a fight in one way: Punching his opponent in the face. Joe Rogan has been pleading for dos Santos to throw more leg kicks for as long as I can remember, but dos Santos seems content to simply blast away with uppercuts and hooks. He hasn't gone to the ground at any point when a fight hangs in the balance. He did take Shane Carwin down a couple of times but he had already beaten him to a pulp and the take downs were academic.How would a fight against Hunt look: It's difficult to imagine that Hunt would be able to match the speed that dos Santos would bring. That being said, the fight would almost surely be fought on the feet and you could never count Hunt out of a stand up fight. We've yet to see how dos Santos responds to adversity, so Hunt would need to land early if he was going to have any chance of winning. 2. Alistair Overeem Strengths: Offensive Kickboxing, Striking defense, Take down defense, Guillotine Choke. Overeem is the defending K-1 World Grand Prix champion, having won the title 10 years after Hunt. He is a powerful and accurate puncher, he has beautiful knees in and out of the clinch and can throw all the kicks in the book. After being knocked out a handful of times early in his career he dramatically improved his defense, using his massive arms and shoulders to cover up when he is being attacked. He also possesses an underrated ground game, having won eight fights by guillotine and 19 overall by submission.Weaknesses: Chin, Cardio. While his striking defense is top notch, it really has to be, as he has been stopped by TKO or KO 9 times throughout his MMA and kickboxing career. He put on a large amount of weight when he made the transition from light heavyweight to heavyweight some five years ago and while he has only been to a decision once since, against Fabricio Werdum, he looked noticably tired in the third round of a fairly lacklustre fight.How would a fight against Hunt look: Overeem and Hunt have already met up once, with Alistair taking the fight to the ground and securing a keylock submission in just 71 seconds. A second match-up would probably be much of the same; I consider Overeem one of the smartest fighters in the world and even though he might beat Hunt in a striking battle, he wouldn't chance it.3. Cain VelasquezStrengths: Wrestling, Cardio, Offensive Kickboxing, Efficiency. A former champion, Velasquez used his excellent wrestling and all-world cardio to get to and win the title. He has excellent technique in all phases of the sport, wasting little in terms of movement and energy to accomplish what he wants to.Weaknesses: Defensive Kickboxing, Chin. It's kind of difficult to say that Velasquez has any weaknesses, as his only loss came in 64 seconds to Dos Santos in the last heavyweight championship fight. Velasquez started the fight out landing a handful of leg kicks before being dropped by an overhand right on the temple and quickly finished. Dos Santos is a face melter, so it's tough to say Cain has a weak chin based just on that brief encounter. However, he was also dropped multiple times in his win over Cheick Kongo, so it's fair to start asking if his chin is going to hold up. Hand in hand with that goes his proclivity to absorb blows in order to land his own. No one really talks much about it, but he was trading with Brock Lesnar pretty evenly before he was able to get Lesnar down and take the fight over.How would a fight against Hunt look: Especially after Dana White criticized him for not shooting on Dos Santos, Velasquez wouldn't likely bother trying to engage in any kind of kickboxing match with Hunt. He'd take him down. Velasquez has never submitted anyone, preferring to simply grind his opponents out, and he'd likely do so to Hunt. 4. Frank MirStrengths: Submission grappling. Frank would be quite annoyed to see that I consider him a one-dimensional fighter, but realistically he is just that. He is an outstanding submission fighter though and holds the distinction of being the only man to submit Big Nog, Lesnar and Kongo.Weaknesses: Striking defense. While not being particularly amazing in any one area but submissions can seem like a negative, Mir has good skills in just about every other facet of the game but one, which is his maddening tendency to absorb punches without attempting to maneuver out of bad situations. Lesnar finished him this way, as did Shane Carwin. Both guys have big power to be sure, but Mir seemed unfazed by the blows being landed on him until it was far too late. He was also losing the stand up portion of his last fight with Big Nog quite handily.How would a fight against Hunt look: Mir's wrestling was good enough to get Roy Nelson to the mat repeatedly and if he were to get Hunt down, he'd tap him out for sure. I just don't have enough faith in Hunt's ability to keep the fight standing.5. Fabricio WerdumStrengths: Submission grappling, volume striking. Werdum made a successful return to the UFC with a win over Roy Nelson at UFC 143, after spending three years fighting for Strikeforce. He is widely considered to have the most dangerous guard in the heavyweight division and he is the only man to have submitted Fedor Emelianenko. He has worked very hard on his striking game, having put in a good performance in the stand up portion of his fight against Overeem. He doesn't have one punch power but has a good work rate and is accurate with his strikes.Weaknesses: Wrestling. While he did look good on the feet against Overeem, he also failed miserably to get the fight to the mat, resorting to butt flopping a ridiculous number of times. It seems that he decided it would be more beneficial to improve on his striking rather than his take down ability, which I think is pretty questionable, as he is just not powerful enough to strike with the best in the world at this weight.How would a fight against Hunt look: Hunt has a great chance of beating Werdum. While Werdum is arguably the most dangerous of the submission fighters on the list, he also has the worst take downs, and if Hunt could keep the fight on it's feet for a few minutes, he'd likely land a telling blow.6. Shane CarwinStrengths: Power, Defensive Wrestling. I say defensive wrestling because Carwin was able to shuck Brock Lesnar off him early in their championship fight. We haven't really seen him use his wrestling in an offensive way, although he showed some good clinch work against Frank Mir. As for power, Carwin rivals Hunt in his ability to end fights with one punch.Weaknesses: Power, Cardio. Joe Rogan famously said that "Leonard Garcia had so much power that it was almost a curse". While the statement was ridiculous to make about Leonard, it actually applies perfectly to Carwin, who had 12 straight first round stoppages before facing Lesnar. He had the champ hurt and emptied his gas tank in the first round, believing (understandably) that he would get the stoppage. When he didn't, he was easily taken down and submitted in the second round. Against Dos Santos he simply could not match the younger man's speed and should have tried to take the fight to the mat relentlessly. Instead, he tried to land a knock out blow and ended up taking an epic beating for his questionable game plan.How would a fight against Hunt look: Another fight that looks favorable to Hunt, as he can match Carwin in the power department and far exceeds him in the technicality of his attack. As with all the fighters on this list, the threat of the take down looms large, but with a guy as powerful as Carwin, you have to wonder if he'd go that route, especially if he didn't find success with it early.7. Big NogStrengths: Submission Grappling, Boxing, Heart, Experience. One of the great heavyweights of all time, Nogueira really needs no introduction. He isn't the fighter that he once was, having been slowed by injuries, but he was enjoying a bit of a renaissance, knocking out Brendan Schaub and taking it to Mir right up until the moment wMir submitted him at UFC 141.Weaknesses: Speed, Chin. Nogueira wasn't particularly quick to begin with, and as I mentioned above, his movement has really suffered in the last few years. In his Pride days, he fought with a bad style for longevity, taking an awful lot of damage in order to latch on to a submission. He has been stopped by Velasquez and Mir in the UFC and if and when he does return to the ring, his chin will be a concern.How would a fight against Hunt look: I think Hunt would take this fight as well. Nogueira has never exactly been known for his wrestling skills and having slowed down as much as he has, Hunt would likely be able to manuever away from Nogueira until he was able to catch him. Hunt would have to be smart about finishing the bout, as Nogueira is always dangerous on the mat, no matter how badly hurt he is. Hunt is smart enough to do so, making this fight extremely winnable. 8. Antonio SilvaStrengths: Size, Well Rounded-ness, Ground Striking. There really isn't any one aspect of the sport that Big Foot excels at, although he is very solid in all areas. He's quite big, cutting down from around 280 pounds. He has decent striking, good offensive wrestling and is an excellent top control grappler due to his large frame. His best work is done from the mount position, as he showed most recently against Mike Kyle and Fedor.Weaknesses: Chin, Striking defense. Unfortunately for Silva, he has a very big chin. While you might think that is good for absorbing blows, in the heavyweight division where most guys have extreme power, it has served as more of a target for good strikers. He was rocked and nearly finished by Kyle before he came back and knocked him out. Daniel Cormier caught him with the same punch that Kyle did, and Big Foot never recovered from that one.How would a fight against Hunt look: If this is starting to sound like a broken record, well, that's because there is a clear path to victory for Hunt against almost every one of these guys: Keep it on the feet, knock them out. Silva is good and quick enough to get Hunt to the ground, making this the second worst match-up for him behind Velasquez. Truth be told, I think this fight would end pretty badly for Hunt.9. Cheick KongoThe guy that Hunt just beat, there is really no need to review him. I simply have left him here for perspective on where Hunt might sit in the division.10. Brendan SchaubStrengths: Athleticism, Power,Offensive boxing. Schaub had a cup of coffee in the NFL and has translated his athletic skills over to the boxing aspect of MMA striking quite well, using a very effective jab and straight punches on his way to four straight wins over the likes of Gabriel Gonzaga and Cro Cop.Weaknessess: Striking defense. Schaub hasn't shown too much in the way of well rounded-ness, and that was a problem for him against Roy Nelson and Big Nog, who were able to adjust to his jab and land knock out blows. It'll continue to be a problem for him in the future I honestly don't like his chances of being anything more than a gate-keeper to the upper levels of the division.How would a fight against Hunt look: Schaub did get Mirko Cro Cop to the mat a handful of times when he met up with the legendary K-1 striker, but he didn't look particularly effective and the Cro Cop he faced was but a mere shell of his former self. As I mentioned above, his striking defense has a ton of holes in it that Hunt could exploit. His athleticism might be the determining factor in this fight and I'd like to see how he does against Ben Rothwell to get an idea of his chances against Hunt. SUMMARY So there you have it. By my count four out of the nine fighters on the list could pretty clearly get Mark Hunt to the mat and either tap him out or dominate him with ground striking: Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir and Big Foot Silva. Four of the other five fighters in the heavyweight top ten would be in tough, having a clear disadvantage on the feet and not being particularly well versed in getting the fight to the ground. The lone fighter who would be on equal footing in the stand up game is the current champion, Junior Dos Santos. So is Mark Hunt a contender? Well, it seems that it isn't quite as far fetched as I thought it was just a few days ago. If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading.

Posted in: ufc, fight, hunt, fighter, heavyweight

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M-1 Global will surely go down as the most misunderstood organization in MMA history. In the past three years, we’ve seen all sorts of entertaining drama come from the Russian promoters: First they touted the WAMMA heavyweight title as the be-all-end-all of the MMA world’s heavyweight titles; then somehow the five companies they co-promoted with (Pride, Rings, Bodog Fights, Affliction, Strikeforce) went under. Their reigning heavyweight champion, Vinicius Magalhães, gave his M-1 Global heavyweight championship belt to Tom Lawlor in a twitter contest about three weeks ago. All of that could earn any organization a ‘notoriety’ lifetime achievement award, but this morning, FrontRowBrian served up some raw, sugar-free guerrilla journalism by reporting that not only is M-1’s contract with Showtime terminated, but it’s because the M-1 matchmaker was allegedly instructed by Evgeni Kogan to lie about Jose Figueroa and hide his knockout loss nineteen days prior to his last fight under Showtime’s December 9th broadcast from the California State Athletic Commission. Yeah, it’s repugnant watching a fighter get brutally knocked out not once, but twice in just nineteen days. To celebrate Showtime’s freedom from M-1 Global, Topps has officially released a limited edition trading card featuring Fedor's 2011 Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix bout against Bigfoot Silva. It’s a bummer the world is rubbing salt in the wounds of a fighter who’s kept in the dark about all this drama. It’s not his fault his management won’t let anyone speak to him without a translator, even if they speak perfect Russian and are just as capable of facilitating their own interviews (like me). We hope M-1 Global considers freeing Fedor instead of allowing the rest of the world to make a mockery of his illustrious career. [Source]

Posted in: world, heavyweight, showtime, fedor, jose figueroa

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LowKick.com Staff reveal their Top 10 lists from Heavyweight to Bantamweight. Ben Henderson is the new Lightweight King, while Frank Mir gets the #3 Heavyweight ranking.

Posted in: heavyweight, arts rankings, staff, lowkickcom, lowkickcom staff

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Bellator heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov is reportedly on artificial life support after being stabbed in Sofia, Bulgaria over the weekend. Reports say he was attacked by a group of men with bats. Bellator doesn't have all of the details from the … Continue reading →

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, sofia bulgaria, life support, weekend reports

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Blagoi Ivanov, a participant in the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament, is reportedly clinging to life after suffering a stab wound in which the knife pierced his heart. The Bulgarian English-speaking news site Novinite has the dirty details: "Sunday night Ivanov and two of his friends had just occupied their places in a bar on Graf Ignatiev Str., when a group of 8 persons armed with bats and knives came in and attacked them. At 5.10 am police came in to find the attackers escaped and Ivanov with a deep stab wound under his armpit." Ivanov had to undergo an emergency operation to save his life. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, speaking to USA Today said that he has been in constant contact with Ivanov's management and the undefeated heavyweight is in critical, but stable condition. He also has yet to regain consciousness. The Bulgarian famously ended Fedor Emelianenko's streak of Sambo world titles in 2008, defeating "The Last Emperer" in the semifinals before claiming the gold medal for himself. Ivanov qualified for the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament with a first round technical knockout victory against William Penn. In the tournament quarterfinals, he destroyed veteran Zak Jensen both standing and on the ground, advancing to the final four with a second round guillotine choke. Unfortunately for "Baga," he was forced to pull out of the tournament after suffering an injury in training although he recovered enough to take a fight against former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez on Christmas Eve late last year, defeating the American via third round technical knockout. There is currently no timetable on his recovery or if he will ever be able to fight again.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, ivanov, bellator season, stab wound

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Undefeated Bellator heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov is clinging to life at Pirogov Hospital in Sofia, Bulgaria after reportedly being stabbed in the heart in a Sunday morning barroom brawl. According to Bulgaria's Sofia News Agency, the fighter remains in critical condition on the hospital's artificial life support. Ivanov and two friends were allegedly attacked by eight individuals armed with bats and knives immediately after arriving to a bar on Graf Ignatiev Street. Police arrived at 5:10 a.m. to discover the assailants missing and a deep stab wound under Ivanov's armpit that was later found to have pierced his heart. The three victims were rushed to Pirogov Hospital, where surgeons reportedly carried out a life-saving operation on Ivanov. Despite the procedure, doctors maintain that the 25-year-old's life is still "under a real threat." Ivanov's two friends were treated for light wounds and bruises and have since been released from the hospital. Police are currently investigating the attack. According to reports, the same bar was also the scene of a recent shooting. Ivanov (6-0, 1 NC) is perhaps best known for being the man to dethrone Fedor Emelianenko in the 2008 Combat Sambo World Championships finals. After rolling to a 3-0 record to kick off his professional mixed martial arts career, "Baga" inked a deal with Bellator Fighting Championships, where he promptly finished William Penn and Zak Jensen to advance to the semi-finals of Season 5's heavyweight tournament. However, Ivanov would ultimately withdraw from a Bellator 56 bout against Thiago Santos due to an injury sustained in training. He then fought against former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez, earning a third-round TKO victory last December.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, life, ivanov, pirogov hospital

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Tim Sylvia, a former UFC heavyweight champion has always brought negative responses from fans. Looked at as a joke and no serious threat in the Octagon, his resume would argue against the criticism: He has the most successful heavyweight title defenses (three), most consecutive heavyweight title defenses (two) and the first fighter to claim any [...]

Posted in: title, heavyweight, tim, defense, tim sylvia

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Germany’s top heavyweight, Andreas Kraniotakes, continues to build his reputation as a man willing to step up on short notice.

Posted in: heavyweight, warrior, notice, kraniotake, kraniotakes hayes

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The roar of the crowd ... the sound of bare feet shuffling against canvas ... the unexplainable electricity inside the building. They are all mere echos today as crowds in the tens of thousands have dwindled down to a fraction of that amount. The Saitama Super Arena, host of this Saturday's (Feb. 25) UFC 144 event, has been home to some of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) events in the history of the sport. "Ghosts of Saitama" will take a look at some of those moments, forever preserved and never forgotten. Ask anyone who was a mixed martial arts (MMA) fan before the boom created by The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) for a list of all-time great events and one name will surely find itself on each and every list. Final Conflict 2005 at the Saitama Super Arena. PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE) had, the year prior, collected some of the world's best heavyweight and pitted them against each other to decide who among them was the best. It was Fedor Emelianenko who rose to the top after defeating the likes of Mark Coleman, Naoya Ogawa and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. It should have come to no surprise to anyone as "The Last Emperor" was the reigning heavyweight champion with only one murky loss attached to his name. He had already defeated "Big Nog" to win the title and it seemed the only other heavyweight who could potentially challenge the champion was Mirko Filipovic. But "Cro Cop" was brutally knocked out by Kevin Randleman in the first round and missed his date with destiny. Eager to get back into the title shot hunt, the Croatian went to work. In the 16 months between the Randleman loss and his fight at Final Conflict 2005 with Emelianenko, the kickboxer fought seven times, finishing all but one of his opponents. Aside from the most anticipated heavyweight bout in the sport's short history, the event only presented the last three fights in the 203-pound grand prix. Four men -- Mauricio Rua, Alistair Overeem, Ricardo Arona and current champion Wanderlei Silva -- looked to emerge as the tournament winner. Silva had won the previous in 2003 but Brazilian Top Team rival Arona was looking to unseat him. Little did anyone know it would end up being "The Axe Murderer's" own teammate who would emerge the world's best light heavyweight. Let's take a closer look. The show opened up with a tournament reserve bout between quarterfinalists Kazuhiro Nakamura and Igor Vovchanchyn. The battle-worn Ukrainian fought valiantly but Nakamura proved to be too much of a challenge. The judoka took the decision after 15 minutes of action. "Ice Cold" would never step inside the ring again. His body was too tired, after 10 years of fighting, to continue. Vovchanchyn was an MMA original before the phrase MMA had even been created. He simply was born too soon, arrived in the sport too early to truly be recognized as one of the greats. The next bout, the grand prix semi-final between Arona and Silva, was the 2005 equivalent of the Carlos Condit/Nick Diaz fight. Arona played the role of Condit, a sometimes overlooked but extremely talented fighter to Silva's Diaz, violent, exciting and popular. Like "The Natural Born Killer," Arona stuck to his gameplan. He avoided prolonged striking exchanges and kept Silva on his back as much as possible. It worked. After two rounds, the bell sounded and everyone in the arena and watching at home -- including Arona who laughed in Silva's face -- knew the champion had finally been defeated. Hoping to salvage some honor for their training camp, "Shogun" took on Overeem in the next semi-final bout. Early on, it didn't look good for Chute Boxe. A pre-Ubereem "The Demolition Man" took the fight to his Brazilian opponent and nearly finished him off with his infamous guillotine choke. "Shogun" survived and ended up pounding Overeem out a little over halfway through the first round. The finals were now set. An all Brazilian affair between the two biggest and most honor training camps in the country. Ricardo Arona representing Brazilian Top Team (BTT) taking on Mauricio Rua backed by Chute Boxe. The next two fights saw Fabricio Werdum and Hidehiko Yoshida each pick up submission wins over their opponents. The Brazilian sunk a triangle choke in on Emelianenko training partner Roman Zentsov while the Japanese judoka used his gi to smother and choke out original Ultimate Fighting Championship bad boy David "Tank" Abbott. It was finally time for Fedor versus "Cro Cop." Nearly 50,000 fans packed into the Saitama Super Arena to see the fight. And not a single one was disappointed. From my History in the Making on the historic bout: The champion is still controlling the pace of a fight where Filipovic has looked as timid as most of his own opponents have looked in the past. But a stiff jab from "CroCop" later and Fedor's leg buckles slightly underneath him and the crowd erupts. Mirko, with fire in his step for the first time in the fight, throws one, two, three jabs as Fedor begins to back up. A wild, looping hook from Fedor causes Mirko to duck and he loses his balance. He continues to press the fight and unexpectedly tries to take the Sambo Grand Master down. Fedor reverses this and ends up standing in Mirko's guard. The Russian would prevail leaving "Cro Cop" to once again play second fiddle. He came up short againt "Big Nog" two years before and it wouldn't be until 2006's grand prix where the Croatian would be recognized as the champion he truly was. The show closed with the grand prix finals. Less than three minutes into the bout, Arona narrowly avoided getting stomped in the face by "Shogun" but Rua's hammerfists would find their mark. Clubbing the BTT member in the jaw until unconscious, the young Brazilian went from promising prospect to number one light heavyweight on the planet. Legends rising and fall, mere men ushered into MMA immortality ... all in a night's work for the Saitama Super Arena. More from the "Ghosts of Saitama" series: Ghosts of Saitama: After nearly a decade, the traditional New Year's Eve MMA event in Japan likely comes to an end in 2011 Ghosts of Saitama: In 2004, the world's greatest heavyweights descended upon Saitama Super Arena Ghosts of Saitama: Pride FC wastes no time making its debut at Saitama Super Arena in Japan Ghosts of Saitama: The Japanese New Year's Eve war starts with three blockbuster shows Ghosts of Saitama: ROMANEX, Hero's and DREAM all make their debut at the Saitama Super Arena

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, saitama, arena, arona

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Go along with UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson as he does some sightseeing in Japan before UFC 144.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, japan, nelson, roy

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Go along with UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson as he does some sightseeing in Japan before UFC 144.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, japan, nelson, roy

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After all we've been through in the early stages of 2012, the phrase "never leave it in the hands of the judges" has never meant more than it does now. Just ask Dana White. Aside from griping and hand-wringing, the problem appears to be out of anyone's control, and with the UFC's flyweight tournament resting over the horizon, another judging disaster has the potential to implode the legitimacy of an entire division before it even takes off. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that the UFC apparently has a plan, and according to "Mighty Mouse" Johnson, the wheels are already in motion. 5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY UFC creates 'sudden death' rule for upcoming flyweight tournament. According to Demetrious Johnson, the UFC included a special provision in his contract to ensure the 125-pound tournament couldn't suffer the wrath of the judges. UFC 144: by the odds. Ben Fowlkes runs down all the favorites and underdogs heading into Saturday night's pay-per-view. A night in Tokyo with Rampage Jackson. Ariel Helwani walks the streets of Tokyo with Quinton Jackson in this candid look at the man behind the nickname. Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski dissection. Dallas Winston extensively breaks down UFC 144's pivotal featherweight tilt, Hioki vs. Palaszewski. Sean Loeffler details wild and dangerous fight in the Philippines. You're bound to run into some strange sights when you've been in the fight game as long as Sean Loeffler, but few could top the night he spent in the Philippines back in 2002. MEDIA STEW Courtesy of the UFC, we'll kick things off with Rampage Jackson's most iconic moment at the Super Saitama Arena -- taking on Ricardo Arona at PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004. (click the image to watch) Now back to the present, as Jackson battles Ryan Bader in a special PRIDE rules simulation, complete with soccer kicks, knees to the head, and the ultimate game-changer -- stomps. Of course, Bader has his own highlight reel, including this smashing of Keith Jardine back at UFC 110. Stitch tells us the story of the bloodiest fight he's ever worked (starts at 0:26). The official UFC Undisputed 3 predictions have been scarily accurate so far, so should Frankie Edgar be worried about this one? Looks like Jared Papazian earned some sort of bonus for his UFC on FX war with Mike Easton after all. I would like to to thank you @danawhite @lorenzofertitta @seanshelby @ufc for sending me my bonus. @danawhite is a man of his word — jared papazian (@jackhammer135) February 23, 2012 The untold plight of 125-pounders. I had nightmares of eating real food last night ... Gotta go check my weight FML — ian mccall (@Unclecreepymma) February 23, 2012 On a scale of 1 to surprising, how not surprising is this tweet? My wife's killing me at Dance Central. I don't like loosing at anything. — Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) February 24, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012): - UFC on FUEL 3: T.J. Grant (17-5) vs. Carlo Prater (30-10-1), according to MM-eh. FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to MMA Mania reader ~Peregrine: Jon Jones vs the UFC heavyweight division. Let's take a look at how "Bones" measures up. He recently stated 240-pounds would be an ideal weight for him at heavyweight. He is 6'4'' and sports the previously mentioned 84.5 inch reach. We'll look at each measurement in detail: 240-pounds: You may be surprised to learn that "old school" heavyweights like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (239-pounds), Mirko Filipovic (220-pounds) and even Roy Nelson (246-pounds) have no advantage over Jones. Even the chiseled Cheick Kongo (235-pounds) can't compare on the scales. 6'4'' Height: Of 31 fighters currently on the UFC heavyweight roster, only eight would be looking down on Jones at the weigh-ins. Four of those only have an extra inch on him, being listed at 6'5''. The last heavyweight champ taller than "Bones" was none other than the affable Tim Sylvia. 84.5 inch reach: We already know he has the longest reach in the UFC, but it may surprise you to know that other heavyweight monsters like Brendan Schaub (79.5 inch), Ben Rothwell (80 inch) and Gabriel Gonzaga (76 inch) come in with a sizable disadvantage here. So that raises the question of who is close enough on paper to negate the genetic gifts of Jonny "Bones" Jones? Here's my list: Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.

Posted in: ufc, night, pound, heavyweight, inch

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UFC 146 is quickly filling up, with three more bouts announced for the Memorial Day weekend card in Las Vegas on May 26th. Recently announced bouts for the card include The Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner Diego Brandao taking on fellow featherweight Darren Elkins, along with Shane del Rosario making his UFC debut against former title contender Gabriel Gonzaga. Another fighter making his UFC debut at UFC 146 will be recently signed light heavyweight Glover Teixeira, who is scheduled to take on Kyle Kingsbury. Teixeira (17-2) enters the UFC on a 15 fight win streak, dating back to March 2005. He has been in talks with the UFC for the past year, but was unable to sign at an earlier date due to Visa issues. He will enter the Octagon against former TUF contestant Kingsbury (11-3-1), who last fought at UFC 139 in November. Kingsbury lost to Stephan Bonnar via decision, ending a 4 fight win streak. Diego Brandao (14-7) will be fighting for the first time since winning the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter in December. In that fight, he defeated Dennis Bermudez via armbar in the first round, and earned both “Fight of the Night” and “Submission of the Night” bonuses for his performance. Brandao will take on Darren Elkins (13-2), who fights for the first time since a decision win over Zhang Tiequan at UFC 136 in October. He is 3-1 in the UFC, which includes a win over Duane Ludwig. Undefeated Shane del Rosario will be the other fighter aside from Teixeira making his UFC debut, following a 3-0 record in Strikeforce. He was scheduled to face Daniel Cormier in June, but an April car accident forced him to withdraw from the bout. This will be his first fight since the accident, with his most recent fight, a win over Lavar Johnson, taking place two months before the accident. Del Rosario will step inside the Octagon with Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6), who made his return to the UFC in January after a being released from the organization in October 2010. Gonzaga defeated undefeated heavyweight prospect Edinaldo Oliveira at UFC 142, defeating the sparring partner of UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos via rear naked choke in the first round. UFC 146 is expected to take place May 26th at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main event is expected to be a championship fight between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem for the UFC heavyweight championship. Other announced matchups include Jason “Mayhem” Miller taking on C.B. Dollaway and Evan Dunham taking on Edson Barboza. For complete coverage of UFC 146, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, las vegas, ufc debut

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Former #1 contender to the UFC heavyweight crown Gabriel Gonzaga will welcome Strikeforce transplant Shane Del Rosario to the Octagon at UFC 146, confirming the event will host at least one clash between heavyweights. Gonzaga (13-6) is a  returned to the organization recently with a submission victory over Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 142. He also holds a memorable past win over Mirko Filipovic where the BJJ specialist crumpled “Cro Cop” with a head-kick. Comparably, Del Rosario (11-0) has been on the sidelines since early in 2011 due to injuries suffered during a car crash. Del Rosario was slated to face Daniel Cormier before the accident and has not fought since. All of his victories have involved some form of finish with ten coming in the opening round of action. UFC 146 takes place May 26 from Las Vegas, Nevada. No main event has been announced but the card is expected to host heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos defending his title against Alistair Overeem. Match-ups already set for the lineup include C.B. Dollaway vs. Jason Miller and Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, gonzaga, rosario, del

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The UFC 146 card is coming together nicely, and you can add a solid heavyweight fight to the quickly-expanding list of fights scheduled for April 21st in Atlanta. Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga will face the undefeated Shane Del Rosario, formerly of Strikeforce. The news was passed along late tonight by the official source for fight announcements, UFC.com. Gonzaga returned to the the big time at UFC 142 after a 14 month absence and defeated top prospect Ednaldo Oliveira by submission. He is well-known to UFC fans for his head-kick knockout of Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 70 in 2007, and his unsuccessful attempt at taking the UFC heavyweight title from Randy Couture at UFC 74. Consecutive losses to Junior dos Santos and Brendan Schaub in 2010 led to his release from the company and subsequent retirement, but he returned a year later with a minor league win and got back into the UFC as a late replacement for Rob Broughton. Del Rosario worked his way up through EliteXC, M-1, and Strikeforce, eventually racking up an 11-0 record with 11 finishes. He was scheduled to face Daniel Cormier last June, but was involved in a serious car accident that has sidelined him until now. The bout will likely take place on the preliminary card. SBN coverage of UFC 146

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, rosario, del

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Former number one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) number one Heavyweight contender, Gabriel Gonzaga, will return to a familiar place at UFC 146 to introduce undefeated Strikeforce import, Shane Del Rosario, to the Octagon on May 26, 2012. The world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion tonight revealed the bout, which is set to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Memorial Day weekend. It will mark the fifteenth time Gonzaga will step inside the eight-walled cage, while Del Rosario will do it for the first time ever. Gonzaga recently emerged from premature retirement after consecutive UFC losses to Junior dos Santos and Brendan Schaub in 2010. He came back to win a tune up fight against Parker Porter via submission in Oct. 2011 and then put his top-notch Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills to work once again when he tapped Ednaldo Oliveira with a rear naked choke at UFC 142 earlier this year. "Napao" is one of the more bigger and dangerous fighters on the promotion's heavyweight roster, able to end fights with slick submissions and/or power punches. His cardio has always been questionable however, which is a perceived weakness that a young upstart like Del Rosario might want to exploit on fight night. Speaking of which, Del Rosario was on the fast track to superstardom in the Strikeforce heavyweight division before fate intervened. Undefeated after 11 professional fights, he was slated to take on fellow undefeated ex-Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier in June 2011 in a clash between two of MMA's top heavyweight prospects. It never happened. On April 14, 2011, he was involved in a bad car accident -- another driver crossed the median and T-boned del Rosario's car, causing serious damage to the former Muay Thai world champion's back, herniating multiple discs and putting his MMA career on hold. Until Memorial Day Weekend 2012. His last professional fight happened way back in Feb. 2011 when he submitted Lavar Johnson with a first round armbar at Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Silva" in an alternate match its heavyweight grand prix, which now features none other than the aforementioned Cormier in the finals against Josh Barnett. Sometimes these things happen for a reason. UFC 146 will feature a main event between Junior dos Santos, defending his heavyweight title for the very first time, against another Strikeforce import, Alistair Overeem. Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway is also booked for the show, as well as a a welterweight showdwon between Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig, among others. As always, stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to this rapidly-developing fight card.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, rosario, del

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This weekend is a dangerous spot for Quinton Jackson. "Rampage" sounds less than motivated to face Ryan Bader and he admits he's sick of facing light heavyweights with a wrestling base. "Sometimes it is hard to get motivated. Like when … Continue reading →

Posted in: rampage, jackson, heavyweight, light heavyweights, art

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 A trip several years in the making is finally complete for Glover Teixeira (17-2). The Brazilian light heavyweight has signed a deal with the UFC to bolster the promotion's roster. Sources close to the situation confirmed the news to ULTMMA.com earlier in the week. The 32 year old Teixeira will most likely debut with the UFC sometime in the summer. With a 15 fight win streak intact Teixeira is a five star prospect whose time in a major league promotion is long overdue. Visa issues have bogged down Teixeira's career path since 2008. Teixeira first gained notoriety seven fights into his pro career when he knocked out future Pride star Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (12-10). Teixeira would pick up two more wins in California before he took his career to Brazil in 2008. In his home country Teixeira would mostly compete under the Shooto and Bitetti Combat banners while rumors of US work visa issues followed the light heavyweight every time he fought. Teixeira capped off his final year on the Brazilian MMA scene with a 5-0 record in 2011. In his last bout Teixeira stopped former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (48-15) with punches in the main event of MMA Against Dengue. A member of Ruas Vale Tudo, Teixeira was slotted as the number two light heavyweight prospect in MMA in the latest ULTMMA.com top 20 prospect listing.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, prospect, light, teixeira

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UFC light heavyweight champ will take on NASCAR before he takes on Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in April. Jones will be an Honorary Race Official at Sunday's Daytona 500.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, rashad evans, race official, april jones

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Does boxing need pro wrestling hype to sell itself? Saturday night heavyweight fighter David Haye crashed a post-fight press conference and challenged heavyweight Dereck Chisora. To bolster the spectacle, Chisora inevitably asked Haye to say something to his face and a fight ensued. While the video is not the best, punches were exchanged and Chisora threatened to shoot Haye after the melee subsided. For those not following the story, Chisora lost earlier in the night to heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko. Chisora had slapped Klitschko at the weigh-ins and then spat in the face of Klitschko prior to the fight. Unfortunately, for all of the antics, Chisora did nothing of note against Klitschko in the ring. While the outside the ring hype garnered some press, it does little for the sport. Showtime actually had a good card on Saturday but a post-fight press conference is more interesting to the casual sports fan. Last week, we opined about the future of the boxing business and whether it would ever return to network television. Do antics like Chisora and Haye spark interest in seeing these two fight in the ring? In the UFC, we’ve seen out of Octagon confrontations to sell fights. Chael Sonnen is a prime example of this with his quasi-pro wrestling rants (e.g. UFC 136). There’s also Anderson Silva putting on a Jabbawockeez mask and getting into the face of Vitor Belfort last year at weigh-ins. The problem is that most people are not aware of Chisora or Haye as they are British boxers that have fought exclusively in Europe. Thus, North American fans wouldn’t know these guys unless they are hardcore boxing fans and/or follow boxing in Europe. The fact is that there are few Heavyweight fighters from the United States that can challenge the Klitschkos. But the issue with Saturday night’s brawl might not be that there was a brawl. It might be the fact that the Heavyweight champion of the world defended his belt in Germany and that the fight could only be seen online at Epix for those of us in North America. Or, if you were in Manhattan, the jumbo screen in Times Square. In fact, Alexander Povetkin and Vitali Klitschko, other claimants to a heavyweight title, also will fight overseas and on Epix.  The Klitschkos are as popular in Germany as Jeremy Lin is to New York (there, I’ve satisfied the Lin requirement). So, its hard to argue that they fight anywhere else. If boxing is going to make a comeback, it needs to develop a heavyweight division that is visible to North America. Being on HBO or Showtime would help as well. It appears that the Klitschko brothers have disappeared from the boxing landscape due to the fact they aren’t on one of the two big networks for fights. There are successful regional promotions, like Fight Club OC, that have maintained a steady fan base while promoting good fights. NBC Sports Network’s quarterly fight program could help if its willing to develop its fighters and back stories. Getting back to the brawl. Its a spectacle but it doesn’t seem like much traction can be made of it. This probably was not a coordinated stunt since threatening to shoot someone is probably frowned upon. We promise to be back with more MMA talk this week as we ramp up to the UFC’s visit to Japan this Saturday.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, boxing, klitschko, chisora

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Here is a fight announcement I did not expect. Former UFC Heavyweight champion Maurice Smith is stepping back out of retirement to once again compete in MMA. The 50 year old veteran will fight on March 30 in Kearney, Nebraska as part of the second show from Resurrection Fighting Alliance. No opponent for Smith has yet been announced. Smith started his career as a well respected kickboxer in the 1980's and early 90's, and took part in the inaugural K-1 World Grand Prix in 1993. Starting in 1993 he committed himself to making the transition to MMA. After some troubles getting his career going, Smith reached his greatest fame in 1997 when he defeated the then unbeaten Mark Coleman to win the UFC Heavyweight title. He defended the belt once against Tank Abbott before losing it to Randy Couture later that year at UFC Japan. After the title loss, Smith competed in various organiations, including the UFC, Pride, Rings, and K-1. He unofficially retired in 2001, but has taken sporadic fights in K-1 and MMA since then. His last MMA run came in 2007-2008 when he went 2-1 with wins in Strikeforce and the IFL (where he also served as a coach). This will be his first pro fight of any kind in nearly 4 years. While not a household name for casual MMA fans, Smith deserves recognition as a pioneer of the sport. He was one of the first to succesfully translate his kickboxing credentials into an MMA career. He's also known for forming an early team with Frank Shamrock and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. Dubbed "The Alliance", this was one of the earliest MMA super-teams where fighters discovered the importance of cross-training, becoming complete mixed martial artists instead of one discipline specialists. Smith's more recent fights have been essentially showcases against other legends, and I would expect the same here. It will be interesting to see who he is paired with, and what he still brings to the table. Also on the card is a main event fight between Houston Alexander and Gilbert Yvel. Yvel is 1-0 since his 0-3 UFC run in 2010, while Alexander is 4-2 (1) since leaving the UFC, including a good win over Sokoudjou. This is not likely to be the most technical fight you've ever seen, but it's pretty great match-making and should be a wild, action-packed war.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, heavyweight, smith

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FanPost edited and promoted to the front page by Geno Mrosko. Jon Jones is the polarizing UFC light heavyweight champion and widely regarded as the 2011 "Fighter of the year" after sporting a 4-0 record and wins over 3 previous division champs. Despite some strong competition for the belt in the works for 2012 (see: Evans, Rashad, Henderson, Dan), many are already looking for bigger and better challenges. They don't get any bigger than the UFC heavyweight division. Towering over the light heavyweight division, the man known as "Bones" sports the UFC's longest reach at 84.5 inches, already putting him ahead of any potential heavyweight challenger. But how does he really stack up? Which UFC heavyweights can give the 205-pound champion a proper staredown? A more detailed look after the jump Let's take a look at how "Bones" measures up. He recently stated 240-pounds would be an ideal weight for him at heavyweight. He is 6'4'' and sports the previously mentioned 84.5 inch reach. We'll look at each measurement in detail: 240-pounds: You may be surprised to learn that "old school" heavyweights like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (239-pounds), Mirko Filipovic (220-pounds) and even Roy Nelson (246-pounds) have no advantage over Jones. Even the chiseled Cheick Kongo (235-pounds) can't compare on the scales. 6'4'' Height: Of 31 fighters currently on the UFC heavyweight roster, only eight would be looking down on Jones at the weigh-ins. Four of those only have an extra inch on him, being listed at 6'5''. The last heavyweight champ taller than "Bones" was none other than the affable Tim Sylvia. 84.5 inch reach: We already know he has the longest reach in the UFC, but it may surprise you to know that other heavyweight monsters like Brendan Schaub (79.5 inch), Ben Rothwell (80 inch) and Gabriel Gonzaga (76 inch) come in with a sizable disadvantage here. So that raises the question of who is close enough on paper to negate the genetic gifts of Jonny "Bones" Jones? Here's my list: Frank Mir: Slightly behind Jones at 6'3" and a 79-inch reach, he may be able to negate some of that weighing in at 260-pounds (20 up on Jones). I would say neither fighter has a clear advantage on paper here. Stefan Struve: The "Skyscraper" towers over Jones at 6'11'' and sports a similar 84-inch reach. Struve also gets the nod on the scales at 256-pounds and growing. On paper, Jones would have to look elsewhere to make up for this disadvantage. Matt Mitrione: A fighter who holds the unique "genetic gift" trait, which probably helped in his NFL days. "Meathead" Is a respectable 6'3'' with a solid 82-inch reach. He also gets the nod at 255-pounds. Shane Carwin: "The Engineer" has been in need of repairs for a wonky back, but not too long ago was considered the "other" superbeast of the UFC heavyweight division along with the recently retired Brock Lesnar. However, Carwin is a bit smaller at 6'2'' and a decent 80-inch reach. His only advantage is on the scale where he last came in at 256-pounds. Antonio Silva: "Bigfoot" looks as daunting as the "Skyscraper" on paper at 6'4'' and an 83-inch reach. Cutting down to the 265-pound limit means Silva is one of the few who would actually look intimidating standing next to Jones. Alistair Overeem: Known for being in the Sexy and I Know It music video -- oh and maybe those championships in MMA and kickboxing -- the horse meat fueled number one contender is a monster at 6'3'' with an 81-inch reach. Tipping the scales at 263-pounds has the "tale of the tape" in his favor for this hypothetical showdown. ---------- From the above list, Carwin, Mitrione and Mir can consider themselves comparable to Jones without a clear cut advantage for either party. Silva and Struve have clear size advantages, but we know that there are many other intangibles (speed, skill and so on) that could dramatically change our presumptions on these fictitious bouts. It is my personal belief that Overeem may really be the only heavyweight that would be truly intimidating (pre-fight, at least) to Jones if he ever decides to make the leap. That's not to discredit the other powerhouses of the heavyweight division. A quick rundown of some other (current) major players in the division: Cain Velasquez: "Brown Pride" has the skill, but hardly measures up on paper at 6'1'' with a 77-inch reach and weighing in around 249-pounds. Fabricio Werdum: Comparable to Jones but no real advantage at 6'4'' with a short 77-inch reach and weighing in at 246-pounds. Junior dos Santos: The champion of the heavyweight division stands tall at 6'4'' but also sports the much shorter 77-inch reach. The scales for the Brazilian knockout artist only read 240-pounds! ----- Probably a good time to stress that this is (largely) only looking at physical measurements, but it clearly shows some very interesting numbers, namely the fact that "Bones" measures up quite well against every single heavyweight in the UFC. What do you think, Maniacs? Should Jones move up to heavyweight? And if he does, who could stop him?

Posted in: ufc, pound, jone, heavyweight, inch

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On the day of the first press conference for UFC 145: “Jones vs. Evans”, another light heavyweight contender continues to do what he has been doing for months- waiting. After defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139 in November, Dan Henderson (29-8) maintained that he felt he deserved a title shot after that victory, and that he was willing to wait for it. He continued to wait through January, as Rashad Evans faced Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 2. Throughout the week, UFC President Dana White answered repeatedly that Evans would get the opportunity to face Jon Jones if he were to win against Davis. However, if Evans lost or suffered an injury against Davis, Henderson would step in to face Jones. Unfortunately for Henderson, Evans defeated Davis and left the cage unscathed, and the matchup with Jones was announced for UFC 145 on April 21st shortly thereafter. Throughout this time, Henderson has been offered opponents, but has declined all of them. White confirmed that Henderson most recently turned down an opportunity to face Lyoto Machida. Reportedly, he also turned down a rematch with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. The two fought in April 2005 at PRIDE Total Elimination 2005, with Nogueira winning by armbar. Henderson has stated that due to a lot of the top contenders in the division already with opponents, he would be interested in fighting at heavyweight while waiting for the scheduled fights in the light heavyweight division to play out. Henderson fought at heavyweight last June, defeating Fedor Emelianenko via TKO in the first round. This was his final fight for Strikeforce before returning to the UFC. However, the UFC rarely allows fighters to move around in weight, instead preferring fighters permanently move to a specific weight class. For now, Henderson will have to continue waiting, but will likely end up taking a fight during the summer instead of waiting for the Jones vs. Evans winner to be ready. With that championsip fight scheduled in April, the winner might not be ready until late summer or early fall. Henderson turns 42 in August.

Posted in: ufc, jone, heavyweight, henderson, evan

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Four years ago, Tim Sylvia lost the UFC Heavyweight Championsip title to Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira. Since then, the "Maine-iac" has had more than his share of ups and downs. Sylvia left the UFC and lost his next two fights with to Fedor Emelianenko and Ray Mercer, both by first round KO in a combined time of 45 seconds. In the meantime, he has been struggling to return to form. He has won 6 of his last 7 bouts, with the sole black mark coming via first round knockout to The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 alum Abe Wagner. Sylvia now believes he's been proving himself and deserves another chance in the UFC. He reached out to both fans and foes on The UG and says, "I'm doing this big push where I'm trying to get back to the UFC. And I think I deserve to be there." Sylvia goes on to make his case, which, oddly enough, doesn't seem to be that he's really good, but that the current UFC heavyweights aren't very good: I had to work my ass off to get where I am today. There was no internet, you know, pumping people up. Guys like Sean McCorkle getting in the UFC because he talked the talk on the internet. The Ultimate Fighter wasn't around. I had already been a UFC Champion before The Ultimate Fighter even appeared. I was in the UFC back when it was like five to six shows a year. Now there's shows every 3 weeks. So they have to put guys in like [Christian] Morecraft, Joey Beltran, Stefan Struve. The list goes on and on. And to be frankly honest, I think I knock them all out in the first round. While Sylvia winning six of his last seven fights sounds pretty good, it comes with some asterisks. Most notably, that only one of those six fights was actually at heavyweight. Sylvia was able to gain a decision victory over Andreas Kraniotakes at ProElite 2. The others he fought at super heavyweight. Additionally, even though he has been winning, none of the fighters he's been beating are any where near high level talent. That said, five of the six victories came by (T)KO stoppage. Personally, I doubt Tim Sylvia gets his wish to reenter the UFC. He's older and more out of shape than he was four years ago. On top of that, I highly doubt he beats the 80% of the current UFC talent as he claims. Full video after the jump Poll Should the UFC bring back Tim Sylvia Yes No   1 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, sylvia, tim sylvia, he

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UFC heavyweight Dave "Pee Wee" Herman has long been known as one of MMA's biggest underachievers. He made no secret of the fact that he didn't bother with training for the first three years of his MMA career. He got himself into a legal mess with Bellator that held up his career for two full years and he failed a drug test for marijuana that cancelled his UFC bout with Mike Russow. Despite all this, he managed to go 21-2 in his first 23 fights -- and one of those losses was a DQ for throwing illegal knees. But against Stefan Struve on UFC on Fuel TV in Omaha, NE last night Herman found out there is a limit to how far he can get on physical abilities and confidence alone. He dominated Struve in the early parts of the fight, using his speed and athleticism to get off first and outstrike the gangly Dutchman. But when Herman let the fight degenerate into a brawl in the second round he found that he had met his match. Struve was able to survive Herman's early blitz and when the donnybrook started, Struve outstruck Herman and put him on the ground where he got the finish. It's time for Dave Herman to get serious about MMA. He might want to consider cutting weight and moving down to light heavyweight. As a 230lb heavyweight Herman is giving up a lot of size and he's no bigger than many of the LHW division's top fighters. It's an amazing feat to make it to the mid-tier of the UFC heavyweight division while coasting on sheer ability and balls, but if Herman wants to make something real out of his career, he's going to have to bear down and start working hard. SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, tv, struve, herman

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" I'm doing this big push, I'm trying to get back into the UFC and I think I deserve to be there. ... I was in the UFC back when there was five to six shows a year. Now there are shows every three weeks, so they have to put guys in like (Christian) Morecraft, Joey Beltran, Stefan Struve; the list goes on and on. I don't understand why any of these guys are in the UFC, and to be frankly honest, I think I knock them out in the first round. I'm ready. I can beat 80 percent of the guys in the UFC. If you don't think I can, how about you make a push and try to get me into the UFC just to see me get my ass kicked." Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia is doing a little bit of campaigning asking for fans help to get him back into the ranks of the UFC. "The Maniac" took to "The Underground" to post this video asking for fans support for his "push" to get back into the world's largest mixed martial (MMA) promotion, a place he called home for more than six years before he was sent packing after a loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 81. Since his departure, he has amassed a 6-3 record, including losses to Fedor Emelianenko and former pro boxer Ray Mercer. With the promotion putting on a show seemingly every week, Sylvia feels he can fill some vacant spots on a few cards in place of a select few fighters in the heavyweight division that he thinks he can knock out. But has Sylvia's time passed and are his better days behind him? Or do any of you still feel he has enough left in the tank to compete with the new breed of big boys in the UFC? Anyone jumping on the "Get Tim Sylvia back into the UFC" bandwagon?

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, tim, fedor emelianenko, sylvia

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Top UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem has signed with Authentic Sports Management and joined the Blackzilians fight team in Florida. ASM president Glenn Robinson today announced the signing. Overeem recently split with longtime camp Golden Glory and still is locked in a legal battle with his former management team.

Posted in: overeem, heavyweight, blackzilian, sports management, blackzilians signs

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If there aren't promos of Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem kicking, punching and kneeing mountains out of their blazing heavyweight paths as they finally meet face to face at the edge of a lava filled Grand Canyon then I don't know why MMA exists. May 26th, 2012 will be a special day; the newly appointed Blackzilian Alistair Overeem Vs. The Ed Soares-less JDS with Black House behind him (I think?) for the UFC heavyweight title. I wish it was as simple as saying The Blackzilians Vs. The Black House, that's much cleaner. These two gigantic men have been taught how to hurt another human better than almost anyone in the world and will be meeting in the middle of a cage for a championship for our enjoyment. I really can't think of how this fight won't deliver, unless leg kicks are involved...even then it should deliver. Junior Dos Santos supports my feelings on this subject. Tatame' talked to the UFC heavyweight champ and picked his Acai supplemented body and brain for his plan against Overeem this Memorial Day weekend. To JDS it's pretty simple: he fully expects to knockout The Reem. Your next “test” has a name: Overeem. What are your thoughts? Overeem is really a tough, dangerous, heavy and really strong guy. I see him as a good challenge. Probably he’s accepting the stand-up fight. To me, it can go to the floor or on our feet. He’s very dangerous, but I gotta use my speed. I really believe in me, I’m always confident about my attitudes. I guess one of the secrets is: believing in yourself if half way. I really believe I can beat him. And as any fight, I’ll get there to knock him out. It won’t be different this time, I’m going there to knock him out. Fans split opinions: some say you got the best stand-up and others say Overeem has it. Despite believing on your victory, do you believe you’re more technical then him on your feet? I believe so. I really believe my stand-up. I believe i can knock anyone out doing the right work. He’s as dangerous as me on the stand-up, there’s a reason why he became the champion at K-1. It’ll be a hard fight, it’s gonna come down to who hits the other first. The impact of a heavyweight punch can knock one out in a second. You’ve shown you got a hard chin when you fought Shane Carwin and Roy Nelson, who are guys that hit hard. Are you ready to fight Overeem? I’m a fighter, I’ve learned how to fight suffering in the gym. In the gym I live the reality or I push myself even further than the bout can offer. I’m prepared for the good and bad moments of the fight. The main thing is for the fighter to know how to get hit too. If you’re only a fighter in good times, you’re going down soon I believe I’m prepared for both situations You can read the rest of the interview right here. [Source]

Posted in: fight, overeem, heavyweight, i ’m, ’m

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UFC heavyweight Stefan Struve believes the time is right for him to take the heavyweight division by storm – starting with Dave Herman on Wednesday.

Posted in: heavyweight, heavyweight division, stefan struve, dave herman, storm –

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With less than a week left until his 24th birthday, UFC heavyweight Stefan Struve has seen more and accomplished more than most fighters do by the time they retire. Struve began his career at the age of 17 inHolland and since that time he has fought a total of 27 times with the last 9 of those bouts occurring inside the Octagon.   To think that he hasn’t even approached his physical peak should strike fear in the hearts of heavyweights everywhere. Standing 6’11” tall with extremely long limbs has allowed Struve to acquire a very good submission background and gives him a huge advantage when the fight stays on the feet because he more often than not has a longer reach than his opponents.   At 22-5 overall, Struve has had his share of growing pains since signing with the UFC. He was rudely introduced to the organization by future heavyweight champion Junior dosSantosat UFC 95 losing via TKO in just 54 seconds. He would rebound nicely at UFC 99 against Denis Stojnic as he won by submission mid-way through the second round. All told he is 6-3 in the UFC and has taken home three bonuses checks in his 9 fights.   This Wednesday inNebraskahe will square off against Dave Herman in the co-main event slot on UFC on Fuel TV 1. Herman is a tough opponent for anyone, but Struve is ready to celebrate his birthday early with a win. He is also hoping to enhance that victory with another bonus check. He has been putting long hours at the gym in preparation for this bout. He expects all of the hard work to shine through come fight time.   “I am preparing for my last training session here inHollandand then I’ll fly toNebraska,” Struve said. “All I need is one or two days to get used to the time difference and after that I’ll feel fine. My trainer Bob Schreiber and I have been together since I am 14 so the comfort level is there. We have really pushed the pace of this camp and I am surrounded by great coaches and sparring partners. I am ready for this fight.”   Struve has been in his share of big fights thus far in the UFC. He is no stranger to fighting at or near the top of the main card. This time his bout will on the first official card of the UFC on Fuel, but to Struve it’s not where or when he fights, but who is across the cage from him and what they bring to the table.   “This fight is no different for me than my other fights on the main card,” offered Struve. “This is my 4th co-main event slot and it’s become normal for me to fight on these cards. I’m only 23 and this will be my 32nd professional fight and I take each one as a learning experience. Herman is talented and I know I need to keep him away and stay out of the clinch although I am not frightened because of my length. He has solid power, but if I keep out of his range the fight will go my way.”   With a few more quality wins Struve could find himself getting close to a title shot. With the influx of heavyweights from Strikeforce and the quality fighters who have been with the organization for some time there is ample opportunity for Struve to prove his worthiness as a true title contender. He realizes who are the top dogs and has no qualms about where he stands in the division as of now.   “I see myself in the top 10 or just outside of it,” said a confident Struve. “I also see myself as one of the more promising fighters in the division and I plan on showing that against Herman and in the years to come. Right now Junior dosSantosis the top heavyweight followed by Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum and Frank Mir. Even a guy like Roy Nelson who may not look like it, but he’s made out of steel. There are so many good fights out there for me and I look forward to what the future brings.”   With a career filled with so many bright spots and a future that has endless limitations Struve can enjoy looking back on some of his best moments as well as looking towards the future. It’s amazing what he has accomplished at such a young age. Struve plans on making this birthday a special one and in order to accomplish that he needs to use his God given abilities along with all of the hard work he has put in.   “Every win is a great achievement for me,” Struve told Fighters.com. “My last win against Pat Barry was great; I got the Submission of the Night bonus so that made it even more special, especially coming off a tough loss. I’m proud of all of my victories; my win against Stojnic was memorable because of the huge cut on my face. People still talk about that. I have had a lot of great moments and I plan on making many more. Everything that ends a fight is a good memory for me whether it is by submission or knockout, as long as I get my hand raised.”   Struve would like to thank all of his coaches, training partners and everyone else who has supported him throughout his MMA career. He would also like to thank Boost Mobile who has been his sponsor for his past few fights. For more information on Struve you can follow him on Twitter @stefanstruve. Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, heavyweight, struve

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A change of opponent on roughly one week's notice and the news that his light heavyweight title defense would become a heavyweight title bout didn't hinder Tom DeBlass from doing what he does best. Winning. The #3-ranked light heavyweight on the 2012 World MMA Light Heavyweight Scouting Report dispatched of sizable veteran Randy Smith in forty-one seconds flat to win the Ring of Combat heavyweight crown on Friday night at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. DeBlass used speedy footwork early to avoid Smith's advances before pulling guard and transitioning to his defenseless leg, locking down a heel hook to win. The victory undoubtedly shines a spotlight on DeBlass as one of the best up-and-coming light heavyweight talents in the world. Despite the change in opponent and the obvious skill difference between Smith and himself, a win is a win, and DeBlass has won seven straight, remaining unblemished in his professional fight career. It's time for DeBlass to get his shot in the big leagues. Pellegrino MMA's Jeff Lentz implemented a high-flying karate striking game to cruise to a dominant unanimous decision victory over Giovanni Moljo to win the vacant Ring of Combat featherweight regional crown. The 22-year-old TUF alumni scored 30-25 scores across the board, punishing Moljo with a steady diet of heavy leg, body, and head kicks. His best chance to finish occurred in the second round after he buried a body kick into Moljo's midsection. Unfortunately, Lentz wasn't aggressive enough to finish, and Moljo proved throughout the fight that he was a tough competitor despite landing little offense. Lentz will face Ring of Combat featherweight national champion Deividas Taurosevicius next. UFC veteran Pete ‘Drago' Sell rebounded from a tough loss at the hands of heralded prospect Nordine Taleb in November to beat Mitch Whitesel by unanimous decision. Whitesel proved to be a tough cookie in the opening minutes of the fight, wielding a strong jab and quick footwork to keep Sell at bay. As the fight dragged on, however, Sell found a way to bring the fight to the ground, slowing down Whitesel and controlling him to a point in which his offensive abilities weakened. Sell dominated the second and third rounds from top control, easily taking home a win to start out this year on a good note. Tiger Schulmann's Uriah Hall survived an opening round scare at the hands of Daniel Akinyemi, submitting the Iron Ring finalist via heel hook with only ten seconds left in the round. Akinyemi took it to Hall early, blasting through his weak takedown defense and putting him on his back repeatedly. It looked as if Akinyemi was well on his way to winning the first round before Hall found his opportunity in Akinyemi's exposed limb. Serra-Longo prospect Ed Gordon narrowly edged David Tkeshelashvili of the Republic of Georgia, winning by majority decision on the scorecards, 29-29, 29-28, 29-28, in light heavyweight action. Neither fighter was overly impressive or dominant in the affair, but Tkeshelashvili did hurt Gordon with a stray punch in the second round after a grappling intense first that saw Tkeshelashvili come up short trying to throw Gordon to the mat repeatedly. Gordon rebounded in the third with a more calculated approach on the feet, using footwork and speed to move in and out of Tkeshelashvili's range. It paid off, winning him the round and the fight. Rookie Jarred Mercado extended his undefeated record to five, dominating Rafael Fagundes Machado with an aggressive, relentless takedown game that he couldn't defend. It was so dominant, in fact, that one judge scored two 10-8 rounds in favor of Mercado. Fellow prospect James Jenkins had similar success, stomping the surprisingly game Dwayne Shelton with ground and pound for two rounds before finishing him in the third round with strikes on the feet. The Serra-Longo prospect improves to 5-0 with the win. One of the most impressive performances of the evening came from 22-year-old Ricardo Almeida prospect Frankie Perez. Over the course of two rounds, he uses slick Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills to dominate newcomer Jeremy Uy. Only Uy's heart saved him from a stoppage as he willed his way out of submission holds to survive to the judge's decision. Perez remains undefeated at 3-0. Dutch import Duane van Helvoirt proved that good grapplers can come from the Netherlands as he cinched up a triangle choke in a minute and forty-nine seconds, putting his opponent, Lester Caslow, to sleep almost instantly. Andre Harrison used explosive takedowns and quick transitions to bury Carlos Fonseca into the canvas for two rounds, extending his record to 2-0. Fonseca was game for most of the fight, escaping to his feet on multiple occasions, but Harrison's wrestling was menacing to the striking gameplan that Fonseca was attempting to execute. Harrison scored 20-18, 20-17, and 20-18 scores from the judges. In women's action, Munah Holland came back in the final two rounds after losing the first to defeat grappler Pearl Gonzalez at her own game. Gonzalez was able to easily take the opening frame by controlling Holland from a headlock position, punching her repeatedly to remain active enough to stay in the position. The tide changed in the second when Holland pressed the action from the start, eventually taking down Gonzalez and scrambling to get her back. From there, Holland threatened with the choke and sustained the position to win the round. She managed to work over Gonzalez in the same manner in the third, finding a way to back control to steal the round and win the fight narrowly by majority decision. In the opening bout of the evening, welterweights Whitney Francois and Pat Defranco went to battle quickly from the start, throwing down in wild exchanges that saw both of them wobbled before the one minute mark passed. After a stoppage of action due to an eye poke, the insanity continued, but Francois was the first to land cleanly, connecting two heavy rights to Defranco's chin. Defranco hit the canvas immediately, and referee Kevin Mulhall jumped in to stop the fight despite Defranco reaching for Francois' leg. It could be deemed a questionable stoppage, but Defranco was clearly rung by the shots. Quick ResultsAnthony Harrison def. Carlos Fonseca via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-17, 20-18)Whitney Francois def. Pat Defranco by KO at 2:31 of Round 1Frankie Perez def. Jeremy Uy via unanimous decision (20-16, 20-17, 20-17)James Jenkins def. Dwayne Shelton via TKO, 1:51 of Round 3Munah Holland def. Pearl Gonzalez via majority decision (29-29, 29-28, 29-28)Jarred Mercado def. Rafael Fagundes Machado via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27)Ed Gordon def. David Tkeshelashvili by majority decision (29-29, 29-28, 29-28)Duane van Helvoirt def. Lester Caslow via submission (triangle choke) at 1:49 of Round 1.Uriah Hall def. Daniel Akinyemi via submission (heel hook) at 3:58 of Round 1.Pete Sell def. Mike Whitesel via unanimous decision (30-29, 30-28, 29-28)Jeff Lentz def. Giovanni Moljo via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25).Tom DeBlass def. Randy Smith via submission (heel hook) at 0:41 of Round 1.

Posted in: fight, round, decision, heavyweight, deblas

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Roger Gracie has reportedly signed to compete as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Posted in: heavyweight, light, light heavyweight, roger, gracie

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Lorenza Fertitta announced early Friday that a heavyweight bout between Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez and a third fight between Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin are happening.

Posted in: heavyweight, tito ortiz, forrest griffin, heavyweight bout, fertitta

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Last night UFC executive Lorenzo Fertitta appears to have potentially spilled the beans regarding the date/location of Junior dos Santos‘  upcoming defense of his heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem. While talking with fans on his Twitter account, Fertitta said that the UFC was looking at JDS-Overeem for UFC 146 on May 26 from Las Vegas, Nevada. The Memorial Day Weekend tag would make sense considering the show’s annual standing as one of the organization’s biggest. Dos Santos (14-1) won the heavyweight title by defeating Cain Velasquez late in 2011, scoring a first round knockout of the former undefeated champion. He has been on the sidelines since recovering from knee surgery. Overeem (36-11) made an impact in his UFC debut, knocking out ex-champ Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 to secure the #1 position in the division. “The Reem” is a former Strikeforce heavyweight champ, along with holding titles in several other organizations, and has finished 34 of the 36 opponents he’s beaten. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, heavyweight title, division “

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

GSP / Carlos Condit / Nick Diaz isn't the only triangle of stupidity going on at the moment in the UFC. There's also Jon Jones / Rashad Evans / Dan Henderson. Hendo has been in the interesting position of playing back-up contender for Jon Jones just in case Rashad Evans lost to Phil Davis or was injured during their fight. Much was made of Dan allegedly turning down this fight or that in favor of sitting and waiting to see how the title situation would shake out. But now that Rashad is definitely fighting Jon Jones, it sounds like Dan is rearing to go: "I don't know what the plan is, but I'd fight whoever it is they think would be a good match-up. The problem is there's really nobody right now who fits the bill for a title contention fight, that would make sense to fight me. I don't know. Maybe I'd fight at a different weight class. I don't know if they see anybody at heavyweight that would make sense? But I would prefer to fight someone in April or May. ... Who do the fans want me to fight at heavyweight? I'd have to think about that. I don't know who at heavyweight would even make sense. The heavyweights that are in title contention right now wouldn't want to fight me. I don't know who is out there, but I did let the UFC know I'd be open to that as well." Meanwhile, Lyoto Machida is waving his arms around going "Hey, halloooo! I am still alive!" That certainly seems like a more interesting fight than Hendo vs some heavyweight gatekeeper.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, i dont, dont, id

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When Rashad Evans outpointed Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 2 and exited the match-up in relatively good health the mystery surrounding who light heavyweight Jon Jones would defend his title against next was solved. However, the question about equally deserving contender Dan Henderson’s future remained unanswered. Henderson, who solidified his standing as a top challenger with an exciting win over Mauricio Rua in November, recently opened up on his plan for 2012 in a conversation with ESPN where he explained it’s never been his intention to wait for Jones-Evans to settle their score. “That was never what I said or anything,” said the former Strikeforce/DREAM champion. “I don’t know who said that, but it wasn’t me. My thoughts were I was waiting to see what happened with Rashad and Phil Davis. That was the only thing I was going to wait for.” “Obviously you can’t guarantee that nobody gets hurt,” he added, alluding to the possibility of stepping in as a replacement for Jones or Evans, continuing, “I don’t know what the plan is, but I’d fight whoever it is they think would be a good match-up. The problem is there’s really nobody right now who fits the bill for a title contention fight; that would make sense to fight me. I don’t know. Maybe I’d fight at a different weight class. I don’t know if they see anybody at heavyweight that would make sense? But I would prefer to fight someone in April or May.” The idea of a heavyweight tilt is certainly enticing given Henderson’s success against Fedor Emelianenko though, as he admitted, there aren’t a lot of names jumping out at him as being something fans might want to see. The 41-year old also mentioned a rematch with Quinton Jackson as a possibility pending the outcome of Jackson’s bout against Ryan Bader at UFC 144. With Henderson on the record the ball now appears to be in the UFC’s court. What match-up they’ll throw back remains to be seen though, clearly, “Hendo” is ready for the challenge as long as it makes sense and fans are interested in seeing it go down. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, ’t, henderson, matchup

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

According to UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, former UFC heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez are on a collision course, while familiar foes and former light heavyweight champs Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz are in line for a trilogy bout. Fertitta revealed the planned matchups overnight via Twitter. No date for either fight was revealed.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, tito ortiz, ufc boss, collision course

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Now that Rashad Evans has successfully staked his claim as the number one contender to Jon Jones light heavyweight championship, with their date booked for UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta, that leaves former Strikeforce 205-pound champion Dan Henderson in the lurch. "Hendo's" plan all along was to wait for the outcome of the Evans vs. Phil Davis bout at UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28 to see if "Suga" would emerge victorious and if so, would he have no injuries. Check and check. Now that that's settled, old "Hollywood" can get back to the business of tossing that "H-Bomb" around. But he needs a target first. And as he explains to ESPN.com, he would like to get busy around April or May and he even wouldn't mind if that target was a heavyweight: "I don't know what the plan is, but I'd fight whoever it is they think would be a good match-up. The problem is there's really nobody right now who fits the bill for a title contention fight, that would make sense to fight me. I don't know. Maybe I'd fight at a different weight class. I don't know if they see anybody at heavyweight that would make sense? But I would prefer to fight someone in April or May. ... Who do the fans want me to fight at heavyweight? I'd have to think about that. I don't know who at heavyweight would even make sense. The heavyweights that are in title contention right now wouldn't want to fight me. I don't know who is out there, but I did let the UFC know I'd be open to that as well." Hey, he beat the legendary Fedor Emelianenko at heavyweight. Why not try to do the same inside the Octagon? The problem, of course, is as he stated. Finding a suitable opponent in a unique situation like this would likely be far more of a headache than it's worth. So what does that leave? Well, he goes on to say a rematch against Quinton Jackson would make sense, assuming "Rampage" gets past Ryan Bader at UFC 144 on Feb. 25 in Japan. Then again, fight is just two months before Evans vs. Jones. So while Henderson is ready and willing to fight instead of waiting for a title shot later this year, he may end up on the sidelines simply for the fact that there isn't a fight that makes sense for him right now. Unless you Maniacs have something in mind.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, i dont, dont, sense

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If I were considered the greatest heavyweight mixed martial artist of the past decade, I’d have a statue erected in my honor somewhere in my hometown like the Rocky monument in Philadelphia. However, I would insist to be cast in bronze eating a taco and holding a Playstation controller while frowning to exude an image of frustration & determination. By society’s standards, that would be a pretty silly statue, so you should all be thankful I’ll never be considered the greatest heavyweight mixed martial artist of the past decade. That honor forever belongs to Fedor, and while he contemplates how his shrine should look, he’s having entirely too much fun at this indoor waterpark in the middle of winter. Props to Fraser for the find.

Posted in: heavyweight, i ’ll, playstation controller, water park, winter props

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Roy Nelson is a tough guy, there's no denying that. Although he's met defeat several times over the course of his career, he's only been stopped once. The other six times he forced his opponents to fight him bell to bell including last night (Feb. 4, 2012) against the returning Fabricio Werdum. It was the Brazilian's first fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) since being scorched by current heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in what was "Cigano's" Octagon debut. Last night's return couldn't have gone better for the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) world champion. He thoroughly dominated Nelson for 15 minutes, using his ever improving stand-up to stifle the American while also busting his face open. It was an important fight for Werdum as most casual UFC fans only recognized him from Dos Santos highlight reels. He needed a performance good enough to begin erasing some of the memories associated with his knockout loss to the champion while also helping to create new ones. He did that and more last night. Over the course of 15 minutes, Werdum thrust his name onto the list of possible future title contenders while also dropping Nelson even further down the heavyweight ladder. After their fight at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, the Brazilian could be one win away from a title shot while Nelson might be one loss away from a pink slip. Including last night's beating, "Big Country" has lost three of his last four; losses to Dos Santos and Frank Mir were equally as brutal for the former International Fight League (IFL) champion. None of the three men could put Nelson away but some would argue it would have been better for the American's longevity if they had. Nelson's toughness could wind up being a detriment as constant poundings very well could be adding untold wear and tear on his body. Helping Nelson out, though, is the fact he's a The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner. If you go by ratings, he can be said to be the most viewed TUF champion in the history of the show. Millions of fans saw him expose Kimbo Slice and then go on to remove Brendan Schaub from his consciousness in the Finale. But TUF doesn't have the same luster it did a few years ago. In recent months, former winners like Kendall Grove and Joe Stevenson have wound up on the chopping block proving that even those with reality TV muscle backing them up aren't immune to Zuffa's firing axe. Unlike those two, however, Nelson fights in the most anemic weight division in the sport. As a heavyweight, he can withstand a cold streak like the one he's one now. Dropping down to 205 pounds -- as many are saying he should -- strips him of that security and makes him that much easier to cut. On the flip side of last night's co-main event, Werdum impressively reintroduced himself to the UFC faithful. Werdum also benefits from the shallow talent pool at heavyweight as his next fight could very well be one to determine the next title challenger. A gaggle of interesting potential match-ups can be lined up for the Brazilian including rematching whoever loses the next heavyweight championship bout. No doubt "Vai Cavalo" would love to exact a measure of revenge on Dos Santos and while his first fight with Alistair Overeem was a bit of a snoozer, their second could prove to be much more interesting considering how well Werdum's stand-up is improving. A rumored match-up between former champ Cain Velasquez and Strikeforce contender Antonio Silva now seems to be dead but the American Kickboxing Academy member could tangle with Werdum, each hoping to get through the other en route to shot at UFC gold. My money, however, is on Frank Mir. Having won three straight since his knockout loss to Shane Carwin, Mir has established himself as a perennial contender in the heavyweight division. Coming off an arm-breaking submission victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, the former champion seems primed to challenge for the title once more. Who better than Werdum, who Mir touts as the division's best grappler? While the main event between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz might have ruined plans for the UFC in terms of big money matchmaking, the co-main event helped soothe some of the pain by creating its own. Nelson has already been established as a good but not great fighter. In the two years he's spent in the Octagon, he's consistently fallen to tougher competition. Werdum, on the other hand, seems to be entering his prime. His grappling chops can't be denied and his striking game is looking crisper with each fight. All the different puzzle pieces a fighter needs to succeed in the sport are coming together for the Brazilian. And as he enters the land of UFC giants, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, werdum, nelson

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Rundown of UFC 143 pre-fight news and notes… — If Nick Diaz needs to hate his opponent to fight them, he’s certainly not showing it for his big fight against Carlos Condit this weekend. As you can see from the photo above, Nick actually shook Condit’s hand instead of butting heads or flipping him off (though that could easily happen at tomorrow’s weigh-ins). Not only that, Nick actually went to bat for Condit during the press conference when he was asked if he thinks all the talk about him and Georges St. Pierre is fair to Condit. “Yeah, I think it makes me sick,” he said. “This is Carlos’ time to be here, and to be a part of this main event. This is … half of the show is built up around me fighting Georges St-Pierre. But that’s not [right]. I’m fighting Carlos Condit. So, I don’t like it.” Nick later followed it up with a quote that embodies what he thinks about GSP and Carlos Condit as fighters. “You’re more in danger of losing a decision to Georges St-Pierre. I think you’re more in danger of losing your teeth if you’re fighting Condit here.” Nick Diaz telling it like it is… — You may want to exercise a little patience if you’re hoping to see Jon Jones fight at heavyweight because it’s not going to happen anytime soon. At the pre-fight press conference today, Dana White said Jones will fight at heavyweight eventually, but it won’t happen anytime soon. “It’s going to happen eventually, but I don’t think it’ll be happening this year,” White said. “There are still guys there to fight him,” White said. “He’s still young … so I’m not interested in him fighting at heavyweight this year.” There’s really no reason to rush Jones’ progression to the heavyweight division. He still has challenges left in Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson to take of and it’s always possible that other contenders will rise while he’s fighting them. I’d like to see how Jones does at heavyweight, but I’m more in favor of that move happening naturally. — Speaking of the light heavyweight title triangle, Dan Henderson plans to wait to fight the winner of Jones vs. Evans, according to Dana White. “Dan Henderson’s in a position right now where it looks like he wants to wait for Jon Jones. We’ll see what happens with this Rashad fight.” That’s probably the smart move. It would tough to recover from a loss and climb back up the ladder at Hendo’s age. — Dana White doesn’t think Alistair Overeem’s most recent trouble with the law will affect his upcoming title shot against Junior dos Santos. Dana also offered some details about what transpired the night he allegedly shoved a woman. “I don’t think he’s in that much trouble,” White said. “This isn’t a situation where he beat somebody up; I don’t think that’s the case.” “He had to use the restroom – this is my knowledge of what happened – (and) security was going to take him,” White said. “He said, ‘I don’t need security,’ and sure enough he goes over there, and his side of the story is some lady started yelling at him and swinging at him and everything else.” — Dana White has no patience for you if you were critical of how the fights went at UFC on FOX 2. “There was so much hype for (Chael) Sonnen vs. (Michael) Bisping and the (Demian) Maia fight,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “Even after it changed, people were like, ‘It’s even more exciting now.’ And then after, everybody’s like, ‘Aww, they set themselves up for these boring fights.’ Shut up. People who come out after and say, ‘Oh, we knew (this was going to happen),’ you’re a liar. You’re a liar, you’re an idiot, and you sound like an idiot when you say that. These fights all looked exciting. You just never know what’s going to happen. Anything can happen on any given night.” “You could have three fights go to decisions, or you could have three fights that you think are going to go longer and it lasts 60 seconds,” he said. “It’s fighting. The hardest part of the whole thing is figuring out production. How many fights can you schedule with the commercial load that you’ve got and all the other things that you have to do? We did a pretty good job of getting this thing dialed in after that first fight going 60 seconds.” “Would I have turned off the show the other night and said that sucked? No, it didn’t suck. The Bisping-Chael Sonnen fight was awesome.” — Hackers may have stopped hacking the UFC’s websites, but as far as Dana is concerned, the war is “still on.” Oy vey. — Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II hasn’t been signed yet, but Dana still “guarantees” it’s going to happen. Silva is apparently flying in to Las Vegas this weekend presumably to put pen to paper. — Apparently there are rumors floating around of Gilbert Melendez and BJ Penn fighting. Well, wherever they came from, they’re not true. according to Dana. He promises Melendez will still get a big fight though. — This is pretty cool. Harley-Davidson is giving a new motorcycle to the Diaz-Condit winner. — And last but not least, Nick Diaz only missed three flights this week to get to Vegas! Image via the UFC

Posted in: fight, nick, heavyweight, dana, condit

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Two of the top heavyweights in the world will meet for the first time this Saturday night (February 4, 2012) as submission specialist Fabricio Werdum takes on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 10 winner Roy Nelson in the co-main event of UFC 143 in Las Vegas. Fabricio Werdum was on a terrific run outside the UFC, with three big victories over the likes of Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko which vaulted him to as high as the number two heavyweight in the world in the rankings. He came back down to Earth after dropping a decision to the current top UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem, and he's hoping to make the most of his return to the UFC. Roy Nelson was on the fast track to a title shot before dropping decisions to Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir in consecutive fights. "Big Country" bounced back with a strong showing against Mirko Filipovic his last time out and he's hoping to make another run to the top of the heap if he can get past his Brazilian foe this weekend. Will Werdum make the most of his second opportunity in the UFC? Will "Big Country" eat "Vai Cavalo" for dinner? How does each heavyweight jiu-jitsu black belt earn a victory on Saturday night? Let's find out: Fabricio Werdum Record: 14-5-1 overall, 2-2 in the UFC Key Wins: Alistair Overeem (Pride Total Elimination Absolute), Fedor Emelianenko (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum), Antonio Silva (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers) Key Losses: Alistair Overeem (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum), Junior dos Santos (UFC 90) Sergei Kharitonov (Pride 30) How he got here: Fabricio Werdum competed all across the world to begin his professional career, from England to Morocco to Brazil, where he went undefeated in five fights. He then found himself in the Pride promotion where he consistently fought some of the best in the world like Aleksander Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and even recent UFC fighter Jon Olav Einemo. After Pride was purchased by Zuffa, he was signed by the UFC and immediately stepped in against some of the top fighters in the promotion like Andrei Arlovski, Gabriel Gonzaga (again) and Brandon Vera. Two victories in a row had "Vai Cavalo" in title contention but he showed up flabby and out of shape when he was signed to welcome a UFC newcomer in Junior dos Santos and he paid for it dearly, getting knocked out by a nasty first round uppercut just 81 seconds into the fight. Werdum was released from his contract and has since competed against two of the toughest non-UFC heavyweights in Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko, scoring impressive victories over both fighters. After the tremendous upset of Fedor, he took nearly a year off to have surgery on a nagging elbow injury and came up short in his return, losing a decision to Alistair Overeem in the quarterfinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. With Strikeforce disbanding its heavyweight division, the Brazilian submission specialist resigned with the UFC to face Roy Nelson in the UFC 143 co-main event. How he gets it done: Fabricio Werdum is a talented and well-rounded fighter. He was able to utilize his striking and knees to defeat fighters like Gabriel Gonzaga and Antonio Silva and he even held his own with Alistair Overeem. Roy Nelson obviously respects his Muay Thai skills on the feet, so I expect Werdum to actually be willing to exchange for a bit before he tries to take the fight to the canvas. In the stand-up, the key for Werdum will be trying to get this fight into the clinch where he can work his strong Muay Thai game. Nelson has a terrific chin, but he's also got plenty of vulnerabilities to knees simply due to his stature so there's a high probability that the King's MMA fighter throws a plethora of them in the stand-up realm. As evidenced by his fight with Fedor Emelianenko, the ground is Werdum's world. He's incredibly sly on the canvas and is constantly searching for submissions and sweeps. His guard is incredibly dangerous and he's just as slick from top position. You don't become a two-time ADCC champion in jiu-jitsu without being one of the best, if not the best, in the world. Look for Werdum to play it rather defensively in the stand-up portion while he searches for opportunities to get the fight to the ground. Whether it's shooting for a takedown attempt, working trips in the clinch, or even pulling guard, "Vai Cavalo" wants this fight in his domain. Once there, he'll be trying to get past the brick wall that is Roy Nelson on the ground, and "Big Country" presents his own unique set of problems with his unorthodox body type. It will be interesting to see how Werdum tries to handle the Renzo Gracie black belt on the canvas if and when he brings the fight there. Roy Nelson Record: 16-6 overall, 3-2 in the UFC Key Wins: Mirko Filipovic (UFC 137), Brendan Schaub (Ultimate Finale 10), Stefan Struve (UFC Fight Night 21) Key Losses: Frank Mir (UFC 130), Junior dos Santos (UFC 117), Andrei Arlovski (EliteXC: Heat) How he got here: Roy Nelson made his mark outside the UFC, most notably as the inaugural IFL heavyweight champion. After defending the strap twice, the promotion folded and "Big Country" stepped in on 10 day's notice to take on former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski under the Elite XC banner. Nelson was in control of the bout but a horrible stand-up ruined his night and allowed Arlovski to score a knockout victory. The beer-bellied brawler would redeem himself on TUF 10, easily grappling his way to the finale where he would blast Brendan Schaub in the first round of the championship fight to win the show's title. He followed it up by taking out "The Skyscraper" Stefan Struve with another first round knockout. Nelson earned a number one contender fight with Junior dos Santos at UFC 117 for his efforts and would give his best Homer Simpson impression, absorbing enough punishment in three rounds to baffle physicists. After losing a unanimous decision to "Cigano," he would eventually fight former UFC champion and friend Frank Mir at UFC 130 this past summer but would get physically dominated. "Big Country" bounced back with a third round technical knockout of the legendary Mirko Filipovic at UFC 137 and he's hoping to return to title contention if he can get past Werdum, one of the top ranked heavyweights in the world. How he gets it done: The most important thing of all for the Las Vegas native is to get inside. Roy Nelson has a big overhand right which he throws with great force, but he first must close the distance whether it be simply utilizing decent footwork or actually exploding forward with that lunging attack he's developed. Footwork will be key. If Nelson can maneuver Werdum towards the fence, he can lunge forward with a hook and then back away before being trapped in a clinch. If he can connect flush, "Vai Cavalo" could be going to sleep. If Werdum is in "flop-mode" Nelson will likely be confident enough in his ground game to take the bait. Sure, the Brazilian has potentially the best submission skills in the heavyweight division, but "Big Country" is no joke on the ground and he should be proficient enough there to avoid getting tapped out.. If Nelson feels safe in Werdum's guard, he could even posture up and drop some strong punches, but I don't expect to see him pass. He's likely going to be working to win a decision on the ground if the fight is forced there. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight might just be the stakes. Fabricio Werdum has beaten and just went three rounds with the number one contender for the UFC heavyweight title so he's still at the top of the division and Roy Nelson was once a potential number one contender himself who's trying to regain his status. When the stakes are so high, sometimes it negatively affects how a fight plays out. I've got the worst nagging feeling about this fight that neither man is going to "go for it" here, instead fighting not to lose and it could have some serious negative impact on performance. Bottom Line: Carrying over from the X-Factor, while the match-up sounds exciting, and there very well could be some potential for interesting scrambles on the ground, this fight could turn into another flop-fest for Werdum. The biggest issue I have is that Roy Nelson might take the bait and he should be skilled enough so as to not be submitted from top position and he'll just ride out a top control victory without taking much risk. Again, I'll dance for joy if this turns into a slugfest on the feet or both men are throwing sweeps and submission attempts at each other in a furious blitz, but I've got a really bad vibe for this one. Hopefully I'm wrong. Who will come out on top at UFC 143? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will win the heavyweight showdown in the co-main event of UFC 143 on Saturday night? Roy Nelson Fabricio Werdum   16 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, werdum, nelson

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UFC 143 co-headliner between Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson is a precursor of what to expect in the new UFC heavyweight division.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, division, fabricio werdum, roy nelson

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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

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Former heavyweight Karlos Vemola will drop to middleweight to take on New Jersey’s Mike Massenzio in his home state at UFC on Fox 3 on May 15, the UFC announced today. Vemola (8-2) is 1-2 with the UFC after scoring a “Knockout of the Night” win over Seth Petruzelli in his light heavyweight debut between losses to Jon Madsen at heavyweight and Ronny Markes. Massenzion (13-6) was submitted in 63-seconds by Rousimar Palhares last month at UFC 142 following a decision win over Steve Cantwell. UFC on Fox 3 is headlined by lightweight contenders Nate Diaz and Jim Miller and also features heavyweights Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson. For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 3 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, vemola, jon madsen

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Not content to be the resident workhorse and stopgap headliner for the UFC, Jonny Bones was also jonesing for a fight at heavyweight: "I actually asked Dana and Lorenzo, could I take a fight for the fans at the end of 2012," Jones said. "I figured beating Henderson and Rashad, there would be a period where we'd figure out who I'm going to fight next, and during that period, at the end of 2012, I asked to fight a heavyweight -- a Top 10 heavyweight."Jones, however, said the UFC doesn't like that idea."Dana and Lorenzo didn't think that was the best for me to do right now," Jones said. "They wanted me to continue at the light heavyweight division. ... They said they didn't want that for me." In other words, the last thing the UFC needs is their new star getting laid on for three rounds by one of the gargantuan heavyweights of the division. There are times where moving up a weight class makes sense. Unfortunately, who it makes sense for and who wants to go for it never seems to match up. *cough* Georges *cough*

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

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Heavyweight Joey Beltran has been released by the UFC after being knocked out in the first round by Strikeforce import Lavar Johnson this past Saturday at UFC on Fox 2 to fall to 1-4 in his last five fights. Beltran announced the move on Twitter and said he now plans to drop to light heavyweight. Beltran weighed in at 228 pounds for Saturday’s fight, just 23 pounds above the light heavyweight limit, and gave up considerable size to the 252-pound Johnson. After beginning his UFC career with a pair of wins, Beltran dropped unanimous decisions to Matt Mitrione and Pat Barry, rebounded with a knockout of Aaron Rosa, then suffered losses to Stipe Miocic and Johnson. For the latest UFC news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, pound, heavyweight, johnson, beltran

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Joey Beltran has been released from his duties with the promotion after losing to recent Strikeforce import, Lavar Johnson, this past weekend (Jan. 28, 2012) at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, Illinois. The loss, which came in the very first round after "Big" delivered some brutal uppercuts that floored the "Mexicutioner" and forced the referee to stop the action, marked Beltran's second in a row and four out of his last five in the UFC. Earning the reputation of being able to take damage and keep on trucking, Beltran became a fan favorite with his preference to bang it out with the best of them on the feet and never backing down from an all out brawl. However, heart and determination were not enough to earn those much-needed wins to keep his place in the stacked UFC heavyweight division, as his 3-4 record during his stint with the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in the world just wasn't cutting it. Beltran broke the news to Fighter's Only just days removed from his most recent setback. "I am truly grateful for all the opportunities that I have received from the UFC/Zuffa. I am not sad or hurt by their decision as I know that winning is the name of the game. Posting a 1-4 record my last 5 fights is unacceptable regardless of how entertaining the fights were. So this is the next chapter of my career, and one that I am excited for. You will definitely see my ugly face again so fans don't worry and haters keep on hating." Beltran also sent out this tweet on his official Twitter account revealing he will be dropping weight classes: To all my fans friends family and supporters I will be back better than ever at a new weight class! Don't worry about me At all! Beltran made a successful debut at UFC 109 against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt Rolles Gracie Jr. by defeating the submission wizard in the second round via strikes. He then followed up that performance with a unanimous decision victory over Tim Hague at UFC 113: "Machida vs. Shogun II." His downward spiral began when he lost his next two bouts to Matt Mitrione at UFC 109 and Pat Barry at UFC: Fight for the Troops 2, both by unanimous decision. He got back on the winning track when he defeated UFC newcomer Aaron Rosa at UFC 131, but then ran into powerful striker Stipe Miocic at UFC 136 who earned a decision win against "The Mexicutioner." Heading into his bout with Lavar Johnson, Beltran had yet to be finished inside the Octagon, displaying his iron chin against heavy strikers Barry and Mittrione, previously. However, with 12 first round knockouts to his name, Johnson proved that, despite heading into the bout with two consecutive losses under the Strikeforce banner, he is still one heavyweight not to be taken lightly, by knocking out Beltran with six vicious consecutive uppercuts with thirty seconds remaining in the opening frame. Any of you Maniacs surprised by promotion's decision to release Beltran? Can he string together a few wins at light heavyweight in smaller promotions to earn his ticket back to the big show? To see Lavar Johnson's brutal knockout of Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox 2, click here.

Posted in: ufc, decision, heavyweight, johnson, beltran

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ULTMMA.com has released and updated its 2012 set of Mixed Martial Arts prospect rankings. The rankings cover a top 20 for each of the eight major MMA weight classes heavyweight through flyweight with a total of 160 unsigned prospects rated.----The race to find the next great light heavyweight or heavyweight MMA fighter is a contest more about potential than proven cage work. When it comes to developing fighters in the sport's two biggest weight classes the regional scene's lack of "big man" depth provides prospects with slim options.Fighting out of the MMA hotbed of New Mexico heavyweight Tyler East (10-3) is a three year pro at the ripe age of 22. Currently in the midst of six fight winning streak the lanky 6'6 East holds notable wins over Nick Gaston and Esteves Jones. Now training at Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, East is a young, well coached heavyweight which should garner him serious attention from any and all national MMA promotions.   A three time All American wrestler out of Oklahoma State Jared Rosholt (4-0) has quickly risen up the MMA prospects ranks. At 260 pounds Rosholt has dominated all four of his local opponents with takedowns an a suffocating top game. The 25 year old Rosholt has such a strong base to jump off from that 2012 will be another year the four star MMA prospects rounds out his skill set on the local MMA circuit.Brazilian 205 pound prospect Phelipe Lins (5-0) returned to the cage for the first time in over five years. Lins knocked out his opponent in emphatic fashion and in the process once again became a major player in the Brazilian light heavyweight division. The 26 year old Lins is a physical force and will fight two to three times in his home country before he may be signed by a stateside promotion. 28 year old prospect Jan Blachowicz (14-3) entered 2011 on a nine fight winning streak. Sandwiched between a loss and a win versus former pride star Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Blachowicz picked up the seventh submission win of his career. The polish grappling wiz is a proven commodity on the European MMA scene and Blachowicz is in position to land a fight deal with the UFC or Bellator in 2012.Middleweight and welterweight breakdown  Lightweight and featherweight breakdown Bantamweight and flyweight breakdown Light heavyweight and heavyweight updated top 20 prospects 

Posted in: mma, heavyweight, prospect, year, rosholt

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submitted by DanielMulligan [link] [comment]

Posted in: heavyweight, training, barry, barry training, danielmulligan link

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones opened as a heavy 6-to-1 favorite over Rashad Evans as the former teammates are finally scheduled to meet in the main event of UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta. Evans dominated Phil Davis in the main event of UFC on Fox 2 this past Saturday for a unanimous decision win, but never came close to finishing the previously undefeated prospect, while Jones will be fighting for the first time since capping off his standout 2011 by choking out Loyoto Machida at UFC 140 in December. After also scoring dominant wins over Ryan Bader, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson last year, Jones recently told MMAFighting he hoped to move up to heavyweight if he beat Evans and Dan Henderson, but the UFC shot down the idea. “I actually asked Dana and Lorenzo, could I take a fight for the fans at the end of 2012,” Jones said. “I figured beating Henderson and Rashad, there would be a period where we’d figure out who I’m going to fight next, and during that period, at the end of 2012, I asked to fight a heavyweight — a Top 10 heavyweight,” Jones said. ”Dana and Lorenzo didn’t think that was the best for me to do right now. They wanted me to continue at the light heavyweight division. … They said they didn’t want that for me.” Tickets for UFC 145 go on sale to UFC Fight Club members on Feb. 15, UFC newsletter subscribers on Feb. 16, and the general public on Feb. 17. For complete coverage of UFC 145 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

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

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Top Heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum, who will make his octagon return against Roy Nelson at UFC 143, talks about being back with the promotion after a three and a half year hiatus, and gives viewers an inside look at his training and preparation at Kings MMA. Werdum also discusses UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos, explaining that a rematch with "Cigano" would be the peak of his career.

Posted in: heavyweight, octagon return, werdum, fabricio werdum, roy nelson

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Filed under: UFCUFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is openly talking about a move up to heavyweight, but before he can do that he's going to have to convince his bosses, who aren't enthusiastic about the idea. Jones revealed on The MMA Hour that he has already told UFC President Dana White and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta that he would like to move up to heavyweight if he beats the top two light heavyweight contenders, Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson. But Jones said the UFC has other ideas. "I actually asked Dana and Lorenzo, could I take a fight for the fans at the end of 2012," Jones said. "I figured beating Henderson and Rashad, there would be a period where we'd figure out who I'm going to fight next, and during that period, at the end of 2012, I asked to fight a heavyweight -- a Top 10 heavyweight." Jones, however, said the UFC doesn't like that idea. "Dana and Lorenzo didn't think that was the best for me to do right now," Jones said. "They wanted me to continue at the light heavyweight division. ... They said they didn't want that for me." It's not surprising that the UFC told Jones to stay focused on his own weight class: He's still got business to attend to at 205 pounds, and the UFC has only had champions move up in weight on a handful of occasions. Eventually, however, moving up to heavyweight may be the right move for Jones. He can still make 205 pounds comfortably, but as he moves into his mid- to late-20s, that might become more difficult. And  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, heavyweight, move

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"I think you know, i figured beating Henderson and Rashad, there would be a period of trying to figure out who I would fight next, and during that period, at the end of 2012, I requested to fight a top 10 heavyweight just for the fans. But Dana and Lorenzo did not think that was the best thing for me to do right now, they wanted me to continue in the light heavyweight division. -- If you dreamed of seeing Jon Jones fight at heavyweight, keep dreaming. That's because the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion today (Jan. 30, 2012) revealed on The MMA Hour that his request to fight in the promotion's heavyweight division against a top-ranked opponent -- in what he described a "fight for the fans" -- has been shot down by UFC President Dana White and company CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. Jones, who has ransacked through the 205-pound division with relative ease, would be a natural fit with the big boys of the UFC, given the fact that he stands at 6' 4" and usually towers and outweighs his light heavyweight counterparts come fight night. Perhaps some other time, seeing as how White and Fertitta aren't to keen on the idea of their 205-pound champion stepping up in weight class, at least not at the moment. Of course, before "Bones" can even think about jumping in weight, there is still a matter of defending his title against his bitter rival Rashad Evans, which is scheduled to go down at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Ga., on April 21, 2012. Should he be successful, Dan Henderson is expected to be his next opponent. Disappointed at the news that UFC officials axed Jones' request to mix it up at heavyweight? How would he fair against bigger opponents?

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, jon jones, heavyweight

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In preparations for his It's Showtime 55 bout with Badr Hari, Gokhan Saki did a few kickboxing sparring sessions with no other than "The Dreamcatcher" Gegard Mousasi. Judging by the video, former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion is still one of the most technical strikers in Mixed Martial Arts, and can go toe-to-toe with a Top 5 Heavyweight kickboxers. Vice versa, it would be really interesting to see Saki in a grappling session with Mousasi, since "The Rebel" spoke on several occasions about his

Posted in: heavyweight, gegard mousasi, mousasi, saki, session

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Badr Hari ended his kickboxing career yesterday with a first round knockout of fellow top heavyweight, Gokhan Saki. Now that Badr has left the sport, the heavyweight division that has been unstable ever since the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix is now just as up in the air as it's ever been. His departure shakes up the landscape of the heavyweight division, leaving it wide open and creating a vacancy that may or may not be filled. Badr isn't the only one leaving, and there are others that could potentially do the same. Peter Aerts will finally be ending his legendary career on June 30 at the age of 41. Tyrone Spong's future in kickboxing is uncertain after the fight with Peter Aerts, as he's living in the US and training with MMA fighters like Rashad Evans. Spong has openly discussed a potential move to MMA. Other top fighters in the sport appear to be sticking around for the time being, but age isn't on their side. Jerome Le Banner is still fighting at the age of 39, already having a fight scheduled for March 23 against Errol Zimmerman. Le Banner also has his "World Tour" that he can fight for but at such an old age for a fighter and having been in the sport for so long, who knows when he'll decide to hang up the gloves. Semmy Schilt, although ranked #1 on our Liverkick.com Heavyweight Rankings, is 38 years old. Schilt signed a long term contract with Golden Glory/Total Sports Asia though, so it seems as if he'll stick around for at least a few more years. Read More...

Posted in: heavyweight, sport, age, heavyweight division, badr

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This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) A year ago, we selected the inaugural class of fighters that would make up the first edition of the World MMA Scouting Report. It's been a gratifying experience to see some of the athletes we selected go on to succeed in major fight opportunities, and a heartbreaking one to see others come up just short. For each pick that claimed a significant title in 2011, there were at least two that didn't make their breakthrough, or fell off the rails entirely. Here's a recap to give you a sampling of the highlights (and lowlights) from a tumultuous time in the careers of these MMA prospects. 1. Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) If there is one fighter whose profile among mixed martial arts fans benefited the most due to his inclusion in the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report, it was M-1 Challenge Heavyweight Champion Guram Gugenishvili. At the very least, his top ranking produced the report's most surreal meta-moment in the form of a forboding, WWE-like promotional video teasing Guram's imminent arrival in America. Sadly, a series of training injuries have delayed his second defense of the title several times. In the meantime, M-1 Challenge top contenders and previous victims Maxim Grishin (11-6) and Kenny Garner (8-3) put on an atrocious five-round fight to determine the next challenger. It was so bad that when Guram finally does return in 2012, M-1 Global should consider importing a more credible opponent. 2. Shamil Abdurahimov (12-2) Shamil Abdurahimov captured the Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship tournament title in March, stopping Marcos Oliveira (5-3) with strikes in the finals. On top of his earlier round victories over UFC veterans Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Jeff Monson, the tourney win was thought to be enough to put Shamil over the top for a major fight opportunity stateside. But such a booking never came, so he was left to compete in the main event of December's World Ultimate Full Contact event in Dagestan, facing off against American gatekeeper Tony Lopez (28-8). Abdurahimov blasted Lopez to the mat with strikes early, cruising through the early rounds with his superior top control. Cruising, that is, until Tony framed up a triangle choke early in the third round, forcing Shamil to submit in front of a shocked partisan audience. 3. Tony Johnson Jr. (6-1) As a former high school wrestling star, Tony Johnson Jr. promised to go far as a heavyweight fighter, and he took his first step toward the big time when he made his Bellator Fighting Championships debut in June. His superior grappling made the difference in a three-round decision victory over fellow Bellator newcomer Derrick Lewis (6-2). Unfortunately, Johnson hasn't been called on by Bellator for a sophomore scrap, having been passed over for inclusion in their second heavyweight tournament. Whether Tony is focusing on improving his skill-set, nursing injuries or just hasn't come to terms with Bellator on a multi-fight agreement, here's hoping he makes his return soon. 4. Gerald Turek (11-2) Gerald Turek started the year riding a six-fight win streak with recognition as heavyweight champion of Slovenia's World Free Fight Challenge (WFC). The win streak and the title were snatched in shocking fashion by dangerous Brazilian journeyman Jair Goncalves (9-4). The Rio-based fighter survived an early onslaught by Turek, securing an armbar submission win midway through the first round to upset the Austrian champ at WFC 13 in Belgrade, Serbia. Incredibly, Goncalves accomplished the feat without any cornermen, having traveled to the country alone. Turek returned to action in Austria on January 20th, stopping Serbian Dragan Berich (0-3) with punches in the opening round. 5. Stipe Miocic (7-0) As was projected, 2011 saw Stipe Miocic parlay his heavyweight crown in Ohio's North American Allied Fight Series into a shot with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Strong Style Fight Team representative fittingly won his final NAAFS fight in June by using his signature power low kicks to chop out the legs of Chicago's Bobby Brents (11-2). Miocic made his anticipated UFC debut in October, edging past Joey Beltran (13-7) via decision after both fighters noticably faded toward the end of the bout. Next up for Stipe is a February 15th encounter with undefeated English submission specialist Phillip De Fries (8-0). 6. Jared Rosholt (4-0) Jared Rosholt fights alongside his brother Jake as a member of Team Takedown, and so far he has followed a similar early career trajectory. After an untelevised win over Ray Clayton (2-2) on May 21, Jared made his TV debut on HDNet a week later, stopping Kirk Grinlinton (2-3) with punches in the first round. The following week, Rosholt took out Robert Haney (0-2) to bump his record to 4-0. Since that burst of activity, Rosholt hasn't fought again, opting instead to spend time sharpening other skills to compliment his wrestling base. He was spotted in December training kickboxing with K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Alistair Overeem. 7. Vitaly Minakov (6-0) As a hulking heavyweight Sport Sambo champion, Vitaly Minakov is already an imposing figure in Russia MMA early in his pro career, and has trouble finding willing, quality opposition. He improved to 6-0 in 2011, walking over Juan Espino (1-2) and Ivan Frolov (0-1) in a combined 54 seconds of action. Minakov capped off the year by claiming his third Sambo World Championship title in the over 100 kg division, defeating Belarusian Yuri Rybak in the final. If Minakov can add improved kickboxing to his unquestionable grappling prowess, he'll be on the fast track to a major fight opportunity. 8. Konstantin Gluhov (20-8) For the most part, Konstatin Gluhov did what he does best in 2011: win obscure heavyweight tournaments across Europe. He took France's four man Pancrase Cup in April, submitting Arnold Oborotov (0-1) with a toehold before roasting Jessie Gibbs (10-5) for a body punch knock out in the final. At Ukraine's Warrior Honor tourney in May, Gluhov put away Yuri Gorbenko (4-9) and Ruslan Magomedov (6-1) with the exact same techniques (seriously, look it up). Most recently he entered Dagestan's Challenge of Champions invitational on Christmas Eve, dropping a decision to Alexei Kudin (7-3) in a rather dull two round semifinal. Konstantin next enters February's Draka Governor's Cup field in February, where he will face Austalia's Peter Graham (4-5) in the opening round. 9. Nick Gaston (5-1) It wasn't long ago that everything seemed to be going great for Nick Gaston. "Afrozilla" was undefeated, made an appearance on MTV's Bully Beatdown, and found himself winning fights on HDNet as a feature fighter for King of the Cage. He has continued to fight exclusively in KOTC, but the promotion was off television by the time he took an easy win off of Jerry Burns (6-18) in April. Gaston's winning streak came to an end in June at the hands of mercurial big man Tyler East (10-3) in a bout to crown the new KOTC Heavyweight Champion. Gaston hasn't fought since, but with East subsequently being stripped of the title, Nick may be recalled for another shot at the belt. 10. Mark Potter (4-2) Added to the 2011 report at the last minute, England's Mark Potter made the list based on his ongoing destruction of his peers on the UK heavyweight MMA circuit. As a former boxer who famously lost to a one-armed Danny Williams, Potter excels at crushing the unrefined brawlers who populate the division, as he reiterated by knocking out Ireland's Mark Walker (0-1) in March. Ground skills, however, are not Potter's forte and Oli Thompson (9-2) proved as much in June, shooting early for a takedown, then softening Mark up with punches before latching an easy rear naked choke submission win. On the paper-thin UK circuit, such a win was enough to propel Oli to the UFC. At 37 years old, Potter seems down and out but he could still be a factor regionally in 2012.

Posted in: fight, world, mma, round, heavyweight

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] It's Showtime 55 was an explosive show, and in the realm of the Heavyweight division helped to organize it and make some sense of what was a rather confusing division. The retirement of Badr Hari was the big story for this show, and quite honestly, Badr Hari looked better than he has looked in a long, long time in the ring. He was focused, in control and defending just about everything that Saki had to offer. It is a shame that we will not get to watch him fight again for an undisclosed amount of time, but he is off to try his hand at Boxing where he will try to become a star in America. What is clear is that Daniel Ghita's win over Hesdy Gerges has proven that Ghita is finally making good on his potential. Ghita burst onto the international scene in 2009 when he first appeared in the It's Showtime ring, stopping Tomas Hron with deadly low kicks. He then went on to win the K-1 WGP Final Qualifying Tournament in Japan three months later, which gave him the unenviable task of making his K-1 World Grand Prix Final 16 debut against Semmy Schilt. Ghita was yet to become a complete fighter and Semmy was able to pick him apart in typical Schilt fashion. The years that have followed have been important learning years for Ghita, with the last two years in particular with him realizing that he needed to improve his hands to hang with the elite Heavyweights. Read More...

Posted in: heavyweight, year, badr hari, hari, ghita

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Rashad Evans unanimously outpointed fellow former Big Ten wrestler Phil Davis in a five-round light heavyweight fight at UFC Chicago.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, fellow, evan, outpointed fellow

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

It's been rumored and an obvious choice, but on Saturday the UFC made it official. Light heavyweight champ Jon Jones will defend his title in the main event of UFC 145.

Posted in: ufc, title, jon jones, heavyweight, light

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Before light heavyweight contenders Rashad Evans and Phil Davis square off in the main event of UFC on Fox 2 tonight in Chicago in hopes of earning a shot at light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, here’s the UFC’s official preview of the matchup: Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for complete coverage of UFC on Fox 2, including live UFC on Fox 2 results.

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, preview, evan

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

With K-1 all but dead, It's Showtime has taken the opportunity to grab the reins and become the premiere kickboxing organization in the world. Their first 2012 event, which kicks off this afternoon on HDNet, is suitably a doozy. After one of the most entertaining (not to mention) erratic careers in kickboxing history, the legendary Badr Hari will officially retire from the sport to pursue boxing after his showdown with the vicious Gokhan Saki, while Daniel Ghita will look to get his hands on both revenge and the It's Showtime heavyweight title in his rematch with Hesdy Gerges MMAmania will deliver complete LIVE action from It's Showtime 55, starting with the HDNet broadcast at 3:00 PM EST. Quick results and live play-by-play after the jump Main Card Heavyweight.: Badr Hari vs. Gokhan SakiHeavyweight Championship.: Hesdy Gerges (c) vs. Daniel Ghita70MAX: Murat Direkci vs. Robin van Roosmalen Heavyweight: Rico Verhoeven vs. Errol Zimmerman 70MAX: Harut Grigorian vs. Chris Ngimbi Heavyweight: Michael Duut vs. Anderson "Braddock" Silva Undercard: Heavyweight: Tyrone Spong def. Melvin Manhoef by Unanimous Decision 73MAX Championship: L'houcine Ouzgni def. Yohan Lidon by Unanimous Decision Heavyweight: Ben Edwards def. Ricardo van den Bos by Unanimous Decision 95MAX: Sahak Parparyan def. Mourad Bouzidi by Unanimous Decision 70MAX: Andy Ristie def. HINATA by 1R TKO (3 Knockdowns) 70MAX: Hafid el Boustati def. Henri van Opstal by Unanimous Decision Badr Hari's Farewell: Badr Hari vs. Gokhan Saki Round one: Round two: Round three: Final Result: -end- It's Showtime Heavyweight Championship: Hesdy Gerges (c) vs. Daniel Ghita Round one: Round two: Round three: Final Result: -end- 70MAX bout: Murat Direkci vs. Robin van Roosmalen Round one: Round two: Round three: Final Result: -end- Heavyweight bout: Rico Verhoeven vs. Errol Zimmerman Round one: Round two: Round three: Final Result: -end- 70MAX bout: Harut Grigorian vs. Chris Ngimbi Round one: Round two: Round three: Final Result: -end- Heavyweight Bout: Michael Duut vs. Anderson "Braddock" Silva Round one: Round two: Round three: Final Result: -end-

Posted in: result, round, heavyweight, vs, max

Read the full article at MMA Mania

UFC on Fox 2 features a heavyweight tilt between Joey Beltran (13-6; 3-3 UFC) and Lavar Johnson (15-5; 0-0 UFC). This is the first fight on Fuel TV prelims. Neither man is currently ranked in the USA Today / MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings, though with them being heavyweights, that could change after a solid performance Saturday night. The Fuel TV prelims begin this Saturday, January 28 at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, with the main card following on Fox at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Heavyweight is notorious for having the shallowest talent pool in MMA as most big athletes tend to find themselves in other, more lucrative sports. That being said, the two men squaring off in this fight always leave everything they have in the cage and that shouldn't change on Saturday night. How do these two stack up? Beltran: 30 years old | 6'1" Johnson: 34 years old | 6'4" | 82" reach What have these two done recently? Beltran: L - Stipe Miocic (UD) | W - Aaron Rosa (TKO) | L - Pat Barry (UD) Johnson: L - Shawn Jordan (SUB) | L - Shane del Rosario (SUB) | W - Virgil Zwicker (KO) How did these two get here? Joey Beltran attempted to make his way to the UFC through the Ultimate Fighter but he never made it onto the show. Instead, he was a last minute replacement for Mustafa Al-Turk who was set to fight Rolles Gracie. Gracie gassed out early and Beltran picked up the TKO win. Though he's found some success in the UFC, Beltran has never been able to defeat stronger opponents. In his last outing against Stipe Miocic, Beltran had to rely on his toughness to get him through the fight. Lavar Johnson finds himself in the UFC after the Strikeforce heavyweight division was shut down. While he was 3-2 in the promotion, he never really was able to take the next big step to become a star in the heavyweight division. Johnson is the first of the Strikeforce heavyweights to make his UFC debut. Why you should care? If you're looking for a highly skilling, hotly-contested heavyweight bout, this isn't the one for you. But when you put two heavy-handed fighters in the cage, there's sure to be entertainment. Both Johnson and Beltran are unbelievably tough and there is a chance for both fighters to end the fight with one punch. Also, Bruce Buffer is going to have to announce 'Lavar "BIIIIIIIIIIGGGG" Johnson!' which is sure to be a highlight of his career. More UFC on Fox 2 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2 UFC On Fox 2: Michael Bisping Flips Off Fans At Weigh Ins, Nearly Loses Sponsor - Kid Nate Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 128: UFC On Fox Preview UFC On FOX 2 Evans Vs. Davis: Fight Card And Staff Predictions UFC On Fox 2 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke UFC On Fox 2: Haters Be Damned, Rashad Evans Is A Big Star - Josh Nason UFC On Fox 2 Video: Dana White On Chael's Fake Belt, Fox Production, The Internet - Josh Nason UFC On Fox 2 Video: WWE Champion CM Punk On Brock Lesnar, Chael Sonnen Walkout - Josh Nason UFC On Fox 2 Video: Complete Pre-Fight Press Conference - Kid Nate UFC On Fox 2: Fuel TV Prelims Dissection (Part Two) - Dallas Winston UFC On Fox 2: Phil Davis Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen UFC On Fox 2: Evans vs. Davis Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC On Fox 2: Chael Sonnen Does Interview With UFC Fake Belt, Calls Kenny Rice A Liar - Kid Nate Demian Maia Thinks You Only Need Two Brain Cells To Know Chael Sonnen Is Joking - Brent Brookhouse UFC On Fox 2: Fuel TV Prelims Dissection (Part One) - Dallas Winston UFC On Fox 2 Video: A Day In The Life Of Phil Davis - Josh Nason UFC On Fox 2: The Time For Joe Rogan To Shine Has Arrived - Josh Nason UFC On Fox 2: Chael Sonnen's Coach 'Bisping Breaks Easily' - Matthew Roth Phil Davis Discusses Differences From Rashad Evans' Wrestling Game - Brent Brookhouse Michael Bisping Skewers Chael Sonnen On Inside MMA - Tim Burke UFC On Fox 2: Dana White Releases First Video Blog - Josh Nason UFC On Fox 2: Middleweight Division State of the Union - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Dana White Guarantees Chael Sonnen Will Face Anderson Silva With Win - Brent Brookhouse

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, johnson, beltran

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Name: Magomed Malikov Nickname: -- Age: 28 Height: 6'0" Location: Russia Claiming the top spot on the 2012 World MMA Heavyweight Scouting Report is none other than Russia's Magomed Malikov (6-1). The Dagestani fighter has recorded an impressive 4-1 record in five appearances in 2011, capping off the year with a violent knockout victory over Pride veteran Aleksander Emelianenko at M-1 Challenge 28 in November. The 28-year-old dispatched of Emelianenko in a mere twenty-three seconds, an amazing feat considering Malikov was given one week's notice of the bout. Malikov slipped into our preliminary rankings back in August after he dominated Alexey Oleinik and Yuri Gorbenko in a one-night tournament in July in Anapa, Russia. He previously suffered a setback at the hands of Baga Agaev in the Ukrainian Association for Martial Arts' Warrior's Honor 5 tournament finale, losing via armbar in only one minute and forty-five seconds. Malikov had won the first UAMA heavyweight tournament at Warrior's Honor 3 in October of 2010, knocking out Evgeni Babich and Vitali Yalovenko. He vaulted in our rankings by beating a legitimate competitor in Aleksander Emelianenko, but he was already an interesting prospect well before the opportunity presented itself. The Dagestani hand-to-hand fighting champion is a vicious puncher, wielding nasty knockout power both on the feet and from top control. He's short, but his stocky build and strong base keep him grounded and make it difficult for opponents to move him. As opponents attempt to break him down on the feet, his unrelenting attack wears opponents thin, usually opening them up to counters and Malikov's eventual transition to mount. Malikov is one of the few prospects in the heavyweight talent pool with enormous potential moving forward. He isn't the most defensively sound fighter, nor does he possess overwhelming quickness and technical prowess, although from a technical standpoint -- there were major improvements in his stance and technique in the Emelianenko fight. What he does wield is a destructive combination of knockout power, excellent balance, good conditioning, and a merciless strategy of constantly moving forward, battering his adversaries with heavy hands and brute force. Malikov's continued improvement will assure his status at the #1 heavyweight prospect in 2012. Footage of Magomed Malikov after the fold... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - Wagner Prado#2 - Phelipe Lins#3 - Tom DeBlass#4 - Misha Cirkunov#5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - Magomed Malikov#2 - Magomed Abdurahimov#3 - Alexei Kudin#4 - Levan Razmadze#5 - Chris Birchler#6 - Ruslan Magomedov#7 - Adam Parkes#8 - Richardson Moreira #9 - Jan Jorgensen 10 - David Oliva Magomed Malikov vs. Aleksander Emelianenko Magomed Malikov vs. Yuri Gorbenko Magomed Malikov vs. Alexey Oleinik Baga Agaev vs. Magomed Malikov

Posted in: heavyweight, emelianenko, malikov, magomed, knockout power

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Bellator 61, on March 16, will feature another shot at determining the heavyweight winner from last season's tournament, as well as the opening round of the Season 6 middleweight tourney.

Posted in: season, heavyweight, opening round, heavyweight winner, seasons tournament

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Photo by Elena Bondarenko Name: Alexei Kudin Nickname: -- Age: 27 Height: 6'1" Location: Minsk, Belarus Junior dos Santos' dominating rise to the top of the UFC's heavyweight division has caused many fans to re-think what weapons elite heavyweights need in order to compete at the highest level. Obviously, a well-balanced skill-set is the desired goal, but the daunting task of mastering both the striking and grappling is an unrealistic goal for 99% of the fighters in the sport. Right now, strikers with phenomenal takedown defense are the alpha dogs in the UFC's heavyweight division. Eastern European kickboxer turned mixed martial artist Alexei Kudin (9-4) is ascending the international ranks utilizing the same style that pugilists like Overeem and Dos Santos have been implementing inside the Octagon. After beginning his foray into MMA with a 1-3 record back in 2002 when he was only 17 years old, he returned in March of 2010 at a M-1 Challenge event in his home country of Belarus, punching Denis Ivanets into submission in only one minute and fifty-eight seconds. A year after his initial return, he ramped up his efforts to carve a career out for himself in the sport. Over the course of a single year, Kudin fought eight times, six of those battles taking place in one night tournaments. Under the Pro FC banner, Kudin knocked out both Wojciech Bulinski and Semion Borsh at the East European leg of the ProFC Grand Prix Global tournament. He moved on to the ProFC Grand Prix Global Finals in early December, beating down Dmitry Poberezhets in the semifinals and crushing Kazbek Saidaliev in two minutes and twenty-two seconds in the final. Fourteen days later, he entered the WUFC Challenge of Champions tournament, edging 2011 World MMA Scouting Report prospect Konstantin Gluhov before being defeated by Shamil Abdurahimov's brother, Magomed Abdurahimov, in the tournament finale. Despite the recent setback, Kudin, since his return, has recorded a 8-1 record in two years, showcasing proven knockout power and a technically superior striking game in comparison to most of his opposition. The seven-time world champion in Muay Thai mixes it up well on the feet, throwing body blows, heavy kicks to the legs and body, and hooks to the chin. On the ground, Kudin needs extensive work, mainly on his ability to escape to his feet from his back. Opponents have been able to put him on his back with success, but his ability to keep their posture down and force inactivity has helped him so far. That won't be so easy against stiffer competition, especially against anyone with a solid shot that can grapple. Luckily, there aren't many heavyweights with those skills currently in the sport in Europe. Kudin has enormous potential if he can improve his takedown defense and add some semblance of a grappling base to his arsenal. It seems crazy to rank Kudin so high without a decent ground game, but the fact of the matter is that Kudin has successfully laid waste to opponents who continually try to bring him to the ground in the past. He's good enough in the scramble to land stunning shots, and his power gives him a major advantage in every fight. With some time, Kudin could reach a level of skill that stacks up against the stiffer competition that awaits him in the U.S. Footage of Alexei Kudin after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - Wagner Prado#2 - Phelipe Lins#3 - Tom DeBlass#4 - Misha Cirkunov#5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - Alexei Kudin#4 - Levan Razmadze#5 - Chris Birchler#6 - Ruslan Magomedov#7 - Adam Parkes#8 - Richardson Moreira #9 - Jan Jorgensen 10 - David Oliva Alexei Kudin vs. Kazbek Saidaliev Alexei Kudin vs. Dmitry Poberezhets Alexei Kudin vs Wojciech Bulinski Alexei Kudin vs Semion Borsh

Posted in: heavyweight, tournament, takedown defense, kudin, alexei

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Photo by Taro Irei, Sherdog Name: Levan Razmadze Nickname: -- Age: 26 Height: 6'2" Location: Georgia This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) In June 2008, the now-dead Japanese fight series Sengoku Raiden Championship was still alive and looking to developing new mixed martial arts talent. To that end, the promotion announced that they had signed four highly credentialed athletes in amateur wrestling and Judo, most notably 2004 Olympic Judo gold medalist Zurab Zviadauri. None of the fighters saw MMA action before Sengoku's demise, but in 2011 another member of the Georgian Olympic Judo team, Levan Razmadze (4-0) emerged as a result of the experiment and can currently be seen wreaking havoc on any Japanese heavyweights unlucky enough to cross his path. Listed ambiguously as a "freelance" athlete, little background information on Razmadze is publicly available. Since making his January professional debut in Tokyo, Japanese fans have dubbed him "Zangief" for his passing resemblance to the hulking Soviet Street Fighter character. Given his Judo lineage, Levan predictably depends on taking his opponents to the mat to win fights with submissions and controlled ground and pound assaults. Despite his unremarkable physique, he can close the distance on opponents fast and ground them with relative ease once clinched up. Razmadze's kickboxing is rudimentary at best, but his right cross and left hook are competent enough to close the gap and get him inside grappling range. So far Levan's foray into Japanese MMA has been nothing short of a massacre. With the heydey of Enson Inoue and Tsuyoshi Kosaka long gone, the current national heavyweight ranks could charitably be described as "barren". Radmadze capitalized on this state of affairs in 2011, debuting in the little-known Gladiator event before quickly ascending to the main series of Deep in June. He steamrolled promotional veterans Seigo Mizuguchi (9-10) and Kazuhisa Tazawa (7-2-1) in short order to assert his top status, collecting the Deep Megaton championship in the process. At this point, it's unclear what the future holds for Levan Razmadze. Far from a complete mixed martial artist, he needs to improve his striking skills and physical condition to become a credible heavyweight on the world stage. For now, he's all but cleared out Japan; a promotion to leading series Dream wouldn't address the issue either. Levan will likely have to go west to find the additional training and depth of competition needed to make his next step toward the world stage. Footage of Levan Razmadze after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - Wagner Prado#2 - Phelipe Lins#3 - Tom DeBlass#4 - Misha Cirkunov#5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - Levan Razmadze#5 - Chris Birchler#6 - Ruslan Magomedov#7 - Adam Parkes#8 - Richardson Moreira #9 - Jan Jorgensen 10 - David Oliva Levan Razmadze vs. Kazuhisa Tazawa Levan Razmadze vs Seigo Mizuguchi Levan Razmadze vs. Ryota

Posted in: heavyweight, japanese, levan, razmadze, levan razmadze

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Jon Jones is one of the greatest light heavyweights out there today. He has earned his right to be champion and has very few fighters left whom he hasn't already beaten at that weight.

Posted in: jon, jone, jon jones, heavyweight, light heavyweights

Read the full article at Low Kick

Photo by Jennie Finken Photography Name: Chris Birchler Nickname: The Big Buck Age: 24 Height: 6'3" Location: New Jersey If you've followed this year's report diligently, you've likely discovered a trend. Many of America's top prospects have been born or bred in the Northeastern region of the United States. Aljamain Sterling, Claudio Ledesma, Joey Gambino, Tom DeBlass, and Kyle Cerminara to just name a few. Adding to the laundry list of great talent is 24-year-old heavyweight brute Chris Birchler (1-0). Birchler was a two-time NCAA Division I national qualifier during his wrestling career at both East Stroudsburg University and Edinboro University. While he never attained the acclaim of a national championship or even a runner-up honor, NCAA Division I credentials are few and far between in MMA's heavyweight division. Those credentials have put Birchler on a quickened path to success, helping him demolish his first three amateur opponents and defeating Wing Chun stylist Shawn Obasi in his debut at Ring of Combat 37. Birchler was scheduled to appear in ProElite's eight-man heavyweight tournament field along such greats at Ryan Martinez and Mark Ellis, and he was, at least from my own perspective, a heavy tournament favorite. Unfortunately, the contract terms weren't good enough to gain his services. Similarly to many of AMA Fight Club's most prominent fighters, Birchler's style is reliant on his wrestling skills bringing the fight to the ground. He already has the know-how to pass guard and move to better positions, allowing his hands to do the talking in the form of a vicious ground and pound attack. At this stage in his career, it's obvious that holes exist in his overall skill-set. His submission game is a work in progress, and his striking skills are lacking. Regardless of those issues, it's difficult to believe Birchler won't rise to the top of the talent pool, especially with the excellent training he receives at AMA Fight Club. As one of the larger fighters on our countdown with solid wrestling ability, 2012 could prove to be fruitful for Birchler if he can remain active. Look for interest to rise by the end of the year. Watch Birchler in action as he takes on Marcus Taylor at Ring of Combat 39 on February 10. Footage of Chris Birchler after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - Wagner Prado#2 - Phelipe Lins#3 - Tom DeBlass#4 - Misha Cirkunov#5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - Chris Birchler#6 - Ruslan Magomedov#7 - Adam Parkes#8 - Richardson Moreira #9 - Jan Jorgensen 10 - David Oliva Chris Birchler vs. Shawn Obasi Chris Birchler training footage

Posted in: heavyweight, chri, ryan martinez, birchler, amateur opponents

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It might be happening a year later than expected, but Mike Kyle is set to square off with Gegard Mousasi once again. The light heavyweight battle, which could determine who fights next for the vacant Strikeforce 205 strap, will take place in Columbus, Ohio and serve as the co-headliner for the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event. News of the bout was confirmed by Kyle on his Twitter account. Kyle spent the majority of 2011 on the sidelines nursing a broken hand, but he returned in September to defeat Marcos Rogerio de Lima by unanimous decision. Since dropping to light heavyweight in 2009, “Mac” has won the King of the Cage and XMMA light heavyweight belts and defeated former Strikeforce 205 champion Rafael Cavalcante. In 10 bouts since 2009, the only time Kyle has suffered defeat was at the hands of Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva, which were both contested at heavyweight. When Kyle was just moving to 205, Mousasi was ruling the division in Strikeforce, having captured the title from then champion Renato Sobral. After losing the belt to Muhammad Lawal in April 2010, “The Dreamcatcher” has gone 4-0-1 in the fight fights since, winning the DREAM light heavyweight championship in the process. His most recent victory came this past December when he defeated Ovince St. Preux by unanimous decision. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey is scheduled for March 3 at the Nationwide Area in Columbus, Ohio. The night will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between champion Miesha Tate and top contender Ronda Rousey. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, tate, kyle

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This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) A year ago, we selected the inaugural class of fighters that would make up the first edition of the World MMA Scouting Report. It's been a gratifying experience to see some of the athletes we selected go on to succeed in major fight opportunities, and a heartbreaking one to see others come up just short. For each pick that claimed a significant title in 2011, there were at least two that didn't make their breakthrough, or fell off the rails entirely. Here's a recap to give you a sampling of the highlights (and lowlights) from a tumultuous time in the careers of these MMA prospects. 1. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (8-1) Marcos Rogerio de Lima caught the attention of the MMA world when he took a decision win over former WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho (22-4-2) last October in the main event of Sao Paulo's First Class Fight series. It took a while, but the win eventually propelled him to an opportunity in Strikeforce. "Pezao" was given another step up in competition upon arrival, drawing American Kickboxing Academy's Mike Kyle (19-8-1) as his Semptember debut opponent. In three rounds of cage kickboxing, Lima failed to find an answer for Kyle's tight defense and snapping low kicks. Marcos held his own, but in the end found himself on the wrong end of a unanimous decision. Four months later, no sophomore match in Strikeforce has materialized for Pezao. 2. Gian Villante (9-3) As the Ring of Combat light heavyweight and heavyweight champion and the primary bro to UFC middleweight rookie sensation Chris Weidman, Gian Villante seemed poised for instant success when he made the jump to Strikeforce early in the year. Those expectations needed adjusting after he debuted as an alternate in the Strikeforce World Grand Prix against unheralded, mutton-chopped heavyweight Chad Griggs (11-1). Griggs engaged Villante in a savage one-round brawl that thrilled the crowd. Gian took the balance of the hits, almost mounting a comeback after bloodying Griggs' nose before being put away with strikes just short of the three-minute mark. Gian may have come back early when he took a light heavyweight booking with then-undefeated Lorenz Larkin (12-1) just four months later. Villante was outmaneuvered by Larkin from the outset, resigning to a decision loss for most of the latter half of the contest. Since the losses, Gian has brought his Strikeforce record back to .500; he outpointed Keith Berry (11-8) in August, before laying the smack down on Trevor Smith (9-2) in January. 3. Jimi Manuwa (11-0) Rather than rely on the assessments of others to gauge his readiness for the big show, Jimi Manuwa has carefully chosen his own career path. He turned down a Zuffa contract in favor of continuing to sharpen his skills in the UK, fighting as a main event for the Ultimate Challenge promotion before agreeing to terms with the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts series. In his BAMMA debut, "The Poster Boy" only needed one round to put away French journeyman Antony Rea (22-14), stringing together a damaging spinning backfist and high kick to take the fight out of Rea, who called it quits between rounds. Manuwa figures to continue as a main event attraction for BAMMA in 2012, provided they can keep their schedule on course. 4. Glover Teixeira (17-2) It appears that the seemingly never-ending saga of Glover Teixeira and his quest to gain full-time entry to the United States is finally over. Glover has gone through the application process for his green card and now looks to return to California, where his career started. In the meantime, he went a perfect 5-0 last year, running his overall winning streak up to 15. Among the victims were UFC veterans Marcio "Pe De Pano" Cruz (7-3), Antonio Mendes (17-11), Marvin Eastman (17-14-1) and former champion Ricco Rodrigeuz (48-15). 5. Jan Blachowicz (14-3) As the preeminent Polish light heavyweight in MMA, it stands to reason that Jan Blachowicz would have to make it on the world stage for any of his divisional compatriots to stand a chance. Unfortunately, Jan has come up short even when the world stage comes to Poland for him. In March he dropped his KSW light heavyweight strap to PRIDE and UFC veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (12-10), quitting on his stool at the end of the second round. He bounced back in May with a submission win over Finnish journeyman Toni Valtonen (24-13) before KSW lured Sokoudjou back for a seemingly dubious rematch with Blachowicz in November. However, this time it was Sokoudjou who appeared to have motivational issues, fading in the later rounds and opening the door for Jan to ground him and lay just enough offense down to reclaim the title on the judges' scorecards. The jury is still out on whether or not Blachowicz can ever ascend beyond the Polish national MMA circuit. 6. Yoel Romero (4-1) After making this report and producing a viral moment among MMA fans with his incredible standing ankle pick takedown against Michal Fijalka (8-2), Cuba's Yoel Romero garnered insider buzz as an emerging superathlete that could seriously shake things up in the light heavyweight division. Strikeforce came calling for his services, booking Romero into a doozy of a debut against former title holder Rafael Cavalcante (11-3) in September. Yoel's normal whirlwind style wasn't on display, however, as he curiously danced around for most of the first round. Eventually, referee Dan Mirgliotta issued him a rare warning for inacivity. Romero responded in the second round, scoring takedowns and engaging Cavalcante in brawling exchanges that favored the former champ. Late in the frame, "Feijao" missed a high kick but stunned Yoel with a follow-up backfist, chasing him down with more punches to force a stoppage. Romero hasn't been back in action since the loss. 7. Ryan Jimmo (16-1) The unique career path of Canadian karateka Ryan Jimmo stayed course in 2011. He continued to reign as Maximum Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion, successfully defending the belt three more times. He sent Fort McMurray's Dwayne Lewis (12-7) home with a busted eye socket in February, then notched consecutive five-round decision wins over Strikeforce veteran Zak Cummings (13-3) and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. His steady presence was finally rewarded in the form of a UFC contract offer, which he happily signed near the end of the year. A planned January debut was scratched due to injury, so Jimmo will have to wait for another slot to open up on the schedule before he makes his promotional debut. 8. Nik Fekete (5-1) Given his status as a former NCAA Division 1 All-American at Michigan State University, there were high hopes for Nik Fekete (5-1) when he was invited to compete in Bellator Fighting Championship's inaugural light heavyweight tournament. Combine his wrestling credentials with Muay Thai tutelage from Xtreme Couture's renowned Marco Van Den Broek, and it seemed like Fekete may be able to overcome his experience disadvantage to go deep in the tourney. Those pipe dreams were dashed quickly in the quaterfinals by Tempe, Arizona's Richard Hale (18-4-1). The 6'4" Koncrete Gym representative turned Nik into fodder for submission highlight reels in less than two minutes by reversing a Fekete takedown attempt into a rarely-seen inverted triangle choke. Fekete was quickly rendered unconscious, creating a scary scene as the referee took several seconds to realize the fight was over. After the humbling defeat, Fekete quietly made his Bellator return in August, overwhelming Mark Griffin (3-3-1) with strikes in the second round. 9. Marcus Vanttinen (21-3) Marcus Vanttinen, Finland's preeminent light heavyweight hope, kept his busy schedule going in 2011, continuing to fight primarily for the long-running Fight Festival series in Helsinki. He started the year off with dominant first-round TKO wins over faded former UFC fighters Ron Faircloth (33-20) and Edwin Dewees (37-15). Marcus had his eleven fight win streak snapped by Slovakian powerhouse Atilla Veigh (24-4-2) via unanimous decision at May's Rock and Brawl show in Kouvela. Vanttinen came back in October at Fight Festival 31 to elbow France's Malik Merad (11-8) into submission. Shortly after, Marcus was signed by Bellator; he will likely make his debut in the upcoming sixth season. There is no 205 lbs. tournament in this cycle, so Vanttinen will likely have to win a fight or two to qualify for the next one. With Veigh also making his way to Bellator, Marcus may get a chance to avenge his only recent loss. 10. Ronny Markes (12-1) Though he barely made our 2011 report, Ronny Markes went on to have the most visible, successful campaign among the light heavyweight selections. The Shooto Brazil 93 kg Champion took a step up in competition in April, facing former WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho in Recife. A convincing decision win in that bout catapulted Markes into the UFC, where he made his August debut against Czech tackler Karlos Vemola (8-2), an intimidating former heavyweight who was fresh off a first-round destruction of Kimbo-killer Seth Petruzelli. Surprisingly, it was Ronny who dominated with takedowns right from the start, cruising to an easy decision win. In another twist, he opted to cut down to middleweight after the fight, and he'll make his divisional debut February 15th in Omaha, Nebraska against eight-fight UFC veteran Aaron Simpson (11-2).

Posted in: fight, round, heavyweight, light, debut

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Strikeforce light heavyweight contenders Mike Kyle and Gegard Mousasi will meet in a featured bout at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey” on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio, Kyle announced today on Twitter. It has not yet been announced whether the fight will be for the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title that was previously held by Dan Henderson. Kyle (19-8-1) rebounded from a heavyweight loss to Antonio Silva with a decision win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima back at 205-pounds in September, while Mousasi (32-2-2) is 4-0-1 since dropping the title for “King” Mo Lawal in 2010, including a decision victory over Ovince St. Preux in December. A lightweight matchup between Ryan Couture and Conor Huen has also been added to the March 3rd card, according to MMAFighting, while The Strikeforce heavyweight grand pix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier is no longer expected to take place at the event. The Showtime-televised event is headlined by Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate vs. Romda Rousey and also includes Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki, Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, and Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, vs, gegard mousasi, kyle

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When looking at the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division at a macro level many have posited that, at this time, there are not any fighters out there that could beat the current Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones. One person that looked at the Light Heavyweight division at a more micro level was UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Silva, recently spoke to Portal TV about his feelings on how Brazilian fighters would fare against Jon Jones. "There's not much to say about Jon Jones. I don't see any

Posted in: jon, jone, heavyweight, silva, light

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Name: Felipe Lins Nickname: Monstro Age: 26 Height: 6'3" Location: Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil We're getting down to the best that the light heavyweight talent pool has to offer, and naturally Brazil is once again our destination. This time, however, we'll focus on exactly what casual fans crave. At #2 on the 2012 World MMA Light Heavyweight Scouting Report, fleet-footed Brazilian "Monstro" Felipe Lins (5-0) claims this year's runner-up spot, bringing an exciting brand of pugilism that's sure to get fans talking. The 6'3" giant recently returned to the sport in July, dispatching of Daniel Alexandre in four minutes and forty seconds at Rockstrike MMA 1. He had previously recorded four straight wins back in 2005 and 2006 before leaving the sport for five years. While the cause of his long layoff is unknown, it isn't uncommon to see gaps in employment due to a lack of funds. Before the unfortunate hiatus, Lins was on a tear, beating solid veterans during his baby steps in the sport. Lins' gigantic frame and long reach assisted in his success, but his punching prowess is his greatest asset. Quick and powerful, Lins works from range with ferocity, bombing adversaries with crisp combinations and stinging kicks. Defensively, Lins needs some minor adjustments. He leaves his chin exposed in exchanges often. While it isn't a huge concern right now because his opposition can't reach him or counter while being bombed on, better strikers and longer fighters could find his chin and threaten his unbeaten streak. Lins has the talent to become a legitimate upper-echelon light heavyweight fighter. He hits like a freight train, throws crisp, polished combinations, and possesses solid takedown defense. We have, however, heard reports that he isn't as dedicated as he could be in the gym. That will have to change moving forward. If he can improve upon his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and become more consistent in the gym, there's no reason he can't find major success. I anticipate Lins finding his way onto The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil or signing outright in 2012. Footage of Felipe Lins after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - #2 - Felipe Lins#3 - Tom DeBlass#4 - Misha Cirkunov#5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Felipe Lins vs. Daniel Alexandre

Posted in: lin, felipe, heavyweight, light, norte brazil

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Show him the money! After a short and mediocre kickboxing career in K-1, Sergei Kharitonov spent most of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career competing overseas in "The Land of the Rising Sun" in PRIDE FC before making his way stateside to tangle with the big boys in Strikeforce. The Russian heavyweight made a successful debut against Andrei Arlovski at Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Silva" but was last seen tapping to Josh Barnett at the Strikeforce: "Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals" on Sept. 10, 2011, eliminating him from the heavyweight tournament. Soon after announcing the dissolution of the Strikeforce heavyweight division, it was widely considered that all, if not most of the top heavyweights would make a smooth transition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster. However, there still is a small matter of coming to a financial agreement As the former Pride and Strikeforce heavyweight tells Fighters Only, he has no problems fighting inside the Octagon, but only if the money is right. See for yourself: "I don't know what the situation is right now. Strikeforce heavyweight [division] is finished very soon I think. Maybe one more fight for me, I don't know. If the UFC contract is for the right money then yes of course it's good, it's no problem. But the problem with UFC, it's exclusive. So no DREAM, no K-1, it means not so many fights and not so much money. For K-1, I am very hopeful, actually I was offered a new contract for K-1. There is some news coming soon." It's important to note that Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), the parent company of K-1, has been reported to be suffering from financial woes lately, as evidenced by the cancellation of this year’s K-1 World Grand Prix. With "exclusivity" always being a sticking point with fighters and the UFC, would it would be wise for the former Russian Airborne Trooper to take a decent offer from the promotion, considering the options are very slim nowadays and soon the UFC will have all of the top heavyweights in the world under its roster? DREAM is always an option, of course. Then again, they are owned and operated by FEG as well. "The Russian Mercenary" holds notable wins over Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Pedro Rizzo. What do you say, Maniacs, can Kharitonov make a name for himself against the big boys of a revamped UFC heavyweight division should he decide to sign on the dotted line?

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, right, heavyweight, money

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UFC on Fox 2: Evans vs. Davis Date: January 28, 2012 Venue: United Center Location: Chicago, Illinois   Articles Video UFC on FOX 2 play-by-play   Main Bouts (on Fox): -Rashad Evans (16-1-1; #2 Light Heavyweight) vs. P [...]

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, vs, evan

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Dwayne "D-Bomb" Lewis has had a tough go of it the last year or so, but he's ready for MFC 32, and he's ready to capture the MFC light heavyweight championship.

Posted in: heavyweight, light, mfc, he, dbomb

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Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal tested positive for the steroid Drostanolone in his most recent bout, the Nevada State Athletic Commission disclosed on Tuesday.

Posted in: heavyweight, nevada state, tuesday, lawal, nevada

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Name: Juhn Saarinen Nickname: Juice Age: 28 Height: 6'3" Location: Finland Playing second fiddle to its neighbors, Finland is normally on the losing end when it comes to inter-regional clashes. In the light heavyweight division, however, the tables have turned. Beginning our countdown on the 2012 World MMA Light Heavyweight Scouting Report, 28-year-old Finn Juha Saarinen (7-1) claims his spot, proving that Sweden and Norway aren't the only countries with top notch talent. Saarinen has only recently gotten back up on the horse after years of battling injuries. He finally returned from his most recent layoff on December 2, punching out Frenchman Frederic Lefevre (6-6) at Cage: Challenger II in Riihimaki, Finland. He had dispatched of Spain's Enoc Solves Torres (10-4) at the third round leg of M-1 Selection 2010's Western Europe series eighteen months prior, submitting him via kimura in only three minutes and nine seconds. Despite having a history of run-ins with injury, Saarinen remains one of the best grappling talents in Scandinavia. His long 6'3" frame is his most effective physical attribute, helping him wrap up the opposition and threaten with savvy submission skills. On the feet, Saarinen can use his natural length to work a jab from range. Unfortunately, he isn't diverse or proficient, relying more on feints and footwork to find a means to taking his opponents down than actually boxing up opponents. He seems to be solid in tripping up opponents and landing in top control, but don't count on Saarinen to lay waste to the chins of his adversaries. Saarinen has potential if he can round out his skill-set and stay injury-free. So far, he's on track as he has a scheduled bout against M-1 veteran Mikhail Zayats (14-6) at Cage 18 on March 3. A win there will undoubtedly put him on the map with promotions like Bellator and the UFC. Check out video footage of Juha Saarinen after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Juha Saarinen vs Enoc Solves Juha Saarinen vs. Anders Hansson Joachim Christensen vs. Juha Saarinen

Posted in: heavyweight, opponent, saarinen, juha, spains enoc

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The timing of Anderson Silva’s grand return may be a big fat question mark again, but UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santo’s isn’t. JDS recently told MMA Junkie that he’s almost healed up from his knee injury and expects to be ready to defend his title in about three months. He’d like to fight Alistair Overeem on the June Brazil card, but is willing to fight him anywhere. “In another 20 days, I’ll be feeling 100 percent again,” Dos Santos said. “Then I need two-and-a-half (months) to do my camp, and then I’m ready to do.” “It’s a good chance to fight for Brazilian fans,” he said. “MMA is very popular here in Brazil now. I would love to fight here. But the important thing is I want to make all my fans around the world watch good fights when I get in that octagon. So I will try to do my best. It doesn’t matter whether it’s [in Brazil] or the United States.” The timing should work out well with his opponent assuming no other obstacles arise. After the Lesnar fight, Overeem said he wanted to take some time off and planned on challenging JDS for the heavyweight title sometime this summer. Dos Santos says he expects a stand-up battle with Overeem and isn’t intimidated by his K-1 credentials. He’s the “UFC heavyweight champion,” and believes he can “beat anyone in the world.” Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: fight, overeem, heavyweight, do, brazil

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If you happen to catch the UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" prelims in front of tomorrow night's (Jan. 14, 2012) pay-per view event, which airs live via the FX channel, you may be witness to a Gonzaga sighting. Gabriel Gonzaga, to be exact. The Brazilian heavyweight makes his return to the new and revamped Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight roster to take on fellow countrymen Ednaldo Oliveira following a 15-month hiatus. Gonzaga announced his short-lived retirement following his release from the promotion after losing to Brendan Schaub at UFC 121 back on Oct. 23, 2010. The loss marked his second in a row and his third in four attempts inside the Octagon. Before going on an up and down roller coaster of wins and losses, "Napao" was a force to be reckoned with, but is perhaps still best known for his devastating head kick knockout over Mirko Filipovic at UFC 70 way back in 2007. Not only did Gonzaga nearly decapitate the Croation kickboxer, but he also ruined everyone's hopes and dreams of seeing a championship match-up between then-champion Randy Couture and "Cro Cop." The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt took his place but went on to lose to "The Natural" at UFC 74 via technical knockout (TKO), thus beginning his slow and steady decline within the promotion. After taking more than a year off to reset, Gonzaga returned to mixed martial arts (MMA) at Reality Fighting: "Gonzaga vs. Porter," to claim the promotion's heavyweight title. However, as recently told the gang at Bleacher Report, "Napao" is ready to show the world that he can still compete at the highest level and even hopes to compete for the title one day. Check it out: "I believe in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I accomplished everything I wanted. I won state, national and world-championship titles. In MMA, I had the opportunity to fight 12 times so far for the UFC. I fought for the UFC heavyweight title, and against some of the best fighters in the sport. I believe I was looking for some time to reset my goals. I enjoyed the chance to stay close to my students, and also the extra time I was able to spend with my family...[But] my students and my friends were asking to see me fight again. The UFC always treated me very well. I knew if I had some wins outside of the UFC, they would have me back. I was ready to take this opportunity to fight again in the UFC, and I jumped on it when my manager called me. It will prove to me that I belong there, and I can still compete with some of the best in the sport. I take one fight at a time. I just want to focus on this fight right now. I want to be a world champion...I want to be recognized as a guy that comes to fight win or lose, and puts on a good show for the fans." Gonzaga couldn't have picked a better time to re-join the big boys of the UFC. With the addition of the Strikeforce roster and Alistair Overeem, the heavyweight landscape is as strong as it has ever been. With young and hungry fighters ready to make their own mark in the UFC's heavyweight division, Gonzaga may find himself to be a grizzled veteran surrounded by rising young prospects who are also aiming for the coveted UFC strap. Which begs the question, is Gonzaga ready to take on the new breed of heavyweights that will soon include Shane del Rosario, Daniel Cormier, Antonio Silva and the existing young talents such as Cain Velasquez , Frank Mir and company? Or will it be too little, too late for "Napao?" Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, heavyweight, gonzaga

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If anyone had earned a vacation from mixed martial arts, it was Gabriel Gonzaga. For years, the heavyweight standout had fought a wide selection of the best heavyweights of this era, from Randy Couture and Mirko Cro Cop to Shane Carwin and Junior dos Santos. He won some, lost some, and challenged for the UFC heavyweight crown over the course of nearly five years in the Octagon, but after a UFC 121 defeat to Brendan Schaub, his third loss in four fights, he was released from the organization, and many believed he had fought for the last time.On October 28, 2010, Gonzaga, a married father of two, tweeted “Official now - Out of UFC - Thanks for all your support - back to normal life and BJJ forever.”More than a year later, when asked about that time and the idea of retirement, he says, “Yes, I was thinking about it, but I also knew that I have more fights in me.”Almost immediately, Gonzaga was back in the gym, not training for a fight, but teaching and working with his students in the finer points of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. “I never stopped training,” he said. “I run my school in Worcester, Massachusetts and I train daily with my students and I have fun doing it.”But the itch was already starting for the Rio de Janeiro native, and that wasn’t a surprise, considering that he was only 31 at the time (prime for a heavyweight), and that his six losses had only come against the elite of the sport. There was definitely another title run in his body, and even though a comeback was on the lips of everyone he ran into, he wasn’t ready to pull the trigger until February of 2011.“I was training regularly and my students and my family were all the time asking me when I was going to come back because they want to see me fighting,” Gonzaga recalled. “It was definitely a lot of motivation. So I went to corner a teammate, Alexandre Moreno, at some fight at Mohegan Sun Casino and (coach and friend) Marco (Alvan) joked with me and told me to watch the heavyweight championship match because I was going to fight the champ. I told him go ahead and set it up.” Alvan looked at his friend quizzically. “Seriously?” he asked.“Yes, man, I am ready to come back,” replied Gonzaga.Just like that, “Napao” was back in the fight business, and on October 8th of last year, he was matched up with Parker Porter, the winner of the fight that Alvan had wanted him to watch earlier. Gonzaga won the bout, submitting Porter in the third round at Mohegan Sun.“It was great,” said Gonzaga, who upped his record to 12-6 with the victory. “The event was about one hour from my school and it was the first time that I fought around here. We estimate over 600 people from my team went to that fight and I appreciated the opportunity that they gave me to fight for the belt.”There were bigger fish to fry though, and the question was whether Gonzaga would have to continue to work on the local circuit to earn a return call to the UFC. But when England’s Rob Broughton was forced out of his UFC 142 bout against Ednaldo Oliveira due to injury in December, Gonzaga didn’t have to answer that question, as Alvan got a call from UFC matchmaker Joe Silva asking if the big man from Ludlow was ready to step in on short notice.“I was happy for sure,” said Gonzaga. “I got a call from Marco and he asked if I was ready to have another big run starting at UFC Rio and I jumped on it. I felt that I never left the UFC. It was a matter of time for me to refocus on my MMA career and I appreciate Joe Silva having me back.”As a bonus, Gonzaga will be fighting in his hometown for the first time since his second bout against Branden Lee Hinkle in 2003, and he can’t wait to walk out of the tunnel at HSBC Arena and hear the roar of the crowd – his crowd.“I want to hear my friends and family calling my name,” he said. “I want to see the crowd going crazy when I am walking to the cage. I want to let them know that I will be fighting for them, and I want to take all that energy and have it with me. I want to let them know that I will give my all and at the end celebrate it with them.” Salvador’s Oliveira will not be an easy mark. He has a height advantage over the veteran, he has yet to lose in MMA, and he’s been the lead training partner of current heavyweight champion dos Santos, who knows a thing or two about Gonzaga from their 2010 bout.“He presents a lot of difficulties,” said Gonzaga of the 13-0-1 (1 NC) Oliveira. “He is a tall guy, has great boxing skills, and comes from a great camp. But I believe I have more time there and I think I will impose my game.”In addition to his advantage in world-class experience in the UFC, Gonzaga believes that he comes equipped for his second trip to the Octagon with a new level of maturity.“I believe I am the same fighter but more mature,” said Gonzaga, who trains with Alvan and the rest of Team Link, which includes another UFC 142 returnee, Ricardo Funch. “I know where my strengths are and I will capitalize on it. I think I am still improving in all aspects and we will see a “Napao” even more hungry for knockouts and submissions.”From a short retirement to a UFC return, it’s been a wild 15 months for Gabriel Gonzaga, but now that he’s back, he wants to make it as if he never left.“You know that I am a fighter that respects the fans so much, and we are all here because of them,” he said. “In 2012 my fans can expect a focused Gonzaga, very well-trained and with a mindset to give them great performances, and I want to have another big run in the UFC starting in Brazil.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, heavyweight, gonzaga

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If Alistair Overeem can get past Junior dos Santos when they meet for the UFC heavyweight title later this year, it may be the former champ who has the best shot of taking out the Dutch striker.

Posted in: overeem, heavyweight, do, alistair overeem, alistair

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Brazilian light heavyweight Fabio Maldonado has pulled out of his Saturday meeting with countryman Caio Magalhaes at UFC 142 after suffering an injury in training.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, maldonado, saturday meeting, countryman

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, mattyblayze, fedor emelianenko, emelianenko

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A heavyweight war between Antonio Silva and Cain Velasquez is being linked to this coming April according to iconic heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. According to “Minotauro,” Silva was signed by the UFC after Zuffa decided to dismantle the Strikeforce heavyweight division. Nogueira reported the bout in a weekly column he writes for a newspaper in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Velasquez dropped the UFC heavyweight crown to Junior dos Santos this past November via first round knockout, the first defeat of the Arizona State wrestling stand-out’s MMA career. Velasquez was fighting for the first time in several months after undergoing shoulder surgery. Silva also just returned to training after undergoing shoulder surgery himself. The 16-3 “Bigfoot” last fought against Daniel Cormier, falling in the semifinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, but had won three straight prior to the stumble including victories over Andrei Arlovski and Fedor Emelianenko. Currently the only April event on the UFC’s schedule is set for Stockholm, Swden on 4/14 though it’s very likely more will be added as the month gets closer. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC

Posted in: heavyweight, velasquez, antonio silva, april, stockholm swden

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Welcome back to the LiverKick.com rankings. These rankings are an attempt to break down the top 10 fighters in three different weight classes - Heavyweight, for fighters above the 85kg limit, Middleweight, for fighters at the 70-72.5kg limit, and Light Heavyweight, for fighters at the 77-84kg limit. Our rankings are based on in-ring accomplishments and recent wins and loses. We hope they reflect where these fighters currently stand, although we recognize that all rankings are inherently subjective. Heavyweight actually saw a lot of movement this time around, which after a rather static year in 2011 was refreshing to see. While it does feel a bit odd to still include Semmy Schilt as #1 in the division due to A) not winning the 2010 World Grand Prix and B) he did not fight in 2011 at all, he is still the measuring stick for success within the division. It is safe to say that as long as Alistair Overeem, the 2010 World Grand Prix winner, is under a contract to the UFC, he will not be kickboxing anytime soon. Check out the Heavyweight Rankings...

Posted in: fighter, heavyweight, ranking, kg, limit

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"King" Mo Lawal won't be able to face the world's top light heavyweights under the current structure.

Posted in: heavyweight, light heavyweights, king, lawal, ceiling

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UFC veteran Jon Madsen is the latest addition to Bellator Fighting Championships' heavyweight roster. Madsen's trainer and manager, Marc Fiore of Fiore MMA, today told MMAjunkie.com that the fighter this past month inked a deal that will see him compete in the promotion's next heavyweight tournament. The timing of such a tournament is up in the air. A Bellator official said there are currently no plans for the heavyweights in its upcoming sixth season, but a tournament is planned for this year.

Posted in: heavyweight, heavyweight tournament, bellator official, month inked, madsen

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Two of the most exciting young light heavyweights on the Strikeforce roster will meet this Saturday night as former champion Muhammed Lawal takes on undefeated rising prospect Lorenz Larkin on the main card of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine in Las Vegas. Lawal proved he'd put a debilitating knee injury behind him in his last fight, a first round knockout of Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Roger Gracie this past September. In Larkin, he's hoping to hand his second consecutive undefeated prospect their first career loss en route to winning back his title. Lorenz Larkin has feasted on local MMA products and had his way with the Strikeforce Challengers fighters in his young professional career. He feels that now is finally his time to make a mark in Strikeforce and he's going to have to get through one of the most talented 205 pound fighters in the world to do it. Will "King Mo" experience against elite competition be too much for Larkin? Can "The Monsoon" rain on Lawal's parade with a huge upset victory? How does each talented light heavyweight secure a victory on Saturday night? Let's find out: Muhammed Lawal Record: 8-1 overall, 3-1 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Gegard Mousasi (Strikeforce: Nashville), Roger Gracie (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov), Mike Whitehead (Strikeforce: Evolution) Key Losses: Rafael Cavalcante (Strikeforce: Houston) How he got here: The story of Muhammed Lawal's wrestling career is truly a throwback to the motto, "hard work pays off." He began his collegiate career at the University of Central Oklahoma, becoming a Division II runner up in 2001 before winning the D2 college championship in 2002. He then transferred to Oklahoma State, winning the Big 12 championship and All-America honors. With his collegiate wrestling career behind him, Lawal began wrestling nationally and internationally. He won multiple tournaments world-wide and medaled in several others, including winning the United States Senior Freestyle national championship three times in 2005, 2006 and 2008. "King Mo" began his mixed martial arts career after winning his last Senior national title in wrestling, competing in four consecutive Sengoku events in Japan at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. Lawal crushed the likes of Travis Wiuff, Mark Kerr and Yukiya Naito, compiling a 5-0 record before Strikeforce beckoned. He made his Strikeforce debut in 2009, destroying Mike Whitehead in the first round which earned him a title shot against champion Gegard Mousasi, a fighter ranked in the top 10 worldwide at light heavyweight. Lawal blasted Mousasi with his wrestling, repeatedly taking the Dutch fighter down and being completely unafraid of "The Dreamcatcher's" submission game off his back over the course of five rounds to win the title. He attempted to defend his belt against Rafael Cavalcante with an injured knee and it showed. Lawal looked sluggish and didn't have much on his takedown attempts, eating multiple elbows and knees when he got too close. Eventually, "Feijao" hurt him badly and finished "King Mo" with strikes in the third round, handing Lawal his first career loss in MMA. After recovering from a knee injury, Lawal returned to the cage this past September and handed Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Roger Gracie his first MMA loss, knocking him out in the first round. The victory put him right back into top contender status and he'll battle Larkin for a crack at the belt again. How he gets it done: While Lawal is an accomplished wrestler, he's also got devastating power in both hands. He smashed the likes of Travis Wiuff and Mike Whitehead with his hands standing and also blasted Mark Kerr with ground and pound after a takedown. His fists are just as dangerous as his ability to take the fight to the ground. Lawal constantly changes his stance in the stand-up, trying to confuse his opponent and he's even been known to drop his hands and bait strikes. He utilizes strong footwork and is lightning quick with his movements which allows him to capitalize on the mistakes of his opposition. He's got a strong left jab and he can mix in a powerful right and left hook as well, the right hook especially has some knockout power. Unlike Larkin, Lawal does not use many flashy attacks. He's relies more on the basic fundamental strikes and he can be patient if need be. His fight with Roger Gracie was a bit of a staring contest before he exploded forward and knocked him out.. The thing that will be on everyone's mind for this fight is not if, but when Lawal shoots in for a takedown. Larkin hasn't shown much off his back thus far and he could be in for some serious trouble if Lawal can get him down early in a round. Lawal can lay the wood if he can posture up and create an avenue for ground and pound. Don't be surprised to see him stand long enough for Larkin to drop his defenses. If Larkin refuses to drop his defenses for the takedown, Lawal is likely confident enough in his stand-up to go toe-to-toe with "The Monsoon." Lorenz Larkin: Record: 12-0 overall, 3-0 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Gian Villante (Strikeforce Challengers), Scott Lighty (Strikeforce Challengers), Nick Rossborough (Strikeforce Challengers) Key Losses: none How he got here: Lorenz Larkin has been one of the most active fighters out there. He began his amateur mixed martial arts career at the end of 2008 and went 7-0 with six stoppage victories in a matter of six months. He had turned pro by the middle of 2009. Despite being very undersized, Larkin spent the majority of the start of his professional career fighting at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. From February 2010-February 2011, he fought eight times professionally and finished strong with six straight knockouts. "The Monsoon" got the call to the big leagues when Satoshi Ishii went down with an injury and he not only stepped up on short notice, but destroyed K-1 kickboxing veteran Scott Lighty on the feet, scoring a second round technical knockout. He followed up his victory with two decisions against significantly larger fighters Nick Rossborough and Gian Villante, the former being his first Strikeforce Challengers main event. After three straight wins on the Challengers series, the Riverside native felt he was ready to be tested against the big dogs in the Strikeforce light heavyweight division. How he gets it done: Larkin has spent a significant portion of his camp working with Blackhouse wrestling coach Kenny Johnson, who he says has been helping him gain confidence in his striking while stepping into the cage against someone with an elite wrestling background. "The Monsoon" is going to need all the confidence he can get against Lawal and he's going to have to fight smart. If he's too timid out there, afraid of the takedown, "King Mo" will simply outstrike him. If he's too aggressive with his attack, Lawal will likely put him on his back. It's a very fine line that he has to find early and he has to find it before the former champion gets comfortable. Larkin won't be throwing the flash head kicks, but don't be surprised to see him go to work on Lawal's legs with some quick, short kicks that he can snap back before they're caught. He also will likely be snapping his jab while circling to keep from being a stationary target that's easy to either catch with a big punch or get tackled to the ground. Fight X-Factor: The most obvious of factors is Lawal's wrestling. It's going to be in the back of Larkin's mind throughout the fight and will be a big factor even if he doesn't use it. We've seen time and time again that great strikers tone it down a notch for fear of the takedown. If Larkin does this and allows "King Mo" to get a groove in his striking, he could be in trouble in both departments. Larkin needs to be smooth and confident, of he could be in some serious trouble. Bottom Line: This should be a terrific match-up between two of the most exciting light heavyweights on the Strikeforce roster. "King Mo" is not a one-dimensional wrestler, he's only really used his wrestling as his primary offense in one fight. He's got lethal hands and packs some serious power so expect to see some terrific striking exchanges. If Lawal feels he's losing momentum, that's when he's going to shoot in. This bout should be fun if it goes to the ground because Lawal likely won't be afraid of Larkin's bottom game and will be aggressive with guard pass attempts and strikes on the ground. This fight could be over in minutes, or it could be a 15 minute thriller. Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which dangerous light heavyweight will reign supreme on Saturday night? Muhammed Lawal Lorenz Larkin   4 votes | Results

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, larkin, lawal, he

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UFC President Dana White, while outside of a Hollywood nightclub, discusses the recent retirement of former Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, as well as the emergence of Light Heavyweight champ Jon Jones. White says that, despite popular belief, he has no problem with Lesnar returning to the WWE, and feels that "Bones" will be the promotion's next big star.

Posted in: heavyweight, brock lesnar, wwe, lesnar, hollywood nightclub

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MMA rankings — which the UFC doesn’t publish themselves — are usually compiled by journalists, bloggers, and fans that use a wide scale of determining factors. The use of “mmath” has proven to be volatile in the past, but it’s still fun to take a look at what is being published out there. Here is the most recent heavyweight rankings, following Overeem’s destruction against Lesnar (according to MMA Fighting): 1. Junior Dos Santos (UFC heavyweight champion) 2. Alistair Overeem 3. Cain Velasquez 4. Frank Mir 5. Fabricio Werdum 6. Daniel Cormier 7. Brock Lesnar 8. Shane Carwin 9. Josh Barnett 10. Antonio Silva The No. 1 vs. No. 2 heavyweight matchup will feature dos Santos defending his UFC heavyweight title against Overeem. Honestly not sure how Michael David Smith has Barnett behind the likes of Carwin and Cormier — and it’s possible Barnett is in the top three — but MMA rankings have always shown to be rather subjective.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, ranking, overeem moves

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos will defend his title for the first time against heavy-hitting Alistair Overeem later this year. Overeem earned the right to face the Brazilian bomber by defeating Brock Lesnar at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, which also marked his long-awaited debut with the promotion. "The Reem" calmly took his time and stalked the former WWE star until he saw openings and capitalized with vicious knees and kicks to the body, ending their colossal clash halfway through the opening round. After the bout, Lesnar surprisingly announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA), calling it a day after a four-year stint with the promotion that saw him win the heavyweight strap in only his third fight against Randy Couture at UFC 91: "Lesnar vs. Couture" in 2008. With fans and media having mixed feelings about his decision to call it quits, "Cigano," for one, agrees with his decision. Speaking to Tatame.com, the UFC heavyweight champ says he had a quick conversation with Lesnar and talked about what went wrong in the fight, as well received a "good luck" wish for his upcoming bout with the striking Dutchman. See for yourself: "I thought Brock would move forwards, I hoped more of him. But he told me on the octagon he felt the knees and kicks of Overeem and that he thought he broke his rib. I saw it and it was really red. He told me the last couple destabilized him, and then he wished me good luck on this title defense and that was it. He's completely right to retire since he doesn't feel fine when fighting anymore. He said he promised it to his wife and kids... I guess everybody knows when it's time to stop." The Brazilian heavyweight also chimed in on his upcoming bout against the mountain of a man that is Overeem: "Each fight is different and you gotta be prepared for your next opponent the best way you can. I got to the title with much effort and I'll do my best to remain as the champion. Overeem is a very strong fighter, but there's no easy fight when you're fighting a title fight. He's big, but he ain't two." The two heavyweights will collide at a yet to be determined UFC event later this year, a fight that could prove to be filled with fireworks. That's because both are known for their powerful striking and preference to keep the fight on the feet. What's your take Maniacs, was it the perfect time for Lesnar to hang up his UFC gloves? And who's your early pick in the battle of stand-up specialists? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, heavyweight, lesnar

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A heavyweight tilt between Rolles Gracie and Bob Sapp is expected to be part of One Fighting Championship’s Feb. 11 event. Sherdog.com received news of the bout via text message from Gracie’s management late Sunday evening.

Posted in: heavyweight, heavyweight tilt, rolles gracie, bob sapp, text message

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Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Rankings, HeavyweightsAlistair Overeem has been a wrecking machine for the last few years, winning eight straight MMA fights and five straight kickboxing fights without really even being threatened. Overeem doesn't just win, he wins in dominant fashion. So after his most recent dominant win, over Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, Overeem has climbed another rung up the ladder of our heavyweight rankings, moving into the No. 2 position, behind only UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. There's still a lot we don't know about Overeem: How will he react to fighting dos Santos, an opponent who hits just as hard as he does? How would he do if a good wrestler put him on his back? Does he have a good enough gas tank to last deep into a five-round title fight? But what we do know about Overeem is that he has just concluded a 2011 in which he beat Fabricio Werdum and Brock Lesnar. Among heavyweights, only dos Santos beat better opponents than that last year, and only dos Santos ranks ahead of Overeem in our newest Top 10, after the jump. Top 10 heavyweights in mixed martial arts (Editor's note: The individual fighter's ranking the last time we did heavyweights are in parentheses.) 1. Junior dos Santos (1): As great a striker as Overeem is, I favor dos Santos in their eventual heavyweight title fight because I think dos Santos will prove to be quicker to the punch and capable of out-landing Overeem. I don't think Overeem is the man to take the title from dos Santos. 2. Alistair Overeem (3): The last time Overeem lost an MMA fight, it was to Sergei Kharitonov in 2007. Overeem is a completely different fighter now than he was then -- physically he has undergone a transformation that has seen him put on about 30 pounds of muscle, and he's a much more effective striker now. It's remarkable how far Overeem has come. More Coverage: UFC 141 Results | UFC 141 Fighter Salaries 3. Cain Velasquez (2): Although dos Santos quickly dispatched Velasquez in their November fight, Velasquez has the combination of wrestling pedigree, athletic ability and heavy hands that makes him a threat to take the title back from dos Santos, something I could easily see him doing in the coming year. 4. Frank Mir (8): After getting knocked around by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira early in their fight, Mir did a great job of holding on, waiting for his opportunity and finding the winning submission. A fight with Velasquez next would make a lot of sense for Mir, and if he wins that he'd be next in line for a title shot. 5. Fabricio Werdum (5): Werdum will make his UFC debut against Roy Nelson at UFC 143, in a fight I expect him to dominate. Werdum is better in every phase of the sport than Nelson. 6. Daniel Cormier (6): Cormier will fight Josh Barnett, likely in the spring of 2012, in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final. Barnett will be Cormier's toughest test to date, but I expect Cormier to pass that test with flying colors. 7. Brock Lesnar (4): If Lesnar is really retired I'll remove him from the heavyweight rankings, but I'll keep ranking him for now while we see if he changes his mind. It would be easy to view Lesnar's MMA career as a disappointment considering how his losses to Overeem and Velasquez went down, but it was a lot of fun to watch this incredible physical specimen could dominate good opponents like Heath Herring, Randy Couture and Frank Mir, and I'll never forget the heart he showed in his comeback victory over Shane Carwin. He's been great for the sport. 8. Shane Carwin (7): Back injuries have taken a toll on Carwin's career. He's expected to return in mid-2012, but athletes in their late-30s with bad backs don't often return to top form. 9. Josh Barnett (9): Barnett has a huge opportunity to show against Cormier that he still deserves to be considered among the truly elite heavyweights in the world -- which he always was until his third failed drug test made him persona non grata in American MMA. Although the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix hasn't gone quite as planned, the Barnett-Cormier final is a great, great matchup. 10. Antonio Silva (10): Bigfoot has been inactive since his knockout loss to Cormier, but he should be a great addition to the UFC heavyweight division. He's currently recovering from shoulder surgery, and if the timing works out it would make a lot of sense to have him make his UFC debut against Carwin. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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

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Brock Lesnar is a unique athlete, the once-in-a-generation type. That may read like hyperbole to some, but consider facts. Lesnar was a four-time All-American collegiate wrestler—twice at Bismarck State College and twice at the University of Minnesota. He won national championships at both schools and ended his collegiate wrestling career with a 106-5 record.The gargantuan heavyweight then spent the next three-plus years of his life accumulating millions of dollars from playing a starring role in the world’s most popular male soap opera—World Wrestling Entertainment. He had to maintain his sculpted, 270- to 290-lb frame for the audience, while also learning crazy acrobatic sequences that were part of his stuntman-like performances. Remember, though, that his time in the WWE included no actual athletic competition. It was pure acting—albeit physically demanding and, oftentimes, physically deteriorating acting, but acting nonetheless.Then, after his three-year competitive hiatus, Lesnar decided that he wanted to play professional football. No, not Arena League ball. Not the XFL. Not NFL Europa. And certainly not the semi-pro version that some bar room heroes play on weekends. He wanted to play defensive tackle in the National Football League. Sure, he had elite NFL size, strength and speed for his position. Lesnar’s 40-yard dash time was reportedly 4.7 seconds. That would have ranked first among defensive tackles at the 2011 NFL Combine. But the guy hadn’t played a down of football since high school. Shockingly, he earned playing time in a couple of preseason games and was a late cut with the Minnesota Vikings. With his football stint over, Lesnar turned his attention to mixed martial arts. Lots of accomplished collegiate wrestlers do the same thing, so it was a natural progression in his athletic life. Yet, his foray into the sport was anything but normal.Lesnar fought just one time before signing a contract with the world’s biggest and most competitive MMA promotion, the UFC. It was an easy, first-round win over a grossly overmatched opponent. That was the last “gimme” of his career. Three fights later, he defeated Randy Couture for the UFC heavyweight championship. Let me repeat that. Brock Lesnar won the UFC heavyweight championship in his fourth professional fight. Not his fourth UFC fight. His fourth professional fight. And for the record, he had exactly zero amateur fights before turning professional. Say what you will, but that is a jaw-dropping feat. In my opinion, it is the single-most impressive accomplishment in sports. Can you imagine anyone defeating Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva or any other reigning champ after three career fights? Those things happened back in the dark days of the UFC, when fighters were one-dimensional, part-time fighters, not world class athletes dedicating their lives to the sport of mixed martial arts. I’m going to go out on a big, sturdy, safe limb. Nobody will match Lesnar’s accomplishment in any UFC weight class in the next 20 years, if ever.Haters will cite the fact that Couture was tailor made for Lesnar. I don’t disagree with that fact. Couture didn’t have the wrestling edge, so he could neither force the fight to the ground, nor keep it standing. He was a serviceable boxer but lacked the power to actually hurt Lesnar on the feet. And Couture has never been a submission wizard from his back. From a matchup standpoint, Couture was the perfect foil for Lesnar’s championship run. But he was still competing against the most decorated fighter in UFC history.Lesnar proved his win over Couture was no fluke over his next two fights, both wins. Frank Mir is arguably the best heavyweight submission fighter in the world, and certainly a far better striker than Lesnar. Yet, he was beaten from pillar to post over two brutal rounds, unable to mount any semblance of an offensive attack against the champion before succumbing to strikes.Shane Carwin, like Lesnar, is a monstrous physical specimen with amazing athleticism. He also possesses bone-crushing power in both of his fists. Lesnar survived adversity through most of the first round before dominating Carwin in the second en route to a beautiful submission win.Lesnar’s two consecutive successful defenses of the UFC Heavyweight Championship matches the record set initially set by Couture and then matched by Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia. His 707 consecutive day reign is the longest in UFC heavyweight history, 84 days longer than the previous record established by Couture. I don’t care if part of that time was spent sidelined due to his health. He still defended the belt as many times as anyone else, including one defense after diverticulitis reared its ugly head.Of course, his fall from greatness was just as sharp as his rise through the sport. My good friend Thomas Gerbasi put it best. Lesnar’s career was like a shooting star—it didn’t last long and it burned out at the end, but when it was at its peak, it was something you wouldn’t miss seeing for the world. It is a brilliant description of Lesnar’s MMA career.Dare I say that Brock Lesnar deserves to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame now that he has hung up the vale tudo gloves. His career accomplishments justify it, despite the fact that he only competed eight times. Those accomplishments bear repeating. UFC heavyweight champion in his fourth career fight. Two successful defenses ties for the best all-time. Reigning for 707 days is the longest in history. Not a bad eight fight career. Not bad at all. In fact, I think it is an eight fight career that will never be duplicated.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, career, lesnar

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In a smashing Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut this past Friday (Dec. 30, 2011), Alistair Overeem introduced himself with a bang, dispatching Brock Lesnar in just 2:26 in the UFC 141 main event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the history of the game's biggest promotion, there have rarely been bigger stages for an Octagon first-timer, and the Dutchman's larger-than-life showing landed him a shot at heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. This was no figurative double lined into the right-center gap. Overeem hit the ball out of the park. There was much ground to cover for him, recognition-wise, with casual fans. Given his years of fighting in other organizations, compiling a highlight-reel list of victims, the soft-core mixed martial arts (MMA) aficionado may well have known little to nothing about him. And facing a known commodity in Lesnar, Overeem had a huge risk-reward prospect -- 266 pounds' worth -- across the cage. Equal parts patient and lethal, he dominated Lesnar with the kind of big-man fury that makes heavyweight fights an animal all their own. It's hard to remember anyone who may have bridged that such a massive public-recognition gap so readily in so brief a time. Now, Overeem finds himself slotted to face newly minted champ dos Santos, whose 64-second wipeout of Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1 was a massive performance, too. Two freight trains colliding makes for eminently promotable fights. Two heavyweights on those tracks is can't-miss viewing, and the kind of promotional mojo the organization can take as solace from Lesnar's departure from the game. Love him or hate him, the former champ and pro wrestling star was the UFC's pay-per-view (PPV) hammer, providing a huge bump and making the vaunted 1 million buy mark as a headliner a baseline expectation for his bouts. With Lesnar's exit, there's no go-to heavyweight at present to guarantee those kinds of numbers. But, it takes time and promotional heft to build a star on that scale, and highlight-reel performance like Overeem and dos Santos' are precisely the tools to do it. As things stand for "The Reem," he may be the only heavyweight dos Santos can't dominate standing, or vice versa. It's something a lot of us will happily pay to see. For what it's worth, dos Santos as a -240 favorite, with Overeem a +190 underdog. I'd expect that line to tighten up as the bout approaches for a couple reasons. First, dos Santos' recent knee surgery and pending recovery are a wild card. Second, Overeem is a decent value at that number, especially given his diverse weapons. No firm date has been set for the bout, but given the UFC's schedule and dos Santos' recovery time, spring-early summer is the most likely window. It can't come soon enough.

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

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The ribbon is wrapped around UFC 141 and a nice bow sits on top of the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" pay-per-view (PPV) event. Last night's (Dec. 30, 2011) mixed martial arts (MMA) action was a huge hit for the fans fortunate enough to catch all all of it on Facebook, Spike TV and PPV, which took place LIVE from "Sin City," as well those who were in attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event featured a heavyweight mash-up between two giants as former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar welcomed former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem to the Octagon. In the co-main event, two top lightweight contenders threw down as Stockton slugger Nate Diaz came in looking to back up the smack talk he'd thrown at Donald Cerrone in the build up to their fight. As usual, MMAmania.com is already moving forward and looking into the future. Follow me after the jump as we take a look at what's next for Alistair Overeem and Nate Diaz: The winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem was promised, in advance, a shot at Junior dos Santos and his newly acquired heavyweight championship belt. For Overeem, last night's performance was the biggest of his MMA career. After winning the Strikeforce, K-1 and DREAM championship belts, the UFC was the final frontier left for "The Reem" to conquer. Standing in his way was the self-proclaimed "Baddest Man on the Planet." Everyone knew Overeem's striking would be key in how this fight went down. Lesnar would have to get the action to the mat if he had a chance. Unfortunately, Lesnar was never able to impose his will the way he planned. He was never able to get anything close to a takedown, and to no one's surprise, he was extremely overmatched in the stand up game. A first-round body kick to the liver sent the former champion crumbling to the canvas, before referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the furious onslaught of punches and ended the fight. For his efforts, Overeem will now get a crack at UFC gold in a bout that will pit quite possibly feature the two finest heavyweight strikers in all of MMA as he takes on "Cigano" sometime in early 2012. It's another colossal heavyweight showdown that is very easy to get excited about. When it was announced that Donald Cerrone would fight Nate Diaz, fans everywhere were thrilled. What more could you ask for -- two top-flight, 155-pound, trash-talking, packages of dynamite who are willing to compete anywhere the fight takes them? Yes, please. When it came down to it, Diaz's boxing was way too crisp and precise for "Cowboy" to keep up with. From the opening horn, Diaz picked Cerrone apart with well-placed punches and stellar stand-up. To put it in perspective, CompuStrike reported Diaz outstriking Cerrone by a whopping 258 to 66. Ridiculous. Diaz proved that he is a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division and that we probably shouldn't expect to see him leaving the 155-pound weight class again. For his next fight, a rematch against Gray Maynard wouldn't look too shabby. Or maybe a re-match against Clay Guida, who is also currently without an opponent? Diaz lost to both fighters in his first go-round, but he's a much better fighter these days. Personally, I'd pay to see either fight. The only problem: Both "The Bully" and "The Carpenter" are coming off recent losses. Perhaps the winner of the fight between Jim Miller vs. Melvin Guillard next month in the UFC on FX 1 maine event is the most logical scenario. Are you Maniacs pumped about the upcoming title fight between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem? Who do you think Diaz should fight next? Sound off!

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, overeem, heavyweight

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It's hard to remember a time when Georges St. Pierre and Jon Fitch weren't the #1 and #2 ranked welterweights on the planet. Yesterday at UFC 141, Jon Fitch was knocked out in under fifteen seconds, making for the end of his time as the second best 170 pounder in the world. GSP will have not fought for a year in April which is the point where he should be removed from rankings (standard method for Ring Magazine or any other respectable ranking organization in combat sports). So after such a long-established pattern at the top of 170, we're looking at a new world with Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks on top of the rankings. If that weren't enough, long time top heavyweight Brock Lesnar announced his retirement after being trounced by Alistair Overeem in the 141 main event. In September of 2010 the top two heavyweights in the world were Lesnar (at #1) and Fedor Emelianenko (at #2). Current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos was at #6 while Alistair Overeem was #8. Things have changed very quickly for the sport with Lesnar retiring and Fedor being reduced (or returned, depending on your view of the Russian legend) to fighting an overmatched Japanese light heavyweight that same evening for DREAM. Even Donald Cerrone who was unranked as recently as June, worked his way up to #8 coming in to last night. It seemed Cerrone was poised to challenge for the title in 2012, but then Nate Diaz busted him up for 15 minutes and derailed the hype train while likely starting one of his own. The Penns, Florians, Sherks, Gomis that ran lightweight for so long are suddenly nowhere near the top ten. As we head in to the start of 2012, UFC 141 serves as a good reminder of how quickly things can change and only makes me wonder where we'll be a year from now. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

Posted in: ufc, world, heavyweight, alistair overeem, lesnar

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According to noted oddsmaker Nick Kalikas of BetOnFighting.com, it's none other than UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos. "Cigano" opens as a -240 favorite headed into his first title defense against Alistair Overeem, which is scheduled for sometime in 2012, possibly the summer. "The Reem" comes in as the underdog at +190. Anyone jumping on this line with wallets wide open? Or do you expect a dramatic shift as we get closer and closer to fight night? Overeem has been crushing the competition for years now, compiling 11 wins in 12 fights (one no contest) since 2007. He made a successful debut with the UFC last night (Fri., Dec. 30, 2011) by stopping Brock Lesnar in the first round by way of technical knockout using his vaunted K-1 level striking. Apparently the oddsmakers think the heavyweight champ's boxing is better. Dos Santos, no different than Overeem, has been absolutely destroying his competition. In fact, just like "Demolition Man," he hasn't lost a fight since 2007, the lone defeat of his career. However, unlike "The Reem," the Brazilian bomber has been running through top competition inside the Octagon. He's 8-0 under the UFC banner with five knockouts, including his 64-second destruction of Cain Velasquez that earned him the heavyweight strap. It's no wonder he's favored. But will the deadly Dutchman prove once and for all that he's the best striker in the world, at heavyweight at least? We're still a ways away from fight time, Maniacs, but who do you like for your money and who ya' got straight up? To see the "Dos Santos vs. Overeem" odds and betting lines plus all the action for upcoming UFC and Strikeforce events click here.

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

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Six months ago Alistair Overeem did something he hadn't done since becoming a full-time heavyweight: he beat a top 10 opponent. His victory over Fabricio Werdum wasn't pretty. In fact, it was downright boring and tedious. But beating the likes of James Thompson, Brett Rogers and Todd Duffee doesn't exactly lead to legitimacy when held up to the harsh scrutiny of your average mixed martial arts (MMA) fan. So ugly as it was, the win over Werdum was a step in the right direction for "Ubereem" who had been carrying the label of "can killer" since his move to heavyweight back in 2007. What he began last June in Dallas, he completed last night (Dec. 30) in Las Vegas at UFC 141 when he stopped Brock Lesnar in the first round. People can try to brush off the win any number of ways. They can claim that Lesnar hasn't been the same since his bouts with diverticulitis or that he wasn't that good to begin with. But results don't lie and with only about half a decade of MMA training under his belt, the now retired star fought at the highest level of the sport and was for a time recognized as the best fighter in his weight class. It didn't even take Overeem half a round to beat him. "The Reem" is the real deal, ladies and gentlemen. Inside the Octagon last night, Overeem looked calm as ever despite it being his first time under the bright UFC lights. Many fighters often claim "Octagon jitters" to explain poor performances in their UFC debut but judging by the Dutchman's efficiency in picking apart his opponent last night, he had the exact opposite reaction; almost an "Octagon confidence." For years Overeem has claimed to be the best. Every fight promotion he was signed to became his personal playground. He captured the Strikeforce heavyweight championship by steamrolling Paul Buentello and defended it in a one-sided beatdown of Rogers. Across the Pacific Ocean, the aforementioned wins over Thompson and Duffee were part of a five-fight win streak with the DREAM promotion. And it looks as if he may go down as the last K-1 World Grand Prix Champion ever. It's a crown that has been held by some of the greatest kickboxers to have ever lived. Names like Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts and Remy Bonjasky are now spoken alongside that of Overeem's. When someone has a résumé as impressive as his, it can stand to reason why he would fancy himself one of the best and why he would want to be recognized as such by fighting in the world's top promotion. The UFC houses the best fighters in the world and finally Overeem can count himself as one of them. "The Reem" didn't suffer from jitters last night because he felt that the Octagon was where he belonged; where he has belonged for some time now. But of course, fighters can say whatever they want but without results backing it up, it's all a bunch of bulljive. I can't see what else Overeem can do following last night to prove that he belongs in the upper echelon of the heavyweight division. He took out a former UFC champion who has wins against Randy Couture, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin under his belt. He didn't only beat Lesnar, he retired the big man. Sure, Lesnar had already promised his wife that he would call it quits should he come up short but fortunately for "The Reem," history will forget some of the details. Years from now, people will say, "Brock Lesnar? Oh yeah, he retired after Alistair Overeem beat him" without mention of any promise. The Dutchman hasn't tasted defeat in over four years and is now on a collision course with Junior Dos Santos, the UFC heavyweight champion who can claim the same statistic. Both men are big, tough brutes who can -- and have -- put opponents to sleep in short order. Even in Overeem comes up short in his title bid in the next year, there's still match-ups with Cain Velasquez, Mir and even the winner of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix awaiting him. There are all men who -- like Overeem -- are at the top of their class, the best of the best. Welcome to the big stage, Overeem. It took you a while to get here but you've proven you deserve the spot. 2012 should be fun.

Posted in: ufc, night, overeem, heavyweight, lesnar

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos weighs in on Friday night's heavyweight showdown between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, do, brock lesnar, lesnar

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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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ONE FC today announced the signing of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Strikeforce veteran Renato Sobral, whose debut fight will take place on March 31, 2012, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. That show will be a cross promotion with DREAM, which means that the list of potential opponents is extensive. "Babalu" has fought 10 times for the UFC before being cut for refusing to release an anaconda choke until after his opponent, David Heath, had lost consciousness. He is a former number one UFC light heavyweight title challenger and a former Strikefore light heavyweight champion, although the most impressive achievement of his career was probably winning the IFC light heavyweight grand prix when he defeated Trevor Prangley, Mauricio Rua and Jeremy Horn in the space of a single night back in 2003. He has won eight out of his last 10 fights, with the only two losses coming at the hands of Dan Henderson and Gegard Mousasi. His signature represents something of a coup for ONE FC as he was one of Strikeforce's few remaining big name fighters and had also been heavily linked with a return to the UFC. Babalu has competed as a heavyweight in the past, going the distance with Fedor Emelianenko back when the "Last Emperor" was in his prime, and also fought at 195 pouns as recently as 2010, meaning that he could potentially fight at anything from middleweight to heavyweight for ONE FC. At present, ONE FC has three shows confirmed for early 2012. On Feb.11, an event is taking place at the Britama Arena in Jakarta in Indonesia, while on March 31, there is the cross promotion with DREAM at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. And on April 27, it is the turn of the enormous Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur. Shows in Manila and Seoul are also widely rumored to be in the pipeline with a minimum of eight events promised over the course of the next 12 months. ONE FC has formed alliances with several other promotions besides DREAM, including Road FC in Korea and Cage Fighting Championships in Australia, giving it access to almost all the top fighters in Asia. However, there are not as many mixed martial artists in Asia at the bigger weights as there are in the west. And ONE FC will probably have to look to places like the United States and Brazil for recruitments to bolster the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions with Babalu and Rolles Gracie (pictured below with Victor Cui and Rodrigo Ribeiro) the first two big fighters to put pen to paper. After the highly acclaimed debut show in Singapore last September ONE FC CEO / Owner Victor Cui has been working tirelessly to put pen to negotiate deals with a number of partners and, as well as founding the ONE FC Network, he is believed to have signed something in the region of 50 fighters. Come February it will be back to the business of putting on shows with countries all across Asia set to host ONE FC events. The Jakarta card is close to completion and an announcement is imminent while a number of Japanese MMA stars, including potentially the Singapore based Shinya Aoki, are believed to be in negotiations to fight alongside Babalu in March.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, babalu, fc, singapore

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Former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar speaks candidly about his greatest victories, training to win, and regaining the UFC heavyweight title.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, lesnar, brock, victories training

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Two of the biggest men in MMA (literally) will collide tomorrow night (Dec. 30, 2011) when former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar takes on Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lesnar is finally competing in the Octagon after more than 14 months away from the sport because of a battle with serious health issues, which he says he has finally put behind him thanks to surgery. The former "Baddest Man on the Planet" is still hungry to get his world title back. And to do so, he's going to have to face the sturdiest heavyweight striker in mixed martial arts (MMA) today. Alistair Overeem has spent the last four years destroying everyone in his path ever since permanently moving to the heavyweight division. He easily claimed the Strikeforce and DREAM heavyweight titles, as well as winning the K-1 Grand Prix kickboxing title in 2010. He hopes to get a crack at his ultimate goal, the UFC belt, if he can get by Lesnar. Will Lesnar be able to shake off the rust and put Overeem on his back? Can Overeem test Lesnar's chin and physically force it to fail? What's the best path of victory for both men tomorrow night? Let's find out: Brock LesnarRecord: 5-2 overall, 4-2 in the UFCKey Wins: Frank Mir (UFC 100), Shane Carwin (UFC 116), Randy Couture (UFC 91)Key Losses: Cain Velasquez (UFC 121), Frank Mir (UFC 81) How he got here: Brock Lesnar has had one of the wildest and craziest careers of any MMA fighter in the brief history of the sport. Beginning as an amateur wrestling, he ground his way up from high school to junior college to Division I in Minnesota to become a story of hard work paying off when he became the heavyweight national champion. Instead of chasing the Olympic dream, he signed on to compete in professional wrestling, becoming the face of the WWE for several years and winning multiple "professional" wrestling titles while traveling the globe. Not satisfied, Lesnar gave it all up to become a legitimate sports star. After failing with a tryout for the NFL, he transitioned to MMA. The rest, as they say, is history. In just his second professional fight, he was signed by the UFC to face former champion Frank Mir and was laying the wood to him before getting caught in a kneebar. Undeterred, Lesnar rebounded to thrash Heath Herring and proceeded to win the UFC heavyweight title from Randy Couture in just his fourth fight. He participated in the biggest fight in MMA history when he destroyed Frank Mir in a rematch at UFC 100. And after a bout of diverticulitis nearly killed him, he came back and defended his belt against Shane Carwin in one of 2010's most incredible comebacks. He would lose his title to rising star Cain Velasquez and a number one contender bout with Junior dos Santos shortly afterward was scratched when Lesnar relapsed with diverticulitis. After corrective surgery that removed one foot of his colon, Lesnar was finally able to bulk back up and he accepted a bout against Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem with the winner earning a shot at new UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. How he gets it done: Lesnar has to keep it simple here. He's got a longer reach than Overeem, so don't be surprised to see him throw a few wayward jabs early against the musclebound Dutchman, but everyone knows he wants to take this fight to the ground. The second Overeem opens up the slightest with his striking (or even if he doesn't), Lesnar is going to duck his head, charge forward and try to blast him through the Octagon canvas with a powerful double leg takedown. The key here will be if Lesnar can put "The Reem" on his back and can he keep him there. If Lesnar can pin Overeem either on the canvas or even on the fence, he needs to immediately go to work with his massive fists. Say what you want about how Lesnar responds to getting hit, Overeem doesn't respond that well, either. If Lesnar can hold Overeem down and repeatedly blast him with heavy punches, there's a very good possibility that he could make "The Demolition Man" fold under his extremely heavy pressure. Another thing Lesnar needs to do is close the distance. If Overeem gives him an opportunity, he needs to get inside immediately and get right in his face. even if he doesn't score a takedown, it gets significantly harder for Overeem to strike back if Lesnar is inches away from rather than several feet. As long as Lesnar keeps up a high pace and pushes Overeem around, he could make the Strikeforce champ wilt. Alistair Overeem Record: 35-11 (1 No Contest) overall, 0-0 in the UFCKey Wins: Fabricio Werdum (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum), Mark Hunt (Dream 5), Vitor Belfort (Twice: Strikeforce: Revenge, Pride Total Elimination 2005)Key Losses: Mauricio Rua (Twice: Pride 33, Pride Final Conflict 2005), Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pride Critical Countdown Abolute), Fabricio Werdum (Pride Total Elimination Absolute) How he got here: Alistair Overeem got off to an inauspicious start with his MMA career as a light heavyweight. He fought some of the best in the world in the Pride organization, but always seemed to come up short against the likes of "Shogun" Rua, Chuck Liddell, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum. Then, of course, the transformation happened. Overeem started to bulk up and fill out his lanky frame to become "Ubereem." There's been plenty of speculation as to how he got so big and transformed himself so drastically, but that's another story for another day. Since become a full-fledged heavyweight, Overeem has been unstoppable, winning and defending the Strikeforce heavyweight title, as well as the DREAM heavyweight title, most recently against Todd Duffee. "The Reem" has been busy, also fighting in K-1 kickboxing events. He announced his presence to the world with a first round knockout of Badr Hari at Dynamite!! 2008 and he proved he belonged by winning the single night K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final this past December, defeating three men in one night. Overeem scored the biggest victory of his professional MMA career earlier this summer against Fabricio Werdum, avenging a loss in the first round of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix. He dropped out of the tournament with an injury and after temporarily being cut by Zuffa, he was resigned to face Lesnar in what expects to be 2011's biggest money MMA fight. How he gets it done: There are two major keys for Overeem here. The first is to properly gauge distance. If he can do this, Lesnar's shots will be telegraphed and he'll have much more time to either get out of the way, sprawl or perhaps counter with a massive knee. The second key for Overeem is to test Lesnar's chin whenever he gets too close, whether with punches, kicks or again, the massive knee. Overeem doesn't have the wrestling background, but he's physically strong enough to utilize some judo techniques if Lesnar is too aggressive charging in. He's also got terrific timing with his strikes after years of training in one of the world's top kickboxing gyms. Lastly, while it might have lost some effectiveness because of his muscle mass, Overeem still has a wicked guillotine that could choke even someone of Lesnar's caliber out if he shoots in too wildly for a takedown. The most important thing for Overeem to do is to be ready to pounce at a moment's notice. If he can tag Lesnar with a punch to the face and he sees the former UFC champ show even a glimpse of being in trouble, he has to go and go immediately. Lesnar can recover if given a few seconds, but if Overeem goes to work on him with big flurries of strikes when he's hurt, he likely will never get the opportunity. Fight X-Factor: There's a huge X-Factor for both fighters. The first is Brock Lesnar's layoff. He's been away from MMA for more than 14 months now dealing with his second stint with diverticulitis. At some point, at 34 years old, that has to take a toll on him in the cage. Ring rust is a very real thing and he could get off to a slow start, or potentially come in wild like he did against Cain Velasquez trying to overcompensate. While he may be as big as the old Brock Lesnar used to be, he's likely not going to be the same fighter at least in his first match back. The other factor is Alistair Overeem's level of competition. Sure, he's battled some of the best kickboxers in the world, but in MMA, he has not, especially not in the last four years since he transitioned to heavyweight. In all honesty, he only holds one significant MMA victory in the past four years and that was his most recent fight, a lackluster decision against Fabricio Werdum in a bout where Werdum did not want to stand with him for a second and may have been slightly intimidated. In fact, Overeem has never really faced any wrestler in the heavyweight division even remotely in Lesnar's caliber. How he handles Lesnar's shot is going to be a huge question heading into this fight. Bottom Line: Both of these men are huge stars in their own right and both men are capable of bringing nearly unprecedented levels of violence to their fights. Lesnar will be trying to smash Overeem's face in with ground and pound while Overeem will be hoping to crush his opponent in the stand-up exchanges. Depending on who can impose their will on their opponent, this could be a one-sided thrashing or a back and forth war. Prepare yourself for anything and everything, Maniacs. This one could be over in seconds or it could last all night. It all depends on how much respect both men have for each other and how much they are willing to engage at full speed. I'm siding more with a short fight myself. Who will come out on top in at UFC 141? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will earn a crack at Junior dos Santos with a victory in the main event of UFC 141 tomorrow night? Brock Lesnar Alistair Overeem   0 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, mma, overeem, heavyweight, lesnar

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Bloody Elbow will be providing live video and updates when all 22 fighters on the card step on the scale at today's UFC 141 weigh-ins from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV. You can catch a live Youtube stream of the weigh-ins below the jump, or if that doesn't work for some reason, yyou can view it over at MMA Nation. The weigh-ins begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The main event is a titanic heavyweight battle between former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, who will both have to make the heavyweight non-title bout limit of 266 pounds. Join us and share your thoughts as the weigh-ins unfold. Main Card:Brock Lesnar ( ) vs. Alistair Overeem ( )Donald Cerrone ( ) vs. Nate Diaz ( )Jon Fitch ( ) vs. Johny Hendricks ( )Alexander Gustafsson ( ) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko ( )Jim Hettes ( ) vs. Nam Phan ( ) Preliminary Card:Junior Assuncao ( ) vs. Ross Pearson ( )Danny Castillo ( ) vs. Anthony Njokuani ( )Dong Hyun Kim ( ) vs. Sean Pierson ( )Efrain Escudero ( ) vs. Jacob Volkmann ( )Luis Ramos ( ) vs. Matt Riddle ( )Manny Gamburyan ( ) vs. Diego Nunes ( )

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, vs, weighin, reason yyou

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Unbeaten Strikeforce heavyweight Shane Del Rosario, who has all 11 of his wins by stoppage, has signed with the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, shane, strikeforce heavyweight

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Over a year after a devastating loss to Cain Velasquez, former UFC champ Brock Lesnar makes his long awaited return to the Octagon to face off against former Strikeforce heavyweight title-holder and UFC newcomer Alistair Overeem. Eager to finish 2011 on a high, both men will be looking to put a difficult year behind them. Earlier in the year, Lesnar’s career was once again in jeopardy after being re-diagnosed with diverticulitis,  while Overeem’s turmoil saw him drop out of the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix and subsequently released from the promotion, before being predictably signed by the very company that owned his previous employer. And because there is never enough outside-the-cage drama in this sport, the Dutchman found himself in hot water with the Nevada State Athletic Commission after some drug testing related issues, but was ultimately cleared to fight. Luckily, the stage has been set for this mega clash of the titans, and the heavyweight behemoths will finally lock horns this Friday night. Heavyweight Fight: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem Once again, Lesnar will be entering a fight with question marks surrounding his health. Perhaps more worryingly, he is coming off a fourteen months layoff, most of which spent outside of the gym. When Lesnar first burst onto the scene, he was deemed to be someone learning on the job, and the general consensus was that at such an early stage in his career, he will improve on a fight-to-fight basis. While that notion might still hold true, Lesnar’s progress has certainly been hindered significantly in the past two years, as injuries kept him out of the cage and training camp. Lesnar’s striking in particular, has held him back considerably. Throughout his young career, Lesnar’s stand-up has consisted of a straight right hand, occasionally set up by a halfhearted jab, and very little else. In his defense, his frame will always be a major limitation when it comes to his striking, which is partially why he looks so stiff on the feet, especially compared to how fluid his movement looks in grappling oriented situations. However unimproved his offensive striking will look, it will be vital for Lesnar to rectify the defensive mistakes he has committed in the past. When pressured, Lesnar reacts awkwardly. His immediate instinct is to backpedal in a straight line rather than switch levels and drop for a takedown, or simply circle out. In such situations, Lesnar would at least need to attempt to cut his opponent off and clinch. Overeem brings a striking acumen that none of Lesnar’s previous opponents possessed. However, he has thus far failed to translate some of the aspects that led him to K-1 glory to MMA. Most notably, Overeem’s ability to slip punches and counter with power shots — especially a right hook — has been missing in his MMA fights. Additionally, the Fabricio Werdum bout saw a Overeem content to throw single strikes rather move forward and put together combinations. Given Lesnar’s apparent inability to hold off any barrage of punches, Overeem would be best served to let his hands go and throw with volume, especially given his unique blend of power and technique. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, year, lesnar

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Shane del Rosario is the latest of the Strikeforce heavyweights to be signed to the UFC. As noted by MMAMania's Geno Mrosko, del Rosario's management made the announcement late Wednesday night. Undefeated across eleven bouts, with each of his wins coming by way of TKO or submission, del Rosario is easily one of the better acquisitions for the UFC heavyweight division. He began this year with an armbar victory over fellow Strikeforce standout Lavar Johnson, earning his place as an alternate in the organization's heavyweight tournament. However, del Rosario was forced out of active competition for the rest of the year when a car accident left him nursing a herniated disk. No fight has yet been determined for del Rosario's first appearance in the Octagon, though a bout with Daniel Cormier (who, it must be said, hasn't so far been announced as an addition to the UFC) certainly seems like a perfect match-up. Cormier and del Rosario were slated to face each other before the Team Oyama representative suffered his back injury. Del Rosario is the fifth of Strikeforce's heavyweights to be picked up by the UFC, joining former stablemates Alistair Overeem, Lavar Johnson, Chad Griggs, and Fabricio Werdum.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, rosario, del, del rosario

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Count another one. With the Strikeforce heavyweight division going away soon, most of its fighters are making their way over to the UFC and the latest to do so is Shane Del Rosario, who signed a contract recently to fight inside the Octagon. His management team announced the move late last night. Anyone care to play matchmaker and fantasy book his first bout under the UFC banner?

Posted in: heavyweight, division, management team, fighters count, fantasy book

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With Strikeforce's heavyweight division in dissolution mode, yet another one of its talent pool is heading to the UFC. Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Shane del Rosario has signed with the UFC and will follow the likes of Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Chad Griggs to the Octagon.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, talent pool, chad griggs, dissolution mode

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In the first half of 2007, a decision was made across the Atlantic Ocean that would end up affecting heavyweights across the globe. Having spent his entire career -- minus a four-fight stint -- at light heavyweight, Alistair Overeem decided to stop cutting weight and start adding it on. After dropping three consecutive bouts to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Ricardo Arona and Mauricio Rua, the man who would soon become known as "Ubereem" made the full-time move to heavyweight and a monstrous legend was born. He's fought 13 times since then, losing only once. His reputation became such that he supplanted Fedor Emelianenko as the one heavyweight Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) needed to get its hand on as soon as possible. And the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions did so in early September, removing "The Reem" from Strikeforce's grand prix and inserting him into this Friday's (Dec. 30, 2011) main event at UFC 141. Brock Lesnar will stand opposite the Dutchman that evening and should he defeat his first opponent inside the Octagon -- a tall order for any heavyweight -- it'll mark the first time he has defeated a legitimate top-ranked fighters in successive order (Fabricio Werdum being the other), a major talking point for his detractors who find his own ranking to be overstated and unearned. Undoubtedly, a win over Lesnar would bring his heavyweight career full circle. From light heavyweight washout to title contender, Overeem has been a little bit of everything to everyone since June 2007: Overhyped, undervalued, untested, dominant. Before he makes his Octagon debut, let's take a look at the fight where Overeem cast off his 205-pound shackles and committed to becoming the manbeast who walks among us today. Let's dive in: The fight -- against Michael Knaap -- actually took place on a K-1 event under its MMA banner at the time, Hero's. One of only a few MMA bouts on an event mostly filled with kickboxing bouts, Overeem was at least able to perform in front of a hometown crowd. His opponent was no one of note -- a regional level fighter in Amsterdam who lost as many as he won. Knaap was someone a fighter the caliber of a Pride Fighting Championships veteran should have been able to finish off quickly and easily. And that's exactly what he did. A closer look, if you will. Oveeem wasted no time putting his legs to use, whipping them around and connecting with Knaap's head, ribcage and legs. Knaap tried to create distance between himself and his fellow Dutch opponent with a front push kick, but Overeem was able to counter perfectly and slam a straight right into Knaap's jaw. Staggered, Knaap bounced off the ropes while "The Reem" pressed in. He immediately dived in with a flying knee before clinching up his wounded opponent and delivering rapid fire knees to the body in an effort to destroy whatever stamina Knaap may have had remaining in his depleted tank. Seconds later, Overeem was able to drop his opponent to the mat, landing in sidemount. Forced backward into half-guard, "Ubereem" began to work for a kimura, attempting to wrench Knaap's arm backward. His opponent defended well, however, and Overeem was unable to secure the submission. Knaap was unable, though, to keep his opponent from advancing back into sidemount, a decidedly more advantageous offensive position for someone with the ground and pound acumen Overeem possesses. In a sight that would become very familiar to anyone who has seen "The Reem" in action, the K-1 World Grand Prix champion bullied his opponent albeit on the mat rather than in the stand-up as has been his usual gameplan as of late. Using his size and strength advantage, Overeem was able to control his countryman on the ground all the while inflicting damage. In an attempt to escape the punishment being dished out through Overeem's fists, Knaap turned onto his side and then completely onto his stomach, freely giving his opponent his back. Already having five victories via guillotine choke to his name -- including tap outs from Vitor Belfort and Igor Vovchanchyn, among others -- "The Reem" is no stranger to this position and knew exactly how to end the fight. That end came only seconds later after his massive arm has been wrapped around Knaap's neck for a few seconds, cutting the air supply from his throat and threatening to crush his trachea. With three simple taps of a hand, a heavyweight beast was born. Does "Ubereem" have what it takes to make it in the big leagues or is "The Reem" in over his head? We will find out soon enough.

Posted in: overeem, heavyweight, opponent, reem, knaap

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos discusses his recent knee surgery, when he expects to fight again, how his life has changed since winning the heavyweight title last month, and his pick for Friday night's UFC 141 main event.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, heavyweight title, knee, knee surgery

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Dec. 28, 2011) in advance of UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem", which will take place this Friday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The conference will begin at 4 p.m. ET live from the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino's main lobby in Las Vegas, Nevada, the home city of the event. Scheduled to attend will be UFC president Dana White, as well as the headlining fighters of the evening, Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem, Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz. Lesnar is the former UFC heavyweight champion. The ex-WWE superstar and national champion Minnesota wrestler lost his title last year to current champ Cain Velasquez. He's had a much publicized battle with diverticulitis which was (hopefully) finally cured with surgery earlier this year. His opponent, Alistair Overeem, is one of the scariest heavyweights on the planet. The Dutch kickboxer has not lost an MMA fight since 2007 and left Strikeforce as the promotion's heavyweight champion. In his spare time, he also won the single night K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix to become a kickboxing champion last year. Cerrone has been on fire in 2011, winning four straight bouts in the UFC lightweight division to become a contender in the promotion. His opponent, Nate Diaz, was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter season five and looked terrific in his last fight, destroying Takanori Gomi in his return to 155 pounds. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 141 press conference after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, conference, press

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With so many fights coming up spread across seven different weight classes, it's easy to lose track of what's happening in every division. Here, we take a look at where a particular division stands right now, and where it's headed. This weekend, UFC brings 2011 to a close with a BIG fight. Literally. Sorry, couldn't resist. In all honesty, UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem does indeed wrap up the UFC's year with a major fight, as the former UFC Heavyweight champion, and former undisputed poster-boy of the organization, the #4 ranked Brock Lesnar welcomes former Strikeforce/K-1/Dream champion Alistair Overeem (ranked #3) to the UFC. It's a great stylistic clash, made all the better by the big stakes, as the winner is next up for new champion Junior dos Santos. With Brock and The Reem getting ready to square off, this seemed like a good time to take a look at the UFC Heavyweight division and see what fights are coming up, and where the rest of the division stands. Next in Line: At the UFC on Fox 1 show, one of the big talking points was that the winner of that night's Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos Heavyweight championship fight would next defend the belt against the winner of this weekend's Lesnar vs. Overeem bout. Unless the winner at 141 gets injured, that should indeed happen. Lesnar is an established big draw for the UFC (though this weekend will test that drawing power), and making good on the scrapped Ultimate Fighter showdown with dos Santos would be great, while Overeem coming in, taking out Brock, and setting his sights on the champ would make for a fantastic story as well. Either way, I'm excited. Key Match Ups: A handful of good fights coming up soon will spotlight the UFC Heavyweights and set up the next, post-Lesnar/Reem challenger. #18 Mike Russow vs. Jon Olav Einemo (UFC on Fox 2) - Not a massive fight here, but Einemo is 1-0 in the UFC (and coming back after his release earlier this year), while Russow has steadily moved up the ranks and also remains undefeated in the UFC. Expect the winner here to have a good fight next time out. #14 Roy Nelson vs. #5 Fabricio Werdum (UFC 143) - After Overeem, Werdum is next up in the wave of incoming Strikeforce fighters. He's in an odd position, as he had huge momentum for being the first man to truly defeat Fedor, but The Last Emperor's two subsequent loses, combined with Werdum's flop-heavy performance against Overeem, really slowed that momentum. He needs not just a win, but a big win, and Nelson is not an easy man to convincingly defeat. Roy seems to think he is just outside the title picture, but he's just one Cro Cop win removed from a 2 fight losing streak, so he still has some work to do. A win here would help though. #21 Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman (UFC on Fuel 1) - Good fight here between two exciting fighters. Neither man is in title contention, and I'm not sure either one ever will be, but it's a good fight where the winner will be in the upper ranks of the division, at least for the moment. #22 Mark Hunt vs. #13 Cheick Kongo (UFC 144) - It boggles my mind that Mark Hunt is in the UFC Heavyweight title hunt in 2011, but here we are. He has two nice wins in a row, and now faces the division's best gatekeeper in Kongo. If Hunt wins, and make no mistake, this is a winnable fight for the Samoan, he could be one fight away from a title shot. Incredible. #9 Josh Barnett vs. #8 Daniel Cormier (Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final) - I include this here because Dana White has made it clear that the SF HW division is no more. We'll get this fight, one more, and then the remaining fighters will make their way to the UFC, so this tournament final will be big for the winner as he comes into the UFC. I expect all the Strikeforce fighters will have a lot to prove as they come in, with every loss really hurting them. But perhaps no Strikeforce fighter needs to win as badly as Josh Barnett, who has a notoriously adversarial history with Dana. A win here would help him make the move to the UFC. No date yet set for this fight. More of the UFC Heavyweight division in the full entry. More SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem In The Mix: These Heavyweights have nothing set up just yet, but are absolutely in the title hunt, depending how that next fight plays out: #2 Cain Velasquez - The former champion is coming off the first loss of his career, as well as his first fight back after a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for a year. How will he come back from both of those things? That's the big question, but if he comes back strong, he will be a definite threat to anyone who is champion. #6 Frank Mir - He's fresh off of snapping Minotauro's arm at UFC 140 in one of the most gruesome, but highlight reel worthy, submissions of the year. Mir has spent years clawing back towards the top since losing his UFC Heavyweight title to an out of the cage injury. He's close to that title now, but he's been here before and has not quite been able to get over that final hill. Is this the time? #7 Shane Carwin - Carwin has been dealing with back injuries for some time and has not been seen in the Octagon since UFC 131 last summer. He was so close to defeating Lesnar for the belt back at UFC 116, but as time goes by, you get the feeling that the 36 year old fighter may have seen his best shot at the belt slip away in that fight. We'll see if he can come back strong. #11 Antonio Silva - The Strikeforce Grand Prix semi-finalist was upset by Cormier last time out, but he beat down Fedor one fight before. There has been little talk of Bigfoot's possibilities in the UFC, but it will be interesting to see how things shake out for him when the Strikeforce division closes next year. Others to Consider: And finally, a few names that may not find themselves in the title picture right now, but should be mentioned: #10 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - That arm break was nasty, and could spell the end of the road for many fighters. But Big Nog is no normal man. Still, can he come back yet again from serious injury, and if he does, can he halt the downward slope of his UFC career? #16 Sergei Kharitonov - Sergei was the other Strikeforce GP semi-finalist, but I suspect his UFC future is more tenuous that Silva's. I could easily see him being lost in the shuffle, and he'll have to work hard to keep in the UFC if he is indeed brought over. #17 Travis Browne - Dana White was very high on Browne, calling him "in the mix" at Heavyweight earlier this year. I didn't see it then, and I don't see it now, and his stinker with Rob Broughton at UFC 135 didn't help. But the UFC is high on him, so expect him to stay at the top. #20 Matt Mitrione - Mitrione had a tough setback in his loss to Cheick Kongo. His next fight will be key and demonstrate if the 5-1 relative newcomer to the sport can learn from that loss and come back stronger, or if Kongo is his ceiling. #25 Gabriel Gonzaga - Probably has no right to be on this list, but he's back in the UFC at UFC 142 (vs. Edinaldo Oliveira) and that makes me happy. He could easily slide right back into his role of smashing lesser competition and serving as a secondary gatekeeper alongside Kongo. Poll Who will be the next challenger for Junior dos Santos? Brock Lesnar Alistair Overeem Other   2 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, vs, division

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This Friday’s heavyweight showdown between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem is the quintessential battle of styles.Lesnar is the single most dominant wrestler in the UFC heavyweight division. The former collegiate standout was a two-time Division I All-American and a national champion in his senior year. His overall collegiate record was 106-5. Daniel Cormier, a Strikeforce heavyweight standout, is the only heavyweight in the world who boasts better wrestling chops.Overeem is a top-of-the-food-chain striker, arguably the best in the division. “The Reem” is the first man to ever simultaneously hold a major mixed martial arts belt and a major kickboxing title at the same time. The year was 2010. Overeem was the reigning Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion three years running when he won the K-1 World Grand Prix, a “best of the best” kickboxing title.Suffice to say, Lesnar absolutely needs to get this fight to the ground if he wants to win, whereas Overeem desperately wants to keep it standing. How is that for simple?  Love it or hate it, that is the game plan for Friday night’s main event.But that isn’t the end of the breakdown. Far from it, actually. Neither man wants the fight to unfold in the other’s breadbasket. That is for sure. Yet, one has a better chance at winning, even if the fight doesn’t stay where he is most comfortable. Let’s face reality for a moment. Overeem is a massive, muscled heavyweight. This is a guy who, just a half decade ago, was referred to as a “skinny” competitor at 205 lbs. That version of Alistair Overeem actually had a pretty good offensive and defensive guard. He also had a sick guillotine choke, particularly of the standing variety. His height and long arms made that move extremely effective in the 205-lb division, where Overeem enjoyed height and length advantages over just about everyone.Today’s version has fallen in love with his standup skills. More accurately, Overeem has fallen in love with his fists. The 205-lb version of Overeem was a ball of fire in the PRIDE Fighting Championships. He was always up for a good scrap with anyone who dared stand and strike with him. But he varied his strikes with all eight of his Muay Thai weapons, with his knees being his trademark finishing move, not his fists. These days, he rarely throws knees, kicks or elbows with any great frequency in his fights. It is, instead, all fists, all the time.If Overeem faces Lesnar with nothing more than his fists as weapons, then he should still win, assuming the fight remains on the feet. But that is not a guarantee. Remember folks that Lesnar is an enormous human being, still slightly larger than Overeem. If he sits down on a sell-out punch, and that strike hits Overeem anywhere close to his jaw, it is goodnight baby. That is the reality of fighting a 265-lb athletic freak like Lesnar. He may not be a polished striker, but he is so insanely powerful and fast that he can turn out the lights on anyone at any given moment.But let’s be clear about the situation. Lesnar doesn’t want to stand and strike with Overeem. Not at all. Lesnar remains a work in progress on the feet. He was completely overwhelmed with quick combination punching in his title loss to Cain Velasquez. Fortunately for Lesnar, though, Overeem is a very different standup fighter from Velasquez. The latter uses technically sound and very active footwork to constantly change angles with his constant volume punching. The former is a come forward, plodding bomber, preferring to let one or two huge shots go at a time, rather than peppering his foe with deeper combinations. Make no mistake about it. Overeem has extremely quick hands. When he sees an opening, he can explode as quickly as anyone in the division. But he remains so focused on takedown defense, especially when facing someone with a ground-first attack, that he fires mostly in isolation.Heath Herring also fights with that same basic standup approach. Lesnar experienced a lot of success on the feet in his bout with Herring. He even scored a knockdown early in the fight. Yet, he seemed lost on the feet against both Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez. Why? The simple answer is that Herring’s approach to the standup portion of a fight gave Lesnar a lot of confidence because it gave him time to set his feet and throw punches. Neither Carwin nor Velasquez allowed him to do that. Overeem likely will.With that said, Overeem wins a standup-focused fight with Lesnar more than 90 percent of the time. Again, this guy is a polished, powerful striker with C4 in his fists. Lesnar doesn’t want any part of those fists. But he knows that he will occasionally land a big strike, and that could be enough to sneak a TKO win.Lesnar’s game plan, though, won’t be to search for a lottery-winning strike on the feet. It will be to score a takedown at all costs and dominate the ground game.In fact, I would not be surprised at all to see Lesnar charge out of his corner at the opening bell just like he did against Min-Soo Kim. He knows that, as big of an advantage that Overeem enjoys on the feet, he is enjoys an even bigger advantage over Overeem in the wrestling realm. Lesnar should be able to get the fight to the ground just about any time that he wants. He is that good with his takedowns.I’ve read a lot about Overeem’s takedown defense in the last few weeks. If we are being brutally honest, his heavyweight takedown defense remains a giant question mark. Keep in mind that Overeem’s heavyweight career has not seen him fight anyone that was much of a wrestler. Kazuyuki Fujita is probably the best heavyweight wrestler that Overeem has faced to date. Comparing Fujita to Lesnar, both in terms of his wrestling ability and athleticism, is like comparing the local junior high school basketball star to LeBron James.On the ground, Overeem is in a heap of trouble. Lesnar is a master of short, grinding ground strikes while keeping himself out of submissions. Frank Mir, who arguably has the best offensive guard in the division, couldn’t do anything from his back against Lesnar in their 2009 rematch. Lesnar’s wide wrestling base and chest-down approach smothered Mir’s jiu-jitsu. Overeem is nowhere close to Mir’s league on the ground. Thus, it would be shocking to see him succeed at all from his back against Lesnar. Overeem will more likely get beaten to a bloody pulp if he gets taken down. Another major factor in this fight could be conditioning. Overeem has always had questionable cardiovascular conditioning, and those concerns have compounded since he added 30-plus pounds of muscle over the last few years. He will be at his most explosive in the opening five minutes. After that, his punches will slow a bit as his arms begin to feel heavy. His takedown defense will also be at its best in the opening round when he is strong and light on his feet. Lesnar knows all of that. My guess is that his team has formulated a game plan designed to survive the first round, principally through takedowns and smothering clinch work along the cage. The takedowns may be a bit tough early, but they will be there as the fight progresses past the five-minute mark. That is when Lesnar will likely begin to dominate the action. While Lesnar wants a longer, grueling bout, Overeem’s game plan is likely to look for an early knockout. He knows that he doesn’t want to let Lesnar stick around for long because a single takedown from the big fella can change the outcome of the fight just as quickly as an Overeem right hand. “The Reem” should throw quick, hard combinations, just like Velasquez, if he wants to score an early knockout. Firing one at a time is not the best way to approach a guy like Lesnar because it won’t keep him on the defensive. Combinations, on the other hand, will almost certainly overwhelm the former UFC heavyweight champion.So, who is going to win this one? The odds makers have labeled Overeem a small betting favorite. I just don’t see it, to be honest. Overeem is an unbelievably experienced mixed martial artist, but most of his world-class opposition was at light heavy. Lesnar has the much more impressive resume of opponents at heavyweight, so, in my opinion, Overeem has a lot of questions left to answer before we anoint him a legitimate top tier heavyweight. He will get the opportunity to answer those questions on Friday night.In my opinion, the odds reflect the fact that Lesnar has spent much of the last two years locked in a scary battle with diverticulitis. Time spent on the sideline fighting that dreaded condition has, at best, stunted his development as a fighter. At worst, it eroded his skills. Only Lesnar knows for sure if he is 100 percent healthy with no lingering after effects. Only he knows if the dramatic weight loss he suffered with each bout of diverticulitis has affected his explosive wrestling. I guess we will all know after Friday night.QUICK FACTSBrock Lesnar•    34 years old•    81-inch reach•    5-2 overall•    6 of 7 professional fights ended inside the distance  (4-2 in those fights)•    40% of wins by KO/TKO•    40% of wins by submission•    20% of wins by decision•    Former UFC heavyweight champion•    Submission of the Night winner for Carwin bout•    Current layoff of 433 days is the longest of his professional careerAlistair Overeem•    31 years old•    81.5-inch reach•    35-11, 1 NC overall•    41 out of 47 professional fights ended inside the distance (35-5, 1 NC in those fights)•    40% of wins by KO/TKO•    54% of wins by submission•    6% of wins by decision•    Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion•    2010 K-1 World Grand Prix champion•    First man to ever hold K-1 and major MMA titles in same year•    Current layoff is 195 days

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Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar shared thoughts about next weekend's blockbuster bout with Alistair Overeem, once again stating that the K-1 2010 WGP Champion better not to underestimate him. Lesnar will mark his return to the Octagon since the UFC 121 defeat in a fight with Cain Velasquez, lookng to set himself back on track for a shot at the UFC Heavyweight title. Further Reading: Submit your picks for UFC

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, alistair overeem, lesnar, velasquez lookng

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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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Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem accomplished the unbelievable, winning the K-1 World Grand Prix title in 2010 by beating Tyrone Spong, Gokhan Saki and then Peter Aerts in the final. In the process, Overeem, 30, became the first mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter ever to capture the most prestigious title in the world of kickboxing. The hulking 6'5" Dutchman won three fights at the annual one night, eight-man event, which is the most coveted tournament in kickboxing, while simultaneously holding the Strikeforce heavyweight belt. "The Reem" will look to add another belt to his collection when he takes on Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 this upcoming Friday night (Dec. 30). The winner of the match will earn the opportunity to next challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion, Junior dos Santos, in 2012. Let's take look (with fight videos) at what made "Demolition Man" one of the hottest names in MMA thanks to his rise to capture the K-1 World Grand Prix after the jump: After finally defending his Strikeforce title against Brett Rogers in May, Overeem was set to enter the final 16 in the 2010 Grand Prix. His opponent was Australian Ben Edwards. who exploded onto the scene with his GP qualifier, drawing attention by breaking a record by defeating all three opponents in a K-1 tournament in a combined three minutes and 28 seconds. The Reem made quick work of his brave, but overmatched opponent. The game Edwards put up a fight for Overeem, but Alistair showcased improved technical skill, dropping Edwards with a well timed counter, backing him into a counter a placing an overhand right like a laser before finishing him off. Overeem wasn't just a meathead who could bully talented guys around with his physical attributes, but a refined kickboxing machine. Next up was Spong, a supremely talented kickboxer under the tutelage of kickboxing legend Ernesto Hoost; however, he is undersized for the heavyweights, and much of his experience is at a lighter class. In kickboxing however, the money is at heavyweight. Despite bulking up, Spong was still considered an underdog because of the extreme size difference: Overeem started his way against the more experienced Spong, who gave the Demolition Man a very tough three-round battle. Overeem lost the first round against Spong, but managed to capitalize and outpoint the Surinamese striker in round two and even effectively putting the eight-count on Spong in round three. Next up, the always dangerous and also exceptionally talented stablemate, Gokhan Saki. Despite just been in an atrocious war with Romanian Daniel Ghita, Saki showed little signs of slowing down and effectively scored on The Reem early on. That is, of course, up until Overeem unleashed hard kicks to Saki's body, breaking the Turk's arm and elbow, and advancing to the final of the competition. In the final, Overeem squared off against the Dutch Lumberjack Peter Aerts. The veteran was reported to be injured (right eye cut), with Semmy Schilt being a potential replacement, but still made his way to the final showdown against the Demolition Man. Overeem made a quick work of Aerts, knocking down the legend with punches and knees early in the opening frame. And with all his heart, Aerts couldn't get up after a 10 count. Overeem was crowned the new 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. Overeem's dreams came true, as it surely was the biggest, the most valuable, and the most important achievement in his career. There's no room for debate -- Overeem dis what many people thought was impossible. Can Overeem now top such an achievement by capturing UFC gold in 2012?

Posted in: overeem, heavyweight, kickboxing, demolition man, spong

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Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceIt's only fitting, what with UFC 141 right around the corner, but the heavyweights of both the UFC and Strikeforce figured prominently in your questions this time around. Of course, you also found time to question my love of my adopted home state, force me to make bold future predictions about things I couldn't possibly know for sure, and even harass one of my colleagues (unfairly, I might add) in this edition of the Twitter Mailbag. It's a lot to deal with in one column, and I have to get back to posting pictures of my dog on my own Twitter, so there's no time to waste. Who's up first? @james_177 If Brock Lesnar loses to Overeem on the 30th. In your opinion is that the end of mma for Lesnar? Will he stick around? I got this question in one form or another over and over again, but I just don't get it. Why would one loss drum a former champ out of the business? He's only 34 and still more or less a baby in this sport. He has time to grow and develop, no matter what happens next Friday night. If he does lose -- even if he gets knocked out in 30 seconds -- I think fans will look at his year of health struggles and his time away from the cage and cut him some slack. Overeem's an experienced, accomplished fighter. Losing to him isn't like losing to some jerk off the street. Plenty of people have come up short against The Reem, but they didn't regard it as a sign that they needed to find something else to do with their lives. Win or lose, I think Lesnar will continue on. There's too much money in it for him not to, and shooting prairie dogs with high-caliber weapons will never give him the same rush. @mmadailypunch who would you predict to be UFC heavyweight champ by the end of 2012? What an interesting and difficult question. On one hand, the division has seen a lot of turnover at the top recently. But then, as Roy Nelson said about his fellow heavyweights when I talked to him this week, "Those guys don't like to fight that often." But screw it, I'm going to go out on a relatively sturdy limb and say that whoever wins the Lesnar-Overeem fight will be wearing that strap by the end of next year. At the rate that title goes up for grabs, dos Santos probably won't defend it more than once in 2012 anyway, and whoever wins it may not even have time to defend it before the year is out. Then, in 2013, he'll lose it to whoever wins the Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier fight. How's that for a prediction? @jmhawkins which UFC fighter do you think could potentially move to Strikeforce against Melendez? Do you think the UFC will do this? I thought my MMA Fighting colleague Mike Chiappetta had a great idea: bring in B.J. Penn to fight Melendez. Why not? Penn's still a big name and a respected former champ. He'd be a great test for Melendez, and one that wouldn't require the dramatic reshuffling that a champion-versus-champion bout would. Penn's future in the UFC seems uncertain, and Melendez needs a serious opponent to retain the interest of the fans. It's an arrangement that could work well for everyone. Will Zuffa make it happen? I hope so, but my gut tells me that we might be in for at least one more title defense against an existing Strikeforce lightweight before the powers that be wake up and realize that this can't go on much longer. @Alex_Newfie Mir believes its unlikely that Overeem could guillotine Lesnar.. do you think Overeem could submit him? Sure he could. At the risk of allowing you to bait me into repeating one of MMA's most overused cliches, anything can happen in a fight. Overeem has always had a sneaky guillotine, and wrestlers are prone to sticking their necks in that particular clamp when they start shooting for reckless takedowns. But let's be real here, if this fight hits the mat it's still to Lesnar's advantage. The longer it stays standing, the more it favors Overeem. As for Mir? Let's just say that you want to be careful how seriously you take the analysis of a guy who has a history with one of the participants. It tends to color one's perception. @JefftheJeff Mailbag: what are some of your New (MMA) Year's Resolutions? I, Ben Fowlkes, hereby resolve to 1) eat slightly less airport Cinnabon while traveling to and from MMA events, 2) Never again, even in casual conversation, ask a fighter how his training camp went, 3) Finally finish up that petition for an extra side to be added to the Octagon, thus forever rebranding it The Nonagon, which I have already trademarked, and 4) Get on that Skittles diet that the ring girls seem to employ on fight nights. Just saying, it's working for them, and beach season is right around the corner. @ngordon18 if the matt hamil fight wasn't a dq jon jones would be 10-0 with 8 straight finishes why us he not no. 2 pfp Because pound-for-pound lists are meaningless exercises in speculative fiction. Get over it. @dsmelser13 Do you think Rhonda Rousey is ducking Cyborg? In her opinion, she is ready for a title shot at 135, but not 145. Seems suspect. I think Rousey is smart when it comes to molding her MMA career. Too smart, in fact, to go charging into the mouth of the cannon when she doesn't have to. Style-wise, Miesha Tate is a much better match-up for her than Santos is. The weakest part of Rousey's game, based on what little we've seen of her, is probably her stand-up. She rushes forward in a mad dash to get the fight to the mat, and whether she ends up on top or on bottom she's still equally dangerous once it's a grappling match. But Santos doesn't play that. She'll keep the fight standing and beat the blonde off Rousey, and I think they both know it. Tate, on the other hand, likes to grapple. She's also nowhere near as powerful as Santos is, so Rousey has a better chance to muscle her around. What's more, I also think Rousey is smart enough to know that a fight with Tate will sell better, and create more media buzz. They're two attractive women, not to mention two native English-speakers, and they can get out there together and promote this thing. Like I said, Rousey's smart. She knows where the money is in this sport, and it isn't on the business end of Cyborg's fists. @hurstje1 Q. Your followers know about your love for all things Montana. What I want to know is why? Born there, school, lifestyle? I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, raised in southern California, and went to college at San Diego State. Then, in 2004, my life changed forever when I went to grad school at the University of Montana in Missoula. I immediately fell in love with the place, and with my wife, who I met in the graduate writing program here. After relocating to New York City for a couple years after we got our MFAs, we finally got our lives together to the point where we could more or less live where we wanted, and there was no question where we wanted to be. Montana's the most beautiful place I've ever been. The people are great, the lifestyle is ideal (for me, anyway), and you could spend your entire life exploring all the different hiking and cross-country ski trails here. The same could be said for the dive bars, so basically it appeals to all my interests, both indoor and out. @snsheehan Will Jon Jones and Anderson Silva ever fight? #CrystalBall Oh good, another question that requires me to peer into the unknowable future. But what the hell, it's the holiday season. I'm going to say no, we'll never these two fight. And you know something? I'm okay with that. Silva is almost 37 years old, and much closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Why would he want to jump up a weight class to take on a monster like Jones, who will probably be a heavyweight before too much longer? I don't see the upside for Silva, and I don't see the need. I'm not sure why MMA fans are so obsessed with the idea of super-fights. Isn't that the whole reason we created weight classes, so everyone could pick on someone their own size? Let middleweights be middleweights, and let Jon Jones be, well, whatever it is he's going to be. @GuruGrapher Who is the best fighter to ever come out of Montana? Keith Jardine was born in Butte, and is exactly as hard-nosed and no-nonsense a character as you'd expect, given that town's reputation. More recently, Missoula's own Lloyd Woodard did pretty well in the last Bellator lightweight tournament, barely dropping a decision to eventual tournament winner and new Bellator champ Mike Chandler. The best grappler in the state has to be Brandon Olsen, who's been a fixture at many top grappling tournaments for years and who has tied me in knots on many occasions. We've also got some up-and-coming young bucks worth keeping en eye on, most notably Tim Welch and Jason Zentgraf. @RaymondReece1 What do you see the UFC doing with strikeforce? Will it be a farm system? Will it be like the old WEC? I like the idea of using Strikeforce as a kind of Zuffa minor league. At least, I like it insofar as I like the idea of keeping it around at all. But my guess is that Zuffa won't fully embrace that idea. It creates too much brand confusion, which the UFC is already battling now that Spike TV is devoting so much of its programming to toying with the emotions of gullible fight fans who don't know that the UFC has moved on to another TV home. More likely, Strikeforce and Showtime will continue trying to sell fans on the notion that it's a first-rate organization on par with the UFC, and fans will continue to reject that nonsense. Let's face it, if you're a young MMA fighter just starting out these days, your dream is to fight in the UFC. No kid throws around a Nerf ball in his yard while imagining he's in the Arena league, and it's the same here. Just as it did with the WEC, reality will catch up eventually. @chuckmindenhall Now that you know picking against Jardine is a dangerous pastime, will you make the same mistake when he fights Rockhold? For those of you who don't know the backstory here, ESPN writer Chuck Mindenhall caught some flack from his peers for picking Jardine to beat Gegard Mousasi in their Strikeforce bout last spring. When the fight ended in a draw, Mr. Mindenhall claimed his pick had been vindicated, and insists to this day that he was "basically right." It's a baffling argument, and one that just won't die. Long story short: I'm picking Rockhold. Your move, Mindenhall. @monsieuryeye what do you think of the addition of the strikeforce heavyweights and which of them has the best chance to get the belt? The only thing I don't like about the decision to bring the Strikeforce heavies to the UFC is that it isn't happening immediately. I understand the desire to finish out the Grand Prix. Cormier-Barnett is an excellent fight, and one that ought to give that ambitious experiment some closure. But I don't see the point in doing one more fight with "a top-rated heavyweight," in Scott Coker's words, if ultimately they're all going to end up in the UFC anyway. As for who has the chance to get the gold in the UFC, I think sooner or later Cormier is going to end up as UFC champion. Barnett will be his toughest test to date, but win or lose I think the experience will only make him better. His combination of elite wrestling skills and knockout power is dangerous for any big man out there. @red_mattos If u were Joe Silva, who would @danhardymma face next? Would it be in UFC or would u send him to the minors aka strikeforce? Hardy has said that he'd like a go with Matt Hughes, who, as you'll recall, asked the UFC to put him on the shelf for a little while. I could see Hughes coming off the bench for this fight, if only because he thinks Hardy is a guy he could out-wrestle for a quick paycheck. Either way, I think Hardy's next fight will be in the UFC, and it will be a must-win for "The Outlaw." As I touched on in my feature about him earlier this week, that's a pressure that can sometimes hurt more than it helps. @richardelopez How does @MikeChiappetta get away with calling Tim Silvia a top tier opponent when he fought Fedor in Affliction? #mailbag I hate to back Chia up twice in one mailbag, but you have to put aside what we know about Sylvia now and think back to the way things were in 2008. As Dan Carlin says in one of my favorite podcasts, the thing you have to remember when assessing the people and events of the past is that we know their future -- they don't. The same holds true for Fedor and Big Timmy. After dropping the UFC title to Randy Couture via decision, Sylvia outpointed Brandon Vera (who seemed to be a rising star at the time) and was taking it to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira before he went and got himself submitted. Going into the fight with Fedor, he was still easily a top-ten heavyweight, and even Dana White admitted to being impressed with how easily Emelianenko dispatched him. It's easy to look at how far Sylvia has fallen since then and write him off, but at the time that was a legit test for Emelianenko, and he aced it. Now go tell Mike you're sorry. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, dont

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Chad Griggs will bring his 3-0 Strikeforce record, including two big upsets, to the UFC's heavyweight division in 2012.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, chad, chad griggs

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When Strikeforce and Showtime announced they had signed an extension that would effectively place the promotion on the premium channel until 2014, Scott Coker dropped a big chunk of news -- the Strikeforce heavyweight division would be killed following the Heavyweight Grand Prix. The reasoning is that there just isn't enough depth at the highest levels of the division and the heavyweights would be better suited in the UFC. With Chad Griggs and Fabricio Werdum announced as UFC bound, let's take an honest look at the Strikeforce heavyweight division and see how they'd fare in the UFC. All heavyweights will be taken from Strikeforce's official website. Antonio Silva: Bigfoot is coming off one of the most tumultuous of his career. He picked up a humongous win over Fedor Emelianenko, where he brutalized the Russian on the ground forcing the doctor to stop the fight in between the second and third rounds. Silva is a black belt in both judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu so he has the grappling skills to be dangerous against anyone yet also has the physical traits to be a monster on the feet. He's only faced defeat three times in his career, two coming by way of TKO. Silva could be a force in the mid-tier of the division like Cheick Kongo. The loss to Daniel Cormier creates suspicion in his ability to defeat a speedy boxer. Chad Griggs: "Griggs! You're getting too old for this stuff!" Chad Griggs may be the feel good story of 2010 and 2011 but at 33 and fighting on a regular basis for the first time since 2007, it may just be a case of it being too late for the muttonchopped mauler. His ability to take a punch should be commended as should his victory over Bobby Lashley, halting all talks that Lashley would be propelled to the top of the division. He's only suffered one loss in his career while in the IFL but his strength of schedule is terrible. His biggest win is over Gian Villante who was an undersized heavyweight and still hasn't developed as a light heavyweight. He'll fight the Rob Broughton's of the UFC but he'll never be a player in the heavyweight division. Daniel Cormier: Along with Josh Barnett, DC may be the biggest pick up for the UFC out of this entire deal. Former Olympic team captain, undefeated as a heavyweight, and heavy hands all make Cormier an interesting piece in the restructuring. Cormier has legitimate "world class" wrestling and has been successful at the highest levels. He's a little undersized for a heavyweight but his speed and footwork allow him to stand with anyone in the cage. Following his win over Antonio Silva in the semi-finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, fans and media made comparisons to Fedor. Cormier's age may be an issue as will his unwillingness to face Cain Velasquez but he'll be an immediate contender in the UFC's HW division. Josh Barnett: Josh's return to the UFC isn't guaranteed. Dana White has said time and time again that he'll never be in the Josh Barnett business ever again. For a while I was on this band wagon. It's not that I had anything wrong with Barnett as a fighter, I just hated his inability to accept responsibility for his own actions. He faces Daniel Cormier in March or April for the grand prix finals. He'll likely need to win to secure a UFC contract. If he does get past Cormier and is brought over he'll likely immediately challenge for the heavyweight strap. For all of his personal flaws, Barnett is still one of the best heavyweight's in the world. He'll be a huge asset to the division. Lavar Johnson: Johnson has been announced as the opponent of Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox 2. He's a feel good story in his return to MMA after getting shot in the abdomen and chest. He's heavy handed but just isn't elite. He'll float around the mid-tier facing the Beltran's and Barry's and will likely become a .500 fighter in the UFC. I know that Buffer is a consumate professional but even he may break down and laugh when saying "Lavar 'BIIIIIIIIG' JOHNSON!!!" Shane del Rosario: His return to the fight is unknown. This summer he was in a motorcycle accident and he suffered a herniated disk which forced him out of his fight with Daniel Cormier. Del Rosario is considered a top prospect at heavyweight as he's skilled no matter where the fight takes place. If/when he makes his return, he'll be a fighter to watch. Hopefully he hasn't lost too much of a step when that happens. Sergei Kharitonov: Sergei is another mystery as there is uncertainty about his contract. After all the issues with Golden Glory went down this summer and the strained relationship between the UFC and the camp, Sergei just very well be out of a job. He looked absolutely atrocious against Josh Barnett this summer and even when he looks good, he still looks physically out of shape. He has solid boxing and footwork but will get stopped by better boxers and grapplers. I also don't see any intriguing fights for him in the UFC where I say "I HAVE TO SEE THIS FIGHT!" If he's brought over he's a nice addition to round out the division but he won't be a factor for the belt with so many younger and hungrier fighters all vying for the title. Final Thoughts: Outside of Cormier and Barnett, there just aren't any elite level heavyweights in Strikeforce. There are some interesting match ups ahead of Antonio Silva and he'll likely remain in the top 10 but he'll never really be a major factor. Shane del Rosario could be an interesting pick up if he's healthy and able to return. The rest of these fighters will help fill out the 224 preliminary fights they'll hold in 2012.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, division, hell, cormier

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So far, so good for the UFC‘s hopes of getting Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar inside the Octagon at UFC 141. Overeem, who came under heavy scrutiny when he missed a test earlier this year to fly back to Holland and care for his ill mother, passed his initial pre-fight drug test. “The Reem” will still have to take additional tests when he arrives in the U.S., but the first hurdle has been cleared. “The urine sample by Mr. Overeem in the U.K. on 12/14 came back negative for all prohibited substances,” Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer said in a release. Since making a move from light heavyweight to heavyweight, Overeem has faced question after question about his use of banned substances. The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion has yet to ever fail a pre- or post-fight test. After missing those earlier tests, NSAC granted Overeem a conditional license to fight. Overeem and Lesnar, a former UFC heavyweight title-holder, will meet on Friday, December 30 for the No. 1 contender spot in the UFC’s biggest division. The winner will meet current champ Junior dos Santos sometime in 2012 after “Cigano” recovers from a knee injury. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, alistair overeem, test

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Despite some caginess on the part of Dana White (pun...intended), it's been revealed that Fabricio Werdum will indeed be returning to the UFC for a bout with Roy Nelson. From Nelson's Twitter: Ok guys you can buys tickets to @UFC 143 now since I am going to be on the card fighting Werdum. I can now officially talk about it! Nelson has gone 3-2-0 during his time with the UFC. Losses to former heavyweight champion Frank Mir and current heavyweight king Junior dos Santos left him in a precarious position within the organization, but Nelson made sure to right ship against Mirko Filipovic. After nearly being knocked out in the second round, Nelson took down and submitted the former PRIDE champion in the third. Werdum went 2-2-0 in his first UFC campaign, finding himself cut after what was, at the time, a surprising KO loss to Junior dos Santos. In the two years following his release Werdum won three straight bouts, including his unprecedented victory over Fedor Emelianenko. Most recently, however, Werdum suffered a close unanimous decision loss to Alistair Overeem in a tepid, three-round affair. I'd expect Werdum to enter the fight as a slight favorite, though given his hot-and-cold performances, combined with Nelson's own durability and finishing power, this looks to be a pretty competitive match. And for those of us keeping score, Strikeforce heavyweights to have made the jump to the UFC are: Werdum, Alistair Overeem, Lavar Johnson, and Chad Griggs

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, werdum, nelson, roy nelson

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Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceChad Griggs was just starting to get comfortable in Strikeforce when the UFC came calling. Or rather, maybe it was Strikeforce that was finally getting comfortable with Griggs. "I think after the last fight I started to feel good there," Griggs told MMA Fighting on Thursday. "They were kind of like, okay, fine. You're here. We're giving you some credit now." But with Strikeforce's heavyweight division now going the way of the WEC -- and with Griggs' contract expiring not long after his third consecutive victory in the organization -- Griggs and his management were ecstatic about the chance to sign a new deal with the UFC, especially now that his stock is higher than ever. "We've been talking for a while," said Griggs. "We've been throwing numbers back and forth for a little while because my contract was coming close to an end, so we were trying to figure out where I was going from here. I knew they were interested, and it was just a matter of if we could get the numbers right. I think we're both going to be happy. ...I'm excited about it, but now I've got to get in there and prove that I deserve to be there. It's time to put the work in and hopefully it pays off here in a few months." Before getting the call to face Bobby Lashley in his Strikeforce debut in August of 2010, Griggs had been toying with the idea of dropping to light heavyweight. He was a bit on the small side for the heavyweight division, he figured, but the chance to face a big name like Lashley was too great an opportunity to turn down, even if he knew what Strikeforce was expecting out of the bout. "Obviously Strikeforce doesn't want me to win," he told us before that fight. "But hey, they gave me the chance and now they've got to pay the consequences." Griggs not only won that bout, but also notched first-round stoppages in two subsequent fights, including a TKO win in a thrilling brawl with Gian Villante in a Grand Prix reserve bout in February of this year, followed by another quick win over Valentijn Overeem in June. Now that he's signed a new contract with the UFC, he's planning to stay at heavyweight for the foreseeable future, he said. "I'm not going to try and fix anything that's not broke. If I don't do well we may try something else...but for now I'll stay with what I know, and that's fighting the big boys." He has no official date or opponent for his UFC debut, Griggs said, but there have been discussions about slotting him in for an event in March of 2012. Most importantly, he finally feels like he's in an organization that is interested in him as a fighter rather than as a sacrificial lamb, he said. "But it's a plus and a minus. I'm going to a new league, so you've got to reestablish yourself and prove that you deserve to be there. It's like going to a new school, I guess. You want to fit in and do well, but at the same time I think they want to see me do well and they know I put on some good shows, so they're not sending me into the slaughter. They're giving me some respect." Griggs said he hopes to be able to announce an opponent and date for his first UFC fight in the next couple weeks, and urged fans to "keep an eye out for me." "I'm going to try and make some waves," he added. "Just put my head down and swing." And why not? It's worked out well so far, even if the people signing his checks didn't always expect it to. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, grigg

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Filed under: DREAM, M-1 GlobalThe best heavyweight in MMA history will make his return to the ring on New Year's Eve in Japan, when Fedor Emelianenko faces the former Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii, and the fan reaction to that fight has been decidedly mixed. On one hand, you have fans who loved seeing Fedor's glory days in Pride who figure that there's nothing wrong with seeing him back in Japan on New Year's Eve, which was once an annual tradition. On the other hand, you have fans who are disappointed that Fedor won't be facing a high-level opponent, as Ishii is just 4-1-1 in his MMA career and doesn't have anything close to the kind of MMA resume that Fedor has. The reality is that this fight -- and Fedor's fight in Moscow last month against Jeff Monson -- is just what we're going to see from the 35-year-old Fedor at this point, as he enters the last phase of his legendary career. We're not going to see Fedor against Top 10 competition anymore, so we might as well enjoy watching him against the competition he will face, guys like Ishii and Monson who are perfectly respectable but far from elite. Before I go any further, there's a little revisionist history to get out of the way: Some people like to claim that Fedor never fought high-quality competition, that all he did was "crush cans" in Japan. That's really not an accurate account of any stage of Fedor's career: He beat good opponents like Babalu Sobral and Ricardo Arona in Rings early in his career, beat good opponents like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Cro Cop in Pride in the prime of his career, and beat good opponents like Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski in Affliction late in his career. It's true that Fedor liked to mix in easy fights against the likes of Lee Hasdell and Yuji Nagata, but at his best he took on many of the best heavyweights in the world and beat them consistently. What has changed is simple: Fedor is not at his best anymore, and now he's not in a position to fight the best heavyweights anymore. The sport's top heavyweights are signed to exclusive Zuffa contracts, and so they're not going to be fighting Fedor any time soon. And really, Fedor shouldn't be fighting an elite heavyweight right now. After consecutive losses to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and Dan Henderson, taking a step back in quality of competition only made sense for Fedor, because he can't compete with the truly elite in the sport anymore. That's not a knock on Fedor, any more than it's a knock on Michael Jordan to say that he wasn't as good with the Washington Wizards as he was with the Chicago Bulls. It's just the reality with aging athletes. The good news about the Ishii fight is that while Fedor is a heavy favorite, it's not a mismatch to the same extent that Fedor's last New Year's Eve fight was. In that fight, on December 31, 2007, Fedor was still the No. 1 heavyweight in the world, and seeing him easily submit the Korean giant Hong Man Choi in a Japanese freak show felt like a waste of time. Ishii isn't on Fedor's level, but Fedor-Ishii in 2011 is a more competitive fight than Fedor-Choi in 2007 was. The other piece of good news is that this will be Fedor's fourth fight this year, making 2011 the most active year for Fedor since 2004, when he was the heavyweight champion in Pride. If you're a Fedor fan, seeing him fight frequently is not a bad thing. So that's where Fedor is at this late stage in his career. He's no longer fighting the best of the best on the biggest stages in the sport, but if you've enjoyed watching him fight, there are worse things than seeing him in the ring with Ishii on New Year's Eve. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, career, fedor, ishii

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"I think it's a bunch of bulls---. The fights that I've gotten hit, I've stood and banged with Heath Herring, Randy Couture, Frank Mir -- I've taken a lot of shots. I mean, Shane Carwin. And I've yet to be knocked out. I had refs stop a fight for a submission and a TKO, which is a referee stoppage. I've never been knocked out cold." -- Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar emphatically responds to a question from Sports Illustrated that questioned the mountain of a man's critics who say he has an inability to take a punch. Lesnar contends that he has yet to be put to sleep after being hit by some of the best heavyweights on the promotion's roster, which should be enough to prove his harshest critics wrong. At UFC 116, the former WWE star survived an onslaught of punches that had him backpedaling inside the Octagon by one of the most dangerous and powerful strikers in the heavyweight division, Shane Carwin. Lesnar absorbed everything Carwin could "Engineer" and proceeded to submit him in the second round after he was unable to capitalize with his vicious ground-and-pound. Three months later, Lesnar lost his UFC heavyweight strap to Cain Velasquez via technical knockout. The former All-American collegiate wrestling standout will have a chance to prove his critics wrong yet again on Dec. 30, 2011, at UFC 141, when he collides with arguably one of the best heavyweight strikers in all of mixed martial arts (MMA) -- former K-1 Grand Prix champion, Alistair Overeem. Will Lesnar be able to absorb the heavy bombs that surely await him when he steps up against "The Demolition Man?" Or will Overeem be the first to put Lesnar to sleep with his proven punching power?

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, lesnar, punch, ive

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Head trainer at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) Javier Mendez knows a thing or two about game planning. Training top mixed martial arts (MMA) stars such as B.J. Penn, Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Daniel Cormier and former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in San Jose, Calif., Mendez's successful track record of his past and present pupils speaks for itself. So it may come as a surprise if one if his star students strays away from a structured gameplan during an important fight. However, that's exactly what Cain Velasquez did in his first title defense against Junior dos Santos back on Nov. 12, 2011, in the inaugural UFC on Fox 1 show. Velasquez -- an accomplished collegiate wrestler -- chose to go toe-to-toe with arguably one of the greatest strikers in the UFC's heavyweight division. It turned out to be a terrible idea. "Cigano" connected a well-placed right hand to the back of Velasquez' ear that sent him tumbling to the canvas and proceeded to follow up with several fight-ending strikes just for good measure. In A matter of 64 seconds, dos Santos ended Velasquez's short-lived reign atop the UFC's heavyweight division, sending the previously unbeaten Mexican heavyweight back to the blackboard. A blackboard that, according to Mendez, didn't include plans of trading punches in the first place with the Brazilian heavyweight. As Mendez tells Tatame.com, Velasquez knows what he did wrong, as well as what he has to do to remedy the issues should he get the opportunity to reclaim his title. Check it out: "Cain knows he blew it, that he stopped before the guy (Junior), but he's confident that he'll have the chance to fight for the championship again. Possibly in two or three fights from now. He first has to prove he deserves that chance, so he'll have to defeat his two next opponents, or at least one in a convincing way so that Zuffa says "ok, you deserve another shot". When Zuffa offer us that fight, we'll work on it. When we started training, the first thing I told him was not to trade punches with Junior. I told him not to stand before him because the guy's a great boxer, the best in activity. Once you do that, you're screwed. I did my job. The fight presented itself, Cain stood in front of him for a seconds and Junior landed a powerful right hand. Junior came prepared, Cain was prepared, but the win went to the one who imposed first his game, and that was Junior." With the planned addition of the Strikeforce heavyweight roster in early 2012, the UFC will now have a deeper talent pool waiting for Velasquez once he returns to the Octagon, meaning his climb back to the top could be a little tougher (and perhaps longer) than initially expected. There is no timetable set for Velasquez's return to action at this time. When it is time to consider it, however, perhaps a fight with the streaking Frank Mir could be a good test for the former heavyweight kingpin, which is actually a fight Mir isn't necessarily opposed to. It would certainly get him on the fast track back to a rematch with the Brazilian champion. And perhaps at that point he'd be able to utilize his proficient wrestling abilities to exact revenge. Unless, of course, dos Santos can serve up another gameplan-smashing right hand before "Brown Pride" can get going.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, velasquez, mendez

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Chad Griggs, who made a name for himself on the heavyweight scene when he earned a TKO victory over Bobby Lashley, is headed to the UFC. Griggs won his last three fights in Strikeforce but the promotion is in the process of having its heavyweight division absorbed by the UFC, instead focusing its attention on other weight classes. Griggs joins Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum as former Strikeforce heavyweights signed by the UFC. MMAWeekly was the first to break the news on Griggs’ signing. No opponent or date for his debut have been announced. “The Grave Digger” is 11-1 in his career with the only defeat coming back in 2007 via submission to Shane Ott. His most recent performance came against Valentijn Overeem in June who he beat soundly in the opening round of action. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, grigg, valentijn overeem

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As 2011 comes to a close, the inaugural UFC on Fuel TV fight card grows bigger, literally. UFC officials on Wednesday announced the addition of a heavyweight bout.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, tv, ufc officials, fuel

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Following last week’s announcement that Strikeforce would be dissolving their heavyweight division for the coming year, word has come that Strikeforce heavyweights Chad Griggs and Lavar Johnson will be moving over to the UFC. MMA Weekly has the report on Griggs. The migration of former Strikeforce heavyweights to the UFC continues as Chad Griggs has signed a new deal to move over to the UFC in 2012. Sources close to the fighter confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday that Griggs will move to the UFC and begin fighting there in the new year. It’s unknown exactly where and when Griggs will make his UFC debut, however Lavar Johnson already has a fight scheduled. The UFC has confirmed that Johnson will take on Joey Beltran at UFC on FOX 2 in his first UFC fight. Less than one week after UFC president Dana White announced that Strikeforce would no longer be promoting heavyweight contests, UFC executives today announced Lavar Johnson (15-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has been imported to the UFC and will meet Joey Beltran (13-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC). The two heavyweights will clash at UFC on FOX 2, which takes place Jan. 28 at Chicago’s United Center. The night’s main card airs on FOX, but Beltran vs. Johnson is expected to take place on the evening’s preliminary card. Griggs and Johnson aren’t the only ones making the move. MMA Weekly reported last week that Fabricio Werdum had re-signed with the UFC and would face Roy Nelson at UFC 143. The UFC still hasn’t made it official, however both Werdum and Nelson both confirmed it today, so an announcement is likely imminent. I may be missing a few, but that still leaves Antonio Silva, Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. Silva, who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, hopes to make the jump next year as well, however there hasn’t been any movement on that front as of yet. Barnett and Cormier are expected to meet in the Heavyweight Grand Prix finals in March. The winner will then fight one more time on Showtime against a “top heavyweight.” I would assume the winner would then move to the UFC, but that’s still unclear. All in all, it looks like the Strikeforce heavyweights are moving on to bigger and better things. Bet Gilbert Melendez wishes he was about a 100 pounds heavier.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, johnson, grigg

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submitted by DeadFlux [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, division, deadflux

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First it was Alistair Overeem, then Fabricio Werdum, and now apparently Chad Griggs will follow suit in joining the UFC roster after Zuffa recently announced their plan to do away with Strikeforce’s heavyweight division. Though no official reason was given for the organization’s decision, the widespread assumption is that axing the heavyweights will serve as a means of increasing the UFC’s depth in that department. According to a report from MMAWeekly, Griggs has signed on to compete inside the Octagon next year thought the date of his actual debut is still up in the air. However, it’s likely he will fight sooner than later given that “The Gravedigger” has been out of action since June. A Detailed Look at Griggs’ Last Win The 33-year old Griggs holds an overall record of 11-1 and has won his last six scraps including victories over Bobby Lashley, Gian Villante, and most recently Valentijn Overeem. Adding to his appeal, Griggs has never gone the distance, finishing all eleven of his opponents (nine TKOs, two submissions) while suffering his lone career loss nearly five years ago courtesy of a Kimura. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, year, chad griggs, grigg

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Are UFC fans prepared for the "swagger" of former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem? Or will Brock Lesnar be a swagger-jacker at UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas? MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden examines the possibilities here.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, brock lesnar, ufc fans, alistair

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There's some heavyweight horsepower headed to the UFC on FOX 2 fight card, as Lavar Johnson migrates from Strikeforce to challenge 265-pound scrapper Joey Beltran on the network televised special scheduled for Jan. 28, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brought word of the heavyweight hook-up late last night. Johnson was considered one of the top division prospects under the Strikeforce banner; however, a seven-fight win streak quickly spiraled into back-to-back losses when Shane Del Rosario and Shawn Jordan exploited the "Big" hole in his submission defense. The heavy-handed power puncher is hoping for a fresh start inside the Octagon. Standing in his way in Beltran, who is a mediocre 3-3 since signing with the world's largest fight promotion but puts on thrilling performances that have transcended his win/loss record to date. Aside from Mexicuting Rolles Gracie and Tim Hague, Beltran also pounded out Aaron Rosa and has never been knocked out in 19 professional fights. Expect fireworks in this one. UFC on FOX 2, which will mark the promotion's second appearance on network television, will be headlined by a light heavyweight number one contender bout, as Rashad Evans and Phil Davis return from injuries to battle for the right to fight division champion Jon Jones. For the latest "Evans vs. Davis" news and notes check out our comprehensive event archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, heavyweight, beltran

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It didn’t take long for the UFC to start bringing over Strikeforce heavyweights. Less than one week after UFC president Dana White announced that the Strikeforce heavyweight division would cease to exist in 2012, Lavar Johnson has been called up to the big time to face Joey Beltran at UFC on FOX 2. The heavyweight slugfest will be part of the nights preliminary card. The bout has been confirmed by UFC officials. “Big” Johnson will be looking to stop a two fight slide, dropping his last two bouts by submission to Shane del Rosario and Shawn Jordan. Having never gone to a decision in 20 professional fights, Johnson has stopped 13 opponents by way of (T)KO. Perhaps his biggest victory came back in 2009 and happened outside of the cage. During a Fourth of July family reunion, Johnson was shot twice and spent over a month in the hospital, reportedly in serious condition. Johnson pulled through though and returned to training upon being released. A fellow banger, also in a must-win situation, Beltran has lost three of his last four, dropping decisions to Matt Mitrione, Pat Barry, and Stipe Miocic but picking up a victory over Aaron Rosa prior to his bout with Miocic. Like Johnson, the majority of Beltran’s victories have come by way of (T)KO, finishing 11 of 13 opponents via strikes. In six career losses, “The Mexicutioner” has only been finished once back in 2008. UFC on FOX 2 is scheduled for January 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The event will be headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between former champion Rashad Evans and top contender Phil Davis. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, bout, heavyweight, johnson, beltran

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With consecutive wins over Fedor Emelianenko, Mike Kyle and Andrei Arlovski, former EliteXC champ Antonio Silva looked well on his way to establishing himself as one of MMA's top heavyweights. Then he ran into Daniel Cormier, who booted Silva out of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix with a surprising first-round knockout. As it turns out, the loss provided Silva with a valuable lesson he promises to carry with him for the remainder of his career - a career that looks as if may now play out in the UFC.

Posted in: heavyweight, silva, andrei arlovski, daniel cormier, strikeforces heavyweight

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Following on the heels of Strikeforce's revelation that they'll discontinuing their heavyweight division comes the announcement that Strikeforce mainstay Lavar Johnson will be facing off against Joey Beltran as part of January 28th's UFC on Fox 2 show. Aside from Fabricio Werdum's rumored return to the UFC (which Dana White has since declined to confirm) Johnson represents the first of the Strikeforce heavyweights to make the move over to the Octagon. With heavy hands and a penchant for slugging it out, Johnson became something of a fan-favorite in Strikeforce, beginning his promotional campaign with three straight victories by (T)KO. A February bout with Shane del Rosario would see Johnson's streak would come to an end, however, with Johnson submitting to an arm bar in the closing minute of the first round. He'd hoped to rebound this past September against Shawn Jordan, but was again submitted--after a raucous first round, an exhausted Johnson found himself on the mat, stuck in a fight-ending kimura. It suggests a lot, that a heavyweight in a rut two fights deep should be an an immediately viable addition to the UFC (I can't remember the last time anyone else was brought on after going winless the year prior). Certainly it speaks to the generally shallow heavyweight talent pool that we hear so much about. And of course it tells us that until a 250-pound Anderson Silva makes himself known, the UFC is going to content itself with employing heavyweights who they can count on for fireworks. Most interesting to me, however, is what this decision says about the chances of other Strikeforce heavyweights making the move. If Johnson is in, then we could surely expect to see del Rosario, Daniel Cormier, and Chad Griggs on a UFC broadcast as well. Likewise, one could certainly make a strong case for the additions of Werdum, del Rosario and Sergei Kharitonov, all of whom went 1-1-0 this year, unlike Johnson. Yet, the biggest fish in that pond is also the one with the biggest question mark over his file. Josh Barnett is most likely the strongest fighter that could be (re)introduced to the UFC heavyweight division, but given his highly contentious past with Dana White and Co., it's hard to tell what exactly his chances are. Dare to dream, right?

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, johnson, strikeforce heavyweights

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The Strikeforce heavyweights are coming. Less than one week after UFC president Dana White announced that Strikeforce would no longer be promoting heavyweight contests, UFC executives today announced Lavar Johnson has been imported to the UFC and will meet Joey Beltran. The two heavyweights will clash at UFC on FOX 2, which takes place Jan. 28 at Chicago's United Center.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, lavar johnson, joey beltran, strikeforce heavyweights

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Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi, fresh off a unanimous decision win over Ovince St. Preux back on Dec. 17, wants his 205-pound title back. And if he can reclaim it, while also defeating the man who took it from him, Muhammed Lawal, than Mousasi can "prove something at 205," which he intends to do before an eventual move to heavyweight. Now that Dan Henderson has bolted for the greener pastures of the UFC, "The Dreamcatcher" can be one of just a handful of light heavyweights vying for the promotion's vacated division crown. "My only loss in a couple years has been to King Mo, so I would definitely like that fight, especially if it's a title fight. Light heavyweight isn't that bad in Strikeforce you have Mike Kyle, Feijao, King Mo, me, there's some upcoming guys so it's getting stacked even more. It's getting better. I think it suits me better if I stay busy. My last fight was five months ago and it didn't do me well, I believe. I'm now a bigger 205, I need to win a lot more fights at 205, prove something at 205. At the end of my career, I would still like to finish as a heavyweight." Hear more from Mousasi, courtesy of Fighting Famous TV, after the jump. To see how his fight unfolded against Ovince St. Preux at last weekend's Strikeforce event in San Diego click here.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, light, mousasi

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Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir has heard about all the great heavyweights outside of the UFC for years now. Thanks to the addition of Strikeforce under the Zuffa banner, and the decision to include Strikeforce’s heavyweight division in the UFC in 2012, Mir will no longer have to dream about becoming the best in the world. Mir, who recently defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the second time in his career, is excited about seeing the likes of Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, and Fabricio Werdum inside the Octagon. “I think it’s only a benefit to move them over to us. I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth because of what happened when I first started my career. I had to always hear about, ‘Oh, you guys are good, but the PRIDE guys would kick your butt.’ And then that frustration of not being able to get to them,” said Mir, in an interview with ESPN’s MMA Insiders radio station. “I don’t want to hear that (who’s the best discussion anymore). I want to know that anybody in the division…’you think that you can beat me? Hey, Joe Silva, is he clear? Okay, cool, let’s fight.” Mir has held both undisputed and interim championships. The Las Vegas native has won three straight fights since a loss to Shane Carwin back in 2010 including his “Submission of the Year” finish of “Minotauro” at UFC 140. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, mir, heavyweight, zuffa banner

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight kingpin Frank Mir is probably getting sick of rematches. That could explain why he's so happy to have his heavyweight counterparts over at Strikeforce join him early next year inside the Octagon, adding some much needed depth to the 265-pound division. Mir talks to ESPN 1100/98.9 FM's "MMA Insiders" show (via Yahoo Sports): "We don't have the type of depth that the other weight classes have and I think it's only a benefit to move them (Strikeforce heavyweights) over to us. I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth because of what happened when I first started my career. I had to always hear about, 'Oh, you guys are good, but the PRIDE guys would kick your butt.' There is no comparison and then that frustration of not being able to get to them. And then when Nogueira came over and Mirko, ( I ) got a hold of them. 'Yeah, but there is still Fedor.' I don't want to hear that. I want to know that anybody that is in the division, it's like if you think you can beat me, 'Hey Joe Silva, is he clear?' Okay, cool, let's fight. Now we can solve it you know? That whole unattainable thing just drives me insane." Some of the Strikeforce heavyweights will make the jump over to the UFC due to the planned termination of the division in 2012. Mir is hoping to prove that all the best of the big boys reside in the UFC, much like he did when he went three for three against two former PRIDE FC heavyweight champions in Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Filipovic; who many believed were the cream of the crop during their heyday in the PRIDE organization. With potential additions such as Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Silva; Mir, or any other UFC heavyweight for that matter, will have no shortage of opponents should the move come to pass. Fresh of his first round submission victory of "Minotauro" at UFC 140 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, back on Dec. 10, 2011, Mir is patiently waiting to see just who UFC matchmakers pair him up against. Should it be one of the Strikeforce heavyweights? Who do you feel would be a good match-up for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt?

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, mir, heavyweight, strikeforce heavyweights

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As a massive 6-foot-3 heavyweight who cuts weight to make the 265-pound heavyweight limit, former UFC champion Brock Lesnar is no stranger to questions regarding performance-enhancing substance use. But as he prepares for his UFC 141 contest with former Strikeforce titleholder Alistair Overeem, all the question marks have been centered around his chiseled Dutch opponent. Pay no mind, says Lesnar. When you're in the spotlight, you can expect some scrutiny. A shot at UFC heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos hangs in the balance, and there's simply no time for distractions.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, cuts weight, overeems plight, question marks

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In a recent interview with Vadim Finkelstein at championat.com, Fedor Emelianenko's manager has some choice things to say about UFC president Dana White. It starts out with him explaining that the only fight they were willing to take at DREAM was the fight they took against Satoshi Ishii and transitions into taking some shots at the UFC and Dana. From the interview (transcribed on The Underground by judom): - There is information that Fedor will get 500,000$ for the Ishii fight. This is a solid sum considering the financial problems DREAM has experienced lately. The sum 500,000$ is incorrect. This is all nonsense. At this moment, for us, the key thing is the level of the opponent, and not how much we get paid. I can say that if we were unable to agree with Ishii, we wouldn't participate in this tournament. We had concurrent offers with other DREAM fighters, but this is not for Fedor's level, and we didn't want to have a fight with mediocre fighters, taking a step backwards. We want to be taking steps forward and we will follow this in the future. - So, these steps forward, likely implies that next year will be rich in events. What will that be for Fedor ? We want to have 3 fights. One in Russia, one in Europe, and one in the USA. We really want to get a rematch with Werdum, but he is locked up in the prison called UFC, and because of that arranging for him to fight Fedor would be very difficult. Dana White is like a dog on hay -- he neither eats it himself, nor lets the others eat it. There are many other good fighters, whom we are considering. For instance, Josh Barnett. We need to wait for the StrikeForce HW's tournament to end and then we can see how likely it is that we can arrange a fight. This is just the reality of having a heavyweight without a Zuffa contract. Ishii is about as good of an option as there is for Fedor. The only top 25 heavyweights who aren't currently signed to the UFC or Strikeforce are Fedor and Cole Konrad, and Bellator isn't letting Konrad fight anyone but other Bellator fighters any time soon. With the Strikeforce heavyweight division being eliminated it may free up someone decent but I don't see Zuffa just dumping a high level heavyweight fighter. SBN coverage of DREAM: New Year! 2011

Posted in: fight, fighter, heavyweight, fedor, ishii

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Dec. 19, 2011) in advance of UFC 141: "Lesnar vs Overeem," which will take place at the end of the year (Dec. 30, 2011). The conference call will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters of the evening, Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, who will be battling for the right to challenge for the UFC heavyweight title. Lesnar is the former UFC heavyweight champion. The ex-WWE superstar and national champion Minnesota wrestler lost his title last year to Cain Velasquez. He's had a much publicized battle with diverticulitis which was (hopefully) finally cured with surgery earlier this year. His opponent, Alistair Overeem, is one of the scariest heavyweights on the planet. The Dutch kickboxer has not lost an MMA fight since 2007 and left Strikeforce as the promotion's heavyweight champion. But that's not all. He also won the single night K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix to become a kickboxing champion last year. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 141 conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, conference, year, lesnar

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Alistair Overeem was just 23 years old, a light heavyweight wielding a big wooden hammer before every fight as “The Demolition Man.” But even then, as a 16-3 prospect on the rise getting ready to face Chuck Liddell in PRIDE’s 2003 205-pound Grand Prix, his philosophy on fighting was one he carries with him to the present day.“To win a fight is awesome on its own, but to finish a fight before the official time limit by way of KO is indescribable,” he said back then. “I’m a true believer that a fight can be decided by one punch, one kick or one knee. You just have to be patient, wait for that right moment and of course have the abilities to do so.”Over eight years since that comment, Overeem has gone on to move to the heavyweight division, win the Strikeforce and Dream heavyweight titles in MMA and the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix in kickboxing, and on December 30th, he will make his UFC debut against Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141. Here are five of his greatest hits...Vitor Belfort I – April 23, 2005 – PRIDE Total Elimination 2005Result – Overeem Wsub1Following a knockout loss to Liddell in 2003, Overeem won two fights outside of PRIDE before returning to the promotion in 2004 with a TKO of Hiromitsu Kanehara. Four months later, he would drop a decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, putting his PRIDE slate at 3-2 and making him the perfect foil for the return of Vitor Belfort, who was fresh off a five fight stint in the UFC in which he won and lost the light heavyweight title against Randy Couture. Overeem didn’t play along though, and he was far from rattled by the level of opposition or the magnitude of the fight. Instead, he showed off solid striking, good defense off his back, and after rocking “The Phenom” with a knee, he fired off a series of ground strikes before sinking in a guillotine choke and forcing a tap out.Badr Hari I – December 31, 2008 – Dynamite 2008Result – Overeem KO1Having periodically dabbled in kickboxing since 1999, Overeem began to take it more seriously in the latter part of the last decade, and his first major bout in that realm of combat sports was against one of the most feared men in the game, Badr Hari. And if you want to talk about statement making wins, this was it. Confident from the start, Overeem sent Hari down for the first time with a lightning fast left knee followed by a short left hook that you will miss if you blink. Hari made it back to his feet, but a second left hook finished him off, and now Overeem wasn’t just dangerous in MMA, he was about to make some serious noise in kickboxing.Brett Rogers – May 15, 2010 – Strikeforce: Heavy ArtilleryResult – Overeem TKO1Despite Overeem’s wins over top-notch talents like Belfort, after three consecutive PRIDE losses to Nogueira, Ricardo Arona, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, it was clear that for him to truly make a mark in MMA, he would have to do it as a heavyweight. In 2007, he made the full-time move to life among the big men, and celebrated in November of that year by defeating Paul Buentello for the first Strikeforce heavyweight title. That San Jose bout was the last Stateside fans saw him in for two and a half years, so when he came back to face Brett Rogers in St. Louis, expectations were high, especially since the raw but heavy handed Rogers gave Fedor Emelianenko a solid fight before getting finished in the second round. Rogers wouldn’t be so lucky against Overeem, who needed just 3:40 to send “The Grim” packing. Now the speculation would begin in earnest about how Overeem would fare in the UFC.Peter Aerts II – December 11, 2010 – K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final Result – Overeem KO1A month before the Rogers bout, Overeem put all his cards on the table and began a journey not many believed he could complete – competing in and winning the prestigious K-1 World Grand Prix. Yet by December, wins over Dzevad Poturak and Ben Edwards landed him in the final leg of the tournament. To win, Overeem would have to win three times in one night, and amazingly he did just that, decisioning Tyron Spong, halting Gokhan Saki, and then capping off this unlikely run with a 67 second stoppage of kickboxing legend Peter Aerts.Todd Duffee – December 31, 2010 – Dynamite 2010Result – Overeem KO1You figure three K-1 fights in one night would have earned Overeem a nice holiday break. Uh-uh. Instead, he accepted a New Year’s Eve bout against UFC vet Todd Duffee for the Dream heavyweight crown. He described his December to remember earlier this year before his Strikeforce win over Fabricio Werdum.“We fought in the final 16 in October, came back home, took a week off to recover, then we went back to Japan in November to do a media tour, which was like 10 days,” said Overeem. “Then we went back home, before going to Thailand for a two week training camp, then from Thailand to Japan for the K-1 finals, won three fights, and then there was a lot of media stuff afterward, a lot of television shows. Then a new opportunity came to fight for the Dream heavyweight title and we grabbed it with both hands. That was December 31. I was gone for six weeks, I came home with two belts, four fights, and a lot of new experience.”Yeah, he won that fight with Duffee, needing only 19 seconds to do so. Now Overeem will be bringing his punches, knees, and an underrated submission game (19 of 35 wins have come via tapout) to the UFC. It’s going to be quite an experience.

Posted in: fight, overeem, heavyweight, year, december

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Yesterday, during a conference call concerning the future of Strikeforce, Dana White and Scott Coker revealed that the promotion would live on, albeit with some changes. One of those changes will be the dissolution of the SF heavyweight division, which will be annexed by the UFC. This is absolutely phenomenal news. Heavyweight has always wanted for depth and talent. Merging the two most talent rich HW divisions in the sport can only mean good things for the fans. Playing fantasy matchmaker, we'll take a look at some potential match ups for the revitalized division. Chad "The Grave Digger" Griggs v. Dave "Pee Wee" Herman "Muttonchops" Griggs is a man who just doesn't know when he's supposed to lose. He was called up to Strikeforce in August 2010 to be fodder for former pro-wrestler Bobby Lashley. Apparently, Griggs didn't get the memo, and won the fight when Lashley was unable to answer the bell for the 3rd round. Chad went on to defeat Gian Villante, then Valentijn Overeem as an alternate in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Gran Prix. Although he might not be the most technical fighter, Griggs is without a doubt and exciting fighter and has no problem indulging in a fan-friendly brawl. Enter Dave Herman, despite only having one fight in the UFC, Pee Wee boasts a record of 21-2 and has only seen the judges' scorecards once. In a fast-paced slobberknocker, Herman gained a TKO victory over Jon Olav Einemo in his UFC debut. Like Griggs, Pee Wee will strike wildly and will hold a distinct advantage on the ground as "that Jiu Jitsu stuff doesn't work on [him]." This is the definition of a guilty pleasure fight and is far too much fun not to make. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva v.Travis Browne Bigfoot Silva had a very solid run with Strikeforce, after a decision loss to grappling-ace Fabricio Werdum, Silva went on a 3 fight win streak including wins over Andrei Arlovski, Mike Kyle, and Fedor Emilianenko. With a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and 11 of his 16 wins via KO/TKO, Bigfoot is a threat anywhere the fight takes place. Travis Browne is an exciting and undefeated prospect in the heavyweight division. He burst onto the UFC scene with a first round KO of James McSweeney, then ran into trouble when Cheick Kongo decided to spend 15 minutes clinging to his shorts. Browne came out with a draw, and went on to Superman punch KO Stefan Struve in spectacular fashion. After a lackluster decision against Rob Broughton, Silva is the perfect test to see where Browne stands in the heavyweight division See the rest after the jump. Fabricio Werdum v. Roy Nelson I'm picking this one, mostly because it's already been announced, although it's not yet "official". Werdum is coming off one of the most decried performances in recent history in his Heavyweight Gran Prix Semi-final bout against Alistair Overeem. His propensity to drop to the floor and invite Reem into his guard was not appreciated by many MMA fans. Aside from that performance however, Werdum did very well in SF. After submitting Mike Kyle and winning a decision against Bigfoot Silva, Fabricio became the first man to legitimately defeat the great Fedor Emelianenko. Coming out of the IFL and winning The Ultimate Fighter: Season 10, Big Country Nelson made his mark in the UFC. Known as much for his rotund physique as his exciting style, Nelson picked up 3 TKO victories against Brendan Schaub, Stefan Struve, and Mirko Filipovic. However, against Frank Mir and Junior Dos Santos, Big Country showed a difficulty in handling the bigger men in the division. Fabricio needs to rebound from his infamous performance and Nelson must prove that he is still capable of defeating larger men. Josh Barnett v. Frank Mir Maybe one of the most controversial fighters at the elite level of MMA today, Josh Barnett has set himself to reach the top of the mountain again. After three failed steroids tests and some time fighting in Japan, Strikeforce signed Barnett and immediately put him into their Heavyweight tournament. Against both Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov, Josh used his elite Catch Wrestling abilities to stop both men with an arm triangle. His next test is Daniel Cormier in the Gran Prix finals, but shortly after that both men will be brought over to the UFC. Frank Mir is a two time former UFC HW champion. He's been competing at the top of the division for years and, in his latest outing, locked Minotauro Nogueira in the most brutal Kimura I've ever seen, snapping Big Nog's arm in the process. Mir is poised to make another run at the title following the winner of UFC 141's Main Event between Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar. If Barnett defeats Cormier in the Finals, he'll have three strong wins in the division in under a year and be ready to prove he deserves a shot at the belt. Daniel Cormier v. Anyone Honestly, there is not a single fight at the top of the heavyweight division that doesn't interest me with Cormier. A former Olympic Wrestling team captain, Cormier is undefeated and is coming off a an impressive KO over Bigfoot Silva. Despite being undersized as a heavyweight, Daniel has had little trouble as he's advanced up the ranks. His striking improves with every fight and his elite wrestling gives him an edge over pretty much anyone in the division. If he's able to defeat the crafty veteran Josh Barnett, he could easily take Barnett's place against Mir and fight to contend for the title. If he loses in the finals, there's still plenty of options and I'd like to see him fight Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira. Despite all the talk of "Zombie Nog" after Nogueira's poor run in 2010, Big Nog has returned in 2011 looking very good. He got an amazing 1st round TKO against Brendan Schaub and almost did the same to Mir before the kimura. With either match up, Cormier gets a real test for his entrance to the UFC against well-known talent.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, division, cormier

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"People have accused me of using steroids since I was 17. I remember my first fight, my girlfriend was in the audience, and she told me people, jealous guys, were whispering I was taking steroids. That was when I was 17. I was a middleweight back then. All I can say is my side of the story. When I was 20, I was already a natural heavyweight. I weighed 222 pounds. Cutting the weight to light heavyweight worked out in the beginning, but I couldn't do a strength and conditioning program and I was dieting all the time. When I made the decision to move to heavyweight, I went on a food program, [and] strength and conditioning program, and I gradually gained weight. Eleven years ago, I was 222 pounds. Now I'm 265. That's 40 pounds added in 11 years. I firmly believe everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. We have free speech. If people want to talk that way, let them talk that way. I can't control what people say. If they want to insinuate things, that's fine. I'm too occupied with my own career to bother with it." -- Think musclebound former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is using steroids? Big deal. "The Reem" tells ESPN.com he's been dealing with accusations since all the way back when he was just a 17-year-old kid trying to impress his girlfriend. His message for the haters? He's "too occupied with my own career" to even bother with all that noise. It's a good thing, too, because he's got a 265-pound beast ready to bumrush him inside the Octagon at UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the form of a motivated Brock Lesnar. Motivated because he wants to get his world title back and prove to the world that the 12 inches of intestines he had ripped out of his guts won't hold him back. Overeem is also eager to send a message to the nonbelievers that he truly belongs in the UFC and he's no secondary champion. So you see? Steroids are small potatoes. The Brockness Monster is not. Priorities, Maniacs.

Posted in: pound, heavyweight, people, steroid, he

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A major part of the Strikeforce announcement was the disbanning of the heavyweight division following the end of the Grand Prix. The winner of Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will fight once more and then the division is getting shut down. The reasoning is that heavyweight just isn't deep enough to have two separate divisions under the same Zuffa banner. With the division being absorbed into the UFC, how will the Strikeforce heavyweights match up with their UFC counterparts? At the very top Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett are fighting for the Grand Prix belt. Both fighters have the talent and skill set to be immediate factors in the UFC. Cormier, thought a bit undersized, has the punching power and wrestling to be competitive and Barnett is still one of the best heavyweights in the world. Fabricio Werdum is rumored to be fighting Roy Nelson, though that fight has no been confirmed by the UFC and Dana wouldn't confirm it on yesterday's press call. Antonio Silva is a major question mark in my mind. He's obviously skilled in both Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai; however, he's also lumbering and chin-y. He scored a huge win over Fedor Emelianenko in the opening round of the grand prix and his post-fight tears was one of the feel good moments of the year in MMA. When he faced Cormier in the semi-finals, he was embarrassed and knocked out. Though it could be attributed to Daniel's speed and footwork, Silva just didn't have any answers on the feet. It is doubtful that the UFC will sign Sergei Kharitonov who was made to look like a chump against Josh Barnett. Blasting Andrei Arlovski into the next dimension just isn't as impressive as it once was. Sergei has legitimate boxing skills but his inability to get off his back against Barnett is a major concern. His lack of english makes him a booking nightmare and he just doesn't capture fans. The remainder of the the Heavyweight Grand Prix participants are either already under UFC contract such as Alistair Overeem or persona non grata with Zuffa such as Brett Rogers and Fedor Emelianenko. There are two interesting prospects in Chad Griggs and Shane del Rosario but neither are ready for the top tier of the heavyweight division. The Strikeforce heavyweights will provide a much needed infusion of new talent into the UFC heavyweight division but outside of Cormier and Barnett, it is doubtful that any of the fighters brought over will truly test any of the top guys in the UFC. The UFC's heavyweight division is just deeper and more talented which means there is a strong possibility that the Strikeforce fighters washout soon after making their debuts. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Poll Can the Strikeforce Heavyweights compete in the UFC? Sure thing! Maaaaybe... No wai!   64 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, division, strikeforce heavyweights

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Billy Evangelista talks to MMAWeekly.com's Erik Fontanez about how he started his career in MMA.

Posted in: billy, evangelista, mmaweeklycom, career, heavyweight

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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

Read the full article at MMA Mania

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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Somebody drew the short straw during contract negotiations between Strikeforce and Showtime and while we've yet to verify their identity, it looks as though they weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 265-pounds. Under today's contract extension, one that will see the Strikeforce brand of mixed martial arts (MMA) soldier on through 2014 as part of the Showtime network's combat sports programming, the heavyweight division will be eliminated by the end of next year. From UFC President Dana White: We'll be doing 6-8 events a year and we'll be focusing on key weight-classes and the women's division. We'll focus on the weight divisions that are strong. The heavyweight division isn't deep enough so we'll do away with the Strikeforce heavyweight division. The women's division is very popular and we're gonna keep it. The Strikeforce heavyweight division still has some unfinished business and as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza explained, the network wants to tie a ribbon on the heavyweight grand prix tournament. From the Showtime perspective, it felt incomplete and we wanted to run this tournament to its conclusion and then put an exclamation point on it. That means we're still in line for a tournament final pitting longtime veteran Josh Barnett against undefeated up-and-comer Daniel Cormier. After that? The grand prix winner will then have to prove it wasn't a fluke against an opponent to be named, leaving the division's shelf life at a minimum of two fights. As of now, there just isn't enough talent to sustain it, especially after poaching Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum for the greener pastures of the UFC. What say you Maniacs, good move for MMA? Anyone hoping to get Sergei Kharitonov and "Bigfoot" Silva inside the Octagon? Anyone? For more on today's contract extension between Strikeforce and Showtime click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, showtime, division, womens division

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Moments ago on the Strikeforce media call to announce the new Showtime deal, it was announced that Strikeforce will be doing away with the heavyweight division in the near future. The way that the set-up is sounds as though Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will meet in the Strikeforce Grand Prix finals and the winner will fight one more time against a (as it was put) "top heavyweight contender." After that fight, the heavyweight division will be eliminated in the promotion with fighters presumably moving to the UFC based on the promotion's desire. UFC president Dana White said on the call that the division just is not deep enough to have it in both promotions and they will instead focus on the other classes and women's MMA. When asked if any other division would get cut the answer was an absolute "no." They also clarified that they would continue to operate 135 and 145 for the women, even if they do attempt to get some of the bigger name fighters together for big fights as Dana once again brought up depth issues. We'll have much more news on Strikeforce today as details continue to emerge.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, division, heavyweight division, prix finals

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, StrikeforceShowtime and Strikeforce have agreed to a new deal for more fights on the premium cable network, an announcement that comes as something of a surprise following months of speculation that the UFC would completely absorb the promotion it purchased early this year. That news will have a wide-ranging impact on the mixed martial arts world, including the fighters, the promoters, the networks and the fans. We examine who the winners and losers are in the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal below. Winner: Strikeforce women's champions Cris Cyborg and Miesha Tate It was a little jarring to hear UFC President Dana White, who's far from the biggest supporter of women's MMA, talk on the conference call announcing the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal about how great this will be for female fighters. But he's right: Showtime made a specific point in this announcement of singling out Cyborg and Tate as champions who would be involved in big events going forward. The UFC isn't ready to feature women's MMA, but Strikeforce and Showtime are. Loser: Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez White insisted that Melendez is excited about the opportunities he has ahead of him to continue defending his Strikeforce belt, starting on Saturday night against Jorge Masvidal. That may be true, but it's also true that Melendez is a great competitor who craves top-level competition, and he's just not going to get that outside the Octagon. If Melendez beats Masvidal, he'd be very worthy of the next UFC lightweight title shot, against the winner of the upcoming Frankie Edgar-Ben Henderson fight. Instead, Melendez will remain in Strikeforce, no doubt putting on solid performances -- but not getting the opportunity to do what he really wants to do, which is prove that he's the best lightweight in the world. Winner: Showtime Even though the new Strikeforce won't be quite as good as the old Strikeforce (the UFC has, after all, already taken away some of the biggest stars, like Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, Cung Le, Jake Shields and Nick Diaz), this deal still means that Showtime will be the home of the biggest names in MMA outside the UFC. As a subscriber-based business, Showtime is less interested in attracting broad audiences than in attracting the kinds of loyal viewers who are willing to pay for content. That perfectly describes hard-core MMA fans: The people who love the sport really love the sport and are willing to show that love on their cable bills. Keeping Strikeforce means keeping tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of MMA fans who only subscribe to Showtime to watch Strikeforce. Loser: MTV2, Spike, HDNet and any other network airing MMA It's already tough to get attention in the MMA media world if you're not with the UFC, and for MTV2 (current home of Bellator), Spike (future home of Bellator), HDNet (home of several smaller and international promotions) and any other channel that's thinking about getting into the MMA business, keeping Strikeforce alive on Showtime makes it tougher. Winner: Strikeforce heavyweights Strikeforce will conclude its heavyweight tournament with Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett, then give one more fight to the winner of that, and then move all the heavyweights remaining on the roster over to the UFC. That's big news for the biggest guys getting to fight in the biggest show, and it's the logical conclusion of a movement that is already underway: Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is already in the UFC, set to fight Brock Lesnar, and the last man Overeem beat, Fabricio Werdum, is headed for the UFC now. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva is surely set to fight in the Octagon soon, and promising heavyweights like Shane Del Rosario, Chad Griggs, Lavar Johnson and Shawn Jordan will have great opportunities to prove themselves on a big stage. Loser: Strikeforce light heavyweights Although Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson has already vacated his belt and returned to the UFC, it appears that the other Strikeforce light heavyweights will stay where they are. That means good Strikeforce 205-pounders like King Mo Lawal, Rafael Cavalcante, Gegard Mousasi, Ovince St Preux and Lorenz Larkin -- all of whom could have a place in the UFC light heavyweight division -- will be denied that opportunity. Winner: MMA fans With Zuffa planning 40 live events (32 UFC, eight Strikeforce) plus the new live Ultimate Fighter on Friday nights, Bellator looking at a couple dozen events spread over two seasons, HDNet airing a couple shows a month and your random one-off events from other promotions, it's going to be a rare weekend night when MMA isn't on TV. If you're an MMA fan, you've already got plans for almost every weekend. Loser: Spouses/significant others of MMA fans With Zuffa planning 40 live events (32 UFC, eight Strikeforce) plus the new live Ultimate Fighter on Friday nights, Bellator looking at a couple dozen events spread over two seasons, HDNet airing a couple shows a month and your random one-off events from other promotions, it's going to be a rare weekend night when MMA isn't on TV. If you're married to an MMA fan, you're not going to be able to make plans for many weekends. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, heavyweight, winner

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Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsThe big men aren't long for Strikeforce, as the promotion will finish out its Heavyweight Grand Prix and soon afterward, eliminate the division in order to focus on its remaining weight classes. The announcement was made by Strikeforce president Scott Coker during a Thursday conference call regarding the promotion's new extension with Showtime. "What you'll see after the event with the tournament finals between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, you'll see one more fight where the winner will fight a top-rated heavyweight and then we're going to go back to focusing on our other weight classes," Coker said. UFC president Dana White, who has a hand in running Strikeforce, cited the lack of depth for the reason from abandoning the class. White didn't say what the future would hold for most of Strikeforce's signed heavyweights, but it is expected that most of them will be moved to the UFC and bolster depth there. On Thursday, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani confirmed with White that recent Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum has been signed into the UFC. The move will be a bittersweet ending for the division that was once Strikeforce's deepest. At the start of 2011, the Heavyweight Grand Prix announcement brought more buzz to the promotion than anything they'd done with the exception of signing Fedor Emelianenko. But the Grand Prix had its own problems. Emelianenko was eliminated in the first round, Alistair Overeem was eventually cut due to a dispute between Zuffa and his management team, and none of the hoped-for matchups materialized. The final between Cormier and Barnett is likely to be contested by the end of the first quarter of next year, Coker said. And the end for the division won't come long afterward. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, division, weight classes, anything theyd

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Filed under: UFC, NewsFormer Strikeforce heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum is headed back to the UFC. UFC president Dana White confirmed with MMAFighting.com on Thursday that Werdum "is a UFC fighter." Terms of the deal were not disclosed. White would not confirm when Werdum would make his return to the organization, however, MMAWeekly.com and other outlets reported on Wednesday that "Vai Cavalo" would meet Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas. Werdum (14-5-1) last appeared in the UFC in Oct. 2009 when he lost via first-round knockout to Junior dos Santos. The promotion released the Brazilian following the fight, which led to him subsequently signing with Strikeforce. The 34-year-old went 3-1 in Strikeforce, with his defining moment coming in June 2010 when he submitted Fedor Emelianenko in the first round. Werdum was last seen in a Strikeforce cage losing to Alistair Overeem via unanimous decision. He went 2-2 in the UFC. On Thursday, White announced that the Strikeforce heavyweight division would be abolished in 2012, following the conclusion of the heavyweight grand prix and the GP winner fighting one more time in the organization. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, werdum, gp winner

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A day after a contentious commission hearing, UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, alistair, use

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Regional heavyweights too center stage at Art of Fighting's fourth event of 2011. The top promotion in the state of Florida, Art of Fighting 14 was the company's first foray into the St. Petersburg area. In the main event Mississippi heavyweight John Brown (10-4) faced off with Orcala big man Mike Buchkovich (11-5-1). Buchkovich rode a three fight winning streak, all under the AOF banner, into his bout with Brown. The 26 year old Brown was three months removed from a first round submission win at AOF 13. In a minor upset Brown pounded out Buchkovich with punches at the midpoint of round two. With the win Brown passes another test on the local MMA scene. Brown's last two losses have come at the hands of Jeff Monson and Mario Rinaldi. Both Monson and Rinaldi are similar skilled to Brown, in that all three are under six foot heavyweights who can out grappled under prepared competition. Brown will in all likelihood need to score a win over a heavyweight with UFC experience before he gets a serious look from the big show. Local draw David Yost (8-3) earned the sixth first round stoppage of his career. Yost wasted little time in his heavyweight tilt with Iowa's Richard White (18-12). The 31 year old Yost swarmed White with punches in the fight's first exchange. With his back against the cage White ate a handful of uppercuts before he shot on Yost for a takedown. Yost sprawled out and continued to assault White with hammer fists. A powerful right hand in the ensuing scramble turtled up White. Yost blasted off a more punches before the referee stepped in and stopped the fight 47 seconds into round one. After a 0-2 2010, Yost has bounced back with two impressive finishes at AOF 11 and 14. 11 fights into his pro career win or lose Yost has still not heard the judge's scorecards. A power puncher with a cult following Yost is a heavyweight prospect with the potential to make noise on the UFC or Bellator heavyweight roster. A three star prospect Yost's highlight reel has him on the door step of a national MMA promotion call-up. Yost may get his shot at the majors in 2012 if he adds to fight resume with another knockout or avenges one of his previous defeats on the regional level. Art of Fighting 14 resultsSt. Petersburg, FLJonathan Brown def. Mike Buchkovich by TKO 2:36 R2 *David Yost def. Richard White by TKO 0:47 R1 *Joe Ray def. Levi LaLonde by TKO 1:48 R1 Matt Kersse def. Robert Gonzalez by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:44 R1 Evan Baxter def. Joe Denick by Unanimous Decision Hector Ochoa def. Aaron Conway by Unanimous Decision Anthony Dagostino def. Ricardo Rodriguez by TKO 1:57 R1*Prospects to Watch

Posted in: fight, round, tko, heavyweight, yost

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Despite a broken humerus, it appears that UFC heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will be able to avoid surgery.

Posted in: ufc, nogueira, heavyweight, surgery, antonio

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Former Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem will face the biggest fight of his career later this month when he steps inside the Octagon against Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. With a win, Overeem would become the #1 contender to divisional title-holder Junior dos Santos and position himself to become recognized as one of the t ruly elite fighters in the world. However, not too long ago, “The Reem” was competing in the light heavyweight division. For the powerful Dutchman the transition to the heavyweight ranks was a long time coming. “Everyone around me, including friends of mine I have known since we were kids, knew right away it was the right call when I moved to heavyweight full time in 2007,” wrote Overeem, in his blog for Yahoo! Sports. “Some fans and MMA media didn’t understand it, they thought, ‘How is he going to do any better at heavyweight, he will not do as well as at 205 lbs,’ but I make the decision after taking a hard look at myself.” Overeem has fended off talk of using performance enhancing drugs for much of his career, but he counts eating better and heavy lifting as the reason his body took to the heavyweight division instead. “I knew putting on enough weight to where I was able to compete with the top heavies would take time. I also know that as soon as I started eating well and had the energy to work out with the weights, I would add mass right away,” Overeem wrote. “But it took time for me to get bigger and grow into a powerful heavyweight.” He also revealed the division’s relatively shallow pool was appealing, writing, “Plus – and this is something fighters never ever usually admit – the fact is 205 lbs is a division stacked with talent and the heavyweight division doesn’t have that many world class fighters. I am happy to admit that. At 205 lbs., you have a great champion in Jon Jones, and very talented guys like Lyoto Machida, (Quinton Jackson), Ryan Bader, Forrest Griffin, Dan Henderson, (Mauricio Rua) – the list goes on and on. Anyone in the Top 15 at light heavyweight is a dangerous fight, while at heavyweight, if I am honest, there’s maybe eight or nine true world class fighters competing at heavyweight.” Overeem will make his Octagon debut when he tackles Lesnar on December 30 from Las Vegas, Nevada. Other fights for UFC 141 include Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone and Johny Hendricks against Jon Fitch. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: time, overeem, fighter, heavyweight, division

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Five minutes into the UFC 140 main event, it seemed like Jon Jones might have finally met his match. Less than five minutes later, we were all slapping our collective foreheads for ever doubting the light heavyweight champion. That's because after surviving a first round scare at the hands of former champ Lyoto Machida, "Bones" did exactly what fans have been seeing him do since he debuted for the UFC: dominate. In the past year, we've seen the young champion run through Ryan Bader, Mauricio Rua, and Quinton Jackson. "The Dragon" was the icing on top of what has to be the most successful 12 month period in any fighter's career. Three of those men are former champions themselves and were at one point or another recognized as the best light heavyweight in the world. That title now belongs to Jones. But besides being the best 205-pounder in the game, he might very well be the best fighter period. Ladies and gentlemen of the Maniac jury, allow me to present the evidence. Exhibit A: Level of competition "Bones" is undefeated. That "L" on his record next to Matt Hamill's name? It's a mere technicality. "The Hammer" didn't beat Jones that night any more than he can hear the beat of a drum. Of the champ's 16 fights, 10 have been in the UFC, the highest level of the sport. During his tenure, he has absolutely dominated each and every opponent he has faced. From Andre Gusmão in his Octagon debut at UFC 87 to last night's second round submission that put "The Dragon" to sleep -- a real life Skyrim hero! --, Jones doesn't seem to even break a sweat when he fights despite being inside the cage with some of the world's best fighters. "Rampage" is the man who put Chuck Liddell on ice and unified the UFC and Pride Fighting Championships titles. "Shogun" went through a veritable minefield of light heavyweights in 2005 to win the Japanese promotion's grand prix that year. And Machida had lost only twice before last night -- to the two previously named fighters -- and is the only man to hold a victory over Rashad Evans. Should Jones get past Dan Henderson and "Suga," there'd be nothing left for him to accomplish at light heavyweight. There'd be nowhere left to go but up. Exhibit B: Youth Jones is only 24-years old. You know what I was doing when I was that age? I was managing a clothing store at the mall and my biggest problem was running out of the t-shirt we were supposed to put on the front table. "Bones" is the youngest UFC champion in the promotion's history and already has enough talent to make most think there isn't a suitable challenge for him in his current weight class. Being as young as he is, a move up to heavyweight could definitely be in the cards for him. He would give up the guaranteed size and reach advantage in some fights but would retain a lot of his speed. With rumors going around that Alistair Overeem might be out of his main event fight with Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, it wouldn't totally surprise me -- giving his history of taking fights on like, three hours notice -- if Jones stepped in to take on the former WWE Superstar. Likely? No, of course not. But not unbelievable! Exhibit C: Move over Kenny Florian... And finally, Jon Jones finishes fights. Georges St. Pierre is as dominant a champion as there ever has been but his 25-minute bouts aren't so much wars of attrition between him and his opponent but rather between fans and Mr. Sandman. When "GSP" is taking guys like Dan Hardy and Jake Shields to a decision and the next time they step inside the Octagon, they're getting laid out by Carlos Condit or Jake Ellenberger, one has to question if "Rush" even entertains the notion of being ... well, entertaining. Judges must love scoring the 205-pound champion's fights because essentially, they don't have to. They can catch up on their Twitter timeline, grab some nachos and a brewski or hit the bathroom when "Bones" steps up to the plate. He hasn't needed a judge to name him the winner of a fight in nearly three years. Ever since his "loss" to Hamill, he's had six stoppage victories, three by knockout or TKO and three coming via submission. Ever since "The Iceman" lost the title, the light heavyweight division has been the most chaotic in the promotion. While the 170- and 185-pound weight classes are secured safely with St. Pierre's and Anderson Silva's bussom, the 205-pound strap has been hot potatoing around from fighter to fighter, never sticking around longer than a couple of fights. With his victory at UFC 140, Jones earned his second defense, something that hasn't been done in over five years. He needs only four more victories to break Tito Ortiz's record but he might not reach that goal. Are there even four more light heavyweights who would stand a chance? After last night, methinks not.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, fighter, heavyweight

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Fresh off his first round victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at last night's (Dec. 10, 2011) UFC 140 event, proving that his first win over him at UFC 92 back on December 27, 2008 was no fluke, Frank Mir is looking to make a quick turnaround. Mir made it two for two against Noguiera, who some say may be the greatest heavyweight submission fighter of all time, by torquing "Minotauro" with a kimura that UFC President Dana White dubbed "Submission of the Century," breaking his arm in the process. Now, Mir, who isn't willing to sit around and wait for the heavyweight title picture to clear up, is ready to jump right back in the saddle. After all, his fight lasted all of three minutes last night. He wouldn't mind doing it against another former UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez. Though Mir stopped short of calling out Velasquez, he stated at the UFC 140 post-fight press conference that he wants to fight someone that is a force to be reckoned and Cain Velasquez fits the bill perfectly: "Depending on how Cain is feeling you know, obviously that would be a phenomenal fight, someone who is a forced to be reckoned with and honestly I still he think he is. I think he just got caught in his last fight. I mean we saw that tonight, it can happen. I just happen to recover and he didn't and JDS jumped on him. So whoever is out there. Right now, the (UFC) heavyweight division changes from week to week, depending on who's injured or who has a spectacular fight." Velasquez was last seen on the receiving end of a knockout at UFC on Fox 1 on Nov. 12 courtesy of new heavyweight kingpin Junior dos Santos. The loss marked the first time he had tasted defeat in the his young mixed martial arts career, and also ended his short lived championship reign. With Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem scheduled to meet in a number one contenders bout at UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, there aren't too many options available for Mir, or at least none that are very interesting. A victory over the streaking Mir would definitely get Velasquez back into title contention and a win over the recently dethroned heavyweight champ may earn Mir another title shot. What's your take, Maniacs? Does a match-up between Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir make sense considering Cain is coming off of a loss and Mir is on a roll as of late? Or are there other top heavyweight contenders available for Mir to take on? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mir, heavyweight, velasquez

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Five years ago Alistair Overeem was a 205er struggling to find consistency in the cage including a seven-fight stretch where he went 2-5. Today he’s one of the top heavyweights in MMA, deciding to move up rather than down as is often seen when a fighter endures a rough stretch in the ring. The powerful Dutchman recently elaborated on his change in divisional home where he said the main factors motivating him to do so related to health as well as the lack of competition there in comparison to light heavyweight. “Everyone around me, including friends of mine I have known since we were kids, knew right away it was the right call when I moved to heavyweight full time in 2007,” wrote Overeem in his Yahoo blog. “Some fans and MMA media didn’t understand it, they thought ‘How is he going to do any better at heavyweight, he will not do as well as at 205 lbs,’ but I make the decision after taking a hard look at myself.” “I took an honest look at myself and made some hard decisions,” the 31-year old continued. “While I had some impressive results like beating Vitor Belfort twice, I was not living up to my potential and I took a good look at the reasons why. I decided that one of the main reasons I wasn’t living up to my talents was I was starving myself to make 205 pounds. I could not eat correctly, could not train weights. I was weak at the weight and wasn’t even healthy, much less fit and healthy.” However, the additional weight suiting his physical frame was far from the only reason Overeem left light heavyweight, adding, “Plus – and this is something fighters never ever usually admit – the fact is 205 lbs is a division stacked with talent and the heavyweight division doesn’t have that many world class fighters. I am happy to admit that. At 205 lbs., you have a great champion in Jon Jones, and very talented guys like Lyoto Machida, (Quinton Jackson), Ryan Bader, Forrest Griffin, Dan Henderson, (Mauricio Rua) – the list goes on and on. Anyone in the Top 15 at light heavyweight is a dangerous fight, while at heavyweight, if I am honest, there’s maybe eight or nine true world class fighters competing at heavyweight.” “There are some fighters who I think are born great, guys like Georges St. Pierre and Jones. I was born a very good fighter, but I have to work very hard to get to ‘great’ and that’s why I have made so many sacrifices already to win the UFC title,” Overeem concluded. Winner of Overeem vs. Lesnar to Receive Title-Shot Overeem will find out if his sacrifices have been worth it when he faces one of the division’s strongest foes in the form of Brock Lesnar before year’s end at UFC 141. PHOTO CREDIT – K-1 Tweet

Posted in: overeem, fighter, heavyweight, ’t, alistair overeem

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Finally hitting a groove in his training and fighting, up-and-coming heavyweight Ryan Martinez on the fast track in ProElite Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Posted in: heavyweight, martinez, ryan, ryan martinez, proelite heavyweight

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It was a rematch three years in the making. Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira had last battled in December of 2008 for the interim UFC heavyweight title and Mir pulled off a tremendous upset to knock "Big Nog" out and claim the title for himself. Many skeptics had claimed a staph infection was to blame for Nogueira's poor performance so Mir gave him an opportunity to settle it once and for all last night (December 10, 2011) in the co-main event of UFC 140. Nogueira came out healthier, hungrier and much more dangerous, but the end result was the same, with the Brazilian heavyweight legend getting put down for the count by Mir. So what major mistake did Nogueira make which cost him not only the fight but his arm as well? And what's next for both former heavyweight champions? Mir looked slightly tentative early on, even admitting during the post-fight press conference that he was being too reactionary with his striking, waiting to see what Nogueira was looking to do. Nogueira, on the other hand, was stuttering back and forth feverishly, hopping ever so gradually from one foot to another. Unlike the first time they fought, Nogueira quickly shot in for a takedown within the first 30 seconds. "Big Nog" attacked and pressured Mir in the clinch for a full minute but Mir turned the tables with a big takedown. Known for his tremendous half guard game from bottom, Nogueira quickly grabbed double underhooks and popped right back to his feet. Nogueira again went to work with the clinch, taking inside position and dropping short punches while Mir attempted to counter with knees to the leg and body. One Mir created some separation, however, Nogueira came forward with a slick 1-2 which cracked him in the head and had him in all sorts of trouble. With Mir's legs going out from under him, Nogueira pounced, dropping him with another right hand along the fence and then dropping some heavy ground and pound which looked so bad that commentator Joe Rogan proclaimed, "Frank is out, man!" But no, Mir was not out, and what happened next was one of the wildest moments in UFC history. (Warning, graphic and not for the squeamish gif coming up). With Mir in all sorts of trouble from his punches, Nogueira for some reason decided mid-ground and pound to hop on a guillotine choke, surrendering his dominant position. From here, Mir's jiu-jitsu instincts took over and he not only reversed the position, but then immediately attacks the arm Nogueira posts on and latches onto a Kimura lock, torquing "Big Nog's" arm for all he's worth. Nogueira attempts to roll to safety, but Mir stays right with him, rolling him over once more and then it happens, Nogueira's humorous bone gruesomely snaps and he's forced to tap out. I warned you, didn't I? For Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, he's going to regret not continuing to punch Frank Mir for the next year or more, depending on how long he takes to recover. He likely not only broke his arm but also suffered tremendous ligament and shoulder damage as well. Perhaps Herb Dean's warnings about punches to the back of the head got to him, but he should have just picked his strikes better, not jumped on a choke against an experienced Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. This allowed Mir to recover and then turn the tables in incredible fashion. It's way too early to speculate on who Mir fights next because he's going to be out for a long time with that injury. Mizuto Hirota suffered a similar fate on New Year's Eve in 2009 against Shinya Aoki and it took him 20 months before he was able to return. We'll be sending our wishes to Nogueira in hopes that he can heal faster than that. For Frank Mir, that was one of the craziest and most unexpected finishes in MMA history. Nogueira had never been submitted before in his entire career. Granted, he'd never been knocked out before in his entire career before Mir fought him the first time. Something has to be said about Mir's resilience under pressure, at least in the grappling department. He was very smooth in escaping Nogueira's guilllotine choke and with his counter Kimura attack. It totally made up for his huge mistake in allowing Nogueira to set the tone of the fight early with the striking and getting tagged. There are several potential options for Mir. The most obvious choice would be a fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, as long as he's healed up and ready for another bout soon. The other option, if rumors are legitimate, could be a late notice substitution for Alistair Overeem against Brock Lesnar if "The Reem" does in fact have to pull out of his UFC 141 contest. Mir said he'd be more than ready for that fight if duty calls. Either way, Frank Mir is now firmly in title contention once more. So what did you think, Maniacs? Did any of you actually predict a Frank Mir submission victory against one of the greatest heavyweight Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters of all time? After getting rocked by Nogueira, do you think Mir has a chance against anyone in the upper echelon? Sound off! For complete UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida" 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.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_140 http://www.ufc.com/event/UFC140 Main card Featherweight bout: Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung Welterweight bout: Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole Light Heavyweight bout: Tito Ortiz vs. Antônio Rogério Nogueira Heavyweight bout: Frank Mir vs. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Jon Jones (c) vs. Lyoto Machida submitted by 2WAR [link] [40 comments]

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In our lives we come across those we inevitably look up to and are inspired by. Music has its Bachs and Beethovens, literature has its Shakespeares and Hemingways, science has its Einsteins and Darwins, and MMA has its Coutures and Nogueiras. Those two have registered a historic collection of emotionally inspiring performances that define the "anything can happen" catchphrase. Facing a musclebound leviathan straight out of a comic book who outweighed him by more than 100-pounds, we saw Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira lifted off his feet like a helpless infant and dropped directly on his head. We were genuinely concerned for his health and safety when the heavyweight division's most feared striker was kicking him around the Pride ring like a tin can. Big Nog is a legend because he's pulled off MMA's equivalent of the half-court buzzer beater and last second Hail Mary touchdown with regular frequency. In Pride, it was the come-from-behind armbars over Bob Sapp and Mirko Filipovic; in the UFC, it was the dramatic submission of Tim Sylvia and arresting knockout of Brendan Schaub. Whether in his career overall or in individual fights, we've counted him out time after time and he keeps proving us wrong. Though he's not received with the same gushing adoration, Frank Mir deserves worlds of credit for the adversity he's overcome. He became the UFC heavyweight champion by snapping Sylvia's arm after everyone wrote him off as a one-dimensional sub guy. Shortly after achieving his dream, he was mangled in a motorcycle accident with the prognosis that his career was likely over. Not only did Mir defy those odds and continue to compete at the elite level, he evolved from the mere shell of himself who suffered embarrassing defeats to Marcio Cruz and Brandon Vera into a more complete mixed martial artist than he's ever been. The climb back has been long and arduous but, seven years after winning the title, Frank Mir is ranked sixth in the world and still one of the top heavyweight contenders. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida Big Nog weaved yet another miracle against Brendan Schaub at UFC 134, rocketing an overhand right for another unlikely, leap-off-your-couch stoppage. While, offensively, his boxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are phenomenal, Big Nog has an extreme deficit in the defense department that's resulted in him absorbing an exorbitant amount of punishment. It's a huge part of why his thrilling comebacks have been so amazing but also a very salient technical flaw. The way he seems to have increased the power in his punches still stands as an encouraging factor. Like his brother, Nog is unnervingly comfortable -- perhaps too comfortable -- trading blows in the pocket. He has an excellent knack for bobbing and weaving while uncorking a beautiful left hook (his best punch) and his straight right hand. Nog gets away with staying a little too flat-footed and stationary in striking exchanges, which leaves a fighter susceptible to takedowns, because few can match his high level submission acumen. Mir, however, is one of the rare who can. Both have traditionally been considered the most graceful and talented guard players in the heavyweight landscape. Frank Mir cemented himself as a creative submissionist early in his career. I've always thought his Muay Thai was a little under-rated but now he's developed a frightening amount of power in his punches. Other key improvements for Mir include finding the right balance of size, strength and agility by honing his physique into top form and fortifying his wrestling and clinch game. The BJJ-based heavyweight has not won by submission or even employed his grappling wit since kneebarring Brock Lesnar in 2008, which was five fights ago. Fans who'd longed for years to see two of the most talented heavyweight submissionists tangle on the ground where deprived of the opportunity by Mir's crunching left hand in their first match. It was the first time Nogueira, who'd built a lofty reputation for having one of the best chins in MMA, lost by TKO in his entire career. Even though I think Mir will be victorious in this rematch, I'm hopeful that we'll witness these two dueling back and forth on the feet and engaging in an epic chess match on the mat. Overall, Mir's improved punching power, strength and wrestling give him more avenues toward victory than Nogueira, especially considering the latter's tendency to take a beating. I will add that Big Nog is still a bit more polished and dynamic in all of the striking aspects excluding defense. They compare on the ground much like they do standing: Mir is more direct, deliberate and merciless in plugging heavy punches and cruelly snatching submissions, where Nogueira dials in his boxing more methodically with a wider variety of strikes and artful angles while smoothly coaxing his opponent into submissions. Another completely speculative concern is that Mir might be over-confident in his striking based on his recent enhancements and the results of the first fight. He is not devoid of defensive lulls either, as we saw in the Shane Carwin fight. Mir's life raft should be his ability to tie up and neutralize Nogueira in the clinch or take him down while avoiding subs if he's not digging things on the feet. My Prediction: Frank Mir by decision Mir vs. Kongo gif via MMA-Core.com All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Mir vs. Big Nog Mir Big Nog   13 votes | Results

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and challenger Lyoto Machida hit the scales at the Air Canada Centre on Friday for their bout at UFC 140.

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UFC 140 is this weekend headlined by Jon Jones defending his light heavyweight title against Lyoto Machida. The weigh ins are live today at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT. Join Bloody Elbow for a discussion of the weigh ins. The weights will be updated live as well. Follow @bloodyelbow for live weigh in coverage. Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Jon Jones () vs Lyoto Machida () Heavyweight: Frank Mir () vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira () Light Heavyweight: Tito Ortiz () vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira () Welterweight: Claude Patrick () vs Brian Ebersole () Featherweight: Mark Hominick () vs Chan Sung Jung () Light Heavyweight: Krzysztof Soszynski () vs Igor Pokrajac () Welterweight: John Makdessi () vs Dennis Hallman () Bantamweight: Yves Jabouin () vs Walel Watson () Lightweight: Mark Bocek () vs Nik Lentz () Welterweight: Rich Attonito () vs Jake Hecht () Lightweight: Mitch Clark () vs John Cholish () Video after the jump.... SBN coverage of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida

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Former heavyweight champion Frank Mir believes a dominant performance in his rematch against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira could help him climb back into the UFC heavyweight title picture. As Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, and Alistair Overeem prepare for late 2011-early 2012, Mir could add to an already exciting heavyweight division. After Mir’s dominant performance against Big Nog the first time at UFC 92 in late 2008, excuses began to circulate about possible illness and injuries for the Brazilian. Here is what Mir had to say to Sherdog regarding that talk: “There were a lot of words or circumstances surrounding the last victory. There could possibly be illness that Nogueira’s camp said that he had. I’ve always been keen on that, if you have an injury — an injured hand — and someone asked you why you didn’t box more, you just say that you had an injured hand. As far as the general statement, ‘I lost because of injury,’ I think that’s disrespect towards your opponent. The guy in front of you beat you. You didn’t perform to 100 percent [of your ability] maybe because of injury. Regardless, there are many factors that go into the outcome of a fight.”

Posted in: mir, heavyweight, heavyweight champion, injury, ’t box

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Two former champions will meet once more in a rematch that's been three years in the making on Saturday night (December 10, 2011) as former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir takes on former Pride and UFC heavyweight champion, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Mir has been campaigning heavily to get back into the title picture, but there have been whispers ever since his victory over Nogueira the first time that he hadn't faced the real "Big Nog" because of a staph infection. This will be his opportunity to settle his critics return to contention all in one fell swoop. Nogueira had been written off by many fans and pundits but he returned from well over a year away from the sport this past August to brutally knock out rising prospect Brendan Schaub to emphatically proclaim his return to elite heavyweight status. He's hoping for revenge against Frank Mir this weekend. Will Mir prove the skeptics wrong and put "Big Nog" down for good? Does Nogueira have gas left in the tank for one more run at the belt? What has to go right for each veteran heavyweight for them to earn a victory on Saturday night? Let's find out: Frank Mir Record: 15-5 overall, 13-5 in the UFC Key Wins: Brock Lesnar (UFC 81), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (UFC 92), Roy Nelson (UFC 130) Key Losses: Brock Lesnar (UFC 100), Shane Carwin (UFC 111), How he got here: Frank Mir was on a roll in his initial UFC run, culminating in a heavyweight title-winning performance against Tim Sylvia where he infamously broke "The Maine-iac's" arm with a first round armbar. Before he could defend his belt, Mir would get in a horrible motorcycle accident in which he broke his femur and tore multiple ligaments in his knee. He would be stripped of his title and returned to the Octagon more than 18 months later, a shell of his former self. The brash fighter finally started to get back on track and scored one of the biggest wins of his career in Brock Lesnar's UFC debut, defeating the ex-WWE star via kneebar in the first round. The victory earned Mir an interim title shot against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira where the ex-champ showcased his newfound boxing skills to knock "Big Nog" out for the first time in his career. The Mark Dellagrotte-trained fighter hasn't been able to string two wins together since, losing the rematch to Brock Lesnar and getting pummeled by Shane Carwin, while crushing both Cheick Kongo and Mirko Filipovic. Mir has been showcasing his striking more in recent fights and he's looking for one more run at the title. His last bout, a dominant decision against Roy Nelson continued his forward momentum and he can silence some of the critics with a big showing against Nogueira again. How he gets it done: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Mir was able to destroy Nogueira the last time around with superior and more powerful boxing, it was kind of like his coming out party in the striking department where he took advantage of a slower Nogueira who wasn't using head movement whatsoever. If Mir can keep this fight standing, he will be in a perfect position to continue to work his punching combinations that worked so well the last time. He's also got an underrated Muay Thai game as evidenced by his brutal third round knockout of Mirko Filipovic last year. He's more than capable of hanging with Nogueira in the stand-up or in the clinch. What he likely doesn't want to do, even though he's comfortable on the canvas, is allow this to turn into a ground battle. The odds of Nogueira either catching something or sweeping him and working from top position just don't make it a smart tactical decision. Frank Mir is a very intelligent fighter, so he'll do whatever it takes to keep this fight where he's got the best shot, and that's on the feet. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Record: 33-6-1 overall, 4-2 in the UFC Key Wins: Randy Couture (UFC 102), Tim Sylvia (UFC 81), Brendan Schaub (UFC 134) Key Losses: Cain Velasquez (UFC 110), Frank Mir (UFC 92) How he got here: Boy, where do we start? In 2001, "Minotauro" began a dominant seven fight run in Pride, winning the promotion's heavyweight title and avenging his earlier loss to Dan Henderson. He would lose his title to Fedor Emelianenko in a thrilling three round affair in which "The Last Emperor" stunned onlookers by showing no fear of Nogueira's deadly guard. After five straight victories over top heavyweights like Mirko Filipovic, Ricco Rodriguez and Sergei Kharitonov, he would be granted a rematch against Emelianenko. The much-hyped fight would be cut short from an accidental headbutt resulting in a "No Contest", but Emelianenko would again defeat Nogueira the third time around, this time primarily keeping the fight standing. After going 5-1 to close out his Pride career, Nogueira made his UFC debut, defeating Heath Herring for the third time in classic fashion, surviving a huge shot and coming back to win a decision. He would be granted an interim title shot with the victory against former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and would again get rocked early but came back to score a submission victory and be crowned the UFC heavyweight champion. Since then, Nogueira has had many issues, he's only fought three times in the last three and a half years, losing his title via technical knockout to Frank Mir, defeating Randy Couture in a thrilling battle and then getting destroyed via first round knockout by Cain Velasquez. He bounced back after a long layoff to knock out budding contender Brendan Schaub in front of his native Brazil at UFC 134 and he's looking to get back into the title picture with a victory on Saturday night. How he gets it done: Nogueira looked much lighter on his feet against Brendan Schaub than he has in years. He still takes shots in the stand-up, but perhaps now he actually has some of that old speed back to where he can utilize some footwork and get out of the way of Mir's big power strikes. If he can stand and trade effectively with Mir, this fight becomes a complete crapshoot. Don't be surprised one bit to at least see if "Big Nog" tests his striking early, looking to see if he can hang with Mir. If he can, he's going to keep at it and either try to knock him out standing or potentially open up weaknesses in his takedown defense where he can get the former two-time champion to the ground. If he can get Mir on the canvas, this could turn into a very interesting positional battle between two very skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters. Footwork and movement are key. If Nogueira can dance around a bit, he won't be that same slow, plodding, flat-footed fighter that Mir put away with ease the last time around. His chin may still have deteriorated, but by moving, he won't simply have to rely on being able to absorb punishment this time. Fight "X-Factor:" The biggest X-Factor for this fight absolutely has to be the surgeries Nogueira has had and how much of a factor the staph infection was the last time they fought. Sure, Nogueira looked slow and was picked apart, but he also showcased little to no head movement, and that had nothing to do with a staph infection in his leg. If Nogueira shows up all sprite and raring to go, he could potentially be a completely different fighter than the man Frank Mir knocked out in the second round. If there's little to no difference, then fans can likely expect a repeat performance. Bottom Line: This is a terrific showdown between to of the most talented veteran heavyweights on the planet. There is much at stake as the winner gets thrust back into the heavyweight title picture, although Nogueira has already said he'll never fight Junior dos Santos. With the stakes this high, and with two men this skilled at all facets of the game, there is potential here for a very technical battle, perhaps something reminiscent of Nogueira's fight with Randy Couture. There's also potential for a huge stand-up war if Big Nog is lighter on his feet. Of course, the worst case scenario is just another dominant beatdown administered by Mir, but that's a risk fans will have to take. Regardless, it should be entertaining. Who will come out on top at UFC 140? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which former UFC heavyweight champion will be victorious in the co-main event of UFC 140? Frank Mir Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira   0 votes | Results

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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.

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The hand Daniel Cormier broke on Antonio Silva's skull is taking its time to heal, and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today said the end of the promotion's heavyweight grand prix is waiting on that paw. "We'll take it on a week-by-week basis," Coker said. At the moment, the finals of the eight-man tournament are expected to late place in "late first quarter," or March.

Posted in: heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, eightman tournament, promotions heavyweight

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Over the past five years, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir is 6-2. During that span, his only two losses have come to Brock Lesnar (UFC 100) and Shane Carwin (UFC 111). Lesnar is a former division champion while "The Engineer" is a former Interim champion. Lesnar and Carwin also have two losses since being at or near the top of the mountain. So in terms of where Mir fits into the puzzle that is the 265-pound title chase, is it fair to put him fifth? If the winner of Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem gets Junior dos Santos in 2012, that leaves them tied at second. Cain Velasquez, who was undefeated until wearing a crown of Brazilian bricks at UFC on FOX, is likely third. Carwin fourth, Mir fifth? Here's what Mir told media members (via Heavy.com) about his place among the heavyweight elite. "I think that the only advantage of the heavyweight division is it's not that deep of a pool. That's just the nature of the business. If I'm victorious next weekend, that's three wins in a row. I think I'll stick my head up there again." Mir holds wins over Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo, two middle-of-the-pack'ers who've been keeping the gate over the past year or so. Matt Mitrione was on his way to bigger and better things until failing his first big test against the aforementioned Parisian. That leaves Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, 4-2 since a 2007 Octagon debut, as the proverbial dark horse in this neck-and-neck race to the 265-pound finish line. All he has to do is win. He'll have that chance in the co-main event of UFC 140 this Saturday night (Dec. 10, 2011) at the Air Canada Center in Toronto. He can also avenge a 2008 loss to Mir in the process, which "Minotauro" attributes to poor health and not poor defense. If he fails, that gives Mir three straight victories. Is it then time to start talking about his place in the heavyweight race? Or not yet? Thoughts?

Posted in: ufc, mir, heavyweight, lesnar, matt mitrione

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Former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira will look for vengeance next weekend, facing Frank Mir in the co-main event of UFC 141 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Thirty-five year old "Big Nog" was victorious in his most recent bout, which ended via a dramatic TKO against Brendan Schaub at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Victor over Frank Mir could put Nogueira on track for a shot at the UFC Heavyweight tite, and if Josh Barnett defeats Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce Heav

Posted in: ufc, mir, heavyweight, brendan schaub, comain event

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Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar will return to action on December 30th, against no other than the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair "The Demolition Man" Overeem, who will mark his first fight inside the UFC Octagon. The outcome of the bout between those two powerhouses is expected to determine the identity of the next contender for the UFC Heavyweight title, currently held by Junior dos Santos. Lightweight bout between Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz will serve as the co-main event

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John Dodson is small enough to be a flyweight but attracts attention like a heavyweight.

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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 -

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UFC light heavyweight competitor Eliot Marshall has been released by the world's largest promotion.

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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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One of the top heavyweights of this era, two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir has been quietly battling his way back to the top for a shot at a record-tying third belt, defeating Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson in recent bouts. On December 10th, he will travel to Toronto for a UFC 140 rematch with “Minotauro” Nogueira, and a win will be precisely what he needs to end 2011 on a high note and set the stage for a big 2012 campaign. Here are his seven defining moments...Ian Freeman – July 13, 2002 – UFC 38Result – Freeman TKO1Four months after Mir submitted Roberto Traven in his UFC debut in November of 2001, he needed only 46 seconds to submit veteran Pete Williams at UFC 36. Now the question wasn’t if he would make it to the heavyweight title, but how soon. And in how many seconds. But as the UFC made its initial trip to the UK for London’s UFC 38 show, Mir was pitted against a man in Ian Freeman who had more to fight for than just a paycheck. Freeman’s father was fighting cancer, and as it turned out, he passed away the day before the bout. Freeman, who dedicated the fight to his father, didn’t know of the death, and he poured his heart into the Mir match, stopping the highly-touted Mir at 4:35 of the first round. It was an emotional win for Freeman and a devastating ‘back to Earth’ loss for Mir.Tank Abbott – February 28, 2003 – UFC 41Result – Mir Wsub1With his aura of invincibility shattered, Mir was brought back seven months later to face off against returning brawler Tank Abbott, who was fighting for the first time in five years. For some observers, it was as if Mir was being set up as the sacrificial lamb for Abbott’s return; to others, it was the other way around, as Mir was going to show Abbott that this wasn’t the old UFC anymore. The latter proved correct, as Mir easily submitted Abbott with a toe hold in 46 seconds.Tim Sylvia – June 19, 2004 – UFC 48Result – Mir Wsub1Mir took the win over Abbott and two more victories over Wes Sims and parlayed them into a shot at the vacant UFC heavyweight title against Tim Sylvia. Of course, Mir’s image had taken a hit with the loss to Freeman, but a win over Sylvia would erase those memories, and that’s what Mir did, taking only 50 seconds to lock Sylvia’s arm up and break it, forcing a stoppage to the bout. Frank Mir was now UFC heavyweight champion, and the future was seemingly bright and endless until a motorcycle crash three months later nearly ended it all.Marcio Cruz – February 4, 2006 – UFC 57Result – Cruz TKO1A devastating motorcycle crash in September of 2004 broke Mir’s leg in two places and forced him to the sidelines. It was questionable whether he would ever fight again, and eventually he was stripped of his UFC heavyweight championship. After an arduous rehab process, Mir announced that he was coming back in 2006. The buzz got going immediately, and when his opponent was announced as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert Marcio Cruz, most figured that Mir would be able to mount enough of an offense to take out the fairly inexperienced (MMA wise) Cruz. Uh-uh. Cruz cut Mir and ground and pounded his way to victory in what was a stunning upset. Said Mir after the bout, “I’m greatly disappointed. It was too much time off. I thought I was ready, but I can’t give up.” Brock Lesnar – February 2, 2008 – UFC 81 Result – Mir Wsub1Given a final shot to turn things around, Mir submitted Antoni Hardonk at UFC 74 in August of 2007 and then was seemingly brought in again as the sacrificial lamb to face UFC newcomer Brock Lesnar. But after almost getting steamrolled by the former pro wrestler, Mir showed the presence of mind to look for submissions while under attack, and when he got Lesnar in a kneebar, it was game over for the future UFC heavyweight champion. More importantly, the win resurrected Mir’s career, got him a coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter and a shot at Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s interim belt. Would he be able to capitalize?Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – December 27, 2008 – UFC 92Result – Mir TKO2One of the greatest heavyweights of all-time, Antonio Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira was riding high in December of 2008. After becoming the first man in history to hold heavyweight titles in both the UFC and PRIDE, he also gained a whole new fanbase as a coach on season eight of The Ultimate Fighter. But Mir, his opposing coach and UFC 92 opponent, put an end to the Brazilian legend’s big year in emphatic fashion, showing off new facets of his game as he became the first man to TKO Nogueira. It was a sad night for Nogueira fans, but a joyous one for fans of Mir, who had finally put the demons of his motorcycle accident aside to get back to the top of the MMA world. On December 10th though, they’ll meet again.Cheick Kongo – December 12, 2009 – UFC 107Result – Mir Wsub1After losing the interim title in one-sided fashion in his UFC 100 rematch with Lesnar, Mir was left with a dilemma. No one was going to want to see him in a rubber match with the champ unless he made some changes in his training camp and issued an immediate statement to the world in his next fight. He did both, bulking up to 264 pounds and then destroying Cheick Kongo in just 72 seconds. Suddenly, Mir was back on everyone’s heavyweight title radar, and though he lost to Shane Carwin at UFC 111 on March 27th for the interim belt, two solid wins over Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson got him back on track heading into December 10th’s rematch with Nogueira.

Posted in: ufc, nogueira, mir, heavyweight, freeman

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Filed under: BellatorIn addition to Kurt Pellegrino's swan song, Saturday night's Bellator 59 event also featured the Season 5 tournament finals in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions. But while the bantamweight tournament final was a solid fight that crowned a new top contender in the division, the heavyweight fight was a debacle. That heavyweight fight, Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle, came to a confusing and confounding ending, with a conference including the referee, cageside doctor and athletic commission officials taking much longer than the fight itself. It was ultimately ruled a no contest. With Prindle on the ground on his back, Santos kicked him right between the legs, and the referee called a halt to the action for an illegal low blow. After five minutes Prindle said he still couldn't continue fighting, and it was announced that the low kick was unintentional, so the fight was declared a no contest. But it's hard to see how anyone watching the kick could think it was unintentional: If Santos didn't intend to kick Prindle between his legs, what did he intend to do? In any event, Santos and Prindle will now have to have a rematch to determine which one of them gets the next crack at Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. That's a disappointment for Bellator, which was hoping to find itself a good contender for Konrad to fight. At bantamweight, Eduardo Dantas beat Alexis Vila by unanimous decision, 29-28 on all three judges' cards, to win the Bellator bantamweight tournament. The fight gave Vila the first loss of his MMA career and improves Dantas to 13-2. Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky will defend his belt against Dantas next year, and that should be a good fight: Bellator has a fun and exciting bantamweight division, and it's too bad that the bantamweight tournament final was overshadowed by the mess at heavyweight. And in a big surprise to begin the MTV2 televised broadcast, the 19-year-old Polish lightweight Marcin Held won a split decision victory over former Ultimate Fighter finalist Phillipe Nover. The fight easily could have gone for Nover, and the decision had the crowd booing. A Held-Nover rematch would make a lot of sense for Bellator in 2012. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, bantamweight, prindle

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A little more than half a minute after he decided to forgo the pre-fight touching of gloves with Thiago Santos, Neil Grove was surrendering to a rear-naked choke, his head and neck locked inside the vice-like clutches of the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Brazilian. In an instant, the rest of the Bellator Fighting Championships heavyweight division realized it had a monstrous problem on its hands

Posted in: pound, heavyweight, neil grove, neil, year ’

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Filed under: UFC, Rankings, Light HeavyweightsOther than Jon Jones, no light heavyweight in mixed martial arts has been more impressive than Dan Henderson in the last 12 months. Henderson brutally knocked out Renato "Babalu" Sobral in December, won the Strikeforce light heavyweight title with a TKO over Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante in March, took another TKO victory over Fedor Emelianenko in July as a light heavyweight fighting against a heavyweight, and then beat Shogun Rua in an all-time classic at UFC 139. So where does that put Henderson? He's certainly in our light heavyweight Top 5, but it's still tough to justify Henderson going higher than fifth. Henderson did, after all, lose to Rampage Jackson, who lost to Rashad Evans, who lost to Lyoto Machida (who also lost to Rampage). The light heavyweight division has been so competitive for so long, with so many of the top fighters picking each other off, that after Jones, any of the next five guys could easily be put in any order. My order is below. Top 10 Light Heavyweights in MMA (Editor's note: The fighter's ranking the last time we did light heavyweights are in parentheses). 1. Jon Jones (1): The light heavyweight champion has easily separated himself from the pack, with two dominant wins over two other Top 10 light heavyweights, Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson. Jones will try to make it three dominant wins over three other Top 10 light heavyweights when he takes on Lyoto Machida on December 10 at UFC 140. 2. Rashad Evans (2): Evans is a tough one to rank because he's been so inactive of late: He's only fought three times in the last two and a half years. But he's been impressive in all three of those fights, beating Tito Ortiz, Rampage Jackson and Thiago Silva, and he has earned the light heavyweight title shot that he'll supposedly get whenever he and Jones are healthy and able to fight at the same time. 3. Lyoto Machida (4): Machida is a tough one to rank: Should he be below Evans, even though he brutally beat Evans? Should he be above Rampage and Shogun, even though both of them beat him? There's really no fair way to rank them, since Evans, Machida and Jackson all went 1-1 in their fights against each other. Machida will get a chance to show where he belongs in the light heavyweight division when he takes on Jones. 4. Rampage Jackson (5): Jackson has fought all the best of the best in the light heavyweight division, beating Machida, Henderson and Shogun, and losing to Jones, Evans and Forrest Griffin. With a 3-3 record against the Top 7, No. 4 sounds about right. 5. Dan Henderson (6): As great as Henderson has looked in the last year, I can't rank him ahead of Rampage, given what happened when Rampage and Henderson fought. I'd sure love to see a rematch of that one, though. 6. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (3): Shogun is only 2-3 in his last five fights, but it's about as impressive a 2-3 record as a light heavyweight could possibly have: The two wins were brutal first-round knockouts of Machida and Griffin, while the three losses were close decisions against Machida and Henderson, and a loss to Jones in which he admittedly looked bad -- but then again Jones makes everyone look bad. 7. Forrest Griffin (7): The biggest question about Griffin is whether, at age 32 and having a wife and kid, he's still interested in completely committing himself to MMA. When Griffin is on, he's good enough to beat high-quality opponents like Rich Franklin, Rampage and Shogun. He looked decidedly off in his rematch loss to Shogun in August, however. 8. Rafael Cavalcante (8): Feijao bounced back from his loss to Henderson and beat Yoel Romero Palacio in September, and now would be a good time to see him in the UFC, where there are a lot more good fights for him. 9. Phil Davis (9): The 9-0 Davis was pulled from a fight with Evans in August because of a knee injury, and there's still no word on when he'll be ready to return. A former NCAA wrestling champion, Davis is one of the most talented athletes in the light heavyweight division, and he'll be fighting for the belt eventually. 10. Thiago Silva (10): I've been waiting for someone to step up and take the bottom spot in the Top 10 from Silva, who's been suspended all year for taking performance-enhancing drugs. But no one has really been able to do that, and so Silva stays. He should return early in 2012. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: rampage, jone, heavyweight, henderson, light

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Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammad ‘King Mo’ Lawal and Team Nogueira boxing coach Luiz Dorea are now on location in Lyoto...

Posted in: heavyweight, coach, december, machida, december clash

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Tatame is reporting that Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva has gone under the knife. His manager told the site that it was an arthroscopic surgery to correct an injury suffered in his Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix bout with Daniel Cormier. Silva lost that bout via knockout, his first loss since dropping a decision to Fabricio Werdum in 2009. Prior to dropping the fight to Cormier, Silva was at the high point of his career after dominating Fedor Emelianenko in the first round of the tournament. It was the worst beating of Fedor's career and one that established Bigfoot as a force at heavyweight. It's expected that Silva will be able to return to training in 6 weeks so he will hopefully be able to make a return to either the Strikeforce or UFC cage sometime fairly early in 2012. With the way the UFC has been picking top fighters off from Strikeforce it's entirely possible we see him come to the UFC to beef up the heavyweight roster.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, silva, bigfoot, arthroscopic surgery

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Reigning Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones will put his title on the line for the second time when he meets Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida in the UFC 140 headlining bout, set to take place December 10th from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Also featured will be a Heavyweight rematch between former division champs Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and a Light Heavyweight clash pitting Tito Ortiz against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Photo: Francis Specker

Posted in: heavyweight, tito ortiz, heavyweight rematch, division champs, dragon machida

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With his fast first round knockout win of former undefeated champion Cain Velasquez at the inaugural UFC on Fox 1 show on Nov. 12, 2011, Junior dos Santos showed the reason he is considered by many to be the best heavyweight striker in mixed martial arts (MMA) today. Throughout his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career, dos Santos has preferred the stand up game because the results thus far are nothing short of impressive. Of his eight victories with the promotion, five of them have come via (technical) knockout. Now the proud new owner of a gold shiny world championship belt, "Cigano" has another gold award set in his sights: an Olympic medal. Speaking to Tatame.com, the new UFC heavyweight champion hints at the possibility of making a run at a medal in boxing at the upcoming Olympic games in 2016, which are slated to take place right in his own backyard. Check it out: "My trainings begin and end with Boxing. There're dynamics and strategies I'm already used to. But I'll test myself, it's inevitable. Who knows I get an Olympic medal. Everything's possible." Luiz Carlos Dorea, Junior's head trainer, believes he has a great chance to shine in the Olympics. "The adaptations from Boxing to MMA are complexes. You gotta be careful about blocking the kicks and takedowns. If he's already above average combining all those things, imagine when he fights traditional Boxing. The chances he'll shine are huge, both on professional and Olympic Boxing." If "Cigano" hopes to make a run at the Olympics, he would likely have to receive the blessing of his current employer, Zuffa/UFC, which have been notorious for not allowing fighters to participate in any other combat sport while under contract. In the past, high profile fighters such as Alistair Overeem had been hesitant to sign with the promotion because of its strict "exclusivity," which prevented him from participating in K-1 kickboxing events. Of course, when it pursued Fedor Emelianenko, his Sambo tournaments were an early deal breaker, too. Then again, it's more than four years from now -- much can happen between then and now. For now, dos Santos, 27, has plenty of work ahead of him in the UFC's heavyweight division. In fact, his next fight could very well be against another heavyweight who is considered to have some of the best striking in the game, the previously mentioned Overeem. "Demolition Man," the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix champion, is set to take on Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 30, 2011. The winner will get first crack at "Cigano's" heavyweight strap. A match up between Dos Santos and Overeem could definitely prove just who indeed has the best striking in the UFC's heavyweight division. Does "Cigano" have the chops to hang with Olympic caliber boxers? Or would the mixed martial artist be biting off a little bit more than he can chew?

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, boxing, do, olympic

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There's more Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry and Monster Absolutely Zero flowing through my veins than blood. The bags under my eyes are big enough for a family's weeklong vacation. Having to wake up every morning around 8 a.m. regardless of what time I fell asleep the night before only because my infant daughter decides to wake up then can be rough but it affords me -- and other parents in the same boat -- a few rare opportunities. But while the others use that time to watch Good Morning America or whatever, I prefer to spend it doing something infinitely more satisfying like watching one of the greatest fighters in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA) throw down in his native Russia.  Fedor Emelianenko stepped inside an M-1 Global ring early this morning (Nov. 20) for his first fight since losing three straight and cutting ties with Strikeforce. The Russian himself said he considered retirement before his bout with Fabricio Werdum while pundits and fans began pushing the issue after Emelianenko was brutalized by Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson. He, however, remains in the game and defeated former UFC heavyweight title challenger Jeff Monson in the main event to get himself back in the win column. On paper, it's a step in the right direction but the execution was something else entirely. So the question must be asked: has the sun set on "The Last Emperor"? For those in the United States who woke up early enough to watch the pay-per-view (PPV), they saw what essentially amounts to a repeat of Monson's fight with Daniel Cormier earlier this year in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix. During that bout, the MMA newcomer stuck and move against the self-proclaimed anarchist, stuffing every single takedown "The Snowman" threw his way. Emelianenko followed a similar gameplan almost to the letter and stymied Monson for 15 minutes while landing punches and leg kicks at will. For his part, the American did next to nothing offensively. A few takedown attempts were easily avoided or reversed and "The Snowman" offered no threat in the stand-up. The matchmaking was scoffed at by many when announced and their reservations were proved correct when the fight played itself out. Monson is no longer a top caliber heavyweight at 40 years old with his best wins being two or three years behind him. He was defeated rather easily by Cormier who -- despite being an exceptional athlete -- gave up over a decade of experience to Monson. And yet, despite Cormier's inexperience inside the cage, Emelianenko -- once holding steady at the top of heavyweight mountain -- couldn't manage to win in a more impressive fashion. After dropping Tim Sylvia with a punch and finishing him off with a choke and nearly decapitating Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers, "The Last Emperor" spent three rounds point fighting against an opponent he would have easily finished just a couple of years ago. Following UFC 139 where Pride Fighting Championships stars Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, and Mauricio Rua all impressed, Emelianenko's performance fell flat. Silva returned to his winning ways to defeating Cung Le -- and destroying his nose in the process -- while "Hendo" and "Shogun" battled back and forth in a fight many are already calling the best in the promotion's history. Yes, Emelianenko won but he did so in a fashion that is so unlike him. The Fedor of old would have knocked Monson out or at least tried to take the American's arm back home to Stary Oskol with him. The man standing inside the ring this morning was content merely to get backstage with a win under his belt. And that betrays his legacy -- that of one of the greatest fighters to ever live -- more than three consecutive losses ever could. "The Last Emperor" reigned over the greatest collection of heavyweights the sport has ever seen and walked away with an unblemished record. He did so with punishing ground and pound, savvy striking, and python-like submissions. None of those attributes were on display this morning. What a shame.

Posted in: heavyweight, year, morning, emelianenko, monson

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Mixed martial arts can be cruel to its legends. One needs look no further than the swan song appearances of former UFC light heavyweight champions Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture for proof

Posted in: heavyweight, liddell, randy, art, swan

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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.

Posted in: ufc, title shot, heavyweight, champion, shogun rua

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UFC President Dana White has been claiming Brazil is quickly "becoming our new Canada," meaning, MMA is kind of a big deal down in the South American country. And one need look no further than the video above for evidence of this. Rabid fans turned out in droves to welcome home Junior dos Santos, who just won the heavyweight championship from Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX 1 this past Sat., Nov. 12, 2011, in Anaheim, California. Turns out "Cigano" was right when he enthusiastically proclaimed, "I'm famous," at the post-fight press conference. For a complete rundown of all the goings on from the very first UFC on FOX event click here.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, anaheim california, american country, heavyweight championship

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Junior dos Santos takes over UFC heavyweight title that has been riddled with injuries, illness, litigation, and interim champs in recent years.

Posted in: heavyweight, do, ranking, curse, litigation

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Dan Henderson, PRIDE legend and current UFC middleweight/light heavyweight, faces a tough challenge when he fights Mauricio “Shogun” Rua this Saturday at UFC 139. Henderson has heavy hands and a granite chin so he may try to engage in a striking war with Shogun — a risky idea against the more technical and well rounded Brazilian fighter. “I am going to try to out strike Shogun. I am going to try to beat him in every aspect of MMA. I guess I could get knocked out like anyone can get knocked out, but I’ve been lucky enough not to get hit on the button yet. But, him saying he’s going to be the first man to knock me out, good luck to him on that one.” If Henderson wins, a possible shot at the light heavyweight championship against champion Jon Jones could be arranged in early 2012. Here is what Henderson had to say about it: “I am not thinking about (light heavyweight champion) Jon Jones, but I’ve given it a bit of thought and that’s a fight I think I can win. I’m thinking more about the belt, and beating Shogun gets me in line to fight for the UFC belt again. I don’t know which belt I’d rather have a shot at (middleweight or light heavyweight), but that’s something I will think about after I beat Shogun.” I look forward to the light heavyweight showdown between Henderson and Shogun this Saturday.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, henderson, shogun, i ’ve

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The UFC’s network television debut peaked with 8.8 million viewers during Saturday’s heavyweight championship fight between Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez. Three minutes after the bout’s conclusion, only 5.9 million viewers remained.

Posted in: ufc, bout, heavyweight, viewer, title bout

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UFC heavyweight smashing machine Shane Carwin is back. The former heavyweight Interim champion underwent successful surgery today (Nov. 16, 2011) to drill some bones in his spinal cord in an effort to keep him from feeling paralyzed when he competes. "The Engineer" updates his status via The Underground: "I made it out alive. I am on some heavy meds but I already have my Carwin walk out tee on. I am ready! They found a pretty bad herniated disc while performing the surgery and they repaired that too. My doctor was surprised that I could do what I do with my back in such bad shape. He said I am as good as new now. That mountain top does not look so far away." Carwin was last seen getting brutalized by Junior dos Santos at UFC 131 back in June. It was the second straight loss for the brick-fisted heavyweight, who saw a potential title win over Brock Lesnar slip away at UFC 116 back in 2010. Now he's all patched up and on the mend, but will he ever be able to return to his former self? And even if he does, will it be good enough to compete in the new-look heavyweight division? For more on Carwin's surgery click here and here.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, brock lesnar, carwin, surgery

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Filed under: UFCWill Dan Henderson make a statement in his return to the UFC that he deserves to contend for the light heavyweight belt? Or will Shogun Rua beat Henderson and make a case that he should get another crack at Jon Jones? Can Cung Le thrill the fans in his UFC debut, or will Wanderlei Silva pick up a much-needed win? Will Urijah Faber or Brian Bowles take a big step toward a rematch with bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz? We'll examine those questions and more as we predict the winners of Saturday night's UFC 139 pay-per-view. What: UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson When: Saturday, the Facebook preliminary fights start at 6 p.m. ET, the Spike card starts at 8 and the pay-per-view starts at 9. Where: HP Pavilion, San Jose Predictions on the five pay-per-view fights below. More Coverage: UFC 139 Fight Card | UFC 139 Results Maurício "Shogun" Rua vs. Dan Henderson Henderson left Strikeforce and its light heavyweight belt behind after beating Fedor Emelianenko, and now he'll try to prove that he deserves a shot at the UFC light heavyweight championship. If he beats Rua, he'd have an excellent case that he deserves to challenge the winner of the upcoming Jones-Lyoto Machida light heavyweight title fight, although Rashad Evans has been waiting for a light heavyweight title shot for a long time, so Henderson may have to get in line. However, I think it's going to be a moot point, because I think Rua has the right striking style to frustrate Henderson standing up, and I think he'll be just good enough on the ground to avoid getting controlled on the canvas by Henderson, who's a vastly superior wrestler. I like Shogun to win an action-packed fight by decision. Pick: Rua Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le I've always enjoyed the aesthetic beauty of Le's san shou style of striking, but I've never believed it would be effective against a top-notch opponent. And so I think the result of this fight hangs mostly on whether Silva is, at this point in his career, even close to "top-notch" anymore. So is he? Based on the way the Axe Murderer looked against Chris Leben, I'd have to say no: Silva buckled the first time he was hit hard and was knocked out in just 27 seconds. Silva is 2-6 in his last eight fights, and four of those six losses have been ugly knockouts, and so I'm going to lean toward Le to win this one, just because I think Silva has taken so much damage through his spectacular career that he just doesn't have a lot left. Pick: Le Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles Faber is another fighter who has had a long and spectacular career but has begun to decline lately: He was 21-1 in his first 22 fights, but has gone just 4-4 in his last eight. However, Faber's only losses have been to featherweight and bantamweight champions, and he has looked awfully good while winning, too. Bowles is a terrific fighter who has bounced back from serious hand and foot injuries to win two in a row, but Faber has such good wrestling and such a diverse style of striking that he should be able to dictate where the fight goes and win a decision. Pick: Faber Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story This is a very interesting fight between two guys who are right on the cusp of the welterweight Top 10 but who are coming off disappointing losses. Story's wrestling might just be enough for him to control Kampmann for 15 minutes and win a decision, but Kampmann has more ways to win, with a good striking game and varied submissions. Pick: Kampmann Stephan Bonnar vs. Kyle Kingsbury This isn't a great matchup -- neither of these guys is even close to the top of the light heavyweight division -- but it does have the potential to be an entertaining brawl. Bonnar is a fan favorite riding a two-fight winning streak, but Kingsbury is a better technical striker and should beat Bonnar. Pick: Kingsbury Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, henderson, faber

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Dana White’s first UFC 139 video blog was released today ahead of Saturday’s event, but featured a recap of this past weekend’s UFC on Fox debut, which saw Junior dos Santos claim the heavyweight title with a 64-second knockout of champion Cain Velasquez. UFC 139 is headlined by light heavyweight contenders Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and also features Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le and Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles. For complete UFC 139 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, vs, fox debut, heavyweight title

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UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida Date: December 10, 2011 Venue: Air Canada Centre Location: Toronto, Canada   Articles Videos   Main Bouts (on Pay-Per-View): -Jon Jones (14-1; #1 Light Heavyweight)* vs. Lyoto Machida (17-2; #5 Light Heavyweight)* -Frank Mir (15-5) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1) -Tito Ortiz (16-9-1) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5) -Brian Ebersole (48-14-1) vs. Claude Patrick (14-1) -Chan Sung Jung (11-3) vs. Mark Hominick (20-9) -Dennis [...]

Posted in: heavyweight, vs, canada, machida, antonio

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In case you tuned in late on Saturday night and only saw Dana White criticizing the game plan of Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos defeated Velasquez in a few ticks north of a minute to capture the UFC heavyweight title. The victory was Dos Santos’ eighth win in the octagon, with six coming by stoppage due to strikes. JDS is a knockout artist and now the best heavyweight in the world. It’s a shame that the UFC president didn’t hype him up as such after his 64-second knockout in front of the largest UFC audience ever. The Brazilian champion is like the MMA version of Mike Tyson, except that he hasn’t faltered against top competition. See, while Tyson knocked out cans but lost to good fighters like Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, “Cigano” has had nothing but tough fights in the UFC and has passed with flying colors. Fabricio Werdum was one win away from a heavyweight title shot. JDS was a +500 underdog. JDS knocked him out cold with an uppercut. Stefan Struve is the tallest fighter in the UFC and has competed in professional kickboxing. JDS swarmed on him and stopped him with strikes in under a minute. Mirko Filipovic is a MMA legend and one of the most feared strikers in MMA history. JDS beat him up for twelve minutes before “Cro Cop” decided that he wanted no more. Gilbert Yvel, while not a great fighter, is a dangerous striker with a ton of power. JDS put him away with a beautiful left hook. Gabriel Gonzaga was a former title contender who had fought plenty of top guys. JDS starched him in under four minutes. Roy Nelson is a well-rounded veteran and one of the toughest guys in the sport. JDS beat him on him from start to finish. Shane Carwin is a powerful wrestler with crazy power. JDS turned his face into hamburger meat for three rounds. Velasquez was undefeated and considered the best heavyweight in the world. JDS knocked him clean out. Point out the flaws of his competition all you want, but he beat the guys put in front of him and did so in impressive fashion every single time. He hasn’t lost a single round in eight UFC fights. So far, the only knock against him is that his conditioning might be questionable just because he finishes guys so quickly and looked a bit tired from kicking so much ass for the duration of the bout. People question his ground game, but when he’s been put on his back, he’s immediately gotten to his feet. The way people talk about JDS reminds me of the way people talked about Chuck Liddell when he was the top light heavyweight in the UFC. “You have to drag Chuck into deep waters and really test his conditioning.” That’s pretty tough to do when Chuck knocked you out in the first round and beat you up so bad that your conditioning was worse than his by the time the fight got into the championship rounds. “You have to get Chuck on his back and make him uncomfortable.” That’s pretty tough to do when every time you go for a takedown Chuck made you pay with strikes or immediately popped up to his feet if you got him down. Right now the holes in Dos Santos’ game are hypothetical, because no one has proved they exist. And even if they do exist, if you’re unconscious before you get a chance to expose them, then what good does it do you to know them? UFC did Dos Santos a huge disservice on Saturday night. First with Joe Rogan calling him a “throwback to the old UFC days” like JDS is some one-dimensional puncher who can’t do anything else and then Dana immediately talking about Velasquez’s mistakes instead of crediting JDS. In fact, Dana didn’t once credit his new heavyweight champion in the post-fight broadcast instead focusing only on what Cain did wrong and even questioning the cardio of JDS. “Cigano” is without a doubt the best heavyweight on the planet. He’s beaten all challengers put in front of him, he’s fought injured, he’s fought tired, he’s fought when he didn’t need to, and he’s never lost a single round in the organization. He’s the most feared striker in the heavyweight division with his technical ability, his timing, and his knockout power. Everyone who has stood with him has gotten beat up. Dos Santos deserves all the credit in the world for what he did on Saturday night. He fought The Terminator and he reprogrammed him. He fought Machete and he got the job done. Not even Steven Seagal could do that. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, ’t, do, jd

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Dream big. "What I want to hear is ‘the NEW UFC heavyweight champion,' that's what I want to hear. I sometimes imagine Bruce Buffer saying that, and it gives me motivation. Becoming the champion is a dream so big that I could never have imagined it." That's an excerpt from Nov. 11, 2011, just one day before Junior dos Santos did what he set out to do since the first day he stepped foot inside the Octagon: Become UFC heavyweight champion. Now that dream has been realized, with a violent 64-second stoppage over Cain Velasquez at the UFC on FOX event this past Saturday night from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In a promotion whose tagline is "as real as it gets," "Cigano's" victory was about as big as it gets. Not only did he win the heavyweight title against one of the sport's finest athletes, he did it in front of a record-breaking audience on network television. The Brazilian boxer worked very hard to get the belt and he's not ready to let it go. Or take it off, for that matter. Not even to go to bed, according to his wife (via SporTV): "He doesn't leave the belt's side. I spoke to him five hours after the fight and he was lying on the bed of the hotel (getting ready to go to sleep), with the belt." It's impossible to hear of Junior's devotion to the title and not recall the hilarious Tim Sylvia interview with Sherdog's Savage Radio Show, where "The Maine-iac" admitted to leaving the strap around his waist during coitus. "I've had sex before with the belt on. That was back in the Ricco Rodriguez days. The night I won the belt I had a sexual experience with the belt on, but hey, I was 25 years old and it was the biggest thing that ever had happened to me in my life. The girl was like, ‘Hey, are you going to take that thing off?' and I said ‘No, I'm not. I'm wearing it and if you have a problem with it, then I'm leaving.' I hate to say it, but if I do win the belt again, then this time it's never coming off. I'm going to wear it a lot more." Dos Santos is heading back to Brazil to recuperate from a knee injury he suffered prior to his UFC on FOX title fight. That means he's likely to be stuck at home with lots of downtime. Be on your guard, Mrs. JDS! For a complete recap of "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" click here. For video highlights click here and for complete UFC on FOX 1 results and recap of all the night's action click here and here.

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, belt, do

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, VideosFormer UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and Strikeforce heavyweight Alistair Overeem met with the media and fans at the UFC 141 press conference this past Friday in Anaheim. Check out the highlights below.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, conference, press, anaheim check

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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

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

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Filed under: UFC, Rankings, HeavyweightsJunior Dos Santos has had a rather amazing UFC career. Signed to make his debut against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 90, Dos Santos was such a big underdog that some people suggested he was only brought to the UFC because it would give Werdum an easy win on his way to a heavyweight title shot. Instead, Dos Santos knocked Werdum out in the first round, beginning a UFC run that would lead to him taking the heavyweight belt from Cain Velasquez on Saturday night. There's nothing the least bit fancy about what Dos Santos does: He just hits the other guy really, really hard. Dos Santos is 8-0 in the UFC, and he finished six of his opponents with punches, while winning the other two fights by lopsided unanimous decision, battering those two opponents with punches for 15 minutes each. And yet even though everyone who steps into the Octagon with Dos Santos knows what's coming, no one can do anything about it. Dos Santos has never had an easy opponent: Between Werdum and Velasquez his victims were Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, Gilbert Yvel, Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin. And yet Dos Santos always makes it look easy. So there's little doubt that Dos Santos is at the top of our heavyweight rankings. For the rest of the rankings, see below. Top 10 heavyweights in mixed martial arts (Editor's note: The individual fighter's ranking the last time we did heavyweights are in parentheses.) 1. Junior Dos Santos (2): The biggest question for the UFC's bottom line is how many of the new viewers who tuned in to see the fight on Saturday night are now Dos Santos fans who will pay to watch him again. Dos Santos isn't a proven pay-per-view draw yet, but he's an appealing and likable fighter who has just reached by far his biggest audience yet. 2. Cain Velasquez (1): I firmly believe that Velasquez will be back. Velasquez has too much talent and too much work ethic not to be fighting for the heavyweight title again some day in the future. 3. Alistair Overeem (3): I think Overeem would represent the most interesting possible opponent for Dos Santos. Overeem is the one fighter in the heavyweight division who might actually be a better striker than Dos Santos, and if Overeem can beat Brock Lesnar on December 30, then some time in 2012 we'll see Overeem and Dos Santos go at it. 4. Brock Lesnar (4): Lesnar was articulate and engaging in his commentary role on the UFC on Fox broadcast, and seeing him again was a reminder of just how important a star he's become to the UFC. His fight with Overeem will likely be the UFC's biggest pay-per-view draw of 2011, and if he wins that fight his bout with Dos Santos would likely be the UFC's biggest pay-per-view draw of 2012. 5. Fabricio Werdum (5): In the last four years Werdum's only losses have been to Dos Santos and Overeem, while he's had impressive victories over Gabriel Gonzaga, Brandon Vera, Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko. Werdum fights high-level opponents and usually comes out on top, and I'm excited about the prospects of seeing him back in the UFC soon. 6. Daniel Cormier (6): The 9-0 Cormier has hardly even been tested so far in his MMA career, including a dominant first-round knockout victory over Antonio Silva in September. He's set to face Josh Barnett in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final, and if he wins that fight, the logical next step would be a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. 7. Shane Carwin (7): Carwin has lost back-to-back fights to Lesnar and Dos Santos, and his bad back is expected to keep him out for several more months, so he may drop in the heavyweight rankings soon. 8. Frank Mir (8): Mir has won two in a row since being knocked out by Carwin a year and a half ago, and in December he'll try to make it three straight wins with a rematch against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. If Mir wins that one, he'd make a lot of sense as the next opponent for Velasquez. 9. Josh Barnett (9): Although UFC President Dana White has badmouthed Barnett many times, there's little doubt that he'll be welcomed back to the UFC if he beats Cormier to win the Strikeforce tournament. 10. Antonio Silva (10): Bigfoot's future is a bit murky because the future is murky for everyone who's still on the Strikeforce side of the Zuffa roster. But in the UFC there are a lot of very interesting fights for Silva. A UFC debut against the loser over the Overeem-Lesnar bout would be a huge heavyweight fight to make in 2012. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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

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What a difference a year makes. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Shane Carwin scored a violent first-round knockout to earn himself the promotion's interim heavyweight championship belt at UFC 111 in Newark, N.J., on March 27, 2010.  "The Engineer" was on top of the world. Undefeated (12-0) in mixed martial arts (MMA), finishing all of his opponents in the first round, Carwin's future was bright. Then the wheels suddenly fell off. After winning the interim title, Carwin lost his next two consecutive bouts to Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos, respectively. The losses, combined with various health problems, pushed Carwin far outside the heavyweight title picture. And just when he was eager to climb back up the contender ladder, injuries have once again sabotaged his ascent. Tonight (Nov. 14, 2011), Carwin sat down with the folks at HDNet's Inside MMA to discuss the injury that has been keeping him out of the cage, as well as his plans for the future: "Right now, I'm doing alright. We gotta get up early. I gotta get up at about 3:30 in the morning to head down there to go have surgery. But, it's T-10 through T-12. It's basically the middle of my back. I've got a disc that's pressing into my spinal cord. They've basically removed all the spinal fluid around the area. The first time something really bad happened, I was doing a seminar, just drilling takedowns and I got taken down. Both my legs froze up and I actually thought I was paralyzed. It lasted 10 to 15 seconds. I wasn't able to move them (my legs) or anything. Finally, I was able to recover after the initial impact to my spinal cord. When I started jumping and stuff, I had a tremendous amount of pain in my legs. What they're gonna do is they're gonna actually drill out the bone in my spine to give my spinal cord some room in there." Sounds scary. Carwin, 36, went on to elaborate on his injury, specifically in regard to the recovery process. According to his doctor, going under the knife was unavoidable if he wanted to continue his MMA career. According to Carwin, he still has plans to "engineer" one more comeback: "I think I'm looking at about 10 weeks of down time. It's similar to the neck injury that I've had. I actually had bones that were growing around my spinal cord. They went in there and removed that. This is the same time of procedure. This is the third time that my back's been operated on.... I love to fight and I'm passionate about it. Any time you're passionate about something and you love to do it, it makes it easy to go to work. That's what I love to do. The doctor told me I can either have this surgery and be able to train and do all the things that I need to do to be a complete athlete or we could forego the surgery and I could quit. But I'd probably be looking at surgery down the road anyway." Should Carwin be able to successfully recover from his injury, there should be a several interesting fights available to him. He expects to return in spring 2012, meaning that the heavyweight picture will likely be somewhat different than it is currently. Regardless, one thing is for sure: winners never quit and Carwin is no quitter. However, his window of opportunity is closing fast -- he's had just four fights in almost three years. He needs to get healthy, and stay healthy, if intends on making another push to the top. The sooner the better.

Posted in: time, heavyweight, injury, carwin, surgery

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If you happened to catch the ending of UFC on FOX, you were witness to scathing analysis from the fight promotion's president, Dana White. He wondered aloud why the now upended heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, didn't utilize the All-American wrestling abilities he had at his disposal with more vigor than he actually did. If you visited MMAmania.com during the past two days, you read both pundits and fans alike criticize the Mexican American for failing to control the distance in the striking exchanges, a mistake that ultimately led to the end of the 64 second fight. A lot of attention the past 48 hours or so has been focused on what Velasquez did wrong and the bad choices he made once he stepped inside the Octagon against his opponent. As the champion walking into the Honda Center on Saturday night (Nov. 12), that much can be expected. There is more pressure at the top than anywhere else after all, especially in a division as tumultuous as heavyweight has been, is, and will likely continue to be. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown" and all that jazz. But when all is said and done, when the dust settled and the smoke cleared, there stood a single man who had accomplished only what a scant few have been able to do. Junior dos Santos became only the 16th man to hold the UFC heavyweight title and did so in the most important fight in the company's history. Velasquez is a supremely talented young man and will no doubt find himself in another five-round title bout, but following the outcome of Saturday's fight, the focus shouldn't be on his shortcomings -- but rather what Dos Santos did right and what it means for him and the UFC at large. Here are just a few examples. Avoiding the takedown "Cigano" went face-to-face with Velasquez's wrestling, eyeballed it up and down, and threw it away like a gum wrapper. The truth is the former champion did try to take the fight to the ground but failed to put the Brazilian on his back for more than one or two seconds. The only time Dos Santos was horizontal, he immediately sprang back up to his feet. In less than a minute, Velasquez tried twice to get Dos Santos down -- once from a straight takedown attempt and a second from a kick that was caught. Now I'm just a lowly mixed martial arts (MMA) blogger, I'm no mathematician, but that roughly averages out to an attempt every 30 seconds. Velasquez didn't fail to impose his wrestling. He tried but Dos Santos was just not having any of it.   Won the most viewed UFC fight The ratings are beginning to trickle in from Saturday night and while it's not the grand slam that many were predicting -- somewhat foolishly, in my opinion -- the number is high enough to warrant popping the top off an exorbitantly priced bottle of wine at Zuffa headquarters. It wasn't enough to knock everyone's favorite YouTube brawler Kimbo Slice from his perch, but nearly six million people tuned it to see Dos Santos do what he does best: knock fools out.   Controlling the stand-up I suppose it goes without saying that the fighter who got the knockout a minute into the fight did better in the striking department. But Dos Santos did more than that. He used his far superior boxing skills -- crafted and honed by the legendary Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira -- to control the striking exchanges to ensure he never put himself in immediate danger. He was able to crack Velasquez a couple of times before that big, looping hook drilled itself into the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) fighter's skull. It only took a minute but "Cigano" looked great while it lasted. King of the mountain With the victory -- his eighth inside the Octagon -- Dos Santos becomes not only the heavyweight champion of the promotion, he also becomes the number one heavyweight in the sport. The two main event fighters from Saturday occupied the top two slots in the SB Nation Consensus Rankings going into their bout with the next three being Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, and Fabricio Werdum. The latter two are coming off losses while the former needs to win next month to get a crack at the title. Should Overeem defeat Lesnar at UFC 141, he has a case for being the top heavyweight in the world but will to get past Dos Santos to prove it. But it's lonely at the top It's not all rainbows and puppy dogs for the big boys in the UFC. Now that Dos Santos has the title, he's got a big bullseye on his back. Or at least, he should. MMA Nation opines that the heavyweight division could begin to falter and it's hard to disagree. The Brazilian will face the winner of UFC 141's main event while Velasquez might end up taking on the loser. When looking at the roster, there are only two to three fights that can be counted on for the new champ: a rematch with the man he beat on Saturday, a match-up with former champion Lesnar, and a bout with recent signee Overeem. Whoever wins the Strikeforce grand prix would also be a great addition to that list but we're still a few months off from knowing who that will be, either Josh Barnett or Daniel Cormier. UFC on FOX 1 didn't tell the story of a man who failed to achieve his goals. It spun the yarn of a young man who came from poverty to become the only Brazilian to hold the undisputed heavyweight crown in the UFC. The event wasn't about what didn't happen. It was all about what did. History happened, folks. We saw history unfold.

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

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Kid Nate takes a look at the once-stacked, now thin MMA heavyweight division -- a division in which even the champ has been diminished by injury. Read it at MMA Nation. Photo by Esther Lin, MMA Fighting.

Posted in: mma, heavyweight, division, kid nate, oncestacked

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Daniel Cormier talks with Greg Savage about fellow American Kickboxing Academy heavyweight Cain Velasquez, who dropped his title to Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1.

Posted in: heavyweight, velasquez, fellow, cormier, cigano

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CIGANO REACHES THE PINNACLE; WILL HE BE THE ONE TO REVERSE THE TREND?Junior dos Santos is the 13th man to hold the UFC Heavyweight Championship, if we exclude interim champions. The others didn’t have much luck hanging on to it. Will he be different?The current record for most successful heavyweight title defenses is three. Two men accomplished that feat: Randy Couture and Tim Sylvia. Brock Lesnar and Andrei Arlovski both defended the title successfully on two occasions, while the rest lost it in their first or second defense, including Cain Velasquez. That is the absurd reality of the heavyweight division. It is absurd because no other sport has such parity. The concept of dominance is a pipe dream because there are so many different variables that affect each bout. And all it takes is one small mistake to bring the fight to an instant end.Sooner or later, though, someone will come along and dominate the heavyweight division. Maybe he won’t last quite as long as Anderson Silva’s current annihilation of the middleweight division or Georges St-Pierre’s iron-fisted rule over the land of the welterweights. But it is going to happen at some point. The question, of course, is whether Junior is the man to do just that.It is impossible to predict. History suggests that Junior will likely drop the title to the winner of the upcoming title eliminator between Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. If not then, then certainly in his second defense, if we are going by statistics.In looking objectively at dos Santos, he actually seems to posses the goods to put together a decent run. He has exceptional takedown defense and arguably the best boxing in the division. Sound familiar?  Wait for it.  Just a little longer.  Can you say Chuck Liddell?Liddell’s skill set was remarkably similar to what dos Santos brings into the Octagon. He was a standup-first fighter, whose greatest weapon was his right hand. Sure, he had a pretty good left hook, too. But nobody really laid awake at night worrying about that shot. They certainly lost sleep over his right hand. Liddell’s takedown defense was legendary. Nobody, other than Randy Couture and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson had much success taking down Liddell. Fewer kept him on the ground for any length of time, due to his insane scrambling ability.Sounds like dos Santos, doesn’t it.  Of course it does. It sounds exactly like him.Whether he will put together a Liddell-like run, however, remains to be seen.WE WILL NOW FIND OUT WHAT CAIN IS REALLY MADE OFThe world finds out exactly what a fighter is made of when he loses his first professional fight. In a sport where parity is the name of the game, most fighters learn whether they have the chops to bounce back from a loss long before they sign with the UFC. Others figure it out during the early part of their UFC career.  Cain Velasquez will now face that very question for the very first time, despite the fact that he has been competing against the best in the world for years. Will the knockout make him question his chin? Was he fully recovered from the shoulder surgery? Did cage rust play a role?Maybe he just got caught with a great shot. Only Velasquez knows the answers to those questions. Honestly, though, the answer is almost irrelevant. The highly respected former champion should not waste time trying to figure out why he lost. He should spend time making sure that there are no lingering mental issues (such as a lack of confidence) from the loss. That means jumping right back on the horse, so that he can rid his mind of the bitter taste of defeat.For the record, I thought his game plan was excellent. Leg kicks were his biggest key to victory, in my opinion. Coming out and quickly shooting for a takedown wasn’t going to be successful, because that is exactly what dos Santos expected. Cain was doing just fine, until he got caught, and that, my friends, is the reality of making a living in the UFC heavyweight division.HENDERSON SECURES WELL-DESERVED TITLE SHOTBenson Henderson has long wanted to prove to the world that he is, indeed, one of the very best lightweights in the world. He paid his dues in mid-major shows for the first few years of his career, just like most fighters. Then he toiled in the shadow of the UFC as the lightweight champion in the WEC. After handing Clay Guida a whuppin’ on the undercard of Velasquez-dos Santos, Henderson proved that he is, without any question, one of the best lightweights in the world. In his next fight, he will find out if he is THE best.Yep, you read that correctly. Henderson’s next fight will occur in early 2012 when he steps into the cage to face UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. We will breakdown the fight six ways from Sunday before it happens, but the short version is I like the matchup for Henderson. In fact, I like it a lot. PARTING COMMENTS ON THE UFC’S BROADCAST TELEVISION DEBUTI’m sure there are lots of haters out there who are complaining about how the UFC’s debut went down. A fight that was built up as a crazy slugfest turned out to be a Mike Tyson-esque knockout in a mere 64 seconds. Sure, a distance war, a la Forrest Griffin versus Stephan Bonnar, would have been better. A two round war ending with a dramatic knockout would have been better. But a 64-second, one-punch (for all intents and purposes) knockout was just fine.I thought the production was excellent—and I’m not just writing that because I happen to pen articles for UFC.com. I thought Fox did a spectacular job of blending the UFC with the NFL, MLB, Daytona 500, and other elite sporting events. I felt like I was watching championship boxing matches on Wide World of Sports three decades ago. Wow. I’m old. Talk about dating myself. I digress.The UFC absolutely seemed at home on Fox. It was a natural broadcast. Joe Rogan was exceptional, as always. UFC President Dana White and former heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar were great during the pre-fight. And the vignettes, while a bit basic for hardcore fans, were perfect for first-time viewers.Saturday night was the start of something great. Really great. I fully expect the UFC to become water cooler conversation at major corporations around the world in 2012. Major UFC broadcasts, both on Fox and pay per view, will generate Floyd Mayweather-like talk or NFL playoff-like talk. Yes, I wrote that.  It’s going to happen, and I cannot wait.

Posted in: ufc, fight, world, question, heavyweight

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Months of anticipation, weeks of analysis and days worth of promotion finally led up to last night (Nov. 12, 2011) and the broadcast network premiere of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Starting off as what could be described as the movie "Bloodsport" come to life and later banned in states across the country, the Las Vegas-based fight promotion has come a long way since its somewhat seedy beginnings. Last night's inaugural event -- UFC on Fox 1 -- was the culmination of countless hours put in behind the scenes by Dana White and company. Even more so, it was the long sought after payoff brokered on the backs of the men who have stepped inside the Octagon. A litany of shattered and snapped bones, cuts small and large, and a near endless list of other injuries helped bring fans last night's historic moment. Junior Dos Santos captured the heavyweight title by knocking out Cain Velasquez in four seconds past the minute mark in the main event of the card that Dana White called the most important in the company's history. However, there was no back and forth action, there was no battle of attrition. By the very nature of mixed martial arts (MMA), fights can end as easily in a matter of seconds as they can stretch out for the entirety of the time allotted to it. So was the payoff worth it? When the UFC was left with little other option, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) reality show was birthed and its first season ended with the now myth-like fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar. The two light heavyweights battled back and forth for 15 minutes and in their actions, personified everything that is -- and can be -- great about MMA. We have witnessed a fight or flight moment inside the Octagon before and somehow the fight managed to supersede all expectations. And now we've seen a similar moment end with an exciting knockout, but there's a lingering feeling that it was a bit underwhelming. But let's be honest. If not for the enormous amount of hype, scrutiny and pressure attached to the heavyweight title bout, the ending -- quick, brutal and decisive -- would have been completely and wholly satisfying. Seeing the Brazilian loop his devastating hook directly into Velasquez's temple would have brought fans to their feet. Witnessing the new champ finish his opponent off with an unrelenting flurry of ground and pound would have left fans cheering themselves hoarse. Instead, some are pontificating whether or not the minute-long fight was good for the UFC's bottom line instead of celebrating dos Santos' victory or the fact that the company -- once on the brink of vanishing from the sport -- has joined the likes of the NFL and MLB as a member of the FOX Sports family. For every casual fan's "Was that it?," there surely is a corresponding "That was an incredible knockout!" A heavyweight Griffin/Bonnar would have been ideal, there's no doubt. It would have been the best possible outcome, but we got what we got and it was a performance from "Cigano" that cements his place at the top of the heavyweight mountain. Another complaint about the broadcast was the decision to only air the main event when a lightweight bout that was predicted to be a Fight of the Year contender ended up being exactly that. The fight between Ben Henderson and Clay Guida pitted two top 155-pounders looking to secure a date in Japan against lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Both "Smooth" and "The Carpenter" are notorious for entertaining scraps and more than lived up to their reputations with their three round war. The fight was not aired on FOX. It instead had to be sought out online via Facebook or on the Spanish language FOX Deportes. In an hour-long broadcast that showcased a fight that ended in a little more than a minute, fans were putting the UFC to task for not promoting the bout onto network television. But last night wasn't about putting on the type of show that will be what actually ends up on FOX in 2012. UFC's deal with FOX doesn't even begin until January. This show was somewhat of a one-off to hype the heavyweight division and also promote Brock Lesnar's tilt with Alistair Overeem next month. It was designed to introduce the fan who had never seen UFC before to the raw power that heavyweights possess in their four-ounce glove covered fists. And there was no better way to do that than "Cigano" blasting Velasquez in a minute. Was 60 minutes worth 64 seconds? Absolutely.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, fan, minute

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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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Filters are used for countless reasons. They're used to purify tap water, they're inside pools to help keep out all the gunk you wouldn't want to deal with during a morning swim. A filter is also in place with hardcore mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who have developed one when it comes to UFC President Dana White. The UFC head honcho spins better than any politician and almost every statement he makes has an ulterior motive and is a combination of both truth and misinformation. He can't be faulted for it, he's a businessman and in his line on work, the bottom line is all that matters. That also isn't to say White only cares about money. A big part of the bottom line for the UFC also includes making the fans -- supporters old and new who have helped pushed the sport to the brink of mainstream -- happy. It's that reasoning that brought us UFC on FOX 1 and a free heavyweight title fight. In the promotional push leading up to the event, White likened the event to the glory days of boxing where the biggest fights were broadcast on network television. The claim -- as per usual with White -- was partly true, but was also a bit of a tall tale. Last night's fight between Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos wasn't like boxing in the 1960s and 1970s, at least not exactly. It was better. But how? Believe or not, there was a time before pay-per-view (PPV). The format didn't start to gain steam until the 1980s when it began to strengthen its stranglehold on combat sports. Now every major event -- be it boxing, MMA, or pro wrestling -- can usually only be seen by ordering it from your cable or dish company. Before then, fans either had to be inside the arena to see the fight live or watch it via closed-circuit television. But, bouts like Muhammad Ali's iconic showdowns with Joe Frazier and Leon Spinks were available on network television ... albeit a few months after the fact. While the statements White made were technically true, taken at face value would lead the listener to believe that people 40 or 50 years ago would turn on ABC and check out heavyweight titans in the squared circle live as it happened. Fellow SBNation writer Brent Brookhouse, himself a longtime boxing fan, has been debunking this talking point for the past week. The fights were shown on programs like ABC's "Wide World of Sports," but after a lengthy, often months long, delay. Last night's UFC on FOX 1 event wasn't a return for combat sports to the format that made it popular in the first place because technically, it was never a part of that format to begin with. Yes, boxing heavyweight title fights were sometimes -- but not often -- aired live on free TV but nothing comparable to the bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. Aside from having Brock Lesnar standing inside the Octagon, last night's main event was the biggest heavyweight bout the UFC could put together. On one side, is the champion, Cain Velasquez. He walked into the Honda Center last night with an unblemished record to complement the title around his waist. On the other side of the cage was challenger Junior dos Santos. The Brazilian had performed flawlessly during his UFC stint taking out the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin. These were the two best heavyweights in the sport fighting for the biggest title in the game. And it aired on Fox for free. This wasn't a throwback to the glory days of boxing, it was exponentially better. Perhaps decades from now there will be another fight promoter making the media rounds in the week leading up to the biggest fight of his company's history. And maybe if the fight will be airing on a free-to-air network, the promoter will reference last night's bout as a comparison. In that instance, he will be correct. Last night, the UFC didn't bring back the era of momentous heavyweight fights on free TV because that era never existed. It didn't piggyback onto boxing's history, it created a bit of its own. Last night was a watershed moment for the Las Vegas fight promotion, a gamechanger. And it wasn't because of anything boxing did or didn't do in the past. It was because of what the UFC is doing now. For UFC on FOX results and live play-by-play for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, heavyweight, boxing

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Though tabbed as a betting underdog prior to his heavyweight title showdown with Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1, Junior dos Santos now sits atop the UFC’s heavyweight division as the undisputed champion.

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, do, pegs lesnar

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Junior dos Santos knocked out champion Cain Velasquez 1:04 into the first round to win the UFC heavyweight championship in the promotion's debut on the Fox network.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, do, velasquez, promotions debut

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It didn't take Junior dos Santos long to prove he's the world's best heavyweight as he knocked out Cain Velasquez in only sixty-four seconds into the first round to become the new UFC heavyweight champion.  Cain started off strong with leg kicks, but Dos Santos stunned Velasquez with a heavy overhand right during the toe-to-toe action that downed the champion. Dos Santos followed up with brutal ground and pound strikes that eventually led to the referee stopping the action. Velasquez entered tonight's contest undefeated at 9-0. He won the UFC heavyweight title last October in a Knockout of the Night performance against Brock Lesnar. He previously defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a title eliminator match-up at UFC 110 in February of last year.  Dos Santos only has one blemish on his record, a loss to Joaquim Ferreira from a bout in Brazil back in 2007. Since that loss, Dos Santos has gone 8-0 with his last win coming by way of a dominant, one-sided beatdown of Shane Carwin at UFC 131. The victory served as a title eliminator, solidifying Dos Santos' spot as the #1 contender. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, do, velasquez, night performance

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The historic UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" broadcast has officially wrapped from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In the main event of the evening, and the only fight to make the one hour primetime special, Cain Velasquez defended his heavyweight title against Junior dos Santos. Well, he didn't defend it. He lost it, actually. That's because Dos Santos came in hard and fast with a big overhand right and put Velasquez to the mat. Some follow up shots turned the champion over and that was it. Junior dos Santos defeats Cain Velasquez to become the UFC heavyweight champion on the very first UFC on FOX network broadcast. And he did it in just over one minute. Dos Santos landed a nice right hand in the early going but Velasquez walked through it. A takedown attempt failed early from the champion. The crowd was electric for everything.  Just one minute into the round and with "Cigano" looking as comfortable as ever, he landed hard and clean just above Velasquez's temple and near his ear. That's the sweet spot, ladies and gentlemen. Follow up ground and pound finished the job for a short but electrifying heavyweight title fight. Was it as good for you as it was for Dos Santos? Click here for all the results and live blow-by-blow of the UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event action from Anaheim, California.

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, do, velasquez

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With all due respect to Greece and the art of Pankration, it can be almost universally agreed upon that Brazil is the birthplace of modern mixed martial arts (MMA). Since the early part of last century, vale tudo fights have engrained themselves in the combat sports culture of the South American country. Not content to develop its own style of martial arts -- like it had with Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) -- the country's best fighters began incorporating techniques from Japan -- like judo -- and Thailand's particular brand of kickboxing in an effort to win accolades at home and across the world. When thinking of the sport's elite in the past decade, names like Mauricio Rua and Wanderlei Silva immediately come to mind. When discussing who the greatest pound-for-pound fighter today is, you'd be remiss not to mention Anderson Silva. And when the future of MMA is brought up, Jose Aldo and Junior dos Santos are always at the forefront of the conversation. Tonight (Nov. 12, 2011) at UFC on Fox 1, dos Santos has a chance to make history for his native land, the country that gave life to the sport we all love. Never before has a Brazilian been crowned the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion in the title's long and sordid history. It's an enormous opportunity for "Cigano." Here's why: The UFC returned to Brazil this past August after a 13-year sabbatical from the country. Hosting UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, the company broke all sorts of records while the fights themselves provided enough fireworks to light up the Rio skyline. Current middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva did what he does best and made the latest challenger to his 185-pound title look foolish when he easily knocked out Yushin Okami in the second round. "Shogun" finally got his revenge on Forrest Griffin after the American spoiled Rua's Octagon debut. And Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira fought off Brendan Schaub -- and Father Time itself -- when he put the young The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) runner-up to sleep in three minutes. Brazil was eager to see its favorite sons in action and sold the show out in record time -- 14,000 rabid fans filed into the arena after being denied for well over a decade live Octagon action. And the fighters made sure to repay them in kind with action-packed performances that had every fan -- Brazilian or not -- beaming by night's end. That night was a lot of fun and a big part of that was the crowd. It just seems that Brazilian's love fighting. They just LOVE it. There are very fews locales that that can be said about. Canada is in the same boat. Anytime the Octagon travels to the Great White North, a great collection of fight fans show up. Brazil welcomed the UFC back into his country so warmly and excitedly that Dana White and company have already made plans to return in January for UFC 142.  So what does any of this have to do with Junior dos Santos? Since the heavyweight title was introduced in 1997, no Brazilian has worn the belt around their waist. Yes, "Minotauro" defeated Tim Sylvia, but that was for an interim title and solely a legal maneuver by the UFC to keep its current heavyweight champ Randy Couture from jumping ship to Affliction Entertainment. Simply put, Nogueira didn't beat the man to become the man. The belt was a holdover until the legal mess "The Natural" caused was sorted out. And it's not like the Brazilian reign was long and fruitful. A couple months after submitting "The Maine-iac," Nogueira shipped off to Las Vegas to film a season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) opposite Frank Mir. Mir would then go on to shock the MMA world by stopping "Big Nog" for the first time in the Brazilian's career at UFC 92. That's the closest a native of Brazil came to one of the most important titles in the fight game. In fact, only two other Brazilians have even challenged for the title before dos Santos gets to tonight. Pedro Rizzo at the turn of the century and Gabriel Gonzaga back in 2007. Both were coincidentally stopped short of their goal by Couture. Tonight "Cigano" has a chance to change all that. He has a chance to become the first undisputed Brazilian heavyweight champion in UFC history. By defeating Velasquez, he helps his country check off a long overdue accomplishment on its MMA resumé. If the UFC's history is measured in versions, tonight could be the beginning of 4.0. The first being the early days of the promotion, the second being the Dark Ages when the company was facing bankruptcy and getting squeezed by political pressure. 3.0 of course would be the post-TUF era that we have been enjoying for a little over half a decade now. But, UFC 4.0 promises more than any longtime fan could have ever imagined. The deal with Fox is monumental and tonight's heavyweight title fight on broadcast television is something I never thought I would ever see. At the forefront could be Junior dos Santos representing Brazil, the country that started the whole thing. There's a lot of people -- a LOT -- who don't want to be disappointed tonight. Dana White and the rest of the UFC, millions of fight fans across the United States and the world, and heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez represent a majority of them. But then there's "Cigano" and the country of Brazil who want something to cheer for possibly more than anyone else. Will they be dancing in Rio tonight?

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, brazilian, country

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Filed under: UFC, News, UFC on FOXJunior dos Santos completed his quick ascension up the heavyweight ladder, knocking out Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds to capture the heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC on FOX at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. It was a matchup hand-picked by UFC president Dana White because he felt sure that no matter how long it lasted, it would be exciting. It didn't last long, but the result certainly left the crowd buzzing. After a quick feeling-out process that saw Velasquez battering dos Santos' leg with kicks, the challenger floored the champion with an overhand right behind the ear, dropping him to the canvas. dos Santos then battered the floored Velasquez with left hands from the top. Velasquez then rolled on his side, where dos Santos smashed him with two right hands that forced referee John McCarthy to call a halt to the action, making dos Santos the heavyweight kingpin. "I have no words to say what I'm feeling," dos Santos said moments after the fight while fighting back tears. "It's amazing, my life. I want to say thank you to my team and family. I have a lot of good people around me. Thank you very much." dos Santos (14-1) later said that he came into the fight less than 100 percent and that he was "afraid to fight" with Velasquez because of it, but it certainly didn't affect his performance. For Velasquez (9-1), it was the first loss in a career that has been a series of victories until now. Due to the brevity of the bout, he never had a chance to get started, but he certainly didn't exhibit the ultra-aggressive attack that has been his trademark until now. "I just want to say sorry to all the fans, family and friends," Velasquez said. "I disappointed you. I will come back and I will get this belt back for sure." While Velasquez will return home to San Jose, California to lick his wounds and rebound, we already know what awaits dos Santos. The new champion will eventually face the winner of December 30's Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar bout.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, do, velasquez, didnt

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It seems that, in all combat sports, the heavyweights always attract a lot of attention. A big fight between two big boys is easy to market and consistently magnetizes fans. I never really got that. It's ironic that another widely accepted rule of thumb is that the level of action and excitement generally increases the lighter in weight the competitors are. Rather than take in two stubbly-faced neanderthals lumbering around and flailing fists the size of Christmas hams, I was more satisfied watching the well-rounded little guys disappear into a confusing tornado of limbs and ricochet around the cage as if the production team had mistakenly broadcast show in fast-forward. However, the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos heavyweight championship bout headlining tonight's landmark UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos event is a different animal. Don't get me wrong -- this is still a half-ton of human beef colliding with intentions of decapitating one another, but these athletes conduct themselves like respectful gentlemen and engage in their respective trades with a fluid agility and violent grace that defies the common conception of today's leviathan combatants. In one corner, we have the sheepishly smiling and disarmingly humble dos Santos; a gentle giant who's endured the diversity of a rough upbringing in Brazil and ascended to the sport's apex with traditional boxing. Then there's Cain Velasquez, a Mexican-American wrestler who's adopted his mother and father's blue-collar work ethic to transform into planet Earth's alpha-heavyweight. Since the mystique of Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko is no more, these two mixed martial artists are leading the charge as the sport's new era of heavyweight fighters, and there is no better place to stage their showdown for the masses than the UFC's groundbreaking premiere on Fox. It's on. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos The Prologue I interviewed Velasquez's manager and trainer when the champ was still unconscious on the operating table after his shoulder surgery. The procedure was successful and the prognosis was to begin training in three to four months and reappear in the Octagon in six. That was almost ten months ago on the dot. The shoulder might be the most finicky and complex injury to rehabilitate for any athlete. The required range of motion and breadth of application can make recovery a tedious task, even more so for the laborious occupation of a fighter, and the question of ring-rust always accompanies year-long layoffs. Just going through the myriad MMA training and sparring drills of his own volition could tax his shoulder to the fullest, and now he'll have 239-pounds of power-punching Brazilian to fend off with it. While dos Santos has been spotless in the UFC and murderous on the feet, his only stain on the carpet is a 2007 submission loss and the Brazilian has persevered through just one wrestler, and one who prefers to handle business standing as well. While all signs would indicate dos Santos is tough to get down and can handle himself accordingly, he's yet to be dragged through the mire by a tireless takedown artist like Velasquez. The Champion Velasquez was trumpeted as a behind-the-scenes training phenom since day one. I finally bought into the hype the day he crumpled the venerable Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with a whirlwind of devastating kickboxing. He became much more than a frenetically paced wrestler with pestering ground-and-pound. This wasn't your standard lucky punch -- this was a burly, athletic heavyweight unreeling high kicks, low kicks, front kicks and blazing hand combinations with the ease of a lightweight. Much like Jon Jones, Velasquez's star seemed to shine brighter as the voraciousness of his competition grew. After climbing out of the division's basement with stoppages of Brad Morris, Jake O'Brien and Dennis Stojnic, Cain's first spotlight performance came against Cheick Kongo. The gifted French striker fought off takedowns tooth and nail and lanced mile-long, straight punches through his guard. An air of desperation seemed to accent the way Velasquez reverted to his wrestling roots to exploit Kongo's weakness and win the decision. Sure, he beat Kongo, but so did Heath Herring and Carmello Marrero, and we weren't wetting our pants over them. Next up was the stone-faced Ben Rothwell, a crusty veteran with a much more balanced skill-set. The striking of "Big Ben" actualized as a man prodding a hornet's nest with a stick. Velasquez devoured the veteran and firmly adhered himself while swarming with an incessant volley of punches and hammerfists. Once again it was the unnervingly frenzied pace and pressure of Velasquez that planted the seed for his exceptional potential. It was easy to whine about the stoppage and, citing the Kongo fight, stamp him as a one-dimensional wrestler. And that is precisely why the kickboxing repertoire he vanquished Big Nog with was particularly mind-blowing. Still, we fans are a coarse lot of pessimistic meat-heads. "Poor Nog's chin is gone," and, "Gotta love Big Nog but he's known for getting his ass kicked," and, "Big deal, Frank Mir just did that too!" we bemoaned. After the schoolyard beating Velasquez laid out on Brock Lesnar to assume the heavyweight mantle, we were out of excuses. There was no room to deny that Cain Velasquez was the real deal. His striking and power were cemented and conglomerated with his already proven wrestling prowess. A champ was born. The Challenger A highly advisable way for an unknown fighter to introduce himself is by taking on an esteemed and experienced opponent -- who has never been knocked out -- in your UFC debut and clobbering him into a peaceful slumber in about a minute. Oh ... well, hello there Junior dos Santos. The Brazilian's emergence was as subtle and delicate as the Kool-Aid man crashing through your living room wall. Werdum's status was unquestionably well deserved, leaving barely enough room for the provincial doubters to cry "Fluke!" considering the litany of dangerous strikers the Pride standout had already tangled with. Even though this initial win probably stands as the most impressive, every subsequent performance further defined the heightening legacy of "Cigano", who left a wake of carnage in his trail with lifeless bodies falling left and right. Stefan Struve, a second Pride icon in Mirko Filipovic and Gabriel Gonzaga all crumbled under the merciless wrath of his technical boxing. The Team Nogueira product remained level-headed about his meteoric rise until his coach and mentor was (literally) knocked out of the title race in 2010. After handily dismantling the hard-headed Roy Nelson, it became crystal clear that Junior dos Santos was destined to vie for championship gold. Accepting a coaching role opposite Brock Lesnar on TUF, the momentum fizzled due to the champ's recurring battle with diverticulitis, vaulting perennial contender Shane Carwin in his place. Like the Nelson fight, the foray was decided on the score cards but the result wasn't really any less overwhelming than his previous knockouts. Now establishing his takedown defense against a credentialed wrestler, dos Santos was undeniably next in line. The Match Up For as monumental as this match up is, the variables are rather straight forward: it's the perilous boxing of dos Santos versus the kickboxing of Velasquez with the question mark of the champ's ability to implement his wrestling effectively. Prior to Velasquez's kicking onslaught against Nogueira, a simple set of straight rights and lefts made up most of his offerings in the stand up. Perhaps due to the lacking threat of takedowns, the champ rolled out a wide array of different kicks with cool confidence. It will be interesting to see whether he relies on kicks from beyond the perimeter of the Brazilian's wheelhouse or relents to retain balance and defense by dueling with his hands. While dos Santos is easily the best heavyweight boxer, nothing will eliminate the hazards of being a predictable fighter with a transparent strategy. Everyone knows the challenger wants to keep Velasquez in front of him and work his hands. dos Santos uses the jab well but it's his only distance weapon. In close quarters, his pummeling right hand and one of the scariest left hooks in the game come into play. The concern is that any power-puncher must plant his feet to generate torque. The ideal tactic to instill hesitancy for such a fighter is the threat of shooting. Defending high level takedowns requires a contradictory set of footwork. Instead of forward-oriented and planted for power, he has to be light on his toes and poised to spring back for a deep sprawl. If I'm going to bring up Cain's fight with Kongo as ammunition for how JDS could tag him even worse, it's only fair to highlight Gonzaga's successful takedown and point out how Velasquez will cover more ground and do a much better job of keeping him there. dos Santos should have the chops to escape and avoid major damage, but every such instance would result in a significant scoring shift toward Velasquez. Conversely, if Velasquez isn't careful about dropping levels and shows any signs of a pattern, dos Santos thrives with two tools known to cripple aspiring wrestlers: a massive uppercut and a brutal lead knee to the body. Both of these techniques were integral against Nelson. JDS keyed in on Nelson's habit of dipping his head down into the pocket and/or retreating back in a straight line, both of which Velasquez has exhibited in the past. When the champ faced a tight striker with rigid takedown defense, we saw some weaknesses. The challenger made it through the wrestling of Carwin although it's not of the caliber of Velasquez. The Conclusion I'm leaning toward dos Santos here for showing the better chin, having a solid chance of nullifying takedowns or scrambling loose when he cannot, and most importantly, for having a sterling and rocket-fueled set of boxing combinations. The long layoff and shoulder injury chip away at some of the Velasquez's advantages of being more diverse, though I realize that's a highly subjective factor. The champ also has a fierce ruggedness and determination that could deflate dos Santos in later rounds. Analyze their tendencies and form your own conclusions, but mine is that we'll see a new champion tonight. My Prediction: Junior dos Santos by decision.     Poll Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos Cain Velasquez Junior dos Santos   2 votes | Results

Posted in: takedown, heavyweight, do, champ, velasquez

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After an eight-month layoff, former WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley (7-1) returned to the cage on Friday night at the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas to face late replacement Karl Knothe (20-6) for the Shark Fights heavyweight crown. Early in his career, it wasn't a stretch to suggest Lashley would run over regional competition with his wrestling pedigree and enormous size, but recent match-ups have shown massive holes in Lashley's know-how and conditioning level. None of those problems were the case on Friday night. Lashley, who has been training extensively under Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett, submitted Knothe in the first round with a kimura, something Barnett had drilled into the mind of Lashley for weeks prior: After a struggle, Lashley caught Knothe with a kimura, or - if you're a catch-wrestling type of person - a top-wrist lock. Who drilled the sequence that led to the submission? One "Warmaster." "It was exactly what we working on, from the transition to getting into it," Lashley told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Step by step we went over that same series, like, maybe hundreds of times." Friday's win is the second consecutive victory for Lashley, whose opponent for the Shark Fights heavyweight title bout changed three times before Knothe was confirmed as an opponent. Several proposed bookings this year also fizzled. Lashley moves to 7-1, and he plans to continue training with Josh Barnett and Erik Paulson. While Lashley's past issues haven't been forgotten simply because of one win, it's interesting to see Lashley come out victorious in a manner that indicates Barnett's training methods are working. Can Lashley become a legitimate threat in the heavyweight division? We'll find out over the course of the next year.

Posted in: heavyweight, lashley, knothe, struggle lashley, lashley moves

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Throw your hands in the air and be prepared to lower them whenever you garner a collection of strange looks from people. Your favorite day of the week has finally arrived and you can relax in knowing that the world will not come to an end this weekend. Don't worry, I've already checked. We're safe. Now that our civilization is going to survive, you will have an ample amount of time to make a celebrity appearance at our Saturday Morning MMA Link Party. Red cups are in the backyard. Don't spill anything. Thank you. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and the Cardio Question. [MMAFighting] "Ask the people who know what it's like to have Cain Velasquez in their faces on a regular basis, and they'll tell you that there's a big difference between thinking you can handle the UFC heavyweight champion's non-stop pressure and actually experiencing it." [/li] [li]Junior Dos Santos and the Five Most Impressive UFC Contender Runs in Recent History. [CagePotato] "Unless you’ve been locked in a closet for the last week with no internet reception, you’re probably aware that the UFC’s inaugural event on network television transpires this weekend, headlined by a gargantuan heavyweight showdown between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos." [/li] [li]UFC’s Kyle Watson teams with heavy metal band for UFC on FOX contest. [Fives Ounces of Pain] "Kyle Watson, a fighter in the UFC and a former cast-member of The Ultimate Fighter, is stepping outside the Octagon to take on a member of A Band of Orcs, a metal band, in a contest for UFC on FOX 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." [/li] [li]UFC on FOX Staff Predictions Special: Guest Picks From MMA Media Members. [LowKick] "LowKick.com Staff and fellow MMA media members share their picks for this weekend's UFC Heavyweight title clash between Cain Velasquez.." [/li] [li]listair Overeem Thought Brock Lesnar Would Be Bigger In Person [MMAConvert] "MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani caught up with Alistair Overeem following the UFC 141 press conference today to get his thoughts on Brock Lesnar, tomorrow’s heavyweight championship and his lawsuit with Golden Glory." [/li] [li]Manny Pacquiao’s Trainer Freddie Roach Anxious to Test Nick Diaz’s Boxing. [5th Round] "Mixed martial arts fans will finally get the 170-pound clash they’ve been waiting for when UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre takes on Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Super Bowl weekend." [/li] [li]UFC on FOX: Cain Velasquez Relishing in Mexican Pride. [Bleacher Report] "When the UFC started promoting Brock Lesnar versus Cain Velasquez for the UFC heavyweight title, the phrase "Mexican-American" was used in the campaign with little hesitation. In fact, it was the biggest tool to advertise the now-UFC heavyweight champ." [/li] [li]Bellator 57 Weigh-In Results from Canada. [The Fight Nerd] "The Bellator 57 weigh-ins have been completed from Orillia, Ontario in preparation for Bellator’s Saturday night event at Casino Rama, which features the finals of the Welterweight tournament as Ben Saunders squares off against Douglas Lima." [/li] [li]UFC on FOX 1 fight card: Cub Swanson finally makes his Octagon debut against Ricardo Lamas. [MMAMania] "Admittedly enough, all the spotlight for the UFC on Fox 1 fight card tonight (Sat., Nov. 12, 2011) has centered around the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos heavyweight championship fight, and for good reason." [/li] [li]Forrest Griffin, Joe Paterno, and Penn State child sex scandal (updated w/ Dana White comments). [FightOpinion] “Memo to athletes and media personalities: this is a real sex scandal. Rape and child abuse are not issues to crack jokes about. This is not something to make light of, especially when it involves allegations regarding defenseless or impressionable children." [/li] [li]USA Today purchases MMA Junkie. [MMAPayout] "USA Today Sports Media Group announced its purchase of MMAJunkie.com. The purchase includes “its related editorial assets across all platforms, including its daily radio show.” [/li] [/list] Ask the people who know what it's like to have Cain Velasquez in their faces on a regular basis, and they'll tell you that there's a big difference between thinking you can handle the UFC heavyweight champion's non-stop pressure and actually experiencing it.

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, velasquez, li

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Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: Photo: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting - Fowlkes: How White’s Love of Boxing Led Us Here (MMA Fighting) “White: It was [Fox Sports Media Group Chairman] David Hill. I went in and said, listen, USA’s Tuesday Night Fights and ABC’s Wide World of Sports, we all used to watch those, all of us who were big boxing fans. I didn’t miss Tuesday Night Fights ever. Every Tuesday night I was on the couch. But when I was younger, I remember my uncles all getting around the TV and watching Wide World of Sports. When we told them the fight was going to be the heavyweight championship, they said, ‘Do that, just do the one fight, the heavyweight championship.’ It makes sense. That’s really the way it went down. It was David Hill’s call.” - Protest & presser at UFC HQ scheduled for Saturday at 11 AM (Fight Opinion) “On Saturday, Nevada survivors of sexual assault, concerned parents and Las Vegas casino workers will gather outside UFC’s headquarters at 2960 West Sahara Avenue. They are demanding that advertisers and FOX Sports “drop the UFC” until the UFC makes it evident to the public that it no longer tolerates violent, sexist and homophobic language, and adopts and enforces a code of ethical conduct similar to those that exist in other professional sports.” - Interview with Pablo Garza (MMA Mania) “With the way I finished my last two fights, people want to think that I’m going to go out there and do something insanely crazy and all that stuff. I’m just gonna go out there and try to win the fight, you know what I mean? If I do something spectacular in the process, that’s bonus points but I don’t purposely go out there and think like, “Alright, maybe this time I’ll try like a back flip or something.” - Frankie Edgar Will Likely Defend UFC LW Title Against Henderson-Guida Winner In Japan (MMA Convert) “Two respected MMA media outlets are reporting that Frankie Edgar will cross the Pacific to defend his title next February when the UFC returns to Japan. And word is UFC on FOX 1′s Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida will likely determine his opponent.” - Here’s the tremendous UFC on FOX weigh-in that you need to see (MiddleEasy) “By this time tomorrow, we either will have a new heavyweight champion or can solidify that Fedor has been dethroned as the greatest heavyweight of all time. One of those scenarios will 100% take place within 24-hours, and that should fill all of you with incredible anxiety. I’ve been so tensed throughout the day thinking about this fight that I’ve only consumed two things since yesterday, and both of those things begins in ‘vienna’ and ends in ‘sausages.” - Pros Favoring Velasquez Heading Into ‘UFC On Fox 1′ (FightLine) “When it was initially announced that Cain Velasquez would make the first defense of his heavyweight belt against Junior dos Santos, the early betting lines favored dos Santos to win, as the memory of his thrashing of Shane Carwin was still fresh in everyone’s mind. With time though, public opinion in general shifted in Velasquez’s favor, with the majority of pundits, fans and fighters alike picking Velasquez to beat dos Santos. … FightHubTV’s Marcos Villegas recently polled a few California-stationed MMA fighters over who they see going home with the belt tomorrow night and their opinions reflected that majority. “ - Junior Dos Santos and the Five Most Impressive UFC Contender Runs in Recent History (Cage Potato) “You see, unbeaten runs aren’t common in the UFC. This isn’t the world of boxing, where fighters are fed 20 journeymen before they get thrown to the lions. And that’s precisely why the MMA community purrs over such immaculate resumes. So which UFC fighters built up the most impressive win streaks en route to their first title shot? These five come to mind…” - UFC on FOX Breakdown: The Main Event (Five Ounces of Pain) “Its status as MMA’s weakest and at times, most embarrassing division is well-earned. Its oxygen consumption equals that of every other weight class combined, and cardio is often thrown out the window before Bruce Buffer is done with his fighter introductions. However, every now and then, the heavyweight division offers a bout that captures the imagination of fight fans like no other.” - Celebrities for “UFC on FOX” Red Carpet Event Announced (5thRound) “FOX promised to host a star-studded red carpet extravaganza to kick off their MMA debut, and they weren’t kidding. This Saturday starting at 4PM PT, FUEL TV’s Nicole Dabeau will greet actors, athletes and other notables as they enter the Honda Center in Anaheim, California to watch Cain Velasquez defend his UFC heavyweight crown against Junior dos Santos.” - Interview with UFC on Fox co-headliner Clay Guida (LowKick) “Ben Henderson is pretty much the same (as Anthony Petts), great on the feet and solid on ground. I won’t go into detail, but I want to finish this fight. To me, a big win earns a title shot. I want to win big so that there is no question about my title shot. Everyone hyped Melvin Guillard as the obvious next shot, but then he lost in the first-round to Joe (Lauzon). So, I figure with a big win, then it’s my turn for that title shot.” … “It’s amazing really. To come from a wrestling background that doesn’t really have a professional circuit, other then the Olympics or the WWE, it is amazing to think that now I’m on PPV and will be on Fox. It’s just unreal and awesome.  Plus, I meet so many people that just want a picture or to say hello – the fans are usually really cool. I feel that I have been a great ambassador for the UFC, and I hope to continue that trend.” - UFC 1-75 summed up in Tweets (TheFightNerd) “Scrawny Brazilian beats all with complex hugging and squeezing moves, including boxer with one glove and Ken Shamrock. -UFC 1 in tweet form … Pat Smith kills a ninja, but is scared of Royce Gracie being on top. -UFC 2 in tweet form … “If you’re coming on, come on!” says Canadian with epic mullet. -UFC 3 in tweet form” - Dana White: UFC on FOX a ‘”Dream Come True“(BleacherReport.com/MMA) “Lorenzo [Fertitta] and I sat down and we talked about a lot of different fights we can make. This one made sense,” White says. “Not only with the heavyweight championship of the world, but the fight between these two athletes. These guys are monsters, man. When have you seen either of these guys in a boring fight that was just horrible? The answer is never.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fox, heavyweight

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Alistair Overeem’s long-time striking coach Cor Hemmers says he is “disappointed” in the course of action that the heavyweight has...

Posted in: heavyweight, coach, alistair, overeem coach, ldquodisappointedrdquo

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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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Saturday night the UFC makes its debut on Fox with an explosive UFC heavyweight title match-up between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. MMAFrenzy is here to break down the championship bout. UFC on Fox 1 airs at 9pm ET on Fox, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for complete coverage of tomorrow’s card starting with the Foxsports.com and Facebook card starting at 7pm ET.  Keys for the Champion (CL)- UFC champion Cain Velasquez is coming off a long layoff due to a shoulder injury to a tough first fight back against a formidable opponent in Junior Dos Santos. Dos Santos has the best boxing in the UFC heavyweight division hands down, so it may seem like the smart play is for Velasquez just to stick to his wrestling to pull out a victory here. Well that may not be the case against Dos Santos since he has defended 83% of the takedown attempts he has faced according to Fightmetric. So how does Velasquez retain his title? Well the first thing Velasquez must do is continue cleaning up his striking by leaving some of the power shots at home. While this may seem ridiculous to suggest for a fighter, those wild shots open yourself up to hard counters from a better boxer. Just watching the Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin fights shows how much damage can be done when fighters swing for the fences on Dos Santos, he will pick you apart and leave you looking like a horror film. Cain likely learned this lesson in his fight with Cheick Kongo. So it is important to stay technical early and often to avoid taking too much damage early. Both fighters have good gas tanks for their size but as the fight wears on it is harder to keep your hands high. So Velasquez needs to protect as much as he can early to avoid major damage and start setting up takedowns later in the fight. By going for takedowns later in the fight the hope is that your opponent’s takedown defense will relax due to being tired. Both fighters will be tired by that point but having strong wrestling can be a huge advantage late if you do not wear yourself out early. While ring rust is impossible to ignore, Velasquez is at an elite camp with great trainers who have prepared him for this fight. This fight is one of the closest fights I have ever seen on paper and it is a true 1 versus 2 match-up in the heavyweight division(at least until we see how Overeem does against Lesnar). Keys for Dos Santos (Bryan Robison) - Before I dive into the analysis of this matchup, I must start with just how exciting this matchup is. This is a matchmaker’s dream, and Dana, Lorenzo Fertita, Joe Silva, and most importantly the fans have arguably the greatest matchup in UFC history to look forward to this Saturday. It is arguably the greatest because to start, it is a heavyweight championship fight. Since the beginning of boxing’s reign, heavyweight fights have always carried more luster and celebration than any other weight class. The UFC has never had that. While they have had great names come through the ranks, names like Mirko Cro Cop, Randy Couture, and Brock Lesnar, they have never had a true heavyweight fight that brings together the entire array of talents that are displayed throughout the organization. This fight supplies that. This fight has the striking, the jiu-jitsu, the wrestling, the grappling, and most importantly, the entertainment. Half of that entertainment is provided by Junior Dos Santos. Dos Santos is without question the best boxer in the heavyweight division. He knocked out Fabricio Werdum in his first career UFC fight at UFC 90, and he has been displaying his striking prowess in every fight since then. That advantage alone will be the key to Dos Santos winning. While Velasquez without question has great cardio and a great chin, it has only been tested once. Cheick Kongo was able to knock Velasquez down twice. Unfortunately for Kongo, he was unable to finish the champion. If Dos Santos is able to knock Velasquez down, he will seize the opportunity, unlike Kongo. Another positive for Dos Santos is his improved cardio. While he has not finished his last two opponents, we were finally able to see if he could survive a fight that went the entire fifteen minutes. He dominated both Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin for those six rounds in total. As long as Dos Santos is more versatile with his strikes, as he continued to throw only punches during the Nelson fight, Dos Santos can keep Velasquez guessing through the third, fourth, and fifth rounds. Dos Santos was even able to take Carwin down a couple of times during their fight, an area that certainly will be utilized by Velasquez during the fight. One can easily see how excited Dana White is about this matchup, stating that if the fight goes 30 seconds or 30 minutes (which isn’t possible), it will be a hell of a fight. He is absolutely spot-on with that assessment. As the UFC enters the most crucial era of their existence, there is no better way to start than with Dos Santos and Velasquez.

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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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Ariel Helwani hits the streets of Hollywood to find out how mainstream MMA is… or isn’t. UFC on FOX Main Event Breakdown: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos | MMA Fighting The success of both starts with offense. Both men are among the most prolific offensive heavyweights in UFC history. Actually, they are the most prolific offensive fighters in UFC history among all division. Again, this can be proven with numbers. According to FightMetric, they rank No. 1 and 2 in UFC history for significant strikes landed per minute all-time. UFC on FOX Breakdown: The Main Event | Five Ounces of Pain Its status as MMA’s weakest and at times, most embarrassing division is well-earned. Its oxygen consumption equals that of every other weight class combined, and cardio is often thrown out the window before Bruce Buffer is done with his fighter introductions. However, every now and then, the heavyweight division offers a bout that captures the imagination of fight fans like no other. Whether it is Randy Couture and Pedro Rizzo setting the gold standard for five-round wars, or Fedor Emelianenko‘s titanic battles with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, little can rival the electricity of a legitimately thrilling heavyweight prizefight. This Saturday night, headlining the UFC‘s historic debut on FOX, Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos have the chance to eclipse any of the previously mentioned encounters. The Daily Line: Is Velasquez Vs. Dos Santos The Best Heavyweight Title Fight Of All Time? | Fightline Velasquez vs. Dos Santos on pay-pre-view likely wouldn’t outsell Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem, a non-title fight. Even with the ballyhoo over the UFC’s debut on Fox, Velasquez vs. dos Santos doesn’t carry with it the breathless aura that Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic did during the Pride era. So, is Saturday’s main event really the best heavyweight match-up of all time? UFC on Fox 1: Fighters and Coaches Predict Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Title Bout | Bleacher Report Considering the magnitude of this fight, BleacherReport.com gathered insight from some of the sport’s most knowledgeable coaches and talented fighters. THQ couldn’t wait until Saturday, so they made Cain and JDS square off in the digital octagon | MiddleEasy It’s been 382 days since the UFC heavyweight championship has been defended, but finally, this Saturday we will get to see Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos enter the octagon on Fox. The guys at THQ couldn’t handle the wait for the heavyweight showdown any longer, so they set up a computer controlled Cain Vs. JDS match for our viewing enjoyment. If you haven’t heard, the scientific method of letting digital athletes compete with the computer behind the gamepad has been used in Madden to predict the Super Bowl for years. You can argue on message boards all you want, but the videogames never lie (more like they are slightly above average in predictions at best, but that isn’t as dramatic). Clay Guida: I won’t go into detail, but I want to finish Ben Henderson (Exclusive) | LowKick “Ben Henderson is pretty much the same (as Anthony Petts), great on the feet and solid on ground. I won’t go into detail, but I want to finish this fight. To me, a big win earns a title shot. I want to win big so that there is no question about my title shot. Everyone hyped Melvin Guillard as the obvious next shot, but then he lost in the first-round to Joe (Lauzon). So, I figure with a big win, then it’s my turn for that title shot.” “It’s amazing really. To come from a wrestling background that doesn’t really have a professional circuit, other then the Olympics or the WWE, it is amazing to think that now I’m on PPV and will be on Fox. It’s just unreal and awesome.  Plus, I meet so many people that just want a picture or to say hello – the fans are usually really cool. I feel that I have been a great ambassador for the UFC, and I hope to continue that trend.” Ben Henderson remains a 5-to-2 favorite over Clay Guida | Fight Opinion Clay Guida is very confident (ask Showdown Joe) about his chances of beating Ben Henderson. Extremely confident. Ben Henderson is also very confident, so much so that he pulled the Razor Ramon toothpick routine during his media session. Introducing Chael Sonnen: One UFC fan’s story about the fighter you never knew | MMA Mania “I took my 11 year old son, Ty, to UFC 136. He is a huge UFC fan and we traveled from NJ to go to the Fan Expo and attend the fight. After Chael’s victory, my son approached the security gate to get his autograph. Chael lifted my son over the gate and took him behind the scenes where the other fighters were either recovering from their fight or preparing for an upcoming battle. A security guard brought me back as well, and what followed is a father/son moment that we will both never forget.” Hot Potato Throwback: 16 Photos of Sexy PRIDE Commentator Eiko Koike | Cage Potato From 2000-2006, PRIDE’s Japanese commentary team included a gorgeous model/actress named Eiko Koike, who famously broke into tears after Fedor Emelianenko kicked the crap out of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at PRIDE 25. (See the 9:01 mark of this video.) Was she a talented broadcaster? I have no idea. Have I spent the last hour searching for pictures of her on the Internet? Absolutely. Check out the gallery below for our favorite Eiko Koike photos, and curse the fact that us Westerners were stuck with these homely bastards. Forrest Griffin Apologizes for ‘Rape’ Tweet | 5thRound “I feel bad, I want to apologize, I feel like a should be punished a little bit,” Griffin told KTNV. “I like to cause trouble, I like to stir the pot and I like to make a mess of things, but I really do not want to be mean or malicious to anyone.” Update on Xyience Chapter 11 Bankruptcy case | MMA Payout Some interesting movement in the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy case of sport drink manufacturer Xyience. Last week, Forbes reported that Fertitta Enterprises was sanctioned by the Bankruptcy Court in Nevada for failing to provide certain information previously requested by the Bankruptcy trustee. UFC 1-75 summed up in Tweets 
| TheFightNerd MMA Journalist Jim Genia has seen it all in the world of MMA, having been there since practically the inception of the sport. His new book, “Raw Combat: The Underground World of Mixed Martial Arts“, just came out recently and we had a chance to speak with him as well about it to meet the author, but here is a chance to get to know the writing style of Jim better. On his twitter account, Jim amuses himself by tweeting abridged versions of every UFC event ever. When I say abridged, I mean it as the tweets condense an entire show into under 144 characters.

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Filed under: UFC, NewsAs the monumental UFC on FOX broadcast nears, public sentiment seems to favor heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez to retain his belt. That's a shift from a few months ago, when challenger Junior dos Santos opened as a slight favorite against him. On Friday afternoon, top heavyweight contenders Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem both rode the wave, predicting that Velasquez would emerge victorious. And No. 1 middleweight contender Chael Sonnen one-upped everyone, pronouncing Velasquez as not just the best heavyweight in MMA history, but in all of combat sports history. "Cain Velasquez for my money is the most intimidating force ever in heavyweight combat," Sonnen said on Friday's edition of MMA Live. "That includes guys like [Mike] Tyson, [Evander] Holyfield, [George] Foreman, whoever you want to name. Velasquez is the most feared of them all." That's an awfully bold statement, and it can certainly be argued that Velasquez is not nearly well known enough to be considered the most feared heavyweight history has seen. He's fought just nine times, though he is a perfect 9-0 with seven knockouts. A designation like the one Sonnen bestowed upon Velasquez is usually earned over time, and with only four years in the fight game, the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder doesn't have the lengthy track record that other combat sports stars of the past can boast. Saturday night's fight is expected to draw one of the largest television audiences in U.S. MMA history, and Velasquez can take a big step in writing that type of legacy with a win over dos Santos in a bout that many believe to be the best UFC heavyweight title matchup ever. Sonnen, at least, thinks that will happen, expecting Velasquez to wear down his challenger with his stamina. "Junior's got to win this fight, he's got to win early," he said. "If he doesn't win it in the first round, and realistically if he doesn't win it in the first minutes of the first round, it's going to go from bad to worse." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: heavyweight, history, velasquez, mma history, sonnen

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Before Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defends his title against Junior Dos Santos this weekend in the promotion's much anticipated debut on FOX, Shark Fights has a heavyweight title clash of its own going down in Lubbock, Texas, from Fair Park Coliseum later tonight (Fri., Nov. 11, 2011) . The main event of the evening will feature Bobby Lashley taking on last minute replacement Karl Knothe for the Shark Fights vacant heavyweight title. After three opponents withdrew from their proposed title fight against the former Strikeforce heavyweight, the Texas-based promotion managed to find a late replacement in "The Original Son of Punishment" to step up on three days notice. In other news, a light heavyweight title bout between Tony Bonello and David Roberts, which was to serve as co-main event, was scratched just yesterday. Shark Fights executive Wes Nolen told MMAmania.com, "The entire Bonello camp backed out of SF 21." Therefore, heavyweights Cody East vs. Andenilson Clementino have been bumped up from the undercard to the evening's co-main event. In addition, the rest of the Shark Fights 21 is loaded with plenty of local talent who all hope to put on impressive showings to climb the organization's ranks. Complete Shark Fights 21 preview after the jump: Heavyweight championship: Bobby Lashley (6-1) vs. Karl Knothe (20-6) After beginning his mixed martial arts (MMA) career with five straight victories, Lashley's undefeated streak came to an end when he was stopped by Chad Griggs at Strikeforce: "Houston" on Aug. 21, 2010. He was then released of his duties after compiling an uninspiring record (1-1) during his tenure. Shortly thereafter, the former World Wrestling Entertainment star went back to his winning ways, defeating John Ott at Titan Fighting Championships before signing a three-fight deal with Shark Fights. Knothe, meanwhile, is riding a 12-fight win streak that stems all the way back to 2007. As impressive as his streak may be, the Gorilla Combat representative has not seen action since knocking out Victor Valimaki in Dec. 2010. Lashley, a former NAIA national wrestling champion, will look to utilize his wrestling skills and use his weight advantage to take down the undersized Knothe, who normally competes in the 205-pound division. If Lashley can put his wrestling to use and control the fight on the ground, then "The Original Son of Punishment" will be in for a long night on his back. Both men will be battling ring rust -- Lashley has not seen action eight months and Knothe in 11. Having said that, cardio will be a big issue for the heavyweights if it goes into the later rounds. Knothe's best hopes will be to keep it standing and catch Lashley early on the feet, which has proven to be a weakness of the former Strikeforce heavyweight. Co-main event: Cody East (0-0) vs. Andenilson Clementino (1-0) In a battle of young up-and-coming heavyweights, Cody East and Andenilson Clementino will both look to take a step in the right direction with a victory. East, who fights out of Albuquerque, N.M., will be making his pro MMA debut at Shark Fights 21. Fighting out of Wichita Falls, Texas, Clementino is one up on his counterpart, as he is undefeated (1-0) in his young MMA career. Making his debut at a King of the Cage event in April of this year, Andenilson earned the victory over Joel Traves by knocking him out in the second round. Here is the rest of the card, which will showcase plenty of talent from the surrounding Texas area: Cody Pfister vs. Isias MartinezGabe Vasquez vs. Warren StewartJohn King vs. Daniel De AlmeidaChase Watson vs. Orlando CoulterJeremiah Castillo vs. Jon VothMarcus Baldivia vs. Matt Hobar Cody Pfister is no stranger to Shark Fights, competing in four events and has been successful in each outing. Pfister recently submitted Brian Castillo in the first round just last month. He will have his hands full as he takes on another Shark Fights veteran, Isias Martinez, whom is on a five-fight winning streak. Expect Isias to try to take it to the ground as he has won his last three bouts via submission, while Pfister's last two losses have come courtesy of the rear naked choke. Warrant Stewart will look to add to his two-fight win streak as he takes on Gabe "Big Tyme" Vasquez who fights out of Amarillo, Texas, and has earned finishes in all of his victories. Look for an early knockout as both fighters like to stand and trade. Submission specialist Daniel "Jacare" Almeida will look to add to his four-fight win streak, taking on John King who is coming off of two consecutive losses to Shark Fights veteran Josh Luna. It's no mystery that "Jacare" prefers the ground game, so look for him take it to the ground early as his last four victories have come via submission. In a battle of light heavyweights, Orlando Coulter looks to stay undefeated as he takes on "Ruthless" Chase Watson,  who looks to get back to the win column. Expect both to come out swinging to try and end the fight early as all of their victories have come via (technical) knockout. Jeremiah Castillo and Jon Voth both try to reverse their fortunes as Castillo has lost his last three outings and Voth his previous two. Look for both fighters to come out aggressive to break their funk and get back to their winning ways. Expect this fight to hit the ground as four of their combined six wins have come via submission. Marcus Baldivia will look to pick up his first mixed martial arts win in his young career as he draws undefeated Matt Hobar who is hungry to make it four straight and three for three in Shark Fights. Hobar's last two outings have been with the Shark Fights organization. Look for a fast paced match that can end anywhere, as Hobar has proven he can finish on the ground and on his feet. Shark Fights 21 will air via tape delay on Fuel TV on Dec. 23, 2011. So what do you think: Will Lashley pick up another much needed win on his path back to the big show this weekend? Or will the relatively unknown Knothe upset the wrestling behemoth in hopes of making a name for himself? Thoughts?

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, vs, lashley, shark

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Nov. 11, 2011) to officially announce UFC 141: "Lesnar vs Overeem," which will take place at the end of the year (Dec. 30, 2011). The conference will begin at 5 p.m. ET live from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California, although the fight event will be taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Scheduled to attend will be UFC president Dana White, as well as the headlining fighters of the evening, Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, who will be battling for the right to challenge for the UFC heavyweight title. Lesnar is the former UFC heavyweight champion. The ex-WWE superstar and national champion Minnesota wrestler lost his title last year to current champ Cain Velasquez. He's had a much publicized battle with diverticulitis which was (hopefully) finally cured with surgery earlier this year. His opponent, Alistair Overeem, is one of the scariest heavyweights on the planet. The Dutch kickboxer has not lost an MMA fight since 2007 and left Strikeforce as the promotion's heavyweight champion. In his spare time, he also won the single night K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix to become a kickboxing champion last year. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 141 press conference after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, conference, press, santa monica

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When Cain Velasquez hit the deck courtesy of Cheick Kongo’s fists at UFC 99 in June of 2009, the sound in the Lanxess Arena was a cross between the usual roar that accompanies a knockdown and impending finish in a heavyweight prizefight, and a gasp from those MMA aficionados who were aware of what was happening.This wasn’t on the levels of a Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre upset, but when all you’ve heard for the last couple years was that Velasquez was the heir to the heavyweight throne, seeing him on his way to a knockout defeat was shocking.Looking back, the sequence took a second, maybe two. But after Velasquez was knocked down and expected out, he quickly shot in for a takedown, cleared his head, and got back to the business of beating his opponent. He would get rocked again, but in response he continued to press forward and shake off the cobwebs, and after three rounds, he was a clear cut winner via unanimous decision.That was the night Velasquez grew up. It may have even been the night his ascent to the championship was confirmed. For the Californian, it was simply something fighters, especially fighters with Mexican blood, did.“I’m gonna be in the fight the whole time,” said Velasquez a week before he traveled from Northern California to Southern Cali to prepare for the madness surrounding his Saturday bout on FOX against Junior dos Santos. “I’ve had that experience knowing that I can come back from adversity, but I already knew I had that in me. It is good to show it out there though.”It is good, because fighters really show their true character when faced with adversity. Anderson Silva getting beat up by Chael Sonnen for over four rounds before pulling off a submission win; Frankie Edgar shaking off a first round beating to knock out Gray Maynard three rounds later, St-Pierre avenging his loss to Serra in 2008. I could go on, but you get the picture. And for Velasquez to show that he could shake off some bombs from a legit contender and come back to win, it was a big deal, and it even diluted his response to the early bull rush from Brock Lesnar in their championship bout last October because even when Lesnar briefly had the upper hand on Velasquez, you always had the idea that the challenger was going to come back. And he did, winning the title via TKO at 4:12 of the first round.It was an emotional moment for a young man who doesn’t show much emotion to the public, the culmination of the first leg of his MMA journey, and a destiny bestowed on him early on his career by his trainer Javier Mendez.  I spoke to Velasquez after his title winning effort, and asked him how he was able to keep his cool when he was being called “The Next Big Thing,” as early as his third pro fight when he debuted in the UFC.He credited Mendez.“He (Mendez) said ‘I’m saying this kind of stuff now to get you prepared so when it all comes down to it, you’ll be ready,’” recalled Velasquez. “He’s prepared me ever since I got here and he’s talked me up, so now that I’m in this position, it’s not a shock to me. I’ve been prepared for this.”So when he’s gotten knocked down, bloodied, or banged up, the notion that he had the skill and will to survive and then thrive kept him moving. That, and the tireless work he’s put in at the American Kickboxing Academy gym in San Jose.“When we’re sparring, it’s not just one guy that we’re sparring against,” said Velasquez. “We’re having multiple guys coming in on us. So we’re sparring against three or four guys when we’re doing our rounds, so you have to go through that adversity.”He’s expecting some more this weekend in the form of Brazil’s dos Santos, a punishing puncher who has perhaps the best boxing in the heavyweight division, a talent that isn’t lost on the champion, who, when asked what concerns him the most about “Cigano,” said, “Definitely his boxing. He’s got really good boxing, a lot of power in his hands, and he’s an athletic guy too. But it’s mainly his boxing. He’s won all of his fights using his boxing, and that’s definitely his most dangerous attribute.”With eight knockout wins in nine fights, the former All-American wrestler from Arizona State is pretty adept with his hands as well, but the million dollar question is whether he will stand with dos Santos or look to take the fight to the mat. Whatever way it goes, expect Velasquez to be prepared though, because he’s been taking notes on his challenger from the time both of them were stepping into the Octagon in 2008.“I’ve watched him since his first UFC fight with (Fabricio) Werdum,” said Velasquez. “He knocked him (Werdum) out in the first round, and Werdum was one of the top guys in the world, so that definitely caught my eye. And just watching his fights after that, he’s always been really tough and we definitely kept our eyes on him. Anybody who fights in your division you kinda keep watch on because it’s doing your homework. So we always saw him and watched to see where his career would go, and we kinda knew at one time we would have to fight.”That time is fast approaching, but neither Velasquez nor dos Santos is blinking under the pressure of fighting for the heavyweight title in the first UFC bout shown on network television. In fact, despite the event being the talk of the town, in terms of dealing with the crush of media, Velasquez says that it “hasn’t been so bad.”Even if it was, you wouldn’t expect him to complain about it because this is what you sign up for when you’re the top man in the heavyweight division. I asked Velasquez what that phrase “world heavyweight champion” meant to him when he was a kid watching guys like Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield do their thing.“It’s the biggest accomplishment that you can get to,” he said. “It’s the top of the sport, and that’s what always came to mind when I heard about those guys when they were in their prime.”Cain Velasquez is in his prime. So is Junior dos Santos. That means that it’s likely that before this one is over, there will be plenty of adversity for both fighters to overcome. Velasquez has already been there and done that. That’s why he’s the champion.

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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.

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The titanic heavyweight battle between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem had been rumored to be a number one contender's matchup for a while. It seems pretty obvious considering that Lesnar lost his title to Velasquez, and Overeem was the Strikeforce heavyweight champion. Well, the UFC confirmed that little tidbit in a press release today: The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that the top heavyweight powerhouses will collide in the five-round main event of the organization's final card of 2011. What's more, the winner will be crowned the number one contender and earn a title shot in the New Year. Obviously, the outcome of this Saturday's UFC heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will decide who will face Overeem or Lesnar. It might work out that the losers of each of these bouts end up facing each other as well, due to the lack of other strong challengers at the top of the heavyweight division in the UFC right now. Lesnar and Overeem will both be in attendance at the UFC on Fox event and will participate in a press conference before the weigh-ins tomorrow. Tickets for UFC 141, scheduled for December 30th in Las Vegas, go on sale tomorrow as well. More SBN coverage of UFC 141

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has been called upon to be an on-air analyst for this Saturday's UFC on Fox heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Lesnar lost the belt to Velasquez by first-round TKO at UFC 121, and was scheduled to meet Dos Santos at UFC 131 before having to bow out due to a second bout with diverticulitis. Dana White addressed the idea of adding Lesnar to the analyst team on yesterday's UFC 141 conference call: "[Lesnar] fought Cain Velasquez for the title, and he was supposed to fight and was getting ready to fight Junior Dos Santos. So his opinion is interesting. This show is going to focus on the heavyweights and the heavyweight championship." Lesnar is scheduled to face Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 141, and both fighters will be on hand for a press conference before the UFC on Fox weigh-ins tomorrow. Overeem will be attending the UFC on Fox event, but likely won't have any on-air role. More SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum, and UFC 138 headliner Mark Munoz make their predictions of the main event heavyweight title showdown between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, scheduled to take place on Saturday in Anaheim, California. UFC veterans Krzysztof Soszynski and Jake Ellenberger also give their predictions. (Source: FightHubTV.com)   Mark Munoz - "If it stays on the feet, I'll go with Junior dos Santos. If it goes to the ground, I'll go with Cain Velasquez." Tito Ortiz - "I love Cain, I hope he gives Dos Santos an ass-whooping." Krzysztof Soszynski - "I'm gonna go with the champ, with Cain. I think his overall wrestling skills and his clinch game on the inside, and his striking on the inside is gonna win him the fight..." Jake Ellenberger - "Someone's going to get knocked out for sure, but I couldn't even tell you who's going to win that fight." SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, jake ellenberger, heavyweight, do, velasquez

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UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem wants out of his management contract, and he's taking his concerns to...

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, alistair, management contract

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Promotion President Dana White tells Karyn Bryant of MMA Heat that it always made the most sense to put the UFC heavyweight championship on the line with Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos at UFC on FOX 1: "You want to go with your best foot forward for your first fight and to deliver the UFC heavyweight championship on free TV... like I've said, it's been my goal as a promoter to bring big fights back to TV and to bring big fights back to cities that they haven't been in in a long time. And if you gotta go with the UFC heavyweight championship, you definitely want these two athletes in there. Stylistically, this is a great match-up as far as the fight goes. These guys are both non-stop and both guys always try to finish, so yes, it makes all the sense in the world." Hard to disagree with that logic. Anyone think there's a bigger fight that could have been made for the UFC debut on network television? Or did the promotion nail this one?

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At this weekend's UFC on Fox 1 show, UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez faces Junior dos Santos. In this series, we look back at the complete career of the champion, and see what we can learn about Saturday's showdown.  Yesterday, part 1 took us through the first five fights of Velasquez's career. We left him undefeated at 5-0, and on the verge of becoming a serious force in the UFC Heavyweight division. No one had yet been able to threaten Velasquez, and it was time for him to start fighting the big boys. Here in part 2, we look at his journey into the upper echelon of the division and his path to the Heavyweight title. Check back later this week for the conclusion. Fight #6: Cain Velasquez vs. Cheick KongoJune 13, 2009, UFC 99 Just as Matt Mitrione at UFC 137, the path to the top for Cain Velasquez led him into Cheick Kongo. Kongo was just settling into his role as gatekeeper, and coming in on a 3 fight win streak. This was Cain's first semi-main event, his first fight on a PPV main card, and the fight that would show the world how dominate he could be. And then, just seconds into the fight, something surprising... In the first real exchange of the fight, Kongo landed a punch that dropped Velasquez, following it up with a second shot that again wobbled him. And for the first time ever, Cain Velasquez was in trouble. But Kongo's glory was short-lived, as Cain immediately secured a double leg, took Kongo down, and pounded on him for the rest of the round. An abnormality then, right? Nope. In round 2, it happened again. Cain came in throwing punches, Kongo countered and dropped him, Cain responded with a takedown and controlled the rest of the round. One more time in round 3, and the end result was a Cain Velasquez unanimous decision win, but one that was not without some questions. Perhaps it was the unreasonably high expectations on the 5-0 fighter, but the general consensus after this fight was that Kongo has exposed Velasquez. Two holes in his game were pointed out. First, his striking defense. Kongo connected on the feet on more than one occasion, and had Cain hurt. This success came off of counter punching when Cain pushed the action forward. Kongo, a good technical striker, used his accuracy and reach to get inside Cain's punches and land on the chin - a bad sign in the eyes of many. Second, his inability to finish. For the first time, Velasquez failed to put his opponent away. Despite landing a tremendous amount of ground and pound, Cain never really hurt Kongo. On commentary, Joe Rogan points this out repeatedly, contrasting Cain's "ineffective" ground and pound with the far more damaging strikes of fellow Heavyweight Shane Carwin. This idea was picked up to the point that Cain, dominate win and all, began to be known as "pillow hands" in some corners, and his chances of becoming a champion were called into question. Keep reading in the complete entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Fight #7: Cain Velasquez vs. Ben RothwellOctober 24, 2009, UFC 104 Despite some concerns about his performance, Cain continued his move up the ranks, once again semi-main eventing. This time, he welcomed former IFL champion Ben Rothwell to the UFC. It was not a pretty night for Rothwell. Velasquez unleashed the fight that had, by this point, become somewhat expected of him. He used his cardio to push the pace on the bigger Rothwell, took him down repeatedly, and pounded him until the referee stoppage in round 2. One of the most impressive sites in this fight is the smaller Velasquez slamming Rothwell repeatedly to the mat. In the era of super-sized Heavyweights like Shane Carwin and Brock Lesnar, some viewed Velasquez's relatively smaller size as a potential weakness, but here, he uses his strength and wrestling to completely nullify Rothwell's size advantage. One other nice aspect of his takedowns here is the way Cain is now mixing them in with his strikes, seemlessly flowing from strike to takedown. Unfortunately for Velasquez, as with the Kongo fight, this one ended with a bit of a question mark. Cain was in total control throughout, landing numerous shots on Rothwell, but at the exact moment referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight, Rothwell was wall walking in an attempt to break free of Cain's ground control. The end result was never in doubt, but none the less, this was the second straight fight that Velasquez did not end convincingly. Fight #8: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Rodrigo NogueiraFebruary 21, 2010, UFC 110 And with 7 straight wins behind him, Cain Velasquez now makes it to the main event. His bout against Minotauro headlined this Australian card with a classic "young gun" vs. "old guard" style match-up. Whether it was the awareness of his new main event status, the grumbling from critics after his last two fights, or simply the final maturing of a still young fighter, the Cain Velasquez that stepped into the Octagon at UFC 110 was, simply put, the best Cain Velasquez fans had yet seen. Velasquez again focused on his stand-up, demonstrating a remarkably complete stand-up game that looked to close the holes found by Kongo. Cain shows superb technique here, keeping all his punches crisp, tight, and inside - minimizing the wider punches that gave Kongo those openings. He also shows perfect work on his feet, using fast and smooth footwork to get into position and land a number of kicks. In particular, Cain repeatedly uses a switch kick here that is absolutely phenomenal. The switch kick requires a fighter to quickly switch stances, then throw a fast kick. It's tough to pull off without telegraphing the strike, and is a rare kick to seen thrown so well - especially in the Heavyweight ranks. But Cain uses it flawlessly here. He brings all of this together into a number of nice combinations that incorporate both hands and feet into the same combo.  The end result? At 2:20 in round 1, Velasquez lands an uppercut that sends the notoriously heavy chinned Noguiera crumpling to the mat. The legend is down and out, the young lion victorious. With this win, Cain not only silences the "pillow hands" critics, he also moves himself into position as the new #1 contender for the Heavyweight crown. The only thing left in his way? Brock Lesnar.  Check back tomorrow for the final installment.

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXIt's difficult to tell whether Junior dos Santos truly appreciates the magnitude of what's about to happen to him on Saturday night. Though the Brazilian heavyweight has swiftly picked up the English language like something out of a Rosetta Stone ad, his grasp of American culture might still be a tad hazy. After all, if someone told you that you were about to appear on Brazil's Globo network, would you have any idea what that meant? So it is with dos Santos, who has heard enough by now to know that his UFC heavyweight title fight against Cain Velasquez on FOX is a very big deal, but still seems unclear about the exact ramifications of it all. "I have no idea what that means for sure yet," dos Santos told MMA Fighting on Tuesday afternoon. "I know it's going to be huge for our sport, for all of MMA, and for the UFC. I'm just happy to be here and I want to do my best to win this fight." What it means, of course, is that dos Santos is about to become a significant part of MMA history. The sport has had primetime network TV exposure in the past, but nothing like this. As if fighting for a UFC title wasn't enough, dos Santos is about to help the UFC expose its product to millions of viewers, many of whom will likely have never watched an entire MMA bout before. Talk about pressure. Because dos Santos' meeting with the champ is the only fight scheduled for Saturday night's hour-long broadcast, the stakes couldn't be higher for this fight. If it's a dud, the whole sport may be judged by it. If it's a thriller, dos Santos and Velasquez will likely be heroes not just to their bosses at the UFC, but to the multitudes of other pro MMA fighters -- present and future -- who are hoping that a successful debut on FOX will be the rising tide that lifts all ships. Just thinking about it might be enough to give a normal person a panic attack, but the nerve-wracking immensity of it all doesn't seem capable of reaching dos Santos. "I know it's an important show, it's an important fight, for me and the whole of MMA, but I'm feeling no pressure," he said. "Actually, I'm feeling the same pressure that I had for other fights. ... For me, it's going to be the same thing. I'm really happy with where I am now, fighting for the title, and it's more important than everything. I will keep my focus on the fight, on Cain Velasquez, and I'll try not to think about that other stuff." It's a smart approach, since Velasquez's non-stop motor will probably provide dos Santos with plenty to think about once the cage door closes. The champion is far from the biggest or strongest man in the heavyweight division, but what he lacks in size he has more than made up for with speed and pace. Once the former All-American wrestler gets started, he doesn't stop. He hardly even slows down, and there aren't many big men in the sport who can keep up with him. To make sure that he's one of the few who can go step-for-step and blow-for-blow with the champ, dos Santos had his conditioning coach adjust his training, he said. To prepare for a fast-paced title fight that could, at least theoretically, go five rounds, dos Santos never sparred less than six rounds in training, he said. And while UFC president Dana White once criticized him for beating up on opponents early and then coasting in the later rounds, the Brazilian now says he's "more prepared for this fight, and I train a lot to keep fighting like in the first round for the whole [fight]." "Cain Velasquez has really good stamina. For the heavyweight division, it's very different and that makes him very dangerous for this division. But you know, he seems like an unstoppable guy, and that's going to be my challenge. I'm going to do my best to stop him." And how does he plan to do that, exactly? Fortunately for dos Santos (or maybe unfortunately, depending on how you think about it), he's not one of those fighters who needs to keep his game plan much of a secret. He wants to stay off the mat against the decorated wrestler and put his boxing skills to work, and he doesn't much care who knows it. "I don't know how the fight will be, but I would love to fight standing with him," dos Santos said. "I think he's going to try and take me down and make his ground-and-pound. He's very good at ground-and-pound and I think he will try to do that. But I'm going to try very hard to keep this fight standing, because I want to knock him out and I will try my best to knock him out on Saturday." It's a feat that none of Velasquez's other opponents have accomplished, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. Whether it ends via KO or not, dos Santos insisted, "I will win the title. I'm really confident [that] I will be the heavyweight champion on Saturday." He's known nothing but success so far in the UFC, but a win would vault him to heights that even dos Santos seems incapable of imagining just yet. As he put it, "When I started, I had dreams to fight in the UFC and be one of the best fighters in the world one day. But I never thought I could be here at this point right now. I'm just enjoying everything. I'm really prepared for this fight, and for sure it's going to be huge." How huge? That's a question still waiting for an answer.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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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.

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Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar welcomes former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem to the UFC in a five-round main event match-up, booked for the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" broadcasts live via pay-per-view on Friday night heading into the New Year's Eve weekend as we ring in 2012. And in his recent interview with Paul Heyman (transcribed by Cageside Seats), Lesnar vows to reclaim the division strap and prove he is, and will always be, "the baddest dude on the planet." "I don't have a lot to say to Alistair Overeem. Here's a guy that is getting his chance to make his name in the UFC and unfortunately for him there's a gatekeeper that stands in his way and that's Brock Lesnar. And I will prove on that night that I am, once again, and will always be, the baddest dude on the planet. I will be, once again, UFC heavyweight champion of the world." Hear more on his UFC 141 main event, as well as his role in the upcoming WWE '12 video game, after the jump. The surgically repaired Lesnar (5-2) is coming off a first round shellacking at the hands of new division champion Cain Velasquez, who survived a pasty-faced bumrush at UFC 121 in October 2010 to topple the former WWE star and capture the crown. It was Brock's first loss inside the Octagon since serving up a ham-hock to Frank Mir in his Octagon debut at UFC 81 way back in February 2008. He was expected to get back on his horse against Junior dos Santos at UFC 131 earlier this year, but was forced to bow out of the Canadian contest to deal with another flare-up of diverticulitis. Now Lesnar is all patched up and ready to jump right back into "the mix." That's because Overeem (35-11) is considered one of the premiere strikers in all of mixed martial arts, despite a less than impressive effort against wily grappler Fabricio Werdum just a few months back. Aside from the shortcomings in his winning performance against "Vai Cavalo," the Dutch destroyer is a consensus top ten ranked fighter who could pose problems for any UFC heavyweight -- but first he has to prove it against one of the division's elite wrestlers. Who ya' picking in this titanic tilt?

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Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos will likely take its place among the most important heavyweight bouts in MMA history

Posted in: bout, heavyweight, do, velasquez vs, heavyweight bouts

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will put on a heavyweight mash up of epic proportions when current champion Cain Velasquez defends his belt against Junior dos Santos at UFC on FOX 1 in Anaheim, Calif., on Sat., Nov. 12, 2011. It is a fight that mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have looked forward to for some time now. It may end up being the most high-profile heavyweight fight in the history of the UFC because it will air live on network television, serving as the conduit to convert millions of unsuspecting mainstream fans into loyal, long-term supporters. When the Octagon door slams shut, the world will witness two of the most well-rounded, 265-pound fighters who have ever fought under the Zuffa banner. But then when, "IT'S ALL OVER," the debate will soon begin to swirl: Who got next?  The first option is the least exciting, so let's get it out of the way.  There is a possibility that when the fight between Velasquez and dos Santos is over, fans will still wanting more of the same. If it isn't decisive, be prepared for UFC President Dana White to run it back. It doesn't happen often, but it's not outside the realm of possibility (see Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 2). Meanwhile, former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is adamant that the winner of his fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada, will receive an instant title shot with whoever happens to be the champion at that time. It's tough to argue with that kind of a match up. Lesnar fought Velasquez once before and got bludgeoned. The storyline of redemption in a potential rematch would be a huge seller. Really, any combination of the four of them, respectively (Velasquez, dos Santos, Lesnar and Overeem) would garner a ton of pay-per-view (PPV) buys. A less enticing pairing may include the winner of Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira when the two square off at UFC 140 on Dec. 10 in Toronto. For this to happen, we'd either have to see a very unimpressive winner in the bout between Overeem and Lesnar, or an injury would have to occur. Inside the UFC, there's not a lot more to offer. Roy Nelson is available and would love a title shot, but let's not get crazy. He'll need another impressive win before that conversation could even happen. And what about Strikeforce? Is it sticking around? Is the promotion on borrowed time? If San Jose, Calif.-based promotion really does bite the dust in the next 12 to 18 months (as many believe that it will), the winner of the heavyweight grand prix, which features Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, may be "in the mix," too. There are clear front runners, as well as dark horses. Factor in misfortune in the form of injuries, which has been a thorn in the side UFC matchmaker Joe Silva seemingly the entire 2011 fight season, and it's possible that any of the aforementioned fighters will be called upon to step up next. Who do you think will ultimately fight the Velasquez-dos Santos next?

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, velasquez, winner

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Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar turned mixed martial artist, Bobby Lashley, finally has an opponent for his promotional debut with Shark Fights, which is set for this Friday (Nov. 11, 2011) from The Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas. After his first two opponents withdrew from the fight, the former Strikeforce heavyweight will now take on up and coming heavyweight Mark Martinez out of Hobbs, New Mexico. With a record of 4-1, Martinez, who fights out of The Works Mixed Martial Arts gym in Hobbs, is riding a four-fight win streak. "Big Bully" knocked out Josh Luna in his most recent outing under the King of the Cage banner back in April. Lashley and Martinez will compete to become the Texas-based promotion's first-ever heavyweight champion.  Lashley has not seen action since March 25, 2011, when he defeated John Ott via decision at Titan FC 17. Lashley was originally scheduled to meet UFC veteran Darrill Schoonover; however,  a shoulder injury to The Ultimate Fighter 10 (TUF) participant sent him to the sidelines. Dave Huckaba was then pegged as a replacement, but then again, the match up was scratched, this time for undisclosed reasons. Lashley definitely has his hands full, as the young up and coming heavyweight plans on stealing the spotlight and making the most of his opportunity. On the other hand, Lashley will attempt to pick up another win in hopes of making it back to the big show. For more on Shark Fights 21, including the latest fight card updates, as well as all the news and notes you can handle, be sure to check out our complete archive right here.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, martinez, lashley, strikeforce heavyweight

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UFC on FOX: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos will go down this weekend in Anaheim, but there's still time to squeeze an entire MMA event in between now and Saturday. Get out your Die Antwoord albums and vuvuzelas and watch a bout between two massive South Africans this Thursday at EFC 11 in Johannesburg, Africa. Ruan 'Fangzz' Potts will attempt to continue his 13-0 streak and defend his belt against Andrew "One Gear" van Zyl who is also undefeated at 7-0. That's right, two undefeated heavyweights battling inside a cage on the opposite end of the planet -- and it will all be live on MiddleEasy November 10th 2pm EST/11am PST. If you don't reside in South Africa, then you've probably never heard of these guys. That's alright. They don't care if you've never seen their names referenced in a message board. These heavyweights will get inside of cage and compete for the EFC heavyweight belt as if the fabric of time and space depended on it. MiddleEasy will be the exclusive broadcaster of EFC Africa 11 on the North American continent, therefore I expect a lot of refreshments to be purchased ahead of time. Check out the trailer for the event and check out EFC Africa's official site for the entire fight card. The MiddleEasy chat room will make its return on November 10th for EFC Africa 11, so be there or never talk to us again. Just kidding, we'll still talk to you -- but be there. Seriously.

Posted in: heavyweight, november, middleeasy, africa, efc

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Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem has joined Xtreme Couture to train for his Octagon debut against former UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141 on December 30 in Las Vegas. The news comes nearly two months after Overeem left Golden Glory, his longtime team and management, over a “breach of trust” as he negotiated and ultimately signed with the UFC. The winner of Overeem vs. Lesnar is expected to challenge the winner of Saturday’s UFC on Fox main event between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Overeem discusses the split from Golden Glory and move to Xtreme Couture in the latest edition of his documentary, “The Reem,” which can be watched below:

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, brock lesnar, xtreme

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In his prime, two-time heavyweight champion Joe Frazier could beat anyone on the planet. Unfortunately the 67-year-old former pugilist may lose his final fight, a life-and-death battle against liver cancer. MMA Nation's Nate Wilcox wonders if the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) will ever produce its own "Smokin" Joe. Find out more right here.

Posted in: heavyweight, joe, arts mma, lifeanddeath battle, smokin joe

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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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In the headline bout for last night's (Nov. 5, 2011) ProElite 2: "Big Guns" main event, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia entered the cage for his first heavyweight fight since 2008. "The Maine-iac" had previously been competing only in super heavyweight fights during his time between 265-pound matches. Sylvia squared off against Andreas Kraniotakes, an up and coming German fighter who was almost not allowed to fight on this card, due to his small amount of professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fights. For three rounds, Sylvia tied up Kraniotakes' arms, clinched up, pushed the fight against the cage and essentially leaned on his opponent. While he did land a decent amount of dirty boxing strikes, he never did anything to threaten or get anywhere near a finish. Unfortunately, the headlining bout ended up being the least exciting fight on the card, causing the fans in attendance at the iWireless center to rain down boos as Sylvia performed his post-fight interview. Let's take a look at the rest of the action from ProElite 2. The co-main event saw another former UFC heavyweight belt holder in action as "The Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski went up against Travis Fulton, who was doing his best to earn his "Iron Man" moniker by making his 307th MMA appearance. Arlovski came out with the clean-shaven back; evidence that he's clearly evolved as a fighter. For almost three entire rounds, Arlovski fought a safe fight. Frank Trigg, the ringside commentator phrased it best when he said, "Arlovski is not trying to win. He's trying to not lose." It looked very much like "The Pit Bull" was going to win a narrow unanimous decision when, with one second remaining, Arlovski threw a thunderous head kick that landed squarely on the jawline of his opponent and sent him to sleep instantly. That's right. With one second left in the fight, Arlovski knocked out Travis Fulton with a perfect head kick that came out of nowhere. Big win for Arlovski. Congrats.  After a disappointing showing by his older brother B.J. Penn at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas (versus Nick Diaz), Reagan Penn looked to redeem the fmaily name and keep his MMA record perfect as he took on Evan Cutts in a welterweight contest. The tough month for the Penn family just got tougher. Cutts was able to take down B.J.'s liitle brother, almost at will. Surprisingly, Penn's jiu jitsu was almost completely futile against Cutts, who bludgeoned him with ground and pound for most of the fight. Several times, Cutts looked close to getting a submission but was unable to secure it. The judges scored the fight in favor of Cutts, 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27.  Back to the drawing board for the youngest member of the Penn family's fighting stable. Former NCAA Division I wrestler Mark Ellis also looked to stay undefeated against the more experienced Colorado native Ryan Martinez. Experience proved to be an issue in this fight as Ellis just did not have the skill set to compete with Martinez, the former prison inmate turned professional fighter. Ellis looked uncomfortable in the stand up from the very beginning. You'd think a wrestling champion of Ellis' caliber should be able to land a takedown, pretty much at will. You'd be wrong. Ellis shot time after time, only be easily stuffed on every attempt. After realizing that he was not going to be able to take Martinez down, Ellis was rendered helpless, only able to circle uselessly and get repeatedly clipped every time he wandered in. Martinez did a great job of totally nullifying Ellis' grappling and put on a clinic on how to control the center of the cage. Bad loss for Ellis, but he's still very young in the sport. He trains out of one of the top camps in America in American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) and will hopefully be able to overcome this bump in the road. In his last Pro Elite appearance, former University of Hawaii football player Jake Heun was unable to overcome the wrestling of Mark Ellis. At ProElite 2, Heun sought to prove that he belongs as a mixed martial artist and move forward in the Pro Elite heavyweight grandprix with a win over fellow heavyweight Ed Carpenter. Mission accomplished. Heun was able to weather the initial storm from Carpenter who used his grappling to get dominant position and wear on Heun, who was unable to escape for almost two full minutes.  Finally, Heun was able to find a hole and get back to his feet. Almost immediately, Heun landed a left high kick to the head and followed it up with a combination of punches, sending Carpenter to the floor. The former linebacker pounced on his staggered adversary and was able to secure the TKO (strikes) victory at 3:17 of the first round.  With the win, Heun stays alive in the grand prix and showed MMA fans that he is still improving and maturing as a fighter. In the second Pro Elite hevyweight grand prix match up of the night, Cody Griffin faced off against Justyn Riley for the right to advance to the next round of the tournament. For the first two rounds, this one was all Riley. For ten-plus minutes, Riley backed Griffin down, took him down and hung all over him, brutalizing him with ground and pound. At the end of the second round, Riley very nearly got the finish by way of a rear-naked choke. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Griffin isn't good at a ton of things. "Quitting" appears to fall into that category. Needing the finish, Griffin came out in the third looking to land a punch that would keep the fight from going to the scorecards of the judges. He was able to do just that. Griffin was able to clip Riley with a straight punch to the face that wobbled him. Griffin wasted no time, using a flurry of punches to send his opponent to the ground. He instantly pounced on him, causing the referee to call a stop to the action at 0:32 of the third round. The victory came by way of a TKO (strikes) as Griffin will move in grand prix bracket. Big win for Griffin. Fairly devastating loss for Riley who let this one slip away. The Pro Elite heavyweight grand prix opened up with a bang as Richard Odoms brought his perfect 5-0 record into the cage against the 4-1 Rodney Housley. From the get-go, the size differential was glaringly apparent. Odoms was far too big and far too strong for the outmatched Housely. For three rounds, Odoms used his jab, his power and his weight advantage to lean on Housely and bludgeon him. Never was there a point where a finish looked likely, but the fight was also never close. Odoms won the unanimous decision (30-27 by all three judges) and will now move on to the next round of Pro Elite's heavyweight grand prix tournament. For complete ProElite 2 results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, arlovski, griffin, elli

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Join us tonight at Bloody Elbow for live coverage of ProElite's second card since they rose from the ashes earlier this year. The event will take place in the iWireless Center in Moline, IL and will be aired live on HDNet starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The main event sees former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia facing off with Andreas Kraniotakes in Sylvia's first bout at 265 in over three years. The co-main event features another former UFC heavyweight champ, Andrei Arlovski, facing Travis Fulton. In addition, BJ's brother Reagan Penn will compete in his second pro MMA fight, and ProElite will kick off a heavyweight grand prix tonight. Here's the full main card: Andreas Kraniotakes vs. Tim SylviaAndrei Arlovski vs. Travis FultonEvan Cutts vs. Reagan PennMark Ellis vs. Ryan Martinez Ed Carpenter vs. Jake Heun Cody Griffin vs. Justyn Riley Richard Odoms vs. Rodney Housley More SBN coverage of ProElite 2: Big Guns

Posted in: heavyweight, proelite, vs, event, coverage

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With all the retirement talk this week in the sport of mixed martial arts, one fighter wants to make sure you don't believe any rumors that may be making the rounds. That would be UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin, who assured fans recently that he is not retiring anytime soon, regardless of what you may have heard. Sure, "The Engineer" may be 36-years-old, soon to be 37, and gone into the shop for repairs more than a few times in the past few years. But he's still got plenty to offer the fight game. Namely two fists that can still knock out any heavyweight in the world. Posting on the Underground, Carwin had this to say: "I got a surprise call today saying that a rumor is floating around about me retiring. I guess some people must be wishful thinking. For me the choice to have a surgery was easy. My Doc did not tell me surgery was the 'only' option for a normal life. He said to KEEP FIGHTING surgery is the only thing that will stop my body from locking up. I could probably even continue fighting and risk it happening in a fight or while training. What my team and I decided was that I have no interest in just 'Fighting and crossing' I want to be a champion. The UFC Heavyweight Champion to be specific. So I am going to have this surgery and be back better than ever. I have a lot to accomplish and I intend on punishing everyone they put in front of me. To beat the best you have to be able to train like the best. So surgery will allow me do that. I may be an older fighter but I have less cage time then most if not all of the Athletes in the UFC. I have accomplished a lot in a very short amount of time. I have a lot more to accomplish. I will be back to the guy that is big and hits you so hard Joe Rogan gets a headache. I am going to knock people out and finish fights. The UFC is going to have to get special financing just to cover the KO and FoN bonuses they are going to have to dish out to me." "The Engineer" is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Junior Dos Santos at UFC 131, which went down on June 11 of this year in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Despite being rocked early in the first round, a bloodied and battered Carwin made it through all 15 minutes of the bout, which the judges scored unanimously in favor of "Cigano." Carwin, in turn, was sent to the bottom of the totem pole while Dos Santos earned himself a title shot against UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez on FOX on Nov. 12, 2011. Carwin recently revealed that he was set to face "one of the best in the world" in December, presumably at UFC 141, though he didn't specify who is opponent would be. His return, however, was postponed due to an upcoming back surgery. Given a succesfull outcome to his surgery, Carwin is set to be out until summer 2012. Once he is finally able, who should be the lucky man to welcome him back to the Octagon?

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, carwin, joe rogan, surgery

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The Philippines' biggest MMA promotion, the URCC has been running for almost a decade now, and with their 20th major event happening this weekend, they're pulling out all the stops. To get you hyped, here's an excellent looking intro video of the 'URCC 360' that previews the milestone event. (Filipinos can catch the entire show tonight at 9:30 PM on Solar Sports): For people outside of the Philippines, you can catch the actual event as it streams on their website on Sat, Nov 5, 8AM ET. After the jump, more preview videos, plus predictions and analysis on the event that features six title fights. There will be 6 title fights on the card that features 10 events, so let's focus on those. Headlining the event will be URCC interim bantamweight champion, Jessie Rafols and Reydon "The Filipion Bolo Punch" Romero. Here's the preview video of the bout: Jessie Rafols vs. Reydon Romero [Bantamweight Super-Fight Title] - 'The Filipino Bolo Punch' is a talented featherweight contender that will be making the drop to bantamweight to take on Rafols, who is the interim URCC bantamweight champion. Romero is a good striker who has heavy hands, but Rafols is one of the most talented bantamweights in the Asian region, and I expect him to dominate and to live up to his monicker, "The Finisher". This is guaranteed to be exciting as both fighters are very gritty, but I think it's going to be Jessie Rafols by Submission. For the co-headlining bout of the evening, it's going to be a light heavyweight championship bout between Australian fighter, Nicholas 'The Apprentice' Mann, and Chris Luna of DEFTAC. Here's the preview video of the bout: Nicholas Mann vs. Christian Luna [Light Heavyweight Championship] - This is an excellent fight stylistically, which makes it very hard to predict. Both guys are well rounded fighters, but Hybrid Yaw Yan's Nicholas Mann, who also has black belts Kuk Sool Hapkido and a taekwondo black belt, will probably have the edge standing up, while Chris Luna, a DEFTAC fighter who is a purple belt in BJJ, will probably be better on the ground. The move to light heavyweight would be good for Nicholas, as he has faced larger men in the past, even competing against HW title contender, Igor Subora, who outweighed him by almost 50 lbs. Chris Luna has been working a lot on his stand up, but will it be enough when he takes on the bigger and more experienced fighter in Mann? Will he be able to take things to the ground and apply his BJJ game? This fight could go either way, and while most pundits are picking Luna to take this, I'm leaning slightly towards the Australian on this bout. Nicholas Mann by Decision. Next up, the heavyweight championship bout. Check out the video preview: Igor Subora vs. Ryan Paglinawan [Heavyweight Championship] - Igor Subora is a large heavyweight fighter from Ukraine, he has good strikes and good takedowns that stems from his Sambo background. As with all heavyweight fights, things can get a bit sloppy, but I do expect this to be very explosive and quick, with Subora getting his hand raised after a brutal mugging. Igor Subora by TKO. Froilan Sarenas vs. Robin Jose [Middleweight Championship] - Sarenas is the current URCC middleweight champion, coming out of Submission Sports Philippines, which is an Atos affiliated team. Atos, as some of you might already know, is the best grappling team in the world, and is home to guys like Ramon Lemos (Anderson Silva's BJJ coach) and Andre Galvao among others. That is where his strength lies, as he effectively uses his BJJ base to quickly clinch up and submit guys. His opponent, Robin Jose, is a late replacement coming in on short notice, and going against a guy as talented as Sarenas, that certainly isn't a good thing. Froilan is a bit undersized for middleweight, and he's probably looking to drop at least 1 weight class for future events, but I still think he outclasses Jose here. Froilan Sarenas by Submission. Honorio Banario vs. Patrick Manicad [Lightweight Championship] - Honorio Banario is from the famed Lakay Wushu camp that is home to other top Asian champions such as Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, and Roy Docyogen. He's the youngest on the group, but he also has a lot of potential. He was supposed to take on MFC veteran, Sabah Fadai, but the Canadian had to pull out due to injury, so Manicad steps in against the Wushu fighter. Banario is young, and he's still learning, but I fully expect him to extend his perfect record to 6-0 after this. Honorio Banario by TKO. Frank Navarro vs. Pete Brooks [Cruiserweight Championship] - Brooks is long and lanky with his 6-foot-6 frame, and he trains on high altitude in Baguio, as he prepares to secure the vacant cruiserweight belt (199 lbs.). Unfortunately, his original opponent, Mac Sabiano, was in a motorcycle accident that forced him to pull out of the fight on less than a week's notice. Although frankly, I would've picked Brooks against either guy, and even if his new opponent, Navarro, had a full training camp. Brooks takes this and improves to 5-0. Pete Brooks by Submission. Videos from Headrush Productions

Posted in: fighter, bout, heavyweight, event, championship

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UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Date: November 12, 2011 Venue: To Be Announced Location: Anaheim, California     UFC on FOX Articles UFC on FOX Videos Ticket Info       Main Event on Fox: -Cain Velasquez (9-0; #1 Heavyweight)* vs. Junior dos Santos (13-1; #3  Heavyweight)*† -Clay Guida (29-11; #6 Lightweight) vs. Benson Henderson (14-2; #7 Lightweight) -Dustin Poirier (10-1; #5 Featherweight) vs. Pablo Garza (11-1) -Cub [...]

Posted in: ufc, fox, heavyweight, vs, fox ufc

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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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American Top Team heavyweight Bobby Lashley has been working with former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett in preparation for his Nov. 11 Shark Fights 21 bout.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, barnett, shark, preparation

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Halloween may be over, but that doesn't mean you have to stop sending yourself into a sugar coma. Go ahead, eat all the candy you can get your little hands on. You've earned your stash of individually wrapped morsels of high fructose corn syrup. Now grab a few Tootsie Rolls and enjoy this clip of Eric Prindle's 40-second knockout of Ron Sparks from Bellator 56. This Eric Prindle coming from nowhere, you got to admit no one gave him a chance coming into this Bellator heavyweight tournament and three very convincing wins later, he now is slated to face an ultra-tough Thiago Santos at the Bellator heavyweight finals. The winner will do their best to derail Cole Konrad from his current frate traneage through the heavyweight ranks, which is virtually an impossible endeavor. [Source]

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, cole konrad, prindle, eric

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This past weekend at Bellator 56, heavyweight fighter Eric Prindle punched his ticket to a tournament finale in violent fashion. In a MTV2-televised main-card bout, Prindle took on fellow heavyweight Ron Sparks in a season-five heavyweight-tourney semifinal. Now thanks to Bellator, a clip of the spectacular finish is available.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, prindle, tournament finale, eric

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"Don't be surprised if Matt Mitrione charges Cheick Kongo right out of the gate." Those were some famous last words uttered by UFC commentator Joe Rogan at the start of the co-main event of UFC 137 last night (October 29, 2011) between two of the UFC's most powerful heavyweights. Instead, the fans were left disappointed after one of the most lackluster heavyweight attractions of the year as both men never got off with their strikes and Mitrione proved he still needed some seasoning before being up for the challenge of some of the top heavyweights. So why did this bout disappoint? And where to both fighters go from here? Both heavyweights were extremely tentative early in the bout. There was practically no offense from either man for the first four minutes. Mitrione finally began to open up a bit with 30 seconds left but both men left shaking their heads as the horn sounded and they were showered with boos from the rowdy crowd. Mitrione tried to pick up the pace in the second round, pressing the action and opening up with his punches more but Kongo's response was to repeatedly hop on his bicycle and back away from all of "Meathead's" offense. Kongo got off with some decent leg kicks, but Mitrione was visibly frustrated by Kongo's inability to engage with him when the round was over. The third round would be all Kongo. After finally opening up aggressively with his striking, he initiated a clinch and then proceeded to put a whoopin' on Mitrione. Instead of grabbing an underhook to prevent Kongo's offensive takedown abilities, Mitrione instead attacked with a head lock. This allowed Mitrione to drop down, grab a leg, lift it up nearly over his head and dump the former NFL football player on his back. Mitrione was never able to recover. He got to his feet momentarily during the round, but was immediately dumps on his back once more and Kongo opened up with some ground and pound to bust up "Meathead's" face and cut him pretty badly. Since Mitrione was unable to initiate any offense off of his back or get back to his feet for longer than 10 seconds, the third round was all Kongo. In the end, the fact that Kongo was able to dominate round three was the deciding factor in the bout as two of the judges had split the first two evenly matched rounds and Kongo was awarded a unanimous decision victory. For Matt Mitrione, he's got to be disappointed with the result. He was light on his feet throughout the fight, his striking defense was solid and instinctual, but he could never get any good offense going, primarily due to Kongo repeatedly backing away. He got flustered easily and that may have led to Kongo getting the big takedown in the third round. Mitrione is not done yet, however. He still has promise at heavyweight, although we should temper our expectations about him challenging for a title any time soon.  Expect to see Mitrione face someone like fellow recent losing prospect Brendan Schaub or perhaps someone like Ben Rothwell or Jon Olav Einemo if they want to take a step back on his development even more.  For Cheick Kongo, he got the job done, although he didn't exactly turn a bunch of heads with his victorious performance. There's not much else to say about his victory other than who he'll likely face next. Don't be surprised if you see him against someone like fellow main card winner Roy Nelson or perhaps recent UFC on Versus 6 winner Stefan Struve. Mike Russow could also be looking for an opponent after his fiasco with Dave Herman earlier in the month. So what did you think, Maniacs? Were you disappointed by the lackluster performance from both heavyweights? Despite the setback, what do you think of Mitrione's future? Sound off! For complete UFC 137 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: ufc, round, heavyweight, kongo, mitrione

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In a little over two weeks, the ever so modest UFC Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez, will defend his title for the first time since taking the belt from Brock Lesnar a little over a year ago on Oct. 23, 2010, at UFC 121 in Anaheim, California. In the process, he will try to extend his undefeated streak to 10. Velasquez will return to the place where he won his championship and will have the added pressure of performing in front of his friends and family in his home state. Not only that, he'll be shaking off some ring rust after a year-long layoff due to a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Standing in his way is the dangerous Brazilian striker with arguably the best hands in the heavyweight division, Junior dos Santos. Oh and by the way, Velasquez will also have the pressure of being the first UFC champion to headline a major UFC event on FOX, the same network that carries MLB's World Series and the NFL's Super Bowl. The often quiet heavyweight opens up in a candid interview with Fighters Only Magazine and says he doesn't know if he'll ever be a superstar in the sport. Velasquez openly admits, like the majority of athletes, that he prefers to be training instead of doing interviews. With Cain being of Mexican descent, his has double the media responsibilities of most fighters, as he has to do both English and Spanish interviews. However, Cain knows its part of the territory and thanks his parents for instilling in him the attitude of just doing your job to the best of your ability without complaining: "I just know that it is part of the job and it's something that I have to do. I'd rather train and fight rather than doing and other kind of stuff, but I know that doing the media tours and all that is a big part of the sport. Watching my parents go to work every day and not complain, even while they were working crappy jobs, I think I have taken that from them and put it into everything I do." The always respectful and humble Cain was quick to dismiss any notions that he considers himself a superstar, but he did take the time to critique and compliment his fellow heavyweight colleagues: "Whether or not I'll ever be a superstar, I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see, I guess." Velasquez has truly been instrumental in ushering in a new era of heavyweights in MMA. With other divisions stars ruling the headlines and pound-for-pound lists for the last couple years, Cain has his work cut out for him if he plans to match the championship runs of UFC title holders such as Anderson Silva (middleweight) and Georges St. Pierre (welterweight). He definitely has talent and time on his side but as he admits, he has to take it one fight at a time. His long journey begins on November 12 in Anaheim, California, in the monumental debut of the UFC on FOX against the very game and dangerous, Junior dos Santos. Here he comes.

Posted in: ufc, time, heavyweight, velasquez, anaheim california

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"I'd be a one-legged 205-er, but I'd still do pretty good." That's what round and proud UFC heavyweight, Roy Nelson, says he would have to do if he ever decided to shed his trademark beer belly and drop to the stacked light heavyweight division. The former International Fight League (IFL) heavyweight champion has often been criticized for his physique and many, including UFC President Dana White, have attributed his lack of significant success inside the Octagon to his excessive weight. Tipping the scales at a very "unmuscular" 260 pounds against Frank Mir at UFC 130 back in May of this year, Roy will look to step back into the eight-walled cage this weekend against Mirko Filipovic as a much slimmer shell of his former self. In a recent interview with MMANation.com, the not so pudgy pugilist talked about his new bearded look, as well as his seemingly new physique, heavyweight rankings, and next month's colossal heavyweight clash between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos on FOX. When asked about a picture of himself and UFC light heavyweight Forrest Griffin that has gone viral over the last week, depicting a seemingly much slimmer fighter, the modest Nelson states, it's simply an illusion: "I think it's my beard, it makes my face look smaller and we know Forrest is off and he's a big light heavyweight, he's about 4-5 inches taller than me. I'm probably; the other day when I weighed myself I was 262 so I was two pounds heavier than what I was for against Frank." When asked about the possibility of dropping to 205 and challenging the top guys in that division, Nelson stated there would have to be major monetary compensation in line and a few surgical procedures to achieve the weight cut: "I would ask you, 'How much?' and then I'd need to figure out how much I could lose off of liposuction or getting amputated from cutting my leg off. Biologically? I'd have to lose muscle. That's one thing people don't pay attention to is like I wouldn't do a gastric bypass but I'd have to literally cut off my leg and I'd be a one-legged 205-er but I'd still do pretty good." On the possibility of Junior Dos Santos upsetting Cain Velasquez: "Upsetting Cain? I don't think it would be an upset so much. I think whoever controls the fight in the first 2 ½ minutes is going to go on to win the fight." And on where former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 roommates and current UFC colleagues Brendan Schaub and Matt Mitrione ranked compared to him: "I don't really know here I'd put them two, but with me, I know I'm game to fight Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos. I've been fighting those top dogs all the way ever since I've gotten out of the Ultimate Fighter house. I do think this is the first test for Matt Mitrione so we'll find out on Saturday if he can even get past a guy that's been in the UFC for while. Brendan has definitely shown that he's right there in the middle of the pack beating Gonzaga and then Gonzaga retires so it all depends. For myself, I put myself in the top five easy and then Brendan 5-10 and then 10-15 for Matt." Finally, Nelson briefly touched on his upcoming bout with "Cro Cop" and how he invisions finishing the fight: "Nah, I could take all three rounds, take fifteen minutes." In what could be a potential "loser leaves town" match this weekend at UFC 137 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nelson will look to rebound from two disappointing back-to-back losses to heavy hitters -- dos Santos and Mir. In the process, he plans to hammer the potential final nail in the coffin in the Croatian's storied career. "Cro Cop," on the other hand, who is also coming off of back-to-back losses Mir and Schaub, looks to make one final run at glory before hanging up his gloves for good. Will Roy Nelson's re-dedication to his figh career and new physique give him the advantage to score a victory against the legend, or will Cro Cop provide us with one last left high kick knockout?

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, nelson, id

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. (October 27, 2011) – ProElite Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is proud to present the first round of their Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament on November 5, 2011, from Moline, Il. This tournament consists of some of the best up and coming heavyweights in the world and the winner will be pushed into the upper tier of the heavyweight division. Tickets for "ProElite 2:Big Guns" are on sale to the general public at the i wireless Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations (800)745-3000, Ticketmaster online(www.ticketmaster.com) and www.proelite.com The second bracket of the Heavyweight Grand Prix starts with Proelite veteran Jake Heun (1-1) takes on the a proven finisher in Ed Carpenter (5-1). Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 245 pounds, Heun’s transition from University of Hawaii Linebacker and Running Back to the sport of MMA came pretty naturally due to his athleticism. Now training out of Jeremy Horn’s Elite Performance Gym in Salt Lake City, Utah this freestyle fighter only has one thing on his mind – finish every fight. In his last win on April 23, 2011, he submitted Brandon Morgan via Keylock in the second round (2:45) of their fight in Alaska. Fighting out of Clarendon Hills, Il and training at the Midwest Training Center along side former WEC champ Chase Beebe and UFC veteran Clay Guida, Ed Carpenter really knows how to lay down the law, finishing all of his opponents before the final bell has rung. On October 15, 2011, against 50-fight veteran Miodrag Petkovic, it took Carpenter only 2 minutes and 54 seconds to submit Petkovic via arm-triangle choke. With a solid wrestling and no-gi jiu jitsu background we can be certain that Carpenter wants to drag this one to the ground and work for an exciting submission win. Two warriors go to battle in the last quarterfinal Grand Prix bout, as Richard "The Black Eagle" Odoms (5-0) faces off against Rodney Housley (4-1). Standing at an imposing 6-foot-5 and weighing 250 pounds, Odoms will look to continue his 5-fight win streak, which includes a win over UFC veteran Darrill Schoonover on November 6, 2010. This 13-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department has sharpened his striking skills along side MMA veteran Pete Spratt, so you know he is very dangerous on his feet. Housley, fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio, is looking to snap Odoms’ streak at 5 and make a name for himself in this tournament. As an amateur, Housley compiled a record of 9-1 and is a very dangerous standup fighter with knockout power. In Housley’s last fight, his opponent felt his wrath ending it by TKO in round 1(4:50). Look for this fight to be an exciting match up of two men that won’t back down from each other. Proelite 2: Big Guns will be televised live on HD NET at 8 P.M. CST

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, proelite, veteran, prix

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At UFC 137 on Saturday there will be two big heavyweight fights. One of them featuring PRIDE and K-1 veteran master striker, Mirko Filipovic, and TUF 10 winner Roy Nelson. And the other showcasing, former NFL lineman and fellow Ultimate Fighter 10 alum Matt Mitrione and slick striker Cheick Kongo. Both Nelson and “Cro Cop” have something to prove in their fight with the Croatian legend hoping to show he can still compete at an elite level and Nelson wanting to make it clear he still deserves to be in the title hunt regardless of his physique. Meanwhile, Mitrione and Kongo are going to be looking for respect from the public in an increasingly stacked UFC heavyweight division. Mitrione Credits Beatdown from Randy Couture as Career-Changing Moment Both of these fights boast Fight of the Night potential. The video below shows the quartet of heavyweights discussing their upcoming fights on UFC 137 Countdown: Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, heavyweight fights, nelson

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Filed under: News, ProEliteProElite's second fight card since returning to the major mixed martial arts landscape has hit another snag. Just 10 days after main event heavyweight Pedro Rizzo had to pull out of his fight against former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia with an injury, Rizzo's replacement, Andreas Kraniotakes, now also is off the card. Sources close to ProElite on Wednesday told MMA Fighting that Kraniotakes' fighter license was not approved by the Illinois State Professional Boxing Board, which oversees MMA in the state. That leaves ProElite scrambling for a replacement to fight Sylvia on what will be less than 10 days notice for ProElite 2 at the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill., on Nov. 5. According to sources close to the event, the reason behind the state commission's refusal to approve Kraniotakes stems from a lack of sanctioned fights on his record. Though the German heavyweight is 12-4, the bulk of his 16 career fights have come in Europe. ProElite is said to have a replacement fighter lined up to face Sylvia, and attempted to present that fighter to the Illinois commission on Wednesday - only to find the board had closed up shop for the business day. A decision on Sylvia's new opponent is expected Thursday, which will give him nine days to prepare for the fight - and Slyvia nine days to prepare for what will be his third opponent since signing on for the event. Last month, MMA Fighting was first to report Sylvia in the main event of ProElite 2 against Rizzo on a card that was moved to the Quad Cities area of western Illinois from its original planned home in Atlantic City. Sylvia, a Maine native, has lived in the Quad Cities for years, training with the Pat Miletich team during his UFC run as heavyweight champion. But just 10 days ago, Rizzo had to pull out of the fight with an injury and Kraniotakes was tapped as his replacement. Though Kraniotakes is largely unknown outside of Europe, he is ranked in the Top 100 of some MMA heavyweight lists. Slyvia (29-7) has won five of his last six. In August, he beat Patrick Barrentine (9-6) on a show in Rockford, Ill., a fight which was approved by the Illinois commission. ProElite 2 features a co-main event between former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski and Travis Fulton, a veteran of more than 300 career fights. BJ Penn's brother Reagan meets Evan Cutts, and former UFC fighter Waylon Lowe fights Floyd Hodges. In addition, a ProElite heavyweight tournament gets underway with four quarterfinal bouts, including one featuring NCAA wrestling standout Mark Ellis (1-0). Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, day, heavyweight, proelite, sylvia

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Generally, the mammoth men who fit the size specifications of your average NFL defensive lineman aren't great candidates for fighting, let alone smashing into other behemoth monsters on the gridiron without a tremendous work ethic. Physical gifts and an excellent strength and conditioning program can bring out their true potential. In mixed martial arts, particularly in the heavyweight division, the same rules apply. Unfortunately, due to the allure of the brighter spotlight and bigger wallets of other professional sports, the heavyweight talent pool is extremely thin. It's so thin, in fact, that it's common for a heavyweight bout to end in the first round unofficially because that's when most of us check out, wondering how an The Ultimate Fighter season ten replay made its way on the pay-per-view. Poor conditioning and technical deficiencies seem to go hand-in-hand in many of the fights we've seen lately on the UFC's main cards. It's hard to blame the UFC however. There is still evidence that suggests the heaviest fighters are more appealing. One wouldn't find that opinion prevalent among the readers here, but it's a reality nonetheless. As you might imagine, a thin talent pool makes the likelihood of a truly skilled athlete a rarity. Guys like Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos are hidden gems and we happen to live in an era in which both men are competing against one another for the UFC title. Both of those men are extreme exceptions to the rule. Former NFL defensive lineman and current UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione, who will battle French Muay Thai striker Cheick Kongo on Saturday at UFC 137, is also an exception to the rule. The rule being that relevancy in the worldwide divisional ranks doesn't happen after only six fights. Mitrione's former NFL player status and personality likely propelled him to a stint on the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. His bizarre, meathead tendencies caused a lot of fans to immediately discount his seriousness in the sport. After all, what is a washed up former defensive lineman going to do against real fighters? Apparently beat them into the ground. After beating Marcus Jones by knockout at the reality show finale in December of 2009, Mitrione rattled off four straight wins, increasing the level of competition each time he stepped into the Octagon. Kimbo Slice, Joey Beltran, Tim Hague, and most recently Christian Morecraft all succumbed to Mitrione's improving skills, which have been honed under the tutelage of Duke Roufus at Roufusport in Wisconsin. Unfortunately for fans, Mitrione is a surprise. Nobody thought he would be where he is today. He's an overwhelming exception to a rule that is becoming more and more dominant as the heavyweight talent pool wanes in quantity. On Saturday night, one wouldn't be stepping over any lines in saying that Mitrione is one win away from relevancy. A dominant victory over a dangerous striker like Cheick Kongo would put Mitrione into a spotlight, despite the fact that many feel he's still a very green fighter. With only five fights to his name, who would believe he has the skills to challenge upper-echelon heavyweights? The real question is whether we should believe he does have those skills, or whether the division lacks talent. I think we may find out the latter is true long-term.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, heavyweight, mitrione, rule

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Don't look now, but here comes Matt Mitrione trying to cut into the UFC heavyweight contender's line. Unfortunately he must first get past security, the red rope known as Cheick Kongo, who will try to send him to the back of the line at UFC 137 after insisting his name is "not on the list." Can the former NFL'er get into the exclusive club populated by the world's best heavyweights? Some guy you may have heard of, Thomas Myers, answers that question for you at MMA Nation with a little help from the meatiest of heads, by clicking here.

Posted in: ufc, mma nation, heavyweight, cheick kongo, matt mitrione

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Check out Countdown to UFC 137: The Heavyweights featuring Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson. Full video.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, video, vs, countdown

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With the new bigger breed of fighters cracking into mixed martial arts (MMA), athletes are competing these days in smaller weight classes to get maximize their advantages inside the cage. It's become the norm rather than the exception. Fighters such as Forrest Griffin and Jon Jones usually outweigh their opponents come fight night and could easily fight at heavyweight; however, both have found significant success in the 205-pound division -- Jones is the current light heavyweight champion and Griffin a former title holder. Mauricio Rua is one of the few light heavyweights who fights at his natural weight. "Shogun" is too small for heavyweight and too big for middleweight. Ironically enough, Shogun is himself a former light heavyweight champion with losses to both Jones and Griffin. Many fans have often wondered how the Brazilian would perform as a middleweight and whether not he could give the seemingly unstoppable 185-pound champion a run for his money. Keep wondering. Eduardo Alonso, Rua's manager, tells Tatame.com that a drop to middleweight is not in his client's foreseeable future: "Honestly, I don't think about it. Shogun is a guy who naturally weights over 100kg. His legs are heavy, so it's hard for him to lose weight. He can drop to 93kg and perform in high level. Few athletes have beaten up so many top 10 athletes like Shogun did. I don't see why he'd drop to the middleweight division... It'd be hard on him; I guess he'd suffer a lot." Alonso also touched on Shogun's upcoming opponent at UFC 139, Dan Henderson, and a possible title shot: "I guess a win over Dan Henderson, to anyone, is a big deal. It doesn't matter in which division it is. Dan Henderson is on top since Rings. He's the current Strikeforce champion on the weight class; he's coming from impressive wins, including the one over Fedor, which is something we can never undermine. Beating Dan Henderson is a great deal for one's career. Fighting for the belt or not is a natural consequence, it's not something we have to worry about. We can't predict what will come to us. The important is for us to do our jobs, than later we'll see. If it's worth the title, great. If it's not, there's no big deal about it, we'll keep on working." MMA greats such as Randy Couture, Dan Henderson and B.J. Penn have held the titles in two different weight classes. Current middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva has also found success at light heavyweight, but has yet to challenge for the division's title. With Shogun's success at light heavyweight in both PRIDE and the UFC, a move down does not seem necessary. Not now, anyway. Not when Quinton Jackson is waiting for his turn to fight Shogun next.

Posted in: heavyweight, dan henderson, shogun, middleweight, weight

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Bellator Fighting Championships’ fifth-season heavyweight tournament final and three new undercard additions are on tap for Bellator 59, Sherdog.com confirmed with a source close to the event on Tuesday.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, undercard, undercard bouts, undercard additions

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Roy Nelson may play it off like he hasn’t lost any weight since he lost to Frank Mir at UFC 130, but it definitely looks like he has in this picture of him with Forrest Griffin, does it not? Granted, Forrest is a huge light heavyweight and the color black is slimming, so it may just be an optical illusion but Nelson looks a heck of a lot more like a light heavyweight than a heavyweight in that pic. I guess we’ll find out for sure on Friday if Nelson put in as much time into trimming his belly as he put into growing that beard when he takes of his shirt and steps on the scale. HT: MiddleEasy

Posted in: heavyweight, light, light heavyweight, nelson, forrest

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Filed under: UFCTo Brendan Schaub, it was just an off-hand remark in answer to a common question. While in Los Angeles to talk about the UFC Undisputed video game, he gave an interview where he was asked who he'd like to fight next after his loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 134 in Brazil. "They kept talking about the Strikeforce [heavyweights], the heavyweight division, and I just mentioned that I thought there were bunch of good fights for me," Schaub told MMA Fighting on Tuesday. "And I said, you know, I think [Fabricio] Werdum would be a fight that the UFC fans might like to see, but who knows?" That was all it took for Werdum, who apparently saw the interview and was quick to jump on his Twitter to tell Schaub: "I'm ready for you, anytime, anywhere!" It made for a surprising morning for Schaub, who said he wasn't expecting such a response from the Brazilian heavyweight. "I wasn't calling him out, but man, he got word of that and I guess he just ran with it. I woke up this morning to all these Twitter mentions and text messages and I thought, what's going on? Sure enough, I come to find out that he's saying, 'I'm ready to fight Brendan.' Hey, I'm all for it, man." Ideally, Schaub said, he'd like to get back in the cage in late January or February. He recently got back to training after his knockout loss in Rio, and has been touring different gyms in search of sparring partners and new looks. Tossing out Werdum's name in an interview wasn't an attempt at specifically calling him out, he said, but if Werdum wants to take it that way, Schaub has no objections. "I don't really care. To fight a guy like Werdum would be great. Me mentioning his name is nothing disrespectful at all. I've got nothing but respect for him. I think he's ranked number five in the world and he's one of the biggest names out there. That's why I brought his name up, and I think he'd be one hell of a challenge for me. Tell me where to sign." As for whether the fight could realistically happen in the near future, that's a different question. There have been all sort of rumors about Werdum negotiating with the UFC for a return to the Octagon, and he certainly wouldn't be the first Strikeforce heavyweight to make the jump now that the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix is down to two remaining finalists. Werdum may not be back in the fold just yet, but Schaub is optimistic that a little heat behind this match-up could expedite the process. "I definitely think it's feasible. The only relevant fight left in Strikeforce as far as the heavyweights go is [Daniel] Cormier and [Josh] Barnett. The rest of them, it seems like they are coming over. I have no idea what kind of situation Werdum's in with the UFC, but maybe this will kind of speed things up and they can make that happen."  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, werdum, schaub

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One time UFC contender and current Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum is doing all he can these days to try and get an invite back to the big show. Including calling out Brendan Schaub. "Vai Cavalo" was last seen in action (or lack thereof) this past June against then-Strikeforce heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem. "Demolition Man" went on to win the fight via unanimous decision in what was a very lackluster affair. Since then, Overeem has vacated his title and left for greener pastures to the UFC. Seeing as how there are fewer heavyweight challengers these days in Strikeforce, Werdum is looking to do the same. Via his twitter page, Werdum is already mapping out his assault on the UFC heavyweight division, and it starts with Schaub. "Brendan Schaub, I’m ready for you. Anytime, anywhere. Great fight for the UFC fans." Werdum went an even 2-2 with the UFC in his first go-round with the promotion, but was released of his duties when he refused to negotiate with the UFC for a smaller contract after his loss to Junior Dos Santos. He went on to earn a 3-1 record with Strikeforce and became the first man to legitimately defeat the great Fedor Emelianenko. Brendan Schaub was last seen in August at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was not his greatest hour as he was on the receiving end of a knockout loss courtesy of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The loss halted "Hybrid’s" four fight win streak and sent him tumbling down the heavyweight rankings. What do you say Maniacs, is this a good fight for Werdum’s return to the UFC?  If so, who takes it and how?

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, werdum, schaub, brendan

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Following the path set by Strikeforce this year, resurgent promotion ProElite has announced a Heavyweight Grand Prix of its own.Unlike the Strikeforce...

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, prix entrants, promotion proelite

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On November 20, the greatest heavyweight of all-time returns to action. Fedor Emelianenko looks to snap a three fight losing streak when he returns to his hometown of Russia and takes on Jeff Monson. After dominating MMA for 10 years, losing only once in 34 fights and beating top heavyweights such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Cro Cop, “The Last Emperor” has been finished in his last three contests against Fabricio Werdum (submission), Antonio Silva (TKO), and Dan Henderson (KO). A former UFC heavyweight title challenger, Monson has faced the likes of Chuck Liddell, Daniel Cormier, Forrest Griffin, and other top fighters throughout his fourteen year MMA career. Earlier this week M-1 Global released the first video promo for their November 20 event, which takes place at Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia and will air on PPV. The bout is Fedor’s first fight in Russia since 2007.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, monson, russia, video promo

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Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas both earned the bantamweight tournament finals, while the light heavyweight champ suffered a loss at Bellator 55.

Posted in: heavyweight, bantamweight, light, alexis vila, eduardo dantas

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YUMA, Ariz. -- Bellator Season 4 light heavyweight finalist Richard Hale bounced back from his knockout loss to Christian M'Pumbu against heavyweight Carlos Flores at the Cocopah Resort and Casino.

Posted in: heavyweight, knockout loss, cocopah resort, christian mpumbu, hale

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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 one comes as a surprise, while the departure of names like Badr Hari, Tyrone Spong and Gokhan Saki are not a surprise, with them the writing was on the wall for quite a while. Kyotaro is the latest name to come up on a short list of K-1 Heavyweights who have decided to move on to another combat sport, this time Boxing. Boxing is experiencing an upswing of popularity in Japan over the past few years and it is hard to argue against it being the healthiest of the combat sports there. News came out over the last few hours that K-1 Heavyweight Champion Kyotaro has decided to leave Kickboxing for Boxing and has returned his K-1 Heavyweight Championship. It is not surprising to see Kyotaro looking to compete elsewhere, as he has tried his hand at professional wrestling this year, much like Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima, but not seen the same level of success. Outside of his interesting hair choices, Kyotaro does not have the same charisma that a Nagashima has, and while that is not valued over all in Japanese professional wrestling, the popularity of wrestlers like Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono, Shin'ya Hashimoto, Kenta Kobashi and Toshiaki Kawada speaks against that point. Read More...

Posted in: heavyweight, boxing, combat sports, kyotaro, toshiaki kawada

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"It’ll be a very difficult fight for us to do. It will have to be worth it to us financially. We share the same coaches and the same management team. We’d have to address this as a group, with [manager] Bob Cook, Javier. I don’t want to be just a good fighter. I want to be the best in the world. I could be in line for a championship but if it came down to us, I’d much rather go to 205. That would eliminate a lot of things. We have a great thing going at AKA, to avoid a lot of negatives, to avoid people having to choose sides, I’d rather move to 205, maybe beat someone, and then face Jon Jones. I’d have to have that fight instead of Cain." Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Strikeforce heavyweight phenom Daniel Cormier (via Yahoo! Sports) is not entirely ruling out a future face-off against American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) friend and teammate Cain Velasquez, but he'd much rather deal with Acute Renal Failure and the irresistible force that is UFC 205-pound kingpin Jon Jones. The UFC heavyweight championship could change hands in 2012 -- or even sooner -- as Velasquez is set to defend the strap next month on FOX against Junior dos Santos. After that? The winner of Overeem vs. Lesnar is likely to be knocking on the door. If Cormier overcomes Josh Barnett to capture the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament, do you think he becomes an instant contender? Or not yet? And could we at long last be looking at the man to break some "Bones" in the UFC light heavyweight division?

Posted in: ufc, jon, heavyweight, cormier, irsquod

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In conjunction with their new multi-year television deal with HDNet, the resurrected ProElite MMA brand also announced the first round match-ups for their heavyweight grand pix. The eight man heavyweight bracket is set to begin on the undercard of the ProElite Big Guns show on Saturday November 5th in Moline, Iowa. American Kickboxing Academy trained Mark Ellis (1-0) will take on 29 year old Ryan Martinez (5-1) in the marquee pairing of the first round. Ellis is a former NCAA wrestling champ out of the University of Missouri while Martinez has stopped his last three opponents in the first round. 28 year old Alabama fighter Walt Harris (6-2) is another prospect with hype behind him in the field. The 6'4 ex college basketball player, Harris is a big striker with three career first round knockouts on his resume. Harris is paired with 28 year old Arizona fighter Esteves Jones (7-2). The heavyweight tournament is round out by AMA Fight Club's Chris Birchler (1-0) versus Alaskan Jake Heun (1-1) and unbeaten Richard Odoms (5-0)against Illinois' Jason Bosler (3-1). Former UFC heavyweight champions Tim Sylvia (29-7) and Andrei Arlovski (16-9) will headline the HDNet broadcast card in separate bouts. ProElite Big GunsMolina, IA11/5/11Tim Sylvia vs. Andreas KraniotakesAndrei Arlovski vs. Travis FultonHeavyweight Tournament QuarterfinalsMark Ellis (No. 44 ULTMMA50) vs. Ryan MartinezRichard Odoms vs. Jason BoslerJake Heun vs. Chris BirchlerWalter Harris (No. 15 HW) vs. Esteves JonesReagan Penn vs. TBAWaylon Lowe vs. TBATodd Monaghan vs. TBATara LaRosa vs. TBAPress releaseAs announced on last night's LIVE broadcast of "Inside MMA", HDNet unveiled a new, multi-fight, multi-year television deal with the ProElite fight promotion. The network will kick off the new deal with LIVE coverage of "HDNet Fights: ProElite - Big Guns" on November 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL."After watching their first event in Hawaii, I could see ProElite was a great fit for HDNet," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "This upcoming card has the perfect mix of marquee names and an innovative, Heavyweight tournament that fight fans won't want to miss!"Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski will headline the event in separate bouts while the undercard features an 8-man Heavyweight tournament to identify the up-and coming talent among MMA's heavy hitters!"Our multi-fight agreement with HDNet elevates the ProElite brand to a national MMA audience with a preeminent broadcast partner," said Paul Feller, CEO of ProElite and its parent company, Stratus Media Group. "This platform offers new opportunities for sponsors and advertisers looking to reach this passionate and rapidly growing audience of ProElite fans."HDNet Fights is your home for MMA, featuring extensive coverage of live mixed martial arts events and "Inside MMA," the network's weekly MMA news program, airing every Monday night LIVE on HDNet!About HDNetHDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.HDNet presents exclusive, innovative and original programming, including the network's Emmy Award winning HD news feature programs, "HDNet World Report," and "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather.HDNet is your home for MMA, featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "The Voice Vs...," features Michael Schiavello going one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport.HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through "HDNet Concerts," now also presenting LIVE concerts in high definition. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Drinking Made Easy," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Suddenlink and Verizon FiOS . The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, and facebook.com/HDNetFights and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet and twitter.com/hdnetfights.ABOUT PROELITEFounded in 2006, ProElite has been a major global force in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), holding the record for the highest televised broadcast rating of a major network live MMA event. ProElite, based in Los Angeles, California, continues its legacy to hold key domestic and international live MMA events. The company owns U.K. based MMA brand Cage Rage and is a significant stakeholder in Spirit MC in South Korea.www.proelite.comABOUT STRATUS MEDIA GROUPHeadquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with offices in Los Angeles, California; New York City, NY; Geneva, Switzerland; and Perugia, Italy, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (SMDI) is an owner, operator, developer, producer, and marketer of live entertainment events. In addition, the company owns Stratus Rewards Visa White Card, an ultra-exclusive consumer rewards marketing and redemption program, providing premium redemption benefits to members in the form of VIP event access, luxury trips, private jet travel, luxury automobiles, high-end merchandise and other rewards.www.stratusmediagroup.com www.stratusmotorsports.com www.stratusrewards.com

Posted in: mma, heavyweight, proelite, vs, hdnet

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Two-time Olympic wrestling team member and undefeated prospect Daniel Cormier vaulted himself into the upper-echelon of the heavyweight division in September after he demolished Brazilian giant Antonio Silva at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The shocking knockout victory extended Cormier's unblemished record to nine, creating talk that he may, in fact, fulfill a role as the next great heavyweight fighter. Fellow semifinalist Josh Barnett stands in his path of proving that theory for fans, but we won't find out until Cormier's hand heals, sometime in early 2012. In the meantime, Cormier's teammate at American Kickboxing Academy, UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, prepares for his first title defense on the UFC's inaugural Fox card on November 12. As you would expect, a world-class wrestler like Cormier is one of Velasquez's primary training partners, making it inevitable that a question arise about Cormier and Velasquez ever fighting one another. Interestingly enough, Cormier told Yahoo!'s Dave Meltzer that it could happen if the money was right: "It'll be a very difficult fight for us to do. It will have to be worth it to us financially. We share the same coaches and the same management team. We'd have to address this as a group, with [manager] Bob Cook, Javier. I don't want to be just a good fighter. I want to be the best in the world. I could be in line for a championship but if it came down to us, I'd much rather go to 205. That would eliminate a lot of things. We have a great thing going at AKA, to avoid a lot of negatives, to avoid people having to choose sides, I'd rather move to 205, maybe beat someone, and then face Jon Jones. I'd have to have that fight instead of Cain." The possibility of a Velasquez-Cormier showdown isn't the most intriguing tidbit of information however. It's the fact that Cormier would consider a drop to the light heavyweight division. For fans who have seen Cormier fight, it seems like a no-brainer. A 5'11" frame isn't exactly ideal for the mammoth fighters that await Cormier in the UFC's heavyweight division. Why not just cut the weight and take your chances at 205? Cormier suffered kidney failure less than one hour before a scheduled match with Cuban Michel Batista in the 96kg weight class at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The constant fluctuations in weight that Cormier had put himself through over the years caused the problems. His body reportedly had severe reactions to the rehydration process, and Cormier himself spoke about the implications that cutting weight had on his body. It was long believed that this was the reason Cormier fought within the confines of the heavyweight division. A couple of years ago, the argument to drop was more adamant, mainly because the division housed mammoths like Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Today, Cain Velasquez normally sits somewhere around 245 lbs., roughly the same weight as Cormier. The argument that he can't survive based on his weight alone has flown the coup. Teammates fighting each other is now the sole issue, and to eliminate the 'negatives' -- Cormier is willing to make a cut six pounds below a weight that hospitalized him at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Now that's loyalty. Cormier's wrestling pedigree inside the confines of the 205 lb. weight class could spell disaster for some of the best fighters in the division. He might even have the style to defeat Jon Jones. He certainly has the history of overcoming adversity to prove he can never be counted out. Strangely, his success in a higher weight class is what makes this move possible. Will it happen? There's a good chance of it happening in my mind.

Posted in: heavyweight, division, velasquez, weight, cormier

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Sambo specialist Blagoi Ivanov has suffered an unspecified injury and will be unable to compete in Bellator Fighting Championships’ fifth-season heavyweight tournament semifinals against Thiago Santos.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, injury, ivanov

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The Cain Velasquez-Junior dos Santos bout is the first in a series that should finally determined the world's best heavyweight.

Posted in: heavyweight, do, series, velasquezjunior dos, yahoo sports

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Brazilian outlet Tatame.com has released an interview with Kings MMA head trainer Rafael Cordeiro. Among other comments on Wanderlei Silva, Mark Munoz and Renato Sobral, Cordeiro revealed that Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum has an open dialogue with the UFC and may appear as soon as December. Tatame: And what about Werdum's return? There were rumors about him signing with UFC... Cordeiro: He's back to the trainings, he's making everybody laugh. He'll probably fight in December... He's talking to the UFC, and maybe they come up with something for December. Rumors of Werdum returning to the Octagon began to swirl after a vague reference by MMAJunkie in their report of UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin's recent back injury, which read as follows: Carwin's UFC 141 return had not been announced by the UFC, but there was some speculation he would be welcoming recent Strikeforce heavyweight back to the octagon. On the current Strikeforce heavyweight roster, only three fighters have previously competed in the UFC: Josh Barnett, Jeff Monson and Fabricio Werdum. Barnett's position in the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament left Werdum as the likely candidate.   The former Pride standout first emerged at UFC 70 in 2007, losing a decision to Andrei Arlovski. "Vai Cavalo" followed up with consecutive TKO wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera before suffering a vicious knockout at the hands of then-unknown Junior dos Santos, who was making his promotional debut. Unable to find common ground with the UFC, Werdum opted to sign with Strikeforce where he notched three impressive wins over Mike Kyle via guillotine choke, Antonio Silva by decision and the earth-shattering submision of famed Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko. Werdum's last outing was an unflattering decision loss to Alistair Overeem in the quarterfinals of Strikeforce's heavyweight tournament. Poll Does Fabricio Werdum belong back in the UFC? Yay Nay   62 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, december, werdum

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Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin has suffered another injury setback. The fighter recently announced the news on his official website, explaining that a new back injury will prevent him from competing at UFC 141.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, injury, official website, injury setback

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Following up on last week’s light heavyweight and lightweight roster announcement, THQ has revealed which heavyweights made the cut in UFC Undisputed 3. Check out who made (and who didn’t make) the heavyweight roster below. Heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Ben Rothwell Brendan Schaub Brock Lesnar Cain Velasquez Cheick Kongo Frank Mir Gabriel Gonzaga Junior dos Santos Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic Pat Barry Roy Nelson Sean McCorkle Shane Carwin Stefan Struve Travis Browne Noticeably absent: Matt Mitrione, Joey Beltran, Randy Couture, Mark Hunt (PRIDE?), Kimbo Slice, Dave Herman Image via THQ

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, thq, roster, heavyweight roster

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Check out our gallery of images featuring the entire heavyweight roster from UFC Undisputed 3.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, roster, heavyweights check, heavyweight roster

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Wunderbar! German-born heavyweight Andreas Kraniotakes has been asked to step up on short notice to throw hands against Tim Sylvia in the headlining bout of the ProElite 2 event scheduled for Nov. 5 in Moline, IL. Kraniotakes replaces Pedro Rizzo, who was forced to withdraw from the promotion's sophomore effort due to injury. "When we say we’re looking for the next great heavyweight this was not a half-hearted search. We have eight guys from eight different regions of the country. We have both coasts, the South, Midwest, Southwest and Mountain region covered," ProElite’s Head of Fight Operations, T. Jay Thompson, said in today's release. "Big Daddy," who will make his stateside debut in "Quad Cities," is 12-4 with all 12 of his wins coming by way of (T)KO or submission. He's currently riding a three-fight winning streak. But have the rigors of International competition prepared him for "The Maine-iac?" Sylvia, who continues to struggle with his weight, was flattened by Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 castaway Abe Wagner last January for Titan FC before rebounding with a technical knockout win over Patrick Barrentine on the regional circuit. Should be interesting. ProElite 2 will also feature a heavyweight mash-up between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski, who battles Travis Fulton while Reagan Penn looks to build off his debut win against an opponent-to-be-named. For more on the promotion's trip to the iWireless Center click here.

Posted in: heavyweight, proelite, pedro rizzo, tim sylvia, kraniotake

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UFC Undisputed 3, the latest entry into the popular mixed martial arts video game series from THQ, will hit store shelves in January 2012. The new edition features a bevy of interesting fresh features, including traveling back in time to fight in the now-defunct PRIDE organization, complete with soccer kicks, stomps and Bas Rutten on commentary. Not only that, the roster has been expanded to include both featherweights and bantamweights. Speaking of which, THQ is releasing the list of names for the full roster and next up we've got the heavyweights (265-pounds). Still think Brock Lesnar is the "Baddest Man on the Planet?" You can use him yourself and try to prove as much. If that doesn't suit your fancy, you can rock a Mirko "Cro Cop" head kick, a Pat Barry leg kick, or, if you really want to get down, gator roll the night away with submission king Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Complete heavyweight roster after the jump. Antonio Rodrigo NogueiraBen RothwellBrendan SchaubBrock LesnarCain VelasquezCheick KongoFrank MirGabriel GonzagaJunior dos SantosMirko FilipovicPat BarryRoy NelsonSean McCorkleShane CarwinStefan StruveTravis Browne Any surprises or notable snubs? For more on the upcoming release of UFC Undisputed 3 click here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, roster, doesnt suit, gator roll

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German heavyweight Andreas Kraniotakes has agreed to replace three-time UFC heavyweight title contender Pedro Rizzo as the opponent for former UFC champion Tim Sylvia in the headliner of ProElite’s Nov. 5 event in Moline, Illinois, Sherdog.com has learned from a source close to the situation.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, headliner, sylvia, kraniotake

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submitted by JRM2 [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, roster, jrm

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Surgery will keep the UFC heavyweight out of the Octagon until next spring or summer.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, ufc heavyweight, summer, injury surgery

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday for our 104th show. Here's a list of who will be stopping by: * Former middleweight turned light heavyweight Rich Franklin will talk about his recent shoulder surgery and what's next for him. * UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera will discuss his UFC 137 fight against Eliot Marshall. * Heavyweight Matt Mitrione will return for another installment of "The Mitrione Minute." * MMA agent turned entrepreneur Ken Pavia will talk about selling his MMA agency and teaming up with Takedown Fight Media. * And MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes will dissect the news making headlines around the MMA world. Of course, we'll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the replay below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, show, mma hour, heavyweight, show heres

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Vinny Magalhaes M-1 Challenge 27, M-1 Global’s latest Showtime-televised event, took place on Friday night in Phoenix, Arizona and featured The Ultimate Fighter 8 runner-up Vinny Magalhaes retaining his light heavyweight title with a third-round TKO of Mikhail Zayats. The card got off to a fast start with three first-round submissions taking just 2:45 combined, but an interim heavyweight title fight brought the momentum to a halt before Kenny Garner finally stopped Maxim Grishin with less than a minute to go in the fifth and final round. The official M-1 Challenge 27 results were: Vinny Magalhaes def. Mikhail Zayats via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 1:13 – to retain light heavyweight title Kenny Garner def. Maxim Grishin via submission (strikes) – Round 5, 4:07 – to win interim heavyweight title Arthur Guseinov def. Eddie Arizmendi via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 0:50 Yasubey Enomoto def. Josh Thorpe via submission (triangle) – Round 1, 1:07 Daniel Madrid def. Tom Gallicchio via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 0:48

Posted in: title, round, heavyweight, submission, vinny magalhaes

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As with every major broadcast, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for M-1 Challenge 27: Magalhaes vs. Zayats. The live blog will start with the Showtime broadcast at 11 p.m. ET. The card features two title fights. In the main event of the evening, Vinny Magalhaes squares off with Mikhail Zayats for the light heavyweight crown while Kenny Garner and Maxim Grishin battle over the interim heavyweight title. Here is the card and official weigh-in results: Showtime Main Card:Vinny Magalhaes 204 lbs vs Mikhail Zayats 205 lbs (For the M-1 Challenge Light Heavyweight Championship)Kenny Garner 255 lbs vs Maxim Grishin 220 lbs (For the M-1 Global Interim Heavyweight title)Arthur Guseinov 185 lbs vs Eddie Arizmendi 186 lbsTom Gallicchio 170 lbs vs Daniel Madrid 165 lbsYasubey Enomoto 168 lbs vs Josh Thorpe 166 lbs Untelevised Undercard:Ryan Crouch 158 lbs vs Fredrik Lumpkin 156 lbsMike Chavez 168 lbs vs Joe Martinez 170 lbs Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.

Posted in: heavyweight, vs, lb, magalhae, zayat

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There's no better time to have a little bit of fun than Friday night. Right about now you should be killing time until you go out for a little end of week celebration, resting up for a big weekend or waiting around for the start of M-1 on Showtime. Whatever you're doing, I now urge you to take part in a little fun with me. As top fighters are slowly picked off from Strikeforce and brought into the UFC it seems like it's only a matter of time until we see Strikeforce shut down and the best assets brought over to the UFC. For the sake of discussion I'm setting a guideline for determining who you would bring in: Only five fighters can be brought over from each weight class. This prevents anyone from taking the easy way out of "bring them all in and let it get sorted out naturally." You must pick five though. We'll start with the heavyweights and light heavyweights, the rest of the divisions will follow shortly. Here are my picks. Heavyweight: In: Fabricio Werdum - I honestly think that the UFC's heavyweight division is a miserable place for Werdum, but he's a top 10 heavyweight with wins over Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko so you can't cut him. I have to believe he loses a lot of value within 3 fights though. Shane Del Rosario - 11-0 American heavyweight who has gotten a finish in every fight and only been out of the first round once. I'm not high on him in terms of being a future superstar, but he's got enough going for him to give him the chance to become one in the UFC. Chad Griggs - Griggs is sloppy as all hell but he's also tough as nails, 11-1 overall (3-0 in Strikeforce) and could be a good fit on the prelims of UFC cards serving the same kind of role as a Joey Beltran. Josh Barnett - Honestly, I'd like to put him on the cut list for his history. Since this is as of today, though. I think you'd have to take him. Should Cormier beat him in the grand prix finals though? Goodbye Josh. Daniel Cormier - Of the five, this is the one guy I'd want more than anyone else. The steady improvement from fight to fight, the backstory, it all adds up to a legitimate and valable heavyweight comodoty. Notable cuts: Antonio Silva - I'm going to catch heat for this one, but who has Bigfoot ever truly beaten? His win over Fedor was impressive as he put together a complete gameplan and executed it. Beyond that though his biggest win is light heavyweight Mike Kyle in a fight where he was badly hurt? A completely shot Andrei Arlovski by decision in the only fight in a 4 fight stretch where Arlovski wasn't stopped? I'd rather have a guy like Griggs serving a role by testing guys out on the undercard for reasonable pay than overpay for Silva to get trucked by the UFC roster. Herschel Walker - Herschel is a fun story but the amount of extra attention he truly brings has been overstated and there's no one on the current UFC roster that you'd pick him to beat, so you can't honestly keep him. Sergei Kharitonov - There's only so much room on the UFC roster and Kharitonov just isn't a special fighter. He has wins over Alistair Overeem and Mike Russow but that was over 4 years ago now. He also got paid $100,000 to fight Josh Barnett so if the UFC kept him, they'd have to negotiate some lower pay. Lavar Johnson - Tremendous addition for Bellator. Shawn Jordan - Another guy who would fit in well on the Bellator roster. Follow after the jump for the light heavyweights. Light Heavyweights In: Rafael Cavalcante - Feijao fights with a style that UFC president Dana White would love. He is prone to the occasional slip-up but he fights his ass off and could be competitive with the mid-tier of the UFC 205 roster. Muhammad Lawal - He still has a little work to do to become a truly well rounded threat but he has charisma for days, tremendous wrestling and legitimate KO power. Lorenz Larkin - His bout with Nick Rossborough had to bring people like myself back down to earth a bit. I'd been very high on Larkin but he showed that he still has some work to do. But at only 25 years old with underrated defensive wrestling and grappling skills and a whirlwind striking game, Larkin has a very bright future. Ovince St. Preux - OSP is a tremendous athlete dating back to his time as a very talented defensive player at the University of Tennessee. His career got off to a 3-4 start thanks to an overly tough schedule as he was still learning the sport. Now riding an eight fight win streak and beating some legitimate names, OSP is one of the fastest rising 205'ers. Gegard Mousasi - I think we can all agree that Mousasi isn't proving out to be quite the rare talent many thought he would be. Still, he sports a 31-3-2 record at the age of 26. The Keith Hackney draw is an unfortunate blemish on his record for a fight that he should have won if not for reffing and judging issues. He'd have plenty of success in the UFC. Notable Cuts: Gian Villante - Just hasn't proven out. 1-2 in Strikeforce, Gian has to do some work on the regional scene (or find a cushy career in Bellator) to earn a spot in the UFC. Roger Gracie - Ignoring the last name, Roger is just not good enough at mixed martial arts. Renato Sobral - Babalu's last exit from the UFC is probably enough of a reason to not see him stick around. Antwain Britt - Britt exists in that space just below able to compete reliably at the Strikeforce/UFC level but just good enough to probably run wild on 205'ers outside of the big leagues. Mike Kyle - Too much baggage, not quite good enough.

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, light heavyweights

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THQ is starting to release the official rosters for UFC Undisputed 3. While the majority of the major stars in each division are still available, the addition of the bantamweight and featherweight divisions seems to have come at a cost. Several notable fighters in the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions have been omitted, even fighters that appeared in previous games. Check out who made (and who didn’t make) the lightweight and light heavyweight rosters below. Light Heavyweight Ryan Bader Jason Brilz Phil Davis (available only via pre-order at select retailers) Cyrille Diabate Rashad Evans Rich Franklin Forrest Griffin Matt Hamill Dan Henderson (also available as a middleweight) Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Jon Jones Chuck Liddell Lyoto Machida Vladimir Matyushenko Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Tito Ortiz Mauricio “Shogun” Rua Thiago Silva Brandon Vera Notably absent: Stephan Bonnar, Krzysztof Soszynski, Luiz Cane, Steve Cantwell Lightweight Donald Cerrone Evan Dunham Frankie Edgar Takanori Gomi Clay Guida Melvin Guillard Benson Henderson Gray Maynard Jim Miller Ross Pearson B.J. Penn (also available as a welterweight) Anthony Pettis Sean Sherk Dennis Siver George Sotiropoulos Joe Stevenson Notably absent: Joe Lauzon, Kenny Florian (FW?), Nate Diaz (WW?), Cole Miller, Spencer Fisher, Tyson Griffin (FW?), Terry Etim Some of these I can understand being cut and I’ll assume for now that Kenny Florian, Nate Diaz and Tyson Griffin will be in different weight classes, but Joe Lauzon and Stephan Bonnar? How in the world were they left out?

Posted in: heavyweight, light, joe lauzon, kenny florian, tyson griffin

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UFC Undisputed 3, the latest entry into the popular mixed martial arts video game series from THQ, will hit store shelves in January 2012. The new edition features a bevy of interesting fresh features, including traveling back in time to fight in the now-defunct PRIDE organization ... complete with soccer kicks, stomps and Bas Rutten on commentary. Not only that, the roster has been expanded to include both featherweights and bantamweights. Speaking of which, THQ is releasing the list of names for the full roster and up first, we've got the light heavyweights (205-pounds). You can play as division champion Jon Jones, who has an all new selection of strikes, including a right back fist, or current number one contender Lyoto Machida, who boasts the front kick you watched him knock Randy Couture out with. Or, if you'd like, you can even use retired Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell to knock a few heads off for the old school. Complete light heavyweight roster after the jump. Ryan BaderJason BrilzPhil DavisCyrille DiabateRashad EvansRich FranklinForrest GriffinMatt HamillDan Henderson*Quinton "Rampage" JacksonJon JonesChuck LiddellLyoto MachidaVladimir MatyushenkoAntonio Rogerio NogueiraTito OrtizMauricio "Shogun" RuaThiago SilvaBrandon Vera *Also available to fight as a middleweight Any surprises or notable snubs? For more on the upcoming release of UFC Undisputed 3 click here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, light, light heavyweights, roster

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Phoenix, AZ --The M-1 promotion moved one step closer to their Arizona debut with a successful weigh-in Thursday night in North Phoenix. All fourteen fighters booked for M-1 Challenge 27 stepped on the scales before a crowd at the Metro Sportz Bar. Both main event fighters Vinny Magalhaes (8-5) and Mikhail Zayats (14-5) made weight for their scheduled five round light heavyweight title fight. For Magalhaes the bout will be his first defense of the M-1 Global light heavyweight belt. A former Ultimate Fighter Season eight finalist, Magalhaes has won six of seven bouts outside of the UFC since his 2009 release from the promotion. The 27 year old Magalhaes recently added to his grappling resume with a win at the ADCC 2011 championships in September. A former middleweight prospect Zayats is fresh off a highlight reel TKO of Malik Merad (11-8) at M-1 Challenge 25. Zayats, a Russian striker, has won four straight bouts dating back to June 2010. In the heavyweight co-main event both Maxim Grishin (11-5) and Kenny Garner (7-3) made it below the 265 pound limit. Grishin was booked for the fight with Garner on one week's notice after four star heavyweight prospect Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) was sidelined with an elbow injury. A Russian fighter Grishin steps into the ring with a four fight win streak. Garner, a 25 year old big man, is 2-0 on the year. Grishin and Garner will battle for the M-1 Global Interim Heavyweight title with the winner booked for a possible bout with Gugenishvili.M-1 Challenge 27 is scheduled for Friday October 14th from Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix. The five fight main card will air live on Showtime at 11:00 p.m. EST/PST (Delayed on the West Coast).M-1 Challenge 27 Magalhaes vs. Zayats weigh-in resultsPhoenix, AZVinny Magalhaes (204) vs. Mikhail Zayats (205)Maxim Grishin (220) vs. Kenny Garner (255)Eddie Arizmendi (185) vs. Arthur Guseinov (186)Tom Gallicchio (170) vs. Daniel Madrid (165)Yasubey Enomoto (168) vs. Joshua Thorpe (166)Ryan Crouch (158) vs. Fredrik Lumpkin (156)Mike Chavez (168) vs. Joe Martinez (170)

Posted in: heavyweight, vs, magalhae, grishin, zayat

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Check out the complete light heavyweight roster from UFC Undisputed 3.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, light, check, roster

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Filed under: M-1 Global, NewsM-1 Global returns to Showtime Friday night, and once again, the card has received little to no fanfare or press. The card will feature former TUF finalist Vinny Magalhaes (8-5), perhaps the most well-known fighter on the M-1 Global roster, defending his light heavyweight title against Mikhail Zayats (14-5). Magalhaes has won four in a row and six of his last seven fights since losing to Eliot Marshall at UFC 97, while Zayats also enters the title fight riding a four-fight winning streak. M-1 heavyweight champion Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) was scheduled to defend his title against Kenny Garner (7-3) on the card but was forced to pull out of the fight after suffering an elbow injury in training. This marks the second fight in a row that Gugenishvili has withdrawn from, as he missed his July 8 title defense against Pat Bennett due to another injury. Maxim Grishin (11-5) will now face Garner for the promotion's interim heavyweight title in the co-main event. This marks the promotion's third event on Showtime with one remaining on its current contract with the premium cable network. M-1 Challenge 27 will air on Showtime Friday night at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Mauro Ranallo and Pat Miletich will call the action from Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, AZ. Below is a look at the entire card. Televised card: Vinny Magalhaes (c) vs. Mikhail Zayats -- M-1 Global light heavyweight title fight Maxim Grishin vs. Kenny Garner -- M-1 Global interim heavyweight title fight Eddie Arizmendi vs. Arthur Guseinov Tom Gallicchio vs. Daniel Madrid Yasubey Enomoto vs. Josh Thorpe Prelims: David Morgan vs Silvester Villereal Mike Chavez vs Joe Martinez  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, title, heavyweight, vs, card

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Despite the loss of a scheduled main event between nine time UFC veteran Din Thomas (25-8) and George Sheppard (10-6) Fight Time 7 trucked along from War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The promoter of the Sunshine State MMA organization announced to the crowd on hand that Thomas was injured in a car crash on his way to the arena. A bout between heavyweight prospect Walt Harris (6-2) and local gamer Cedric James (0-6) became the new defacto main event for Fight Time 7.In what quickly turned into a wild brawl Harris out struck James. Harris dropped James with a punch and pounced on his opponent just 20 seconds into the bout. The referee called the knockout in favor of Harris at the 22 second mark of round one. A former college basketball player the 6'4 Harris is a heavyweight prospect who has already headlined several regional cards throughout the Southern United Sates. The 27 year old Harris is a stand-up fighter who has worked to improve on the grappling aspect of his game throughout his pro and amateur MMA career. In defeat Harris has managed to impress versus current Strikeforce fighter Lorenz Larkin and young heavyweight prospect Chris Barnett. A smaller heavyweight in the 230 pound range Harris has all the physical tools to eventually get his crack at the major leagues of MMA, who are always in desperate need of heavyweight depth. Harris is currently the number 15 ranked heavyweight prospect in MMA according to ULTMMA.com. Fight Time 7 The Return resultsFort Lauderdale, FLLucas Pimenta Borges def. Doug Rossi by TKO (Punches) 0:48 R1Patrick Williams def. Phil Gebauer by Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:17 R2John Rivera def. Jimmy Alexander by KO (Head Kick and Punches) 0:34 R1Damion Williams def. Julian Flor by Submission Forearm Choke 0:57 R1Roy Bradshaw def. Matt McCook by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:17 R2Walt Harris def. Cedric James by KO (Punches) 0:22 R1

Posted in: time, heavyweight, prospect, punch, harri

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SuperKombat will be rounding out their World Grand Prix 2011 preliminary round over the weekend, as the promotion hosts the final of four heavyweight qualifiers and a number of non-tournament bouts in Piatra Neamt, Romania on Saturday, October 15th. Truthfully, the field of competitors in the heavyweight mini-tournament this time around won't be turning too many heads. Erhan Deniz will meet Marian Baryla in one semifinal, while Wendell Roche squares off with Andrei Bokan in the other. Wendell Roche is most recognized as the fighter to be dominated by Danyo Ilunga in the latter's breakout fight this March. Erhan Deniz? He was defeated by Daniel Ghita at It's Showtime Warsaw in June. Deniz has lost his fair share of bouts against top competition already in his career. Either way, the winner of this weekend's heavyweight winner will join Sergei Lascenko, Ismael Londt, and Pavel Zhuravlev in a year-end tournament. That tournament will have clear implications in the international heavyweight picture just outside the top ten or fifteen fighters in the world. Outside of the heavyweight mini-tournament, the highlight of this weekend's event is likely to be the return of Romanian up-and-comer Bogdan Stoica. Stoica hasn't seen action since a freak injury ended his bout against Hakan Aksoy at the SuperKombat World Grand Prix 2 event in July. Along with his brother Andrei, Bogdan Stoica has been pushed as one of the future stars of Romanian kickboxing. At age 21, Stoica still has significant time to develop, but many have waited for him to take a step forward in competition for some time now. He'll meet Leon Miedema when he steps into the ring this weekend. Other fights on the card will see Sebastian Ciobanu take on Turkish heavyweight Cengiz Ozpamuk and Ionut Iftimoaie face Fight Code Rhino Series veteran Luca Panto. Bob Sapp and Catalin Morosanu are also scheduled to appear. Fight card, as it currently stands, after the jump. Heavyweight Semifinal 1 Erhan Deniz vs. Marian Baryla Heavyweight Semifinal 2 Wendell Roche vs. Andrei Bokan Heavyweight Reserve Match Lucian Danilencu vs. Jantje Siersma WAKO-Pro 67 kg. World Title Bout Ionut Atodiresei vs. Diogo Neves 92 kg. Bout Bogdan Stoica vs. Leon Miedema Non-tournament Heavyweight Bouts Sebastian Ciobanu vs. Cengiz Ozpamuk Luca Panto vs. Ionut Iftimoaie Catalin Morosanu vs. TBA Super-Heavyweight Bout Bob Sapp vs. Alexandru Lungu

Posted in: world, bout, heavyweight, vs, stoica

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Shane del Rosario was on the fast track to superstardom in the Strikeforce heavyweight division. Undefeated after eleven professional fights, he was slated to take on fellow undefeated ex-Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier this past June in a clash between two of MMA's top heavyweight prospects. And then fate intervened. On April 14 earlier this year, another driver crossed the median and T-boned del Rosario's car, causing serious damage to the former Muay Thai world champion's back, herniating multiple discs and putting his mixed martial arts career on hold. Del Rosario had previously hoped to return in mid-fall, but progress has been slow. He updated his injury status to MMAmania.com. We've got an excerpt below: "I'm doing physical therapy three times a week and I'm having progress little by little. It seems to be to me that every week or two I feel a bit stronger, my endurance gets a little better or I'm able to last a bit longer but I still have some bad days where I can't get up or move very well, I start training and my back seizes up and I can't do anything. The accident definitely affected my life to a great degree." "For me, what gets me motivated is having a fight to prepare for. Being a professional fighter, you want to be training and preparing for somebody but since I've been injured, my doctor's orders have been to just get healthy, nothing else and then I can start training. It's been tough. I'm not supposed to do anything. I'm not allowed to do what I like to do, go to the beach and surf or anything. I've just gotta sit around and do nothing. The sitting around makes me go nuts. I'm looking, hopefully now to have my return in January or February. I'm gonna try to shoot for a fight then but it all depends on how I feel and when I'm able to fully train again. As of right now, I'm still at 20-30 percent in my training." Del Rosario still isn't back to training anything other than hitting pads, but he's hoping to begin wrestling and jiu-jitsu soon.  The undefeated prospect has been forced to sit on the sidelines and watch his intended opponent Daniel Cormier step in as an alternate into the heavyweight grand prix, upset Antonio Silva and become a top 10 ranked heavyweight in the world. He's very eager to get back on track. So what do you think Maniacs? After delaying his return once already, will del Rosario be able to make it back with his current timetable? Will he be able to return to his previous form? Sound off!

Posted in: heavyweight, training, rosario, del, del rosario

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Mike Hayes has been forced out of Bellator’s Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament due to injury, according to a statement from Bellator officials on Monday.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, mike, bellator officials, mike hayes

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With Jon Jones set to defend the UFC light heavyweight title against former champion Loyot Machida (not Rashad Evans) in the main event of UFC 140, the five-fight pay-per-view main card is now complete for the December 10 event in Toronto, according to MMAjunkie. The UFC 140 main card also features a rematch former heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, light heavyweights Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, welterweights Rory MacDonald vs. Brian Ebersole, and featherweights Mark Hominick vs. “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. Here’s how the current UFC 140 fight card is shaping up: MAIN CARD Jon Jones (c) vs. Lyoto Machida UFC Light Heavyweight Championship Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Rory MacDonald vs. Brian Ebersole Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung PRELIMINARY CARD Dennis Hallman vs. John Makdessi Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Igor Pokrajac Rich Attonito vs. Claude Patrick Mark Bocek vs. Nik Lentz John Cholish vs. Mitch Clarke Pictured: Lyoto Machida

Posted in: ufc, nogueira, heavyweight, vs, card

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Be afraid. Be very afraid. Just over a year ago, hulking heavyweight prospect Shane Carwin was the scariest (expletive) on earth. Over a five year span, the full-time engineer had compiled a perfect 12-0 record en route to earning a big money match-up against then-division kingpin, Brock Lesnar. Carwin would take center stage at UFC 116 after claiming the Interim heavyweight strap, which came at the expense of Frank Mir's ability to chew solid foods. His frightening stoppage over the former 265-pound deity continued a streak of violent finishes that on paper, read like a work of fiction. 12 straight wins. 12 straight finishes. There wasn't a fighter to date that was able to survive more than three and a half minutes against the 5XL fist bumps. When the opposing goliaths eventually did hook 'em up on July 3, 2010, it seemed like just another day at the water plant for the Greg Jackson disciple. Lesnar wilted under the powerful paws of the beefy bumrush, and seemed seconds away from a technical knockout stoppage. Then something happened. After five straight minutes of cruel and unusual punishment, Carwin answered the bell for round two, the first time he was ever asked to do so in his entire career. Instead of picking up where he'd left off, he found himself in a state of suspended animation, as his muscular frame betrayed him after years of steadfast obedience. In the end, he did what he had done his entire career. He was aggressive. Only this time, it cost him the fight -- and his shot at unifying the division titles. Perhaps the cautionary approach in his next fight, a knee-jerk reaction in a number one contender's bout against brain-scrambling Brazilian Junior dos Santos, allowed "Cigano" to get the upper hand at UFC 131. And by "upper hand," I mean the kind of beating that gets most men 15-to-life in the state penitentiary. Was Carwin embroiled in a Catch-22? Too aggressive left him frozen beneath an eight-sided carbonite chamber. Not aggressive enough saw his blood sprayed across the canvas a la Jurgen Von Anhalt. But what if, just maybe, his loss to Lesnar was more about gameplanning and less about agression? In a recent conversation with MMAmania.com, Carwin talked about his pending return, both to the UFC and to the strategy that got him there in the first place. "Maybe at the end of the year, maybe the beginning of next year, we'll see what the UFC has lined up for me. I'm not in camp right now, but I'm working on the things I need to be working on to stay competitive. It's really up to the UFC, I'm taking it fight-by-fight. The division is full of talent and now we have the guys from Strikeforce coming over. Josh Barnett is a top heavyweight, you know there's actually a bunch of top heavyweights over there, just look at Daniel Cormier. Overall I think I've just got to go back to being a little more aggressive as a fighter. As long as I stay passionate about who as I am a fighter, as long as I still love it, then things will be fine." Climbing out of an 0-2 hole at the tender age of 35 leaves no margin for error. Fortunately the Coloradoan has enough highlight reel footage to make him a marketable contender -- as long as he continues to win. Another loss, at any level, would be disastrous for what is arguable his final run at the top. Will he get there? One thing is for certain, I don't envy any fighter tasked with the responsibility of stopping him. Just who that prospective opponent might be, at least for now, remains a mystery. But that shouldn't let us, as fight fans, play matchmaker for his 2012 fight campaign. Let's hear your best guess in the comments section below. Shane Carwin's next fight should be against ...

Posted in: ufc, fighter, heavyweight, year, carwin

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American fans will have to wait a bit longer to see M-1 Global heavyweight champion Guram Gugenishvili in action, as the Ukrainian has withdrawn from his Oct. 14 title defense against Kenny Garner due to an injury suffered in training

Posted in: heavyweight, guram, kenny, defense, gugenishvili

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UFC 136 Event Primer | NBC Sports Frankie Edgar’s record against everyone not named Gray Maynard: 13-0. But against Maynard: 0-1-1. He’s been a puzzle Edgar has not been able to solve. In their last fight, Edgar was nearly knocked out in the first round but battled back to salvage a draw. Edgar took the positives of the last four rounds as a learning experience, and hopes tightened defense along with speedy footwork will keep him from a similar predicament this time around. In the back of his mind, Edgar knows that he took Maynard’s biggest shots and survived, and that has to be a confidence booster. UFC 136 Breakdowns: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian | MMA Fighting Frankie Edgar has spent the last year of his fighting life focusing on just one man: Gray Maynard. Being forced to return his attention to the same task over and over hasn’t driven him crazy, but even the mild-mannered lightweight champion has had just about enough. UFC 136 Fight Card: Ranking the Best Fights on the Card| Bleacher Report The card for Saturday night is one of the most stacked cards of the year and could very well be the best event of 2011. Aside from both title fights, we will also see Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, who rarely disappoints, as well as the always-entertaining Melvin Guillard, and the return of Chael Sonnen. UFC 136 Breakdown: The Undercard | Five Ounces of Pain If there were ever any lingering doubts as to the importance of marquee superstars in the sport of MMA, this Saturday’s UFC 136 will serve as a useful — but perhaps unfortunate — reminder. On the whole, this card is light-years superior to its PPV predecessor, UFC 135. And yet, despite two championship bouts complimented by a stellar undercard, this weekend’s event isn’t generating the kind of hype worthy of a show of this magnitude. Nevertheless, from top to bottom, UFC 136 offers arguably the most robust lineup of mouth-watering fights we’ve seen this year. Dana White Issues Challenge to Kenny Florian | 5thRound “Jose Aldo is a finisher,” White stated during Wednesday’s UFC 136 pre-fight press conference. “He comes in to either take your legs out or knock you out. He’s 100 percent the whole time he’s in there, and so is Kenny Florian. “I’m not gonna get into … everybody knows what I’ve said about Kenny in title fights. I want to see Kenny prove me wrong on this one.” Hired Hero: An MMAmania interview exclusive with UFC 136 fighter Brian Stann (part two) | MMA Mania “The fact of the matter is, I don’t care who you are. If I hit you on the chin, there’s a good chance you’re going out. Anderson possesses that same ability. He’s only a man. I don’t put any fighter on a pedestal of being unbeatable. I train with guys like Jon Jones every day who is every bit as devastating.” Hot Potato: 25 Photos of Stacey Hannant, Blonde BAMMA Bombshell | Cage Potato “Stacey Hannant is a 19-year-old British glamour model from Doncaster, England, who has recently been holding round-cards for BAMMA alongside Zoe James and Georgia Graham — and if you ask us, she might be the most stunning of the three. Check out this gallery of our favorite Stacey Hannant photos. (Things get a little NSFW near the end, so be careful.)” Vitor Belfort says he’s still the man to KO Anderson Silva, picks Overeem to beat Lesnar | LowKick Multi-time UFC Champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort shared thoughts about the variety of topics, including the potential rematch with Anderson Silva and the upcoming Heavyweight blockbuster between Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar. According to Belfort, Anderson Silva’s kick was a “lucky moment”, and that he’s still the man to KO “The Spider”. As far as Overeem vs. Lesnar goes, Belfort picks The Demolition Man to defeat Brock Lesnar en route to becoming the next UFC Heavyweight Champion. Is the state of MMA’s heavyweight division lacking in quality? | Fight Opinion November & December features two of the most high-profile heavyweight fights in the history of the sport with Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar. Outside of those individuals (alongside with Josh Barnett & Daniel Cormier), the current heavyweight picture is lackluster in comparison to other weight classes. Shogun Rua thinks Dan Henderson is the favorite at UFC 139 because he defeated Fedor | MiddleEasy “He has heavy hands indeed, he can punches you in such a way that leads you to a knockout. We’re two guys who go for the KO, it’ll be a good for the MMA fans. He doesn’t like to play it cool, he wants to fight hard, so it’ll be a great bout for the fans to watch.” “No, he’s the favorite. Dan Henderson is the favorite, he defeated Fedor.” Culinary Workers Union creates anti-UFC website 
| TheFightNerd Maintained by the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226, the website uses the acronym of UFC to stand for “Unfit For Children” instead of the “Ultimate Fighting Championship.” Dana White’s many rants are listed in detail on this page across a series of sub-categories, including “Obscenities”, “Slurs” which features many of the comments DFW directed at Loretta Hunt among others, “Cheap Shots” which focuses on remarks about random people involved in entertainment and sports, and “Other $#@%!!!” which documents rude comments that UFC fighters have said about others, including Chael Sonnen’s negative thoughts on Brazil. UFC.com traffic on the Decline? | MMA Payout So here we have three different independent analytic services that are all in one way or another indicating a decline in visitor traffic for the UFC.com website. It’s really no surprise though as these results are indicative of the kind of 2011 the UFC has had with PPV buyrate averages falling and television ratings on a bit of a decline. We can now see some decrease in the promotions Internet based audience.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, heavyweight, edgar

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Thiago Santos may have missed the start of Bellator’s second heavyweight tournament, but all hope is not lost.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, heavyweight tournament, bellator ’s, burns clash

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CHICAGO, Ill. (October 6, 2011) - When Thiago Santos and Josh Burns step into the cage this Saturday at Bellator 53, one of the two will secure their spot as the heavyweight tournament alternate. While Mike Hayes secured his spot in the heavyweight semifinals with an impressive victory of Neil Grove, it may have come at a cost as Hayes received a 60-day medical suspension from the Louisiana State Commission and may be unable to compete when the tournament resumes at Bellator 56. With Hayes' ability to continue in question, the fight between Santos and Burns, which airs LIVE and FREE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX at 9 p.m. ET from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma this Saturday could determine the fight to face Blagoi Ivanov later this month in the Semifinals of Bellator's $100,000 Heavyweight Tournament. The undercard for this event can be seen streaming LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for Bellator 53 are on sale now and can be purchased at Stubwire.com and at the Buffalo Run Box Office. Santos, who was originally slated for the Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament this past weekend, encountered visa problems in his native Brazil and was unable to compete in the tournament quarterfinals. The visa issues are now behind the former Brazilian State Jiu-Jitsu Champion and "The Big Monster" is ready for a battle at Bellator 53. "I just want to fight," Santos said. "The issues with the visa are over. I'm here now, and just ready to try to get back into this tournament and get a shot at the title." For Burns, the Detroit native and knockout artist is looking to get back to his winning ways after suffering a tough defeat at the hands of Bellator Heavyweight Semifinalist Eric Prindle at Bellator 40. Burns understands chances like these don't come around very often, and is ready to make the most out of this unique opportunity. "I think I've got a lot to prove coming into this fight, and know this is a huge chance for me to show off what I'm really capable of," said Burns. "I'm the first to admit my fight with Prindle was sloppy, but that wasn't me. I'm ready for this fight, and I'm going to show everyone why I should have been in this tournament in the first place. Thiago has never fought anyone like me, and he really doesn't know what he's in for." The Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals will take place at Bellator 56 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, and will feature Eric Prindle taking on Ron Sparks, with Blagoi Ivanov facing Hayes if he can overcome the current 60-day suspension and continue on the 29th, or the winner of Santos-Burns.

Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, tournament, burn

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UFC President Dana White announced earlier today that the UFC light heavyweight title will be on the line when the company makes their way back to Toronto in December.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, vs, lyoto machida, machida

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Is the state of the UFC Heavyweight division in good shape or in bad shape outside of the top two guys currently in the rankings?

Posted in: heavyweight, division, shape, state, quality ?.

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Just hours after multiple media outlets reported a planned championship main event between UFC light heavyweight king Jon Jones and former teammate Rashad Evans, UFC president Dana White has refuted the pairing.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, refutes jones-evans, media outlets, pairing

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] As you may or may not know by now, Gokhan Saki has stated that after his January 28 fight with Badr Hari, he'll head to boxing. While Saki didn't confirm if he would be done kickboxing for good, the thought of Gokhan Saki giving boxing a go is an interesting avenue. He revealed the news in an interview with fighthype.com and subsequently fired shots at some of boxing's best in the heavyweight division. Among many of the things he had to say, here is one quote that I examine in a different light: "Heavyweight boxing nowadays is very pitiful. The Klitschko brothers are very smart guys and very professional athletes. Nevertheless, both of them I will fight and they won't make the 12th round." Now, upon reading this quote, it's apparent that Saki wants to go straight forward into the heavyweight division. He's fought his entire career in kickboxing as an undersized heavyweight because the pinnacle of the sport, K-1, only has the open weight heavyweight division. Other divisions like -95kg and -85kg just don't have the money behind them like the K-1 World Grand Prix does (or technically did) at one point. In boxing, Saki would have an opportunity to fight in the cruiserweight division, in which the weight limit is 200 lbs, yet he seems to want to fight at heavyweight. It's not a surprising choice, as heavyweight just has that significant air about it and cruiserweight is one of the least popular weight divisions. Read More...

Posted in: heavyweight, boxing, division, gokhan saki, saki

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The October 14th event is headlined by the five-round, heavyweight championship bout between undefeated and reigning M-1 Global champion Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) and the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas Tournament heavyweight winner Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner (7-3).

Posted in: heavyweight, guram, guram vs, challenge xxvii, selection

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According to a report by Sherdog.com's Tim Leidecker, 26-year-old European prospect Attila Vegh (24-4-2) has signed with Bellator Fighting Championships to appear in the sixth season's light heavyweight tournament. The deal was confirmed by Vegh's coach and manager, Ilja Skondric. Vegh has gone on an impressive run since fighting to a draw against Hans Stringer at Nitrianska Noc Bojovnikov 3 in Slovakia in February. He knocked out Russian prospect Baga Agaev at Heroes Gate 3 in Prague, Czech Republic a little over one month later, defeated #9-ranked Scouting Report light heavyweight Marcus Vanttinen in Finland in May, and submitted hyped German prospect Jonas Billstein in his most recent performance in June. Interestingly enough, Billstein also signed with the promotion at the beginning of September, leading to a potential rematch between the two fighters within the tournament format. There is no set date when the light heavyweight tournament will begin, nor any information on whether Vegh will take a non-tournament bout under the Bellator banner before fighting in the tournament. Finnish prospect Marcus Vanttinen announced this past weekend that he has signed with Bellator, adding another name to the tournament mix. The only question now is... can Bellator produce a light heavyweight tournament comprised of fighters wanting revenge on Vegh? In reality, Baga Agaev isn't a bad choice for the tournament either. It'll be interesting to see who they pick up next.

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, prospect, tournament, vegh

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Filed under: UFCOn paper, Pat Barry looks exactly like the kind of fighter who ought to be cut from the UFC. But in a sport where meaningful stats are hard to come by, the record books only tell a fraction of the story, which is good news for "HD." Barry is 3-4 in the UFC, but he could easily be 6-1 or 5-2 or 4-3. And I don't just mean that in the purely speculative, hypothetical sense, the way the flap of a butterfly's wings could have resulted in the Nazis winning World War II. It doesn't take a gigantic mental leap to imagine a world where Barry has a winning record in the UFC. All it takes is a look at his losses and a little bit of sympathy. Fortunately for Barry, it's the way he's gone about losing that has earned him the sympathy, which explains why he'll likely keep his job with the UFC at least a little while longer. Consider Barry's first three defeats in the Octagon. After a successful debut at UFC 92, he dropped Tim Hague in the opening seconds of their UFC 98 bout, only to get carried away in search of the finish and ending up in a guillotine choke. He rebounded with a knockout of Antoni Hardonk, then broke his most valuable appendages on Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic's head before succumbing to a sloppy rear naked choke. Then, of course, came his infamous near-knockout (or, if you prefer, actual knockout followed by brilliant recovery) of Cheick Kongo in a bout that ended with one of the most spectacular comebacks in MMA history. Unfortunately for Barry, it also ended with him on his back, looking up at the lights. You tweak one or two things in each of those three losses -- a more patient attack, sturdier bones, the lack of a miraculous recovery -- and Barry might be one the most successful UFC heavyweights of the past two years. In fact, the only one of his losses that you can't explain away with some minor blunder or bizarre misfortune is his most recent loss via submission to Stefan Struve this past Saturday night. That one was utterly and purely Barry's fault, and this time inexperience and/or hyper-aggression weren't plausible scapegoats. Not that it should matter, at least in theory. There are plenty of UFC fighters who never caught many breaks but still got cut once the losses piled up. Regardless of whether Barry could have won those fights -- or even should have -- he didn't. And in the end, isn't that what counts? Judging by UFC president Dana White's reaction, the answer is: sometimes, but not always. Following the UFC on Versus 6 press conference, White explained that he was in no hurry to cut Barry because he "always brings it." In other words, he's a kickboxer with an exciting style and an engaging personality, plus fans like him, so he gets a little more slack. It's the Dan Hardy rule. Most guys can't lose three fights in a row and remain on the UFC roster (some, like Gerald Harris, can't even lose one). But if the UFC likes what you bring to the table, you might get a fourth and fifth chance to halt a losing skid. It's one more reminder that this sport isn't just about winning and losing -- it's also about selling tickets. In some cases, that results in some truly forgettable missteps (see also: Kimbo Slice). But in Barry's case, it makes for a welcome reprieve. Sure, he has some gaping holes in his game and he'll never be UFC champion -- or, most likely, even a serious contender -- but he's talented and he's fun. Even when (especially when?) he loses it makes for a memorable night, and he's always competitive, especially when the UFC is kind enough to keep him away from the heavyweight division's better grapplers. If Barry were a wrestler with poor striking rather than a striker with poor submissions defense, he'd be cut by now. It wouldn't matter how much fun he was to interview or how narrow his defeats were. In that sense, keeping guys like Barry and Hardy around promotes a certain kind of fighting, and it's the kind the UFC thinks it can most effectively sell to fans. But Barry (and, to some extent, Hardy as well) is a case where this system actually feels just. He's not a bad fighter; he's just unlucky. He needs work on his ground game, but at least he never bores you. Even with a 3-4 record in the organization, he's the best losing heavyweight in the UFC. Of course, if he doesn't want to find out just how much slack the UFC is willing to cut him, he'd better pull to .500 very, very soon. Winning may not be everything, but it's still the most noticeable thing. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, kind, loss, heavyweight, barry

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submitted by mhtfc [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, mhtfc

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At the Verizon Center last night (Oct. 1) at UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson," heavyweight Stefan Struve took some time away from his duties, namely submitting Pat Barry in the co-main event of the evening, to have a good old fashioned staredown with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Jones is listed at 6'4'' and 205-pounds while Struve comes in at 6'11'' and weighed in at 261-pounds. This should only serve to foster the belief that "Bones" is fighting below is natural weight class. He's the light heavyweight king for now but is he also a future heavyweight champion?

Posted in: ufc, jone, heavyweight, co-main event, struve

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Top Lightweight contender Gray Maynard, who will challenge division Champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136, stops by the ESPN Sport Science Lab, where he is the subject of multiple strength tests. In addition to measuring a grip more powerful than that of an NFL lineman, "The Bully" ascends a rope using only his upper body, which then translates into punching power beyond that of previously tested Heavyweights.

Posted in: heavyweight, espn, nfl lineman, maynard punches, strength tests

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Dutch heavyweight uses physical advantages to secure a victory in UFC on Versus 6 heavyweight showdown.

Posted in: loss, heavyweight, advantage, barry, dutch heavyweight

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Filed under: BellatorMike Hayes, Blagoi Ivanov, Eric Prindle and Ron Sparks advanced to the semifinals of the Bellator Fighting Championships heavyweight tournament on Saturday night with victories at Bellator 52 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In the main event of the evening, Hayes won a split decision to upset Neil Grove, who advanced to the finals of last year's Bellator heavyweight tournament. Two judges scored the fight 29-28 for Hayes, and one judge scored it 29-28 for Grove. Ivanov bloodied up Zak Jensen's face in the first round of their fight, and choked him into unconsciousness with a guillotine in the second round. Jensen had to step into the fight at the last minute because Ivanov's original opponent, the Brazilian Thiago Santos, couldn't get a visa to make the fight. Jensen is probably wishing he hadn't been able to fight Ivanov either. Prindle beat Abe Wagner by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 29-28. It was a sloppy mess of a heavyweight brawl, with both men swinging wildly early and then gassing out late. The win improves Prindle to 8-1 in his MMA career. Sparks destroyed Mark Holata with a couple of huge left hooks that knocked him down and a couple more ground strikes to finish him off. The whole fight took just 1 minute, 24 seconds. The win improves Sparks' MMA record to 8-0, and he's finished seven of his opponents in the first round. As always for Bellator, the question will be whether the heavyweight tournament can gain any traction among MMA fans, who often overlook Bellator in favor of the UFC. If there's anyone in this tournament who can capture the attention of MMA fans, it's the hard-hitting Sparks. If he can win this tournament and keep looking the way he looked on Saturday night, he could become the kind of fighter MMA fans make a point of seeking out. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, bellator, mma, heavyweight, tournament

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When Stefan Struve and Pat Barry meet in the center of the cage tonight (Sat., Oct. 1, 2011) in the co-main event of UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" in Washington D.C., it won't be a freakshow fight. It will just look like one. That's because the tallest man in the heavyweight division, Struve (6'11'') will take on the shortest man in the heavyweight division, Barry (5'11''). The match-up itself is even enough. Both men are kickboxers with knockout power coming off explosive losses in their last bouts. And neither man looks particularly like a future title contender, with inconsistency being the bane of both of their mixed martial arts existences.  But that doesn't mean this won't be a nice little slobberknocker to entertain us before the championship fight right after it. Struve may have been on the cusp of the division elite after consecutive stoppage wins over Christian Morecraft and Sean McCorkle, respectively, but Travis Browne emphatically put an end to all that jazz by superman punching him into oblivion just this past May in Las Vegas. It marked the second time in four fights "The Skyscraper" had been stopped in such brutal fashion and raised quite a few questions over the 23-year-olds potential longevity swimming amongst the sharks at 265-pounds. Cold but fair. The same can be said for Barry, who possesses a skill set that pleases both the fans and his employers but doesn't lend itself to the smoothest path to victory. Indeed, the last time we saw "HD," he was going balls out for a finish on Cheick Kongo before eating a couple right hands that put his lights out. No one wants to be on the receiving end of one of the greatest highlight reel knockouts in UFC history. At 32-years-old, it's fair to wonder just how far Barry can go in the current climate of the fight game. What is his place, exactly? He's better than a gatekeeper but not quite a contender. A lot of questions floating around without definitive answers for these two fighters. Until tonight.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, heavyweight division, barry, struve

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The Bellator 52 Heavyweight Tournament quarterfinals are a go for this Saturday night on MTV2 and the EPIX network at 9 p.m. ET. Complementing the main, a robust undercard will also stream live and free on Spike.com beginning at 7.pm ET. The preliminary card features exciting newcomers Genair da Silva (10-4), the featherweight who nearly upset Marlon Sandro in his debut, and sizzling new acquisition Cosmo Alexandre (0-0). da Silva, more commonly known as "Junior PQD", is a Luta Livre stylist and skilled kickboxer from Brazil's Renovacao Fight Team. He's paired with Bryan Goldsby (13-14), who holds a win over Jeff Curran at Bellator 14. Cosmo "Good Boy" Alexandre is a decorated Muay Thai practitioner, It's Showtime champion and King's Cup tournament winner. In his intriguing MMA debut, the fierce striker takes on another first-timer in Josh Quayhagen. In the main card headliner, two competitors from last year's brackets return in the Neil Grove (11-3-1)  vs. Mike Hayes (15-4-1) match. Grove barreled his way to the Season 3 finals where he was submitted by current champion Cole Konrad. The loss was Grove's first since a Mike Ciesnolevicz heel hook at UFC 95 in 2009. Along with one draw, Grove has won four of his last six -- all by first round TKO -- over the likes of former UFC heavyweight Eddie Sanchez, fellow tournament entry Zak Jensen and Bellator heavyweight Alexey Oleinik. Mike "300" Hayes kicked off his career with seven straight wins before hitting a rough five-fight skid where he lost three with one draw. Hayes was eliminated by Oleinik last season in a tight split decision -- his only defeat in his last eight -- but has finished three straight opponents in the Rumble on the Ridge promotion since. Read on for details on the remaining heavyweight competitors. SBN coverage of Bellator 52 Undefeated slugger Ron Sparks (7-0) squares off with Mark Holata (11-2) in the second heavyweight quarterfinal. Sparks has slaughtered all seven opponents in the first round (5 TKOs, 1 sub) except for the venerable Johnathan Ivey, whom he defeated by decision. Sparks caught a keylock on Vince Lucero in his last outing at Bellator 43 and knocked out Gregory Maynard at Bellator 30, his promotional debut. Sparks is a visceral knockout artist who's worth a watch. Holata won his first three MMA fights, dropped consecutive bouts to John Orr and former UFC heavyweight Darrill Schoonover and has now pieced together eight straight wins. His current roll includes a first round knockout of Shawn Jordan (the Greg Jackson trained heavyweight that just submitted Lavar Johnson on the Strikeforce Challengers 19 card) and a decision over former UFC heavyweight Carmelo Marrero. The third bracket pits Blagoi Ivanov (4-0), who made a name for himself by defeating Fedor Emelianenko in Combat Sambo, against TUF 10 contestant Zak Jensen (10-7). Barring a split-decision over Pride vet Kazuyuki Fujita in Sengoku, Ivanov has finished his remaining three opponents in the first round (2 TKO, 1 sub). Ivanov, a southpaw,  brings a formidable set of striking, clinch work and grappling to the table and has spent time training with Randy Couture. Jensen was last seen in a mutual bashing with Neil Grove at Bellator 47, which he lost by TKO. The defeat was Jensen's fourth in his last five. Ivanov was initially slated to face prospect Thiago Santos but the Brazilian was delayed with "visa issues" according to Bellator's Twitter. The final tournament pairing aligns Abe Wagner (10-4) vs. Eric Prindle (7-1). Wagner is another TUF 10 contestant who lost to stifling wrestler Jon Madsen by decision in his first fight. He drew some attention when he knocked out Tim Sylvia in the first at Titan Fighting Championships 16. In his last nine, Wagner's only two losses are to UFC heavyweights Travis Browne and Aaron Rosa. Eric Prindle is a gargantuan heavyweight who cuts a significant amount of weight to hit the 265-pound limit. His only loss is a 2008 submission to former King of the Cage Super-Heavyweight champion Jimmy Ambriz.     Poll Winner of this season's heavyweight tournament? Neil Grove Mike Hayes Blagoi Ivanov Zak Jensen Abe Wagner Eric Prindle Ron Sparks Mark Holata   0 votes | Results

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, grove, jensen

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The last time we saw Antonio Silva he was kissing canvas at the Strikeforce "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" event after his fellow heavyweight, Daniel Cormier, knocked him clean out inside the first round. "Bigfoot" was just one fight away from advancing to the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix after having defeated the legendary Fedor Emelianenko earlier this year. His knockout loss to Cormier, just the second of his career, leaves him in a precarious position. What’s next for the 6'4'' 265-pound behemoth? A potential move to a bigger playground with a lot more dangerous playmates, that's what. This according to Silva’s manager, Alex Davis, who tells Tatame he hopes to see his client bang it out with the big boys of the UFC real soon: "He has a contract with Strikeforce, but Strikeforce is now controlled by the UFC and we're watching Strike force fighters going to the UFC all the time. UFC's heavyweight division is big, but they could have even more, and I'm sure Bigfoot will be in the UFC real soon. There's a lot of great fights for him inside the Octagon, and he'll shine there." Now that the heavyweight tournament has its final two participants (Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett), Alistair Overeem has jumped ship to the UFC, and Fedor was released, are there any good fights left for Silva in the Strikeforce ranks? The UFC has slowly but surely been absorbing many of the top talents from its smaller sister organization, an indication that leads many to believe the promotion is dying a slow but certain death. Does "Bigfoot" have the chops to find success against the best of the best in the UFC? Or does he even deserve a call up to the big show given the result of his last fight? One thing is certain: if and when the move happens, there will be no shortage of opponents for him. Who would you like to see welcome him into the fold?

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, antonio silva

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All participants in the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament made weight today. The event takes place at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The main card will air on MTV2, with HD being offered on Epix, and the preliminary bouts being aired on Spike.com. Each participant will be vying for the $100,000 prize and a shot at heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. The heavyweight tournament is headlined by season three champion Neil Grove (pictured) who will be facing Mike “300″ Hayes. Grove has powerful striking and utilizes his 6’6″ frame well to land power shots at range. On the ground, Grove is not afraid to throw strikes off his back and loves to unload with powerful ground and pound from the top. His main weaknesses are exposing himself to takedowns with wild strikes and a submission defense that is based more on powering out rather than technique. His opponent, Mike Hayes will look to expose both. Though as Hayes fight with Alexy Olenik showed, just being on top does not guarentee a win. Hayes will have to be cautiously active with the big South African fighter. Also on the card, are a pair of TUF season 10 fighters in Abe Wagner and the often bullied (on the show) Zak Jensen. Wagner has gone 3-2 since the show, with his only losses being to current UFC fighters Aaron Rosa and heavyweight prospect Travis Browne, and a notable 32-second win over former UFC champion Tim Sylvia. Wagner faces former US Army boxer Eric Prindle Saturday night in a match-up that should be a stand up war. Jensen has been mediocre since his troubled stint on TUF, going 3-4, but his last fight against Neil Grove was obviously impressive enough to earn a shot in the tournament after an injury to Thiago “Big Monster” Santos. Both fighters put on an exciting but less than technical display at Bellator 47 this past July. Jensen’s opponent is one of two potential darkhorses in the bracket in Blagoi Ivanov. Blagoi Ivanov is largely known as the man who dethroned Fedor Emelianenko en route to winning the World Sambo Championships in 2008. Ivanov entered MMA soon after and despite being undefeated, has had a rather odd route to the US. In only his second professional fight he and noted grappler Ilir Latifi broke the ring in their Bulgarian hosted fight and in his third fight Ivanov broke both his hands on former PRIDE fighter Kazuyuki “Ironhead” Fujita’s head. After having to be sidelined for a year to recover, Ivanov is 2-0 since returning. Expect aggressive and the looping power strikes native to sambo from Ivanov with a strong ground attack. The final darkhorse is powerhouse Ron “the Monster” Sparks. Sparks is a throwback heavyweight with exceptional power that makes up for sometimes lacking technique. Sparks has one punch knock out power both on his fett and on the ground. His aggression usually puts fighters on their heels and often out of position. If his fight with Mark Holata gets past the first round I will be surprised. Main Card (MTV2, Epix for HD) Neil Grove (265.5) vs. Mike Hayes (228) Blagoi Ivanov (244) vs. Zak Jensen (265) Abe Wagner (247.5) vs. Eric Prindle (265.5) Mark Holata (258) vs. Ron Sparks (263) Preliminary Card (Spike.com) *Genair da Silva (150.8) vs. Bryan Goldsby (144.4) Josh Quayhagen (156) vs. *Cosmo Alexander (157) Liron Wilson (227.4) vs. Justin Frazier (263) Matt Van Buren (204.2) vs. *Nick Nichols (213.6) *Each fighter has two hours from first weigh-in to make weight or face fine/cancellation. Many of the prelims were put together on short notice.  

Posted in: fight, fighter, heavyweight, vs, ivanov

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Bellator Fighting Championships moved one step closer to finding a No. 1 contender for Cole Konrad’s heavyweight title, as all eight Season 5 heavyweight tournament participants hit their contracted weights

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, weight, point, heavyweight quarterfinalists

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The new ProElite has locked down the details for their second card since re-emerging on the scene. The show will take place at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL on November 5th, and will feature two heavyweight bouts on top. MMA Fighting has the 411: The main event is expected to be a heavyweight bout between former UFC champion Tim Sylvia and three-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Pedro Rizzo. Additionally, fellow former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski will fight Travis Fulton, regarded as the busiest fighter in MMA history with more than 300 career fights. Also expected on the card is the start of an 8-man heavyweight tournament featuring Mark Ellis, and bouts featuring Reagan Penn and Tara LaRosa. Promoter T. Jay Thompson says that a fourth meeting between Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski "isn't in their plans right now, but could be down the road". They are negotiating to have the fight broadcasted on HDNet right now, but nothing is finalized as of yet. The show had been scheduled to take place in Atlantic City, but scheduling conflicts forced them to find a new venue, which just happens to be very close to where Tim Sylvia lives and works as a police officer.

Posted in: ufc, bout, heavyweight, arlovski, sylvia

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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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Man, Bellator is seriously churning out the tournaments, eh?  Thus far the organization’s fifth season has brought us new fields of welterweights, middleweights and bantamweights, and this Saturday night it will be the heavyweights.  Next week, it’ll simply be guys named “Joe”, and the week after that it’ll be a tournament of fancy coffee drinkers.  But anyway, the heavyweight quarterfinals.  They’re on deck.  Last time around we got to witness the pugilistic stylings of Neil Grove smothered by the affectionate grasp of wrestler and human blanket Cole Konrad, so now that Konrad is the champ the competitors are vying for a shot at usurping him.  Who are these dudes?  And do any of them stand a chance of avoiding the reigning Bellator heavyweight champ’s tender cuddles?  The answer to the second question is likely “no”, but read on for a more detailed breakdown to question number one. -Neil Grove – He hits hard, which is a plus, and he’s fought in the UFC and Cage Rage – the latter proving to be where he’s done some of his best work.  I like Grove’s odds in making it to the end of this tournament, as he’s got just enough explosiveness to be exciting and just enough experience to know when to use it.  Unfortunately, if he wins, Konrad is going to exploit his comparative wrestling weakness by making “sweet lurv” to him once more. -Mike Hayes – Hailing from the Northwest circuit, Hayes is durable as hell and can hit hard like Grove (he once KO’d UFC vet Fabiano Scherner).  Facing Grove in the quarterfinals means we’re going to see either a sudden smashing or a long, protracted battle that leaves a dozen spectators dead from collateral damage.  But don’t worry, you and I are watching this thing go down from the safety of our homes, so we’ll be safe. -Thiago Santos – Santos is a big Brazilian monster.  In fact, his nickname is “Big Monster”, mostly because he used to hide under beds and eat children in the middle of the night, but he has fought in MMA too.  His one loss came to Alexey Oleinik via submission at an event in Russia, yet he’s beaten dudes by sub himself – as well as knockout – so watch for him to lumber around a lot and be somewhat dangerous everywhere. -Blagoi Ivanov – This is all you need to know about this Bulgarian: he beat Fedor Emelianenko at a sambo tournament  back in 2008.  Enough said. -Abe Wagner – Hey, remember TUF 10 when Kimbo Slice was on the SpikeTV show?  Yeah, Wagner was there, too.  He lost early on, and has since been toiling in the minor leagues.  However, he did land the money shot by KOing Tim Sylvia in 32 seconds (maybe it was a questionable stoppage, but so what?), so the dude has got that going for him. -Eric Prindle – Prindle kicked ass while boxing in the Army (FYI: the Army has internal boxing tournaments), so it’s safe to say he has a firm grasp of the mechanics of a jab, cross and hook.  He is pretty green, though, and his lone loss in eight fights has been via submission to Jimmy Ambriz – and Ambriz is not a sub guy.  That sort of speaks volumes as to where Prindle is at on the food chain. -Ron Sparks – Sparks needed less than a minute to score a knockout in his Bellator debut, and the heavy hitter knows at least enough about grappling to avoid Jonathan Ivey’s infamous rolling kneebar assault.  But his perfect 7-0 record means he’s a bit lacking in the experience department, and that could be an issue if he makes it past quarterfinal opponent Mark Holata – which isn’t exactly a given.  -Mark Holata – In two Bellator outings Holata has punched his way to convincing victories.  He’s taking a step up in competition by competing in this tournament, and he’ll likely have trouble when faced with some of the more salty veterans.  But it should be fun watching him slug it out until then, right?

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, grove, ’ll

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UFC 135 promised to be an excellent show. Headlined by Jon Jones’ light heavyweight title defense against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, the card also featured a compelling co-main event as welterweight legend Matt Hughes locked horns with former number one contender Josh Koscheck, with the addition of guaranteed fireworks in the form of Nate Diaz against Takanori Gomi. The main event delivered, as Jones put on yet another scintillating display that saw him submit Jackson with a fourth round rear-naked choke. For their part, Hughes and Koscheck engaged in an entertaining five-minute affair which saw the veteran hold his own and at times, get the better of Koscheck, before eventually being forced to succumb to his younger opponent’s power. Diaz and Gomi didn’t quite replicate the epic battle between “The Fireball Kid” and Diaz’s older brother from 2007, but the bout marked Nate Diaz’s most complete performance to date as he outclassed the Japanese star from start to finish. So, with the card’s three showcase fights producing some terrific action, why isn’t the show being heralded a little more enthusiastically by fans and pundits? For that, we have the heavyweights to blame. Or perhaps more accurately, we have Dana White and Joe Silva to blame. Because one mediocre heavyweight fight is never enough, the usually astute duo somehow saw fit to put two of them on the main card. Worse yet, they had them take place back-to-back. Match-making gaffes are  not something the UFC brass is known for, but this was a rare case where White and Silva got it conspicuously wrong. Having two consecutive heavyweight fights at altitude, neither of which featuring a top level fighter, proved to be a miscalculation. “This fight is not what I expected”, tweeted Dana White during Travis Browne‘s pedestrian — but victorious — effort against Rob Broughton. Browne was coming off a sensational superman punch knockout of Stefan Struve. As such, it is only fair — and frankly deserved — for the Team Jackson product to get a spot on the main card. However, White’s tweet, honest though it was, is almost misinformed. While a heavyweight fight is always one strike away from a spectacular finish, each passing second makes said finish less likely, and therefore increases the chances of a lackluster, and at times quite tedious affair. That is what makes any bout containing mid-level heavyweights a gamble: it could end quickly and violently, but it could just as likely turn into a dull contest that doesn’t offer much in terms of actual skill. For every Browne vs. Struve, there is a Browne vs. Broughton. However, for every Ben Rothwell versus Mark Hunt, there is an embarrassment. If Browne’s placement on the main card was well-earned, the aforementioned duo’s spot is anything but. It is somewhat aggravating for far more skilled fighters — not to mention more relevant in their divisions — such as Takeya Mizugaki and Cole Escovedo to be stuck on the prelims, while a triple threat match of Hunt vs. Rothwell vs. Fatigue takes place on the main portion of a card featuring one of the biggest main events of the year. If the UFC was lucky enough to draw any first time viewers, exposing them to two professional fighters having to lean down and rest their hands on their knees mid-fight does not exactly help them formulate the best of first impressions. A bout featuring two iron chinned heavyweights with average skill sets and no cardio was a train wreck waiting to happen, as both fighters’ toughness meant a finish was unlikely, and their gas tanks meant things would immediately go south following the opening five-minute frame. The bigger blunder was actually having Hunt and Rothwell follow another heavyweight fight without recognizing the risk of having the viewer suffer through thirty minutes of dejection. The preferential treatment the heavyweight division receives is especially puzzling considering the consistency with which lighter weight classes keep on delivering. The WEC merger seems almost unfortunate in hindsight, when fighters like Joseph Benavidez, Scott Jorgensen, and the aforementioned Mizugaki are consistently reduced to the prelim portion (and sure, Mizugaki and Escovedo did end up making the main card, but that was never a given). In addition to the fact that pound-for-pound, the average bantamweight or featherweight is almost always going to be more skilled than the Ben Rothwells of the world, someone like Joseph Benavidez is a top 3 fighter in his division, which makes it preposterous that his bout with Eddie Windeland couldn’t make it to the main card of a UFC Fight Night event. If Benavidez wins his way to another title shot — a feat that is totally within the realm of possibility — the casual fan could very well be completely unfamiliar with him when it’s time to compete for the title. After all, there is a reason this weekend’s bantamweight title fight will given away for free; which in all fairness, is a smart move. While I’m as excited as anyone for the upcoming mega-bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos, the quality of heavyweights beyond the absolute elite fighters is simply poor. It is time the UFC starts treating them as such. But then again, the end of the Rothwell/Hunt fight saw UFC commentator Mike Goldberg exclaim: “What a fight…wow!” Wow indeed Goldie.Similar Posts: Jones and Jackson have words during the staredown, all UFC 135 fighters make weight Jones stops Jackson in dominant fashion, Koscheck finishes Hughes at UFC 135 Jon Jones lives up to hype with fourth frame submission of Quinton Jackson The Scorecard – UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage UFC 135 Breakdown: The Undercard Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, heavyweight, card

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Filed under: News Venue issues have forced Pro Elite into a change for its November show. Sources close to the promotion have confirmed to MMA Fighting that Pro Elite, in its second incarnation after folding up shop in late 2008, will move a planned Nov. 5 event from Atlantic City, N.J., to the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. An official announcement from the promotion is expected by week's end. The main event is expected to be a heavyweight bout between former UFC champion Tim Sylvia and three-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Pedro Rizzo. Additionally, fellow former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski will fight Travis Fulton, regarded as the busiest fighter in MMA history with more than 300 career fights. The event was originally targeted for Nov. 12 at the Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, but was moved to Nov. 5. Logistical trouble with Resorts caused the promotion to look elsewhere, and sources said when additional venues in Atlantic City didn't work out, the decision was made to move to the Quad Cities area in western Illinois. In addition to Moline, Pro Elite officials considered the Target Center in Minneapolis as a host venue for the show. The event now will take place Nov. 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, which has hosted MMA events in the past - including Adrenaline MMA, the promotion started by MMA promoter and manager Monte Cox several years ago. Cox has been informally consulting with Pro Elite. Both the original Nov. 12 date and the new date of Nov. 5 are up against UFC events. In addition to the main and co-main events on Nov. 5, sources told MMA Fighting that Reagan Penn, brother of former UFC champion BJ Penn, will fight on the card, as will highly regarded women's 125-pounder Tara LaRosa. Pro Elite reformed earlier this year and hosted a show in Honolulu last month that included Arlovski, Reagan Penn and Kendall Grove. Sylvia and Arlovski on the same card sets up the possibility for a future meeting between the two, which would be their fourth fight. Arlovski won their first bout, taking the UFC interim heavyweight title at UFC 51. Sylvia then took the belt from Arlovski with a first-round TKO at UFC 59 and defended it at UFC 61 three months later. Though a published report says Slyvia and Arlovski will meet on the Nov. 5 show, Pro Elite VP of Event Operations T. Jay Thompson confirmed to MMA Fighting that Slyvia-Arlovski will not take place on that day. Additional sources told MMA Fighting it will be Rizzo meeting Slyvia - and that Sylvia-Arlovski IV is not in the promotion's current plans, but could be targeted down the road. It's a fight Arlovski, 1-2 against Sylvia, has wanted for some time. Sylvia (29-7) has rebounded after a rough stretch that saw him lose four of five fights. He lost his heavyweight title to Randy Couture at UFC 68. He then beat Brandon Vera, but followed that with a loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira that ended his run in the UFC. He moved on to Affliction's short-lived MMA promotion and suffered a quick submission to Fedor Emelianenko. Then came a 9-second knockout loss to pro boxer Ray Mercer that will likely be the biggest stain on his record. Since then, though, he has won five of six over the last two years, with all his wins by stoppage - and all at super heavyweight. Rizzo (19-9) has not fought since a July 2010 win over Ken Shamrock for Impact FC in Sydney. Rizzo has fought some of the sports heavyweight legends, including Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett and Arlovski. In 2001, he twice lost to Couture challenging for the UFC heavyweight title. Since leaving the UFC in 2003, Rizzo's appearances have been more sporadic - with just nine fights in nearly eight years. Arlovski (16-9) snapped out of a four-fight skid with a win over Ray Lopez at Pro Elite's show last month. Prior to that, Arlovski lost to Emelianeko, Brett Rogers, Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitonov, the latter three for Strikeforce. Fulton is an Iowa-based fighter with a career record of 247-48-10, according to most databases, though it is believed that 10 of those losses came in kickboxing competitions and not in MMA. Fulton fought 13 times in 2010, but has only fought twice in 2011 - going 2-0. The majority of Fulton's losses have come against future UFC fighters like Ben Rothwell, Forrest Griffin, Travis Wiuff, Rich Franklin and Evan Tanner. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, heavyweight, arlovski, nov

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Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Rankings, Light HeavyweightsThe UFC's light heavyweight division has been so talented for so long that it's been impossible in the last few years for anyone to stay on top for long. Rampage Jackson looked like a force when he took the belt from Chuck Liddell, but it wasn't long before Forrest Griffin took the belt from Rampage. Rashad Evans then took the belt from Griffin, but Evans lost the belt in his first title defense -- at what was supposed to be the dawn of the Lyoto Machida Era. Except that Machida promptly lost his belt to Shogun Rua. Now we have Jon Jones at the top of the division, however, and I think the belt is going to stay in place for a long time. Jones has absolutely obliterated both Jackson and Rua, and now he'll get another former champion in Evans -- with, I believe, similar results. So as we list the top light heavyweights in mixed martial arts, we're looking at an extremely talented division. But a division with one unique talent that stands far above the rest. Top 10 Light Heavyweights in MMA (Editor's note: The fighter's ranking the last time we did light heavyweights are in parentheses). 1. Jon Jones (1): There was never a moment during Jones' victory over Jackson at UFC 135 that I even thought Jones was in the slightest bit of trouble. Jackson is a great fighter who appeared to be in good shape and ready for a big fight, but he simply wasn't on Jones's level. I don't think anyone is. 2. Rashad Evans (2): Evans is finally close to the title shot that he's been waiting on for more than a year, but I don't think he has much of a chance of getting his belt back. Against Jackson, Jones did a great job of using his long legs to effectively fight at a distance, and if anything Jones will have an even greater reach advantage over Evans. It's hard to see anywhere that Evans has an advantage over Jones. That title fight will not go well for Evans. 3. Shogun Rua (3): Shogun has a very big fight ahead of him against Dan Henderson at UFC 139, and if he wins that he'll have a strong case that he's the No. 2 light heavyweight in MMA. But given how thoroughly Jones beat Rua, it's almost impossible to see the UFC giving Rua another shot at the title. 4. Lyoto Machida (4): Of all the light heavyweights in the sport, Machida is probably the one whose unorthodox stand-up style would present the greatest threat to Jones. If Machida wins his next fight, he'd make a lot of sense as an opponent for Jones in 2012. 5. Rampage Jackson (5): There have been times in Jackson's career when it was fair to question his motivation and preparation, but UFC 135 was not one of those times. Jackson was well prepared for the Jones fight, he's just nowhere near as good as Jones. 6. Dan Henderson (6): Henderson has left his Strikeforce light heavyweight title behind and will return to the Octagon to face Rua. A victory over Rua would give Henderson an excellent claim that he deserves a title shot against Jones, although as much respect as I have for Henderson I have an extremely hard time envisioning any way Henderson wins that fight. 7. Forrest Griffin (7): Griffin fights nothing but a who's who of the all-time greats in the sport: His last seven fights consist of two battles with Shogun sandwiched around bouts against Rampage, Evans, Anderson Silva, Tito Ortiz and Rich Franklin. The biggest question for Griffin now is whether he wants to keep doing battle with the sport's truly elite, or if now that he's in his 30s and a husband and a father, he'd rather take a step down in quality of competition. Griffin will always be a fan favorite and a draw for the UFC, but he may no longer be prepared to fight in the upper echelon of the UFC's light heavyweight division. 8. Rafael Cavalcante (10): Feijao looked very good in his victory over Yoel Romero Palacio on the September Strikeforce card. As long as he's with Strikeforce, Feijao's options for big fights are limited, but in the UFC there are any number of big fights for him at 205 pounds. MMA fans who just want to see the best fight the best should hope one of those big fights gets booked soon. 9. Phil Davis (8): The 27-year-old Davis was a great college wrestler who's a lot of fun to watch, and he seems destined to take on Jones some day. The problem is that for as young and talented as Davis is, Jones is even younger and more talented. 10. Thiago Silva (9): We're finally getting close to the end of Silva's one-year suspension for taking performance-enhancing substances. I hope he's stayed in shape and comes back hungry, because he's a 28-year-old who's a good enough striker that he can be a threat to anyone. He should be involved in some big light heavyweight fights in 2012. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, heavyweight, light

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Fedor Emelianenko fought Antonio Silva on Feb. 12, 2011, under the Strikeforce banner as part of the promotion's heavyweight grand prix tournament. But had M-1 Global not been so "difficult to deal with," there's a chance they could have met for the EliteXC heavyweight title three years prior to that fateful winter night in New Jersey. That's according to former EliteXC head honcho Gary Shaw, who tells Fight Hub TV that "no fighter" was worth the money M-1 was asking for the former PRIDE champion's services. "I did try several times to get Fedor to come to EliteXC, but the numbers they were asking, there's no fighter who was worth that. I wasn't willing to meet their demands. I thought M-1 was very difficult to deal with. It wasn't only Fedor. They wanted to be the co-promoters and the managers and they wanted you to put on so many Russian fighters of theirs on every show. Nobody's worth that price. Maybe if Fedor would have had the right management from the beginning, he might have been in the UFC and been a huge star." More from Shaw, including his thoughts on "The Last Emperor's" release, after the jump. Emelianenko opted to join Affliction MMA and Silva went to Strikeforce (with a brief layover in Sengoku) following the dissolution of ProElite. When the two heavyweights finally did collide, "Bigfoot" emerged victorious after doctor's deemed the Russian cyborg unfit to continue. But would the results have been any different in 2008? We can only speculate -- and we should -- in the comments section below. Sound off!

Posted in: heavyweight, fedor, elitexc, fedor emelianenko, shaw

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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

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Recapping the key stories from Saturday’s event IN A WORD: WOW Jon Jones is awesome. The 24-year-old UFC light heavyweight picked apart Quinton Jackson on Saturday night, never approaching danger while landing with great frequency. Early in the fourth, Jones fluidly finished, taking Jackson’s back and sinking in a deep rear naked choke. It’s the second consecutive dominant performance against a proven, veteran talent for Jones, coming six months after his destruction of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. With the ease that he’s running through experienced fighters, it’s easy to see why most pundits believe Jones is at the start of a lengthy title reign. NO COMPARISON In sports, we’re always looking to make comparisons between current talents and the greats that preceded them. Mixed martial arts is no different, though Jones makes that effort very difficult. Who do you compare him to? Who else has come into the sport and risen to the top of their division in three years, dominating every time out, all before their 25th birthday? There is no way to estimate how good Jones can become. He’s still growing, physically and as a fighter, and with the rapid ascension we’ve seen so far, it’s not an exaggeration to say that he could become one of the best fighters in the history of this sport. IT’S HARD TO SAY GOODBYE Matt Hughes doesn’t want to say the word retire. He doesn’t even want to be the one who makes the decision to hang up his gloves. Following his knockout loss to Josh Koscheck, Hughes said he’s wasn’t retiring, asking instead to be put on a shelf until he can sit down with Dana White and company to discuss his future. Later in the night, White said Saturday was probably the end of the line for the former welterweight champion. Like always, Randy Couture is an anomaly. When “The Natural” walked away on his own terms earlier in the year without hesitation, he did something many of his contemporaries could not. Chuck Liddell needed to be nudged out of the cage, and it appears Hughes will need the same not-so-subtle push now. KOSCHECK IN THE BENAVIDEZ ZONE Joseph Benavidez is one of the very best bantamweights in the world, but because he’s lost twice to divisional champ Dominick Cruz, he’s stuck in a state of limbo. At least he’s got someone to hang out with. Koscheck is in the same position; a tremendous welterweight who has twice been beaten by Georges St-Pierre. Because of the depth in the division and his track record against the champion, Koscheck will have to accept a high-level gatekeeper position within the welterweight ranks. He started slow against Hughes, but found his range and rhythm late, connecting on a collection of heavy overhand bombs that finished the Hall of Famer. It was an impressive performance and indicative of what he’s capable of doing to anyone in the division not named St-Pierre. MAYBE HEAVYWEIGHTS IN DENVER ISN’T A GOOD IDEA To be fair, no one really expected either of the heavyweight tilts on the UFC 135 main card to make it out of the first round. If they did, the second would surely be the end of the line. As it turned out, both extended to the full 15 minutes, and it wasn’t pretty. Mark Hunt and Ben Rothwell looked like zombies by the time the third round started, and Travis Browne simply maintained top position over the final five minutes in his decision win over Rob Broughton. The altitude difference that comes with fighting in Denver impacts everyone. Maybe having two pairs of mammoth heavyweights fighting in the thin air isn’t a good idea moving forward.

Posted in: jone, hughe, heavyweight, koscheck, division

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Last night (Sept. 24) in the main event of UFC 135, Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones swiftly sidestepped nearly every strike from his hapless opponent, Quinton Jackson, on the way to a dominant submission victory.  He did as he pleased, offering up a wide variety of punches, kicks, elbows and takedowns, and he had a gay old time while doing so. Simply put, "Bones" was like a cat, playing with his mouse. We rarely see such effective offense mixed with a seemingly impenetrable defense, at least not in the light heavyweight division. No, you'd have to go down to the 185-pound weight class for that ... specifically the division champion, Anderson Silva. "The Spider" has 14 UFC victories and hardly more than a few bumps and scratches to show for it. Likewise, Jones has now run through each one of the nine Octagon opponents while barely breaking a sweat. Naturally, fans can't help but clamor for the two to square off against each other. Let's just go ahead and settle the pound-for-pound debate right now. There's just one problem with that, as told by UFC President Dana White at the post-fight press conference last night -- Jones still has some cleaning to do at light heavyweight. "The problem is this (light heavyweight) division is stacked. He has a lot of fights ahead of him. The guys who have been fighting at 205 have those slots and they deserve the respect of a title fight before any superfight. And, a lot of people don't really think about this, (Silva) is 37 years old." Sadly, the superfight so many pundits would love to break down and fans would salivate at the prospect of will likely never come to be. Silva has stated in recent months that his home is at middleweight and that's likely where he'll stay until he retires, which, as White so adequately informed us, is just around the corner considering the pound-for-pound king's age. Don't remind us. Later in the press conference, thought, White did make mention of Jones moving up to heavyweight in the event that he disposes of enough challengers at 205-pounds. So maybe the superfight to focus on is Jon Jones vs. Cain Velasquez or Junior dos Santos or Brock Lesnar or Alistair Overeem or ... well, you get it.

Posted in: ufc, jone, heavyweight, silva, light heavyweight

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What was the UFC thinking? That was the question burning up my Twitter timeline during UFC 135 as a bad fight between Travis Browne and Rob Broughton flowed right into a fight between Mark Hunt and Ben Rothwell that saw both men huff and puff to the final bell. Jonathan Snowden touched on both fights in his recent MMA Nation effort: Last night's UFC 135 featured two heavyweight slobber knockers. At least that was the intent. It's rare to see UFC matchmaker Joe Silva book two showcase fights; he prefers matchups that are even even with legitimate doubt to the outcome. Insiders knew that wasn't the case here. Prospect Travis Browne was supposed to obliterate the jiggly overweight Brit Rob Broughton. Ben Rothwell, in his first bout back after an ACL injury, was supposed to steamroll kickboxer Mark Hunt and finish him easily on the ground. Instead, fatigue was the ultimate equalizer in both cases. Both fights turned ugly and it's easy to say that three of the four involved fighters aren't at what one might call "the UFC level." Only Browne has the right combination of talent and potential to be a "long term" player in the promotion. And even with that potential, as I wrote last night, Browne had not shown anything so spectacular past a one punch KO of Stefan Struve (a man who seems to get knocked out even in fights he wins) to where he should be showcased. Browne faded badly against Cheick Kongo and would have lost the fight if not for Kongo's bizarre behavior catching up with him yet again and repeated shorts grabbing leading to a point deduction. Browne was put in high altitude (which should not be an excuse given Browne already training at high altitude) and given a durable opponent in what turned out to be a recipe for disaster. Mark Hunt was coming off his first win in the better part of five years, having lost six straight fights by stoppage. It's been years since Ben Rothwell really seemed to have the skillset to finish guys near the top end of the heavyweight division. Rothwell looked hurt and barely able to get enough air into his 260+ pound frame at the end of round two, requiring assistance back to his corner. And Hunt, the feared kickboxer, was content to work takedowns to catch his breath. Matching the two, again in the high altitude of Colorado, may have made sense to a degree. But doing it on a pay-per-view main card right after another heavyweight fight? I've seen people suggest that without Yamamoto vs. Page and Nunes vs. Gamburyan being pulled due to injuries we wouldn't have seen both heavyweight bouts on the main card. But I don't fully believe that. The UFC simply is not featuring those divisions on main cards. And the Facebook fight between Takeya Mizugaki and Cole Escovedo was pretty much guaranteed fireworks and that couldn't push either heavyweight fight off the main card. It's rare that I think the UFC and Joe Silva make a major misstep in fight booking decisions. When fights turn out to disappoint it's usually a surprise, or a matter of the unavoidable (some fighters just aren't exciting). But this just seemed like a bad idea that hurt the show.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, ben rothwell, browne

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Four heavyweights who competed on the UFC 135 pay-per-view (PPV) main card got really tired last night, battling the thin mountain air in Denver. For more on these "comical showdowns" click here.

Posted in: ufc, ppv, heavyweight, card, mountain air

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As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage. The live blog will start with the beginning of the Facebook prelim stream (6:40 p.m. ET), continuing through the Spike TV prelim broadcast (8 p.m. ET) and finally through the pay-per-view broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. A UFC light heavyweight championship bout between Jon Jones and challenger Quinton "Rampage" Jackson headlines the event with a co-featured bout between former welterweight champion Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck. Also on the PPV broadcast, rising heavyweight star Travis Browne takes on Rob Broughton, Nate Diaz takes on Takanori Gomi and heavyweights Ben Rothwell and Mark Hunt collide. It should be a fun night of fights with some long term ramifications. Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down. If you want to read another take on how the fights go down, check out Kid Nate's instant analysis over at MMA Nation.

Posted in: ufc, rampage, heavyweight, event, broadcast

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Follow all the action live from UFC 135, which features the light heavyweight title match between Jon Jones and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Posted in: ufc, jon jones, heavyweight, sport, expert analysis

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As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage. The live blog will start with the beginning of the Facebook prelim stream (5:45 p.m. ET), continuing through the Spike TV prelim broadcast (8 p.m. ET) and finally through the pay-per-view broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. A UFC light heavyweight championship bout between Jon Jones and challenger Quinton "Rampage" Jackson headlines the event with a co-featured bout between former welterweight champion Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck. Also on the PPV broadcast, rising heavyweight star Travis Browne takes on Rob Broughton, Nate Diaz takes on Takanori Gomi and heavyweights Ben Rothwell and Mark Hunt collide. Last season's winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Tony Ferguson battles long time veteran of the sport Aaron Riley and Nick Ring does battle with Tim Boetsch at middleweight on the Spike broadcast. All that plus three fights on Facebook should make for an action packed evening. Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.

Posted in: ufc, rampage, heavyweight, event, broadcast

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Maybe you still aren't all too familiar with Travis Browne just yet, but trust me, you'll want to get to know him a whole lot better. He's an undefeated up-and-coming heavyweight with shocking knockout power. The same applies for Rob Broughton, who you surely know even less. He's an English regional wrecking machine who finally made his way to the world's largest fight promotion at the ripe age of 28-years-old. Both men are in their prime and when they square off tonight (Sept. 24, 2011) at UFC 135: "Jones vs. Rampage" in Denver, Colorado, it promises to be one helluva heavyweight slugfest. Oh yes it does. Browne burst on the scene just two short years ago by splattering Evan Langford's brains in a smaller event promoted in Tijuana, Mexico. From there, he quickly began his ascent through the heavyweight ranks, blasting and burying opponents on his way to the world's largest fight promotion. It's an impressive feat, really. Nine fights, nine wins, eight finishes, seven knockouts and two championship titles. If that's not a resume worthy of a spot inside the Octagon, what is? It made the most of his opportunity in his debut, smashing James McSweeney before battling to a draw with Cheick Kongo. If the latter fight arose fears of his ability to hang with the middle tier of the division, he allayed those when he obliterated Stefan Struve in his very next bout. Is Rob Broughton a step back? That may be the perception but his recent track record says differently. After some early career struggles, "The Bear," and yes, there's a reason they call him that, started running through whoever was put in front of him, quickly disposing of solid if unspectacular competition. He also made the most of his Octagon debut and is hoping to build on that tonight. If he can snuff out a rising star, he'll steal all the heat Browne has been building for himself and catapult straight into the ranks of contenders. It's a thin division, after all. Doesn't take much, folks.

Posted in: fight, heavyweight, fight promotion, browne, heavyweight slugfest

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British heavyweight Rob Broughton talks about facing heavyweight prospect Travis Browne at UFC 135.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, fight day, broughton talks, british heavyweight

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You can vote for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to grace the cover of the upcoming Jan. 2012 release of UFC Undipsuted 3 at the official website right here. Or you can vote for one of the other four champions in weight classes ranging from lightweight to heavyweight. For more on that click here. And for more info on the upcoming video game release click here and here.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, video, click, weight classes

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This summer's string of ailing fighters affected many a match-up or two, one of them being a light heavyweight showdown pitting Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Igor Pokrajac at UFC 131 back on June 11. Naturally, Pokrajac was an injury replacement who eventually got hurt himself and was forced out of action. Soszynski would go on to run through Mike Massenzio that night for an easy decision victory. Now that both men are fully functioning, the powers that be decided it was a match-up so nice they wanted to make it twice. The second try is scheduled for UFC 140 on Dec. 10 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The promotion announced as much on its website today. Soszynski will look to cap his 2011 fight campaign with an undefeated record heading into the new year with a fresh light heavyweight plate. Standing in his way is Pokrajac, who rebounded from consecutive losses when he choked out free-falling veteran James Irvin at the UFC on Versus 2 event in San Diego. It was his first win under the UFC banner after racking up eight straight W's overseas. He fell back off the horse, however, in his very next outing, a unanimous decision loss to Stephan Bonnar at the Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale this past December in Las Vegas. An opening round technical knockout win over Todd Brown on March 3 got him back on the hog. No question that stopping Soszynski could be a one-way ticket to bigger and better things in 2012. UFC 140 is expected feature a rematch between two former heavyweight champions, Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and "Big Nog's" brother, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, taking on Tito Ortiz in a light heavyweight showdown. To check out the latest UFC 140 fight card rumors click here.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, vs, soszynski, pokrajac

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The UFC 140 fight bill continues to develop, as the promotion on Thursday announced that a light heavyweight confrontation between Igor Pokrajac and Krzysztof Soszynski will go down at the Dec. 10 event

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, igor pokrajac, krzysztof soszynski, igor

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CHICAGO, Ill. (September 21, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships makes its return to Louisiana on Saturday, October 1st as the promotion hosts Bellator 52 from L'Auberge Du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles. The action begins at 7 p.m. ET with a stacked undercard streaming LIVE on Spike.com. The televised portion of the event will feature the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament and will begin at 9 p.m. ET LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Lightweight sensation Cosmo "Good Boy" Alexander will make his MMA debut against Lake Charles native Josh Quayhagen, who will also be making his professional debut. Alexander enters Bellator with an incredible resume in Muay Thai, as the 29-year-old striker has over 50 professional kickboxing fights under his belt, along with several of the sport's most notable championship titles. The Miami resident is one of the most highly-coveted prospects in all of MMA and looks to put on a show for Bellator fans. To see video of Cosmo's devastating striking in competition, please click HERE. Bellator featherweights collide as Genair da Silva takes on Bellator veteran Bryan Goldsby. For Silva, the Brazilian striker is looking to get back into the win column after suffering a close split-decision loss at the hands of fellow Brazilian Marlon Sandro in Bellator's Summer Series Featherweight Tournament. Undefeated light-heavyweight Matt Van Buren joins Bellator looking for victory over Alexandria, La. resident Nick Nichols. At 25 years old, the Virginia based Van Buren will look to impress Bellator brass with a dominating win. There are also two intriguing heavyweight fights on the ledger as Josh Burns battles former The Ultimate Fighter competitor Zak Jensen, and Liron Wilson takes on the undefeated Justin Frazier, who will put his 4-0 record on the line. The Season 5 heavyweight tournament will feature an eight-man field that boasts a dominating 73-15-2 record along with 41 combined knockouts. Undefeated Ron Sparks takes on Oklahoma native Mark Holata, Season 3 finalist Neil Grove faces 15-win veteran Mike "300" Hayes; and in other quarterfinal action, Thiago "Big Monster" Santos looks to be the first man to put a blemish on Blagoi Ivanov's 4-0 record and Army veteran Eric Prindle will test Abe Wagner, the man who beat former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia in the first round earlier this year. "L'Auberge Du Lac has been an incredible venue partner for us, and we should have a great night of fights on October 1st LIVE on MTV2 and EPIX, as well as on Spike.com," said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "There are some first-time Bellator fighters on this card that I can't wait to watch and see what they can do in the cage." For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, lake charles, liron wilson, kickboxing fights

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The UFC 135 main event, a light heavyweight title fight between Jon "Bones" Jones and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, will be decided by how effectively each fighter is able to implement their gameplan across five different categories. To see those categories, and how they affect the Sept. 24 headliner in Denver, click here.

Posted in: title, heavyweight, event, quinton ...., category

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It looks like streaking light heavyweight Ovince St. Preux has finally gotten called up to the majors after winning five consecutive fights under the Strikeforce banner including a pair of opening round finishes. According to Strikeforce’s Twitter account, OSP is scheduled to scrap with former 205-pound champion Gegard Mousasi on December 17 at an event already headlined by lightweight title-holder Gilbert Melendez defending his belt against ATT’s Jorge Masvidal. St. Preux, who has won eight straight overall, is 11-4 with past victories over Antwain Britt, Benji Radach, and Jason Day. His most recent rumble took place in July where he forced Joe Cason to tap from strikes a little over a minute into their Strikeforce Challengers 17 bout. The former collegiate football player’s opponent, Mousasi, is no stranger to having his hand raised with only a single stumble in his last twenty fights. He is 31-3-2 in his career with success against a slew of talented peers including Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Melvin Manhoef, Evangelista Santos, Denis Kang, Renato Sobral, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Though not nearly as official as St. Preux vs. Mousasi, also rumored for the December 17 card are appearances from popular female fighter Gina Carano and fan-favorite Keith Jardine. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Similar Posts: Gegard Mousasi vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral expected for Affliction III Babalu vs. Mousasi for Strikeforce light heavyweight championship on Aug. 15 Scott Coker sheds light on Strikeforce light heavyweight picture Gina Carano gets June opponent in the form of Sarah D’Alelio Gegard Mousasi could make light heavyweight debut vs. Sokoudjou at DREAM.9 (UPDATED) Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, light, mousasi, preux

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UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson has signed an exclusive contract with ZUFFA and will indeed fight Mauricio Rua at UFC 139, scheduled for the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2011. And that leaves Strikeforce without a champion in three of its divisions (heavyweight, light heavyweight and welterweight). While there are still a handful of competitors in the promotion's 205-pound weight class, including former straphangers Muhammed Lawal and Rafael Cavalcante, it's unlikely we'll see gold around their waists at any point in the near future because White is "unsure" as to what happens next as he "figures out" what to do with Strikeforce. In football terminology, it's called "running out the clock." Hear more from the UFC boss on Henderson vs. Shogun, "Spygate" and the National Anthem, courtesy of Tom Ngo at 5th Round, after the jump. Any Maniacs out there expecting to see another Strikeforce light heavyweight champion? Or will "Hendo" be the last man to ever hold the strap? For more on UFC 139 click here.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, light, calif .,

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Number one heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos absolutely does not want to go five rounds against king of the 265-pound mountain, Cain Velasquez, when the two square off at UFC on FOX 1 on Nov. 12 in Anaheim, California. It's not because he's worried about losing in a situation like that; no, he's just worried about entertaining the fans and knows that, statistically speaking, heavyweight fights that go five rounds are boring. He'll try to avoid that by knocking out or submitting Velasquez in either round two or three. But can he actually pull that off?

Posted in: round, heavyweight, velasquez, heavyweight fights, heavyweight contender

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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

Read the full article at MMA Mania

UFC heavyweights Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos sat down with media earlier today for the first time since their headlining bout at UFC on FOX was announced and spoke about the challenges each faces in the other. As might be expected given their general attitudes, both showed great respect to the other and made it clear winning on November 12 will be anything but easy. “It’s going to be a war out there for five rounds; that’s how I prepare myself and that’s how I go into each training camp thinking,” said champion Velasquez while admitting Dos Santos will be the hardest opponent he’s faced thus far, adding, “I do think this is my toughest test. He’s got great hands, great power, great boxing. This is definitely going to be a good fight.” “I love to fight standing and I’m sure to be prepared to fight on the ground. I’m learning wrestling very fast. I know Cain is a very good wrestler and he will probably try to take me down, but I will be ready for this and use my BJJ,” explained “Cigano” of what he expects to face when the two lock horns in Anaheim. Velasquez echoed the Brazilian’s statements in regards to being prepared no matter where the action takes place even though he sat on the sidelines for an extended period of time with a shoulder injury. Heavyweight Champ Velasquez Out 6-8 Months After Surgery “I expect to go everywhere in this fight: wrestle, go to the ground, jiu-jitsu – I don’t see this being fought in just one style. My wrestling, boxing, and jiu-jitsu needs to be sharp and intact for this fight. I need to be a well-rounded fighter that night to win the fight”. The two heavyweights combine for an overall record of 22-1 with Dos Santos’ lone defeat occurring nearly four years ago. Meanwhile, the 27-year old striker has beaten the likes of Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin in the Octagon, while Velasquez holds past UFC victories over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Brock Lesnar. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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

Read the full article at Fighters.com

Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and current UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem has apparently left his long-time managment, Golden Glory Promotions. The announcement comes after Overeem recently signed a deal with the UFC to fight Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, and after the recent business issues with Zuffa LLC. and Golden Glory. Overeem announced the move via twitter, stating: “I would like to make a statement regarding the recent news of the separation from my long-time management Golden Glory. As with any relationship, there are good times and bad times – you have your common ground and your differences. As with any relationship, you have trust. When differences lead to a breach of trust, there’s no turning back and no way to continue a positive, working relationship. I don’t air my dirty laundry. I would appreciate the respect regarding my privacy to not disclose any further details on this matter. Again, I would like to thank team Golden Glory for all the years we worked together and wish them success for the future.” Golden Glory executive Bas Boon declined to go into detail with Fighters Only, other than saying “We regret that 12 years of working together and friendship has come to an end. I can not really comment on any details as I do not have them myself yet [and] we don’t air our dirty laundry [in public,].” One issue that remains is that Boon sees the move as a change in fight camps and not a change in management. Stating that “There is a management contract in place and as long as this is honored we are fine with the decision from Alistair and wish Alistair much success in his further career.” If Overeem were to sign with any other management company at this time it could lead to legal issues for the heavyweight. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for more on this developing story.

Posted in: overeem, heavyweight, glory, alistair, management

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is experiencing a paradigm shift. But with light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at the forefront of its charge into uncharted waters, why isn't "Bones" clicking with the promotion's core fan base? One possible explanation here.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, championship, paradigm shift, shift

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Jon Jones reigns supreme in the light heavyweight division, at least until Saturday night. Check out our September light heavyweight rankings.

Posted in: saturday night, jon jones, heavyweight, light, light heavyweight

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson will return to the Octagon in November against former UFC titleholder Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, san jose, san, hendo-shogun

Read the full article at Sherdog

The top MMA organization in the world continues to pluck Strikeforce champions like they’re feathers from a bird. First it was Nick Diaz, then two weeks ago it was Alistair Overeem, and today it’s Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson. Ready to welcome him back to the octagon is one of the most exciting light heavyweights in the world, former UFC 205 lb champion Mauricio Rua. The two light heavyweights have agreed to do battle at UFC 139 in San Jose. News of the bout was first reported by MMAWeekly.com and has since been confirmed by the UFC. “Hendo” is no stranger to the octagon, having two prior runs under his belt. He first competed at UFC 17 back in 1998, winning the one night middleweight tournament before heading off to Japan, where he made a name for himself in PRIDE with victories over the likes Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. He returned to the UFC at UFC 75, taking on Quinton Jackson in a UFC light heavyweight title vs. PRIDE light heavyweight title fight and followed that up with a bout against Anderson Silva in a fight that merged the UFC and PRIDE middleweight titles. Despite losing both bouts, Henderson rebounded and won three straight in the UFC, defeating Rousimar Palhares, Rich Franklin, and Michael Bisping. Failing to reach a new contract with the UFC, Henderson headed to Strikeforce, where he immediately challenged Jake Shields for the middleweight strap. Not having the conditioning at 185 to defeat Shields, Henderson moved up to 205 where he knocked out Renato Sobral and Rafael Cavalcante to capture to the light heavyweight belt. In his most recent fight, Henderson stopped Fedor Emelianenko in the first round, pounding him out with his famous right hand, dubbed by some as the “H Bomb.” Now the Team Quest pioneer will get another crack at a former PRIDE superstar when he takes on “Shogun” Rua, fresh off his victory over Forrest Griffin. In that bout, Rua received a hero’s welcome at UFC 134 in Brazil and avenged his first UFC loss against Griffin. The former UFC champ has had a storied MMA career that includes winning the PRIDE light heavyweight grand prix in 2005 and becoming the first man to beat Lyoto Machida to win in the UFC belt in 2010. Rua holds wins against some of the best fighters in the sports history, including Ricardo Arona, Quinton Jackson, Chuck Liddell, and Alistair Overeem. The bout will headline UFC 139 and will have major title implications. Also on the card, which takes place on November 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California is a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Cung Le. *PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE*Similar Posts: Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante expected for March event Rampage: Beating Shogun doesn’t matter Spike TV announces UFC:Main Events show for November 7th Jackson would rather have revenge before the championship UFC Super Bowl Weekend Card Packed With Star Power Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, bout, heavyweight, henderson, light

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain