MMA-URLS

Two of the most physically imposing men in the UFC will meet this Saturday night (May 26, 2012) as 6'11 Dutch fighter Stephan Struve takes on "Big" Lavar Johnson in the opening bout of the UFC 146 main card in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stefan Struve is still one of the youngest and most exciting heavyweights in the UFC. He's had 10 bouts in the promotion now despite just being 24 years old and is coming off two straight finishes. He's come up short whenever the thought of him as a potential contender begins to grow, but he's hoping to get past that against Johnson. Lavar Johnson has been a terrific story for the UFC. After dropping his last two Strikeforce bouts, he's won his first two UFC fights via first round knockout, most notably putting away Pat Barry on the main card of UFC on FOX 3 earlier this month. He's stepping up on very short notice and is hoping to create some incredible momentum against Struve. Will Struve be able to bring Johnson back down to size? Can "Big" Johnson possible topple "The Skyscraper" with his powerful fists? What's the key to victory for both men on Saturday night? Let's find out: Stefan Struve Record: 23-5 overall, 7-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Dave Herman (UFC on Fuel TV), Pat Barry (UFC on Versus 6), Sean McCorkle (UFC 124) Key Losses: Junior dos Santos (UFC 95), Travis Browne (UFC 130), Roy Nelson (UFC Fight Night 21) How he got here: Stefan Struve cut his teeth on the local European circuit, testing himself against many of the toughest guys in circulation at the time. Due to his ridiculous height, he had to develop a strong ground game as his opponents were rather easily able to put him on his back. He made his UFC debut in early 2009, but was completely unprepared for the wrecking machine that was Junior dos Santos, losing via first round technical knockout. Since the loss in his promotional debut, Struve has gone 6-2 in the promotion. The young Dutchman has steadily progressed and added some bulk to his frame. He's still still relatively wet behind the ears, but has tons of time to develop his craft as long as he can protect his chin. Of Struve's 21 career victories, only one has been a decision. His two fights against Christian Morecraft and Sean McCorkle both underscored what he's all about as a mixed martial artist: Absorbing punishment or being in bad positions and then roaring back in crowd-pleasing fashion. Of course this backfired against Travis Browne at UFC 130 when "The Skyscraper" got toppled after an ill-advised flying knee attempt directly into the big right hand of his opponent. He bounced back in his last fight against Pat Barry, locking in a triangle choke and surviving a huge powerbomb attempt before forcing the tap and winning "Submission of the Night" honors. He followed up that performance by flustering Dave Herman with his range and then finishing him via ground and pound on the canvas. He was originally slated to face Mark Hunt at this event, but an injury opened the door for Lavar Johnson. How he gets it done: Struve has slowly showcased an improved use of his lengthy 84 inch reach (the second longest in the UFC) throughout his MMA career. While he's improved his tendencies to allow brawlers to get inside and crack him on the jaw, he needs to avoid standing and trading with Lavar Johnson at all costs. Johnson simply hits too hard and is too weak on the ground for this to even be up for debate. Struve doesn't have the build to shoot for the traditional takedowns, but he capable of scoring trip takedowns if he can close the distance and enter the clinch. He's going to have to be mindful of Johnson's power while getting inside, but if he can do it without eating a huge shot, then he'll be fine. If "The Skyscraper" can drag Johnson to the canvas, this fight will be all but over. Johnson has perhaps the worst ground game of any UFC heavyweight. Struve will need to either pass to mount and try to ground and pound his way to victory or go for a submission, whichever is easier. Lavar Johnson Record: 17-5 overall, 2-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Pat Barry (UFC on FOX 3), Joey Beltran (UFC on FOX 2), Virgil Zwicker (Strikeforce Challengers 11) Key Losses: Shawn Jordan (Strikeforce Challenges 20), Shane del Rosario (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva) How he got here: A big, powerful athlete, Lavar Johnson was a former standout football player, getting into MMA at 26 years old. Despite an early setback in his debut against Doug Marshall, "Big" Johnson would bounce back in a huge way, winning his next eight fights, all by stoppage and all but one being ended in the first round. After an injury suffered mid-fight took away over two years of his career, Johnson finally returned, blasting five straight opponents with five first round knockouts. He would be sidelined in 2009 after getting shot in the abdomen at a family reunion, but surprisingly returned to action just nine months later, scoring a second round knockout against Lolohea Mahe. Johnson crushed Virgil Zwicker in just over two minutes, but he would have issues dealing with the wrestling and submission games of his next two opponents, who both took advantage of his lack of ground game by scoring submissions against him. Despite a two fight losing streak, Johnson made his UFC debut this past January where he did the impossible, stopping Joey Beltran via strikes for the first time in "The Mexicutioner's" career and sending him down to 205 pounds. With that victory, he earned a shot on the big stage against Pat Barry and he delivered, knocking out "HD" in the first round. He was uninjured so he stepped up again on short notice to face Struve this weekend, just three weeks after his last fight. How he gets it done: Johnson doesn't have the best technique, but he is one of the most powerful men in the entire division! He's never gone to a decision in his career and that's for good reason. All it takes is a one big shot and no one can stand in his way, not even the infamous iron chin of Joey Beltran. The key for Johnson is to stay in the pocket, don't let Struve get to close on the inside to work for a takedown and keep trying to plaster the Dutchman on the chin with his fists. Struve does not have the greatest chin and when he gets hit hard, he drops into a heap and that's a long fall. The uglier and less technical that Johnson can make this fight, the better odds he has of winning it. If he can force Struve to ignore his strengths on the ground and try to turn this fight into a slugfest, there's almost no chance he can lose. Johnson has to ignore the ground at all costs, or he's a goner Fight X-Factor: I hate to use this X-Factor, but this may be the most obvious fight X-Factor in MMA history. Lavar Johnson wants this fight to go to its feet. He does not want it to go to the ground. If the fight goes to the canvas, Johnson will be submitted or TKO'd very quickly in my opinion. Struve has a better chance of standing with Johnson that Johnson has of going to the ground with Struve, but Struve shouldn't mess around. If he eats a heavy shot from "Big" then he's going to be in serious trouble. Johnson almost got submitted by Pat Barry, that should be enough of a testament to his ground game. Bottom Line: Someone is going down in this fight. Struve has one decision in his MMA career while Johnson has never gone to decision. Both men have a "finish or be finished" mentality. Not only is this fight not going to the scorecards, it's probably not going to the second round. Someone is going to get put away in a hurry whether it's from a Johnson fist or from a Struve TKO or submission. Expect something wild. Who will come out on top at UFC 146? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which gigantic heavyweight will reign supreme in the opening bout of the UFC 146 main card on Saturday night? Stefan Struve Lavar Johnson   6 votes | Results

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UFC 146 heavyweight Stefan Struve is blogging on MMA Fighting in the leadup to his bout next Saturday. His first blog earlier this week was about his path to MMA and his admiration for then-opponent Mark Hunt. But the day after it was posted, Struve found out that Hunt was out of the bout with an injury and Lavar Johnson would be taking his place. This blog talks about finding out about that, and gives his thoughts on his new opponent.First, the timeline on the shocking news: The news arrived at a very funny and awkward time actually. I was at my girlfriend's place and we were looking for potential holidays after the fight. It was then that my manager sent me a text message telling me I needed to call him immediately because Mark Hunt was injured and out of the fight. At that moment I panicked, as I wasn't sure whether I'd still be fighting or not. I didn't want my whole training camp to go to waste. Luckily, I spoke with my manager and he told me Lavar had already been put in place as the stand-in opponent - I was delighted. It's a really cool fight. He believes that Johnson is actually a better fight for him that The Super Samoan: As it turned out, Lavar Johnson is every bit as exciting for me as Hunt was. Credit to him for stepping up to the plate. All in all, Lavar is a big, strong guy who likes to stand and punch, and he's also far easier to take down than Hunt. I truly believe Mark has better takedown defense than Lavar, and that makes it a fun fight for me. He hopes that he can fight Hunt in the future: Of course, it goes without saying, it would have been an absolute honor to fight Mark Hunt. I've been watching Mark's fights for years and was genuinely excited at the prospect of testing my skills against him. I hope he gets well soon and doesn't suffer too much as a result of the injury. It would be great to fight him at some point in the future and pick up where we left off. He's great for the sport and, so long as he can continue performing the way he's done recently, that man's going in the right direction. Is Struve right when he says that Johnson is actually an easier fight than Hunt?

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Just when you think it's okay to look forward to your upcoming fight, somebody pulls a rug from under your feet at the last minute. That happened to me on Thursday evening, when I was told my opponent at UFC 146, Mark Hunt, had suffered an injury in training and would be unable to face me on May 26. The news arrived at a very funny and awkward time actually. I was at my girlfriend's place and we were looking for potential holidays after the fight. It was then that my manager sent me a text message telling me I needed to call him immediately because Mark Hunt was injured and out of the fight. At that moment I panicked, as I wasn't sure whether I'd still be fighting or not. I didn't want my whole training camp to go to waste. Luckily, I spoke with my manager and he told me Lavar had already been put in place as the stand-in opponent - I was delighted. It's a really cool fight.I just wanted to fight, and didn't mind who I was put up against. Obviously, Hunt would have been a great opponent, and is somebody I look up to, but it was important to just get some sort of fight. By Thursday evening, I didn't really care who it was against. As it turned out, Lavar Johnson is every bit as exciting for me as Hunt was. Credit to him for stepping up to the plate. All in all, Lavar is a big, strong guy who likes to stand and punch, and he's also far easier to take down than Hunt. I truly believe Mark has better takedown defense than Lavar, and that makes it a fun fight for me. After learning who my new opponent would be, I did a little bit of research, but already knew plenty about him. Lavar fought two weeks ago against my friend, Pat Barry, and that was a fight I have now watched a couple of times. I also saw Johnson's fight with Joey Beltran and a few of his Strikeforce fights from the last couple of years.The next day I went to train with my BJJ coach and gather his thoughts on the match-up. He is the guy who tells me what to go for and what not to go for on the ground, and we discussed this fight with Johnson at length on Friday.In the end, it doesn't matter who they put in front of me – the fight is still just three rounds of five minutes. Nothing changes. I'm not suddenly being asked to fight ten rounds of ten minutes.Of course, it goes without saying, it would have been an absolute honor to fight Mark Hunt. I've been watching Mark's fights for years and was genuinely excited at the prospect of testing my skills against him. I hope he gets well soon and doesn't suffer too much as a result of the injury. It would be great to fight him at some point in the future and pick up where we left off. He's great for the sport and, so long as he can continue performing the way he's done recently, that man's going in the right direction. It's a shame I won't be fighting Mark at UFC 146, but I'm more than happy with my new fight. Besides, I can't afford to live in the past - Lavar Johnson currently stands in my way of getting where I want to get in this sport and it's him, not Hunt, who I must now beat. Although they may have different faces, different bodies and a different set of skills, both Johnson and Hunt are still obstacles that needed conquering. That doesn't change, no matter who the actual person is. In order for me to keep living the dream in the UFC, I have to do my best to defeat everybody in my path, be it Mark Hunt or Lavar Johnson. It doesn't matter to me...Stefan 'Skyscraper' Struve fights veteran Mark Hunt at UFC 146 on Saturday, May 26, live on pay-per-view. Follow @StefanStruve on Twitter for all the latest news ahead of his bout at UFC 146.

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In just a three-week turnaround, Lavar Johnson will step in for an injured Mark Hunt to face Stefan Struve on the all-heavyweight main card of UFC 146 next week.

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With a little more than a week remaining before UFC 146 unfolds from Las Vegas the UFC has been forced to make a last-second change to the show, inserting heavy-handed slugger Lavar Johnson into a recently available spot against Stefan Struve formerly held by fan-favorite Mark Hunt. Though no specifics are available on his condition, Hunt was apparently injured while training for the May 26 match-up and will be out for an undetermined period of time. News of the change was confirmed by the UFC. “Struve is a great fighter,” said Johnson when asked about his recently announced adversary. “He’s a skilled guy with a lot of heart but I am not worried about his size. His reach is 83 inches and mine is 82, and he doesn’t use his height. He always gets the crap beat out of him, he refuses to quit, then his opponent gasses or has to let up and Struve comes back to win. I am a fan of his actually, and I’ve cheered for him because of his heart. The only way to beat him is to put him out cold. That’s what I have to do next week and I will do it.” The fight will mark the second for Johnson in May after knockout out Pat Barry a few weeks back. “I took one week off after the Pat Barry fight and then went back to the gym,” explained Johnson. “I used to have some drinks, gets some BBQ in my belly, and get a little out of shape right after a fight. But I feel that I am now at a level where I need to be in shape all the time, so I stayed in shape and I can now seize this chance.” A Closer Look at Johnson’s Win Over Barry Johnson holds an overall record of 17-5 with seventeen stoppages including fifteen knockouts. Comparably, Struve is 23-5 and has finished 21 of the opponents he’s beaten. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Just when it appeared they were in the clear the UFC has been forced to make another adjustment to Memorial Day Weekend’s UFC 146 lineup. After Alistair Overeem‘s suspension already caused changes from the top of the card down, an injury to MarkHunt has forced another replacement to be made, allowing Lavar Johnson to step in on short notice. “I heard last night there was a chance I could get this fight and I accepted right away,” said Johnson in an interview with UFC.com. “You don’t get chances like this too much in life, so when you are lucky, you got to make the most of it. I took one week off after the Pat Barry fight and then went back to the gym. I used to have some drinks, get some BBQ in my belly, and get a little out of shape right after a fight. But I feel that I am now at a level where I need to be in shape all the time, so I stayed in shape and I can now seize this chance.” In his last appearance, Johnson (17-5) scored his second consecutive UFC knockout in two UFC fights by dropping Barry. The victory came on the heels of his finish of the always-tough Joey Beltran. Struve (23-5) has also won two straight since a loss to Travis Browne, defeating Dave Herman as well as Barry. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a Chris Leben-esque situation. And I don't mean the type of situation where a fighter gets beat and then leaves chocolate at the front desk of the hotel for his opponent, like Leben did for Munoz after UFC 138. The type of situation we have now is one in which a fighter can make a huge impression on everyone by beating two highly regarded opponents inside a month. Kevin Iole tweeted earlier this evening that Mark Hunt, who, let's remember turned down Zuffa's offer to get paid and not fight has suffered an undisclosed injury and is now out of his fight with Stefan Struve at UFC 146 in nine days time. Lavar Johnson is stepping up to fight Stefan Struve only twelve days after his first round stoppage win over Pat Barry at UFC of FOX 3. I have no idea how you go from training for 5' 11" Barry to 6' 11" Struve. How can you even prepare for something like that? Then again with Lavar Johnson we're talking about a dude who got shot in the stomach, was in critical condition and still came back into MMA with a first round KO win. Can he come in and win his third KO of the night award of the year? Surely that would be some kind of record?

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Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a Chris Leben-esque situation. And I don't mean the type of situation where a fighter gets beat and then leaves chocolate at the front desk of the hotel for his opponent, like Leben did for Munoz after UFC 138. The type of situation we have now is one in which a fighter can make a huge impression on everyone by beating two highly regarded opponents inside a month. Kevin Iole tweeted earlier this evening that Mark Hunt, who, let's remember turned down Zuffa's offer to get paid and not fight has suffered an undisclosed injury and is now out of his fight with Stefan Struve at UFC 146 in nine days time. Lavar Johnson is stepping up to fight Stefan Struve only twelve days after his first round stoppage win over Pat Barry at UFC of FOX 3. I have no idea how you go from training for 5' 11" Barry to 6' 11" Struve. How can you even prepare for something like that? Then again with Lavar Johnson we're talking about a dude who got shot in the stomach, was in critical condition and still came back into MMA with a first round KO win. Can he come in and win his third KO of the night award of the year? Surely that would be some kind of record?

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Lavar Johnson heard on Wednesday that he might be fighting Stefan Struve at UFC 146 and immediately consulted his coaches, who liked the matchup. But Johnson said he wouldn't have heard about it at all had his manager, Bob Cook of American Kickboxing Academy, didn't feel the same. "Pray for me that I come out of this one OK," Johnson joked to MMAjunkie.com.

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Mark Hunt will not return to the Octagon at UFC 146. The Aussie will be replaced on the UFC 146 fight card by Lavar Johnson, who will face Steven Struve less than two weeks after his last performance at UFC on FOX 3. Find out why Hunt had to drop out and Johnson's thoughts on why he took the fight below. Mark Hunt has been forced to pull out of his UFC 146 fight against Stefan Struve due to a knee injury, MMA Fighting has learned from sources close to the fight. As a result, Struve will now face Lavar Johnson on less than two week's notice. Johnson last fought just 12 days ago at UFC on FOX 3. He knocked out Pat Barry in the first round of their main card fight. Hunt, a winner in his last three fights, has enjoyed a career renaissance in the UFC, so much so that there was a strong online movement to get him to replace Alistair Overeem against Junior dos Santos in the UFC 146 main event. As fate would have it, neither Overeem or Hunt will end up fighting on the card after all. Both Struve and Johnson enter the fighting riding two-fight winnings streaks. UFC 146, headlined by dos Santos vs. Frank Mir, airs live on pay-per-view on May 26. UPDATE: UFC has confirmed the news.

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Like a lot of fighters, Lavar Johnson usually likes to take a little time to celebrate a win. Nothing major. Just good, decadent food, maybe some adult beverages, and a few days away from the gym to relax and unwind. But after his TKO win over Pat Barry at the UFC on FOX 3 earlier this month, he didn’t celebrate in the typical way. When the UFC called him on Wednesday to ask how he felt about stepping in for an injured Mark Hunt and facing Stefan Struve at UFC 146 next Saturday night, that decision suddenly seemed like a great one."Usually I’ll go barbeque, drink some beer and celebrate, but I didn’t even do that this time," Johnson told MMA Fighting. "I’m at a high level right now and I knew I needed to stay on my game. That’s what I’m doing. I’m jumping right back in there and I’m ready to go." With Hunt sidelined by a knee injury, Johnson now gets a chance to rack up two UFC victories in one month. All he has to do is beat a 6’11" Dutch heavyweight on a week and a half’s notice. It’s the kind of offer that few could have blamed him for turning down, but Johnson described it as an easy decision."This is what I get paid to do," he said. "This is what we all do. We train to fight. If I didn’t think I could beat Stefan Struve or anybody else then I wouldn’t be fighting in the UFC, period. I would find a different profession. I’ve got confidence in myself and I think I match up with him good."At the same time, even Johnson admitted to a little initial concern at the thought of fighting an opponent who’s nearly seven feet tall. There’s almost no time to find a sparring partner who can mimic his height and reach, and even if there were time there still aren’t too many seven-footers hanging out in most fight gyms. But Johnson said he’s "not really worried" about Struve’s reach (84 inches -- Johnson has it memorized already) or his height, because, as he explained, "I don’t think he really uses his reach, his height. He doesn’t utilize all that. I think I’m faster than him and I hit harder than him, and I’m going to get to him first."If he does, his bank account will thank him. Johnson has matching Knockout of the Night bonuses from his only two UFC fights so far, and though he’s saving most of the money, he did permit himself the purchase of a new car -- a Chevy Silverado Z71, he said, "four-door, lifted, the whole nine."At the same time, stepping in on such short notice against an experienced fighter like Struve is far from easy money. While Johnson said he’s injury-free after the Barry fight, he’s watched enough of Struve’s fights to know he has a tough night of work ahead of him."You just have to put him to sleep," Johnson said. "That’s the only way to beat him. He’s not going to quit, so I have to hit him on the chin and hit him a bunch of times and put him out."

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [10 comments]

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Mark Hunt has been forced to pull out of his UFC 146 fight against Stefan Struve due to an undisclosed injury, MMA Fighting has learned from sources close to the fight. As a result, Struve will now face Lavar Johnson on less than two week's notice. Johnson last fought just 12 days ago at UFC on FOX 3. He knocked out Pat Barry in the first round of their main card fight. Hunt, a winner in his last three fights, has enjoyed a career renaissance in the UFC, so much so that there was a strong online movement to get him to replace Alistair Overeem against Junior dos Santos in the UFC 146 main event. As fate would have it, neither Overeem or Hunt will end up fighting on the card after all. Both Struve and Johnson enter the fighting riding two-fight winnings streaks. UFC 146, headlined by dos Santos vs. Frank Mir, airs live on pay-per-view on May 26.

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Lavar Johnson is getting another big opportunity. A source close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that Johnson is expected to replace Mark Hunt in a heavyweight bout against Stefan Struve at UFC 146, which takes place May 26 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.  Hunt declined comment when contacted today. The reason for his withdrawal is unknown.

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UFC on FX 3 on June 8th will feature a rematch of the flyweight tournament semi-final between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall. The first bout at UFC on FX 2 was marred by a scoring controversy and went to a draw, so they'll do it all over again in a "three-round plus bonus round if necessary" format. The Hometown Throwdown contest winner was Fort Lauderdale, FL, so that is where the event is going down. There was also another contest to pick the fourth main card fight, and the Jorgensen vs. Wineland fight won out (atta boy bantamweight fans!). Here's how the card looks right now: June 8th, live on FX (Fort Lauderdale, FL): Demetrious Johnson (14-2-1) vs. Ian McCall (11-2-1) [Flyweight Tourney Semi-Final] Mike Pyle (22-8-1) vs. Josh Neer (33-10-1) Erick Silva (13-2, 1 NC) vs. Charlie Brenneman (15-3) Scott Jorgensen (13-5) vs. Eddie Wineland (17-8-1) SBN coverage of UFC on FX 3 Mike Pierce (13-5) vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha (9-1) Dustin Pague (10-5) vs. Jared Papazian (14-7, 1 NC) Buddy Roberts (11-2) vs. Caio Magalhaes (5-0) Bernardo Magalhaes (11-2) vs. Henry Martinez (8-2) Seth Baczynski (15-6) vs. Lance Benoist (6-0) Jake Hecht (11-3) vs. Sean Pierson (11-6) Tim Means (17-3-1) vs. Justin Salas (10-3) Leonard Garcia (15-8-1) vs. Matt Grice (14-4)

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Pic: Titan Fighting Championship 22 poster for "Johnson vs. Branch," featuring a battle of former UFC middleweights Anthony "Rumble" Johnson vs. Dave Branch. Titan FC 22 takes place on Fri., May 25, 2012 from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, KS live on HDNet.

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Late in the first round of their heavyweight bout Saturday at UFC on Fox 3, Lavar Johnson backed Pat Barry up against the cage and teed off.

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DIAZ IS MUST-SEE TV, TITLE SHOT NEXTFor purists, a fight is a fight, regardless of who is competing. I’m not a purist. I enjoy watching some guys compete more than others, and for the moment, at least, the Diaz brothers are at the very top of my list. Nate Diaz reminded me of that on Saturday night.His thrilling win over Jim Miller not only earned the Stockton slugger his first shot at UFC gold, it brought the third consecutive post-fight bonus check. This time, he won “Submission of the Night” honors for his slick tap out of a man who had never before been stopped in his professional career.Diaz now has nine post-fight bonuses in 16 UFC fights. In other words, more often than not, Diaz thrills the crowd with the “Fight of the Night,” “Knockout of the Night,” or “Submission of the Night.” Maybe that isn’t such a big deal when a fighter only has a handful of UFC bouts under his belt. It is amazingly impressive when a fighter has competed 16 times. The nine post-fight bonus awards means Diaz is only a single bonus check shy of Chris Lytle’s record of 10. Because styles make fights, and Diaz’s style almost always forces an opponent to fight in entertaining fashion, it seems likely that his next bout will bring a record-tying performance.As mentioned, Diaz’s next bout will be for the UFC lightweight championship. That means he will either face reigning champion Benson Henderson or the man Bendo snatched the title from, Frankie Edgar, probably sometime this fall. I guess that opportunity could get delayed if Bendo and Edgar fight to an ultra-close decision, with Edgar getting the nod. A rubber match would almost certainly be appropriate in that situation. Barring that outcome or an injury, Diaz will likely face the winner of Bendo-Edgar this winter. Both Bendo and Edgar are all-action fighters who love to get down and dirty. That makes for a beautiful dance partner for Diaz, who I predict will set a new record for UFC post-fight bonuses before the end of 2013.REMEMBER DANA’S WORDSI know Josh Koscheck is frustrated right now. I’m sure his fans are equally frustrated. From my vantage point, he received the wrong end of the split decision on Saturday night. I scored the fight 29-28 for the reality show alumnus, giving him what I viewed as fairly comfortable 10-9 scores for the first and third rounds. Hendricks easily won the second round, in my opinion. Two of the three judges in New Jersey disagreed with me, scoring it 29-28 the other way. Whether you agree with me or the two judges who scored the fight in favor of Hendricks, there is no denying the fact that the fight was close. It was an entertaining back-and-forth affair. One that I’m sure UFC President Dana White would point to when preaching his mantra to his army of competitors – never allow the judges to decide a fight. The reality is it’s tough to really try and force a stoppage at any point in a fight because overaggressiveness leaves the attacker wide open to be knocked out or submitted with a counter move. It’s even tougher to convince a guy to take those risks when he believes the fight is even heading into the last round. Yet, that is apparently what Kos needed to do heading into the third round on Saturday night.Who do you think won the fight?THE GREAT BEARD DEBATEDo bushy beards provide some level of protection from punches? I have no idea, to be honest. It seems likely that they help to some degree. Sort of like an organic pad, right? Again, I don’t know.The question has been raised more than once in 2012, as mountain man look-alikes, such as Roy Nelson and, more recently, Johny Hendricks brushed off monstrous shots to the jaw like they were jabs. I guarantee that more than a few fans of The Ultimate Fighter are probably wondering whether the cheek fur sported by quarterfinalist Michael Chiesa will play any role in his journey to capture the vaunted “six-figure contract.”I did a bit of Internet research on the subject, expecting to find some sort of guidance. I assumed that some sports scientist would have allowed curiosity to get the better of him. Well, if there is a learned piece out there on the topic, I certainly couldn’t find it.There is no arguing that both Nelson and Hendricks have tremendous chins. The world has known that about Nelson his entire career. We learned that for sure about Hendricks on Saturday night. It remains to be seen whether Chiesa belongs in that iron-jawed club.So, there you have it. Nelson and Hendricks are definitive proof that a beard helps, right? Opponents of that theory will quickly point out that Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson and Alessio Sakara both donned remarkably full beards when they got brutally knocked out by Seth Petruzelli and Brian Stann, respectively. Is that definitive proof that a beard doesn’t help? No.  Four is not a big enough representative sample to be statistically relevant. It is just enough to give anyone a little support for whichever side of the debate fence he or she sits on.For the record, I think has to help to some degree, even if only a miniscule amount. What do you think?IS JOHNSON THE NEXT HEAVYWEIGHT STAR? LET’S NOT GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES JUST YETLavar Johnson is one bad dude – a seriously bad dude.Anyone who can basically bully, beat up and then knock out Pat Barry is a scary human being. Johnson did just that on Saturday night. That makes it two spectacular knockout wins in his first two UFC bouts. Both came against extremely durable guys. The most recent, as mentioned, came against one of the most dangerous strikers in the game. Those performances definitely demand attention in the UFC heavyweight division. They have to make even the roughest, toughest strikers take a bit of a pause when thinking about slugging it out with Johnson. Yet, before we anoint this guy as the next great heavyweight, we have to remember that final two Strikeforce fights resulted in submission losses, and not from particularly accomplished heavyweight grapplers. We need to see Johnson demonstrate great takedown and/or submission defense before we get the hype train running too fast. Let’s not forget that, despite knocking Barry out, he got taken down and easily mounted by a guy with a relatively modest ground game, as far as UFC heavyweights go. Yes, I know Barry is working hard on his wrestling and submissions, but nobody is going to confuse him for Frank Mir any time soon.The win should be enough to earn Johnson a marquee matchup on an upcoming main card. A bout with former interim champion Shane Carwin would be a tremendously fun fight. A matchup with former TUF winner Roy Nelson is another one that instantly comes to mind as a great next bout for Johnson. The former would be another crazy bombing exhibition. The latter would be a stiff test of Johnson’s takedown defense and ground game, assuming Nelson decided to focus on getting the action to the mat.BELCHER TAKES HIS CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVELAlan Belcher has always had a ton of potential. The Arkansas native has been a mainstay in the UFC middleweight division since debuting nearly six years ago, but he has never been universally viewed as a legitimate title contender. The one thing that has eluded him all along was a career-defining win to propel him to admission into the 185-pound Preferiti.That is no longer the case. Belcher’s TKO win over Rousimar Palhares instantly inserts him into the title mix. Not because Palhares was close to a title shot. I doubt he was anywhere near the top of the UFC’s short list of possible opponents for Anderson Silva, assuming the champ can survive a second bout with Chael Sonnen, which is not a guarantee by any stretch of the imagination.Belcher’s win propels him toward the top of the division because of the way he beat Palhares. “Toquinho” is one of the best ground fighters in the sport and certainly the best leg lock artist. Most would have assumed that it would be MMA suicide for Belcher to play the submission and ground position game with Palhares, particularly if he got a hold of one of Belcher’s legs. That is precisely what happened. Palhares had a good grasp of Belcher’s right leg early in the fight and was in good position to sink in a knee bar or heel hook. Belcher would have none of it. He defended expertly and even attempted to attack with submissions of his own from the tenuous position.After moving to the top position, commentator extraordinaire Joe Rogan, who is one of the most knowledgeable MMA minds on the planet, was imploring Belcher to retreat back to his feet. Again, spending time in Pahlares’ guard is precisely what the Brazilian wanted. Belcher didn’t care. He not only stayed in his foe’s guard. He pounded him out from that position.The win was a vivid display of just how talented and well rounded Belcher really is. The win should have been his seventh in a row. Most, including me, believe that he was robbed in his split decision loss to Yoshihiro Akiyama back in July 2009. Correct that outcome and Belcher can make a tremendous argument for the number one contender spot. He is probably one more win away from truly earning the spot, but he is definitely in the discussion after the way he beat Palhares.A bout with Michael Bisping or the winner of the rematch between Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva could be just what the doctor ordered for Belcher to earn his first shot at UFC gold.

Posted in: ufc, fight, belcher, diaz, johnson

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With a thundering comeback after a near-disaster in one rollicking round of action, Lavar Johnson bumped his Octagon record to 2-0 with an exciting stoppage of Pat Barry. Squaring off in the first bout of the UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" televised card last night (Sat., May 5, 2012) in New Jersey, the heavyweights put on an exciting battle that was tailor-made for a nationwide television audience. It was the kind of red meat thrown to the fans bereft of the classical pitfalls than can turn mainstream audiences off. And it's no accident these two kicked off the card. Johnson and Barry are headhunting sluggers, both with considerable grappling deficiencies and big-time power. There's a special place for this kind of fighter, and with the UFC's attempt to secure an expanded foothold in the eyes of the sporting public, heavyweight barnburners go a long way toward the effort. In recent years, Barry has occupied that niche status as a kind of operational hand grenade designed to detonate and create excitement. Win or lose, "HD" has always supplied an exciting fight, despite his obvious shortcomings on the mat in a game where grappling and takedown defense are huge factors in keeping opponents from dictating the fight, particularly in the heavyweight division. However, with Barry's loss -- his third in four fights over the last 11 months -- Johnson may have displaced him as the resident UFC heavyweight slugger destined for exciting matches, if not implied contender status. Lavar's modest ground game was showcased by Barry, of all people, dominating him on the mat for much of the bout's 4:38 of action. But fight fans have short memories, particularly newer ones, and a fight like Johnson vs. Barry will resonate in the mind of the lesser-educated fan for some time. Coupled this with his Godzilla-like stoppage of the eminently durable Joey Beltran in his debut, and you wonder how they'll maximize Johnson's pair of big wins. Will they throw him in against a potent wrestler anytime soon? I don't think so. He offers too much excitement in the right kind of fight, particularly with the kind of thrills and TV-friendly viewing he can create in a brawl precisely like his previous two wins. At some point, Johnson will have to face the tough music of taking on the UFC's better wrestlers, but right now he's precisely in the kind of spot where his value can be maximized with the right style match-up. That's the kind of parallel matchmaking world that allowed the UFC to get the most out of Barry's skills, given their limitations, and a pretty good one to be in for the time being. Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or at twitter.com/jasonprobst.

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In the first main card bout at UFC on Fox 3, Lavar Johnson survived a scare on the ground to defeat Pat Barry by TKO at 4:38 of the first round. The win was Johnson's second straight since moving over from Strikeforce, and showed off both his strengths and weaknesses. After getting a taste of Johnson's power, Barry took the fight to the ground and immediately advanced to mount. He switched to side control he tried to lock on an americana, but Johnson was able to fight it off and eventually got back to the feet. After they reset Johnson staggered Barry with a big shot, then followed it up with a ton of punches against the cage on a stationary Barry. Eventually Barry couldn't take any more and collapsed to the mat. What was the high spot of this fight? The final sequence, with Johnson just unloading on Barry with a couple dozen punches while Pat just tried to cover up. Where do these guys go from here? I would dearly love to see Johnson face off with Mark Hunt. It might not work out that way, depending on the outcome of Hunt's bout with Stefan Struve at UFC 146, but that would be an awesome fight. Barry's now 1-3 in his last four and 4-5 overall in the UFC. I don't think he'll get released right now, but one more loss and he might. Throw him in there with Chad Griggs and let's see what happens. Watch it now, later or never? Now. The bout lived up to expectations and was a lot of fun. You'll enjoy the five minutes you spend on it. More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC on Fox 3 below the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3 Mayweather Vs. Cotto And UFC On Fox Results: 10 Brightest Stars From Weekend's Combat Action - Brent Brookhouse UFC On Fox 3 Overnight Ratings Down Significantly - Brent Brookhouse UFC On Fox 3: Hendricks, Koscheck Both Injured, Complete Medical Suspensions - Kid Nate UFC On Fox 3 Video: Nate Diaz, Johny Hendricks Post Fight Interviews - Kid Nate UFC On Fox 3 Results: Winners And Losers - Tim Burke Video Highlights UFC On Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller - Kid Nate UFC On Fox 3 Post-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 162: UFC On FOX Results Review - Matt Bishop UFC On Fox 3 Diaz Vs. Miller Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Kid Nate UFC On Fox 3: Diaz Vs. Miller Live Results And Play by Play - Dallas Winston

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pulled off another spectacular event last night (Sat., May 5, 2012) as UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" went off without a hitch at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The card featured several emerging stars who stepped up and made a name for themselves with mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who may have been previously unaware of their abilities. We also saw a few fighters who looked to push their status from the "prospect" category to the "title contender" distinction. Earlier today, we talked about what the future may hold for the main and co-main event winners, Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks. For Diaz, it looks like a certainty he will sit out and face the winner of the September showdown between Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson and former champion Frankie Edgar. For Hendricks, we speculated that the best match-up may be one between the former NCAA Division I champion wrestler and welterweight phenom, Rory MacDonald. But what about the other two big winners, Lavar Johnson and Alan Belcher? We'll talk possible match-ups for them after the jump: Lavar Johnson came crashing into the Octagon (and our hearts) for the first time when he took on Joey Beltran and his seemingly granite chin at UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis," in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 28, 2012. The fight ended early and violently as Johnson did what previously had seemed impossible -- he knocked "The Mexicutioner" out cold. Apparently, Johnson likes fighting on FOX, because his results against Pat Barry at UFC on FOX 3 were nearly identical. With less than one minute to go in the first round, he went to work, landing haymakers and uppercuts galore. What may be most impressive is "HD" staying on his feet as long as he did. He took a ton of punishment, but a person can only withstand getting slammed by ham-hocks like those for so long. Eventually, the knees say "no mas," which is exactly what happened here. Unfortunately, the win wasn't without flaw. There was a minute, after being taken down, where Johnson looked vulnerable to a submission. Lucky for him, he was facing a fighter who isn't going to be awarded his Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt any time soon. Johnson's last four losses came by way of submission. It's clearly something he needs to work on. Thankfully, there aren't a ton of fighters in the UFC's heavyweight division that are going to test this weakness, but there certainly are a few. In light of this, I have two choices for prospective dance partners for Johnson his next time out to the cage. First, has anyone seen Shane Carwin? Paging Mr. Carwin. Your services are needed in the Octagon. Seriously, it makes for a great match-up. Two behemoths who throw giant hands with lethal intentions? Yes, please. Additionally, "The Engineer" is a fine wrestler. I believe he could put Johnson and his ground game to the test. Unfortunately, there's no real guarantee Carwin will be available any time soon. He's projected to make his return midway through 2012. We'll see. If Carwin's not an option, I'd like to see Johnson get the winner of Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman. Both fighters love to put on exciting battles, and I think they both (particularly Nelson) have enough of a ground game to give Johnson a bigger test than Barry did. Alan Belcher is one of those guys that you're just not sure what to do with. He's been telling us he's the best middleweight in the world for a while now. The problem was that nobody believed him. I'm not saying he's made me believe to that extent, but his win over Rousimar Palhares was impressive, to say the least. He went to the ground with a guy who many believed to be the best submission practitioner in the 185-pound division and beat him at his own game. He'd like a title shot. I can't blame him, but I can't oblige him either, particularly because there's a bit of a logjam at the top of his weight class. Anderson Silva will take on Chael Sonnen to defend his title at UFC 148 on July 7. Michael Bisping will take on Tim Boetsch on the same card. Mark Munoz will fight Chris Weidman at UFC on Fuel TV 4, on July 11, 2012. You've also got Brian Stann fighting Hector Lombard at UFC on Fox 4, on Aug. 4, 2012 Belcher should get one of those guys as his next opponent, but who? It's so hard to say at this point, because who wins those fights will have a big impact on the way the subsequent matches are made. Of the three winners, one will get the next title shot, which leaves us two potential suitors for Belcher. Of the three, the winner of the fight between Munoz and Weidman seems least likely to get the next crack at the belt. You can dislike that out of loyalty to either fighter, but it's true. So, it seems soundest to me to think that Belcher's next opponent may very well be Munoz or Weidman. I can live with that, and it makes for a very intriguing match up. Anyway, that's what we came up with. Who would you Maniacs like to see Lavar Johnson and Alan Belcher take on next?

Posted in: ufc, belcher, fox, johnson, winner

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Pat Barry might be the friendliest, nicest guy in the UFC. He even tod me he loved me once mid interview...I think he just said it to get me to stop asking him silly questions though. See what a nice guy, he was trying to save me from embarassing myself during my first face to face interview ever. Pat's so nice that even after he took a pretty hefty beating by Lavar Johnson-the two hung out last night post fight, drinking beers and taking pics and making videos as though they were the two best friends ever.They even appear to be sporting the same hairstyle-just on opposite sides of their heads. (Side note: Did anyone else notice that Lavar Johnson has an uncanny resemblance to another large Johnson named 'The Rock'?) Check out the pics HD tweeted of himself and Lavar hanging out in a hotel room chuckling it up like BFFs in the wee post fight drunken hours of the night. You have got to love this kind of fighter camaraderie.

Posted in: night, johnson, hotel room, lavar johnsonthe, face interview

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Last night was a phenomenal night for fight fans. The UFC returned to Fox with an exciting effort that, while lacking starpower to bring big ratings, certainly brought enough action to reward those that did choose to tune in. Boxing had a great night as well with some big fights that actually delivered. Let's take a look at the five best performances from the evening's action (in no particular order). Remember, this isn't about winning or losing, it's about coming out of the night in a better place than you entered. So yes, it's similar to the earlier winners and losers post, but covering all weekend and a bit different in scope: Nate Diaz - I thought Miller was a horrible match-up for him, representing someone who did the things that a better fighter can do to beat Nate. Instead, Diaz dominated the clinch and did whatever he wanted at range. I don't exactly see Nate as a guy who beats Frankie Edgar or Ben Henderson, but it's going to be fun to watch him try. Floyd Mayweather - Yeah, obviously the two guys who won main event fights go on the list, but Floyd actually put on a deeply crowd pleasing fight, remained undefeated and will probably pocket close to $50 million when he gets his cut of everything. He's off to jail for a short stint (which will be reduced to six months most likely), but he's turned the PR battle against Manny Pacquiao in his way with smart media plays and now by taking on a game Cotto and coming out on top. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez - Alvarez came out and did what was expected, landing huge shots on Shane Mosley for twelve rounds. It may have been predictable, but he continues to carry the aura of a true superstar and he fought a Mosley that was actually punching back. Canelo also suffered the first cut of his career and didn't seem to care, continuing to fire away with huge bombs. "Sugar" Shane Mosley - Since we're on the topic, Mosley may have gotten thoroughly roughed up against Canelo, but he at least did it in a way he can be proud of. After looking absolutely awful against Mayweather, Pacquiao and Mora and never pulling the trigger, he fought every second of the twelve rounds against Alvarez, never backing down and landing as many punches as he could. He stood in there and fought like hell, even as the fight slipped away from him. He didn't shoot down the idea of retiring after the bout and it certainly wouldn't be the worst thing for him to hang up his gloves. Lavar Johnson - Johnson is awesome. He's plenty flawed but he comes to engage in crowd pleasing slugfests and color me shocked that he's managed to win his first two fights in the UFC. This was a fight where all logic suggested that he'd get busted up by a better, more "technical" striker. Instead, he survived exchanges and a few bad positions before just getting too rough for Barry in the clinch and knocking him out in a spectacular moment. Alan Belcher - I expected him to win, but I didn't expect him to win after going to the ground and have Palhares latch onto a leg. Belcher remained calm on the ground, waited until he could safely adjust position, rather than freaking out and leaving something exposed, and then punished Palhares. That's a pro level performance and one that moves Belcher in the direction of possibly contending for a title. Marco Huck and Ola Afolabi - Neither man got their hand raised yesterday afternoon in Germany, but both made a case that they deserved it after an unbelievable cruiserweight fight. American audiences never really embraced the cruiserweight (200 lb.) division for boxing but it's big internationally and very strong at the moment with a lot of very good fighters. Huck is the #1 cruiserweight on the planet and Afolabi ranks #7 over at Bad Left Hook. The two went back and forth in their battle, as the nature of the fight wore on both men, neither backed down, continuing to fire heavy leather until the final bell. You can read Bad Left Hook's recap of that fight here. Michael Johnson - Johnson has improved so much over his last two fights, it's truly remarkable. His expected role was to "play opponent" to Tony Ferguson, Instead he used a really nice striking game. Joe Rogan nailed it during the broadcast, pointing out that Johnson's success was coming from not just throwing the strikes (leg kicks and left hands) that were working over and over, but mixing up his attack, making Ferguson unsure of what was coming next and creating openings. Louis Gaudinot - Yeah, Dodson probably got the "bigger" flyweight win, but Gaudinot won the better fight. I thought Gaudinot vs. John Lineker was the more exciting fight (not that there was anything wrong with the Dodson fight, mind you). The two men absolutely threw down in a fun fight and deserved the fight of the night bonus.

Posted in: fight, night, johnson, he, mosley

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E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- UFC president Dana White still gets miffed if you try to suggest the first two UFC on FOX events were anything other masterpieces. He was at it again at the UFC on FOX 3 postfight press conference Saturday night, sending out zingers when asked to compare the event at the Izod Center to the previous two cards. "On the previous FOX cards, I know people were [expletive] about it, they've got nothing to [expletive] about," said White. "It's free, and they were great fights, so shut up." Regardless of what you might have thought of the first two events, there's no disputing the UFC hit an artistic home run in their third live network television event. The matches were designed, stylistically, to produce maximum action. But they also weren't just haphazardly thrown together for sake of a thrillfest. Each main-card bout had significance in its division: Nate Diaz-Jim Miller was there to put someone on the short list for a title shot; Josh Koscheck-Johny Hendricks was a classic "cagey veteran vs. up-and-coming star" meeting; Alan Belcher-Rousimar Palhares had major middleweight ramifications; and Pat Barry-Lavar Johnson ... OK, that one was probably put together simply for the sake of a thrillfest. But it still served to boost Johnson's profile as a heavyweight on the rise. According the the overnight ratings, the event drew an average of 2.25 million viewers, down from the first two FOX cards. But regardless of the numbers, there's no doubt that with the third event, the UFC got the format down pat, and the fighters delivered the goods. "You know, when you put on live fights or live sporting events, you never know how the fight is going to go," said White. "Tonight was one of those nights when, if you looked at the card, you knew the fights were going to be exciting, and these guys delivered." UFC on FOX 3 Notes *Excuse me for stating the obvious, but how gutsy was Belcher's performance in defeating Palhares? Not only did Belcher escape the sort of deep leg lock that has sent previous opponents home on crutches, but after escaping, rather than try to get back to his feet, he stayed in the danger zone and put Palhares out. "My game plan was to stay out of a grappling situation and stay safe," said Belcher. "I did the best with what was given to me. I was forced to get into a grappling situation, I messed up a little bit and I was in a leglock, but I got out and I just went with what was there." That's the sort of fortitude that makes future champions. At this stage, Belcher should be no more than one win away from a crack at the gold. *I'm coming around on the notion Nate Diaz deserves a lightweight title shot ahead of Anthony Pettis. Yes, Pettis owns a win over champion Ben Henderson. But title shots are based on who most deserves it now. Pettis' past three fights include a loss to Clay Guida and a split decision over Jeremy Stephens. Diaz, since going down to lightweight, has dominated an aging Takanori Gomi, derailed the runaway Donald Cerrone hype train, and defied conventional wisdom by manhandling Jim Miller in front of his hometown crowd. If you're looking at who most deserves a title shot at 155 pounds as of May 6, 2012, and not based on what happened in 2010, Diaz simply has a stronger case. *Speaking of Diaz, he's closing in on Chris Lytle's UFC record of 10 postfight awards. His submission of the night against was his ninth bonus: he has four subs of the night and five best fights. UFC on FOX 3 Quotes "They're both tough fighters. I feel very blessed just to be in the same Octagon as them." -- Johny Hendricks, on what it's like to defeat both Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, a feat only equalled by Georges St. Pierre "I don't think I can compete with these guys at 135, especially at the highest level. Some of them in the cage are 165, 170, it's like I'm fighting a welterweight. I never thought I'd be in the UFC, this is crazy, this is surreal, juts sitting at this press conference." -- Louis Gaudinot on life in the UFC flyweight division. Good Call To referee Kevin Mulhall, who called Koscheck vs. Hendricks. Several times over the course of the fight, the action slowed as the fighters clinched, usually with Hendricks pinning Koscheck along the fence. Mulhall put on a clinic in how to handle these situations which aspiring officials should follow: He gave both fighters ample time to make something happen, but as soon as it became crystal-clear there was a stalemate, he re-set the fighters in the middle of the cage. Mulhall's sense of judgment on when to pull the trigger was key to keeping Koscheck-Hendricks an intriguing, back-and-forth fight. Bad Call You know what? There really wasn't anything that happened over the course of the night that you could flat-out call a bad call, so I'm not going to name a bad call of the night just for the sake of having one. There were no bad stoppages, no bad restarts, and no judging robberies. The closest thing to a controversy was the Koscheck-Hendricks decision. I personally had Koscheck winning rounds one and three, the latter via a slim margin. But the fight was close enough that I can't complain about Hendricks getting the nod, or much of anything else. And nor should you, because we don't have nearly enough nights like this in mixed martial arts. Stock Up Louis Gaudinot and John Dodson. In case the first round of the UFC flyweight title tourney wasn't enough of an indicator, Gaudinot and Dodson proved once again that the time is right for a 125-pound weight class. Both fighters were gutsy but undersized bantamweights competing on The Ultimate Fighter 14. Both fighters impressed at flyweight Saturday night: Gaudinot in rallying for a submission win over John Linkeker in the Fight of the Night, and Dodson for toughing out a broken hand in a unanimous decision win over Tim Elliott. Both the winners and losers in these fights proved there's plenty of depth at 125 pounds. Stock Down Pat Barry. Look, everyone loves Pat Barry, and for good reason: He's a funny, engaging, gregarious guy. But he's also pretty clearly regressing as a fighter, and he's taking a lot of damage from guys who are in some cases significantly larger. If Barry's serious about progressing as a fighter, it might be in his best interest to cut him from the UFC and let him work his way back against lesser competition. Fight I want to see next Lavar Johnson vs. Shane Carwin. After watching the slugfest between Johnson and Barry, the first thought that popped into my head was that it would be great to see "Big" and Mark Hunt exchange haymakers. And while the inner lover of pure violence deep down inside me would still love to see that one, realistically, it's time to find out where Johnson stands in the heavyweight division. His fights with Barry and Joey Beltran before him showed Johnson's more than capable of holding his own against fellow sluggers. Now it's time to see how he fares against fighters with more tools in their kit. Of course, Carwin has heavy hands as well, but he also has a wrestling base like no fighter Johnson has faced. And a fighter on the upswing like Johnson would make for a good first fight back for Carwin after back surgery and coming off consecutive losses. Carwin-Johnson seems a win-win proposition.

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, fighter, johnson

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Lavar Johnson has made a sudden-impact in his first two UFC appearances. First, the former Strikeforce heavyweight stopped Joey Beltran. Saturday night, Johnson handed it to Pat Barry, showering him with a constant barrage of lefts and rights to record another victory. Johnson is now 17-5 overall in his career thanks to the first round [...]

Posted in: johnson, ufc appearances, strikeforce heavyweight, fight ’, victory johnson

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MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani spoke to UFC on Fox 3 winners Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks last night following their big wins over Jim Miller and Josh Koscheck, respectively. Both men are looking at title shots for their next fights. Diaz won a big victory via second round submission over Miller and Hendricks took a split decision win over Koscheck. After the jump we'll hear from Hendricks as well as main card winners Alan Belcher and Lavar Johnson. Belcher beat Rousimar Palhares with an amazing display of defensive Jiu-Jitsu that created the opportunity for him to finish Palhares with some brutal ground-and-pound. Johnson beat up Pat Barry on the feet and survived a surprising ground assault from Barry who managed to mount and side-mount Johnson and even threatened with an Americana arm lock. But it wasn't enough as Johnson got back to his feet and battered Barry for the stoppage. MMA Fighting has video interviews with more of the winners from UFC on Fox 3 including John Dodson, Louis Gaudinot, John Hathaway, Roland Delorme, and Dennis Bermudez. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3 Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners Best Fights by UFC Champs (BR) Deadliest Weapons in MMA (BR) Possible Fights for Penn's Return (BR) Possible Fights for Nick Diaz (BR) Best Entrance Songs in UFC (BR)

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The UFC on Fox 3 card is in the books, and I had a terrible night of predictions. I was totally wrong about Nate Diaz, and my undercard picks were straight up pathetic. Nevertheless, the event delivered as advertised and the main card was a good mix of devastating striking and slick technical submission grappling. The main event between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller showed that Nate most definitely belongs at the top of the lightweight division and is clearly NOT overrated (as I stated before - sorry 209). Winners Nate Diaz: As I said above, I was wrong. I have no problem admitting that. Diaz looked superb in New Jersey tonight, establishing his boxing game and outworking Miller in the clinch, which was a huge surprise to me. The finishing sequence was ultra-slick, and he proved that he can deal with the relentless pace of the 155 grinders. He apparently earned a title shot with the win, and the Nate Diaz we saw tonight could definitely give Ben Henderson or Frankie Edgar fits. Who would have thought that it'd be Nate and not Nick that would probably be headlining another card in late 2012? Johny Hendricks: It wasn't exactly the dominant win he pulled off in his last bout, but "Bigg Rigg" (terrible nickname) has now taken out two of 170's best gatekeepers in successive bouts. Carlos Condit vs. Georges St. Pierre won't be happening until at least November, but Hendricks is definitely in the drivers seat in regards to the next title challenger. The only question now is whether he sits out and waits, or fights a guy like Jake Ellenberger to solidify his hold on the elusive title shot. Alan Belcher: I'll be up front and say that I've never been a big Belcher fan, but he proved his mettle tonight. He played Toquinho's game and beat him at it, which is more than pretty much any other middleweight can boast about. His submission defense was picture-perfect and he showed patience, something he has lacked in the past. I still don't think he's exactly in the title hunt (you should have to beat at least one top-ten opponent to earn that consideration), but it was undoubtedly the biggest win of Belcher's career and definitely something to build on. Lavar Johnson: The big man was clearly a fish out of water on the ground, but his opponent was as well so he survived. Johnson proved to be a killer on the feet once again though, totally brutalizing Pat Barry against the cage to the point that I sat on my couch cringing at each right hook. He's way too one-dimensional to challenge for any titles anytime soon, but god damn is that one dimension devastating or what? I don't think the stars will align the way I want them to, but how good would Mark Hunt vs. Lavar Johnson be? Michael Johnson: I can honestly say that I didn't expect to be writing about him tonight, but he looked excellent against a tough opponent last night. Goldberg kept harping on his improvement since he joined the Blackzillians, and that might be true. To me though, he just looked truly comfortable on the feet for the first time since The Ultimate Fighter. It might have been because he didn't have to worry about getting taken down by El Cucuy, but that was undoubtedly the best performance of Johnson's career. I don't think we'll see him in title contention anytime soon, but that was a huge win for him. The Flyweight division: UFC fans had seen exactly two flyweight bouts coming into tonight's show - Joe Benavidez destroying Yasuhiro Urushitani, and the weird draw between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson. If they had any doubts about the little guys coming into tonight, I think John Lineker vs. Louis Gaudinot and John Dodson vs. Tim Elliott made them believers. Both were awesome bouts full of non-stop action, and I'm excited about the future of the division going forward. You should be too. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3 Losers Jim Miller: I hated seeing one of my favorite fighters go out like that, but he was classy in defeat and said what we were all thinking - Diaz had his number. A lot of people (including myself) believed that Miller wasn't himself against Ben Henderson, and it came out later that he fighting a kidney infection at the time. That made sense. I don't know or care if he had some sort of reason for his performance tonight - the bottom line is that he got beat by the better fighter. This is undoubtedly a huge step pack for Miller, and he'll need to rack up at least three more wins before he could even be considered for a title bout again. Josh Koscheck: Let's face it, he barely lost. A lot of people think he deserved the W. Throwing him in the losers column seems harsh, but it is what it is. The biggest thing coming out of the fight was the status of his eye, which was swollen up badly once again. Many are suspecting that he had re-injured his orbital bone, which would be very bad for his future in the sport if it's serious. Honestly though, how much did Kos really lose here? He wasn't getting a title shot with a win. He narrowly lost to a serious contender. He has nothing to be ashamed of and I hope he continues to get top-tier welterweights. It's easy to hate Kos, but he's damn good. Rousimar Palhares: How does someone with such devastating submission skills have such a terrible guard? Props to Toquinho for getting to exactly where he needed to be to finish the fight. But when it didn't go according to plan and Belcher ended up on top, why did he just eat GnP like Fedor eats ice cream? It's been proven time and time again that being one-dimensional won't fly in today's MMA world and while Palhares will always retain a big fan base based on his finishing skills, it's clear he's not a title challenger. Pat Barry: Everyone loves HD. But let's face it, he's not someone that deserves main card slots on national TV. I respect any guy that is willing to round out their game, but he had no clue what to do after he got the takedown and the americana didn't work out. He was lost. And if he isn't a world-beater on the feet, he isn't going to be competitive in the division with such a one-dimensional skill set. Again, I love the guy as much as anyone. He's a warrior. But he's not UFC-caliber, as much as that sucks to say. Tony Ferguson: What the hell man? El Cucuy has been dynamite in the UFC thus far and it was sort of embarrassing to see him get completely shut down like that last night. Props to Michael Johnson, he fought a great fight. But Ferguson didn't fight his fight at all and he looked totally lost all night. No urgency, no ability to adapt, and no answer. Plus, it's quite clear where Johnson's weaknesses are - on the ground. Other than one halfhearted attempt late in the fight, El Cucuy never tried to take it down at all. This was a gigantic setback for Ferguson, and anyone that would tell you otherwise is a liar.

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Here is lavar johnson Here is Rock from WWE submitted by lance_klusener [link] [2 comments]

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Third time was indeed the charm for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion last night (May 5, 2012) staged its latest event on the FOX network from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And after two previous uninspiring efforts, the UFC finally pulled off a very very impressive main card in the "Garden State." In the main event of the evening, the unpredictable Nate Diaz -- who had a Lightweight title shot on the line -- did what the Diaz boys do so well, boxing up perennial top division contender Jim Miller for 1.5 rounds and then putting him away via tongue-crushing submission (power guillotine) in the second stanza. Like butta.' It's easy to write, but it's much harder to explain how effortlessly Diaz sliced through the super tough and talented New Jersey native. Diaz came into this bout with several question marks about his wrestling (or lack thereof), which appeared to be the glaring weakness in an overall above average arsenal. MIller was supposed to close the distance, score takedowns and brutalize Diaz en route to a lopsided decision. Didn't happen. Diaz kept his distance, played his game and notched the biggest win of his professional fight career. He's had an up-and-down journey inside the Octagon since winning The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) years back, flip-flopping between divisions and occasional setbacks. However, he made a very big statement -- massive nationwide television audience notwithstanding -- that he is a legitimate threat to the UFC 155-pound champion. And, perhaps more telling about his MMA maturity, he's willing to sit and wait for the opportunity that he's earned outright. No complaints here. Johny Hendricks entered his co main event fight against Josh Koscheck riding a wave of momentum that crested with a 12-second stoppage of perennial top Welterweight contender Jon Fitch in his previous performance. If lightening could strike twice, and he could topple Fitch's long-time training partner in impressive fashion, "Big Rigg" would be riding rather dirty. Let's call him untidy (and that's not a reference to his unkept bushy beard). Hendricks won last night via split decision. And he did it against one of the toughest 170-pound fighters in the world. But, he got a little help from the judges sitting ringside because the outcome could have gone either way. Koscheck put up a very good fight in the first and third rounds, and there is a very good case that he could have walked away the winner. But, he didn't. Hendricks landed several huge shots throughout the 15-minute fight and won a very convincing second round, which appeared to be his keys to victory. He's clearly at the forefront of the division, but a clear-cut number one contender he is not. Defeating the winner of Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann will earn him that distinction. Emphasis on "earn." I don't have much to say about Alan Belcher after his exciting first round technical knockout of fearless leg-locker Rousimar Palhares. Why? Because "The Talent" has been telling everyone who will listen for the past two years that he is a very dangerous man, who more than lives up to his nickname. Unfortunately, despite his shameless -- and often comedic -- self promotion, most folks just pass it off as nonsense. That's a massive mistake, especially when you're talking about a cat crazy enough to initiate and insane game of footsie with the sport's most devastating and unstable 185-pound submission specialist. Belcher did the stupidest thing imaginable last night, diving right into Palhares' bread basket and daring him to take a leg back to Brazil. Palhares, national television be damned, was more than likely to oblige, but Belcher didn't let him. He set the trap and then used the seemingly senseless opportunity to set up a vicious ground-and-pound finish that would have certainly stopped most humans much sooner. If folks weren't listening to Belcher's words all these years, I'm pretty certain they heard those fists last night loud and clear. Get that man on a poster, immediately, and set him up against the winner of Brian Stann vs. Hector Lombard or Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch. It's long overdue. Take a bow, UFC matchmakers, kicking off an important and influential fight card like this with a heavyweight scrap with the fireworks potential of Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry was a homerun. Neither man has a ground game worth a lick and both of them hit like mules. Did I say homerun? I meant grand slam. Johnson and Barry lived up the expectations and went balls to the wall until it became clear that punches hurt. Barry tried to flip the script, taking the fight to the ground once he felt the "Big" power, but Johnson eventually got the fight back up to the feet where it belonged. And it was where Barry, a K-1 veteran, didn't want to be because Johnson was just too big and too powerful ti withstand. Once Johnson got going, and Barry realized his only offense was a curled up defense, it was only a matter of time before the referee in charge of the action saved "HD" from the beating of a lifetime. Johnson looked absolutely ferocious inside the Octagon. And I don't want to see the promotion match him up with some well-rounded, heavy-handed MMA fighter his next time out who can ruin all the fun. No, I want the UFC to book Lavar Johnson vs. Mark Hunt as soon as the New Zealander is done with Stefan Struve at UFC 146 later this month ... win or lose. That's a walk-off grand slam. That's enough from us. Now it's your turn to discuss UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" in the comments section below. Is Diaz championship material? Do you agree with the Hendricks-Koscheck decision? Who should be next for Belcher? Is Johnson a serious heavyweight contender? Let's hear it, Maniacs. Be sure to also check out our complete UFC on Fox 3 blow-by-blow coverage of the entire "Diaz vs. Miller" event right here. Our complete UFC on Fox 3 results recap of the Facebook/FUEL TV "Prelims" action can be found right here.

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It was a fight that was made with the idea of pleasing the casual fan and heavyweights Lavar Johnson and Pat Barry completely lived up to expectations last night (May 5, 2012) in the UFC on FOX 3 main card-opening bout with a very action-packed one round brawl. It wasn't the most technical battle, but it was about as violent and powerful as you can get with both men looking to knock each other senseless. On paper, Barry had the more diverse skillset and was the more accurate striker, having the ability to mix in vicious kicks to go with his punches and (surprisingly) a better ground game. So how did Johnson send "HD" to the hospital? And what happens next for both big bombers?Follow me after the jump for our Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry UFC on FOX 3 post-fight review and analysis: Early on, it was all about power and spacing. Johnson pressed forward throwing heavy leather and Barry tried to keep his distance and snap off his kicks, but the bigger, stronger Johnson was able to corner Barry against the cage. Utilizing a nice cross-face, Johnson threw some big knees and hooks at his trapped foe and unleashed a big flurry of punches mixed in with leaning on "HD" against the fence which forced Barry to attempts a takedown. Barry was actually successful with his takedown, taking the mount immediately, but oddly gave up the position to go to side control where he looked to try and tap Johnson out with a keylock but his technique on the canvas simply wasn't to the level where he could actually finish it. Eventually, Johnson grabbed an underhook and worked his way back to his feet, and this was the demise of Pat Barry. After surprising the former kickboxer by throwing a head kick, Johnson closed the distance and threw one of the nastiest and most violent heavyweight striking flurries I've ever seen. For the next 20 seconds, Johnson UNLOADED on Barry with left and right hooks, throwing 35 total strikes to "HD's" head while mixing in a few knees. He finally really hurt the Deathclutch fighter with an uppercut and then put him down for good with a left hook to the head. For Pat Barry, this was just some poor judgement. You can't allow yourself to get trapped against the fence against such a powerful striker like Lavar Johnson. Iron-chinned Joey Beltran did the exact same thing and even he was finished. Also, I have to wonder why Barry gave up the full mount just so he could work on a keylock against Johnson. If he had just stayed in mount, he might have been able to ground and pound his way to victory or perhaps force Johnson to give up his back and potentially even a choke. Barry's biggest weapons in this fight were his kicks and by not creating space, he gave himself very little opportunity to utilize them. The UFC loves Pat Barry far too much to let him go after a loss like this. I'd expect to see him get matched up against someone along the lines of Chad Griggs, Phillip de Fries or Oli Thompson. For Lavar Johnson, he did exactly what he needed to do to win this fight. He got in Pat Barry's face, he pressured him constantly and he never gave him room to breathe. His attack against the fence, especially in the opening minute was perfect. It was a combination of leaning on Barry mixed with spurts of violent flurries and power shots. The stand-up couldn't have gone any better for the "Big" man. His ground skills obviously leave much to be desired, but credit him for getting back to his feet when he was in a bad spot. Anyone that stands and trades with Johnson has a very real chance of being put away. There are limited options for Johnson's next fight but potential opponents include fellow heavy-hitter Shane Carwin, the upcoming Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman winner or potentially Matt Mitrione. For complete UFC on FOX 3 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here. So what did you think, Maniacs? Were you surprised Barry couldn't get off the fence? What would you do with Johnson next after two vicious knockouts? Sound off!

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - It looked momentarily like Lavar Johnson might be forced to tap. Trapped on his back in a UFC on FOX 3 main-card tilt with Pat Barry, Johnson was out of his element and looked to be in trouble. Not even close, said Johnson. Fighting in front of a national TV audience, Johnson wasn't going out like that, plain and simple.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- After his sensational first-round stoppage win over Pat Barry at UFC on Fox 3, heavyweight striker Lavar Johnson spoke to MMA Fighting about his victory. The California-native said beating Barry was the highest achievement of his career. Johnson also discussed Barry shooting in for the takedown, why he stopped punching before the referee stopped the fight and what's changed for him now that he's in the UFC after losing two in the row.

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With a night full of exciting and tightly contested fights. the night’s bonuses were also tightly contested. Two main card fighters, Nate Diaz and Lavar Johnson, were amongst those that earned $65,000 bonuses, along with Louis Gaudinot and John Lineker, who fought on the preliminary card and earned “Fight of the Night” honors. Diaz won the main event, along with “Submission of the Night” with his second round guillotine over Jim Miller. This was the first time in 25 career fights that Miller has ever lost due to stoppage. The win, Diaz’s third consecutive since returning to the lightweight division, also gave Diaz his third consecutive fight night bonus. He now has earned nine during his career, with tonight’s being his fourth “Submission of the Night”. Johnson also extended his streak of bonuses, as he won his second “Knockout of the Night” bonus of 2012 with his win over Pat Barry. After losing his last two fights in Strikeforce in 2011, Johnson has started off 2-0 in the UFC. After knocking out Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox 2 in January, Johnson continued that tonight over Barry, giving him nine knockout wins in his last eleven fights. While the knockout bonus went to the gargantuan heavyweight Johnson, the smallest men on the night earned “Fight of the Night” as flyweights Gaudinot and Lineker nabbed the bonus thanks to their exciting back-and-forth matchup. The green-haired Gaudinot ended up the victor after suffering a bevy of strikes in the first round. He came back in the second, eventually choking out the Brazilian with a guillotine choke at 4:54 of the second round. For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 3, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com MMAFrenzy.com

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Nate Diaz, Lavar Johnson, Louis Gaudinot and John Lineker each banked $65,000 bonuses Saturday night at UFC on Fox 3.

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Pat Barry hospital pic after losing to Lavar Johnson at UFC on FOX 3 earlier this evening at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. "HD" took too many "Big" shots and eventually fell down toward the tail end of the first round. Johnson nailed him with about "55 bombs" along the fence, so Barry might consider himself a little lucky. That hospital gown, though, literally adds insult to injury.

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It's important to note that when it comes down to the body absorbing bullets, Lavar Johnson is the closest thing the MMA world has to 50 Cent. In 2009, Lavar Johnson was gunned down at his family reunion on July 4th by some psychotic teenager. He took a bullet in the stomach and another in the chest, forcing the heavyweight to have emergency surgery. See, now you know why Lavar has that gnarly scar going down his entire torso. You no longer have to be embarassed when you stare at it. Tonight, we witnessed a brutal amount of fists being assembled on and around Pat Barry's chin in the first round at UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller. It was a bloody, brutal and most important, the entire country got to see what happens when two massive individuals come together inside of a geometrically perfect cage. It was clear from the beginning the plan for Pat Barry was to focus on Lavar's legs, forcing him to wobble and eventually collapse on the ground like an obese ostrich. Lavar used his massive size to rush Barry in order to close the distance and then sprinkle him with whatever emerged from his massive fists. In the end, Lavar's gameplan won and the fight was stopped in the first round. Props to Big Johnson on his equally massive win. [Source]

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It didn’t take long for the big boys at UFC on Fox 3 – Lavar “Big” Johnson and Pat “HD” Barry – to get to work. On this night, it was Johnson earning a first round TKO victory in New Jersey. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Lavar Johnson said he had a feeling Pat Barry would try to take him to the ground. The feeling was right, and Johnson was prepared. He escaped a tenuous situation and came back to knock out Barry in the first round of their UFC on FOX matchup.The two kept a blistering pace for the entire round. They flurried early and often, and Johnson was the first to clinch and take a breather. Near the fence, he buckled Barry with an uppercut, and Barry shot in for the takedown. Johnson initially sprawled well, but Barry drove through and got him down. More Coverage: UFC on FOX 3 Results | UFC News From there, Barry had him in trouble, quickly moving to side control, where he tried an Americana. Johnson was visibly grimacing, but was able to free his arm and soon get back to his feet.It was all Johnson after that. He backed Barry against the fence and unloaded. Barry tried to cover up, but there was no way to avoid all of the firepower coming his way, and Barry eventually crumpled against the fence. Johnson pulled back before the ref even stepped in for the knockout win."I feel great," Johnson said. "Pat's a very tough guy and I'm very happy to be here in the UFC." The official time was 4:38 of the round. It was Johnson's second straight win in the UFC, and he's now 17-5 overall. Barry dropped to 7-5.

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Lavar Johnson def. Pat Barry by TKO at 4:38 of round one Lavar Johnson was in trouble on the ground for a minute, but once he got back to his feet it was pure devastation. He picked up a first-round TKO victory over a game Pat Barry in their Heavyweight bout at UFC on Fox 3 after landing a barrage of punches on Barry against the fence near the end of the first stanza. Barry took it to the ground and threatened with an americana at one point, but Johnson escaped and lit up the Louisiana native to earn the W. Barry landed a leg kick to start, and Johnson backed him up against the fence. Barry got off and landed a head kick. Johnson got it back against the cage and landed three knees to the head. Barry opened up to exchange, but got tagged twice. Barry looked for the takedown, but Johnson sprawled. Barry persevered though and went straight to mount, then popped over to side control. Barry attempted to lock up an americana, but Johnson wrenched his arm free. Barry rode it out in side control for a while, seemingly not sure what to do. Johnson finally got an underhook and got back to his feet. Barry landed another kick and big right hook. Johnson responded with a big knee. Johnson landed a huge right hand that staggered Barry, and Johnson swarmed him with at least 25 punches. Barry held on for dear life, but he finally ate one too many and collapsed to the mat. Johnson picked up his second straight victory in the octagon since coming over from Strikeforce. Barry drops to 1-3 in his last four bouts. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3

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The UFC on Fox 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" event taking place tonight (Sat., May 5, 2012) in New Jersey kicked off its main card on network television with a heavyweight hustle pitting the short but stocky Pat Barry against the powerful Lavar Johnson. Both men came into the fight having crushed their previous opponents. They both also promised we wouldn't see any ground work and we could be treated to "Knockout of the Night" honors. They lived up to exactly what they promised, too, or at least Johnson did. Barry started the fight exchanging punches but once he felt his opponent's power, he shot in for a takedown and started attempting submissions. Naturally, "Big" Lavar fought his way out and once he got back to his feet, that's when he put in work. And by "put in work," I mean he put Barry against the fence and dropped about 55 bombs on him. That'll do it every time, folks. It didn't take long for the big boys to lock up in the center of the cage. Johnson was pushing forward and trying to land uppercuts after pushing Barry against the fence. "HD" managed to fire off a big kick to the head that had Lavar stepping back. But, once again, they ended up back against the fence with Lavar using his strength to overwhelm. He was landing knees and big punches, too, enough so that Barry bailed out by shooting a takedown. And the weirdest thing happened. He succeeded. Then it got really weird when he hopped into full mount before passing to side control. We're talking about Pat Freaking Barry, y'all. He even locked on a submission attempt, laughable as it may have been, but Johnson fought it off. No matter, Barry kept solid position for some time before Lavar finally managed to get back to his feet. Right away, he was headhunting, too. Once he connected with knees and kicks, we saw why. Barry went flat to the floor but managed to pop back up, only to see Johnson continue the assault. Eventually, Barry couldn't take the incredibly powerful shots Johnson was unloading on him and the referee stepped in to save him from further punishment. Sometimes it's nice when a fight ends exactly as advertised. Remember, too, that MMAmania.com has live ongoing coverage of the UFC on FOX 3 event with blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action right here.

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Michael Johnson has made drastic strides with his game. Ask Tony Ferguson.

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Michael Johnson def. Tony Ferguson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Michael Johnson used a vastly-improved striking game to control Tony Ferguson on the feet and take a unanimous decision victory in their Lightweight bout at UFC on Fox 3. The bout wasn't exactly full of action, but Johnson found a home for his left hand a lot more than Ferguson was able to do anything else, dropping him in the first and generally just controlling the fight. The first round was fairly slow for the first half, with neither fighter connecting on much. Johnson looked much more relaxed, while Ferguson was forcing it and getting nowhere. Johnson was able to establish his kicking game a lot more in the second, while Ferguson still had little response. Johnson also landed a few body shots. The third started out as slowly as the first, but Johnson took over in the latter half of the round and landed his left continually. Basically, Ferguson was never really in the fight. Johnson improved to 3-2 in the UFC with the victory, which was likely the biggest of his career. Ferguson, the TUF 13 winner, dropped his first bout in the UFC after three straight wins. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3

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A slugger's special is on tap for the UFC on Fox 3 televised main card later this evening (May 5, 2012) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And you have to wonder what the over-under on takedowns would be at the betting window, if such props were offered for the Heavyweight fight between Lavar Johnson and Pat Barry. There are no accidents in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight matchmaking, and Johnson and Barry represent the exact kind of opponent both need to deliver an exciting fight. Fresh off his impressive Octagon debut with a bone-numbing stoppage of the durable Joey Beltran, Johnson faces veteran Barry, a talented kickboxer with a penchant for memorable finishes, whether it's him doing the finishing or being dusted off in a highlight-reel closing sequence. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on Fox 3 fight between Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry: The Breakdown Barry's kicks are an outstanding weapon, and he'll feel freer than usual to unleash them because Johnson isn't going to be looking to take him down. Johnson's best offensive weapon is a nasty right uppercut, and he'll have to be sharp, as he looked tired at times in the brief, but overwhelming, beating that was the Joey Beltran fight, despite it only going 4:24. It may have been a first-time Octagon dump, but if there's a long, drawn-out kickboxing match, Barry's stamina could be an edge. There's also Barry's wrestling, which has improved somewhat in recent bouts from non-existent to mediocre, and that's enough to keep Johnson at bay in that realm. As Johnson, who is basically a two-handed fighter who rarely kicks, gets into a longer match, it may become rough for him to deal with Barry's spry movement, changing stances and thundering kicks, which are a huge weapon for "HD" to negate the height advantage he always concedes facing fellow heavies. The Pick This is a fireworks-ready bout to kick off the main telecast, and Barry's experience will be too much. Johnson is a talented heavyweight, but still very much a work in progress, particularly competing at this level. It's obvious the UFC wants to capitalize on his impressive stoppage of Beltran by giving him a fight to further develop his marketability while keeping him away from a wrestler that would smother and likely beat him. But, Barry is still an outstanding kickboxer with a lot more tools. Neither guy is ever going to be a heavyweight contender given their wrestling deficiencies, but both are exciting and willing to mix it up -- that's what favors Barry and his deeper tool set, as he punishes Johnson's legs, eventually mixing in sneaky counters and big-time combinations, wearing down Johnson to a second-round knockout. Barry via knockout Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC on Fox 3 results of all the "Diaz vs. Miller" action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FUEL TV "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the FOX broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 4 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Sunday morning. See you later! Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst or jasonprobst@gmail.com.

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Main Card Diaz vs Miller Koscheck vs Hendricks Palhares vs Belcher Barry vs Johnson Prelims Ferguson vs Johnson Dodson vs Elliott Hathaway vs Krauss Gaudinot vs Lineker Castillo vs Cholish Bermudez vs Garza Delorme vs Denis Massenzio vs Vemola submitted by butatwutcost [link] [5 comments]

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Listening to Tony Ferguson talk about his fight tonight at UFC on FOX 3 it is clear the 28-year old Ultimate Fighter winner can’t wait to get inside the Octagon in hopes of continuing his ascension up the lightweight ranks. “El Cucuy” holds an overall record of 13-2 including three straight wins since his time on TUF, taking out seasoned veterans Aaron Riley and Yves Edwards in his last two tilts. Standing in his way of a fourth consecutive victory is Michael Johnson who stepped in a few weeks ago as a replacement for Thiago Tavares (who himself was filling in for Dennis Hallman). The shuffling around might bother some fighters, but Ferguson doesn’t seem to mind based on the end-goal remaining the same. “I’m ecstatic for this fight. The opponents have changed but my attitude hasn’t changed one bit,” said Ferguson in an interview on Rebellion MMA Radio. “I’m not looking past him, I’m just looking through him. I’ve prepared myself mentally and am focused.” Ferguson continued on to explain he respected Johnson based on his affiliation with the Blackzilian camp but would not be denied his dream of one day fighting for the lightweight championship. “I can’t wait until it’s my turn for that belt,” added Ferguson, crediting the 155-pound division for its depth while expressing his confidence in eventually earning a title-shot. Ferguson’s fight with Johnson is set for the Fuel TV portion of tonight’s prelims (5:00 PM EST). Facebook face-offs will be shown an hour earlier while the main card fires up at 8:00 PM EST on FOX. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller Brent Brookhouse: Miller is too tenacious and too hard to stop to lose this fight. Diaz has better stand-up, but he also is awful about maintaining distance and worse at defensive wrestling. Miller isn't likely to get caught in a dumb submission, and is likely to just work his way to a decision win. Jim Miller by decision. Fraser Coffeen: Maybe I'm wrong here, but I think people are way overrating Diaz. Yes, the Cerrone fight was a good one and Diaz looked good there, but his return to LW has been that fight and a win over the totally shot Gomi. Prior to that, he left LW after being controlled by dominating wrestlers. Which is exactly what's going to happen here. Jim Miller, Decision KJ Gould: Miller willingly goes to his back too much to be considered a dominating wrestler. He's tough, but so is Diaz, and Diaz has the trickier guard and better boxing. He's also probably got a fair reach advantage. Diaz batters Miller to a decision. Nate Diaz by Decision. Ben Thapa: Both fighters love to continuously deal out damage with punches and on the ground, both will hunt for a kimura. However, Diaz is less of a scrambler than Miller and may actually be at a distinct speed disadvantage here. Jim is going to put him down, pass that tricky guard and could latch onto a rear naked choke in the late rounds as Diaz gives up his back fairly often. Jim MIller, submission, Round 4. David Castillo: I'd say Miller is the worst possible matchup for Diaz insofar as you already have a blueprint for this fight: Nate's match against Joe Stevenson. There, Nate basically got outwrestled, and unlike his brother, he's not the explosive submission grappler that Nick is. And Miller is more than capable. Though I suppose it's possible Nate can win on the feet, but I don't take too much from the Cerrone fight: Donald simply looked terrible. Not that it wasn't a great performance, only that I don't think it tells us much. Jim Miller by decision. Dallas Winston: The overwhelming factor here seems to be wrestling. Miller is a legit 3-dimensional talent with striking, wrestling and submissions -- however, wrestling is the key to unlock and implement those other dimensions. If Miller can't put Nate on his back, he'll be relegated to enduring a steady shower of Stockton slaps. Miller's high fight I.Q. will come into play as well, as the timing, set-up and predictability of his takedown attempts will be just as crucial as his actual wrestling prowess, and Nate is more of a brawler than a tactician. I think Miller deserves a close edge but my sentimental side outweighs the balance. Nate Diaz by decision. Tim Burke: Nate Diaz is overrated. There, I said it. It's very easy to point at the Cerrone win and say that he's really good, but those are the types of fighters that Diaz is tailor-made for. He's not all that effective against grinders, and Jim Miller is one of the best grinders in the division. Nate's not gonna keep him on the outside standing, he's not gonna be able to stop the takedown, he's not gonna get into Jim's head, and he's not going to submit Miller from the bottom. This is all MillerBrother. Jim Miller by decision. Staff picking Diaz: KJ, Dallas, StephieStaff picking Miller: Fraser, Brookhouse, David, Thapa, Tim SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3 Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck Brent Brookhouse: Hendricks isn't exactly a diverse striker, but we know exactly what Koscheck is on the feet. He's an overhand right and little more. Hendricks is also better at dirtying it up and his skills translate better to a fight that is likely to be decided in the stand-up. Johny Hendricks by TKO, round 3. Fraser Coffeen: This is draft #2 of my pick. Draft #1 argued how Hendricks would win, but people were overrating his stand-up and underrating Koscheck's if they thought he was just going to stroll in and knock Kos out. Then I remembered - Kos really doesn't have great defensive stand-up. That's what cost him against Thiago, and that's what allowed Hughes to actually look halfway decent against him. He might try to fight super smart and control Hendricks to a win, but I think he gets caught eventually. Johny Hendricks, KO, R2 KJ Gould: Hendricks is a more accomplished wrestler on paper, Koscheck is a more experienced MMA fighter in actuality. Both throw with mean intentions, but I've honestly never seen Koscheck go for more than an overhand or rear headkick. Hendricks can drop you with much shorter range punches, and providing he hasn't neglected his wrestling for his MMA camps, he can pose a lot of problems for Koscheck who may be in the twilight of his career. Johny Hendricks by KO. Ben Thapa: I do not see Josh Koscheck taking Johny Hendricks down at all. If all Rick Story could do was push Johny up against the cage, I don't see the far less takedown-focused Koscheck sticking with it that long. Josh is going to battle this one out on the feet and that is where it gets tricky. Mike Pierce is the most recent common opponent and he arguably beat them both - Johny was taken down and looked ineffectual in the clinch, while Josh had similar problems. Others here have called Koscheck out for not being that diverse, but he does know how to work his game rather well. Hendricks has much more power in his hands and takedowns, but this is asking him to pick and choose the right moments to employ such power. I do not know if he is indeed ready for that. Going with the younger guy who has a shot of improving his game in the camps rather than refining it. Johny Hendricks, close decision. David Castillo: Tough fight to pick, but I like Hendricks in this one. I realize Koscheck is one dimensional on the feet, but if he makes this fight dirty, I could see him taking Hendricks down enough to convince the judges that half-takedowns are enough similar to how he "won" against Mike Pierce. So I'm tempted to pick Koscheck off a questionable decision, but because I'd prefer to see Hendricks win, I'll go with the arbitrary feeling. Johny Hendricks by TKO, round 2. Dallas Winston: I'd like to respectfully suggest that Koscheck has gotten away with predictable and mediocre striking for way too long. His fall-back was reverting to takedowns and that option will not come easy against Hendricks, though both have been prone to takedowns when committing on combinations. The tight and crisp boxing of Hendricks should allow him to score the higher volume of more effective blows. Koscheck has yet to encounter someone who can match his wrestling, striking, size, strength and agility, plus the only southpaw he's fought is Frank Trigg. The checklist of relevant factors is just too heavy for Hendricks here. Tim Burke: I'm going against the grain. The intangibles lean towards Hendricks - Kos still being worried about his face, and trying something new boxing-wise in the gym might lead to him trying too hard to test it out in a fight. But I still can't shake Hendricks getting outworked by Rick Story. Koscheck is way ahead of Hendricks in MMA wrestling, and he generally fights pretty smart. If he turns it into a grinding dogfight, it's his for the taking. I'm also still pissed off about the Fitch KO. I've never said this before and I'll likely never say it again, but - go Kos. Josh Koscheck by decision. Staff picking Hendricks: Fraser, KJ, Brookhouse, David, Thapa, DallasStaff picking Koscheck: Tim, Stephie Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares Brent Brookhouse: I really like Belcher here. Palhares is obviously going to go for submissions if he can get this to the ground, but I think Belcher is crafty enough to pick his spots to engage and not allow himself to play Pahares' game. I also think it only takes a few brief minutes of frustration for Palhares to break mentally. Alan Belcher by decision. Fraser Coffeen: This is a tough one for me. Palhares has less wear and tear, and he's a submission machine, whereas Belcher has been mostly sidelined for a long time now and seems to be winding up his career. But the flipside is that Belcher is a smart fighter, and Palhares is not. Toquinho is a bit one dimensional, and if Belcher can avoid that dimension, he can do this. The thing is, that's a hell of a dimension. Got to go with momentum here, but I'm shaky on this one. Rousimar Palhares, Decision KJ Gould: Palhares by being a human beartrap. Rousimar Palhares by Heelhook Submission. Ben Thapa: Belcher flat out destroyed Jason MacDonald last September. He looked amazing there - but he has never had to face an opponent who chases leglocks so relentlessly and from such odd angles. Rousimar has lots of trap cards to activate. In a Judo Chop, I took a look at Palhares's unusual set-ups and how he used those to catch Mike Massenzio, a black belt and good grappler in his own right, in a heelhook. The same is going to happen to Belcher. He can drill all the leglock escapes he wants, but the set-ups are so unusual and unexpected that one of them is going to allow Blanka to catch Belcher. Rousimar Palhares, submission, Round 2. David Castillo: Belcher is like Marquardt-lite, so I could see Palhares, for all of his heel hooking gifts, get worked since he has very little to offer on the feet. On top of that, I agree with Brent: I don't think Rousimar is mentally unstable (not that he hasn't proven that time and time again), and I could see him getting frustrated. Belcher's not some proven commodity, as I don't consider him a top MW (I'll never be able to shake the image of him getting thrashed by Kendall Grove), but I think his style is enough to take the tree stump. Alan Belcher by Decision. Dallas Winston: I think the unpredictable creativity of Palhares will be huge here. Belcher has phenomenal takedown defense and balance when striking and, considering Toquinho's lack of wrestling pedigree, should be able to stave off traditional attempts to work subs. Palhares, however, is anything but traditional and excels through a seething hatred for the human leg. I see Palhares having a puncher's chance to pull off some unorthodox submission attempt at any time but also exposing himself to Belcher's killer straight right in the process. Alan Belcher by TKO. Tim Burke: I can't remember the last time such a high-level bout had such a low fight IQ between the two fighters. Both of these guys find ways to lose fights they should be more competitive in, but who is going to blink first? I honestly don't think Belcher is smart enough to stay away from Palhares. Toquinho's wrestling is underrated, and Belcher's whole game (apart from technical muay thai) is overrated. Stumpy's taking another leg home. Rousimar Palhares by submission, round 2. Staff picking Belcher: Brookhouse, David, Dallas, StephieStaff picking Palhares: Fraser, KJ, Thapa, Tim Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson Brent Brookhouse: Johnson is bragging about how he has no intention to wrestle and will let submissions go if he has them because he wants to bang. To me, that indicates that he's coming in with the gameplan of fighting exactly like Barry wants and that means he loses. Pat Barry by TKO, round 2. Fraser Coffeen: Barry's problem has long been his Fight IQ, but he seems to have that under control lately. He's a superior technical striker to Johnson, who doesn't have the all around game to counteract that. If Barry plays smart, he's got this. Pat Barry, KO, R1 KJ Gould: Pat Barry is a more technical, arguably more powerful and definitely more experienced striker. Slowly but surely he's filling in the holes in his game through wrestling at Brock Lesnar's Death Clutch gym, and his ground game with BJJ ace Rodrigo ‘Comprido ‘ Medeiros. Johnson is a big, powerful guy out of AKA, and a natural athlete from his college football days. I just don't think he's refined enough to hang with Barry on the feet, and Barry is less a fish out of water on the mat these days. Pat Barry by KO. Ben Thapa: Lavar Johnson will make this as much like Kongo/Barry as possible once the exchanges start getting serious. There will be little defense from either man and punch-fist bombs are going to land on faces. I suspect that the ability of Christian Morecraft to land on Barry does not bode well for Barry's chances of winning this brawl. Both fighters are eminently likable, with Barry being easily one of the most relaxed and humorous people to interact with anywhere in the sport, but Lavar has more natural power in his hands than Pat does. I predict that they come out cautious and then pick it up towards the end of the first, while finishing things in the second either way. I call Johnson, KO, Round 2. David Castillo: Easy fight to pick. Pat Barry will only lose fights where he's either overzealous, or ends up on the ground. Johnson isn't skilled enough to capitalize on those weaknesses. Pat Barry by TKO. Tim Burke: Barry loses fights all the time. He's still getting submitted by Mirko Cro Cop in the gym. While he is technically superior and his leg kicks could very well be the difference, Johnson throws bombs and his boxing is better than he's getting credit for. No one's taking this to the ground, and Johnson's gonna knock out Barry on the feet. Lavar Johnson by knockout, round 1. Dallas Winston: Johnson made an intelligent change in style and stance against Beltran. Instead of squaring up and looping left hooks to set up his monster right hand, he adopted a closed stance to lengthen his jab (81" reach), crept forward more cautiously and waited until Beltran was cornered before bringing the thunder. Though a small and subtle adjustment, it definitely maximized his strengths and showed that he's evolving beyond the role of a primitive brawler. Barry has spent his entire UFC career finagling a way to use his quickness and footwork to dart in and out range without absorbing punishment from a larger and longer striker. He'll probe with leg kicks and commit hard to them when he's able, switch from orthodox to southpaw and mix up the angles he uses on the way in and out. Johnson has only been stopped by strikes once and 3 rounds is a long time to connect, but I think Barry's speed and footwork will prevail. Pat Barry by decision. Staff picking Barry: Fraser, KJ, Brookhouse, David, DallasStaff picking Johnson: Thapa, Tim, Stephie Anthony Ferguson vs. Michael Johnson Brent Brookhouse: Johnson is really inconsistent and it makes it hard to really get a read on him. Ferguson doesn't strike me as a world beater, but he's a very capable fighter and certainly seems to be that level ahead of Johnson. Tony Ferguson by TKO, round 3. KJ Gould: Tony Ferguson has more upside than Michael Johnson as far as TUF alumni's go. He also has a killer instinct that has been missing from a lot of TUF contestants in seasons past, and Johnson doesn't really have that same mentality. I think Ferguson beats up Johnson pretty easily. Ferguson by TKO. Ben Thapa: I rather like this fight. Johnson beat the decision win out of Shane Roller (who was fighting on short notice) in his last outing and Ferguson took a decision from Yves Edwards. They are on roughly the same plane and match up evenly in most areas. I have a hunch that Johnson ducks under the wilder punches of Ferguson and grinds out at least two rouds. Michael Johnson, decision. David Castillo: I think this is a very competitive fight if Johnson fights like he's capable of. However, Ferguson is tough enough to break down Johnson. While his striking is a bit sloppy (ok, very), it's still incredibly effective. And he throws from a variety of angles. And Johnson may or may have his cardio in check. Tony Ferguson by Decision. Tim Burke: I think that Ferguson is clearly the better, more well-rounded fighter. He's not going to have a huge advantage on the feet, but it'll be enough. The obvious solution to Michael Johnson is get him on the ground, but Ferguson is probably not quite capable of that. El Cucuy is one of the few TUF winners I'm interested in though, and this should be a good evaluation of his improvement. Tony Ferguson by decision. Dallas Winston: Perceptive note from Thapa, as Johnson has been matched with grapplers who've forced him into a defensive-striking mode where Ferguson has been paired with strikers who are willing to stand and trade with no threat of takedowns. Johnson's boxing has been looking laser-straight and ultra-crisp and Ferguson's penchant for torquing wide-sailing hooks from the waist leaves him vulnerable for counters. Yves Edwards, who's still a phenomenal striker, used precision and quickness to find holes, and I think Johnson can replicate that strategy -- though do so with more size and the added threat of his wrestling. I think this one's razor-thin but, regardless of the differences in competition, I like Ferg here for his rugged chin, huge power, strong wrestling and overall gameness. Tony Ferguson by decision. Staff picking Ferguson: Fraser, KJ, Brookhouse, David, Tim, Dallas, StephieStaff picking Johnson: Thapa John Dodson vs. Tim Elliott KJ Gould: It's hard to gauge how good Flyweight fighters are because of the newness of the weight class to the UFC. Unless they were standouts at Bantamweight or Featherweight, a lot of it is up in the air as far as predictions go. We're familiar with Dodson from winning his season of TUF, and he's more experienced than Elliot, though Elliot is on more of a win streak and has a win over Jens Pulver on his resume (which unfortunately for Lil Evil, means very little these days). i'm going to go what we're familiar with, and Dodson has performed under UFC's bright lights before so that might serve him well. Dodson by KO. David Castillo: Elliot's a decent fighter (fluid on the ground, but workmanlike standup), but I'm a believer when it comes to John Dodson. I don't think he's elite, but he's incredibly talented, and his undeniable power will be the difference in this fight. John Dodson by TKO. Ben Thapa: I agree with David above. Dodson should be able to out-talent Elliot at this stage in their careers. Tim Burke: I'm not as high on Dodson as everyone else, but he's better than Elliott. John Dodson by TKO, round 2. Dallas Winston: If I were Dodson, I would have held off on dropping weight because his combination of blinding quickness and wrestling made for an imposing bantamweight and he could always fall back on dropping after a loss. Either way, Elliott is a good wrestler with stiff boxing, but Dodson's freakish quickness will still be unmatchable. John Dodson by TKO. Staff picking Dodson: Fraser, KJ, Brookhouse, David, Thapa, Tim, Dallas, StephieStaff picking Elliott: John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss KJ Gould: Krauss may have a submission heavy record, but who has he faced? Hathaway has surprised many with his athleticism from his Rugby days, and his wrestling ability honed at London Shootfighters. He also has wins over Diego Sanchez and Rick Story, with his sole loss coming at the hands of the crafty Mike Pyle. Injury has kept Hathaway out of action for a while, and this clearly seems to be a bounce-back fight for him. it's his fight to lose. Hathaway by Decision. David Castillo: Hathaway will never be as good as the wins on his record indicate, but that's not to say he isn't a decent fighter. Krauss will need to get this fight on the ground, although he's competent enough on the feet to make this a grinding, ugly fight (Hathaway doesn't do any one thing particularly well). Still, all things being equal, the better athlete usually wins, and Hathaway is the better athlete. Hathaway by decision. Tim Burke: I used to be quite high on Hathaway at one time, but it's become clear that his wrestling isn't elite. He had trouble with Kris McCray of all people. That being said, I severely doubt that Krauss can get his game going against Hathaway, and it should be a pretty easy win for the Brit. It'll probably be pretty boring though. John Hathaway by decision. Ben Thapa: Hathaway has a solid ability to put some knees on people and to catch them at exactly the right times to break their rhythm. Krauss has not fought the level of opponents that Hathaway has, but he has done something rather crucial - he beat almost all of them quickly and with finishes. I suspect that the decision against Scanlon came from a bit of Octagon jitters and despite the layoff, I believe Krauss will display his better natural talent for this fightin' thing and take out Hathaway with a guillotine. Krauss, submission, Round 2. Dallas Winston: It's odd but Hathaway really seems to have a rugby base. That, along with his length, diversity and natural instincts, has been surprisingly effective. I think this is a situation for his overall proficiency but absent specialization will come to light. Krauss is a technical boxer with strong wrestling, so I see Hathaway's reach being the biggest obstacle to overcome. Barring ring-rust or after-effects from his injuries, Krauss should revivify his rep here. Pascal Krauss by decision. Staff picking Hathaway: Fraser, Brookhouse, David, Tim, StephieStaff picking Krauss: Thapa, Dallas Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker David Castillo: Gaudinot has proven his toughness before, but he's gonna have have his hands full with the wild, heavy handed Lineker. Unless Lineker tires himself out throwing windmills, perhaps Louis can capitalize, but I don't think that's what we'll see. John Lineker by TKO, round 3. Tim Burke: Lineker throws bombs. Gaudinot eats bombs. This will be fun and will go a while, but eventually Lineker will get the W. John Lineker by TKO, round 2. Ben Thapa: This is my upset pick for Fight of the Night, over Barry/Johnson. Flyweights come to this game with the serious stuff. Lineker should have been the fourth entry into the flyweight mini-tournament a while ago over Urushitani. Gaudinot is entertaining, but eventually, he will succumb to the big strikes fo Lineker in the closing round. John Lineker, KO, Round 3. Dallas Winston: Gaudinot had a good rep coming into TUF as the Ring of Combat flyweight champion, but the fact that he's only 7-fights deep and yet to impress at the top-level makes this an easy pick for Lineker, who is a mean and brutal boxer with something to prove. Staff picking Gaudinot:Staff picking Lineker: Fraser, KJ, Brookhouse, David, Tim, Thapa, Dallas, Stephie Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish David Castillo: Despite some odd performances every now and then, I don't think you can deny that Danny Castillo is a talented fighter, but Cholish is scrappy enough to make this fight competitive, especially late. It's not a confident pick, but I think Castillo rips the early guillotine. Danny Castillo by submision, round 2. Ben Thapa: Castillo picking Castillo to win? Noooot a surprise at all. Unfortunately, he is wrong about what will happen. Cholish is a newcomer to the elite MMA scene, but is sneaky good with getting his takedowns or rolling kneebars. He might be the best finisher that Castillo has ever fought and despite his oddly stiff gait, I see Cholish actually putting Last Call out with some punches. Tim Burke: There are few things I dislike more than Last Call. The fighter and the literal meaning. Cholish is one of those newbies that won't get the respect he deserves till he beats someone of note. This is that time. John Cholish by submission, round 2. Dallas Winston: I don't know why but I've come to appreciate Castillo's tenacity and ruggedness; perhaps because he reminds me of a young Eugene Jackson when winging those nasty hooks. I think Cholish is a sleeper who can hang with Castillo in the wrestling department and has slightly tighter striking and a clear submission advantage. This is a coin-flip for me but the diversity of Cholish sways my vote. John Cholish by submission. Staff picking Castillo: Fraser, KJ, Brookhouse, David, StephieStaff picking Cholish: Thapa, Tim, Dallas Dennis Bermudez vs. Pablo Garza Fraser Coffeen: Bermudez is a lot of fun, but he's reckless. Garza should be able to keep focused, stay on target, and capitalize on Bermudez's style to catch him. I expect this will be short but action-packed. Pablo Garza, Submission, R1 Ben Thapa: We are jinxing this by saying it will end early. Garza loves throwing up the early submissions and often gets them, but I'm not sure his style is one that matches up with Bermudez's well. I suspect that this is going to be a scramblefest for the first round, while settling into sporadic stand-up engagements for the rest of the other two rounds. There, I pick the taller, longer Garza to win those engagements. Pablo Garza, decision. David Castillo: If Bermudez were taller, I'd take him, but he's not. Garza is relatively calculated, and a talented grappler to boot whereas Bermudez can only hope to force a slugfest which Pablo won't fall for. I consider it a miracle Dennis even made it to the TUF finals. Hell, even his fight to get into the house was a nightmare for him. Pablo Garza by submission. Tim Burke: I'm completely shocked that Garza is the underdog in this. Bermudez just isn't really that good. While Garza isn't going to win the title anytime soon, he's slick and should have little problem submitting Bermudez. Pablo Garza by sub, round 2. Dallas Winston: Garza has been so difficult to get a read on, what with the sub-loss to Zhang, decision to Michael Johnson on TUF and highlight-reel finishes by way of flying knee and flying triangle. He's a rangy fella with devastating Thai skills at close range and I'll take unpolished talent and inconsistency over a shorter fighter with a knack for eating punches. Pablo Garza by TKO. Staff picking Bermudez: KJ, BrookhouseStaff picking Garza: Fraser, David, Thapa, Tim, Dallas, Stephie Roland Delorme vs. Nick Denis David Castillo: Delorme looked fluid and composed in his last fight, but his competition wasn't exactly stellar. Denis should find the openings and land hard shots. Who knows, maybe he even scores another elbow combination knockout. Nick Denis by TKO, round 2. Tim Burke: This isn't gonna be the cakewalk for the Ninja of Love that some think. Delorme is a good grappler and if he can get Nick off his feet, it's going to be interesting. I still think Denis will get the KO though. Canada wins either way, so I'm good. Nick Denis by TKO, round 2. Ben Thapa: Canadians will never win with those beer prices. Denis looked nigh upon unstoppable in his last outing (22 second KO victory), but it is unlikely that Delorme falls victim to the same gong and dash style. Denis should be able to work several nice standing strikes in as Delorme hunts a takedown and I predict that we see a rather nice KO. Nick Denis, KO, Round 1. Dallas Winston: Delorme is slick on the mat but the necessity of clinching up to work his Judo for takedowns will be a tough aspect. Denis is an absolute madman on the feet and a brilliant finisher who should be able to emply Cuddle-Jitsu to survive on the ground if Delorme gets him there. Nick Denis by TKO. Staff picking Delorme:Staff picking Denis: Fraser, KJ, Brookhouse, David, Tim, Thapa, Dallas, Stephie Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola Fraser Coffeen: I know a lot of people are not impressed by Massenzio, and I admit, he's not fantastic. But he has shown good moments, particularly his win over Cantwell. Meanwhile, Vemola's only UFC win is over Seth Petruzelli. SETH PETRUZELLI. Come on, that's not an impressive credential. He's also dropping down too far in my opinion, and he's never exactly been a cardio machine. Only question is, can Massenzio close the show? I suspect so. Mike Massenzio, KO, R2 David Castillo: Vemola is gonna do what he usually does: attempt slams, and wing wild right hands. Then gas. Massenzio will weather the inconsistent storm, and take a comfortable decision. Mike Massenzio by decision. Tim Burke: I think Mike Massenzio is a mid-tier UFC middleweight. I think Karlos Vemola should be fighting bears in KSW. 185 is too much for Vemola, and Massenzio is smart enough to play his game. Mike Massenzio by decision. Ben Thapa: Massenzio has fought far better opponents than Vemola and has acquitted himself pretty well. Mike should quickly shove Karlos to the ground and start whaling away at him until the referee stops it. Mike Massenzio, KO, Round 1. Dallas Winston: Massenzio seems to be hitting his stride after the Cantwell fight and getting comfortable plying his wrestling and boxing together. We all know what to expect from Vemola and I'm quite skeptical about his endurance after shrinking his once-heavyweight frame down to middleweight proportions. Mike Massenzio by decision. Staff picking Massenzio: Fraser, KJ, , David, Tim, Thapa, Dallas, Stephie, DallasStaff picking Vemola:

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The opening segment of Saturday's UFC on Fox 3 quadruple header is a certifiable slug-fest between heavyweight strikersPat "HD" Barry and "Big" Lavar Johnson. The main-card broadcast begins on the Fox network at 8:00 p.m. and is headlined by a lightweight tilt pitting Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz. Amidst the clamor of big-name heavyweights migrating to the UFC from Strikeforce, Lavar Johnson (16-5) didn't get much attention. After all, he'd suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the belly in 2009 and was fortunate to even be alive, much less still competing. Plus he sealed off his Strikeforce stint with back-to-back submission losses and all the hoopla understandably surrounded perennial top-10ers like Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. Johnson drew Joey Beltran and his steel-clad head; a pair who'd mutually cemented a reputation for having outstanding resilience to the human fist. Beltran ate heaping spoonfuls of leather from heavyweight gunslingers like Barry and Matt Mitrione without so much as batting an eye. Yet, just 10 seconds into their UFC on Fox 2 collision, Johnson clipped Beltran with a body shot that dazed him, walked him down for a few minutes and then crumpled him into unconsciousness with a late combination. It was the first time Beltran had ever been knocked out or stopped via strikes in his 20-fight career. More UFC on Fox 3 Dissections Fuel TV Undercard | Facebook Undercard Pat Barry (7-4) is a lovable fan-favorite with technical kickboxing and devastating leg kicks. Scathing pre-fight smack talk and bad-blood rivalries will always have a place in MMA, but Barry embodies the good-guy role by wearing his heart on his sleeve, never making excuses or disrespecting his opponent and openly acknowledging the areas he needs to improve. "HD" is dead even in the UFC after 8 turns, carving this chronological path: a TKO win over Dan Evensen via leg kicks in his debut, a submission loss to Tim Hague, a TKO over former training partner Antoni Hardonk, a submission loss to Mirko Filipovic, a unanimous decision win over Joey Beltran, excitement-laden losses to Cheick Kongo in one of the sport's most thrilling comeback knockouts and by submission to Stefan Struve and, finally, a 1st-round KO over Christian Morecraft on January's UFC on FX card. Barry joins Mark Hunt as the only heavies on the roster who don't crack the 6-foot-tall ceiling and he's constantly battled with a massive disparity in height and reach. That factor will be at play in full force here, as "Big" Lavar Johnson is just that, clocking in at 6'4" tall with a wearisome 81" reach length, the gargantuan physique of a former college linebacker and skull-splitting punching power. Complete analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3 When scrutinizing Johnson's remorseless beat-down of Beltran, the American Kickboxing Academy product made a subtle change to his striking style that paid huge dividends. In the past, Johnson, being a righty, utilized an open stance and was much more squared off, often leading with wide, sweeping left hooks to center his opponent in front of him and set up his outrageous straight right. Against Beltran, Johnson assumed more of a closed stance with his feet staggered and his left shoulder farther in front of his right. Instead of barging straight forward to unload all haymakers, Johnson extended his already-stretchy reach advantage with this closed stance and keyed all of his follow-ups off of a busy jab. Additionally, the big fella was much more patient and calculating than the fairly primitive brawler he was in Strikeforce. He methodically steered Beltran back against the cage with his long, active jab and waited until Beltran was cornered and covering up before unleashing the big thunder shots. Though Johnson moves well for someone of his girth and has an admirable size-to-agility ratio, his footwork is basic and he's not very light on his toes, as he plants his feet hard to generate so much power in his punches. He addressed this partially with the aforementioned change in stance and measured stalking but quickness and footwork are some of Barry's best attributes. Johnson's strength and athleticism have facilitated a few takedown attacks, but the gist of this match up should be dictated by the range and distance factor. Barry will be faced with his usual chess match of relying on his speed -- both with his hands and feet -- and timing to dart in and out of range and inflict damage without taking any himself. His offensive tools are typically a chopping low kick from outside, which can be a concern considering the deep penetration of Johnson's counter punches, and blazing combinations with his hands at close range. To implement those tools while minimizing risk, the method in which he enters into and retreats out from the striking bubble will be pivotal. Throughout his entrances and exits, his dedication to head movement and keeping his hands up will also be vital. Another effective strategy he's used is to start in the traditional stance and gauge his opponent's reaction to a few crisp jabs and half-hearted leg kicks, which allows him to determine how much he can commit to them. If his foe sits back and tries to dodge, block or just defend, he knows he can attack with more vigor; if they blast with meaningful counters, he's more cautious with his release and doesn't turn his hips over fully so he's able to react defensively. Barry will also switch to southpaw and pester with low-velocity inside kicks with his lead leg while looking to plunge his lead right through from ever-changing angles. This makes him harder to predict and forces his adversary to constantly adjust to the changes. It will be interesting to see how Johnson chooses to confront Barry -- whether he'll walk him down aggressively with heavy leather or slowly inch forward for a more judicious and reserved approach. I imagine that either fighter could use the element of surprise and catch the other off-guard with a takedown attempt, if for nothing more than to steal some momentum. The betting lines have Barry as a medium-sized favorite in the neighborhood of -200, which seems fair. His striking technique overall is exceptional and he's now accustomed to navigating a speed-based path in and out range. The increased fight I.Q. in Johnson's last outing does leave me a little more hesitant and Johnson has only lost via strikes once before, so Barry will likely have to avoid even the slightest of mistakes for all 3 rounds -- which is a long time for Johnson to touch his chin. However, I see Barry's deft footwork, hand speed and big heart carrying him through. My Prediction: Pat Barry by decision. Poll Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson Pat Barry Lavar Johnson   142 votes | Results

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UFC on Fox 3 weigh-in results East Rutherford, NJNate Diaz () vs. Jim Miller ()Johny Hendricks () vs. Josh Koscheck ()Alan Belcher () vs. Rousimar Palhares ()Pat Barry () vs. Lavar Johnson ()Tony Ferguson () vs. Michael Johnson ()John Dodson () vs. Tim Elliott ()John Hathaway () vs. Pascal Krauss ()Louis Gaudinot () vs. John Lineker ()Danny Castillo () vs. John Cholish ()Dennis Bermudez () vs. Pablo Garza ()Roland Delorme () vs. Nick Denis ()Mike Massenzio () vs. Karlos Vemola ()UFC on Fox 3 weigh-ins take place at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ, and the first fighter is on the scale at 4:00 PM ET (1:00 PT).Nate Diaz (15-7) vs. Jim Miller (21-3)Johny Hendricks (12-1) vs. Josh Koscheck (17-5)Alan Belcher (17-6) vs. Rousimar Palhares (14-3)Pat Barry (7-4) vs. Lavar Johnson (16-5)

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Pat Barry doesn’t expect his May 5 meeting with Lavar Johnson to go three rounds.

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The broadcast portion of this Saturday's UFC on Fox 3 event will light off on Fuel TV at 5:00 p.m. ET with a 3-hour preliminary card. The 6-piece lineup will lead into the featured offering on Fox at 8:00 pm, which is headlined by a lightweight clash between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz along with a trio of supporting matches. Distinguished by the Octagon's 2nd wave of flyweight fights, the Fuel TV preliminary card consists of the following: Anthony Ferguson vs Michael Johnson (lightweight)John Dodson vs Tim Elliott (flyweight)Pascal Krauss vs John Hathaway (welterweight)Danny Castillo vs John Cholish (lightweight)Dennis Bermudez vs Pablo Garza (featherweight)Louis Gaudinot vs John Lineker (flyweight) Anthony Ferguson (13-2) vs Michael Johnson (10-6) Parallels abound in this lightweight tilt: Ferguson and Johnson are both TUF standouts -- Ferguson won TUF 13, Johnson was a TUF 12 finalist -- with a wide range of athletic experience, a background in wrestling, ever-improving boxing and great instincts for the game. Both are steadily accelerating with only 4 years of pro experience under their belts and look better in every performance. Ferguson was a cold-blooded killer on TUF, smashing his way through everyone they put in front of him by TKO, including fellow finalist Ramsey Nijem at the season 13 live finale. "El Cucuy" sustained his brutality against crafty vet Aaron Riley, who was unable to answer the bell in the 2nd due to a shattered jaw. Drawing yet another dangerous and experienced lightweight, Ferguson had his hands full when jousting with Yves Edwards but scored a win that was much closer than the unanimous-decision result reflects. Johnson's road, both on TUF and in the Octagon, was a little more perilous than Ferguson's and he's dead even after 4. On his unofficial record from the reality show, Johnson was paired with the then-unknown Pablo Garza, who's also competing on the card, in the elimination round and earned a hard-fought decision to get into the house. A rear-naked choke on Aaron Wilkinson in the sudden-death round preceded another duo of competitive decision over Alex Cacares and Nam Phan, both of whom exceed the typical talent of a TUF opponent. Complete preliminary card analysis after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3 Johnson was putting it on Jonathan Brookins at the live finale but fizzled out in later rounds, eventually losing momentum, succumbing to takedowns and dropping a decision. He went on to dust Edward Faalaloto by 1st-round TKO but couldn't stave off a heel hook from submission savant Paul Sass in the follow up. Johnson was getting off on the feet early and the lapse that led to the tapout was more mental than physical, which made his intelligent display of takedown defense and footwork against Shane Roller all the more impressive in his last. With a similar wrestle-boxing style accented by quick hands, youthful agility and aggression, the key differences are that Ferguson is a rangier striker with a gangly reach (76") who bobs side-to-side with wider, power-torque punches; Johnson cracks off tight and straight shots and employs more up-and-down level changes, either alternating from upstairs to downstairs or shooting takedowns. Ferguson has tangled with striking-based opposition where Johnson has been forced into more of a sprawl-and-brawl strategy against grapplers, which could have added some luster to Johnson's sharp stand-up performances. Additionally, in these match ups, Johnson didn't mix in takedown attempts, pressure with forward movement and bully his opponent like on TUF, but played a defensive striking game with carefully measured bursts and evasive footwork. Because of that, I'm not exactly sure what to expect here and feel the match up is tighter than the -270 to -300 push for Ferguson would indicate. The quick and explosive timing of Yves Edwards showed how Ferguson's defense can be penetrated with counters when he plants and rolls his long hooks over, and I envision Johnson's straight punches causes some of the same havoc. Ferguson has been content to stand and bang while using his wrestling to stay upright, but keeping the other honest and hesitant by plugging takedown attempts into their combinations should be useful for both combatants. Johnson will be a bit of a different animal for Ferguson, as he brings a level of diversity, athleticism and size that he hasn't encountered in the Octagon. Johnson has never lost via TKO but has been submitted in 5 of his 6 defeats, so Ferguson would be wise to change up his style and score takedowns. I'm going with Ferguson for his length, power and slightly superior wrestling but a well-timed double leg for either fighter could make a world of difference. My Prediction: Tony Ferguson by decision. John Dodson (12-5) vs. Tim Elliott (8-2) Dodson, the Jackson's MMA product who won TUF 14 as a bantamweight, returns to his natural 125-pound fighting weight against new entry Tim Elliott, who's filling in for Darren Uyenoyama. I'm mildly surprised that Dodson took the plunge considering that his jaw-dropping speed and agility was almost unparalleled at 135 and abstaining for a while would be like having a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. Even though he was a small bantamweight at 5'3", Dodson is a strong, compact little tank with good wrestling and you'd swear he was stuck in fast-forward as no one was able to match his speed in the Octagon. A southpaw, "The Magician" is also a master of angles with his footwork in open space and his pivots and upper-body movement when trading in the pocket. He lances hard and straight punches with excellent timing and his dexterity, scrambling and wrestling makes him ultra-slippery and a challenge to mount any offense against. If you take away Tim Elliott's first 3 fights when he was a raw wrestler with no formal MMA training -- a draw to one-time Bellator fighter Jerrod Spoon and consecutive losses -- you'd be left with an undefeated prospect who's hitting his stride with an 8-fight win streak. Regardless, he's now worked out the kinks and grown as a fighter, and debuts on the heels of impressive stoppages over Jens Pulver (above) and reputable flyweight Josh Rave. Elliott is a former 2x All-American wrestler for the University of Central Oklahoma with good boxing and finishing instincts who now trains with Grindhouse MMA in Pennsylvania. He has a balanced win-ratio of 4 submission wins, 3 TKOs and a single decision. Though it may become a concern in the future, Dodson's quickness and experience should be the difference maker against Elliott, who will be tasked with trying to get his hands on the freakishly energized athlete. Dodson's speed is overbearing on its own but becomes nearly insurmountable when combined with his brilliant footwork and angles. This should be too much for Elliott to handle on short notice. My Prediction: John Dodson by TKO. Pascal "Panzer" Krauss (10-0) vs. John Hathaway (15-1) German mixed martial artist Pascal Krauss debuted against Mark Scanlon at UFC 122 in November of 2010 and sustained his flawless record with a unanimous decision, but has been sidelined with injuries since. He started out as a boxer, incrementally added wrestling, Judo (with black belt Gregor Herb) and BJJ (a blue belt under Roberto "Gordo" Correa) to his arsenal and now trains part-time at Roufusport in Milwaukee. Krauss is a young talent (age 25) in just his 3rd year of pro MMA and thus has a tremendous upside and bright future. English welterweight John Hathaway is one of the Octagon's first rugby crossovers. Enamored after taking in a UFC event on television, Hathaway found a home in MMA by steam-rolling 10 foes in a row with 8 stoppages (5 via strikes, 3 subs) to earn a UFC contract. Though all of his premiere bouts have been decided on the score cards, his dominance continued, as Hathaway picked off a trio of experienced welterweights in Rick Story, Paul Taylor and Diego Sanchez to vault upward in the division as a legit contender. He would suffer his first career defeat to the wily Mike Pyle at UFC 120 but rebound with a split nod over Kris McCray in his last turn. With the disclaimer pertaining to the obvious concerns surrounding ring-rust and recovering from his injuries, I like Krauss here for his formidable combination of boxing and wrestling. Hathaway is a lanky welterweight (6'2", 76" reach) who'd been able to adapt his rugby background into a sort of "tackle or punch" strategy quite effectively, but his raw instincts and lack of a particular specialty can be exploited by a technical boxer like Krauss, who also has auxiliary skills like serviceable wrestling and blistering low kicks. My Prediction: Pascal Krauss by decision. Danny Castillo (13-4) vs John Cholish (8-1) John Cholish started wrestling at age 4 and continued through college, then Googled the closest Gracie, which turned out to be none other than the legendary Renzo. His wrestling platform was rounded out by the submission master and Cholish also dabbled in the striking arts to prepare himself for MMA. His first contest was a submission loss but the rest have all gone his way, and Cholish earned the Ring of Combat lightweight strap while compiling 8-straight wins, the most notable of which have been under the Strikeforce (heel hook over former TUFer Marc Stevens) and UFC banners (TKO over Mitch Clarke in his Octagon debut). Team Alpha Male lightweight Danny Castillo has displayed admirable perseverance throughout his WEC and UFC ventures, each of which were accented by highs and lows. He lost his WEC debut to Donald Cerrone, tacked on 3-straight victories (including a TKO over current UFC featherweight Ricardo Lamas), dropped a pair (Shane Roller, Anthony Pettis), strung together another trio of wins (once again knocking a reputable lightweight down to featherweight by beating Dustin Poirier; defeating Joe Stevenson in his UFC debut) but lost momentum against when he was out-wrestled by Jacob Volkmann. Undeterred, Castillo absolutely destroyed Shamar Bailey and agreed to the dangerous proposition of facing Anthony Njokuani on 5-weeks notice, and the risk paid off with a grinding, semi-controversial split decision. Castillo reminds me of a young Eugene Jackson in that he hurls heavy leather on the feet and imposes a formidable wrestling game despite having no distinguished collegiate accolades. He's more of a gritty brawler than a technical wizard, he wisely exploits his strengths and excels at turning things into a dog fight. Castillo will have the edge in experience and strength, yet Cholish will have a slight height advantage and his submission grappling offers more technically sound and diverse grappling. He might be the cleaner striker, as his punches are straighter and he's more focused on defense, but Castillo has massive power and a knack to balance the scales with pure ferocity. The betting lines reflect how evenly matched these two are, and I don't feel confident assessing who will be the better wrestler. Cholish's BJJ acumen and more fortified style have me leaning his way in the closest match up on the Fuel TV undercard. My Prediction: John Cholish by submission. Dennis Bermudez (7-3) vs Pablo Garza (11-2) Pablo "The Scarecrow" Garza has been tough to assess. He's shown shades of utter genius, such as his consecutive highlight-reel performances against Fredson Paixao (TKO by a "OMG he's dead?" flying knee) and Yves Jabouin (flying triangle choke), but looked somewhat lackluster in both defeats. He was ensnared in a Tiequan Zhang guillotine at WEC 51 and tapped to a Dustin Poirier Brabo choke in his last outing. Garza also lost to Michael Johnson by decision in the TUF 12 elimination match. The 6'1" Garza is a gangly featherweight with volatile striking and submissions (despite being just a blue belt in BJJ) but prone to inconsistency. Dennis Bermudez was a D1 wrestler and TUF 14 finalist known for persevering through serious punishment. His spirit and big heart seem to be his best attributes until his striking improves (though he has decent power) and he adapts his wrestling to MMA's environment. The telling factor here is Garza's past level of competition and tremendous size advantage (6'1" vs. 5'6"). His footwork and evasive movement will be tested by Bermudez, who will look to lower his head and charge in with huge punches to set up his takedowns. Bermudez comes in as a narrow favorite which his durability justifies. I'm going to take another chance on Garza, thinking he can capitalize on Bermudez's shoddy striking defense and implement his fiery offense more intelligently. My Prediction: Pablo Garza by TKO. Louis Gaudinot (5-2) vs John Lineker (19-5) Gaudinot was a seriously undersized bantamweight on TUF 14 who was defeated handily by Johnny Bedford at the live finale. Now back to his natural weight class, the former Ring of Combat flyweight champion greets sizzling Brazilian phenom John Lineker, who is 24-fights deep at just 22-years-old. By all accounts, Lineker will be a big name in the sport and enters on a 13-fight win streak. His past defeats on the Brazilian circuit include current UFCers Erick Silva and Felipe Arantes, and his surging momentum is too hard to pick against when Gaudinot has yet to perform at the UFC level. My Prediction: John Lineker by decision.

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A gunshot wound hasn't stopped Lavar Johnson, who is one win away from the biggest payday of his life.

Posted in: johnson, life, lavar johnson, lavar, hasnt

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Michael Johnson is aware of his role against Tony Ferguson. After two opponents fell through for the winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 12," officials are just happy not to scramble any more. Ferguson would probably tell Johnson to get bubble-wrapped before he would talk trash. Nevertheless, Johnson is an underdog leading into the fight, and as he told MMAjunkie.com Radio, he likes where he is.

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It’s impossible not to like Lavar Johnson. Easygoing in a way no 6-foot-4, 240-pounder is expected to be, the big man from Madera, California is almost unrecognizable from some of the adjectives that describe his fighting style: knockout artist, crushing puncher, relentless.That’s just fine with him. Even when he’s in the Octagon, or previously on the football field, he makes it clear that it’s never a personal thing. He just likes to win.“I’m competitive and I’ve got a little mean streak to me,” he chuckles. “I’ve been in fights before, and I like to compete. I played football and I was real aggressive on the football field as well, so it’s nothing to me. I don’t have to be mad. I just like to play hard.”And with Johnson packing two sticks of dynamite in his fists, when he decides to play hard, it’s usually bad news for anyone sharing the field of battle with him. Case in point, his UFC debut in January against Joey Beltran. There was no bad blood, no trash talking, just two California heavyweights putting the gloves on and trying to get a win. And despite Johnson’s reputation (he had finished each of his 15 previous wins), many assumed that he wasn’t going to do the same thing to “The Mexicutioner.” Sure, he might win, but he wasn’t going to stop a fighter who earned descriptors like “steel chin” and “iron jaw” the hard way.Johnson, even with 20 pro fights under his belt, was jittery before getting called to the Octagon.“I was nervous before I went out there, but after that first punch, everything’s out the window,” he said. “I even threw up before the fight in the locker room and that usually doesn’t happen. So I was a little nervous, but when it’s time to go it’s time to go, and that’s it.”Four minutes and 24 seconds after the opening bell, that was it for Beltran as well, as a series of uppercuts ended his night and gave Johnson his first UFC victory, and a Knockout of the Night bonus. Add in his pre-fight visit to the trash can, and it was a night of firsts for the 34-year old. Maybe it’s an omen for good things in the future.“I got a nice win, so if that’s the key to victory, I don’t mind it,” he laughs.The finish of Beltran was a revelation for fight fans, most of whom had seen Johnson do his thing on the local California scene and in Strikeforce, but who never expected him to deliver the goods with such style in his first time on the big stage. But Johnson has been knocking people out for a long time, ever since his days on the Toughman circuit.“We had 16 ounce gloves and headgear, and I was knocking people out,” he recalled. “I was one of the few people who were actually putting people to sleep. And it went from there.”Turning pro in 2004 with a loss to future WEC champion Doug Marshall, Johnson righted his ship four months later with a TKO of Levi Thornbrue and began building a reputation as a ‘must see’ heavyweight. You were not going to get wrestling clinics or jiu-jitsu matches from Johnson; win or lose, someone wasn’t going to hear the final bell.“When you fight, that’s what I think of, people punching each other in the face,” he said. “Any heavyweight can knock someone out with one punch, so that’s what I go in there thinking. Anything can happen, so I try to get off first and make it happen and be the first to land that big shot.”So when the dust settled from his win over Beltran and a UFC on FOX main card bout with like-minded heavyweight prospect Pat Barry was announced for May 5th, the immediate expectation was bombs away. And Johnson feels no pressure when it comes to keeping his end of the bargain.“I’m under no pressure,” he said. “I’m the underdog, but this is what we do. We fight. And the only way I know how to win is to go in there and beat ‘em up. I don’t feel any pressure. I feel like I have nothing to lose. The greatest thing has already happened and I’m thankful that I made it to the UFC, and I couldn’t be happier. Everything else is just a bonus. I’m just blessed and honored to be able to compete against these guys.”Life has undoubtedly changed for Johnson, who almost didn’t make it to this point after a random 2009 shooting that took him out of the sport for 10 months. So he’s grateful for everything that’s happened and he’s just letting his new celebrity soak in.“I’ve got a pretty big fanbase here, and a lot of people support me,” he said. “I’ll be driving down the street or walking to the gym or store and everybody’s like ‘knock Pat Barry out,’ and this or that. It’s cool, I enjoy it, and that’s why I do it. I do it for the people in Madera, and all my fans and my family. They enjoy it, we’re all big MMA fans, and me being in there competing gives us all something to look forward to.” “I never thought that I’d be boxing or doing UFC,” Johnson continues. “I always thought those guys were crazy (Laughs), and boxing, I’ve been a big fan, and I would mess around with boxing with my friends in the garage and stuff like that, but I never thought I’d make a profession out of it.”It’s almost to the point where you hope for a draw on Saturday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey, considering that Johnson and Barry are two of the most likeable fighters in the organization. And even knowing the hostilities that will break out on fight night, both are equally respectful of each other.“Pat Barry is a funny dude,” said Johnson. “He’s real cool, I’m a big fan of his, and he’s a great athlete. I’ve watched almost all of his fights in the UFC, and he’s a very dangerous opponent. He kicks hard, he hits hard, and he moves well, so I’ve got my hands full.”Johnson doesn’t think “HD” will stand with him for long though.“We all think that he (Barry) is gonna try and take me down,” he said. “As soon as I hit him, he’s gonna feel the power and he’s gonna try to shoot. I don’t see it happening, but if he takes me down, I’m gonna get right back up and he’s gonna tire himself out. He’s not gonna submit me, and I’ve been working on that a lot right now.”So no flying armbars or power double leg takedowns?He laughs.“I’m not looking to submit nobody. My fans and my family, they don’t like to see heavyweights rolling on the ground. They like to see heavyweights out there trying to knock each other out. Even if I have a rear naked or an armbar and I’m in a good position, I’m just gonna swing. I’ll save the submissions for the jiu-jitsu tournaments.”

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Two of the most entertaining and violent heavyweights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will duke it out this Saturday night (May 5, 2012) as kickboxer Pat Barry takes on heavy-handed Lavar Johnson in the opening bout of the UFC on FOX 3 main card in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Barry has long been regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in the UFC, earning all four of his victories in the promotion with his hands and feet. The ground game has been his kryptonite, but he's got nothing to fear in that department with his upcoming opponent, Lavar Johnson, who will only be looking to knock his block off. Johnson might have the most powerful hands in all of mixed martial arts (MMA). He's never been to a decision and has won via strikes in 15 of his 16 career victories. He's going to be looking to land flush on Barry and he knows that if he could knock out Joey Beltran in his UFC debut, "Big" can knock out anyone in this entire division. Will Barry's technical striking skill be too much for Johnson? Can "Big" Johnson find a home for that lethal right hand and potentially end this fight with one blow? What's the key to victory for both heavyweights on Saturday night? Let's find out: Pat Barry Record: 7-4 overall, 4-4 in the UFC Key Wins: Christian Morecraft (UFC on FX), Joey Beltran (UFC Fight for the Troops 2), Antoni Hardonk (UFC 104) Key Losses: Stefan Struve (UFC on Versus 6), Cheick Kongo (UFC on Versus 5), Mirko Filipovic (UFC 115) How he got here: Pat Barry got his start in kickboxing and Sanshao. He competed in the striking arts for nearly six years on the international level before finally making the transition to mixed martial arts in 2008. After fighting professionally for seven months, he was already making his UFC debut against Dan Evenson that same year, winning violently with leg kicks in the first round. Barry would suffer his first defeat against Tim Hague, showcasing his serious lack of a ground game in the process but rebounded nicely against veteran kickboxer and former training partner Antoni Hardonk with a TKO victory at UFC 104. He would fight his former hero Mirko Filipovic at UFC 115 and despite dropping the Pride legend twice in the first round, eventually succumbed to a rear naked choke in round three. Barry rebounded with a dominant performance against the hard-headed Joey Beltran earlier this year and was moments away from finishing French kickboxer Cheick Kongo in the UFC on Versus 5 main event before suffering a stunning knockout of his own, the first of his career. His rebound fight was against Stefan Struve, a man over a foot taller than him. Barry hung with "The Skyscraper" for over half the fight but was eventually put into a triangle choke and despite an impressive powerbomb, he was forced to tap. He was potentially fighting for his job against Christian Morecraft the last time out, but showcased some improved submission defense, escaping a precarious position to knock the big man out in the first round. How he gets it done: Barry has some terrific kickboxing skills, and if he wants to win this fight, he's got two options. The first is to keep his distance and work his technical advantages with kicks, feints and set-ups. The second option is to test his improving ground skills by surprising Johnson and putting him on the ground. Barry's done this before against opponents with no ground game, taking down Antoni Hardonk and beating him up on the canvas. Don't be surprised if he tries it again here as Johnson has one of the worst ground games of any fighter in the UFC. When the bout is standing, expect to see Barry try to just destroy Johnson's legs and body with kicks. The more blows he can land early, the slower Johnson will be and the less "oomph" he's going to have in his lethal hands. He needs to avoid brawling or letting Johnson close the distance in the clinch at all costs. Lavar Johnson Record: 16-5 overall, 1-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Joey Beltran (UFC on FOX 2), Virgil Zwicker (Strikeforce Challengers 11) Key Losses: Shawn Jordan (Strikeforce Challenges 20), Shane del Rosario (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva) How he got here: A big, powerful athlete, Lavar Johnson was a former standout football player, getting into MMA at 26 years old. Despite an early setback in his debut against Doug Marshall, "Big" Johnson would bounce back in a huge way, winning his next eight fights, all by stoppage and all but one being ended in the first round. After an injury suffered mid-fight took away over two years of his career, Johnson finally returned, blasting five straight opponents with five first round knockouts. He would be sidelined in 2009 after getting shot in the abdomen at a family reunion, but surprisingly returned to action just nine months later, scoring a second round knockout against Lolohea Mahe. Johnson crushed Virgil Zwicker in just over two minutes, but he would have issues dealing with the wrestling and submission games of his next two opponents, who both took advantage of his lack of ground game by scoring submissions against him. Despite a two fight losing streak, Johnson made his UFC debut this past January where he did the impossible, stopping Joey Beltran via strikes for the first time in "The Mexicutioner's" career and sending him down to 205 pounds. With that victory, he earned a shot on the big stage this weekend. How he gets it done: Johnson doesn't have the best technique, but good god almighty does he have power! He's never gone to a decision in his career and that's for good reason. All it takes is a one big shot and no one can stand in his way, not even the infamous iron chin of Joey Beltran. Johnson can't out kickbox Pat Barry so he needs to do what worked in his last fight, which is to close the distance, get inside, even though he has a bigger reach, and work his uppercuts. Johnson has the most powerful uppercut I've ever seen and Check Kongo was able to knock Barry out with a hook/uppercut combination last year so it's definitely doable. The uglier and less technical that Johnson can make this fight, the better odds he has of winning it. He absolutely should not sit back and try to use his reach advantage or he'll get his legs, body and potentially his head kicked to high heaven. Fight X-Factor: The X-Factor for this fight is simply technique vs. power. Pat Barry is definitely the more technical striker, likely able to land better counters, use footwork, throw more diverse strikes and can hurt his opponent from all kinds of angles while Johnson is much more obvious in his efforts to land that huge fight-ending uppercut. Both have their merits, but whoever is able to impose their will, whether it be Barry trying to keep his distance and turn this into more of a violent sparring session or Johnson trying to turn it into a life-and-death brawl, that is likely the biggest factor in determining the outcome of the fight. Bottom Line: This fight is tailor-made for entertainment. The second that UFC on FOX 2 ended with a boring night of decisions, this was the first fight booked for the UFC on FOX 3 event and with reason. Pat Barry has one decision in his career (against the iron chinned Beltran) while Johnson has zero. This fight is not going to go all three rounds. Both men are too powerful and dangerous for that to happen. This is going to be violent. It could last 10 minutes or 10 seconds, but someone is going go down, plain and simple. Excitement potential: guaranteed. Who will come out on top at UFC on FOX 3? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which heavyweight will reign supreme on Saturday night in the opening bout of the UFC on FOX 3 main card? Pat Barry Lavar Johnson   5 votes | Results

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Last Sunday Rebellion MMA Radio welcomed the beauty of Jade Bryce, the brawn of Tony Ferguson, and the brains of E. Spencer Kyte to the show. This time around we’ve got twice the bad-assery, plus one of the most-respected executives in the business, stopping by to speak with hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli, as UFC fighters Demetrious Johnson and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, as well as Lex McMahon, all slated to appear. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). The 14-2 Johnson is one of the top 125-pound fighters in MMA and will be competing in June for the right to fight for the UFC’s inaugural flyweight championship when he faces Ian McCall in the main event of UFC on FX 3. Though widely considered one of the best young strikers in the game, Thompson is coming off his first professional loss after falling to Matt Brown this past weekend at UFC 145 in a gutsy battle many considered the best fight of the night. McMahon is the President of Alchemist MMA, a brand sponsoring numerous fighters including a good deal of athletes who are also military veterans. Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will discuss the fallout from Alistair Overeem’s NSAC hearing and much more. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Last Sunday Rebellion MMA Radio welcomed the beauty of Jade Bryce, the brawn of Tony Ferguson, and the brains of E. Spencer Kyte to the show. This time around we’ve got twice the bad-assery, plus one of the most-respected executives in the business, stopping by to speak with hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli, as UFC fighters Demetrious Johnson and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, as well as Lex McMahon, all slated to appear. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). The 14-2 Johnson is one of the top 125-pound fighters in MMA and will be competing in June for the right to fight for the UFC’s inaugural flyweight championship when he faces Ian McCall in the main event of UFC on FX 3. Though widely considered one of the best young strikers in the game, Thompson is coming off his first professional loss after falling to Matt Brown this past weekend at UFC 145 in a gutsy battle many considered the best fight of the night. McMahon is the President of Alchemist MMA, a brand sponsoring numerous fighters including a good deal of athletes who are also military veterans. Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will discuss the fallout from Alistair Overeem’s NSAC hearing and much more. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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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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Last Sunday Rebellion MMA Radio welcomed the beauty of Jade Bryce, the brawn of Tony Ferguson, and the brains of E. Spencer Kyte to the show. This time around we’ve got twice the bad-assery, plus one of the most-respected executives in the business, stopping by to speak with hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli, as UFC fighters Demetrious Johnson and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, as well as Lex McMahon, all slated to appear. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). The 14-2 Johnson is one of the top 125-pound fighters in MMA and will be competing in June for the right to fight for the UFC’s inaugural flyweight championship when he faces Ian McCall in the main event of UFC on FX 3. Though widely considered one of the best young strikers in the game, Thompson is coming off his first professional loss after falling to Matt Brown this past weekend at UFC 145 in a gutsy battle many considered the best fight of the night. McMahon is the President of Alchemist MMA, a brand sponsoring numerous fighters including a good deal of athletes who are also military veterans. Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will discuss the fallout from Alistair Overeem’s NSAC hearing and much more. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, johnson, rebellion

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Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Michael Johnson is focused on moving up the lightweight rankings in 2012. If everything goes as planned, he’ll end the year on the cusp of being a contender.The 25-year-old St. Louis native, who has been a part of “The Blackzilians” for the last year, set his sights on a productive and successful year after suffering a first-round submission loss to British leg lock expert Paul Sass back in October. Frustrated with his performance, Johnson sought the silver lining in his loss.“Sometimes losing can be good,” he admitted prior to his first fight of 2012, a difficult matchup with former All-American wrestler Shane Roller. “The majority of times they’re horrible, but it’s good to have it happen early, as opposed to later on in my career. This way I actually have time to work on it, get better, and not get caught in it again.“I went back to the drawing board, spent a lot of time with my jiu-jitsu coach and the many black belts we have in our gym down here, and we work on it every day. Next time I do see something like that, I’ll know exactly what to do, and not just sit there and think about it.”That work on the mats paid off.While he wasn’t forced to fight his way out of any leg locks, Johnson’s calm when caught in a submission hold was put to the test. Closing the distance to start the third, Johnson was forced to play defense as Roller got inside, took him down, and took his back early in the final round. Three months after he panicked against Sass, Johnson had his chance to redeem himself.“Just don’t get finished,” Johnson says, chasing his recollection of what was running through his head that night in Chicago with a chuckle. “That was a huge thing — we trained that position a lot coming up to that fight, and I could hear my jiu-jitsu coach in my head, playing out every movement I had to do. I think it’s real important to stay calm in those situations because once you panic, you do something wrong, and then the fight’s over.“I don’t want to be the guy that looks back at a fight like, ‘That’s what I was supposed to do! I knew I needed to do that, but I didn’t do it.’ At that point it would have been too late, so I really focused on staying calm, working myself out of the position, and it worked out for the best.”Despite spending a healthy portion of the final round fending off Roller’s attempts to finish him, Johnson’s output in the opening two frames earned him a unanimous decision win, setting “The Year of the Menace” off right.“I didn’t get finished, I came away with a victory, and on to the next fight.” That next fight is a short notice opportunity against “El Cucuy,” Tony Ferguson.One season after Johnson’s runner-up performance on The Ultimate Fighter, Ferguson blasted his way through the competition, knocking out Ramsey Nijem in the finals to become a member of the exclusive fraternity of Ultimate Fighter winners. He’s put up another two wins since, steadily moving his way up the 155-pound division’s depth chart.“I feel real good about this fight,” says Johnson, who steps in for an injured Thiago Tavares, who in turn had replaced veteran Dennis Hallman. “Before I got the call, I was kind of getting a feeling like for some reason I was getting ready to fight; it was weird. He has been on a roll, and he’s one of the guys that I’ve been wanting to fight lately just for that matter. I want the guys in this division that are on a streak, and are looking to prove something just like myself.”Generally speaking, taking a fight on just over a month’s notice is a challenge, one that becomes a little more difficult when the man standing across from you in the cage sports a 14-2 record and has won seven consecutive contests.But the man known as “The Menace” didn’t hesitate to become Ferguson’s third scheduled opponent for this fight. Like a boy scout, this Blackzilian is always prepared to answer the call.“To me, there’s really no such thing as a short notice fight just because I’m always in shape. I’m always ready to get a call from (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva. If they need help, I’m always here willing to help those guys, and fill that spot.“We’ve got guys fighting every month, so in order for me to help those guys, and do as much as I can for them, I have to be in shape. It’s not always about just one person on this team — these guys depend on me, and I depend on them. We’re all trying to help each other succeed in this business. It’s a huge benefit for me to always be ready to fight, and be in a position where I can take a fight on short notice, and be able to fight no problem.”One of the youngest members of “The Blackzilians,” the camaraderie and shared focus on being successful as a unit has made a serious impact on Johnson over the last year, both in terms of his skills and his outlook. Working daily with the collection of talented coaches and established stars assembled in South Florida, Johnson sees what he can achieve — how good he can become — next to him on the mats every day, and is focused on using each fight as a chance to get one step closer to reaching his goals.“Everything has changed completely,” offers Johnson, the genuine appreciation he feels for his fighting family permeating his words. “I think we’ve got the best coaches in the world, plus I’m surrounded by current champions, former champions, and future champions too, and it’s just so beneficial for me. Everything has improved and changed, and I think people are going to start noticing that in these next couple of fights.“I look around the gym, and I see guys doing big things, and I just want to be a part of that, and follow in those guys’ footsteps. I look at Rashad (Evans), and Jorge Santiago, and JZ (Cavalcante), and all the other top names in our gym, and I think I’m a lil’ pup in the game, but I’m working my way up. Having those guys around me, and training me, and gaining experience from them means a lot.”On the first Saturday in May at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Johnson is intent on putting the lessons he’s learned to good use against Ferguson, who he thinks might be looking past him a little as he prepares for this fight.“I’m kind of sensing that he might be underestimating me a little bit. His last two opponents he fought were Aaron Riley and Yves Edwards — two UFC veterans — and he beat them. He might be sitting on his high horse a little bit; that’s what I’m hoping. I want to be the guy to come in and knock him off of that.“He won his season, I got second on my season, so in some people’s eyes, they might see him as better than me, or taking a step back fighting me, but it’s the perfect opportunity for me. It’s right where I need to be.”Like every fighter, Johnson has championship ambitions, but he knows the journey to the top of the lightweight division is an incremental process; each win leading to a bigger name, a bigger fight, and a bigger opportunity, until finally there is only one man left to defeat.“I’ve never worked harder, and I’m going to keep that intensity in the gym, and finish this year off strong. I’ve got a good win over Shane Roller under my belt, but with big wins come big competition. I want to be close to the Top 10 when this year is over, and Tony Ferguson is just another guy in the way of me getting to my goal.“I was playing this through my head the other day, and it’s like a video game — like Mortal Kombat: you’ve got to get through these little guys to get up to the top level, and that’s exactly how I’m playing it out right now. This is a huge year for me, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”“The Menace” is ready to take that next step. Or is that Lord Raiden?

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Two exciting welterweights entered the Octagon with vastly different gameplans yesterday (April 14, 2012) when John Maguire took on DaMarques Johnson on the UFC on Fuel TV 2 main card yesterday in Stockholm, Sweden. One (Maguire), wanted to take the fight to the canvas where he could show off his effective grappling and ground and pound while the other (Johnson) wanted to stand and trade where he could land his powerful kicks and punches on the feet. Unfortunately for Johnson, he was unable to remain upright for as long as he would have liked as he repeatedly found himself on his back and eventually suffered the consequences. So how was Maguire able to stifle Johnson's attack and eventually overwhelm him? And what's next for both fightters? Follow me after the jump for our John Maguire vs DaMarques Johnson UFC on Fuel TV 2 post-fight review and analysis: Johnson quickly took command of the striking exchanges early, landing a series of nice high inside leg kicks which painfully attacked that nerve in the upper thigh. Maguire quickly decided he'd had enough of that and closed the distance with a looping overland left which forced Johnson to defend just long enough for him to grab a single leg and turn the corner, taking the fight to the ground. Once on the canvas, Johnson wasn't completely defenseless. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt attacked with an omaplata from his back and nearly swept Maguire but was unable to land on top position during the resulting scramble. Maguire patiently advanced his attack throughout the round, eventually taking Johnson's back in the final 30 seconds but was unable to score a finish before the horn. In the second round, Maguire wasted no time at all closing the distance and connecting with another overhand left before grabbing a single leg and dumping Johnson on his back. Johnson was ready for him this time, however, and he was able to sweep Maguire the second he dropped to the canvas and take top position on the ground. Johnson attacked with a few elbows and even passed to side control before Maguire wisely turtled and worked his way back to his feet. In the stand-up, Maguire had some serious issues dealing with Johnson's powerful leg kicks, showing noticeable frustration when Johnson repeatedly connected to the inside of his right thigh. When Johnson got a little too close for comfort, though, Maguire was able to score a takedown from the clinch which led to a magnificent fight-ending sequence. After passing to half guard, Johnson held on and was attempting to attack with a Kimura from bottom, but he was not in a very good position to actually do anything with the hold. Instead, Maguire passed to side control, grabbed one of Johnson's free arms which had just moments before been attacking him and then stepped over into an absolutely beautiful armbar along the fence. Once he extended Johnson's arm, "Darkness" was forced to tap or snap and he wisely choose to tap out. The finish was so impressive it earned Maguire "Submission of the Night" honors in a night filled with a total of six submission victories. For DaMarques Johnson, he had his moments, but his inability to fend off the takedown or take full advantage of his opportunities was his downfall here. He didn't follow up his strong leg kicks with good punches to the head and he very unwisely clinched with Maguire after standing back up in the second round. Lastly, he continued to attack with a Kimura from bottom after clearly losing the position to do anything with it and that ended up being his downfall. He's still an exciting welterweight who always produces finishes in his fight so I think they'll keep him around, especially since he's not on a losing streak or anything. I'd like to see him take on fellow UFC on Fuel loser Papy Abedi. Either that or fellow recent losers David Mitchell or perhaps Dan Stittgen For John Maguire, he needed to take this fight to the ground and attack with his superior grappling and he did just that. I would have liked to see him throw a few more strikes once in a favorable position to soften Johnson up, but he ended up finishing the fight via submission so who am I to tell him what to do? His takedowns were solid and were set up very nicely with that big, looping overhand left. Hopefully he can continue to set up his takedowns well in the future. Now that he's 2-0 in the UFC, I'd like to see Maguire get a boost in competition level. Fellow event winners Siyar Bahurdazada, Simeon Thoresen or James Head would all be interesting opponents. Regardless, it'll be interesting to see what he's capable of once he faces someone who he can't manhandle on the ground. So what did you think, Maniacs? Was Maguire's exciting finish enough to earn him "Submission of the Night" honors on a night filled with tapouts? Do you see him ever breaking out of the crowded middle of the UFC's welterweight division? Sound off! For complete UFC on Fuel TV 2 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

Posted in: johnson, maguire, ufc, fight, leg

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John Maguire showed of his pink belt level skills in his own art of 'Gypsy Jiu-Jitsu' to put away DaMarques Johnson at UFC on Fuel 2 in Sweden.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, maguire, damarques johnson, gypsy jiujitsu

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In a sudden ending, John Maguire stunned DeMarques Johnson with a lighting quick arm bar, forcing the UFC veteran to tap out at UFC on FUEL 2. Johnson had been winning the second round of their fight until then, but was working for a kimura from the bottom when Maguire countered with the arm bar. He had it locked up almost immediately, giving Johnson no choice but to tap. The finish came at 4:40 of the round. "The kimura is normally my favorite move so I know the counter," Maguire said afterward. "I was waiting until he overcommited, which he did. He made a mistake and I capitalized on it." Maguire controlled the entire first round, using an overhand left to move into a successful takedown early, and holding Johnson to the mat for the rest of the way. Johnson threatened with an oma plata, but it was never close as Maguire rolled free. Maguire took the position and kept it the rest of the way, eventually taking Johnson's back late, though he was unable to finish. The win was the seventh straight for Maguire, who ran his record to 18-3 with the win. He's also now 2-0 in the UFC after beating Justin Edwards in his octagon debut last November. Johnson fell to 16-10, and has now lost three of his last five.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, maguire, arm bar, demarques johnson

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John Maguire relied on his grappling against DaMarques Johnson, and it eventually came through for him. Maguire countered a Johnson kimura attempt with an impressive reversal into an armbar, and quickly got the tap at 4:40 of the second round in the second main card bout at UFC on Fuel 2. After the bout, Maguire credited the finish to his pink belt in Gypsy jiu-jitsu. Johnson opened the bout with three straight leg kicks, but Maguire responded by grabbing a leg and dumping Johnson onto the mat. Johnson went for a triangle, but switched it up to an omoplata. It looked locked in, but Maguire popped out. Johnson then attempted a straight armbar, but Maguire calmly got out and maintained top position. Maguire tried hard to pass Johnson's guard, but Johnson steadily landed strikes from the bottom and defended well. Maguire persevered though, and moved to side control. Maguire tried to strike a bit and left Johnson some space, but when Johnson tried to pop out Maguire took his back and sunk in his hooks before the final horn. The two fighters stared at each other for a few seconds to start the second round, then Maguire faked a takedown and landed a big looping right. He then stepped up and took Johnson to the ground, but Johnson quickly reversed and worked in Maguire's full guard. Maguire set up a triangle, but Johnson evaded and moved to side control. Maguire then took advantage of a transition to get back to the feet. Johnson went back to the inside leg kicks, which made Maguire grimace. Johnson pushed Maguire against the cage to attempt a takedown, but was reversed by Maguire and ended up DaMarques ended up working from the bottom in an open guard. Both fighters landed some glancing strikes, and Johnson decided to attack an arm. He was unable to get the kimura, but out of nowhere Maguire stepped over, grabbed a straight armbar, and got the tap. It was a beautiful counter that materialized in just a couple of seconds. Maguire is currently on a six-fight winning streak, with the last victory coming in his UFC debut over Justin Edwards at UFC 138. Johnson, a TUF 9 finalist, has gone 4-3 in his seven UFC bouts so far. None have gone the distance. SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva

Posted in: ufc, johnson, maguire, armbar, damarques johnson

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The UFC on FUEL TV 2: "Gustafsson vs. Silva" main card taking place today (Sat., April 14, 2012) at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, kept right on rolling with a welterweight war pitting DaMarques Johnson against John Maguire. Johnson has been up and down throughout his career fighting inside the Octagon, having posted a 4-3 record. Not the case for Maguire, who has lost just three fights in his entire 20-fight career, including an impressive decision win over Justin Edwards in his UFC debut. Make that two in a row inside the eight-sided cage. That's because Maguire, a tough as nails Brit with a grappling game to watch for, used a kimura attempt from Johnson in the second round to jump a straight armbar to force a tapout. The win is nice but that "Submission of the Night" bonus that is surely coming will make it all the sweeter. Johnson came out early and set the tone with an inside leg kick that rode a little too high. They continue anyway and it wasn't long before they were on the floor with Johnson attacking with repeated submissions. He failed to finish any of them but the message was received. Not to be outdone, Maguire made sure to score some points with a submission attempt of his own. The back and forth first round closed out with no clear indicator of who would take over in the later rounds. The grappling display continued in the second stanza, as they quickly went to the floor and more submissions were thrown. Again, though, defensively, both men were on point. They clinched along the cage with a few minutes to go in the round and Maguire scored the all important takedown. It was Johnson who was busy from the bottom, though, as he shot off short elbow after short elbow. He also grabbed Maguire's arm for a kimura but the Brit used it against him by stepping over and locking in a straight armbar that forced Johnson to tap. Such sweet submission savvy. Remember, too, to check out MMAmania.com's ongoing live coverage of all the main card action by clicking here.

Posted in: ufc, round, submission, johnson, maguire

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STOCKHOLM, April 14 - By his own admission, Brian Stann “lost big” the last time he was in the Octagon. That was against Chael Sonnen, the middleweight division’s lead contender, and so no shame there. But Stann wants to occupy that top slot himself - and he took a big step towards it Saturday night in the UFC on FUEL TV main event against Alessio Sakara at Ericsson Globe Arena. Sakara never really got into the fight. Coming off a long layoff, it took only a few quick exchanges for Stann to rock him. Sensing a quick finish, Stann piled it on and demonstrated some newly improved Muay Thai in the process, landing a clean knee to the head from the clinch. Sakara went to the floor shortly afterwards and Stann followed him down. The Italian was able to regain his senses enough to stop the fight being halted there and then, but it wasn’t long before Stann worked free of Sakara’s grip and let his left hand go. Two short hooks were enough to knock Sakara out and Stann saw it before referee Marc Goddard did, ceasing his attack before the fight was officially stopped at 2:26 of the first round in a gesture of the kind of sportsmanship that the martial arts is renowned for. Watch Stann's emotional post-fight interviewBAHADURZADA vs. THIAGOIf it wasn’t for the extended period of circling at the start of the fight, Siyar Bahadurzada would probably be the new holder of the UFC’s fastest knockout record. He brought a serious striking pedigree into his fight with Paulo Thiago, who clearly respected his power as they circled and moved for a long time at the start of the round without wanting to be the first to open up.Thiago made the first move, lunging forward with an overhand right when he thought Siyar was open. Next thing he was face down. Siyar had hit him with a left hook as he moved in and a short right on the way down, then stepped aside to let the Brazilian fall to the floor where he lay unconscious for a brief time. It’s an auspicious debut for Siyar, who was born in Afghanistan but moved to the Netherlands with his family as a teenager. Having spent half his life training with some of the best kickboxers in the world, he has brought some serious firepower into the UFC with him. Ironically, Paulo Thiago also made his UFC debut with a shock first round knockout over a more established favourite when he stopped Josh Koscheck in London, England at UFC 95. The MMA game works in mysterious ways sometimes. SIVER vs. NUNESWhen Dennis Siver dropped to featherweight, a match with Diego Nunes was something many fans wanted to see. The two have very similar styles, playing a rangy kickboxing game with a healthy smattering of unorthodox but effective techniques.Siver is of course famed for his spinning back kick, but in this event he only got one off, and an unsuccessful effort at that. By contrast, Nunes was pulling them out of the bag with regularity; he threw a spinning heel kick to the head at least five times over the three rounds.Nunes also employed the spinning backfist on more than one occasion but all it did, like the kicks, was show just how fast Siver is at featherweight. He ducked under them almost the second Nunes even thought about throwing them, which was very impressive considering the speed Nunes was throwing them. It was clear early on that Siver wanted Nunes on the floor, but he wasn’t able to effect any takedowns, even when he had a solid bodylock in place. Nunes was able to shrug him off and stay in the striking game, where he was causing problems for the German. It was when Nunes stayed in the pocket for more than a few seconds that he got in trouble himself, as Siver was able to land heavy counter shots. One left hand clearly rocked Nunes badly, but the Brazilian laughed it off and backpedaled until his head cleared.The clinch provided highlights, as Nunes’ knee strikes were answered with wild hooks from Siver. It’s hard to say who won these exchanges, as Nunes’ blows were harder but much less in number than Siver’s hands. That extends to the fight as a whole - Siver won a unanimous 29-28 decision but there is a sizeable number of fans who think it should have gone Nunes’ way.MAGUIRE vs. JOHNSONSometimes the crowd doesn’t appreciate the ground game, preferring a standing war to the intricacies of the jiu-jitsu game. But sometimes the ground fight can be just as exhilarating, particularly when it involves one or both fighters relentlessly hunting submissions and dominant positions.This was one of those fights. John Maguire wanted the fight on the floor, where he is most comfortable, but DaMarques Johnson has a good ground game of his own, and so when Maguire hit a takedown early in the first, the fight was on. Maguire quickly found himself caught in a very deep omoplata; as he worked to avoid the submission, Johnson turned it into a sweep attempt, looking to take top position. Caught in a double bind, Maguire had to work very carefully to avoid being submitted or forced into a bad position from which Johnson would find it easier to win the fight. Eventually, Maguire broke free and then came a time for the jiu-jitsu connoisseurs as Maguire attempted to pass Johnson’s guard while Johnson employed all his technique to prevent him. The pass came inch by inch, from full guard to half guard and then to side control. Johnson fought it off every step of the way. When Maguire did pass, Johnson tried rolling to his knees so he could stand up, but Maguire was ready for that and he took Johnson’s back as the round ended.Round two saw Maguire end up on his back early. He tried to triangle Johnson but nearly got his guard passed, so he returned to his feet. Johnson showed why Maguire preferred the fight on the floor by landing a solid head kick which Maguire purported to laugh off but clearly felt. Maguire worked hard to get hold of Johnson and get him back to the floor, but it nearly backfired - Johnson caught hold of a kimura. It was a tricky situation but Magura not only escaped it, he turned it to his advantage. Johnson only had him in half-guard and so he was able to step one leg out, over Johnson’s head, and turn Johnson’s kimura effort into an armbar against him. Taken by surprise, Johnson had no choice but to tap at 4:40 of round two, marking a second UFC victory for gypsy jiu-jitsu. Watch Maguire's post-fight interviewPAGE vs. PICKETTThe huge right hand that Damacio Page threw at the start of his fight with Brad Pickett was a marker of just how intense it was going to be. For its full duration, the bout was a total war with no quarter asked or given, and all at the kind of ferocious pace that only bantamweights can provide.Page’s big right didn’t land - Pickett ducked it and hit a takedown. But Page was quickly back to his feet and then he went all-out on Pickett, unleashing a fierce assault that mixed hands, shins and knees. Pickett was backed up - and sometimes lit up - but he was able to get back into the fight via a sneaky left uppercut that he scored with over and over. His left hook was also working well for him and they became key as he used them to counter Page’s offensive efforts, or open up his own.The tremendous pace of the first round was always going to be difficult to maintain and it was Page who broke first. When Pickett came out, lifted him and slammed him at the start of the second, it seemed to take all the wind out of his sails. He got back to his feet but then got dropped with a hard right hand and Pickett came in for the finish. He was able to get Page’s back after a tussle on the floor, sinking his hooks in and then snaking an arm around Page’s neck for the fight-finishing rear naked choke at the 4:05 mark. In a marked contrast to Page’s obvious fatigue, Pickett ran across the cage then did a mid-air backflip. Watch Pickett's post-fight interview

Posted in: fight, johnson, maguire, stann, nune

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Six fighters joined UFC President Dana White at the UFC on FX post-fight press conference: Alexander Gustafsson, Thiago Silva, Siyar Bahadurzada, Reza Madadi, Brad Pickett, and John Maguire.Pickett and Damacio Page were awarded Fight of the Night for their fast-paced brawl. After trading strikes for much of the first two rounds, Pickett landed a right hand that staggered Page. From there, Pickett was able to sink in hi hooks, and force Page to tap from a rear naked choke.Bahadurzada earned Knockout of the Night for his one-punch finish of veteran Paulo  Thiago. The newcomer impressed in his UFC® debut, landing an uppercut on Thiago's chin that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas.Submission of the Night went to Maguire for his slick tapout of TUF vet DaMarques Johnson. As Johnson attempted to lock in a kimura, Maguire deftly transitioned to an armbar, forcing Johnson to quickly tap.All bonused fighters received $50,000.Video from the post-fight press conference will be posted when it is available.

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John Maguire returns to the Octagon on Saturday, when he faces American DaMarques (Darkness) Johnson on a televised card in Stockholm.

Posted in: johnson, return, maguire, damarque, fight johnson

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John Maguire returns to the Octagon on Saturday, when he faces American DaMarques (Darkness) Johnson on a televised card in Stockholm.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, return, maguire, darkness

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From Sweden, the UFC On Fuel TV 2 airs at 3 p.m. ET this Saturday, April 14th. Light-heavyweight bangers Alexander Gustafsson and Thiago Silva headline the show. The main card features a welterweight scrap between former TUFer DaMarques Johnson and one-time UFC competitor John Maguire. DaMarques "Darkness" Johnson (15-9) appeared on the "US vs. UK" version of TUF and lost to James Wilks in the finals. Since then, he's pieced together a 4-2 clip in the Octagon. That streak began with back-to-back stoppages (Edgar Garcia by triangle, Brad Blackburn by TKO) but was halted by Matt Riddle, who finished Johnson in the 2nd by TKO. He would alternate results in his last three, forcing Mike Guymon to tap to a constricting body triangle, submitting to a flurry of elbows from Amir Sadollah and then roasting Clay Harvison by 1st-round TKO. John "The One" Maguire (17-3) clawed his way to a unanimous decision win over Justin Edwards in his Octagon debut at UFC 138. Training out of the Tsunami Gym in London, England, Maguire is a self-proclaimed "Pink Belt in Gypsy Jiu-Jitsu." To expound on that unorthodox calling card -- Maguire is a legitimate gypsy traveler who idolizes Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a pro-wrestler known for being fashionably clad in a pink singlet. Maguire is a former Cage Gladiators middleweight and Cage Rage welterweight champion. Joe Rogan mentioned on the UFC 138 broadcast that he'd seen video of Maguire submitting a BJJ black belt, who turns out to be Roger Gracie product Andy Roberts. Of Maguire's 17 wins, 9 are by catch with 3 TKOs and 5 decisions. He's won 9 of his last 11 with Simon Thoresen, a Swede debuting on this card, and BAMMA middleweight champ Tom Watson responsible for the losses. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 2 Johnson drew a favorable match up in Harvison in his last outing and out-classed him, quickly and violently. He's a fairly polished boxer who complements his diverse hands with occasional kicks and knees. With sound agility, good hand speed and a lanky frame with a long reach (75"), Johnson can be a terror on the feet when he's on. He can leave himself open to counters because he's generally focused on attacking -- his chin was used to be somewhat proven, having a sole loss to strikes back in 2006, but nowadays his last two defeats have come by way of TKO. Though he's billed as a blue belt in BJJ, Johnson has been training submission grappling under the all-knowing Jeremy Horn in Utah since 2004. He's been kind of hot and cold in the clinch and grappling departments. His wrestling and clinch throws look to have improved and finishing Guymon with a back-mount body triangle is a sign of increasing awareness. 5 of his 9 losses, however, are by submission. Though we've only seen Maguire in a high-profile match up once, he should have a significant edge on the mat. Persevering through a hammering punch that floored him in the first, Maguire turned the tabltes against Edwards with an active clinch game and clever transitions. He was sneaky with tactics like baiting with a kimura to slip into standing back control, the position from which he lands the belly-to-back throw to the right. Maguire was able to ground the fight through creative intelligence more so than exemplary wrestling. Throughout the encounter, Maguire noticeably conducted himself with the cool composure of a veteran. The sequence to the left is a good example of how wily of a grappler Maguire is. From back control, he anticipated Edwards' attempt to spin into guard by slinging his leg over Edwards' shoulder to transition to a deep armbar (Edwards was saved by the bell). Maguire's striking didn't look too shabby either. A southpaw with a wide stance, he flicks out a lot of jabs and connected with a few hard inside low kicks. Most of his intentions seemed to be geared toward moving into a tie-up rather than jousting strikes in open space. Watson is the only fighter to finish Maguire via strikes. Despite his success against Edwards, I'm still in the "show me" stage with Maguire. His debut proved he has an A-level ground game, a stout clinch and a well rounded menu. Johnson will be a significant step up in competition and I see Maguire struggling with his quickness and explosiveness on the feet. If he can force a clinch with any kind of consistency, Maguire will be one step closer to imposing his grappling advantage, so I expect Johnson to recognize and respect this by using footwork and motion to keep from being pinned against the fence. My Prediction: DaMarques Johnson by TKO. All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll DaMarques Johnson vs. John Maguire Johnson Maguire   0 votes | Results

Posted in: tko, johnson, maguire, edward, he

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While they may not be household names, two very entertaining UFC welterweights will battle this Saturday afternoon (April 14, 2012) as DaMarques Johnson squares off against the UK's John Maguire on the UFC on Fuel TV 2 main card in Stockholm, Sweden. Johnson has had a very up and down career thus far in the UFC, never really able to string together some quality wins. He's coming off a very impressive first round knockout at the UFC on FOX debut and will be hoping to build off of that strong showing against John Maguire. John Maguire was called to the UFC to compete in his native England at UFC 138 last fall. He didn't disappoint his hometown fans by going out and dominating Justin Edwards over the course of three rounds. With the victory, he's graduated to the main card and is hoping he doesn't make the UFC brass regret their decision. Will DaMarques Johnson finally be able to put together a nice streak in the welterweight division? Will Maguire's tough grappling skills be too much for "Darkness?" What's the key to victory for both middling welterweights? Let's find out: DaMarques Johnson Record: 13-9 overall, 4-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Brad Blackburn (UFC 112), Mike Guymon (UFC: Fight for the Troops 2), Clay Harvison (UFC on FOX) Key Losses: Amir Sadollah (UFC Fight Night 24), Matthew Riddle (UFC on Versus 2), James Wilks (Ultimate Finale 9) How he got here: DaMarques Johnson learned jiu-jitsu while in the army and got into MMA after meeting Jeremy Horn once his service was over. He did not get off to a terrific start to his MMA career, losing four of his first six professional fights, but eventually he got the hang of it. After winning seven out of eight bouts, Johnson would become a castmember of The Ultimate Fighter season nine. He became known on the show for his feud with Michael Bisping, but also won three straight fights to advance to the finale, where he would come up short to James Wilks. He's won three of his five UFC fights since, but none of the men he defeated are still employed with the promotion. Most recently, he stepped up on very late notice and put up a tough fight against Amir Sadollah before being overwhelmed by the TUF season seven winner on the ground with elbows. Johnson crushed Clay Harvison in his last UFC bout, knocking out the TUF alumni in 94 seconds. He'll be looking to do the same this weekend. How he gets it done: Johnson has a very exciting and aggressive fight style and while he's dangerous on the ground, whether he's on his back looking for a triangle choke or even finishing a fight with a body triangle, this is a fight where he needs to showcase his defensive wrestling. The Elite Performance fighter should be trying to keep this fight standing by any means possible. He has some terrific knockout power in his hands and I just don't think he can hang with Maguire on the canvas, especially if he gets put on his back. Johnson needs to utilize terrific footwork in this bout and look to land that big uppercut if Maguire tries to close the distance. If he can frustrate Maguire and force him to play his game, that knockout blow could come at any moment. It's by far "Darkness's" best opportunity to be victorious on Saturday. John Maguire Record: 17-3 overall, 1-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Justin Edwards (UFC 138) Key Losses: Simeon Thoresen (BAMMA 3), Tom Watson (BAMMA 1) How he got here: John Maguire started his fight career in 2006 and won his first eight bouts. He had his momentum halted at the World Pankration Championships but he bounced back and consecutive victories earned him an opportunity to fight for upstart UK promotion BAMMA. His run in BAMMA was a dark spot in his career as he was defeated by current champion Tom Watson at middleweight in the inaugural event. He returned for BAMMA 3 as a welterweight where he dropped a unanimous decision to Simeon Thoresen. Since those losses, however, he's looked terrific. Maguire signed up with London-based promotion UCMMA where he would win four straight which included both winning the promotion's title and defending it three times successfully. This earned him an invite into the UFC where he handled former Ultimate Fighter season 13 fighter Justin Edwards over the course of three rounds to win a decision. He'll have an opportunity to keep his momentum rolling against another Ultimate Fighter winner this Saturday. How he gets it done: Obviously, Maguire's strength has been his grappling. He took over against Edwards in his UFC debut and was able to dominate the wrestler and Jorge Gurgel protege over the course of three rounds with his top control, ground and pound and excellent positioning. Maguire has some limited stand-up ability, but after what DaMarques Johnson did against Clay Harvison in his last fight, it would be wise for him to close the distance early either in the clinch or with a takedown attempt and work his ass off to put Johnson on his back. Johnson has wilted from strong top pressure and ground and pound before, which has actually been in all three of his UFC losses. If Maguire can remain glued on top and wear Johnson down, it could potentially leave an opening for a TKO or submission finish. Fight X-Factor: The X-Factor for this fight most likely is grappling. DaMarques Johnson has pulled off plenty of submissions throughout his career, but unless he's rocked his opponent in the stand-up, he hasn't fared well against the tough grapplers in the division that he's faced off against. It's not like his losses have come against the elites either. They've been to James Wilks, Amir Sadollah and Matt Riddle. Maguire is at least as capable on the canvas as them if not moreso. If Maguire can put Johnson on his back, Johnson could be having a bad time. The most important battle in this fight will be Johnson's battle to remain upright and work his powerful striking game. That will almost certainly decide the outcome. Bottom Line: This is an intriguing battle of styles. One wants the fight to stay standing where he showcase his knockout power. The other likely wants to put their opponent on the canvas where they can attack with ground and pound or submissions. It will be a tremendous test of wills and whoever can impose their will will win. I highly doubt that Maguire just lays on Johnson for three rounds if he can put the fight on the canvas and I also highly doubt that Johnson just works his jab for three straight rounds if he can keep it standing. Whoever imposes their will should be putting on a strong display of their skills in victory, almost certainly resulting in a stoppage. This was put on the main card for a reason. Who will come out on top at UFC on Fuel TV 2? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which welterweight will reign supreme on the UFC on Fuel TV 2 main card? DaMarques Johnson John Maguire   1 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, maguire, damarque

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Anthony “Rumble” Johnson seemed on his way to becoming a contender in the UFC, earning several key victories. However, trouble with his weight continued to hamper his career path. After missing weight badly for a co-main event fight with Vitor Belfort, and being defeated by Belfort in the process, the UFC released Johnson. Now, with a new contract in a new promotion, Johnson is preparing to embark on a new life in Titan Fighting Championship. He’ll make his debut for the company on May 25 against Dave Branch in the main event of Titan Fighting Championship 22, which will be televised live on HDNet. “I can’t hold on to the past or my mistakes,” said Johnson, in a recent interview with MMA Junkie. “I’ve got to learn from them and keep moving. I can’t let that stuff haunt me because once it haunts you, I don’t think you’ll ever get over it.” In Branch, Johnson will be facing a former UFC fighter, as well. Having experienced what competing inside the Octagon is all about, however, does leave “Rumble” wanting that sensation yet again down the road. “My ultimate goal is to get back in the UFC, but I’m with Titan right now, so I can’t think about anything else,” Johnson said. “I’ve just got to think about who I’m with and who I have to compete against.” Photo credit: MMA Junkie

Posted in: ufc, johnson, titan, vitor belfort, ufc fighter

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Tickets for UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall, the promotion's return to Florida, go on sale Wednesday to Fight Club members and on Friday to the general public.

Posted in: fx, johnson, sale wednesday, week tickets, promotions return

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With a series of vicious uppercuts, Lavar Johnson announced his arrival to the UFC's heavyweight division with a big knockout of Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox in January.

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, joey beltran, lavar

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Middleweight Anthony Johnson (10-4) knows what’s on the mind of most fans when it comes to his current status. Rather than wondering about what he’s working on for his next fight or how his training in general has gone, the question he fields most often pertains to his weight. While he’s not dishing out any numbers at the moment, Johnson understands the curiosity surrounding his oft-strained relationship with the scale. After all, he missed his required mark multiple times in the UFC and was handed his walking papers after the most recent transgression this past January. However, while the public may be fascinated by the topic, Johnson himself isn’t obsessed with the issue because there’s nothing he can do to change things having already happened. “I can’t hold onto the past or my mistakes. I’ve got to learn from them and keep moving. I can’t let that stuff haunt me because once it haunts you I don’t think you’ll ever get over it,” said the 28-year old Johnson in an interview with MMAJunkie Radio. “I try not to have too many regrets in my life. I have a few, but when it comes down to fighting, I don’t have any. No point. The bad stuff ain’t paying my bills.” One of primary forces driving Johnson at the moment is his desire to return to the Octagon down the road and redeem himself. Still, as much as he wants to show the world what he’s made of on the sport’s biggest stage, “Rumble” knows he’ll have to earn an opportunity to do so that’s anything but a given. “Of course my ultimate goal is to get back in the UFC, but I’m with Titan right now, so I can’t think about anything else,” Johnson explained. “I’ve just got to think about who I’m with and who I have to compete against. I’ve just got to be ready for David Branch. I’m not thinking about who is in the UFC or what the UFC is doing. When my time comes, it will come.” Johnson fights fellow UFC veteran Branch (10-2) in the main event of Titan FC 22 on May 25. The event will be broadcast live on HDNet for those outside of the Kansas City area not able to attend live. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, future success, oftstrained relationship, ’s anything

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Talk about a sense of humor. Anthony Johnson can joke about the most humiliating moment of his professional fight career, even though his missed weight at UFC 142 cost him his job in the world's biggest MMA organization. "You better not even ask," Johnson joked about what he currently weighs, when host "Gorgeous" George Garcia asked for his specific poundage on a recent appearance on MMAjunkie.com Radio.

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, george garcia, mma organization, fight career

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Over the past few weeks the UFC unveiled a number of match-ups scheduled for a June 8 card including a headlining tilt between top flyweights Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall. However, while the bouts may have been in place, the show’s actual location remained up in the air due to a contest allowing fans to vote in hopes of bringing the Octagon to their hometown. The group’s opinions have since been tallied with Fort Lauderdale emerging as the city of destination. Officials confirmed the matter earlier today. “I’m excited to bring the UFC back to Florida,” exclaimed UFC President Dana White. “The first fight between Johnson and McCall was incredible, and on June 8, they will finally finish the fight to determine who is going to fight for the first-ever flyweight title.” Adding a level of interaction even those outside of the region can participate in, the UFC has also decided to allow the public to vote on one of three fights to open up the televised broadcast – Mike Pierce vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha, Lance Benoist vs. Seth Baczynski, or Scott Jorgensen vs. Eddie Wineland. Given the options it seems the three fights locked into the FX-bound event including Mike Pyle-Josh Neer, Erick Silva-Charlie Brenneman, and of course Johnson-McCall. The winner of the latter bout will advance to the final of a flyweight tournament and fight Joseph Benavidez for the right to lay claim to the UFC’s inaugural divisional title. McCall-Johnson met before in early March, turning in an exciting effort marred by an officiating mistake preventing a fourth and final round by miscalculating the scores, initially ruling the bout a win for Johnson rather than a Draw as it should have been. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, johnson, fort lauderdale

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June's UFC on FX event finally has a location, and it's Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That city's BankAtlantic Center will host the event, including the flyweight semifinal do-over between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall. UFC officials confirmed the news on Thursday. The event marks the UFC's first trip to Fort Lauderdale, though the promotion has previously run five shows in Florida. The BankAtlantic Center was the site of the Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli EliteXC match that led to the end of that promotion. Johnson and McCall originally fought on March 3, going three spirited rounds. Johnson was initially declared the winner by split decision, but the sanctioning body overseeing the event later determined that a scoring error had been made, and the fight was actually a draw. By then, though, it was already too late to use a fourth round overtime that had been specifically added into the fighters' contracts just in case. The June 8 winner between them (assuming there is one this time) will eventually face Joseph Benavidez to determine the promotion's inaugural flyweight champion. As part of the UFC on FX event, fans will have a chance to choose one of the main card fights to air on TV through voting on UFC.com. The three fights that are currently options include a bantamweight bout between Scott Jorgensen and Eddie Wineland, and welterweight fights pitting Carlos Eduardo Rocha vs. Mike Pierce, and Lance Benoist vs. Seth Baczynski.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, event, johnson

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The fans have spoken. The semifinals of the first-ever Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight tournament will conclude at UFC on FX 3 on June 8, 2012, when Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall run back their initial (and controversial) 125-pound encounter. And they'll do it at the BankAtlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale. The south Florida venue garnered the most fan votes in the Harley-Davidson Hometown Throwdown contest, but their work doesn't end there. UFC fans will also get to determine which of the following three bouts will kick off the televised main card, airing live via the FX channel on Friday night (June 8) at 9 p.m. ET. 155 lbs.: Scott Jorgensen vs. Eddie Wineland170 lbs.: Carlos Eduardo Rocha vs. Mike Pierce170 lbs.: Lance Benoist vs. Seth Baczynski Click here to vote for the fight of your choice -- and to enter to win a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle. "Mighty Mouse" and "Uncle Creepy" first mixed it up at the UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" event this past March 2, 2012, in Sydney, Australia. After three close rounds, the two should have went to a fourth, sudden victory round to determine a winner. However, a scoring error led to the result incorrectly being read a victory in favor of Johnson immediately after the frenetic 15 minutes finished. It was later determined that the ringside judges actually scored it a draw. The winner of the bout between Johnson and McCall will take on Joseph Benavidez later this year to determine the first-ever UFC 125-pound champion. On that same night in the "Land Down Under," Benavidez brutalized Yasuhiro Urushitani to punch his ticket to the finals on the other side of the four-man bracket. For a quick refresher course on all the controversy surrounding Johnson vs. McCall part one click here and here. For more on the upcoming UFC on FX 3 event click here.

Posted in: ufc, fx, vs, johnson, bankatlantic center

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Ultimate Fighter 13 winner Tony Ferguson will hope the third time’s a charm where scheduled opponents are concerned after watching Thiago Tavares, a replacement for original adversary Dennis Hallman, go down with injury while training for a May 5 match-up at UFC on FOX 3. Based on the Brazilian’s condition the UFC has now booked TUF 12 finalist Michael Johnson to face the surging striker on the event’s undercard. News of the match-up was confirmed earlier this week by the UFC. Ferguson has looked sharp in all of his Octagon appearances, going 3-0 thus far since his run on TUF. The 28-year old is 13-2 in his career and on a six-fight winning streak including five strike-based stoppages. Most recently “El Cucuy” was seen picking apart veteran Yves Edwards en route to a decision victory. Johnson, who himself has never been finished via TKO, has also shown flashes of brilliance in his UFC career and looked better than ever against Shane Roller in late January. UFC on FOX 3 features four fights on the main card comprised of Pat Barry-Lavar Johnson, Alan Belcher-Rousimar Palhares, Josh Koscheck-Johny Hendricks, and headliners Jim Miller-Nate Diaz. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, michael johnson, january ufc, ufc ferguson

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With Thiago Tavares off the card with an injury, "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 13 winner Tony Ferguson will now face TUF 12 finalist Michael Johnson in May.

Posted in: johnson, ferguson, michael johnson, tavare, thiago tavares

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Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 winner Anthony Ferguson looks to continue his undefeated run through the UFC lightweight division when he makes a trip to the "Garden State" later this year to battle fellow TUF guy Michael Johnson at the UFC on FOX 3 event booked for May 5, 2012, from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford. He was originally expected to face off against Dennis Hallman Thiago Tavares; however, UFC officials today announced the Brazilian was felled by injury and replaced by Johnson. Ferguson (13-3) graduated at the top of his TUF class by beating the brakes off fellow finalist Ramsey Nijem. That set up a jaw-breaking win over Aaron Riley followed by a unanimous decision victory over the venerable YYves Edwards. Can "El Cucuy" scare up another "W" in Dirty Jersey? Standing in his way will be Johnson (10-6), who's looking to string together consecutive wins for the first time in over two years. "The Menace" failed to capture the TUF crown after a unanimous decision loss to Jonathan Brookins in the 2010 live finale. He's since sandwiched a loss to Paul Sass between wins over Edward Faaloloto and Shane Roller. Is this going to be his breakout fight? UFC on FOX 3 will be headlined by a lightweight fight featuring Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz. The victor is widely-expected to move on to face the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson, who rematch later this year. For more details on the promotion's return to the FOX network click here.

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, tuf, tuf class

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The revolving door of opponents for Tony Ferguson just keeps spinning, as he's now agreed to face a third potential opponent for a lightweight bout in New Jersey at UFC on Fox 3 on May 5th. This time, it will be a fellow Ultimate Fighter alum squaring off with "El Cucuy" as Michael Johnson has agreed to fill in for an injured Thiago Tavares, who was a replacement himself for Dennis Hallman. UFC.com sheds some light on the situation: TUF 13 winner Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson has received a new opponent -- his third in two months -- for the May 5 event at UFC on FOX. He will now face TUF 12 finalist Michael Johnson, who is replacing the injured Thiago Tavares. Tavares himself was tapped to replace Ferguson's original opponent, Dennis Hallman. Ferguson is fortunate that Joe Silva hasn't booked him against wildly different fighting styles, as Hallman presented the threat of a catch wrestling-style submission grappler, while Tavares would have brought his smothering BJJ, and now he'll get Johnson, a wrestler who also tends to throw bombs on the feet, so he won't have to alter his training camp too drastically. Since losing the season crown to Jonathan Brookins in a competitive bout at the Season 12 Finae, Johnson has sandwiched wins around a submission loss to the always-crafty Paul Sass. Most recently, the "Menace" scored an impressive upset victory over highly-credentialed wrestler, Shane Roller, as he showed improved takedown defense in thwarting Roller's takedowns and punishing him on the feet for two rounds, and then holding his own and reversing position when the fight went to the ground in the third frame. Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson (13-3)W Yves Edwards (unam. decision) - TUF 14 FinaleW Aaron Riley (TKO) - UFC 135W Ramsey Nijem (KO) - TUF 13 Finale Michael "The Menace" Johnson (10-6)W Shane Roller (unam. decision) - UFC on Fox 2L Paul Sass (submission) - UFC on Versus 6W Edward Faaloloto (TKO) - UFC on Versus 4 UFC on Fox 3 coverage

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, ferguson, tavare

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Fedor loses again! This time to disgraced sumo guy turned pro wrestler Shinichi Suzukawa. Yeah it's just another one of these kooky Japanese game show things, but you know we can't pass up an opportunity to hate on Fedor. Fight someone legit, you bum! Odds are out for the Demetrious Johnson / Ian McCall rematch and interestingly enough the bookies have Johnson as a -175 favorite over McCall at +145. While that might seem kinda silly considering McCall clearly won their first fight, this may be evidence that oddmakers take shitty judging into account when setting up lines. Johnson's got a style that keeps winning him fights he loses. Invicta FC is an all female fight promotion that debuts in a month and they're now planning on streaming their first event online for free. Which is good because the card is stacked with quality fighters: Kaitlin Young, Sarah D’Alelio, Cat Zingano, Jessica Penne, Lisa Ward, Liz Carmouche, and Marloes Coenen to single out a few. Cesar Gracie tells Sherdog that Nick Diaz isn't going to retire if he has anything to do with it. This is especially reassuring considering Nick Diaz is known for always doing what other people want him to do. When Bellator hits Spike in 2013, the show is going to expand from 2 hours to 3. That means six tournaments per season instead of five, and even more interesting fights which will never happen because Bjorn Rebney refuses to be flexible about the format. Jake Shields has decided to move back up to the 185 pound division, because that will fix all his problems. Hendo rematch, anyone? The UFC will hit up Macao, the Las Vegas of China, by the end of the year. The event will apparently go down at the Venetian, a 2.4 billion dollar super-casino which is based on the Vegas casino with the same name. Karo Parisyan on pain pills: "For the record, I was never addicted to pain meds. I abused pain medications without knowing." Well, I'm glad he's being honest with himself now. He'll be fighting this weekend in Texas. Jens Pulver is hitting the UK circuit. Hopefully it works out better than Bob Sapp working the European market. Limp wristed cartoon lovers take note: The new Avatar - The Last Airbender show Legend of Korra includes new 'bending' (whatever the f*ck that means) based on mixed martial arts. Mac Danzig was brought on as a consultant, so that pegs this new bending's power as somewhere between Joe Stevenson and Matt Wiman level.

Posted in: fight, pain, johnson, mccall, bum odds

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The UFC may have decided to make all main events going forward five-round bouts but there will be an exception to that rule, as the flyweight tournament rematch between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall will be contested over three rounds. Earlier this year, Johnson and McCall fought to what was eventually ruled a Draw. However, Johnson was originally named as earning the win before an instance of “too little too late” revealed the scores had been miscalculated, robbing fans of a unique “sudden victory” format adding a fourth frame to the match-up. “They would never fight a five-round fight. It’s not going to happen. Because if they fought a five-round fight and it was a Draw, they’d have to go to a sixth. It’s a three-round fight, if it goes to a Draw – and they add it up as a Draw – will will to a fourth,” said White, during a press conference for UFC 146 earlier this week. “It is the main event, it’s going to main event. Those guys deserve to be the main event and especially the way that everything went down.” Their fight will headline UFC on FX 3 on June 8. The venue and location for the card will likely be announced next week when the organization reveals the winner of the Harley-Davidson Hometown Throwdown contest. The winner will advance to face Joseph Benavidez later this year for the first-ever UFC flyweight title. Other notable bouts signed to the card include Mike Pierce vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha and Mike Pyle vs. Josh Neer. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Ian McCall fought Demetrious Johnson to a draw at UFC on FX 2: Alves Vs. Kampmann in Sydney, Australia only weeks ago. Now the oddsmakers are giving Johnson a nearly 2-to-1 advantage to beat McCall in their rematch at UFC on FX 3 on June 8. The winner of that bout will go on to face Joseph Benavidez in the final round of the UFC flyweight tournament. Benavidez TKO'd Yasuhiro Urushitani at UFC on FX 2 to advance in the tournament. Both Benavidez and Johnson have challenged UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz and failed to take his title. MMA Odds Breaker has Johnson at -175 and McCall at +145. They also gave odds for part of the UFC 146 card: Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3) Roy Nelson +140 Antonio Silva -170 Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) vs. Shane del Rosario (11-0) Gabriel Gonzaga +135Shane Del Rosario -165 Stefan Struve (23-5) vs. Mark Hunt (8-7) Mark Hunt +115Stefan Struve -145 SBN Coverage of UFC on FX 3

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Ante up. The semifinals of the first-ever Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight tournament will conclude at UFC on FX 3 on June 8, 2012, when Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall run back their initial (and controversial) 125-pound encounter. And "Mighty Mouse" will come into their highly-anticipated rematch as the -175 favorite, according to the latest edition of MMA Odds Breaker. "Uncle Creepy" stands as the +145 underdog. Johnson battled McCall earlier this month at the UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" event in Sydney, Australia. After three close rounds, the two should have went to a fourth, sudden victory round to determine a winner. However, a scoring error led to the result incorrectly being read a victory in favor of Johnson immediately after the frenetic 15 minutes finished. It was later determined that the ringside judges actually scored it a draw. The winner of the bout between Johnson and McCall will take on Joseph Benavidez later this year to determine the first-ever UFC 125-pound champion. On that same night in the "Land Down Under," Benavidez brutalized Yasuhiro Urushitani to punch his ticket to the finals on the other side of the four-man bracket. So what's your take on these odds based on the way their first fight ended? And how do you expect the rematch to play out in June? Lots to digest here, Maniacs, let's hear what you've got. For a quick refresher course on all the controversy surrounding Johnson vs. McCall part one click here and here.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, odd, mccall, ian mccall

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Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (10-4) will meet fellow former UFC fighter Dave Branch (10-2) this May under the Titan FC banner for his first bout outside of MMA’s biggest show since 2006. Sherdog first reported the matchup, which will likely take place in the middleweight division. The two will meet at Titan FC 22, which is scheduled for May 22 at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. Johnson became persona non grata at the UFC this year when he failed to make weight for his debut in a weight class one division higher than where he usually fought. After missing the mark for a few welterweight tilts, Johnson was finally persuaded to move up to middleweight. He came in eleven pounds heavy for his 185lbs debut fight and was handled quickly in that bout by veteran Vitor Belfort, securing his promotional release. During his time in the UFC, Johnson earned five KO/TKOs and picked up notable wins over Charlie Brenneman, Dan Hardy and Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Dave Branch is also a fighter well-acquainted with the octagon, having waged four battles inside the eight-walled cage. Branch went 2-2 in the UFC, sandwiching wins over Tomasz Drwal and Rich Attonito with losses to Gerald Harris and Rousimar Palhares. Since losing via submission to Palhares, Branch has gone on a two-fight winning streak over lesser-known competition.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, titan, branch, fighter wellacquainted

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If The Ultimate Fighter season 9 finalist DaMarques “Darkness” Johnson is ever in need of a new nickname, he might want to consider “The Anti-Decision”. Over three years and seven fights inside the Octagon, Johnson has yet to hear a judge’s score card read to choose a victor in one of his clashes. Even more incredible, the 18-9 welterweight has only seen a third round once in his action-packed UFC career. In the never ending debate about how to properly score an MMA fight, Johnson has proven time and time again that the winners and losers in his bouts will solely be decided by him and his opponent. “Once we get in there to have a fist fight, I'm going to bring it and I'm either going to get finished or finish someone else,” asserts Johnson. “I don't like going to decisions. It takes too long. It takes forever. If you see DaMarques Johnson's name on a card, you know fists will be flying and people will be taking naps. That's it. Whether it's me or another dude taking a nap, I'm a realist that way - whatever happens happens. People will be entertained.”At 29 years old, the Utah native is arguably the unsung hero of fan friendly fisticuffs in the UFC. All seven of Johnson’s Octagon appearances have followed a similar script of the clock starting, him meeting whichever opponent in the center of the cage, and trading punches, kicks, elbows, chokes, and takedowns until the ref stops it. Plenty of fighters, from first-time curtain jerkers to long-standing champions have been criticized about boring styles or trying to win on points, but not Johnson, as each one of his performances has been about testing chins and submission defenses. And it all starts with Johnson’s unabashed love for fighting.“My job is the best job in the world,” states Johnson. “There is no feeling like hearing Burt Watson saying, ‘You've got five minutes, baby!’ It's the craziest drug high in the world. Whether I'm fighting on the undercard or fighting on TV, it's the coolest feeling ever and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Everyone should experience that feeling in whatever they are doing.”This pedal to the metal, a fighter comes to fight style netted him a 2-1 record last year. The first quarter of 2011 saw Johnson winning by a rare body-triangle sub over Mike Guymon followed by a frantically paced slugfest loss to TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah. Johnson was originally set to tangle with Georgia striker Clay “Heavy Metal” Harvison in September, but a nagging back injury forced him to re-schedule for November on the undercard of UFC on FOX 1. “I was excited to fight Clay,” tells Johnson. “He's a tough guy and you know he's going to come and fight. He’s a scrappy guy who is skilled. No one is in the UFC because they suck. He's a tough opponent. Like it or not, no matter what the internet says, no matter what the fans think - everybody in the UFC is 100% legit. You have to take everybody seriously.”With four decisions over their combined nearly 40 fights, it was a no brainer that these two should create fireworks in the cage and they did. It took 94 seconds, half a dozen punches, and one solid uppercut for Johnson to knock Harvison out in the first round. If later that card, Junior dos Santos didn’t KO Cain Velasquez with one punch to win the UFC heavyweight championship, then Johnson would have been a shoo-in for “Knockout of the Night” honors. Previously, he earned back-to-back bonuses with a “Submission of the Night” at 107 and a “Knockout of the Night” at UFC 112.“It was good and I enjoyed it,” remarks Johnson of his win over Harvison. “I still don't feel like I've shown everything I’ve got and that's why I think I'm still under the radar, so to speak. I'm okay with being under the radar. I still really need to work on a lot of my game. I can be better equipped with my skills to be ready for any position I could be in in there. I'm not satisfied with a knockout; I'm not satisfied with a submission. I want to perfect my skills. I want to master as many of the disciplines of MMA as I can. I think I'm progressing, but I'm nowhere near where I want to be. I'm getting there. It's all about steady progress. 'Slow is smooth, smooth is fast' kind of deal.”Up next is a return to how most UFC fans were introduced to Johnson: fighting the English. On April 14th at UFC on Fuel TV 2 for an Octagon first in Stockholm, Sweden, the Utah native will meet British submission specialist John “The One” Maguire. The 17-3 Maguire made his organizational debut in a grappling heavy decision victory over Justin Edwards at UFC 138 in Birmingham, England. Although he didn’t know much about his foe when he signed the contract, Johnson is expecting Maguire to be at his best come fight night and is planning the same from himself.“John Maguire is a tough guy out of Europe - that's what I knew,” reveals Johnson. “A lot of people think they know a lot about me from my time on the TV show, but you'll never really know until you get in there. You have to keep an open mind in your approach to the fight and go from there and take it as it comes. I'm not a big fight watcher of the guys I'm going to fight. It's not about what he's going to do to me; it's about what I'm going to do to him. I would rather focus on me getting better than focus on John Maguire. As long as I do the things that I need to do, the fight will take care of itself. Whether I go in there and knock him out like my last fight or I go in there and get knocked out, that's going to happen regardless of whatever. Honestly, it's just a fist fight. It's a tough guy who is going to punch me in the face and I'm going to punch him in the face.”In preparation for Maguire, Johnson is training with his normal crew at Elite Performance in his hometown of West Jordan. The two veteran minds that have shaped Johnson as a fighter from the very beginning are still working with him to this day: MMA ironman Jeremy Horn and highly-regarded boxing coach Matt Pena. Besides helping Johnson polish his pre-existing skills, Pena and Horn are also more than capable of working with him to add new weapons to his arsenal from any number of martial arts. Even if it’s something that Johnson’s only just seen online. “I'm a Youtube researcher,” discloses Johnson. “Honestly, I love fighting. I love all the different disciplines of it. I love grappling. I love boxing. At first, I was watching a lot of Marvin Haggler. I was watching all the Marvin Haggler I could handle. Then I was watching Robson Moura, Jeff Glover and Marcelo Garcia. I've been watching a lot of wrestling online. I've been lucky enough to have worked with a lot of wrestlers like Dan Henderson, Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, Ryan Bader, and a lot of solid wrestlers. All the lessons I've learned from those guys get brought up and refreshed. I was watching a bunch of kickboxing too of Ernesto Hoost and Andy Hug. I just love everything about it. From old school boxing to the boxing match the other weekend between Juan Manuel Lopez and Orlando Salido. I'll go research something and if it is applicable to MMA fighting I'll go in and drill it and drill it and once it gets to the point where I can hit it and guys are getting mad at me for doing it over and over then I just abandon it and go on and try to learn something new. It's not really work if you have fun doing it.”The event in the Swedish capital will be a first time visit for both the UFC and Johnson, but the travel doesn’t bother him as he fought once before overseas. “I felt fine,” deadpans Johnson, who scored a TKO via body kick and punches in his one international UFC bout against Brad Blackburn back in April 2010 in Abu Dhabi. “At the end of the day, it is still punching a dude's face. You could fight at 100% or you could fight at 70%, but you're still fighting. It's just a fist fight.”On April 14th, his make or break cagefighting budo will be trained on England’s Maguire. “He's a tough guy and he's going to come try and whip my ass,” announces Johnson, who has keenly developed the answer for this specific dilemma. “I'm going to have to defend myself and whip his ass first or better. That's about as simple as it gets.”And that’s all UFC fans want to see, especially if it doesn’t go to a decision.

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Anthony “Rumble” Johnson has a new home. And now, the former UFC middleweight has a date for his first fight since being released by the UFC. Johnson will take on David Branch in the main event of Titan Fighting Championship 22 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City. The show will be broadcast live on HDNet and takes place May 25. Johnson (10-4) was on his way to becoming a contender in the UFC before constant struggles to make weight brought him down. In his last fight, “Rumble” was well over the middleweight limit, and UFC president Dana White cut him following a loss to Vitor Belfort. Branch (8-2) is also an ex-UFC fighter, going 2-2 during his time with the company. HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon is happy to have both set to fight for TFC. “Dave Branch vs. Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson is the kind of matchmaking that makes Titan Fighting Championship one of the premier MMA organizations in the world,” said Andrew Simon, HDNet Fights CEO, in a recent press release. “Both of these guys have something to prove and they know a win on HDNet puts them back into the conversation of the top MMA middleweights.” Branch will have everything to gain and nothing to lose in his bout, so Johnson needs to be prepared to finish things early. The longer the fight goes, the more likely Johnson is to tire out and wear down, leaving the three-time Pan American champion with the chance he needs. Photo credit: MMAJunkie.com

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, hdnet, branch

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Mike Pyle takes on Josh Neer, Anthony Johnson returns to action, and find out what happened at Bellator 62.

Posted in: johnson, mike, mike pyle, roundup, ufc roundup

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Anthony Johnson, cut by the UFC after badly missing weight for his middleweight debut with the promotion in January, has booked a fight with fellow UFC vet David Branch for Titan Fighting...

Posted in: ufc, johnson, titan, anthony, middleweight debut

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Middleweight Anthony Johnson, cut by the UFC after missing weight for his UFC 142 bout against Vitor Belfort by 11 pounds, will face fellow UFC vet Dave Branch in a middleweight bout at Titan Fighting Championships 22 on May 25. The fight will live air on HDNet at 10 p.m. ET. Titan FC CEO Joe Kelly announced the fight last night. "Anthony Johnson and David Branch are two of the most aggressive, powerful and athletic middleweights in the world, and to have this as the main event of Titan 22 is a defining moment for this brand," said Kelly. "Titan 22 is going to end with Rumble vs. Branch, but wait until you see the fights leading up to it, there will be more familiar faces and I will be announcing more incredible matchups soon." "David Branch versus Anthony "Rumble" Johnson is the kind of matchmaking that makes Titan Fighting Championship one of the premier MMA organizations in the world," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "Both of these guys have something to prove and they know a win on HDNet puts them right back into the conversation of the top MMA middleweights." Johnson (10-4, 7-4 UFC) mostly fought in the UFC at welterweight where he had repeated problems making the 170lb limit. He hoped to put the weight cutting issues behind him by moving up to the 185lb middleweight class but his weight-making troubles followed him to the new division. Branch (10-2, 2-2 UFC) is a BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie and is 2-0 since being cut by the Big Show.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, titan, middleweight, branch

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Anthony Johnson is ready to begin his post-octagon career. The powerful striker who was cut from the UFC after missing weight and then losing his match at UFC 142 has his next match set, and it's a good one. He'll face another UFC veteran, Dave Branch, at Titan Fighting 22. The bout was first reported by Inside MMA's Ron Kruk, and since confirmed by Titan. The 28-year-old Johnson (10-4) recently announced his signing with Titan on The MMA Hour. The move came after the UFC cut ties with him in January. Johnson had a four-year run with the promotion, going 7-4 in 11 bouts. His career, though promising, was marked by issues with missing weight. He couldn't make weight three times, with the last miss costing him greatly. His January bout was supposed to be his middleweight debut, but Johnson weighed in at 197. He later said a medical problem was at fault, but the UFC still released him. Still, given his relative youth and success, he was a sought-after free agent. Branch had a four-fight run in the UFC, splitting the fights with wins over Rich Attonito and Tomasz Drwal, and losses at the hands of Rousimar Palhares and Gerald Harris. Branch is 10-2 all time and has won both of his fights since leaving the UFC, earning victories over Jeremy May and Dominique Steele. Titan 22 takes place at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas on May 25.

Posted in: ufc, mma hour, johnson, titan, branch

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The question of who former UFC stand-out Anthony Johnson will face in his debut outside of the Octagon has been answered thanks to a press release from Titan FC stating fellow UFC veteran Dave Branch would answer the call. The bout will take place at Titan FC 22, an event set for Kansas City on May 25. The card will be broadcast live on HDNet. “I have a lot of respect for Branch for taking this fight, but it doesn’t really matter who’s in the cage with me, because the fight’s going to end the same way – with him on the floor and me standing up,” explained Johnson. Equally interesting as the forthcoming fracas will be Johnson’s stand-off with the scale after failing to make weight a number of times in the past including in an ill-fated bout against Vitor Belfort this past January that ultimately cost him his job with the UFC. “Rumble” holds an overall record of 10-4 with notable wins over Luigi Fioravanti, Charlie Brenneman, and Dan Hardy. A Look at Johnson’s Signing with Titan FC Branch has won both his fights since parting ways with the UFC where he racked up 2-2 mark. The 10-2 Branch has won four of his last five outings including those against Jeremy May, Tomasz Drwal, and Rich Attonito. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, johnson, titan, fc, branch

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Kansas City, KS -- Joe Kelly, CEO of Titan Fighting Championship, today confirmed that Anthony "Rumble" Johnson will take on former UFC middleweight fighter Dave Branch in the headlining main event of Titan 22 on Friday May 25 live from Memorial Hall in Kansas City. HDNet will present the main card live starting at 10 p.m. ET. "Anthony Johnson and David Branch are two of the most aggressive, powerful and athletic middleweights in the world, and to have this as the main event of Titan 22 is a defining moment for this brand," said Kelly. "Titan 22 is going to end with Rumble vs. Branch, but wait until you see the fights leading up to it, there will be more familiar faces and I will be announcing more incredible matchups soon." "David Branch versus Anthony "Rumble" Johnson is the kind of matchmaking that makes Titan Fighting Championship one of the premier MMA organizations in the world," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "Both of these guys have something to prove and they know a win on HDNet puts them right back into the conversation of the top MMA middleweights." Johnson (10-4-0), former UFC middleweight, is ranked among the top fighters in the world, having competed in the Octagon at both 185 and 170 pounds. He has fought the who's who in the sport including Vitor Belfort, Josh Koscheck, and Dan Hardy. He holds seven wins by KO or TKO, and all but one of his six UFC wins have come by KO/TKO."I have a lot of respect for David Branch for taking this fight, but it doesn't really matter who's in the cage with me, because the fight's going to end the same way - with him on the floor and me standing up," said Johnson.In January, Johnson exited the UFC after he failed to make weight for the co-main event matchup of UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro. In preparation for his upcoming fight with Branch, Johnson has brought on JC Santana, strength and conditioning expert and founder of the world renowned Institute of Human Performance in Boca Raton, Florida, located near the Blackzilian's new training camp in Delray Beach. Santana will closely work with Johnson on a new weight, diet and strength and conditioning program leading up to his May 25 fight."Anthony Johnson has the potential to be one of the biggest stars in the sport, I don't think anyone in the world doubts that including me and so I'm proud to have him as my client," said Santana. "Starting today, I am going to be responsible for anything that goes into Anthony's body. This is a make it or break it camp for Rumble, he has hired me, and we are not going to be messing around. This is a very disciplined and progressive situation and everything that goes into his mouth we are going to monitor, and he is going to weigh in every day. For me, the next eight weeks is Anthony's fight. When he takes the cage on May 25, in my mind, he's already won."Branch (8-2-0), a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie and three-time Pan American champion, fought four times in the UFC Octagon. The brother of top junior middleweight boxing contender Sechew Powell and former New York Golden Gloves champion Jamelle Hamilton, he hails from a family of athletes and has fighting in his blood. Standing 6'1", Branch is banking on his tenacity, power and New York determination to best Rumble Johnson in their Titan debut on May 25."He is a great fighter, and he comes from a great camp, but I've been training for a fight like this all of my life," said Branch. "When May 25 comes, I'm going to put on the best performance of my career and my hand will be raised."

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Anthony Johnson will next compete at Titan Fighting 22 on May 25 and now he officially has an opponent.

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It had been initially report that the Ian McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson flyweight tournament rematch would take place at the TUF Live Finale on June 1st, but that will not be the case. Instead, the bout will take place on the newly-announced UFC on FX 3 card a week later on June 8th. As usual, UFC.com has the info you need to know: "On June 8, Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall will rematch and settle one of the year's most controversial fights," said UFC president Dana White today. Johnson and McCall put on a Fight of the Night-winning performance at UFC on FX earlier this month in Sydney in the UFC's first-ever flyweight bout. The bout was one of two scheduled as a mini-tournament to determine the contenders for the UFC's first-ever flyweight championship. Although Johnson was announced as the winner, it was revealed that the judges' scores were mistabulated and the bout was in fact a draw. The winner of the second Johnson vs. McCall bout will move on to eventually face Joseph Benavidez - who defeated Yasuhiro Urushitani on that same night in Sydney - and fight for the 125-pound title. This event doesn't have a location set yet, but that will be determined by a contest the UFC is holding called the Harley Davidson Hometown Throwdown. There was some confusion over how the UFC on FX cards would play out when Zuffa recently announced that Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida would main event an FX event on June 22nd. So, just to get it straight - flyweight rematch means FX 3, Gray/Guida means FX 4. Got it? Good.

Posted in: ufc, fx, bout, johnson, june

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It looks as though UFC flyweights Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall will mix it up in early June though not on the Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale as had originally been rumored. According to an official announcement by the organization, the two 125ers will face off on June 8 at UFC on FX 3 with the pairing likely serving as the show’s headlining tilt. As before, the winner of the match-up will move on to face Joseph Benavidez for the UFC’s inaugural flyweight championship. The fight marks a rematch of their meeting from earlier this month where an official’s error resulted in a short-lived decision win for Johnson that quickly ruled a Draw once the scorecards were reviewed. However, the damage was already done by the point it was discovered with the mistake costing fans an opportunity to see the first “sudden victory” round in UFC history. McCall was on a four-fight winning streak prior to the pairing with Johnson and holds an overall record of 11-2-1. Seven of his wins have involved some form of stoppage. Comparably, Johnson is 14-2-1 and has never been finished though came awfully close in the closing moments of the third round against a showboating McCall. Among his most impressive past performances are wins over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Miguel Torres. Along with McCall-Johnson, the UFC also revealed bantamweights Dustin Pague and Jared Papazian were set for action against each other at the summer show. A bout between 170ers Mike Pierce-Carlos Eduardo Rocha is also expected to take place. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, official, mccall, summer show

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The UFC officially announced today on their website the anticipated rematch between flyweights Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson. The two remaining semifinalist in the first-ever UFC flyweight tournament will face one another at UFC on FX 3 on June 8th. No date or venue has been set for the event, however, fans will decide those details as part of the Hometown Throwdown contest. Just like their first meeting, the rematch between McCall and Johnson will also have a sudden-death fourth round in the event of a draw after the first three rounds. McCall and Johnson first fought at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney, Australia. In a tightly-contested contest, Johnson was initially declared to be the winner via majority decision. However, at the post-fight press conference it was announced by UFC President Dana White the score cards totals were incorrectly arithmetically added. Craig Waller, Executive Director of the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales, added one round on one card as 10-9 rather than the actual 10-8. As a result, a fight that should've been a draw - and gone to a sudden-death fourth round - was declared a majority draw for Johnson. The winner of McCall vs. Johnson will face the finalist from the other side of the tournament bracket, Joseph Benavidez. The Team Alpha Male flyweight defeated Yasuhiro Urushitani the same evening to advance to the finals in the tournament.The UFC also announced for this card that Dustin Pague, season 14 contestant of 'The Ultimate Fighter', would face Jared Papazian in a bantamweight contest. Pague enters this bout having lost his UFC debut to John Albert via TKO at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale in December of 2011. Papazian also enters this bout on a loss, having dropped a majority decision to Mike Easton at UFC on FX 1 this past January.

Posted in: ufc, fx, round, johnson, mccall

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Signed, sealed and delivered in less than three weeks. The semifinals of the first-ever Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight tournament will conclude at UFC on FX 3 on June 8, 2012, when Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall run back their initial (and controversial) 125-pound encounter. Barring any more simple math mistakes, of course. The mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion tonight confirmed the bout and the date; however, the location is still unknown because it will be determined by fan votes in the Harley-Davidson Hometown Throwdown contest. It was previously rumored to take place at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 Finale on June 1, 2012, which clearly turned out to be a premature/incorrect report. "Mighty Mouse" and "Uncle Creepy" first mixed it up at the UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" event this past March 2, 2012, in Sydney, Australia. After three close rounds, the two should have went to a fourth, sudden victory round to determine a winner. However, a scoring error led to the result incorrectly being read a victory in favor of Johnson immediately after the frenetic 15 minutes finished. It was later determined that the ringside judges actually scored it a draw. The winner of the bout between Johnson and McCall will take on Joseph Benavidez later this year to determine the first-ever UFC 125-pound champion. On that same night in the "Land Down Under," Benavidez brutalized Yasuhiro Urushitani to punch his ticket to the finals on the other side of the four-man bracket. For a quick refresher course on all the controversy surrounding Johnson vs. McCall part one click here and here.

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Instead of taking place at The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale, the rematch between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson will now take place at UFC on FX 3, UFC officials announced on Tuesday. The card is expected to be held on June 8, with voting in the “Hometown Throwdown” deciding where the event will take place. McCall and Johnson had their UFC flyweight semifinal ruled a draw after an error in scoring was made. The winner will face Joseph Benavidez later this year to decide the first UFC champion in the division. “On June 8, Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall will rematch and settle one of the year’s most controversial fights,” UFC president Dana White said. McCall is 11-2-1 in his career and a former champion for Tachi Palace Fights, while Johnson sports a record of 14-2-1 and was a No. 1 contender in the bantamweight division. Photo credit: Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: ufc, johnson, mccall, ian mccall, johnson sports

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Just weeks after a scoring miscalculation caused controversy with their first matchup, Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson officially have a date for their rematch. While it was speculated that the two would square off at The Ultimate Fighter Live finale on June 1st, they will actually be fighting a week later at a yet-to-be-announced city and venue at UFC on FX 3. McCall and Johnson officially fought to a draw at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney, Australia on March 3rd, although that result went through a few stumbling blocks before being determined that was the actual result. The original announcement following the fight was that it was a split decision for Johnson. However, reporters on-scene began to look into the scorecards, determining that it should have been a majority decision for McCall. Then at the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White announced that even that was a mistake, and that a miscalculation caused for the controversy. He stated that the fight should have been declared a draw and should have gone into a 4th “sudden death” round, which was created specifically for the tournament so that there was not a draw. White announced that the two would rematch immediately, with the winner facing the tournament’s other semi-final winner, Joseph Benavidez, later this year. McCall (11-2-1) was making his UFC debut at the event, this after forfeiting his flyweight title with Tachi Palace Fights in which he won in 2011. “Uncle Creepy” actually fought previously in the WEC at bantamweight, going 1-2, which included a loss to current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Johnson (14-2-1), like McCall, also has a loss to Cruz on his record. That came in his last fight at bantamweight in October 2011, prior to dropping to flyweight for the UFC’s flyweight tournament. “Mighty Mouse” is getting married in April, so a rematch with McCall had to be put on hold until this summer. Also added to UFC on FX 3 is a bantamweight matchup between Dustin Pague and Jared Papazian. Both are coming off of losses in their UFC debuts, with Pague losing to John Albert via TKO at The Ultimate Fighter season 14 finale in December. Papazian, meanwhile, lost his debut against Mike Easton at UFC on FX 1 in January, losing via majority decision. One other matchup announced by the UFC for the event is a middleweight matchup between Buddy Roberts and Caio Magalhaes. Both will be making their UFC debuts after both had their first scheduled matchups scratched due to injuries to their scheduled opponent. A city and venue for UFC on FX 3 will be determined by fans who voted in the Harley-Davidson Hometown Throwdown. Also to be determined is if McCall vs. Johnson is the main event, and thus a three or five round matchup. For complete coverage of UFC on FX 3, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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Had an error not been made, the UFC would have been scheduling their first Flyweight title fight. Instead, they are in a spot where they are booking a rematch between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson. McCall and Johnson will meet on June 8 on the UFC on FX 3 fight card. As of now the event does not have a location, that will be determined by the UFC’s “Hometown Throwdown” contest that is being run in conjunction with Harley Davidson. McCall and Johnson met at the UFC on FX 2 card, where

Posted in: ufc, johnson, demetriou, mccall, ian mccall

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Two bouts have been confirmed for the third-ever UFC on FX fight night, both featuring standouts from the lighter weight divisions."On June 8, Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall will rematch and settle one of the year's most controversial fights," said UFC president Dana White today. Johnson and McCall put on a Fight of the Night-winning performance at UFC on FX earlier this month in Sydney in the UFC's first-ever flyweight bout. The bout was one of two scheduled as a mini-tournament to determine the contenders for the UFC's first-ever flyweight championship. Although Johnson was announced as the winner, it was revealed that the judges' scores were mistabulated and the bout was in fact a draw.The winner of the second Johnson vs. McCall bout will move on to eventually face Joseph Benavidez - who defeated Yasuhiro Urushitani on that same night in Sydney - and fight for the 125-pound title. At that same event, bantamweights Dustin Pague and Jared Papazian will square off. Both fighters are known for their hard-hitting, toe-to-toe style which should make for an exciting matchup.Verbal agreements are in for both bouts. 

Posted in: ufc, fight, bout, johnson, flyweight

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Most UFC fans got their introduction to Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall in his controversial mis-scored tie with Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson at the opening round of the UFC's flyweight tournament at UFC on FX 2. But hardcore fans have known about McCall for a while. He really rose to prominence with a dominating decision victory over Jussier da Silva at Tachi Palace Fights 8 in 2011. Da Silva had been regarded as the #1 flyweight fighter in the world up to that point. McCall very nearly gave the vaunted "Mighty Mouse" the same upset treatment at UFC on FX 2, but the judges didn't see it that way and ruled the fight a tie. Unfortunately the Australian authorities mis-tallied the scores and initially ruled it a Johnson win -- precluding the possibility of a 4th round sudden-death overtime. McCall is no stranger to remarkable come backs. Not only did he wash out of the WEC at bantamweight, he has literally come back from the dead. He talked to Full Contact Fighter and shared some insight into his unique character: "Most people see me as a nice guy, but I'm pretty f**ked up in the head," he joked. "I just wanna have fun. And if it's at someone else's expense, then so be it." He also talked about Johnson and his reaction to the botched judging: "I was really pissed off. I thought it was bullshit. ..."Demetrious is the first guy I haven't dropped with punches or spinning elbows, or whatever, in my entire career. I put everyone on their butt, you know. We have knockout power. People don't give us enough love I guess. Well we'll show it. "I think that this weight class has all the tools to be something great. People are going to look at us differently than they would 135ers. There's so much talent there but I think that not only are we stealing half the talent, but we're bringing in a lot of other guys that are really good. He talked about Johnson, whom he'll rematch at the Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale on June 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winner will get a crack at Joseph Benevidez for the first-ever UFC flyweight title. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) turned in a night of firsts on March 3, 2012, holding its first-ever Flyweight tournament at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia, at UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann." The event was setup to have four men -- Demetrious Johnson, Ian McCall, Joseph Benavidez and Yasuhiro Urushitani -- compete to set up a title fight to crown the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's first-ever 125-pound champion. In the opening fight of the tournament, McCall and Johnson put on an exciting back-and-forth brawl that showed exactly the type of action fans should come to expect when the smaller guys step into the Octagon. After three rounds of action, the judges awarded Johnson the unanimous decision victory. However, Johnson's celebration was short lived, as a tabulation error on the scorecards revealed that the fight should have been a draw and the bout should have gone into a "sudden victory" round, another first for the promotion. Due to the error, Johnson and McCall will now rematch at an event -- most likely The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 Finale -- this summer to see who will advance to the finals. In the second bout of the tourney, Benavidez was matched up with Urushitani, a Japanese superstar and Shooto champion. This bout had no controversy as "Joe B- Wan Kenobi" knocked out Urushitani in the second round to punch his ticket to the finals. In the process, Benavidez became the first man ever to win a 125-pound UFC fight and the first-ever to have knockout in the division for the UFC. Considered by many to be the best 125-pound fighter in the world, Benavidez is now looking to earn the UFC's first-ever Flyweight title to solidify his status. But, who will face in the title fight, "Uncle Creepy" or "Mighty Mouse?" Appearing on Pro MMA Radio, Benavidez says he just wants to fight the best, to prove he is number one in the world at 125 pounds, but is disappointed he will have to wait a bit longer to find out who he will compete against due to all the "madness" that went down in "The Land Down Under." Check it out: "That was madness, it was a great fight (Johnson vs. McCall). It was madness the whole way it ended up. I found out it was a draw at the press conference. So here I was thinking I was fighting "Mighty Mouse." My initial though of the fight, was honestly, when I was watching it backstage was, I literally thought it could be a draw and that it could go to a fourth round. They threw in that fourth round, which is kind of a shame, you know, they threw it in to use it in the rare case it was a draw, and no one thought the draw was going to actually happened, and when it actually did it got messed up. I just wished they would have announced the draw at the end of the fight, they could do the fourth round and we can get on to the title." With the rematch scheduled to take place later this year, Benavidez will unfortunately have to ride the pine longer than expected and watch McCall and Johnson earn another pay-day and more exposure: "I am a little disappointed, I felt like I went out there and I did my job to the fullest, I went out there and got the win and did what I had to do. And so did they, they went out there and did their job and it was messed up by somebody else, it's not their fault. They now get to go out there and fight again, they get to get paid again, they get that exposure you know? People are going to watch that while I get to sit there and not get paid and watch them fight again. So it is what it is, they made a mistake and its going to be a great fight again and it can only bring exposure to the Flyweight division. Whoever wins that is the most deserving guy to fight for the title, so I'm 100 percent willing to wait that way I can fight the guy that is the best so I can be considered the best. But it is a bummer, I only got to fight twice last year and it looks like I will only get to fight twice this year." So who does he think will win the rematch, which Benavidez revealed is scheduled to take place on June 1st at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Finale? "It's a tough call, honestly, I think the rematch definitely favors McCall, because mentally, it has to be taxing on "Mighty Mouse." Him going in and thinking he won, I thought he was depressed and not so much into a rematch. Here he is thinking he won and now he has to go into another battle. I feel McCall is motivated by it. He thought he lost, and basically now has second life with the draw. That has to be motivating for him, he has to be excited about the second opportunity while "Mighty Mouse" has to be kind of down about it. And just the way the fight ended, that has to also be in "Mighty Mouse's" head." So there you have it. Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson will battle it out one more time, while Benavidez, unfortunately, will have to be just a little bit more patient to see who he will face to reach his long desired goal in obtaining UFC gold. Who will it be? We all just have to now wait and see. What's your take Maniacs, who do you think Benavidez has a better chance against in his quest for the title, "Uncle Creepy" or "Mighty Mouse?" Opinions, please.

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Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson will make his first appearance since leaving the UFC at Titan Fighting 22 on May 25, but securing an opponent thus far has been no easy task.

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Due to a scoring error, Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson didn’t get to have a round four at their fight in Australia at UFC on FX 2, so they’ll do it all over again in June. Sources have confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that McCall and Johnson will meet for a second time at The Ultimate Fighter Live finale on June 1 in Las Vegas. The date for the bout was first reported by MMAInterviews.TV . McCall and Johnson had a Fight of the Night during their bout at UFC on FX 2 just a few weeks back, where Johnson was initially declared the winner.

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Anxious fans awaiting the UFC’s flyweight final got good news this week when it was revealed the organization is targeting June 1 for the rematch between semifinal stand-outs Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson. The two 125ers met earlier this month at UFC on FX 2 where they fought to a Draw though the presiding official mistakenly calculated the scores to result in a decision win for Johnson. According to a report from MMAInterviews.TV that has since been confirmed by other outlets, the bout will take place at the Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale. Nothing official has been announced thus far by the UFC. Their original offering was named Fight of the Night with both men getting the better of the other at times including a closing sequence where McCall nearly pounded “Mighty Mouse” out. Considered to be among the best flyweights in MMA, McCall holds an overall record of 11-2 and had won four straight before battling Johnson while his counterpart is 14-2 including wins over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Miguel Torres. The winner of Johnson-McCall will face tournament finalist Joseph Benavidez later this year for the right to be named the UFC’s inaugural 125-pound champion. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, miguel torres, mccall, mouse ”

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Rematch, anyone? When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White finally decided to bring a flyweight division to the world's largest fight promotion, he did so by holding a four-man tournament to crown a champion. This despite his disdain for such things. His dislike is borne from the inevitable issues that can -- and always seem to -- arise when trying to work elimination style matchmaking. Sometimes things go well, as they did when Joseph Benavidez knocked out Yasuhiro Urushitani to advance to the finals nice and clean, but sometimes they don't. That was the case when a scoring error led to a draw between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall at the UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" event this past March 2, 2012, in Sydney, Australia. After three close rounds, the two should have went to a fourth, sudden victory round to determine a winner. Instead, they'll have to wait until The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 Finale scheduled for June 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to go 15 minutes more. MMAWeekly.com brought word of the booking just last night. The winner meets Benavidez later this year to determine the first ever UFC 125-pound champion. The first fight was controversial not just for the scoring error made by the commission in Australia but because fans and pundits alike couldn't agree on how to properly award the three rounds that actually happened. McCall recently told the Verbal Submission what his plans are to avoid a similar scenario a second time around: "Just put the pressure on him. I played into his game too much. I just need to go at him." Predictions, Maniacs? For a quick refresher course on all the controversy surrounding Johnson vs. McCall part one click here and here.

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The flyweight tournament rematch that should have never been necessary has been reportedly rescheduled for the TUF Live 1 Finale on June 1. MMA Interviews and MMA Weekly are reporting that Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall will get after it one more time at the finale to determine who advances to face Joseph Benavidez later this year for the vacant UFC flyweight title. Sources have confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that McCall and Johnson will meet for a second time at the Ultimate Fighter Live finale on June 1 in Las Vegas. The date for the bout was first reported by MMAInterviews.TV. As you may recall, Johnson and McCall actually fought to a draw at UFC on FX 2 earlier this month. The fight should have went to a fourth “sudden victory” round to determine the winner, however a commission official mistakenly transcribed one of the scores wrong and Demetrious Johnson was announced the winner. The first-ever UFC flyweight championship fight would have likely taken place sometime this summer, however due to the error, it will likely take place sometime in the fall. Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: johnson, demetrious johnson, finale, mccall, fall image

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Dana White said they'd rematch in April, but scheduling can be a pain and it looks like they'll have to wait until June. Flyweights Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall, who went to a controversial draw at UFC on FX 2, will meet again on June 1st at the Ultimate Fighter Live Finale to see who advances to the flyweight tournament finals and faces Joseph Benavidez.. MMAInterviews.tv has the news: According to sources close to the fighters, the UFC is hoping to feature the Flyweight Tournament rematch between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson at the Finale of "The Ultimate Fighter 15″ taking place June 1st in Las Vegas. The first bout was initially given to Johnson by split decision, but the scorecards were added up wrong and it turned out to be a draw. It was the first time in UFC history that a bout was scheduled to go to a fourth round if there was a draw, but the scorecard error ruined that. Nevertheless, the fighters were given their win bonuses and each received a $50,000 check for fight of the night. I doubt many will complain about them tangling again though, even if we do have to wait 10 weeks for it.

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UFC President Dana White has finally caught up on his series of video blogs, releasing an entry with footage from UFC 144 and UFC on FX 2 as well as a look at TUF 15 and TUF Brasil. While there are a number of moments from the UFC’s trip to Japan worth checking out, the vlog’s true highlight involves White stewing backstage after an official at UFC on FX 2 miscalculated the score of a flyweight tournament bout between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson, costing the organization a chance to conduct a “sudden victory” round instead of errant awarding Johnson the victory. Discussing the situation with McCall, an angry White states, “Talk about the officiating ruining our f*cking shows again. I mean I don’t know how many f*cking times I can say it. So this is good for you, my brother. Good for you, bad for us, bad for tonight, bad for the f*cking sport…it’s a f*cking draw. You didn’t lose the fight. It should’ve gone (to a) fourth round.” A bewildered McCall responds casually, saying, “Sh*t happens,” while wondering about the possibility of being paid a win bonus. On the flip-side, when informed of the circumstances Johnson is understandably less thrilled after having celebrated what he thought was a win and attached title-shot. “The good news is I’m f*cking thrilled. Here’s the bad news which sucks for me, sucks for the sport, sucks for you…the judges scored it a Draw. The fight was a Draw and when they gave it back to the guy from the commission he f*cking added it wrong,” White says, empathizing with the disappointed Johnson. “He added it wrong and the fight is a f*cking draw. There is nothing worse for me than to f*cking bring a guy back to the room and tell you this, you know what I mean, when you’re looking forward to moving on to the title-fight.” “You guys showed what this weight division was all about tonight and you looked f*cking awesome,” adds at the end, finishing on a positive note. Watch the complete vlog below for the above-exchange, Norifumi Yamamoto humbly apologizing to White after racking up another loss, a discussion on the questionably sharp UFC lightweight title, and much more: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, vlog, fcking, circumstances johnson

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Flyweight fighters Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson will give it another go-round this Summer, when they meet in a rematch of their 125lbs tournament bout from UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann early this month. MMAWeekly/MMAInterviews report that the rematch will take place at The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale on June 1 in Las Vegas. After three rounds of rollicking battle, the bout was officially scored a draw. For this specific instance, the UFC had instituted a sudden death round, so that a clear victor could be named to advance on to the fight for the vacant flyweight title. Instead, an athletic commission official bungled the scores in Johnson’s favor and robbed the MMA world of what would have been a great moment and a great fourth round. Now, they’ll get their chance to set things right. McCall (11-2-1), affectionately known as Uncle Creepy, made his UFC debut against Johnson and put on a stellar showing against the former bantamweight contender. Ranked as the top flyweight in the world, McCall was on a four-fight winning streak prior to the draw. “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (14-2-1) was coming off of a title fight loss to 135lbs champ Dominick Cruz when he met McCall in the cage. He’s hoping that flyweight will provide him a better fit and better chance at capturing UFC gold.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, las vegas, flyweight, mccall

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Due to a scoring error, Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson didn't get to have round 4 at their fight in Australia at UFC on FX 2, so they'll do it all over again in June.

Posted in: johnson, demetriou, mccall, ian, june

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Anthony Johnson will return to the cage this spring, as the former UFC talent will headline Titan Fighting Championship 22 against a to-be-named opponent.

Posted in: ufc, deal, johnson, titan, ufc talent

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Middleweight Anthony Johnson, who appeared to be at one point a future champion, has found a new home since being cut by the UFC earlier this year. “Rumble” was released after failing to make weight for his 185-pound debut in January, far from his first instance of a stumble on the scale. According to an official press release, Johnson has signed to fight under the Titan FC banner starting May 25 against a yet-to-be-named opponent. An adversary is expected to be announced in the next week with the bout taking place at middleweight. The card will be televised live on HDNet. “I settled on Titan because it’s a good promotion, but more importantly it’s run by really good people,” Johnson explained of his decision to bypass other interested organizations in favor of the Kansas City company. “I am so pumped to be fighting again, and I’m ready to take on whatever 185 pounder they put in front of me.” UFC President Dana White Comments on Johnson’s Problem with Making Weight Known for his strength and knockout power, the 27-year old Southerner holds an overall career mark of 10-4 with victories over Charlie Brenneman, Luigi Fioravanti, and Dan Hardy. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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"Medical conditions and stuff like that you know. My legs stopped working. Some things just weren't clicking like they were supposed to click. You obviously saw the result so by me missing weight and stuff, but I'm not living off that. It's still fresh in my mind. That time period in my life is a big letdown because I let myself down more than I let anyone else down. I remember every single day of that week and how it was just not a good week. But it's over with now. Dana and them did what they had to do. They are making a statement and that's fine with me. As for if it was fair, life isn't fair sometimes, you just gotta roll with the punches. You can sit on your ass and cry about or get up and do something. Business is business I didn't take anything personal, I don't know if they did. I don't have anything against the UFC, the Fertitta's and Dana, it is just business." -- Appearing on the The MMA Hour today (Mar., 12, 2012), Anthony Johnson talked about the troubles that led to his failure to make the required 185-pound limit at UFC 142 on Jan. 14, 2012. Johnson said that despite being cut from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster shortly thereafter, he has no hard feelings toward the powers that be over at Zuffa. After coming in 12 pounds overweight in Brazil -- the third time he has failed to hit the required mark -- "Rumble" went on to loss to Vitor Belfort via rear-naked choke in the closing seconds of the opening round. It was the final blow in a painful weekend. Not one to "sit on his ass and cry," Johnson revealed that he has signed with Titan Fighting Championships and is scheduled to make his debut with the promotion at Middleweight, the division he says he will stay at for the remainder of his career. He expects to return to action on May 25 of this year; however, no opponent has been confirmed at this time. Anyone think "Rumble" can find himself back into the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion should he rack up a few wins in the smaller shows or have we seen the last of him inside the Octagon?

Posted in: ufc, time, johnson, vitor belfort, i dont

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Anthony Johnson has found a new home following his release from the UFC after missing weight and losing to Vitor Belfort in his middleweight debut at UFC 142. Johnson revealed on The MMA Hour today that he has signed with Titan Fighting Championship and has his first fight scheduled for May 25 in Kansas City. He’s obviously disappointed that he’s no longer with the UFC, but seems to be taking the setback in stride. “I’m going to fight a few times and eventually come back,” he said. “There’s a time for everything and right now just isn’t my time to be with the UFC. But when my time comes again, if that’s what UFC wants, you know I’m there.” “As far as if it was fair, life isn’t fair sometimes,” he said. “You’ve got to roll with the punches. Either you can sit on your ass and cry about it or get up and do something. And I’m not going to just sit around boo-hooing and not do anything.” Johnson was 11 pounds off his mark when he weighed in for UFC 142, but says he was actually only 1.5 pounds away from 186 when his legs “stopped working” and doctors determined that it was too dangerous for him to continue his cut. Despite failing to make 185 in his first attempt, Johnson still plans on making the middleweight division his new home. He’s completely done with the welterweight division and is currently walking around now between 210-215. It’s unclear who Johnson will face on May 25. A few fighters accepted the fight said Johnson but then backed out for unknown reasons. Nevertheless, Johnson believes there are plenty of quality middleweights for him to fight outside the UFC. If he can beat those fighters and just as importantly make weight for those bouts, chances are the UFC will let him back in sooner or later. Image via MMA Junkie

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Former UFC welterweight/middleweight/light heavyweight Anthony Johnson has signed with Titan Fighting, according to the man himself. He announced the signing on today's edition of The MMA Hour with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, and his first fight will be on May 25th in Kansas City. He does not have an opponent as of yet. Here's what he had to say: "I'm going to fight a few times and eventually come back," he said. "There's a time for everything and right now just isn't my time to be with the UFC. But when my time comes again, if that's what UFC wants, you know I'm there." Johnson was released by the UFC after failing to make weight in a UFC 142 bout against Vitor Belfort, despite a move up to middleweight for the matchup. It was the third time he had missed weight in his 11 bouts under the UFC banner, with the first two coming at welterweight. Rumble wouldn't really elaborate on the "medical condition" that led him to miss by 12 pounds, but he did state that his future is at middleweight. One possible opponent for Johnson could be former UFC middleweight Jorge Santiago, who recently signed with Titan and won his first bout by knockout on March 2nd.

Posted in: ufc, time, mma hour, johnson, vitor belfort

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Anthony “Rumble” Johnson has found a new home. The 28-year-old fighter was released from the UFC after missing weight for the third time in his UFC career, this time after moving up a weight class. Johnson showed up for his middleweight debut at UFC 142 in January against Vitor Belfort eleven pounds overweight and lost to The Phenom quickly, prompting the UFC to drop him from their roster. During an appearance on MMAFighting’s The MMA Hour today, Johnson revealed that he’s signed a contract with Titan Fighting Championships. He doesn’t have an opponent lined up yet for his promotional debut. Johnson explained that he’s looking forward to fighting for the promotion, but hopes that it leads to another opportunity with the UFC. 10-4 as a professional, Johnson last appeared in the cage opposite Belfort.

Posted in: ufc, ufc career, johnson, vitor belfort, middleweight debut

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After a period of speculation regarding where former UFC middleweight Anthony Johnson would fight next the MMA community now has an answer – Titan FC. The 28-year old powerhouse’s signing was confirmed by an official press release from the promotion where it was also revealed he’d be fighting on May 25 in headlining action at Titan FC 22. Though no opponent has been booked for the bout it is expected an announcement will be made on that front in the next week. The event will air live on HDNet. “I settled on Titan because it’s a good promotion, but more importantly it’s run by really good people,” said Johnson of his deal with the Kansas City-based organization. “I am so pumped to be fighting again, and I’m ready to take on whatever 185 pounder they put in front of me.” In addition to a victory at the show, Johnson will also be looking to repair his tarnished reputation after a repeated issue with making weight while on the UFC’s roster. The final straw on that front came in January when “Rumble” failed to hit the 186-pound limit for a co-headlining clash with Vitor Belfort at UFC 142. Beyond losing the bout he also lost his job. Johnson holds an overall record of 10-4 with seven TKOs and memorable wins over Luigi Fioravanti, Charlie Brenneman, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, and Dan Hardy. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will begin the next phase of his post-UFC career in 2012 with Titan Fighting Championships. The former UFC welterweight and middleweight hopeful has signed with the promotion and will debut there later this year. Sources close to the promotion confirmed the signing to MMAWeekly.com on Monday. The fighter first revealed the news on “The MMA Hour.” Johnson was a mainstay in the UFC for several years, picking up more than a few key wins including victories over Dan Hardy and Charlie Brenneman, but it was not...

Posted in: johnson, charlie brenneman, ufc welterweight, postufc career, year sources

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Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson will begin the next phase of his post-UFC career in 2012 with Titan Fighting Championships.

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It's time to move on for Anthony Johnson.The 28-year-old former UFC fighter has officially announced his new home and his permanent weight class, signing with Titan Fighting Championship. He will debut on their May 25 event in Kansas City, he told MMA Fighting on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour.Though Johnson doesn't yet have an opponent finalized, it's phase one of his plan to return to the UFC. "I'm going to fight a few times and eventually come back," he said. "There's a time for everything and right now just isn't my time to be with the UFC. But when my time comes again, if that's what UFC wants, you know I'm there."Johnson (10-4) was released after UFC 142. That was supposed to be his debut as a middleweight after having competed his entire career at welterweight, but he missed the mark badly, checking in at 197 pounds and forcing a catch weight bout against Vitor Belfort. Belfort won by rear naked choke submission in the first. In his first extended interview since that day, Johnson declined to detail the exact nature of the issue that led to his weigh-cutting difficulty but said it was due to a medical condition that happened during the day of weigh-ins. He said that his legs "stopped working" and was eventually directed not to continue with his cut. At that point, he says, he was just 1.5 pound away from making weight."Some things just weren’t clicking like they were supposed to click," he said. "You obviously saw the result so by me missing weight and stuff, but I’m not living off that. It's still fresh in my mind. That time period in my life is a big letdown because I let myself down more than I let anyone else down. I remember every single day of that week and how it was just not a good week. But it’s over with now. That was in January, this is March. I’m not worried about it anymore, I've just got to keep looking forward."Johnson said he never considered withdrawing from the fight despite his difficulty, saying he would never pull out of a fight so close to its date.He also noted that he has no ill feelings towards the UFC for letting him go."As far as if it was fair, life isn’t fair sometimes," he said. "You've got to roll with the punches. Either you can sit on your ass and cry about it or get up and do something. And I’m not going to just sit around boo-hooing and not do anything." The other part of the equation came from the disappointment of the fans, many of whom slammed Johnson for his history of weigh-in difficulties. Johnson said he's ignored most of that criticism while focusing on the future. "People can say what they want to say," he said. "I don't care. I’m still going to be me, I’m still going to fight hard, I'm still going to do the best I can. So what am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to pay attention to those people?" Making weight should help quiet some of the criticism, and going forward, Johnson should have more success there. He said that he's left welterweight behind for good and middleweight is now his exclusive home, and noted that he's currently between 210-215 pounds.As far as his next bout, though he has no one lined up and said a few fighters have accepted the fight and then backed out, he expects someone to step up and agree to face him soon. Johnson wouldn't name those fighters, but said the talent pool outside the UFC should generate quality opposition."There’s tons of talent outside of UFC," he said. "Of course UFC is where everybody wants to be. It's the Super Bowl of MMA, like everybody says. There's talent outside of UFC of course but we’ll see. Someone is eventually going to say they'll fight me and take a chance. That’s what life’s about, taking chances."

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UFC castoff Anthony Johnson has signed with Titan Fighting Championships. Titan Fighting CEO Joe Kelly today told MMAjunkie.com he received Johnson's contract this morning. The fighter initially broke the news on "The MMA Hour." Johnson is slated to fight on May 25 at Titan Fighting 22, though no opponent has been finalized, Kelly said.

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"They figure with me and Pat, it will be a very exciting fight. On the last FOX show all the fights went the distance so I'm pretty sure they want to spice it up a little bit and see two big guys go at it. And that's what I plan to do. I plan to get out there, get in his face real quick and bring it to him. ... I'm going to knock him out. I see a lot of openings that he gives me. He's a little gun-shy, I think, from the Kongo knockout, so he's making a lot of mistakes and I hope to capitalize on them." -- Former Strikeforce fist flinger Lavar Johnson knows the deal heading into his heavyweight showdown against Pat Barry at the UFC on Fox 3 event scheduled for May 5, 2012, at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Executives at both UFC and FOX are looking for a slugfest between two big men with big power in both hands. Johnson and Barry fit the bill. But, thanks to a crushing knockout defeat at the hands of Cheick Kongo, Johnson feels "HD" is a tad gun shy these days. Perhaps he wasn't watching when Barry pasted Christian Morecraft at UFC on FX this past Jan. 20 in Nashville. Either way, Johnson is going to get all up in his foe's grill and knock him out. Or so he says. Anyone think "Big" Lavar can make it two for two inside the Octagon?

Posted in: ufc, johnson, barry, i plan, lavar

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NEW YORK -- Watch below as Lavar Johnson talks about his upcoming UFC on FOX 3 fight against Pat Barry, the pressure he feels going into the fight, why he thinks Pat Barry has changed as a fighter and how he sees the fight playing out.

Posted in: fight, johnson, lavar johnson, barry, lavar

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UFC Heavyweight contender Lavar Johnson, who will meet Pat Barry at UFC on Fox 3, discusses his opponent, as well as his expectations for the bout. Johnson explains that, since being knocked-out by Cheick Kongo, Barry appears "gun-shy" in the octagon, and says that he hopes to capitalize on those mistakes come May 5th.

Posted in: johnson, lavar johnson, barry, lavar, bout johnson

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I'd wanted to do a full-on review of "The Announcement" ⎯ ESPN Films' latest documentary, which revisits Magic Johnson's watershed Nov. 7, 1991, revelation that he is HIV-positive ⎯ in time for its broadcast premiere Sunday night at 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, as I've done for a handful of other hoops-focused documentaries over the past couple of years. Unfortunately, the end of the week got a little hectic , which led to some scrambling and the scuttling of some best-laid plans. So, no full review this time around. On the other hand, I don't want to give the work of Brooklyn-born filmmaker and journalist Nelson George short shrift, leave readers that dig these documentary pieces hanging, or come away from all that watching, note-taking and thinking empty-handed. So in lieu of a full review, here are a handful of thoughts about "The Announcement," which you can check out tomorrow night. (These were supposed to be brief thoughts, but they are not.) We'd love it if you'd share your take on the doc in the comments, at the Ball Don't Lie Facebook page or on Twitter, whether by reaching out to me or to our @YahooBDL account. 1. "The Announcement" feels sort of rigid and didactic, which is kind of the point, but is still a bit of a problem. The documentary has dual aims, one micro and one macro. On one hand, George wants to examine the lead-up to, events surrounding and aftermath of Johnson's announcement, as told through interviews with the principals involved in the story ⎯ Johnson, his wife Cookie, his close friends, his teammates and his doctors. On the other hand, the filmmaker wants to use the 20th anniversary of Johnson's nationally broadcast press conference announcing that he had contracted HIV and was retiring from professional basketball as an occasion for reflection on the impact the megastar's disclosure has had on the fight against AIDS.

Posted in: johnson, announcement, review, hand, documentary

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Heavyweight sluggers Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson are booked for a May 5 fight at UFC on Fox 3 that neither expects to go past the first round.

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, lavar johnson, barry

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Ian McCall believes he beat Demetrious Johnson at UFC on FX 2, but since the judges declared it a draw, he's happy to prove it all over again.

Posted in: johnson, demetrious johnson, mccall, ian, ian mccall

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Pat Barry made a bold proclamation recently. Despite being “allergic to jiu-jitsu” as he humorously put it the other day, he’s growing out his hair until he submits somebody in the UFC as he tells MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani in this video interview. That doesn’t mean he plans to test Lavar Johnson’s grappling skills at UFC on FOX 3 though. He has every intention of punching Johnson in the face, but if he gets in trouble he may have to resort to plan B.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, barry, video interview, hair

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For those of you wondering what happened to the poor bastards who bet on the botched Demetrious Johnson vs Ian McCall fight: Because the correction was made official in the late hours Friday, after many sports books had closed up shop for the night, bettors who had wagered on Johnson, a minus-300 favorite, were able to collect as if he had indeed won the fight. Those who wagered on McCall were left with nothing but a worthless piece of paper and the ultimate "bad beat" story."We closed down posting Johnson as the winner, and it remains the same," LVH vice president Jay Kornegay said. "By the end of our business day Friday, there was no change to the result. Therefore, according to our house rules, that would be considered an overturn, and we don't recognize overturns."If it had happened the same night, we would have corrected the result." I feel bad for all the people who bet on McCall at +250. For all you non-gambling chickensh*ts, that means a $100 bet would have earned them $250 on top of their original wager. In my humble opinion, McCall won that fight from start to finish and the fight being scored a draw was bad enough. Not only were bettors robbed the first time around by idiot judges, they got robbed again because some dingo's anus in Australia doesn't know how to add up eights and nines.

Posted in: fight, johnson, bet, mccall, yep people

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UFC Heavyweight Pat Barry, who will square off with fellow heavy-hitter Lavar Johnson at UFC on Fox 3, discusses his opponent, as well as his expectations for the bout. Barry says he's still determined to score a submission victory inside the octagon, but admits that he's coming out to stand and trade with Johnson on May 5th.

Posted in: johnson, ufc heavyweight, barry, wrestler jump, bout barry

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I was Jordan Breen's guest on Press Row today and we talked about the opening round of the UFC flyweight tournament that began on UFC on FX 2. The event got all goofed up when the Australian authorities miscounted the judges scores and ruled the Demetrious Johnson vs Ian McCall bout a win for Johnson rather than a tie -- a tie that would have necessitated an immediate sudden-death round. Instead the two will be forced to rematch at some point in the near future while Joseph Benevidez gets the extra training and recovery time to prepare for the winner of Johnson-McCall. Here's Sherdog's description of our chat: The pair discuss who ought to be seen as the tournament favorite, the impact of the Ian McCall-Demetrious Johnson rematch, and which 125-pounder could be the biggest star for the UFC. The two also discuss the plight of Orange County, Urijah Faber's chin, the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales and the potential insanity of the forthcoming season of "The Ultimate Fighter." Listen here. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

Posted in: ufc, johnson, tournament, sbn coverage, judges scores

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"Lavar Johnson has beyond heavy hands. He was able to knockout Joey Beltran who one, has never been knocked out. Two, has never been knocked down in his career. I kicked Joey Beltran in the head five times and he didn't even blink his eye. I've never doubted myself ever, 100 kickboxing matches, 10 MMA fights, I've never in my life ever thought 'maybe I don't hit that hard' until that fight. {Johnson] was able to punch him in the head with four of the nastiest uppercuts ever. Joey Beltran looked like he broke his neck when he fell down. He's huge. I was there in Chicago ... everybody looked right at me and said, 'Man, he knocked Joey Beltran out and you couldn't. He must hit harder than you do.' Dude's fist is the size of my head. I'm going to eventually submit somebody, someday. Lavar? I think not. Lavar and I are both allergic to jiu-jitsu. We're also allergic to rounds two and three." Stocky and cocky heavyweight hurter Pat Barry talks to media members in advance of his 265-pound showdown against Strikeforce import Lavar Johnson at the UFC on FOX 3 event scheduled for May 5 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ. "HD" was starting to question his own power after failing to finish Joey Beltran -- something Johnson was able to do with a couple of Shoryukens back in January. Can either of these titanic brawlers find a way to keep it standing and make it to the second stanza? Or is there too much firepower on display to avoid anything other than "knockout of the night?" See more from these two power-punching goliaths at the UFC on FOX 3 press conference thread right here.

Posted in: johnson, joey, joey beltran, beltran, lavar

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In this week's edition of point-counterpoint, we debate the controversial scoring in the Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall bout Down Under.

Posted in: week, johnson, weeks edition, ian, pointcounterpoint

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This week, for our UFC on FX 2 results recaps, we have once again split the card into 3 separate pieces. Earlier, we covered the prelim card, and here is a recap of the main card action. Check back later for the Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann main event. Overall, UFC on FX 2 was a solid event, with the Flyweight division successfully stealing the show their first time out. It's a shame that those Flyweight bouts will largely be remembered for a huge commission mistake, not for the incredible action inside the cage. But if this is an indication of what the UFC Flyweight division has in store - and I suspect it is - count me in. Court McGee vs. Constantinos Philippou In the main card opener, Constantinos Philippou defeated Court McGee in a Middleweight fight. Philippou took the victory via unanimous decision, with scores of 29-28 on all three judges' scorecards. The difference maker in this fight was Philippou's superior boxing, as he was able to control the fight on the feet, while also avoiding McGee's takedown attempts. Good showing from Costa Philippou, who is now 3-1 in the UFC and 10-2 overall. I'd like to see him against a ranked opponent next time out, though many possible opponents are currently booked. McGee suffers his first loss here, so he won't be going anywhere, but will need a win to reestablish his position next time. When to watch? Honestly, never. It was a fine fight, but nothing very memorable either way. Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall In the first of two Flyweight tournament semi-finals, Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall fought to a draw. This result was marred by controversy, as post-fight, the result was announced as a split decision win for Johnson. After the event, it was revealed that the commission made a mistake in writing down the scores, and the correct decision was a majority draw. This is particularly frustrating as the UFC had announced that, in the event of a draw, these Flyweight tournament bouts would go to a sudden death 4th round. It's a shame an error denied us the chance to see that. Johnson and McCall will now rematch in April, once again for a shot at the new UFC Flyweight title. More on the Johnson vs. McCall Controversy: Video: Dana White, Demetrious Johnson, Ian McCall React Ian McCall Vs. Demetrious Johnson Scorecard Error Dana White Says Demetrious Johnson Vs. Ian McCall Was A Draw, Commission Botched Scores Also unfortunate in all of this is that it overshadows what was a terrific fight. These two men will go down in the record books as having the first ever UFC Flyweight fight, and they absolutely delivered with a fast-paced 15 minute fight that moved from the ground to the feet and throughout the cage. When to watch? Right now. This was a terrific, terrific fight, well deserving of its Fight of the Night honors. And though the decision error is a shame, the result is that we get 3 more rounds of these two. And that is fine by me. Check out the rest of the card plus more UFC on FX 2 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani The second Flyweight semi-final was much more straight forward and went pretty much exactly as predicted. Shooto champion Yasuhiro Urushitani provided little challenge for Joseph Benavidez, who won the fight via TKO 11 seconds into round 2. Benavidez is now 16-2 overall and 3-0 in the UFC, while Urushitani drops his overall record to 19-5-6. Next up for Benavidez is the UFC Flyweight title fight against the winner of the Johnson vs. McCall rematch. With this win, expect Benavidez to be the favorite against either man. Urushitani looked like he will struggle in this division, but with only 6 fighters in the division, will the UFC cut him already? It's unlikely. When to watch? Now. It's not long, ends in a great KO, and sets the stage for what will be a tremendously anticipated Flyweight final. More Bloody Elbow coverage Strikeforce and UFC on FX 2: Sunday Morning Perspective - T.P. Grant UFC On FX 2 Video: Dana White, Demetrious Johnson, Ian McCall React - Josh Nason UFC On FX 2 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth UFC On FX 2 Results: Commission Miscues And Not Fighting Dominating Post-Event Talk - Josh Nason UFC On FX 2 Results: Martin Kampmann Wins But Fails To Impress - Fraser Coffeen UFC On FX 2 Results: Ian McCall Vs. Demetrious Johnson Scorecard Error - Tim Burke Thiago Alves Vs. Martin Kampmann Full Fight Video Highlights From UFC On FX 2 Dana White Says Demetrious Johnson Vs. Ian McCall Was A Draw, Commission Botched Scores - Brent Brookhouse UFC On FX 2: Kampmann Vs. Alves Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse UFC On FX 2 Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 142: UFC On FX Results Review - Matt Bishop UFC On FX 2 Results: Martin Kampmann Chokes Thiago Alves Out In Round Three - Matthew Roth UFC On FX 2: Kampmann Vs. Alves Live Results And Play-By-Play For FX Main Card - Brent Brookhouse UFC On FX: Ian McCall Vs. Demetrious Johnson Fight Metric Report - Matthew Roth UFC On FX 2 Results: Joseph Benavidez Knocks Yasuhiro Urushitani Out In The Second - Matthew Roth UFC On FX 2 Results: Demetrious Johnson Wins Controversial Decision Over Ian McCall - Matthew Roth UFC On FX 2 Results: Constantinos Philippou Hands Court McGee First UFC Defeat - Matthew Roth UFC On FX 2: Kampmann Vs. Alves Live Results And Play-By-Play For Fuel TV Undercard - Brent Brookhouse

Posted in: ufc, result, fx, vs, johnson

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CAN HE KEEP IT GOING?Martin Kampmann arguably scored the most significant win of his mixed martial arts career by stopping Thiago Alves with 48 seconds left in their main event bout on Friday night. The quality of the win puts him right in the thick of the welterweight mix. And the come-from-behind nature of the win creates a buzz among fans that probably puts him closer to the top of the mix than the middle.Kampmann now has back-to-back welterweight wins for the third time in his UFC career. But he has never won three in a row. Jake Shields and Paul Daley spoiled his last two bids for three straight. The big question in my mind is whether Kampmann will be able to take his career to the next level by racking up a third-straight win. If so, he may very find himself staring at a title shot.ALVES CONTINUES HIS BUMPY RIDEWhen the calendar turned the page for the start of 2009, Alves was the consensus number two welterweight in the world. He was in the midst of a seven-fight winning streak, including back-to-back one-sided wins over Josh Koscheck and Matt Hughes. Then, he ran into some guy named Georges St-Pierre and everything changed.Alves got dominated by GSP, and that sparked a bumpy ride for the Brazilian. The loss to Kampmann is his fourth loss in his last six fights. That is a stark contrast to the seven-fight winning streak that earned the “Pitbull” his first title challenge. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Alves needs to change up something about his game, whether it is his preparation, his approach inside the cage, the amount of weight that he cuts or maybe just his mental state. I actually think the final item in that list is the big issue for him. Alves believed that he was invincible during his winning streak. He hasn’t struck me as having the same unyielding self-confidence since the GSP fight. BENAVIDEZ NOW THE MAN TO BEATMany thought that Ian McCall was the top flyweight in the world and the odds-on favorite to be the inaugural UFC 125-pound champion. Joseph Benavidez changed all that with a single counter right hand that destroyed Japanese Shooto 123-pound champion Yasuhiro Urushitani on Saturday night.Benavidez has long been viewed as a title contender, though as 135 pounds, not 125 pounds. In 17 professional fights heading into Saturday night, the Team Alpha Male standout had but two losses. Reigning bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz owns both of them. Nobody else solved the Benavidez riddle at bantam, so I was a bit surprised to see him labeled as the number three guy (behind McCall and Demetrious Johnson) in the four-man flyweight tourney. The win over Urushitani, particularly in light of the stalemate between McCall and Johnson, elevates Benavidez to the odds-on favorite, in my opinion, heading into the championship bout.JOHNSON-MCCALL SCORING ERROR THROWS A WRENCH INTO THE TOURNAMENTWe need to crown a champion in the newly minted 125-pound division, which is why UFC President Dana White arranged for the four-man tournament that began on Friday night. Unfortunately, the world will have to wait longer than anticipated because Johnson and McCall still have unfinished business.I obviously know that Johnson was announced as the winner in the Octagon following the fight. The result appropriately drew a raucous response from the crowd. Hearing Johnson named as the winner certainly stunned me. I had McCall a 29-27 winner. He completely dominated the third round, resulting in a 10-8 score on my card, whereas I split the other two rounds between the guys. But the first round was close enough that I can’t really complain about anyone scoring it even or one point in favor of either fighter. However you score that first round, I still think McCall deserved the win.Nevertheless, I’m going to skip the expected diatribe on the need for quality judging because the controversy wasn’t solely their fault this time. Instead, Craig Waller, the Executive Director of Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales, shares in the blame. He simply failed to correctly tabulate the judges’ cards. Johnson did not win. The fight was scored a majority draw.To his credit, Waller has stepped up to take ownership of his mistake. Hey, we are all human. Mistakes happen. Maybe a calculator is in order next time. Or, better yet, maybe there should be a procedure in place where someone has to check the math to avoid this type of situation in the future.Had someone checked the scoring, the combatants would have come out for a fourth round. Unlike with most other UFC fights, the tournament bouts were supposed to be draw-proof by implementing a fourth round where the judges had to decide a winner, regardless of how the action unfolded in that final stanza. But the mistake wasn’t identified until after the result was announced, so it was too late to rectify the situation.Depending on the timing of the rematch and the condition of the winner, Benavidez, not Johnson, may end up being the big loser in this whole situation. Johnson has to rematch a guy that he clearly struggled with, but Benavidez may be forced to sit on the sidelines for longer than he would like while Johnson and McCall finish what should have been finished on Saturday night.  

Posted in: fight, round, johnson, mccall, benavidez

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UFC on FX 2 - Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall

Posted in: ufc, vs, johnson, official, mccall

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It was revealed at the UFC on FX 2 post-fight press conference that the Ian McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson flyweight tournament bout was actually scored a majority draw, but announced incorrectly. BE has the video from that announcement featuring a very upset Dana White, Australia Department of Sport and Recreation head Craig Waller, Johnson and McCall with their reactions. Johnson and McCall said they had heard backstage about the issue, while their possible future opponent Joseph Benavidez was shocked to hear the news right there and said, "I thought it was a draw. It was a great, close fight." "Controversy seems to be stuck to us like glue these days, so what are you gonna do," White said. During his apology, Waller mentioned the two would perhaps rematch in April but White said nothing was figured out yet. "I like him. We have fun beating each other up, so it's going to be a good time," a jovial McCall said. "I can do this again, make more money...I'm all in." Watch the seven minute clip after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2 Here's the video:

Posted in: fx, video, johnson, mccall, news right

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When the UFC added a 'sudden death' clause to their flyweight tournament bouts, it was a cool nod to the slight possibility of a draw but no one really expected it would actually be needed. Crazily enough though, it was in the Demetrious Johnson vs Ian McCall fight. Crazier still, we didn't get that fourth round because someone from the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales added up the score totals wrong, awarding the fight incorrectly to Johnson: Judge Sal D'Amato, who had given Johnson the opening two rounds with 10-9 marks, awarded McCall the third with a 10-8 score, which should have resulted in 28-28 total. With Anthony Dimitriou issuing a 29-29 score and Kon Papai awarding Johnson the fight 29-28, the fight should have been a majority draw, which under the special rules in place for the fight would have resulted in a fourth, sudden-victory round.But when transferring the scores issued by the judges to the tabulating sheets, Waller accidentally recorded a 10-9 round in McCall's favor on D'Amato's card. That meant D'Amatos' total was incorrectly announced as 29-28 for Johnson, giving "Mighty Mouse" a majority decision."It was a bit of an unfortunate situation," Waller said. "I take full responsibility for what happened. The fight should have been a majority draw. We should have gone to a fourth round. I sincerely apologize to both fighters, to Dana, and to every single fan of the UFC." Dana White, as you can imagine, was oh so thrilled: "As soon as the show ended, they came over and told me," White said. "After the card was done, they came up to me, and I said, 'You've got to be [expletive] me. How is this possible?'"..."Imagine if they would have come out and said, 'This is going to a fourth round,'" White said. "The crowd would have went crazy. People at home would have went crazy. It would have been an incredible atmosphere and an incredible moment."There's nothing good about this, but what can you do? The commission owned up to it, apologized for it, and all we can do is move on." Since we got screwed out of that sudden death sh*t via some commission yakkety sax, I guess we'll have to settle for a rematch between Mighty Mouse and Uncle Creepy. Who knows, maybe this bit of controversy will end up bringing more attention to the flyweights in the end, which can only be a good thing. See, there we go. Glass half full, glass half full. Don't think about that epic sudden death match we were jipped out of. Don't. Think. About. It. FFFFFFUUUUUUU! (pic via Tracy Lee's Combat Lifestyle photoblog)

Posted in: fight, round, score, johnson, death

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Last night’s flyweight semifinal between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall at UFC on FX 2 was exceptionally close, as the talented 125ers went back and forth for three rounds with “Mighty Mouse” getting the judges’ nod…or so we all thought. According to UFC President Dana White, as well as the athletic commission in Australia overseeing the event, the scorecards were incorrectly tallied with the result actually being a Majority Draw rather than a Split Decision for Johnson. As such, a fourth round should have taken place due to the organization’s “sudden victory” format which was implemented specifically for the UFC’s flyweight tournament. As the mistake was discovered after the bout had concluded, meaning nothing could be done about it at the time, it appears McCall-Johnson are now destined for another date down the road to settle the score. A Round-by-Round Breakdown of McCall vs. Johnson “Controversy seems to stick to us like glue these days,” said White during the post-fight press conference. “But what can you do? I’m not going to lose any hair over it.” The athletic commission took full responsibility for the error. A rematch between the two stand-out scrappers will be scheduled as soon as their medical status has been determined. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, johnson, split decision, ian mccall, mouse ”

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UFC President Dana White made quite the announcement during Friday night’s post-fight press conference for UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann, as it was revealed the Ian McCall-Demetrious Johnson flyweight tournament semifinal should have gone to a fourth round. Johnson was given the victory based on the scorecards read at Octagon-side earlier in the night. However, it was later found out that one card was not added up correctly, meaning the bout should have been a majority draw and forced the two fighters into a “sudden victory” round to determine who would eventually meet Joseph Benavidez. The Australian Athletic Commission’s leader made an announcement following White’s remarks concerning the error, taking full blame for the situation. “One just actually scored the (third) round a 10-8. It was down on the tally card as a 10-9 round, which scored it as a majority win to Johnson. But that 10-8 would have made it into a majority draw,” said spokesman Craig Waller. “It was my error. I take full responsibility for the error that was incurred.” White added that, “Controversy has stuck to us like glue lately. These things happen, human error happens.” While Waller made mention of a rematch between McCall and Johnson taking place in April, White said no timetable has been set for the two to battle again. Benavidez also said he would remain idle until a finalist is determined to meet him for the UFC flyweight crown. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, round, johnson, error, “ controversy

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Anyone that follows sports has probably heard the line, "The best referees are the ones you don't know." While officials are a necessary evil of athletic events, the hope is they do their job, stay out of the way and don't do anything to get noticed. The NBA's refs? Not so great at this. You've read enough about bad judging and bad stoppages in the last few years to fill several repetitive books and this column isn't going to be about that. But after hearing that somehow the judges' scorecards for the Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall fight at UFC on FX 2 were misread and thus a fight that should have been a draw wasn't announced as such, a simple question has to be asked. It's 2012 and this is actually an issue? If you're new to the party, Johnson and McCall fought in a bout where the winner moved on to get a shot at the newly created UFC flyweight title. As it was a mini-tournament, both guys agreed to a sudden death round if the scorecards were locked after three rounds. The goal of that, of course, is to eliminate the possibility of a draw and have a decisive winner. Cue irony horn. It was a close fight and when the cards were read, Johnson was announced as a majority decision winner. However, that wasn't the case. Sal D'Amato gave two 10-9 rounds to Johnson and one 10-8 to McCall, a 28-28 tie, read as a decision for Johnson. Kon Papai had two 10-9s for Johnson and a 10-9 for McCall, a correctly read 29-28 for Johnson. Anthony Dimitriou had a 10-9 for Johnson, a 10-9 for McCall and a 10-10 draw for a 29-29 draw, incorrectly read as McCall winning. It wasn't until the post-event press conference that the issue was brought to light with Craig Waller of the New South Wales, Australia, Department of Sport and Recreation taking full responsibility for not compiling and relaying the correct information. That's great and all, but why didn't D'Amato or Dimitriou say something immediately when their scores were being read? Is there a system of double checking? Simply put, how does this happen? Look, I understand that people make mistakes but this is simply dumb. The UFC now has to figure out when to rematch these two, thus delaying plans for their title fight by months. Flyweight finalist Joseph Benavidez now has to wait longer because of the error. Johnson thought he won and was then told he didn't, which is bad. People are talking about commission work Saturday instead of in-cage action. Fans were robbed of what would have been a great fourth round. It's sloppy all the way around because a system wasn't in place to prevent this. I know I'm asking a lot, but I hope the Association of Boxing Commissions takes note and is proactive in making sure these types of issues don't happen in the U.S. Move to an electronic method, have several people in place to ensure the scoring is received and read accurately and have the judges actually listen to make sure the scores are being read correctly. It sounds like a lot, but Friday night proved that apparently some people need more help than others. However, the chances of any ABC change are as likely as the antiquated MMA scoring system suddenly correcting itself. Food for thought: how often do you think there are errors that we don't hear about, either with addition or otherwise? I stand corrected on an earlier statement as there was one winner in all of this: McCall, who will get the chance to avenge what many perceived as a bad decision to begin with. If there's one guy who is happily twirling his mustache today at how this all turned out, it's "Uncle Creepy." SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

Posted in: ufc, round, johnson, winner, mccall

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There was controversy brewing last night (March 2, 2012) at UFC on FX 2 in the first flyweight bout in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall. Both men set a blistering pace in which they flew across the cage in a blur, definitely keeping the cameramen on their toes. The crowd thought McCall won, but Johnson was announced the victor. It turns out that neither of those were true. Some scoffed at the announcement that the UFC would use a sudden death fourth round in the wake of a draw, but it turns out that's what the judges ruled when three rounds were over. Unfortunately, a commission mistake cost both men their opportunity to advance to the flyweight tournament finals. So now the big question remains, what happens next for both men? Follow me after the jump for our Ian McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson UFC on FX 2 post-fight review and analysis: Both men flew across the cage early, bouncing around on their toes and it was Johnson who scored with some swift leg kicks but McCall countered with a terrific trip takedown. In the striking, "Mighty Mouse" found a home for his right hand when he had space to lunge inside and land it, but when he did that, McCall countered in the clinch with some excellent short knees and elbows. After a failed takedown attempt of his own, Johnson landed the best strike of the fight with a sharp right hook which staggered McCall and definitely caught his attention. The AMC Pankration fighter would find a home for that right hand again as McCall would occasionally drop his left, but McCall fired back with some nice leg kicks attacking Johnson's lead leg. It was an entertaining and extremely close first round. The second round was just as close, this time McCall did not score any takedowns. In the open striking phase, Johnson was able to dart in and out with some nice right hands and both men traded powerful flurries of strikes. It was another round which was extremely difficult to score, although many impartial observers saw it for Johnson. The third round was the most decisive of the bout as after some more even striking exchanges, McCall got a trio of takedowns. While Johnson got back to his feet after the first one, McCall was all over him with big punches and advancement of position for the second and the third was the most damaging of all after "Uncle Creepy" passed to mount and dropped some serious punishment, even playing to the crowd as time expired. We all know what happened next, Johnson was announced the winner via split decision even though the judges had ruled it a draw. It all got sorted out at the post-fight press conference, but fans and both fighters were denied what would have been an amazing and decisive fourth round. For Demetrious Johnson, he was effective early in the fight with some nice leg kicks and when he had proper space, he was able to land some solid punches as well, especially that right hand which repeatedly found a home. His biggest issue was getting taken down five times throughout the fight and especially in the third round when he began to fade a bit and McCall was able to take over with his wrestling and ground and pound. In the rematch, he's going to have to stay in space a little more and really work that right hand. For Ian McCall, he definitely made a terrific UFC debut and gained a boatload of fans with his performance. He's a high energy guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and the fans appreciated what he was able to bring to the fight. He showcased some nice power in his leg kicks, some strong inside strikes in the clinch and his offensive wrestling and ground and pound was top notch. His biggest problem was dropping his hands and allowing Johnson to connect with some big right hands of his own especially in the first two rounds. There's no use speculating on who each man will fight next, it's already been announced that there will be a rematch once both men are recovered and ready to do it again. The first fight was very close and enthralling and I expect nothing less next time around. So what do you think, Maniacs? If things had been announced properly, who would have won the sudden death fourth round last night? Who do you favor heading into the rematch later this year? Can either man defeat Joseph Benavidez? Sound off! For complete UFC on FX 2 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, right, round, johnson, mccall

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made history last night (March 2, 2012) at UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" as the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion kicked off the first-ever Flyweight tournament to crown its first-ever 125-pound champion. Aside from two great battles put on by the four competitors who who were hand-picked to participate in the tournament -- Joseph Benavidez vs Yasuhiro Urushitani and Demetrious Johnson vs Ian McCall -- the event also, unfortunately, had the much dreaded "controversy" word attached to it. That's because the original decision that was announced inside the Octagon, which declared Demetrious Johnson earned a very close split decision victory over Ian McCall, was not the correct call. After further review it was discovered that Commissioner Craig Waller actually tabulated the judges scores wrong and the rightful decision should have been a majority draw. Prior to the event kicking off, the UFC instituted a new rule stating that if either of the tournament matches was a draw, they would go into a sudden death round, which is what should have happened last night, as UFC President Dana White explained it at the UFC on FX 2 post-fight press conference: "Unfortunately, controversy has stuck to us like glue lately. These things happen, human error happens. The Demetrious Johnson/Ian McCall fight was not scored properly. The fight was a draw. In the case of a draw, the fight was supposed to go to a fourth round. I mean I don't even know what to say, but the commission has taken responsibility." However, the mistake was discovered way too late and the damage had already been done. Unfortunately for "Mighty Mouse," his victory will be wiped away and will now be forced to take on "Uncle Creepy" one more time later this year to determine who in fact will meet Joseph Benavidez in the flyweight final. So what exactly happened? Commissioner Waller gave at the UFC on FX 2 post-fight press conference. "One judge actually scored the round a 10-8. It was down on the tally card as a 10-9 round, which scored it as a majority win to Johnson. But that 10-8 would have made it into a majority draw. It was on Sal D'Amato's card. Sal wasn't the one that made the error, it was my error. It was a bit of an unfortunate situation. I take full responsibility for the error that was incurred. Unfortunately I misread one of the scorecards which were transpired over the tally sheet. The fight should have been a majority draw. We should have gone into that fourth round. I sincerely apologize to both fighters, to Dana, and to every single fan of the UFC. It's great to see that it's been taken well by both combatants and their looking forward to a rematch hopefully in April. Once again, my sincere apologies to the error that was concerned and all I can do is apologize. I'm very, very sorry." A disappointed McCall stormed out of the Octagon upon hearing the judge's decision to award Johnson the victory. Now, he gets a chance to make things better for himself as he has a rematch against Johnson that will take place in the very near future. The good news is that the "do over" will determine a definitive winner. The bad news is that Benavidez will now have to sit tight a bit longer to fight again, waiting to see who will prevail in the rematch and who will meet him in the first ever UFC Flyweight title fight. History was indeed made in Sydney, in more ways than one.

Posted in: ufc, fight, round, johnson, error

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The fight is now a draw, these guys are going to fight again. Link --> http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/3/3/2841105/ian-mccall-vs-demetrious-johnson-a-draw-australian-commissioner submitted by lance_klusener [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: fight, johnson, spoiler, mccall, gt

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Well it just wouldn’t be a UFC event without a little judging controversy now would it? I’m nearly tripping over myself saying this, but yes, despite there being a “sudden death” round in place to ensure that neither of tonight’s UFC flyweight mini-tournament fights could possibly end in a draw, the Demtrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall flyweight semi-final ended in a draw anyways. So how did it happen? Well, surprise, surprise, the athletic commission screwed up royally when tallying the judges scores from the fight. It should have been a majority draw (Sal D’Amato 28-28, Anthony Dimitriou 29-29, Kon Papai 29-28 Johnson) and the fight should have went into the “sudden death” fourth round to determine the winner. Instead, Craig Waller, executive director of the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales, mistakenly transcribed D’Amato’s 28-28 as a 29-28 Johnson on the official scorecard seen above thus giving Demetrious Johnson the majority decision on the broadcast. Unfortunately, by the time they figured out what happened, it was too late. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Waller took full responsibility for the error. “It was a bit of an unfortunate situation,” Waller said. “I take full responsibility for what happened.” “The fight should have been a majority draw. We should have gone to a fourth round. I sincerely apologize to both fighters, to Dana, and to every single fan of the UFC.” “Sal wasn’t the one that made the error,” Waller said. “It was my error.” As you can imagine Dana White was pretty upset about the situation. “There is nothing positive about that result. I would rather have ended it tonight. We had two badass fights that everybody loved that would have led into the title fight. That would have been best-case scenario.” “As soon as the show ended, they came over and told me. After the card was done, they came up to me, and I said, ‘You’ve got to be [expletive] me. How is this possible?’” “Imagine if they would have come out and said, ‘This is going to a fourth round,’” White said. “The crowd would have went crazy. People at home would have went crazy. It would have been an incredible atmosphere and an incredible moment. There’s nothing good about this, but what can you do? The commission owned up to it, apologized for it, and all we can do is move on.” On one hand, I do kinda feel for Mr. Waller. He made an honest mistake, which he owned up to and apologized for, and I’m sure no one feels worse about this right now than him. You can’t ask much more than that. But on the other, seriously??? Can’t anything just go according to plan without a judge or a referee or a commission official screwing something up? If commissions only messed up every once in a while, it really wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but it continues to happen all the time. It’s utterly baffling and mind-numbingly frustrating. Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: fight, round, johnson, commission, waller

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submitted by DavidJeffers [link] [comment]

Posted in: conference, johnson, davidjeffer, davidjeffers link, mcall

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Mathematics strikes again. A computation error on the judges’ score cards meant the inaugural night for Flyweights ended in controversy for which the UFC quickly made amends. The Ian McCall-Mighty Mouse Johnson should have been declared a draw. Instead, Johnson was awarded the bout and McCall stormed out of the octagon. In the post-fight press conference Dana White declared the fight was a draw. Ironically, a sudden victory round was instituted for this mini-tournament and would have been used to decide the winner. Via MMA Junkie: Initially, Johnson was declared the winner via 28-29, 29-28 and 29-28 scores. Later, Johnson was declared the majority-decision victor via 29-28, 29-29 and 29-28 scores. However, according to a commission official, one judge had scored the final round 10-8, which was overlooked during tabulations. So the final scores were 28-28, 29-29, 29-28 (Johnson got the 29-28 score). Dana White via Fuel TV: “Fortunately, controversy has stuck to us like glue lately. These things happen. Human error happens. The Johnson vs. McCall fight was not scored properly. The fight was a draw and in the case of a draw, the fight is supposed to go to a fourth round. I don’t even know what to say. The commission has taken responsibility.” Payout Perspective: The scoring error was an embarrassment. Even though the commission takes responsibility, its still a Zuffa event and reflects poorly on a judging system that is perpetually under scrutiny. A simple check…and recheck of the scores should have revealed the draw. This is a bad start to what should be an otherwise exciting division. If you are looking on the bright side, there will be a rematch of what was a great match (and won FOTN honors). But, it does delay the planning for the Flyweight final. Fortunately, Zuffa was quick with addressing the issue and will move forward. However, it has to look into the protocol for calculating scores. Perhaps calculators, or a refresher on basic math.

Posted in: fight, score, johnson, error, victory round

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Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson will get three more rounds to settle their flyweight tournament fight, following improperly read scorecards at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney.

Posted in: johnson, demetrious johnson, mccall, ian, scorecard

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There was a lot of confusion about the scorecard of tonight's UFC flyweight tournament semi-final between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson. Bruce Buffer announced the scores as a split decision, even though he said it was a majority decision. DJ got two 29-28 cards, while McCall got one of his own by a 29-28 score. Shortly after that, it came out that McCall's 29-28 card was actually 29-29, so it really was a majority decision. And after all that, UFC president Dana White announced that both of those were wrong. It was a draw. And they're going to to rematch next month. Despite what the guy wrote down on the picture you're looking at. As you can clearly see, the picture above shows DJ winning. But the person that wrote this out got the first judge's score wrong. The first judge (sal D'Amato) actually had it 29-29, giving Johnson the first two rounds and McCall the third by a 10-8 score. That was not correctly documented by whomever wrote this up, obviously. The second judge had the first 10-10, gave Johnson the 2nd 10-9, and awarded the third to McCall 10-9 for a 29-29 draw (which is consistent with what we heard post-fight). The third judge had the first two rounds for Johnson 10-9, and the third for McCall 10-9 for a 29-28 Johnson card. So the official ruling (despite what that card says) was a majority draw. I'm confused too, folks. But the end result is a majority draw and rematch in April, apparently. And the winner will meet Joseph Benavidez for the UFC flyweight title. Tough break for both fighters, since McCall clearly had a ton of momentum in the third and a fourth round would have been great for him, while Johnson thought he won the fight and now has to show up for a rematch. Strange, strange night. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann

Posted in: ufc, score, judge, johnson, mccall

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In the first ever UFC 125-lb. match, an error by the athletic commission in Australia screwed up the result. Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson's bout should have been scored as a draw, and their fight should have gone to a … Continue reading →

Posted in: result, bout, johnson, yahoo sports, ian

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The controversial decision in the Ian McCall-Demetrious Johnson fight at UFC on FX 2 just got more controversial. The fight was originally announced as a split decision victory for Johnson, which had the fans in Australia booing, as many thought McCall deserved to win. It was later reported that the scorecards had been misread and that Johnson had actually won by majority decision, as one of the judges ruled it a draw. But it turned out that that was wrong, too: Actually, two judges ruled it a draw. It should have been ruled a majority draw, and the fighters should have had a sudden-victory round. Instead, they'll have to rematch at a later date. Because Johnson vs. McCall was a semifinal fight in the UFC's flyweight tournament, the UFC actually had a plan in place for what to do in the case of a draw: There would be a fourth "sudden victory" round. But because the mistake wasn't noticed until after the event was over, it was too late for another round. And so McCall and Johnson will have to fight again at a later date. Craig Waller of the Department of Sport and Recreation in New South Wales, Australia, which is the commission overseeing this event, stood up at the UFC on FX 2 post-fight press conference and said the mistake was his and his alone. "I take full responsibility for the error that occurred," Waller said. "Unfortunately I misread one of the scorecards. The fight should have been a majority draw. I apologize to both fighters, to Dana (White) and to every fan of the UFC." McCall and Johnson were both surprisingly upbeat about the mistake. "Things happen," McCall said. "Well put on another show. I'm happy because I'm a little vindicated but we'll do it again and that's awesome." Johnson said he'd be eager to fight McCall again as soon as he can, and he said the person he felt worst for is Joseph Benavidez, who won the other flyweight semifinal tournament fight and will now have to wait for the McCall-Johnson rematch. White shook his head at the Australian commission's mistake but joked, "I'm definitely not going to lose any hair over it."

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, mccall, mistake

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Controversy is spelled U-F-C. That seems to be the case every time the world's largest fight promotion holds an event and that was the case last night (Fri., March 2, 2012) at the UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" show in Sydney, Australia. And this time they thought they were prepared for it. The flyweight semi-final bout between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall was an exciting affair that used all three rounds and 15 minutes they were afforded to decide a winner. It was razor thin but the judges ultimately awarded Johnson the split decision victory on scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28. At least that's what Bruce Buffer and the Commission overseeing the event told us. But as it turns out, an error was made on the scorecard and it should have been ruled a draw. In this case, that would have meant five more minutes to get to a definitive result, a sudden victory round the UFC implemented to avoid situations like this to ensure a winner. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Obviously, this means a rematch is forthcoming. The where and the when is unclear, though the Commission head in Australia said April. UFC President Dana White would only remark that it will happen when both guys are ready. What a mess, huh? For a more detailed look at the Johnson vs. McCall fight click here and for complete UFC on FX 2 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

Posted in: ufc, result, vs, johnson, case

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During UFC on FX 2 the first-ever flyweight fight in UFC history between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall appeared to end in a controversial decision for Johnson. However, UFC president Dana White announced after the fight that bout was actually scored a  majority draw and that a scorecard error led to the fight being incorrectly announced a split decision for Johnson. The bout was actually scored a majority draw (29-29,29-28,29-29) and the commission has taken full responsibility for the mistake. The mistake had even more weight on it due to the bout having an “overtime” round built in to prevent a draw from happening. An irate White indicated that the UFC was hoping to have a rematch in April. Be sure to check out our full UFC on FX 2 coverage including play-by-play, live results, and the event’s bonuses.

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, split decision, mistake

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Martin Kampmann, Demetrious Johnson, Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez were each awarded $50,000 bonuses by the UFC following their performances Friday at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney, Australia. In the Fight of the Night, Johnson and McCall battled three rounds to a controversial finish. Johnson was announced during the event as the winner by majority decision, but UFC president Dana White revealed at the post-fight press conference that the fight was actually a majority draw. The commission miscalculated the score and should have called for the extra sudden victory fourth round. Johnson and McCall will rematch at a later date to determine an opponent for Benavidez to crown the first-ever UFC flyweight champion. Benavidez earned Knockout of the Night with his TKO over Yasuhiro Urushitani at 11 seconds of the second round. Benavidez countered a Urushitani kick with a right hand that dropped the Shooto champion. Benavidez finished on the ground with punches to earn himself at shot at the title. Kampmann won Submission of the Night for his come-from-behind win over Thiago Alves. Trailing on the scorecards, Kampmann needed a finish in the third round to secure the win. Late in the fight, Alves looked to clinch the fight with a takedown. However, Kampmann reversed Alves to latch on a mounted guillotine, forcing the tapout with 48 seconds left in the fight. According to White, UFC on FX 2 registered the highest gate for a Fight Night event with $2.3 million on an attendance of 14,537.

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, johnson, benavidez

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The controversy surrounding the Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall fight seemed ready to die down as everyone came to terms with the extremely entertaining fight being close and there being a clear way that Johnson could have taken the decision on the judge's cards. Personally, I thought that McCall had done enough in the third round to earn a 10-8 and at least get the "sudden victory" round. The initial way the scores were read had the Johnson winning 29-28 on two cards and losing 29-28 on the other. It was then revealed that Johnson won a majority, not split, decision because one judge had the fight 29-29 and the other two had him winning 29-28. Now, UFC president Dana White is dropping this bit of unbelievable information on us: @danawhiteDana White Commission screwed up scorecards Johnson vs. McCall was a draw. Should have been a 4th rd. BRUTAL Mar 03 via web Favorite Retweet Reply So there you have it, the fight between Johnson and McCall should have gone to round four. It's unfortunate that the first ever flyweight fight in UFC history has this taint and that the tournament to crown the first champion is marred by a commission error. Technically, the actual scores are all that matter, not what was read. If what Dana said is correct and the scores were just tallied incorrectly, the fight actually is a draw, regardless of what was announced. Update: Dana White now said that the fight will result in a rematch in April to determine the true winner. That is great news as we determine the rightful person to challenge Joseph Benavidez for the title. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

Posted in: fight, score, dana, johnson, mccall

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submitted by blueboybob [link] [12 comments]

Posted in: johnson, commission, mccall, scorecard, rd

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UFC on FX 2 took place tonight from Sydney, Australia at Allphones Arena. Along with the debut of the flyweight division, the Australian crowd was witness to an amazing comeback victory in the main event between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann. The flyweight tournament began with two matchups- Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitana. The tournament did not begin without controversy, as Johnson took home a majority decision win. Benavidez was much more decisive as he knocked out Urushitani. Opening the main card was a middleweight matchup between The Ultimate Fighter season 11 winner Court McGee and Costa Philippou. Be sure to check out our full UFC on FX 2 coverage including play-by-play, live results, and the event’s bonuses. Astonishing finish by Kampmann steals victory from Thiago Alves Thiago Alves controlled the fight for nearly all 14 minutes. Unfortunately for “The Pitbull”, fights are 15 minutes, and that still left some time for Kampmann. Alves was able to methodically strike against the Dane, as Kampmann showed a few holes in his striking defense. Kampmann seemed to want to bring the fight to the ground, repeatedly going for takedowns, but being denied every time. Alves rocked Kampmann a few times with counter strikes, but Kampmann never wavered. In the final round, Alves was still controlling the action. He stifled Kampmann, causing him to retreat. When Alves had him against the cage, for some reason, Alves went for a takedown. Alves was…successful with the takedown. But Kampmann was able to get his left arm under Alves’ neck as he was dropped to the ground. He then reversed Alves on top, gaining mount while keeping his choke in hold. Alves tapped, awarding Kampmann the big comeback victory. Controversy mars UFC flyweight debut, as Johnson wins close decision over McCall The flyweight division officially made its debut with this matchup between “Uncle Creepy” and “Mighty Mouse”. The fight started quickly, as expected. McCall was able to get Johnson down a couple of times, but was not able to hold Johnson down. Johnson landed a counter right that seemed to stun McCall for a bit. In the second round, the active pace continued. The round felt like it lasted for fifteen minutes with all of the action going on. Johnson was kicked right in the mouse trap by McCall, causing a brief break. The third round led to the most decisive round, with McCall dominating on the ground over the last three minutes. By the end, McCall was yelling while continually punching the turtled Johnson. But it was all for not for McCall, as Johnson took the split decision, much to the crowd’s chagrin. Benavidez welcomes Urushitani to the UFC, Urushitani wishes he declined the invitation This decision was much more evident this time around, as Benavidez was able to display his strength advantage throughout the 5:11 they fought. In the first round, Benavidez was able to muscle Urushitani to the ground, and nearly pulled off a guillotine in mount. He then took his back and had a neck crank in position as the bell rang to end the first round. Urushitani came out at the beginning of the second and sent a kick that Benavidez could see from a mile away. He countered with a strong right hook, and the ref was pulling him off of Urushitani not long after that. Benavidez will now take on Johnson to determine the first ever UFC flyweight champion. Costa Philippou keeps fight on the feet, crushing The Crusher’s hopes Philippou came out looking to dance, as he strayed away from McGee throughout the first 30 seconds. He connected with a knee and then an uppercut a few seconds later. The crowd doesn’t enjoy the action of the next few minutes; as the first boos make their appearance. Philippou started to find his range as he begun to catch McGee’s kicks and connects with counter punches. McGee closes the first round out strong with a great combination of punches. Philippou was much more active and much more accurate in the second round, as he connected on McGee throughout the round. That continued through the third round. Even though McGee had an array of head strikes via head kicks and spinning elbows, it was not enough for McGee. MAIN CARD (FX) Martin Kampmann def. Thiago Alves via submission  (guillotine choke) at 4:12 of Round 3 Joseph Benavidez def. Yasuhiro Urushitani via TKO (strikes) at 0:11 of Round 2 Demetrious Johnson def. Ian McCall via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29) Costa Philippou def. Court McGee via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) PRELIMINARY CARD (Fuel TV) James Te Huna def. Aaron Rosa via TKO (strikes) at 2:08 of Round 1 Anthony Perosh def. Nick Penner via TKO (strikes) at 4:59 of Round 1 Steven Siler def. Cole Miller via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28,29-28) Andrew Craig def. Kyle Noke via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28,29-28) T.J. Waldburger def. Jake Hecht via submission (armbar) at :55 of Round 1 Daniel Pineda def. Mackens Semerzier via Submission (triangle armbar) at 2:05 of Round 1 Preliminary Card (Facebook) Shawn Jordan def. Oli Thompson via TKO (strikes) at 1:07 of Round 2

Posted in: round, johnson, benavidez, alve, kampmann

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UFC on FX 2 took place tonight from Sydney, Australia at Allphones Arena. Along with the debut of the flyweight division, the Australian crowd was witness to an amazing comeback victory in the main event between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann. The flyweight tournament began with two matchups- Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitana. The tournament did not begin without controversy, as Johnson took home a majority decision win. Benavidez was much more decisive as he knocked out Urushitani. Opening the main card was a middleweight matchup between The Ultimate Fighter season 11 winner Court McGee and Costa Philippou. Be sure to check out our full UFC on FX 2 coverage including play-by-play, live results, and the event’s bonuses. Astonishing finish by Kampmann steals victory from Thiago Alves Thiago Alves controlled the fight for nearly all 14 minutes. Unfortunately for “The Pitbull”, fights are 15 minutes, and that still left some time for Kampmann. Alves was able to methodically strike against the Dane, as Kampmann showed a few holes in his striking defense. Kampmann seemed to want to bring the fight to the ground, repeatedly going for takedowns, but being denied every time. Alves rocked Kampmann a few times with counter strikes, but Kampmann never wavered. In the final round, Alves was still controlling the action. He stifled Kampmann, causing him to retreat. When Alves had him against the cage, for some reason, Alves went for a takedown. Alves was…successful with the takedown. But Kampmann was able to get his left arm under Alves’ neck as he was dropped to the ground. He then reversed Alves on top, gaining mount while keeping his choke in hold. Alves tapped, awarding Kampmann the big comeback victory. Controversy mars UFC flyweight debut, as Johnson wins close decision over McCall, then doesn’t The flyweight division officially made its debut with this matchup between “Uncle Creepy” and “Mighty Mouse”. The fight started quickly, as expected. McCall was able to get Johnson down a couple of times, but was not able to hold Johnson down. Johnson landed a counter right that seemed to stun McCall for a bit. In the second round, the active pace continued. The round felt like it lasted for fifteen minutes with all of the action going on. Johnson was kicked right in the mouse trap by McCall, causing a brief break. The third round led to the most decisive round, with McCall dominating on the ground over the last three minutes. By the end, McCall was yelling while continually punching the turtled Johnson. But it was all for not for McCall, as Johnson took the majority decision, much to the crowd’s chagrin. But then it was all for not for Johnson, as Dana White announced at the post-fight press conference that the fight should have been scored a draw, as one judge scored the third round 10-8 for McCall. Johnson and McCall will rematch, with the the second matchup likely taking place in April. Benavidez welcomes Urushitani to the UFC, Urushitani wishes he declined the invitation This decision was much more evident this time around, as Benavidez was able to display his strength advantage throughout the 5:11 they fought. In the first round, Benavidez was able to muscle Urushitani to the ground, and nearly pulled off a guillotine in mount. He then took his back and had a neck crank in position as the bell rang to end the first round. Urushitani came out at the beginning of the second and sent a kick that Benavidez could see from a mile away. He countered with a strong right hook, and the ref was pulling him off of Urushitani not long after that. Benavidez will now sit back and watch the second McCall/Johnson matchup to see who he faces in the finals to determine the first ever UFC flyweight champion. Costa Philippou keeps fight on the feet, crushing The Crusher’s hopes Philippou came out looking to dance, as he strayed away from McGee throughout the first 30 seconds. He connected with a knee and then an uppercut a few seconds later. The crowd doesn’t enjoy the action of the next few minutes; as the first boos make their appearance. Philippou started to find his range as he begun to catch McGee’s kicks and connects with counter punches. McGee closes the first round out strong with a great combination of punches. Philippou was much more active and much more accurate in the second round, as he connected on McGee throughout the round. That continued through the third round. Even though McGee had an array of head strikes via head kicks and spinning elbows, it was not enough for McGee. MAIN CARD (FX) Martin Kampmann def. Thiago Alves via submission  (guillotine choke) at 4:12 of Round 3 Joseph Benavidez def. Yasuhiro Urushitani via TKO (strikes) at 0:11 of Round 2 Demetrious Johnson def. Ian McCall via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29) Costa Philippou def. Court McGee via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) PRELIMINARY CARD (Fuel TV) James Te Huna def. Aaron Rosa via TKO (strikes) at 2:08 of Round 1 Anthony Perosh def. Nick Penner via TKO (strikes) at 4:59 of Round 1 Steven Siler def. Cole Miller via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28,29-28) Andrew Craig def. Kyle Noke via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28,29-28) T.J. Waldburger def. Jake Hecht via submission (armbar) at :55 of Round 1 Daniel Pineda def. Mackens Semerzier via Submission (triangle armbar) at 2:05 of Round 1 Preliminary Card (Facebook) Shawn Jordan def. Oli Thompson via TKO (strikes) at 1:07 of Round 2

Posted in: round, johnson, mccall, alve, kampmann

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Lapses in judgment never play well in the Octagon. Ask Thiago Alves.

Posted in: fx, johnson, move, benavidez, alve

Read the full article at Sherdog

Here are the statistics for the fight between Mighty Mouse and Uncle Creepy. I had rounds 1 and 3 for McCall. What say you? Props to Fightmetric.com

Posted in: ufc, fx, johnson, mccall, ian

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

UFC on FX 2 is host to the first Flyweight tournament. In the first fight Demetrious Johnson won a fairly controversial split decision over Ian McCall. The judges scored the fight 29-28 x2 for Johnson and 29-28 for McCall. After the fight there was some discussion on twitter if the third round should have been a 10-8 for McCall after he dominated Johnson on the ground for the final three minutes. The UFC's official statistics company Fight Metric compiled the striking and takedowns from the three round fight and it reflects what many on twitter already felt. According to Fight Metric, Ian McCall completed 4 of 9 takedown attempts and out struck Johnson 139-103. Johnson had the advantage in significant strikes, outlanding McCall 75 to 61. Demetrious Johnson advanced to the Flyweight finals with the win over McCall. Ian McCall left the cage after feeling he was cheated out of a decision. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, mccall, ian mccall

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Demetrious Johnson secured his place in the finals of the UFC flyweight tournament with a win over Ian McCall at UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann.

Posted in: ufc, fx, johnson, tournament, ian mccall

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The first ever flyweight fight in Octagon history took place at tonight's (Fri., March 2, 2012) UFC on FX : "Alves vs. Kampmann" event in Sydney, Australia, as Demetrious Johnson made the drop from bantamweight to 125-pounds to take part in the four-man tournament opposite freshly signed division deity Ian McCall. For those unfamiliar with the little guys, McCall was widely regarded as the very best in the weight class coming into tonight's event, despite his never having competed in the world's largest fight promotion. Johnson, of course, contested for the 135-pound title just last year. In short, these dudes can fight and they were supposed to bring it tonight. Did they ever. Both guys came with that hot fire, as expected. But after three rounds and 15 minutes of intense action, it was difficult to tell exactly who the winner was. With the sudden victory round available if necessary, it would seem the judges had more leeway with their scores. Turns out, it was unnecessary. That's because two of them agreed that Johnson won the first two rounds and he was awarded the split decision victory to advance to the flyweight tournament final and a chance at the 125-pound title. The good -- and sometimes bad -- thing about these smaller guys is their speed is so overwhelming, sometimes you can barely keep up with the action. Such was the case in the opening minutes of this one, as Johnson showcased his quickness, bouncing in and out while landing a few hard shots. McCall battled back with takedowns, earning a few throughout the round, but Johnson negated them by popping back up to his feet. He also landed the hardest punch, staggering "Uncle Creepy" with a big right hand. It was close, though. The round, I mean. The second was mostly the same, save for the takedowns from McCall. He was scoring at various points, hitting hard with punches that opened Johnson up. Two rounds in, though, and it was so very close. McCall picked it up in round three, working hard to achieve back mount and raining down shots on a helpless Johnson, who was flattened out and fighting for dear life. He managed to get back to his feet but it was only a matter of time before McCall had him back on the floor, once again unloading with big punches. It looked as though McCall may have done enough for a 10-8 but the judges didn't agree and Johnson was given the nod in an extremely close but highly entertaining bout. More of that, please. Remember, too, to check out MMAmania.com's ongoing live coverage of the UFC on FX 2 main card by clicking here.

Posted in: pound, fx, round, johnson, mccall

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Demetrious Johnson defeats Ian McCall by Split Decision. The scores were 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. Leg kicks early from Demetrious Johnson landed early. McCall clinched and completed the takedown with an inside trip. McCall worked from a high half guard and attempted a to pass to mount. On the transition Demetrious hit a switch and took McCall down. The fighters regained their feet and traded punches and knees in the clinch. McCall hit a beautiful throw and landed several punches before Demetrious stood up. Demetrious shot for a low takedown and landed a right hand on the break. McCall stuffed a Johnson takedown and landed hammer fists before Johnson abandoned the takedown. Demetrious Johnson opened the second round with another single leg takedown attempt. Ian McCall landed several punches forcing Demetrious to give up on the shot. Leg kicks from Ian McCall are answered by Demetrious Johnson who threw an overhand right. McCall threw a high inside leg kick that landed to the groin forcing a stop in the action. The two fighters traded punches and the damage began to show underneath the right eye of Demetrious Johnson. McCall attempted a knee tap and they trade knees in the clinch against the fence. More dirty boxing in the clinch as Demetrious landed a big elbow on the break. McCall hit an inside trip towards the end of the round. The two fighters traded leg kicks as the third round began. McCall thought he was high low with a knee from the clinch but the referee didn't stop the fight. Jumping knee from Demetrious Johnson allowed McCall to complete a takedown and land in side control. McCall landed decent ground and pound but Johnson was able to scramble to his feet. McCall take's Johnson's back and suplexes him to the ground. McCall sunk both hooks in and landed brutal ground and pound from the top. Demetrious regained his feet but was almost thrown again. Demetrious with a desperation shot that was stuffed by McCall. McCall closed the round throwing punches from Demetrious Johnson's back and yelling to the crowd. What an amazing fight. After the results were read Ian McCall walked right out of the cage as the crowd showered the cage with boos. Demetrious Johnson cut down from Bantamweight to take part in the Flyweight tournament. He is now 3-1 in the UFC and 15-2 in his career. Ian McCall was widely considered to be the top Flyweight in the world entering this fight. He is now 0-1 in the UFC and 11-3 in his career. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

Posted in: takedown, johnson, demetriou, mccall, ian

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In the first flyweight fight in UFC history, Demetrious Johnson won a controversial, close split decision over Ian McCall, leaving the fans at UFC on FX 2 booing what they thought was a robbery. Two judges scored it 29-28 for Johnson, while one scored it 29-28 for McCall. It's disappointing that the questionable decision may overshadow the fact that the 125-pounders put on a very good show and demonstrated why so many of us have wanted the UFC to launch a flyweight class for so long: This is a weight class with some tremendous athletes. "I have to give it up to Ian McCall," Johnson said. "I felt I won the first two rounds. In the last round he put it on me." More Coverage: UFC on FX 2 Results | Johnson vs. McCall Live Blog Johnson was moving in and out and doing a nice job in the striking exchanges in the early going, but McCall surprised Johnson by taking him down and getting on top of him on the ground. Johnson got back to his feet without any trouble, however, and landed more punches. They then repeated it with McCall getting another takedown and Johnson again getting back to his feet. Late in the first round Johnson landed some big punches, and he may have done enough to win a very entertaining first round. Early in the second round there was an exchange of punches, with McCall landing harder and forcing Johnson to back away. Almost the entire round was fought standing up, and Johnson landed more strikes -- including some impressive leg kicks -- but McCall's punches appeared to have more power on them, and that may have been enough for him to win the round. Two judges, however, apparently gave both the first and the second to Johnson. An odd exchange took place at the start of the third round, as McCall appeared to feel as though he had been hit by a low blow and paused as if the referee would step in -- but Johnson didn't stop, and the referee didn't make them stop. However, McCall recovered nicely and controlled most of the rest of the third round: McCall took Johnson down, mounted him and dominated with ground and pound at the close of the third round. The third round was dominant for McCall, but all three judges scored it 10-9, and no judges gave McCall a 10-8 round. And that makes Johnson the winner. Now Johnson will watch to see who wins between Joseph Benavidez and Yasuhiro Urushitani, with the winner of that bout facing Johnson for the inaugural UFC flyweight title.

Posted in: ufc, round, johnson, punch, mccall

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This is the UFC on FX 2 live blog for Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall, a flyweight bout on tonight's UFC event from the Allphones Arena in Sydney Australia. Johnson (14-2) is coming off a loss in a UFC bantamweight title fight to Dominick Cruz at last October's UFC on Versus. McCall (11-2) makes his UFC debut after capturing the Tachi Palace Fights flyweight belt against Darrell Montague at TPF 10 last August. Check out the live blog below. More Coverage: UFC on FX 2 Results | Latest UFC News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3:

Posted in: ufc, fx, johnson, blog, dominick cruz

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Making the move to flyweight was an easy choice for Demetrious Johnson. After failing to claim the UFC bantamweight title from Dominick Cruz, “Mighty Mouse” jumped at the opportunity to comprise part of the UFC’s flyweight tournament to crown a champion at 125 pounds. This evening, in one of the semifinals, Johnson will take on Ian McCall to advance to the championship match. Johnson-McCall will be part of the televised main card of UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann. Johnson will be making his international debut from the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia, something he is looking forward to. “It’s a new weight class and I know the fans have been looking forward to the debut of the flyweight division and it’ll be interesting to fight in front of the Australian fans,” said Johnson, in an interview with Fighters.com. “I’m really excited about going down there and putting on a great show.” Prior to the loss against Cruz, Johnson had won four straight fights. He enters the bout with McCall – who many consider the best flyweight in the world already – sporting a 14-2 record. “There’s a reason (McCall’s) ranked No. 1 in the world in the flyweight division,” Johnson said. “I’m not sure who has the advantage in any certain area. I just plan on going out there and doing my thing; I plan on putting my skills to the test and seeing what he’s made of.” Tune in to see how Johnson fares against “Uncle Creepy” when the main card starts up at 9:00 PM EST on FX. Prelims will air at approximately 6:00 PM EST through Facebook/Fuel TV. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, flyweight, demetrious johnson, mccall

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Following the controversial conclusion to their UFC on FX 2 match-up, Flyweight tournament competitors Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall will meet in an immediate rematch.UFC President Dana White made the announcement at the post-fight press conference immediately following the event.In what was the promotion's first ever Flyweight bout, Johnson and McCall battled back and forth, each hoping to secure a spot in the tournament final. After 15-minutes of action, it was "Mighty Mouse" who was awarded a shot

Posted in: johnson, tournament, mccall, ian mccall, error results

Read the full article at Low Kick

Out of the blue, the UFC has gloriously relented on abstaining from the fan-adored tournament format for Friday's UFC on FX 2 event. Pulling back the curtains on another new weight class, the show will host the first stage of a four-man Grand Prix to crown the promotion's inaugural flyweight (125-pound) champion. In separate bouts, two top-ranked flyweight newcomers will challenge two established UFC bantamweights who are descending to their natural weight class. The opening round of the brackets will pit Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani. Unveiling the new flyweight class highlights the difference between "Ultimate Fighting" and MMA but, more importantly, and for better or for worse, brings the two closer together than ever before. Even though the flyweights will compete under the Zuffa banner for the first time and many North American fans are still getting to know the WEC's influx of featherweights (145-pounds) and bantamweights (135-pounds), the little guys (155-pounds and below) have been toiling in the global landscape since 1986, which is seven years before UFC 1. 1986 marked the birth of the Shooto organization. During Japan's heralded puroresu era, which is most akin to America's version of pro-wrestling with predetermined outcomes and a focus on spectacle over sport, the Shooto organization traveled a divergent path. Instead of featuring worked matches with rehearsed theatrics, their intent was to showcase real hand-to-hand combat in the vein of what MMA has become by today's standards. The WEC was the first big-time organization in the states to promote the lighter weights, which is why they attracted a plethora of overseas talent after the UFC started calling the shots. Introducing UFC Flyweight Ian McCall -- by Fraser Coffeen Introducing UFC Flyweight Yasuhiro Urushitani -- by Fraser Coffeen One of the two newcomers participating in the tournament is the reigning Shooto 123-pound champion: Yasuhiro Urushitani. While Japan was a veritable stronghold for lighter-class fighters, Tachi Palace Fights is a recently flourishing but oft-overlooked pioneer for spotlighting them. Their roster was punctuated by a host of top-ten flyweights and the second newcomer in this tournament earned that spot by rising above them all. Ian McCall was best known as the guy who got tossed around by Charlie Valencia and Dominick Cruz in the WEC. Yet, amidst a few drug overdoses that led to a healthy reinvention of his character, "Uncle Creepy" is now widely considered to be the best flyweight in the world after dusting ultra-elite opposition in Jussier Da Silva, Darrell Montague and previously undefeated Dustin Ortiz. This time, there will be no room for debate. By signing the alpha-flyweight and another top-ranked staple and matching them with two in-house and formidable 135ers dropping down to 125-pounds, this tournament will unquestionably produce the undisputed number-one flyweight on the planet. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2 Demetrious Johnson (14-2) vs. Ian McCall (11-2) Why Ian McCall's short, straight right hand is his best friend and fulfills every archetypal quality of one: It's quick to show up for support whenever he needs it He can rely on it for help whenever he finds himself in a tough spot It comforts him better than chicken soup by knocking people of his choice flat on their ass Ian McCall's Background and Strengths: Wrestled at Cuesta University (same as Jake Shields) but dropped out after blowing out his knee Black belt in Kung Fu Purple belt in BJJ Resilient -- and artfully shaped -- beard (one career sub and decision loss apiece) Quickness, agility, good movement with great balance Ian McCall's Wrestling and Takedowns: Explosive and well timed Usually a duck-under, power double when his opponent is trading in the pocket Leans more toward the low single when shooting from a distance Rarely forced; set up well with striking, angles or his opponent's momentum Violent and frenetically paced top game, dual threat of striking and submissions The lighter weight fighters all transition quickly and fluently from one martial art, position or phase of combat to another, and this pair of flyweights is no exception. Their wrestling, striking and speed-based styles are quite similar except that Johnson is much more technical, smooth and graceful and McCall is more straightforward and to-the-point. They both have excellent balance, but McCall doesn't have the elaborate set ups and flawless fundamentals in footwork; his angles are simple but still effective. Demetrious Johnson is a Matt Hume product with blinding speed and exemplary takedown prowess, largely assisted by his detailed footwork. The double-leg takedowns he was hitting consistently against Norifumi Yamamoto were poetic. I keep mentioning footwork because it's such a pivotal aspect with the lighter-weight fighters and because it produces so many advantages. A big key for Johnson is the way he maintains excellent composure and balance despite moving at light speed. The sequence above depicts how Johnson's footwork complements his wrestling. It allows him to swoop in too fast to incur damage from strikes, it puts him deep in the pocket and able to generate massive leverage through complete control of his opponent's hips and makes him a dizzying fighter to defend and get ahold of. The animation to the left is a perfect example of how it influences his striking. He evades Cruz's flurry easily with a sharp 3 o'clock angle and empties the clip with four rapid-fire counter strikes. (Note: on the subject of balance and footwork, Cruz is susceptible to Johnson's attack in the gif above because he over-steps on his right hand and loses his balance while stumbling to the left.) To the right, at the 4:44 mark, Johnson proves that the description "elaborate footwork" isn't just a flowery embellishment. Giving Cruz a more effective taste of his own medicine, Johnson freezes the champ and steers him against the cage wall with footwork alone. His balance comes into play when he whiffs the high kick but is still composed enough to recover his footing. One spot where Johnson might have an advantage is scrambling. He's a slippery fighter who is uniquely immune to being held down, held onto or manipulated in any way. His quickness and ability to react on the fly in all exchanges, particularly grappling transitions, is stunning. This bout is both compelling and difficult to predict because the main reason for Johnson and McCall's career losses is that they were fighting one weight class higher than they should have been. Strength and size was a huge factor. They share a common loss in Cruz -- both took him to a decision and had their moments; Johnson gave him a better run. McCall was also fairly predictable against Cruz by charging straight forward to lead striking exchanges, and Johnson will have a clear edge in footwork though, admittedly, I think Johnson's footwork is some of the best in the sport. Since they're the same size, their differences in movement and attacking will likely decide this. Johnson is the super-composed, smooth-operating technician; McCall is a fiery and deliberate head-hunter. While Johnson's combination of speed and cage-motion might be insurmountable, I'm going to take McCall here for making up for it by being a little meaner and more spirited. I do think the strong push for Johnson on the betting line is fair and acknowledge him as the safer prediction, but have to go to bat for a sentimental favorite here. My Prediction: Ian McCall by decision. McCall gifs via Damn Severn Johnson gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall Johnson McCall   7 votes | Results

Posted in: johnson, flyweight, footwork, mccall, ian

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Just like the 1980s cartoon character his nickname stems from, Demetrious Johnson (a.k.a. “Mighty Moust) may be small but he packs a big wallop. Johnson has a ton of heart, determination, and courage packed into his 5’3″ frame. Numerous opponents have underestimated the Kentucky native based on his diminutive stature and have paid the price for doing so. Combine all of that with his speed, striking, and wrestling prowess, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a fighter. Now that the UFC is on the verge of introducing the all new flyweight division, Johnson finally has an opportunity to fight guys his size. The 25-year old has been making his living these past few years fighting in the bantamweight division where he often had no need to cut weight in order to make the 135-pound mark. Even more amazing, Johnson was extremely successful fighting bigger opponents. As a result, Johnson challenged the current UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz this past September for his title. However, no pun intended, but Johnson came up a bit short, dropping a five-round Unanimous Decision. Still, with an  impressive 14-2 record Johnson has proven time and time again that the bigger man doesn’t always come out on top. Before the loss to Cruz, Johnson had won four fights in a row including victories over former WEC title-holder Miguel Torres and former Japanese superstar Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. Friday night on FX Johnson will take to the Octagon where he’ll face Ian McCall in the opening round of the UFC’s flyweight tournament. “Mighty Mouse” is brimming with anticipation in terms of finally fighting at his natural weight in addition to competing in Australia. “I’m really looking forward to this fight, it’ll be the first time that I’ll be fighting internationally,” said an excited Johnson in an exclusive interview with Fighters.com. “It’s a new weight class and I know the fans have been looking forward to the debut of the flyweight division and it’ll be interesting to fight in front of the Australian fans. I’m really excited about going down there and putting on a great show.” UFC fans are pretty familiar with Johnson from his three bouts inside the Octagon and his three bouts in the WEC. However, as far as McCall is concerned, some fans may not know about his style or his background as he’ll be making his Octagon debut after a ton of success on the regional scene. One thing is for certain when you get two guys with this much talent inside the cage together there is going to be fireworks. “The thing I know about McCall is that he is a great fighter,” offered Mighty Mouse. “He comes in to fight in great shape and he’s a very tough opponent. There’s a reason he’s ranked number one in the world in the flyweight division. I’m not sure who has the advantage in any certain areas; I just plan on going out there and doing my thing. I plan on putting his skills to the test and seeing what he’s made of.” In the other semi-final bout former bantamweight championship contender Joseph Benavidez will take on Shooto champion Yasuhiro Urushitani. Benavidez is probably the stronger of the two with a solid wrestling base, but as far as Urushitani is concerned it’s hard to gauge what type of fighter he is after competing in relative obscurity in Japan. Nevertheless, Johnson seems to have an idea of who he will face should he get by McCall. “I think it’s going to be a great fight between those two,” offered Johnson. “I don’t really know a whole lot about Urushitani, but from what I know he’s been the champion in Shooto for awhile and has done quite well over there. He’s coming in to the UFC and this is going to be his second fight outside of Japan. Benavidez is a tough guy and everyone says he’s undefeated and Cruz as his only two losses came at the hands of Cruz. It’s going to be a great fight.” Because Johnson has had so much success fighting in the bantamweight division, and with the flyweight division just getting started, it may not be surprising to see him jump back and forth between divisions. That is, of course, unless Johnson believes there will be enough challenges for him at 125 pounds. “As of right now 125 is my home,” Johnson said. “I would love to fight in the bantamweight division again as well. It would be fantastic to fight in both weight classes. It all depends on whether or not I win or lose my fight coming up, but for the time being the flyweight division is where I’m at and I consider it my new home.” Assuming the two winners come out of their respective fights fairly healthy, it will be interesting to see how quickly the UFC gets the title bout signed. Normally three months would be enough time for the fighters to train for one another and for the UFC to put their marketing machine into effect. In that vein, Johnson is confident the promotion will do the right thing and will be ready when the time comes. “They haven’t given us any indication of then the championship fight will take place,” revealed Johnson. “If I’m a betting man I would day the best card to put it on would be UFC 148 in July. That card will be headlined by the third fight between Cruz and Urijah Faber. Other than that I haven’t heard anything else. That would give us four months after this fight on Saturday. What better way to introduce the new flyweight champion than by having it on the same card as the bantamweight title bout?” Beyond that, the UFC will be looking to add some fresh talent to the newly created flyweight division in the upcoming months to challenge the fighters they already have on board. In fact, the organization has already scheduled some fights between other bantamweight fighters making the drop down. As such, Johnson is excited about the potential match-ups he has awaiting him in his new home. “You already saw Darren Uyenoyama and John Dodson signed to fight one another at UFC on FOX 3 this coming May,” said Johnson. “I think you will see a lot of guys making the move to 125, there aren’t any other guys that I know of yet, but I’m sure that will all work itself out in the weeks and months to come. I think this weight class is going to take off and as long as the UFC promotes us correctly we will be just as popular as any other weight class.” Fans can catch Johnson-McCall mix it up on FX tomorrow night with the broadcast starting at 9:00 PM EST with prelims on Facebook/Fuel TV beginning at approximately 5:30 PM EST. The UFC on FX 2 card is headlined by what should be a welterweight war between Thiago Alves-Martin Kampmann. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, division, johnson, flyweight

Read the full article at Fighters.com

Even though two of the four fighters competing this Friday night at UFC on FX 2 in the opening round of the UFC’s title-centric flyweight tournament will be making their promotional debuts there’s no question each is supremely skilled. In fact, even former bantamweight contender Demetrious Johnson, also part of the 125-pound field, has labeled the quartet as being comprised of the division’s top talent. Johnson recently offered up his opinion on the group where he not only showed a great deal of respect for his peers but also the weight-class in general. “Joseph Benavidez, we fought on the same card together and we’re pretty good buddies. We had a great time in Australia (on a recent press tour). As for Yasuhiro Urushitani, I watched a couple of his fights just to see who he was and to get a little feel for him. He seems like a pretty tough guy,” explained Johnson on the UFC’s website. “If you look at me and Joseph, we’ve been known to the world, and Ian McCall and Yasuhiro Urushitani are both champions in their own organizations. So we’ve got the best fighters in there.” McCall: “We’re going in there and we are going to try to take each others’ heads off!” As far as his familiarity with McCall, who he faces in semifinal action, and Shooto champ Urushitani, “Mighty Mouse” apparently makes sure he’s well-informed on any opponent he could potentially face inside the Octagon. “Honestly, I (even) keep my eye on guys that are amateur right now,” the 25-year old laughed. “I watch everybody because you never know who’s gonna be the biggest next thing. Ian McCall has done a great thing for himself going down to 125. He was doing good at 135 from what I remember and now he’s ranked number one in the world, and I can’t wait to get in there and mix it up with him.” However, while the FX-bound foursome is only the tip of the iceberg as far as Johnson is concerned. When asked about flyweights in general, the Pacific-Northwestern responded that the group is full of, “Great guys who have great fighting skills and are non-stop action. Great cardio, great technique, and there are gonna be some finishes there as well. You can expect a lot of great things.” Fans can watch Johnson, McCall, Benavidez, and Urushitani usher in the UFC’s eighth weight-class when things start up at 8:00 PM EST. UFC on FX 2 is headlined by a bout between welterweight contenders Martin Kampmann-Thiago Alves. Preliminary pairings will air on Facebook/Fuel TV in the preceding hours. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, johnson, thing, mccall, urushitani

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UFC Flyweight Tournament quarter-finalist, Demetrious Johnson, who will square off with top ranked promotional newcomer Ian McCall at UFC on FX 2, discusses his opponent, as well as his training and preparation for the bout. Johnson promises a great show on Friday night, and says he plans to take it to "Uncle Creepy" in Australia.

Posted in: johnson, demetriou, friday night, demetrious johnson, bout johnson

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SYDNEY - For the man many have long called the uncrowned champion of the UFC's newly minted flyweight division, it may be somewhat ironic that Demetrious Johnson has never actually fought at 125 pounds in his professional career. No matter, says "Mighty Mouse." His 5-foot-3 frame is handling the drop from 135 pounds just fine. Now, at this weekend's UFC on FX 2 event in Sydney, Johnson draws the man who currently does hold the title of No. 1 at 125 pounds, Ian McCall. No disrespect intended, Johnson says, but it's time to put that claim to the test.

Posted in: johnson, demetrious johnson, flyweight division, weekends ufc, sydney johnson

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Demetrious Johnson wasn’t going to wait around for the flyweight division. In fact, following a crazy star-making turn in 2011 that saw him defeat Kid Yamamoto and Miguel Angel Torres in his first two UFC bouts before losing a competitive five rounder to bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in October, he was plotting his way back up the ladder to the 135-pound belt on the way home from Washington, D.C. with head coach Matt Hume.“I was on the train of thought that I was gonna make another run at it and climb my way back in the line,” said Johnson. “I was heading home, and Matt was like ‘the only reason you lost that fight is because he kept taking you down and holding you. We’re gonna go home and grapple, grapple, grapple, and get a lot of mat time.’ And that’s what I did, along with working on my standup and all that good stuff. As far as I was concerned, I was going after the 135-title again. I was getting ready for Eddie Wineland, I signed the contract, and I was ready to go.”The proposed January bout with Wineland had to take a back seat though, when Johnson got the call some of his peers had been chomping at the bit for: the long-anticipated arrival of the flyweight division to the UFC was coming in March, and the organization wanted “Mighty Mouse” to be one of the Fab Four to introduce the 125-pounders to the UFC faithful.He accepted.“I was excited,” said Johnson. “At the time I was getting ready for Eddie Wineland, so I started my training camp back in November and I was training, trying to get big, eating whatever I wanted, and enjoying life. And they gave me a call and said ‘okay, switch things up. You’re gonna fight at flyweight. We can’t tell you your opponent yet, but just get ready.’ I was like ‘dang.’ (Laughs) While it’s fantastic to be at 125, now I’ve got to start dieting. But I’m excited that the UFC wanted to me to be one of the representatives of the weight class when it debuts.This Friday night (Saturday AM in Australia) is that debut date, as Johnson joins his UFC on FX 2 opponent Ian McCall, Joseph Benavidez, and Yasuhiro Urushitani in the first ever UFC flyweight tournament.“Joseph Benavidez, we fought on the same card together and we’re pretty good buddies, “said Johnson. “We had a great time in Australia (on a recent press tour). As for Yasuhiro Urushitani, I watched a couple of his fights just to see who he was and to get a little feel for him. He seems like a pretty tough guy. If you look at me and Joseph, we’ve been known to the world, and Ian McCall and Yasuhiro Urushitani are both champions in their own organizations. So we’ve got the best fighters in there.”But the only one on his mind right now is McCall, another former WEC bantamweight (along with Johnson and Benavidez), who reinvented himself at 125 pounds with three 2011 wins over Jussier da Silva, Dustin Ortiz, and Darrell Montague, a trio of victories that has many considering him the top flyweight in the world. Has Johnson been paying attention? You bet he has.“Honestly, I keep my eye on guys that are amateur right now,” he laughs. “I watch everybody because you never know who’s gonna be the biggest next thing. Ian McCall has done a great thing for himself going down to 125. He was doing good at 135 from what I remember and now he’s ranked number one in the world, and I can’t wait to get in there and mix it up with him.”At just 25 years old, Johnson finds himself in a great spot in his career. After bursting on the scene with his wins over Yamamoto and Torres, his loss to Cruz made it pretty safe to assume that a return bout would be a ways off. But now, he’s a win away from making history by fighting for the UFC’s first 125-pound title. It’s almost the perfect scenario, to not have to wait for a phone call for your next fight, and basically knowing that night who you’ll be fighting next should you win. And whether it’s intentional or not, Johnson makes it clear who he believes he’ll be facing with a win over McCall.“I never like to count my eggs before they hatch,” he said. “I’ve got a tough opponent in front of me, he’s no joke, and he’s coming to fight, as I am as well. But yeah, if I get past him, it’s gonna be real nice to go yeah, Joseph just beat Urushitani and I guess me and Joseph are gonna fight, and all we need to know now is the date.”Hmm, a subliminal message maybe? Johnson-Benavidez is an interesting matchup though, should both emerge victorious this Friday. The only question is, the two are buddies, so how will they react to the prospect of punching each other in the face? Well, if Benavidez needs any reason to dislike the Parkland, Washington product, just read his recollection of cutting weight at bantamweight.“There was no cut at all,” said Johnson. “I would eat whatever I wanted to up until the night before the weigh-ins.” Now those are fighting words. In all seriousness though, Johnson, who walks around at anywhere from 145 to 148 pounds, will have to do some work now to make it to 125. But that’s fine with him, as it’s clear that he’s still in the MMA version of the honeymoon stage.“I’m just enjoying the ride, and I appreciate everybody out there who follows me and who is a fan of mine, and I appreciate the UFC setting up things like the Australia press tour,” he said. “It gave me a chance to get out there and meet some fans and get them excited for the UFC flyweight division and the FX card coming out there. Honestly, I’ve been blessed and I can’t wait to put in work against Ian McCall and show the UFC why they love to send me places and take care of me.”So what should anyone who hasn’t seen the flyweights in action expect this week?“Great guys who have great fighting skills and are non-stop action,” he said. “Great cardio, great technique, and there are gonna be some finishes there as well. You can expect a lot of great things.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, flyweight, mccall

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The first flyweight fight in UFC history takes place this Friday night (March 2, 2012) as former UFC title challenger Demetrious Johnson takes on number one ranked Ian McCall in the first round of the UFC flyweight championship semifinals at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney, Australia. Demetrious Johnson had a strong run at bantamweight and despite being undersized, he went on a torrid four fight streak to earn a shot at champion Dominick Cruz. He came up short in his quest for UFC gold, but as one door closed, another opened when the UFC brought in the flyweight division. Johnson knows he can be champion if he wins his next two fights and it all starts with Ian McCall. Ian McCall came out of nowhere in 2011 and instantly became the face of the 125 pound division after upsetting then number one ranked Jussier da Silva just over a year ago. He followed it up with two straight wins to be crowned the Tachi Palace flyweight champion and he also earned the number one ranking in the world. After signing with the UFC, he's out to prove that he's the best as he vies for UFC gold as well. Will "Mighty Mouse" save the day against McCall? Can McCall set a pace that even the hyperspeed Johnson can't keep up with? What's the key to victory for both men on Friday night? Let's find out: Demetrious Johnson Record: 9-2 overall, 2-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Miguel Torres (UFC 130), Norifumi Yamamoto (UFC 126), Nick Pace (WEC 51) Key Losses: Dominick Cruz (UFC on Versus 6), Brad Pickett (WEC 48) How he got here:"Mighty Mouse" carried an impressive string of five straight wins on the regional circuit to earn a WEC debut against top bantamweight Brad Pickett in the promotion's first and only pay-per-view event. The AMC Pankration fighter lost a spirited decision to "One Punch" but then proceeded to reel off two consecutive victories in just a few short months against top 15 ranked bantamweights Nick Pace and Damacio Page He would meet Japanese legend Norifuni "Kid" Yamamoto in his UFC debut this past February and completely outworked the dynamic striker/wrestler over the course of three rounds. Never one to turn down an opportunity, Johnson stepped up when Brad Pickett dropped out of his UFC 130 bout with Miguel Torres. Despite breaking his leg early in the fight, Johnson gutted through the injury and turned what had been a strong striking performance into a strong grappling performance against the former WEC bantamweight champion and pulled out a unanimous decision victory. Johnson's victory over Torres was enough to vault him into title-challenger status and he faced Cruz for the UFC bantamweight belt last October. While he held his own against Dominick Cruz in the stand-up, he was repeatedly taken down by his bigger, stronger foe en route to a unanimous decision defeat. Once the flyweight division was announced, "Might Mouse" was included in the championship tournament and he drew McCall as his first opponent. How he gets it done: Demetrious Johnson absolutely needs to utilize his tremendous athletic gifts. Despite dropping down a weight class, he's still expected to be the smaller man as McCall is two inches taller and likely a bit heavier. One key for Johnson will be speed. He's going to be quicker than McCall in my opinion and that should help him out in the stand-up. As long as he doesn't allow himself to be cornered against the fence, he should have the advantage on the feet when they're out in the open. McCall tends to keep his hands low so if Johnson can leap in with a big straight right hand, he can definitely tag his foe with it before taking any damage in return. "Mighty Mouse" is also a terrific wrestler but it will not be easy putting McCall on his back as Cruz is also very competent in that department. If he can do it, however, McCall has shown to be weakest off his back and has had trouble getting to his feet so Johnson could keep him there for the remainder of the round. Ian McCall Record: 11-2 overall, 0-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Jussier da Silva (Tachi Palace Fights 8), Dustin Ortiz (Tachi Palace Fights 9), Darrel Montague (Tachi Palace Fights 10) Key Losses: Dominick Cruz (WEC 38), Charlie Valencia (WEC 31) How he got here: Ian McCall has one of the craziest stories of them all. A free spirit, he found himself making some very bad decisions in the early part of his career as he descended into drug addiction. Despite that, he was able to start his career undefeated and earn a trip to the WEC. He went 1-1 in the promotion, defeating Coty Wheeler but losing to veteran Charlie Valencia. He would score one more fight in the WEC, dropping a decision to current bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and then he spiraled out of control. He would be away from MMA for nearly two years and he nearly died after one particularly bad episode which made him see his mistakes and give up drugs for good. He victoriously returned to the sport in November of 2010 with a first round triangle choke victory, which earned him a fight against Jussier da Silva, the then-top ranked flyweight fighter in the world. After dropping the first round, McCall stormed back and dominated the Brazilian to upset "Formiga." "Uncle Creepy" would earn another big fight against Dustin Ortiz, which he dominated en route to a unanimous decision victory and this earned him a shot against Tachi Palace flyweight champion Dustin Ortiz. McCall again looked terrific, hurting Ortiz on multiple occasions and taking his opponent down before finishing the fight in the third round via rear naked choke. With the victory, McCall earned the number one flyweight ranking in the world and he signed with the UFC to prove it in the inaugural flyweight tournament. How he gets it done: McCall can be flat out ferocious at times. He's a very large flyweight and in the stand-up, he's got some serious power in his right hand, having hurt or dropped his last three opponents with it. What he would really like to do is close the distance on Johnson, perhaps get him trapped against the fence because he's got some very dangerous short range attacks. "Uncle Creepy" throws a mean elbow and his knees to the legs and body are equally devastating. If he can't get inside, he could also be content to keep his distance and attack Johnson's lead leg with repeated kicks. He throws his leg kicks very hard and if Johnson gets used to them, he also has the flexibility to go high. Lastly, McCall is a solid wrestler and if Johnson leaves an opening being too aggressive in the stand-up like he did in his last fight with Dominick Cruz, the Team Oyama fighter is very capable of changing levels and putting him on his back. From top control, McCall is extremely aggressive with elbows and if he can posture up without losing position, he could really land some damaging shots from above. It all comes down to him being confident in his skills as he steps into the bright lights of the UFC for the first time. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight in my opinion is that this is the UFC debut for Ian McCall and on top of that, it's taking place on the other side of the world. McCall has competed against some top tier flyweights, but this is a completely different animal in the UFC. We hear it all the time about Octagon jitters and we also hear about jet lag for fighters competing overseas for the first time, well McCall is about to face both at once. He's got the skill to hang with and potentially beat Demetrious Johnson, but if he can't handle being on the big stage or if he's a step slow, "Mighty Mouse" is going to make him pay dearly. Bottom Line: This is the fight I'm looking forward to the most on the entire card. Both Johnson and McCall are extremely dangerous and very exciting fighters. You can find all of McCall's most recent fights on YouTube if you don't believe me. Both men are capable strikers, wrestlers and can keep up a very quick pace for the full 15 minutes. I expect high octane energy from both men for the full three rounds if need be and while Demetrious Johnson is likely the favorite due to his success at bantamweight where McCall failed, this really is a toss-up. Both men are going to try to set a high pace and dictate their style and there's almost no way this one is boring. Who will come out on top at UFC on FX 2? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will win the first flyweight fight in UFC history at UFC on FX 2? Ian McCall Demetrious Johnson   1 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, flyweight, mccall

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One of the driving forces behind the UFC’s decision to add a flyweight division had to do with the success of undersized bantamweights Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson. Despite their diminutive dimensions, the pint-sized pugilists overcame the odds in beating a number of larger peers including the likes of Rani Yahya, Eddie Wineland, Miguel Torres, and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. Now that Benavidez and Johnson will have an opportunity to compete at their natural weight (125 pounds) it’s likely the two will finally meet in the cage at some point in the future. However, if Johnson has his way their pairing will come sooner than later. Both men are set to take to the Octagon this Friday night at UFC on FX 2 where they’ll compete in the semifinal round of the UFC’s title-crowning tournament. Though each faces an apt adversary, “Mighty Mouse” is keeping his fingers crossed that they’ll both come out victorious, setting up a showdown in 2012 for the organization’s inaugural flyweight championship. “They’re both great fighters, they’re both champions in their own organizations, and we got two tough guys in front of us,” said Johnson on MMAWeekly Radio while discussing respective opponents Yasuhiro Urushitani and Ian McCall. “Hopefully me and Joseph get past these two and we’re able to give the fans what they want to see, which is me and Joseph for the flyweight title.” Benavidez faces Urushitani, a Shooto title-holder on a five-fight winning streak, while Johnson will mix it up with McCall whose last loss came to Dominick Cruz more than two years ago. Still, as seasoned as both may be, Johnson believes he and Benavidez possess a level of experience neither has achieved yet based on having already dealt with the pressure of competing inside the infamous eight-sided cage. “Absolutely, it’s an advantage that I guess you can look at it and say that these two guys haven’t fought in the UFC and these two guys are coming from organizations that are not up to the par with the UFC. This isn’t my first rodeo, and this won’t be a walk in the park, but the jitters won’t be on my side,” explained Johnson. Fans can catch both semifinal scraps on FX at 9:00 PM EST. The card is headlined by what should be a welterweight war between finishers Martin Kampmann and Thiago Alves. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, flyweight, joseph, benavidez

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Demetrious Johnson hopes to give fans what they want and face Joseph Benavidez for the UFC flyweight championship, but he's under no illusion that it'll be a tough road.

Posted in: johnson, championship, demetrious johnson, benavidez, joseph benavidez

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Last night, Tim Boetsch came back from being significant outstruck by the rangey jab of the taller, bulkier Yushin Okami. Okami had been utilizing a southpaw jab all night, something which only typically only works for truly great strikers or against pretty mediocre ones. Okami occasionally ate a heavy right hook counter to his continuous jabbing efforts, but things looked grim for Boetsch as Okami started mixing in heavy body kicks. Then, once the Japanese middleweight had stunned Boetsch on the feet and was failing to land through Boetsch's covering up, Okami threw some beautiful hooks to the body. The sign of an intelligent fighter is to take all the free body shots your opponent lets you while he is covering his head (something Kid Yamamoto failed to do when he had Vaughn Lee hurt earlier in the night. Out of seemingly nowhere however, Boetsch stunned the bigger, sharper Okami and proceeded to provide a terrific finish, laying the Japanese fighter out against the fence. While for the most part Boetsch was significantly outstruck, he did show a brilliant infighting technique in finishing the fight. Okami is an amazing fighter when he turns to blanket mode - he can smother his opponents without allowing them to get anything off, and it was this ability to smother an opponent which Boetsch had to navigate his way around while he had Okami wobbling. While Okami tried - like a smart fighter should - to tie his foe up, Boetsch cross-faced Okami and utilized a technique which hasn't been seen much in boxing for many years; the infighting uppercut made famous by Jack Johnson. Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion of the world and an incredibly controversial figure both inside and outside of the ring. He was known as a defensive genius and this was largely due to his ability to tie his opponents up at will and do damage there. As much a wrestler as a pure boxer, he used underhooks, headfighting and bicep control to destroy Jim Jeffries - undefeated heavyweight champion of the world and a man who enlisted Frank Gotch and Farmer Burns as wrestling sparring partners in his camps. Both Johnson and Jeffries understood the value of wrestling to a fighter. Johnson's money punch was an uppercut from infighting range while holding his opponent just as Boetsch did. Notice how Boetsch turns his hips so far that it looks as it he is going to throw it perpendicular to Okami. Now see this nicely posed photograph of Johnson demonstrating his technique for the San Francisco Call during the build up to his fight with Stanley Ketchel. The author feels that this technique, once it is fully recognized will be a powerful weapon for sprawl and brawlers. By turning the hips all the way through as if to throw the punch to someone standing on the opposite side of ones body it is possible to get an incredibly powerful uppercut in a much tighter space than if one were throwing it square on to the opponent. Mark Hunt knocked out Chris Tuchscherer with this same technique in a very short space while Chris was shooting in on him last year. Johnson was an absolute master at these short range, full body uppercuts and it is highly recommended that you watch his videos - the man was dirty boxing in an era of swingers. Johnson was so powerful in the clinch that he often literally held his opponents up when they were about to fall simply so that they didn't get away with an 8 count break from his assault. Here is a video of his destruction of Tommy Burns, Johnson really hits his stride against the Canadian at around the 1:55 mark. Brutal uppercuts from then on. Jack Johnson vs Tommy Burns (1908) (via JKDTaoist) Jack Slack breaks down striking strategy and technique at his websitewww.fightsgoneby.com He can also be found on Twitter @JackSlackMMA

Posted in: technique, johnson, opponent, boetsch, okami

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In their ongoing quest to improve MMA it appears the UFC has a new system they’ll be testing out starting next month when four flyweights meet to determine the two men who will fight for the division’s inaugural championship. Apparently, if either fight is ruled in a Draw a “sudden victory” format will be implemented featuring an additional round of action. Demetrious Johnson, who lost in his quest to claim the bantamweight title from Dominick Cruz last year, told TapouT Radio recently that he has signed a contract for such a situation against opponent Ian McCall if the bout is even at the end of three frames. Along with Johnson-McCall, Joseph Benavidez and Yasuhiro Urushitani will meet in the other semifinal on March 3 at UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann. “I don’t know if anybody has said anything about it, and this is the first time I’m mentioning it, is that we (McCall and myself) had to sign for a ‘sudden death’ bout,” Johnson said. “If it goes to three rounds, and the judges can’t decide who the winner is, then we’ll do a fourth round.” Johnson added that he does not know if the UFC made the other semifinal pair sign the same deal but it is likely that they did. Along with the 125-pound semifinals, talented welterweights Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann will collide in the main event. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, round, johnson, bantamweight title, martin kampmann

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall have agreed to having a “sudden death” round in their upcoming UFC on FX 2 bout. The groundbreaking move would prevent any possibility of a draw in their bout, which will serve as the opening round of the flyweight tournament. Johnson announced the move while on TapouT radio. While there is no word on whether this could be a standard move for future fights, and Johnson was unsure if Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani had the same agreement, it could be a large shift in future fight-making policy. UFC on FX 2 takes place March 3 and is headlined by a bout between Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann. The event takes place in Sydney, Australia and will be broadcast on FX.

Posted in: fx, bout, vs, johnson, move

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MMAWeekly Radio Weekend Edition is back with a loaded show including UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson, Tim Sylvia, former pro wrestler Taz and a new segment of Ask Ronda Rousey.

Posted in: johnson, mmaweekly, ronda, wrestler taz, taz

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With this year’s Wrestlemania only a few months away WWE has already started planting seeds for next year’s epic event, as the organization landed in East Rutherford, New Jersey earlier this week to announce MetLife Stadium will play host to Wrestlemania 29. The venue plays home to the NFL’s New York Jets and Superbowl Champion New York Giants with a seating capacity of 80,000+. Adding to the monumental nature of WWE’s announcement was that of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s expected participation. “My goal right now is to make Wrestlemania XXVIII the greatest Wrestlemania of all time,” said Johnson. “I will also come to Wrestlemania XXIX, and I will electrify MetLife Stadium like never before.” John Cena, also on hand, echoed Johnson’s sentiments, stating, “I’m glad you don’t have a roof on this building, because we sure would blow it off.” Wrestlemania 29 is set for April 7, 2013. PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: year, johnson, wwe, wrestlemania, wrestlemania xxix

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In our brand new "10 Questions" feature, HeavyMMA's Megan Olivi chats up Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson about the upcoming UFC flyweight tournament and ... baking?!?

Posted in: ufc, question, johnson, megan, mouse johnson

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UFC debutant Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall will make his debut at the four-man Flyweight Tournament that will kickstart at this months UFC on FX 2 in Sydney, Australia. McCall will face the former UFC Bantamweight title challenger Demetrious Johnson, looking to advance into the final against the winner of Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani. Uncle Creepy spoke about his expectations from fighting for the first time under the UFC banner, and why he will beat Demetrius Johnson on March 3rd. Further Reading:

Posted in: ufc, johnson, mccall, uncle, demetrius johnson

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If James Johnson was not paid to play basketball he would spend his time doling out punishment in a cage or ring as a professional fighter.

Posted in: johnson, court, james johnson, raps johnson, basketball

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"There is no secret to my game. You don't have to worry about my white belt in jiu-jitsu, you don't have to worry about my level one wrestling that's coming along; I'm going to come in the ring and I'm going to throw heat at anybody who stands across from me. There is no secret to that. Punches and kicks, knees and elbows are going to be coming from every direction, every angle, every bit of intensity. This is like a big brother vs. little brother fight. If I could grow a goatee and shave my head, we would look just alike. He's just a lot taller than I am." -- Stop me if you've heard this one before. Leather slinging heavyweight Pat Barry will take on Strikeforce import Lavar Johnson at the UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" event on May 5, 2012, at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And -- surprise! -- Barry is planning on throwing heat at Johnson, with punches and kicks, knees and elbows, really anything that has to do with striking an opponent instead of grappling with him. Surely this is music to the ears of UFC executives who put the fight together for the third network television broadcast hoping for a slugfest that will likely result in a knockout. Or at the very least, a three round brawl that won't incite boos from the live crowd. There's no way this one will disappoint, right? Right?

Posted in: johnson, ufc executives, heat, izod center, crowd theres

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A bout between two of the heavyweight division’s knockout artists has been booked for the UFC’s return to network television, as the organization has announced affable kickboxer Pat Barry will battle Strikeforce veteran Lavar Johnson on May 5 at UFC on FOX 3. Johnson made a name for himself last weekend at UFC on FOX 2 where he blasted Joey Beltran into the stratosphere with a series of brutal uppercuts, winning Knockout of the Night as a result. The victory snapped a two-fight losing streak for Johnson who holds an overall record of 16-5 including fourteen TKOs. Barry had a similar showing in his previous Octagon appearance as well, knocking out Christian Morecraft in the first frame of their January 20 fight on FX. The strike-based stoppage was Barry’s sixth in his seven total wins. UFC on FOX 3 is scheduled to take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey and will feature a main card clash between lightweights Jim Miller-Nate Diaz. No word was given on whether Barry-Johnson would also be on the FOX broadcast or shown during the prelims. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, barry, tkos barry

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Two of the UFC's heaviest-handed big men have agreed to throw down in New Jersey on May 5th at UFC on Fox 3, when Pat Barry will meet Lavar Johnson, according to an announcement on UFC.com this morning: Get ready for heavyweight fireworks as verbal agreements are in for a showdown between knockout artists Lavar "Big" Johnson and Pat "HD" Barry on the main card of FOX's third event this May 5 in New Jersey Barry and Johnson are both coming off brutal knockout victories and neither man is prone to going to a decision, so the UFC is likely hoping for fireworks with this booking. Johnson fought only a few days, making his UFC debut in Chicago on the second Fox card and becoming the first man to truly crack the chin of Joey Beltran, knocking him out with vicious uppercuts in the first round. Barry competed just a week before that, turning off Christian Morecraft's lights with a well-placed right hook and some follow-up punches on the ground after staving off a few close submission attempts. It's unclear whether this fight will take place on the Fox main card or the FX prelims, but given both heavyweights' proclivity for ending fights in dramatic fashion, it wouldn't be surprising to see it on the main card. Pat "HD" Barry (11-4)W Christian Morecraft (KO) - UFC on FX 1L Stefan Struve (submission) - UFC on Versus 6L Cheick Kongo (KO) - UFC on Versus 4 Lavar "Big" Johnson (16-5)W Joey Beltran (KO) - UFC on Fox 2L Shawn Jordan (submission) - Strikeforce ChallengersL Shane del Rosario (submission) - Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva UFC on Fox 3 coverage

Posted in: ufc, fox, submission, johnson, barry

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It won't take either Pat Barry or Lavar Johnson long to get right back in the cage after knockout wins within the last two weeks. The two heavyweight sluggers have agreed to face each other at the upcoming UFC on FOX 3 event this spring, the UFC confirmed early Tuesday morning. Johnson (16-5) made his UFC debut at last weekend's UFC on FOX 2, knocking out Joey Beltran with a hail of first-round uppercuts. Meanwhile, Barry (7-4) returned to the win column at the UFC on FX show on Jan. 20, overcoming some early first-round troubles on the ground to KO Christian Morecraft. Both fighters took nightly awards for their performances, with Johnson winning KO of the Night for becoming the first man ever to knockout Beltran, while Barry won a Fight of the Night award for his comeback. Meanwhile, the UFC also confirmed that the previously announced lightweight bout pitting Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller during the same show would serve as the evening's main event and be scheduled for five rounds. It is possible that the winner will become the No. 1 contender for the lightweight title, though the promotion did not confirm that. UFC on FOX 3 will take place on May 5 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Posted in: ufc, ko, fox, johnson, barry

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A pair of heavyweights coming off of vicious KO wins will meet on the UFC's next Fox card on May 5 in New Jersey. Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson have been booked.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, lavar johnson, barry, fox card

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After snapping losing streaks with recent knockouts, heavyweights Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson are set to meet in a likely slugfest on the main card of UFC on May 5 in New Jersey, the UFC announced today. The UFC also  confirmed that a scrap between lightweight contenders Nate Diaz and Jim Miller will be five-rounds and headline UFC on Fox 3. Barry (7-4) scored a first-round KO of Christian Morecraft in the “Fight of the Night” at UFC on FX 1 on Jan. 20 to bounce back from losses to Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve, while Johnson dropped Joey Beltran in the opening round at UFC on Fox 2 this past Saturday as he earned  for “Knockout of the Night” honors in his Octagon debut following a pair of Strikeforce losses. UFC on Fox 3 also includes lightweights Tony Ferguson vs. Dennis Hallman and flyweights John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama. For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 3 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Pat Barry (via UFC.com)

Posted in: ufc, fox, vs, johnson, barry

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Joey Beltran made an immediate impact in the UFC when he defeated Rolles Gracie in February 2010. Since that time he’s struggled to find inconsistency in the Octagon, only winning two of his next six bouts. Following back-to-back losses to Stipe Miocic and most recently Lavar Johnson, the organization has handed Beltran his pink slip. Beltran Tweeted news of his release on Wednesday afternoon. “The Mexicutioner” went to war in the Octagon with heavyweights such as Matt Mitrione, Pat Barry, and Aaron Rosa but finished this UFC run with a 3-4 record. Showing an iron chin in previous bouts, Beltran was knocked out clean in the first round this past weekend against Johnson. The 30-year old Californian also mentioned he will be dropping down to light heavyweight in the immediate future, a move perhaps hinted at in his fight against Johnson where he came in slimmer than normal. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, light heavyweight, stipe miocic, beltran

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It appears UFC on FOX 3 is guaranteed to feature at least one highlight-reel finish, as the UFC has announced Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson have been booked to face off at the May 5 event. Known as two of the heavyweight division’s hardest hitters, Barry and Johnson are both coming off of opening round knockouts in January. UFC on FOX 3 is scheduled for East Rutherford, New Jersey and will feature match-ups including Tony Ferguson-Dennis Hallman and Nate Diaz-Jim Miller. The May date will mark Johnson’s second fight in the UFC since coming over from Strikeforce. He made his debut last weekend at UFC on FOX 2 where he did the previously unthinkable by rendering Joey Beltran into a puddle of good with a series of stiff shots. The 16-5 Californian has scored stoppages over all of the opponents he’s beaten including fourteen TKOs. Johnson Wins Knockout of the Night at UFC on FOX 2 Barry is also no stranger to blasting adversaries into orbit, a fact he put on display two weeks ago against Christian Morecraft. Six of Barry’s seven total victories have involved a strike-based finish. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, lavar johnson, barry

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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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From now on, Michael Johnson is taking a new approach to fighting. "I had good footwork because I was a running back," the lightweight told MMAjunkie.com Radio. And following his win over Shane Roller on the preliminary card of UFC on FOX 2, Johnson hopes to charge into spring with a fight in late March or early April.

Posted in: fox, johnson, michael johnson, shane roller, mmajunkiecom radio

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The Scorecard hits the highs and lows of the latest big event offering in MMA.  Points are assigned completely at random but stay between ten and negative ten because I hate math. It was the UFC’s big return to FOX and despite nearly one hour of in-cage action, fans were left just as disappointed as they were back in November when they only saw 64 seconds of fighting. Chicago hardcores, used to seeing the greatness of Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, Stan Mikita, and Jonathan Toews were subject to watch the “just enoughness” of Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen. By the end of the night, fans were probably begging for Kanye West to interrupt the main event to announce, “hold on Rashad, I’mma let you finish by Jon Jones is the greatest fighter of all time.” Lets go to the scorecard: *Pretty disappointing for Dustin Jacoby, Chris Camozzi, and the fans that their fight wasn’t even on Facebook. Maybe Dana White was more worried about the hackers than he’d lead us to believe. MINUS ONE *Oh God, the first voice we hear on the UFC Prelims is Jay Glazer. Not a good start. MINUS TWO *Can Lavar Johnson not get a banner? MINUS ONE *Shame on Joey Beltran for not touching gloves. MINUS ONE *I’m not sure how far Johnson can go in the division, but he has some scary power to be able to stop Beltran like that. PLUS FOUR *Extra points to Johnson for those sick uppercuts. PLUS THREE *No really Beltran, you should have touched gloves. MINUS ONE *As always, I have to take away points from these TV broadcasts because they don’t televise walk outs and have too many commercials. MINUS THREE *Michael Johnson looked much improved in the first round with his striking and takedown defense. Good job by him. PLUS TWO *That said, he faded as the fight went along and it’s not like Shane Roller switched up his game all that much. MINUS TWO *Poor form by the crowd, booing when they immediately clinched. MINUS TWO *I didn’t like the call by Herb Dean in the third round. Were some of the shots to the back of the head? Yes, but Johnson wasn’t getting out of the position and we’ve seen guys get pounded out like that before. It made Roller re-think his strikes and gave Johnson time to recover. MINUS FOUR *Also, if you’re going to make that call and say it’s a foul, then stand them up and give Johnson time to recover. Shoddy call by Herb. MINUS TWO *I guess Herb judged the fight as well. MINUS ONE *Not a good post-fight interview from Johnson. It didn’t help that Joe Rogan didn’t get his unfunny TV commercial reference but saying your footwork sets you apart while not acknowledging your lack of cardio was pretty lame. MINUS THREE *To prove I actually liked something about the fight, I’ll give the fight as whole points because it was an entertaining bout. PLUS FIVE *Big fan of Charles Oliveira and it was great to see him at 145 and winning again. PLUS THREE *Awesome calf slicer submission by Oliveira. This kid will be a beast for years to come. PLUS SIX *Not a great first UFC impression by Eric Wisely. MINUS ONE *It was nice that Johnson didn’t get dragged into the whole “Strikeforce heavyweights have always belonged in the UFC” deal. Everyone is there now and that’s all that matters. Johnson’s win doesn’t prove all them have always belonged and if he lost, it wouldn’t have meant that none of them belong. It’s a dumb argument. PLUS FOUR *FOX just can’t do any sporting event without including robots, can they? Get me Will Smith. MINUS THREE *Even though FuelTV doesn’t televise full walk outs, they showed enough of Cub Swanson’s walk-out for me to catch that he came out to “N-ggas in Paris” by Jay-Z and Kanye West. BALL SO HARD! PLUS THREE *It appears that Brittney Palmer is back to being beautiful and is no longer stunning according to Mike Goldberg. MINUS ONE *Sick right hand by Swanson on George Roop. You would have thought that Roop realized that it was the only thing Swanson was throwing with any effectiveness, but nope. PLUS THREE *Extra points for knocking out the mouthpiece of Roop with the punch. PLUS FOUR *The less said about Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow, the better. It brought this card to a quick halt. MINUS FOUR *And Goldberg’s commentary was extra bad during the fight as well. MINUS THREE *Anyone who comes out to Red Hot Chili Peppers is a good man in my book. I salute you Evan Dunham. PLUS TWO *Good scrap between Dunham and Nik Lentz. Not the most technical fight ever, but both guys got after it on the feet and did some nice work on the ground. PLUS FIVE *It was a shame that the doctor stopped the fight as Lentz was still in the fight, but fighters safety comes first. I also think that UFC didn’t want too much blood on the mat before going on FOX. EVEN *Once again, points will be deducted until UFC on FOX doesn’t use NFL on FOX music. MINUS TWO *I approve of Randy Couture and Jon Jones in place of Dana White and Brock Lesnar. Couture won’t be as emotional as Dana and Jones obviously is invested in the main event. PLUS TWO *That said, it would have been nice if Curt Menefee knew who Jones was. MINUS ONE *BOOOO RANKINGS! MINUS TWO *Yeah, lets not talk about Chris Weidman vs. Demian Maia. It was a sloppy striking contest before they got tired and then it was a drunken striking contest once they were tired. MINUS FOUR *I’m taking away even more point from Maia, who had a full training camp and still showed up the way he did. At least Weidman has some type of an excuse. MINUS SIX *A lot of credit has to be given to Michael Bisping, who fought a very good fight against Chael Sonnen, especially in the first two rounds. He bettered him striking and controlled the clinch, where many thought Sonnen would have the advantage. PLUS FIVE *Also credit goes to Sonnen, who, as expected, just kept moving forward and out-wrestled Bisping in the third round. PLUS FIVE *However, I have to take points from the judges for not agreeing with me, as I thought Bisping won 29-28. MINUS TWO *Extra points because I was entertained for the entire 15 minutes. PLUS SIX *What an awesome promo by Chael. PLUS FOUR *As great as it was though, he didn’t mention fighting Anderson Silva again, which should have been his main bullet point. MINUS TWO *Funny moment by Jones as he acknowledged Rashad’s “swagger jacker” comment. PLUS ONE *You use “All of the Lights” by Kanye West, you get points Phil Davis. PLUS ONE *”Survival of the Fittest” is such a great walk-out song. Nice job Rashad Evans. PLUS TWO *Aaaaaand Evans vs. Davis was underwhelming. Evans seemed to fight not to lose while Davis was just in over his head. MINUS FIVE *I do want to give Evans credit though because Davis is a skilled fighter and Evans was never in trouble during the fight. So good job by him. PLUS THREE *If nothing else, Jon Jones really loves himself some Jon Jones. EVEN *Overall UFC on FOX 2 felt pretty underwhelming. These FOX shows are built on the main card and this main card delivered one good fight, but it was sandwiched between two very lackluster outings. MINUS THREE Official Score: 11 For a more in-depth look at UFC on FOX 2 plus a preview of this weekends UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit event, make sure to check out tomorrows Five Ounces of Podcast with Samer Kadi and myself. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, ’t, johnson, point

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After being shot in 2009 in an act of horrific, random violence, Lavar Johnson's stoppage of Joey Beltran last night (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) at UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago was a great thing to see. After a random shooting during a family reunion/Fourth of July party, the California heavyweight was left clinging to life in the hospital. Johnson, who sustained gunshot wounds to the lower back, abdomen and foreman during the assault, flung himself over a 10-year-old girl when a trio of teenaged suspects approached and began firing. He lost three-quarters of his blood during the ensuing surgery, and barely survived, losing 30-pounds during the recovery to boot. Coming off a career-boosting, 18-second blowout of Carl Seumanutafa in his Strikeforce debut weeks earlier, it was amazing that he survived, much less was able to return to the promotion the following March. After putting together a pair of wins on Strikeforce Challenger cards, Johnson lost in a pair of disappointing submission losses. It seemed as though he'd be a talented if somewhat one-dimensional casualty of fighting tougher competition. But life -- especially that of a fighter -- is often defined by how much you can maximize opportunities, and Johnson came up huge here. Beltran, a proven product of sheer toughness and seemingly relentless persistence, had gone the distance in tough bouts, losing gritty decisions to Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione. The "Mexicutioner" is one of those guys that's extremely hard to get rid of. Yet Johnson's flurry of massive right uppercuts and bombs did just that in the first round. It was one helluva victory, especially given what Lavar has overcome of late. Johnson still has a lot of game he'll need to develop to progress at the UFC level. His ground game needs work, and future opponents will be gunning to exploit that. But he also possesses some potent equalizers, especially his numbing punching power on the feet. And as a UFC heavyweight, sometimes that's the only factor that matters, especially if it comes into play before anything else. But all that aside, he's a good guy that you can't help but feel good for, seeing what he did in an outstanding debut. Jason Probst can be reached on Twitter or at jason@jasonprobst.com.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, debut, ufc heavyweight, joey beltran

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Lavar Johnson did last night what even Pat Barry couldn’t do. He knocked out Joey Beltran in the first round. FOX Sports was kind enough to share the KO with the rest of us on YouTube. Johnson picked up a $65,000 KO of the Night bonus for the performance. Bet he doesn’t miss Strikeforce.

Posted in: night, johnson, joey beltran, youtube johnson, performance bet

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Fuel TV is sharing video of the Lavar Johnson Knock Out of the Night against Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox 2. Enjoy!

Posted in: ufc, johnson, fuel tv, lavar johnson, joey beltran

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The hype surrounding last night’s UFC on FOX 2 lineup was squarely planted on the tripleheader of tilts scheduled to take place on the popular network. However, by the end of the evening it was a group of preliminary fighters who came away with the card’s most spectacular showings and ultimately a handful of event-specific bonuses too. Submission of the Night went to Charles Oliveira after the dynamic young Brazilian tapped out opponent Eric Wisely with the first Calf Crusher in UFC history. The hold came after a scramble on the ground left Wisely’s leg in an awkward position with Oliveira recognizing the situation and capitalizing by leaning back to torque the limb. Oliveira won an extra $65,000 on top of his regularly contracted rate for the distinction. Oliveira Making Featherweight Debut at UFC on FOX 2 No doubt making the team at Strikeforce proud, heavyweight newcomer Lavar Johnson looked spectacular in his UFC debut after knocking out the typically iron-jawed Joey Beltran who also happened to be in the best shape of his UFC career. Johnson hurt Beltran early with a body shot then kept the pressure on for the next few minutes into a well-placed strike followed up by a few uppercuts left Beltran face-down on the mat. Like Oliveira, Johnson also earned a $65,000 check for his performance. Last but not least, lightweights Evan Dunham and Nik Lentz battled it out for ten minutes before a doctor intervened to end things based on a badly cut/swollen eye-socket. While Dunham exited the Octagon with his hand raised both men left with $65,000 and Fight of the Night for their highly-entertaining effort. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, oliveira, johnson, charles oliveira, distinction oliveira

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Bombs away! It was no secret that the heavyweight fight between Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson was going to be an outright crowd pleaser. What we didn't know, however, was that Johnson had the "Big" power to shut down the tough-as-nails "Mexicutioner." Oh, but he does/did. And he showed it last night on the FUEL TV "Prelims" portion of the UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" fight card, drilling Beltran with vicious uppercuts until he collapsed into a heap of lifeless flesh. Our very own Kevin Haggerty details the crazy action from MMAmania.com's UFC on FOX 2 play-by-play results coverage: Beltran refuses to touch hands and gets right after it. Johnson lands first with a big right hand then clinches up against the fence and starts with the knees. Johnson leaning on him and is continuing to punish Beltran with knees to the body. Beltran answers with occasional knees that don't seem to be bothering his opponent. They're off the fence now and back to center. Beltran throws a lazy kick that misses everything and he already looks gassed. Beltran looks for a takedown but is reversed against the fence. Johnson with a powerful inside leg kick that has Beltran backing up. Johnson working the jabs now. Johnson with a big right straight hand to the body. Two and a half minutes left. Johnson snaps off two good quick jabs, backs away then comes in with several more jabs that have Beltran's head snapping back. Johnson has him pinned against the fence, wearing him down. Johnson pushes off, steps back and is working the jabs again. Johnson throws a big uppercut but misses. One minute left and Beltran throws a few quick punches, but again, nothing lands. Johnson lands another really good stuff jab. Johnson lands a huge combo! He's unloading! It's over! Lavar Johnson wins his UFC debut with huge KO victory over "The Mexicutioner!" The sensational finish earned Johnson an extra $65,000 to go along with his fight purse, earning a handsome bonus for scoring the "Knockout of the Night." Not bad for an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) newcomer, showing the big boys what Strikeforce heavyweights can do if given the opportunity. Is Johnson one and done or does he have a promising future with the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion?

Posted in: ufc, johnson, fence, beltran, jab

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CHICAGO - Welcome to the big show, Lavar Johnson. Johnson, the first Strikeforce heavyweight to compete in the UFC following the recent Showtime-Strikeforce television deal, managed to accomplish something no other UFC fighter had ever done to Joey Beltran: stop him with strikes. The fight took place on the FUEL TV-televised preliminary card of Saturday's UFC on FOX 2 event, which took place at Chicago's United Center.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, ufc fighter, strikeforce heavyweight, fuel tvtelevised

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Filed under: UFCCHICAGO -- There was some great action in the Octagon at the United Center on Saturday night. Unfortunately, all of it was over before the Fox show got started. After a seven-fight preliminary card delivered one outstanding fight after another, the three-fight main card on the network was a disappointment. Between the three fights Fox broadcast on Saturday and the Junior dos Santos-Cain Velasquez fight in November (which was 59 minutes of talking surrounding one minute of fighting), there still hasn't been a really good UFC fight on network television yet. That's a shame. If Fox had shown the Fight of the Night from Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz, or Lavar Johnson's knockout of Joey Beltran, or Charles Oliveira's brilliant submission, millions of Americans would have seen what the UFC at its best looks like. Instead, millions of Americans saw three mediocre battles. The less said about Chris Weidman's decision win over Demian Maia, the better. That was simply not what anyone thinks of as a good MMA fight. Any curious newcomers to the UFC who turned the show on from the beginning probably changed the channel after the first round of that one. Chael Sonnen's fight with Michael Bisping was better, and the pro-Sonnen crowd was energetic, but that fight wasn't much to look at, either: Sonnen showed how to use superior wrestling and clinch work to win a decision, but the new fans the UFC wants to draw on Fox probably didn't find that too entertaining, either. More Coverage: UFC on FOX 2 Results | Latest UFC News And in the main event, Rashad Evans dominated Phil Davis for 25 minutes without ever coming close to finishing. If you know enough about MMA to appreciate that Davis is a very talented athlete, an NCAA champion wrestler and a rising star in the sport, you were probably impressed with how thoroughly Evans controlled him. But if you're new to MMA and had never seen Evans or Davis before, you probably figured at the end that you'd rather spend half an hour watching a Seinfeld rerun than watching a fight like that. The UFC and FOX both say they're in this for the long haul, and that they plan to grow the sport together. That's good, because this is going to take time. The UFC and Spike got lucky when the first Ultimate Fighter Finale had a sensational battle between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar. So far, there's been no such luck for the UFC and FOX. Through four live, televised fights, the network television viewers haven't seen much action. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-145874% UFC on Fox 2 Notes -- Charles Oliveira has a ton of talent, and he looked better than ever fighting at 145 pounds for the first time in the UFC. The 22-year-old Oliveira needed just 1 minute, 43 seconds to submit Eric Wisely with a calf slicer, and he could be a future featherweight title contender. -- Mike Russow, a Chicago cop, got one of the best ovations I've ever heard before his fight with John-Olav Einemo. He also had one of the most surprising game plans I've ever seen when he repeatedly took Einemo down, even though Einemo is a world-class submission grappler. But it worked, as Russow stayed on top and out of trouble on the ground and won a decision. Russow isn't the prettiest fighter to watch, but he's 15-1 in his MMA career, including 4-0 in the Octagon. Think about this: If Alistair Overeem beats Junior dos Santos, Russow will have the longest winning streak in the UFC heavyweight division. "I can't believe I'm 4-0 in the UFC right now," Russow said afterward. "It's unbelievable. To have this fight in my hometown of Chicago and to have the fans cheering for me like they did...I couldn't ask for anything better. " -- Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Michael Johnson looked like he has improved both his striking and his submission defense since leaving Greg Jackson's gym and training full-time with the Blackzilians. The fans booed at times when Johnson clinched with Shane Roller and slowed down the pace of the fight, but it was good to see Johnson show some patience: In his last fight, against Paul Sass, he got a little too wild from the top and and was caught in a heel hook. This time Johnson fought safe and smart, and when Roller put him in a lot of trouble on the ground, Johnson kept his composure and got back to his feet. This was the best Johnson has looked. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-145874% UFC on Fox 2 Quotes -- "This one sucks. You really hate to lose like this. I felt like I was doing alright and getting good back-and-forth with him. I felt like I had him, but I flat out got caught on this one."--Dustin Jacoby, following his third-round submission loss to Chris Carmozzi. Jacoby entered the UFC last year with a 6-0 record, but he's now 0-2 inside the Octagon and will probably be released. -- "This win shows that the Strikeforce heavyweights belong here. We're all on the same level and now we're getting a chance to prove it. And the fans are the ones benefitting from it the most because they're getting to see action like this."--Lavar Johnson after his impressive first-round knockout of Joey Beltran. I'm not prepared to say the Strikeforce heavyweights are "all on the same level" as the UFC heavyweights, but I do think Johnson is a great addition from Strikeforce. Good Call Referee Rob Madrigal stopped the Lavar Johnson-Joey Beltran fight at exactly the right time, just as Beltran was falling to the ground after repeated uppercuts from Johnson. Referees have a tough job when a fighter is taking a lot of punishment but still standing, and Madrigal stepped in just as Beltran lost the ability to defend himself. The Chicago Tribune ran a story last week questioning whether Madrigal was qualified enough to be refereeing a major card like UFC on Fox 2, but Madrigal acquitted himself nicely. Bad Call Referee Herb Dean demonstrated exactly what I focused on with my last Morning After: MMA refs are too inconsistent with the way they handle punches to the back of the head. Shane Roller landed several punches to the back of Michael Johnson's head, and all Dean did was warn Roller while allowing him to maintain his dominant position -- no point deduction, no stand-up, no time out to see if Johnson had been hurt by any of Roller's strikes, and certainly no disqualification, as Mario Yamasaki gave Erick Silva two weeks ago for punches to the back of the head that weren't as flagrant. The UFC and the state athletic commissions need to work together to get every ref on the same page on this rule. Stock Up Chris Camozzi had lost his last two UFC fights and needed a win to save his spot on the UFC roster Saturday night. He got it in impressive fashion against Dustin Jacoby, controlling the stand-up in the first couple rounds and forcing Jacoby to tap to a standing guillotine choke in the third. Stock Down George Roop had an opportunity to show he's a player in the featherweight division, but he was violently knocked out by Cub Swanson. Roop was looking up at the replay on the United Center big screen as he was walking back to the locker room, and he didn't seem to know what hit him. Roop has lost three of his last four. Fights I Want to See Next Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen. Watching Evans and Sonnen on Saturday night, it's awfully tough for me to envision either one of them winning their upcoming title fights. But both men have won enough big fights in their weight classes that they've earned No. 1 contender status. I'm looking forward to seeing both of them get their title shots, even though both of them are going to be huge underdogs. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, johnson, evan

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Lavar Johnson, Nik Lentz, Evan Dunham, and Charles Oliveira all picked up $65,000 bonuses for their performances at tonight’s UFC on Fox 2 event. All fights took place on the the FuelTV undercard. Lavar Johnson (pictured) picked up knockout of the night for his brutal knockout of Joey Beltran on the FuelTV aired bout. Johnson stopped a two-fight skid with win and became the first person to knock out the Mexican fighter. Charles Oliveira was awarded submission of the night with a modified calf slicer submission in his featherweight debut. Oliveira started a scramble with a heelhook attempt that transitioned into a kneebar attempt and ended up with a modified calf slicer as Eric Wisely tried to escape. The submission is believed to be the first calf slicer hit in the octagon. Nik Lentz and Evan Dunham fought in an exciting back and forth battle that ended prematurely due to a doctor’s stoppage. Lentz apparently took the criticism of his style to heart as he pressed the action with Dunham, leading to some intense exchanges. Unfortunately, after a great first two rounds, a Dunham punch closed the eye of Lentz in the second round. Referee “Big” John McCarthy then called in the ringside doctor’s to look at the eye, where they determined Lentz could not continue. UFC president Dana White announced the bonuses via twitter. Picture courtesy of the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, dunham, oliveira, johnson, lentz

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Evan Dunham stopped Nik Lentz to cap off the preliminary card at Saturday’s UFC on Fox 2 event in Chicago, as a doctor ended the lightweight matchup after two rounds due to a cut and swelling under Lentz’ eye. Chicago police officer Mike Russow was also victorious on the prelims as he notched a unanimous decision over fellow heavyweight John-Olav Einemo. Also on the preliminary card, featherweight Cub Swason knocked out Geroge Roop, Charles Oliveira made his featherweight debut with a rare calf slicer submission of Eric Wisely, lightweight Michael Johnson topped Shane Roller, heavyweight Lavar Johnson debuted with a knockout of Joey Beltran, and middleweight Chris Camozzi submitted Dustin Jacoby. The complete UFC on Fox 2 preliminary card results were: Evan Dunham def. Nik Lentz via TKO (doctor stoppage – cut) – Round 2, 5:00 Mike Russow def. John-Olav Einemo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) Cub Swanson def. George Roop via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:22 Charles Oliveira def. Eric Wisely via submission (calf slicer) – Round 1, 1:43 Michael Johnson def. Shane Roller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Lavar Johnson def. Joey Beltran via KO (punches) – Round 1, 4:24 Chris Camozzi def. Dustin Jacoby via submission (guillotine) – Round 3, 1:08 Pictured: Evan Dunham

Posted in: round, dunham, johnson, nik lentz, lentz

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Before the big boys hit the network TV airwaves for the UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" event at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, there was a complete undercard available for viewing on FUEL TV. And it featured plenty of compelling action. The preliminary card was "headlined" by a lightweight scrap pitting two fighters who have a ton of potential but have struggled in recent outings. Evan Dunham came in having snapped a two-fight skid in his last bout, a unanimous decision win over Shamar Bailey. Nik Lentz, meanwhile, was looking for his first victory in three fights. Count this one for Dunham, who brutally battered Lentz to the point that a monster cut and huge swelling on "The Carny's" eye forced the doctors to step in and call a stop to the action. Even though he lost, Lentz has to feel good about the fact that this was likely the most exciting fight he's been a part of since making his way to the UFC. In fact, barring an amazing bout on the main card, these two are likely in line to earn "Fight of the Night" honors. And they deserve it. They weren't the only ones in action, though, as the UFC offered a complete slate of fights featuring plenty of up-and-down action from all sides. Here's how it all went down. The heavyweights were in action in the "Windy City," as Mike Russow, a Chicago police officer, took on Jon Olav Einemo. Russow was the subject of many a chant, the most prevalent of which was the audience shouting "CPD." You know, because he works for the Chicago Police Department. It's still not clear whether the fans were chanting that for support of Russow or simply to entertain themselves while they watched a plodding heavyweight fight between two guys who looked gassed by the time the second round was over. The long and short of it is that Russow used his considerable girth to lay on top of Einemo and wear him out until the final horn sounded. He was awarded the unanimous decision victory, keeping his perfect record in the UFC alive at 4-0. Yippee. Cub Swanson was back again on another FOX card, which is where both of hi UFC fights have taken place. His first outing saw him drop a disappointing submission to Ricardo Lamas but this time he was prepared for the stand-up stylings of George Roop, who just loves to stand and bang. Much to his detriminet. The two traded shots until Swanson exploded with a right hand that folded up Roop like a cheap lawn chair. The follow up punches were probably unnecessary but you finish the job when the opportunity presents itself. And the win one, lose one pattern continues. Remember Charles Oliveira and the funky Brazilian jiu-jitsu he first brought to the table when he debuted with the UFC? Yeah, that was on full display tonight as he utilized a submission that had never caused a tap inside the Octagon before tonight. About halfway through the opening frame, Oliveria dropped down to execute a heel hook on his opponent, Eric Wisely. He nearly had it locked in but before he could complete the submission, Wisely escaped and attempted to get back to his feet. In the ensuing shuffle, "Do Bronx" wrapped his legs around Wisely's and forced the tap. Because it's so rarely seen, no one knew how to react to the fact that Oliveria had become the first fighter in UFC history to win a fight with a calf slicer submission. Insanity. A fascinating lightweight showdown took place on the undercard, as Michael Johnson came out with a vengeance trying to lay Shane Roller down to sleep. Flying knees and winging punches were distributed without prejudice, some of which found their mark with deadly accuracy. In fact, Johnson, who had previously been so disappointing in his short Octagon career, showed an improved game that featured solid wrestling, striking and takedown defense. It was like he was an entirely different fighter. Until the third round, that is. It was then that Roller took his back, flattened him out an started unloading with punches. Johnson's response to this was to attempt to put his head into position so Roller was hitting him with illegal strikes. It worked, too. The referee, Herb Dean, didn't stop the fight and disqualify anyone, though. He simply gave the proper warnings and backed Roller off enough so as to allow Johnson to escape from the precarious position he was in. Once he did, he coasted to the scorecards and took a unanimous decision by scores of 29-28 across the board. He played the game well and he won the fight. That's the double whammy, folks. He even tried to get cute in the post-match interview by telling Dana White he "never gets paid in gum" like he wants to. Sorry, Michael, but the Trident folks do it better. Swing and a miss. Lavar Johnson made a successful switch from the Strikeforce heavyweight division by disposing of UFC veteran Joey Beltran inside the first round. As color commentator Joe Rogan so eloquently noted, it was the first time "The Mexicutioner" was stopped inside the Octagon. How Johnson did it was rather impressive. He worked a jab early but got Beltran pressed against the fence before landing a big shot on the temple. He followed that up with a series of brutally nasty uppercuts, some of which actually served to keep Beltran on his feet when his natural reaction was to fall to the mat like a sack of potatoes. "Big" timer. The first fight of the night actually wasn't televised. Indeed, in this day and age of fights being shown on Facebook, FUEL TV, FX, FOX, the moon, all that, there was a UFC bout that didn't make the air in any capacity. Not that it mattered. The opener was a lightweight scrap pitting Chris Camozzi against Dustin Jacoby. It was clear from jump street that the former was far superior to the latter and it showed. By the time all was said and done, Camozzi had earned himself a third round guillotine choke submission victory. Welcome back. Don't forget to check out our complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the main card action, which is just about to kick off on FOX right now. Click here for all the coverage you need of the UFC on FOX 2 event.

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Michael Johnson goes one on one with MMAWeekly.com after his win over Shane Roller at UFC on Fox 2

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Michael Johnson breaks down his unanimous decision win over Shane Roller at UFC on FOX 2. Johnson discusses if he was worried before the judges' scorecards were announced, the trouble he faced in the third round, how much his camp helped with his wrestling and much more.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Lavar Johnson breaks down his knockout win over Joey Beltran at UFC on FOX 2. Johnson talked about the nerves he had before his UFC debut, if he expected to dominate Beltran and much more.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Lavar 'Big' Johnson successfully made his transition from Strikeforce to the UFC with a knockout win over Joey Beltran on Saturday night.

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Michael Johnson defeats Shane Roller by Unanimous Decision. All three judges scored the fight 29-28. Shane Roller attempted an early takedown to open the first round but Michael Johnson shrugged it off with ease. As Johnson came in with a straight right, Roller attempted a quick takedown but was again unsuccessful. Michael Johnson found some success with his punches as he was just way too fast for Shane Roller. On the exit from a clinch, Johnson threw a hard elbow that stunned Roller. Roller again attempted a takedown only to be unsuccessful. Crowd was restless as the two fighters were clinched against the fence. Johnson landed a punch combination and followed up with a kick. Johnson found a home for his straight left which has landed over and over again to Roller's chin. Shane Roller has continually attempted one punch combinations and hasn't found any success. In the second round, Johnson shrugged off an early attempt at a takedown. Roller landed his first significant punch of the fight with an overhand that found Johnson's jaw. The fighters clinched against the fence and were showered with boos from the crowd. Roller's takedown attempt failed and the fight ended up on the ground with Johnson working from Shane's guard. Michael Johnson made no attempt at passing an open guard and Shane Roller was able to get back to his feet. Michael Johnson slowed down considerably and Roller was able to establish a clinch against the fence. Huge elbow from Michael Johnson on the exit from the clinch. Left hand from Johnson staggered Roller and he followed it up with several more and a kick. Roller attempted a takedown but couldn't complete it as the round came to a close. The third round opened with a four strike combination from Michael Johnson. Roller shot from way outside and was able to get Johnson's back with a single hook in. Michael Johnson completely flat on his stomach and taking punches to the back of the head. Herb Dean stopped action to warn Shane Roller of the strikes to the back of the head. Shane Roller attempted a rear naked choke but Johnson defended well. Roller attempted to soften Michael Johnson with strikes but was unable to get his forearm under Johnson's chin to set up the choke. Michael Johnson reversed position when Roller released his body triangle and started working ground and pound from Roller's guard with 30 seconds left. Johnson stood up and tried to finish the fight with a flying knee and punches but the knee landed low. They exchanged punches as the fight came to a close. Michael Johnson entered the fight 1-2 in the UFC after a heel hook loss to Paul Sass at UFC Live: Cruz vs Johnson. He is now 2-2 in the promotion. Shane Roller was also 1-2 in the UFC coming into the fight. He was a notable prospect in the WEC but has been unable to find the same success in the UFC. He is now 1-3 in the promotion. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2

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Lavar Johnson defeats Joey Beltran by knockout. The stoppage came at 4:24 in the first round. Lavar Johnson wanted to touch gloves to open the fight but Joey Beltran was all business. Lavar landed a punch to the body that dropped Beltran but he was unable to finish the fight early. Johnson landed several jabs that kept Beltran at bay as well as a kick that turned Beltran's leg. Beltran looked for a takedown but was shrugged off pretty easily. Beltran was unable to find his range midway through the first round, fighting at the end of Johnson's jab. Nice body shots from Joey Beltran stop the onslaught momentarily but Lavar went back to his jab. Beltran attempted to turn the fight into a brawl but he was stopped with a series of upper cuts that not only dropped the 'Mexicutioner' but also put him out. Lavar Johnson entered the UFC on a two fight losing streak after the Strikeforce Heavyweight division was killed off. He showed absolutely no signs of octagon jitters in his UFC debut. He is 16-5 in his MMA career and 1-0 in the UFC. Joey Beltran was unable to find his range and suffered his first TKO loss in the UFC. He is now 3-4 in the promotion and 13-7 overall. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2

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The UFC is back on network television tonight with a PPV-worthy lineup featuring two fights likely to determine two top divisional contenders. In addition to the co-headlining bouts between Michael Bisping-Chael Sonnen and Phil Davis-Rashad Evans, the main broadcast of UFC on FOX 2 will also feature submission specialist Demian Maia taking on unbeaten All-American wrestler Chris Weidman. As always, Fighters.com will be tuned in and relaying live results back to readers as soon as things start on Facebook at 5:00 PM EST. Action then heads over to Fuel TV with prelims such as Shane Roller vs. Michael Johnson and Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz before FOX takes over at 8:00 PM EST. Read below for a full list of results as they unfold in real time from the United Center in Chicago: Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson Shane Roller vs. Michael Johnson Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely George Roop vs. Cub Swanson John Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis Tweet

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UFC on Fox 2 features a fight at lightweight between Michael Johnson (9-6; 1-2 UFC) and Shane Roller (10-5; 1-2 UFC). This fight is a part of the FUEL TV prelims. Neither fighter is currently ranking according to the USA Today / MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings due to their recent losses. 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. Lightweight has always been considered one of the most exciting divisions in MMA with fighters finding a way to throw with immense power yet also maintain a high pace of action. With no clear cut contenders for the lightweight title after Ben Henderson, this fight will be important for both Johnson and Roller as the winner will surely make a jump up in the rankings. This also means that the loser may be in danger of losing his job as there is limited space on the UFC's roster at this current moment. How do these two stack up? Johnson: 25 years old | 5'10" | 74.0" reach Shane Roller: 32 years old | 5'10" | 72.0" reach What have these two done recently? Johnson: L - Paul Sass (SUB) | W - Edward Faaloloto (TKO) | L - Jonathan Brookins (UD) Roller: L - T.J. Grant (SUB) | L - Melvin Guillard (KO) | W - Thiago Tavares (KO) How did these two get here? Michael Johnson made his way to the UFC like many before him: as a contestant on the Ultimate Fighter. Johnson was rejected on two previous tryouts (audition?) before finally making it onto the twelfth season. After defeating Pablo Garza to get into the house, Johnson became the top pick for Georges St. Pierre. He lost to teammate Jonathan Brookins in the finale. Since then he's gone 1-1 in the promotion and has at times demonstrated an amazing level of athleticism and toughness. Shane Roller became a UFC fighter after the WEC merger. A member of Team Takedown, Roller was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State University. After a 6-2 run in the WEC, he made his UFC debut with a stunning win over Thiago Tavares. Unfortunately, he has been finished in his last two fights. Why should you care? While neither fighter will be in title contention in the immediate future, both possess the skill-set to make a run at the mid-tier level. Roller is a knockout threat and Johnson is a young fighter with loads of potential which makes this an exciting matchup on paper. 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

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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

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The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 finalist Michael Johnson will take on Shane Roller in a lightweight match up set to hit the under card action of the UFC on Fox 2 event TONIGHT (Jan. 28, 2012) from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. After coming up short in his bid to win TUF against Jonathan Brookins, Johnson has split a pair of fights in the Octagon. Most recently, Johnson was seen tapping to Paul Sass at UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson in the very first round. Roller, on the other hand, desperately needs a win to keep his place amongst the stacked UFC 155-pound division. Losing his last two outings to Melvin Guillard and T.J. Grant, a third consecutive loss could prove to be the end of his time competing under Zuffa. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 lightweight fight between Michael Johnson vs Shane Roller: The Breakdown After a successful run in TUF, Johnson has not quite lived up to expectations during his short stint with the promotion, going only 1-2 since leaving the Spike TV show. A member of "The Blackzillians" mixed martial arts (MMA) camp in sunny Florida, Johnson hopes that his new team can help him make the adjustments needed to get back in the win column. His athleticism can be an advantage he has over Roller heading into the bout, and he will have to use every bit of it if he hopes to avoid the takedowns of the All American wrestler. Former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) standout Shane Roller made a successful UFC debut by knocking out Thiago Tavares at UFC on Versus 5 back in March 2011. As impressive as his knockout was, Roller's true bread and butter is with his grappling and submission skills. As an NCAA Division All American at Oklahoma State University, Roller has transitioned his wresting nicely into the MMA world. With six submission victories over the likes of Jamie Varner, Anthony Njokuani and Danny Castillo, Roller prefers to go to the ground to either grind out a victory or pull of a submission and is very capable of doing both. Roller better have all his skills working on all cylinders if he hopes to keep his place on the UFC roster. A loss on Saturday will inch him closer to getting his walking papers. The Pick Michael Johnson best shot at victory is to keep it on the feet and push the pace, taking advantage of his superior cardio and slight striking advantage Roller's game plan should be simple: Take it to the ground and fast. He will be successful in his take down attempts, but won't be able to finish Johnson on the ground and eventually, will have to trade punches with Johnson. That won't be good for Roller, as he will take much punishment on the feet and will eventually be saved by the referee in the second round. Johnson defeats Roller via technical knockout (TKO) in the second round That's a wrap for now. Be sure to share your thoughts on this fight and more in the comments section below. Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC on FOX 2 results of all the "Evans vs. Davis" action on primetime. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the "Prelims" under card bouts, and of course, the network telecast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 5 p.m. ET and carry straight on through into early Saturday morning. See you then!

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Joey Beltran will have the duty of welcoming recent Strikeforce import Lavar Johnson to the Octagon at UFC on Fox 2 TONIGHT (Jan. 28, 2012), which goes down at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Johnson, who collected a 3-2 record while under the Strikeforce banner, is heading into this evening riding two consecutive losses, and hopes to right his ship with a win over the super tough Joey Beltran. Beltran, on the other hand, has gone an even 3-3 in the Octagon, losing to strikers Matt Mitrione, Pat Barry and most recently, Stipe Miocic at UFC 136. "Big" hopes to get a fresh start in the UFC, but "The Mexicutioner" will meet him at the door with a not so friendly reception into the world's pre-eminent mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 heavyweight slobberknocker between Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson. The Breakdown Beltran is as tough as they come, proving time and time again that he can take punishment all while dishing out some of his own. Having yet to be finished inside the eight-walled cage, Beltran took Pat Barry's and Matt Mitrione's best shots and kept on ticking. Though he lost both of those bouts via decision, the heart and tenacity Beltran displayed won him the admiration and respect of MMA fans. What he lacks in technique, he more than makes up with aggression and toughness. "The Mexicutioner" is a hard-nosed all out brawl-type of fighter. With 11 of his 13 wins coming either by (technical) knockout, it's no secret what he prefers to do once the cage doors are locked behind him. Regardless of the fact that Johnson is coming off of two submission losses, he still has the power to knockout anyone. Exhibit A: 13 knockouts to his name, 11 coming in the very first round. Exhibit B: See Exhibit A. Standing at 6'4" and weighing in at 245 pounds, "Big" is an appropriate moniker for Johnson, an American Kickboxing Academy (AKA)-trained fighter. However, once he goes to the ground, all that size is seemingly useless, as four out of his five losses have come via submission (one of those, however, was injury related). No worries for Johnson though, as the chances of this fight going to the ground are slim to none. The Pick Fireworks! When UFC matchmakers put this fight together, I am pretty sure they had a stand up, back-and forth battle in mind. Two heavyweights who swing hard can only mean one thing: Fight of the Night. Though he has garnered respect and fans for his all out brawl style of fighting, it will behoove Beltran to be a bit more selective with his shots against Johnson, as one big shot from Lavar can be disastrous for "The Mexicutioner." I expect Beltran to come out guns blazing, pushing the pace to rattle the UFC rookie. Johnson will have to hope for a quick finish that he is accustomed to, however, he will have his work cut out for him as Beltran has prove to have an iron chin. In an exciting back-and-forth affair, the UFC veteran Beltran will finish the Strikeforce import Johnson late in the second round via strikes. It may not be a technical fight, but it sure as hell is going to be an exciting one. Beltran defeats Lavar Johnson via technical knockout (TKO) in the second round That's a wrap for now. Be sure to share your thoughts on this fight and more in the comments section below. Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC on FOX 2 results of all the "Evans vs. Davis" action on primetime. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the "Prelims" under card bouts, and of course, the network telecast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 5 p.m. ET and carry straight on through into early Saturday morning. See you then!

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Shane Roller’s back is against the wall.

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CHICAGO, January 28 - Evan Dunham, who hadn’t finished a fight in over two years, promised to finish Nik Lentz in UFC on FOX preliminary card action Saturday night. And after a less-than-idyllic start, Dunham turned up the heat in the second, unloading on Lentz with a wicked 12-punch sequence and bullying the Minnesotan with takedowns and threatening with a tight guillotine. Lentz, his face covered in blood, gamely survived the onslaught but doctors halted the fight at the end of the round due to a deep cut near Lentz’s badly swollen left eye. “The first round I felt a little flat and came out slow,” said Dunham, who improved to 13-2. “I just remembered what my coach Ray Sefo always told me, ‘One round doesn’t determine the next.’ So I came out just knowing I needed to be really aggressive, which I was. I was hoping for the third round, because I was hungry for that third round.” The bout had been nip-and-tuck early, with both fighters trading combinations and Lentz (23-5-2) edging Dunham 2-1 in the takedown department. JOHN-OLAV EINEMO VS. MIKE RUSSOWScratch one off Mike Russow’s Bucket List, and this one ranked pretty high up there. With Hall-of-Famer Matt Hughes barking instructions cageside, the Chicago police officer treated hometown fans to a unanimous decision win over world-class grappler Jon Olav Einemo. “It’s a dream come true,” said Russow (15-1, 1 NC). Russow wrestled for and graduated from Eastern Illinois University – the same alma mater as welterweight legend Hughes – and his repeated takedowns and top control proved to be the difference. Einemo, known for his submission prowess, actually had his best moments with right hands and knees to the body and face. But every time the 6’6” Norwegian rallied, Russow blunted the attacks with takedowns and the grinding of his 255-pound frame. Einemo also managed a deft butterfly sweep in the first round, achieving mount, but the horn saved Russow from damage. Chants of “Let’s Go Russow!” and “CPD! CPD!” filled United Arena – those initials standing, of course, for Chicago Police Department. GEORGE ROOP VS. CUB SWANSONA back-and-forth featherweight bout took a dramatic turn when Cub Swanson uncorked a highlight reel right hand, knocking out an aggressive adversary who had given him a run for his money up until then. Roop (12-10-1) had experienced success early, particularly utilizing his length advantage to score a myriad of kicks. Both men traded combinations in the first round, with Swanson’s blows having a little more heat on them and drawing blood under the Arizonan’s nose. The most memorable moment in the round came when Swanson stuffed a takedown attempt and immediately executed a textbook judo throw of his own. In the second, a hemotoma the size of a baseball began forming on Roop’s power leg (possibly the result of Swanson checking the kick). Roop continued to kick with the leg and was competitive until Swanson baited him with a jab, then stepped in with that fateful and textbook right hand that sent Roop’s mouthpiece flying and body falling. “That’s a combination we work all the time at Greg Jackson’s back home with my boxing coach,” said Swanson (16-5), who earned his first-ever UFC win. CHARLES OLIVEIRA VS. ERIC WISELYCharles Oliveira’s reinvention at 145 pounds could not have gone much better. The native Brazilian caught a low kick early, putting Eric Wisely on his back. The 22-year-old was having much success landing hard punches on top but, out of nowhere, risked his dominant position by diving for a heel hook Rousimar Palhares-style. Wisely rolled out of the heel hook but Oliveira transitioned to a leg lock from the back, awkwardly torquing Wisely’s leg back to earn the tap out at 1:43 of the opening frame. “I felt the cut a little to 145,” said Oliveira (15-2, 1 NC), “but my gym helped me and I did it.” SHANE ROLLER VS. MICHAEL JOHNSONMichael Johnson, lightweight finalist on TUF 12, relied on superior speed and boxing en route to a unanimous decision win over Shane Roller. The classic striker versus grappler match saw Johnson imposing his style by rebuffing all of Roller’s takedowns in the opening two rounds, and scoring with crisp combinations. Roller thoroughly disrupted Johnson’s groove to open the third, scoring a takedown and immediately transitioning to the back and flattening Johnson. Things were looking really bad for Johnson as Roller (10-6) teed off with punches on his trapped opponent. It was the kind of position where, as a fan, you watch and wonder how many punches the ref will jump in and stop it because a fighter is not “intelligently defending” himself. As it turns out, referee Herb Dean did stop the action – but only to warn Roller about punching to the back of the head. Dean allowed the fighters to restart in a similar position, but Johnson – perhaps benefitting from the restart -- now found space to eventually wiggle free. Though he dominated most of the round, Roller’s opportunity for the come from behind win came and went. Judges scored it 29-28 across the board for Johnson (11-6). LAVAR JOHNSON VS. JOEY BELTRANDurability had defined Joey Beltran’s six-fight UFC tenure. Never had the “Mexicutioner” been finished inside of the Octagon. Until tonight, when knockout specialist Lavar Johnson simply overwhelmed his fellow Californian from the opening horn. In the first 30 seconds, Johnson dropped Beltran with a right hand. As the round played out, Johnson landed at will. Jabs. Leg kicks. Body shots. Knees to the body. Combinations. As the one-sided bashing continued, Beltran leaned against the cage and ate a dozen hard punches – at least four of them clean uppercuts to the chin with much of Johnson’s 240 pounds behind them. It was too much for any man to take, sending Beltran to the canvas out cold at 4:24. “Those were four nice good uppercuts. Usually I knock people out with just one,” said Johnson, a former Strikeforce standout who improved to 16-5 after winning his UFC debut. Beltran fell to 13-7. DUSTIN JACOBY VS. CHRIS CAMOZZIWhen two southpaws collide, the right hook can be the most difficult weapon to see coming. In this middleweight bout, the right hook was an absolute game-changer. Dustin Jacoby, hungry in pursuit of his first UFC win, came out guns blazing and landed combinations and low kicks at a high clip. The 23-year-old Marc Fiore protégé seemed to have the opening round in the bag, as they say, until a booming right hook in the waning seconds exploded out of nowhere and briefly put him on the deck. Jacoby survived the round but never seemed the same thereafter, and the veteran Chris Camozzi took full advantage of his opponent’s newfound reticence. In what was entirely a standup affair, Camozzi kept the momentum in the second round with combinations that bloodied Jacoby’s nose and, by all indications, assaulted the young fighter’s confidence as well. Entering the third round, you could have judged the fight at 1-1 or 2-0 for Camozzi. But the judges were rendered irrelevant after a Camozzi leg kick took Jacoby’s legs out from under him. As Jacoby (6-2) scrambled back to his feet, Camozzi greeted him with a front headlock and immediately sank in a “10-finger guillotine” and earned the tap at 1:08 of the round. Camozzi (16-5, 3-2 UFC) said afterward that he dislocated a finger in the second round, but re-aligned and kept grinding.

Posted in: takedown, round, johnson, leg, roller

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The UFC on FOX 2 weigh-ins came and went this afternoon without a hitch after all twenty competitors hit their necessary marks. The situation marked a nice change after the last two events featured at least one fighter not making weight, most notably in the case of Anthony Johnson who was released by the UFC as a result. Two of tomorrow night’s primary pairings featured opponents with identical weights, as Rashad Evans-Phil Davis were both 205 pounds on the dot with Michael Bisping-Chael Sonnen each coming in at 185. Meanwhile Chris Weidman was actually a pound lighter than Demian Maia, a shock when considering he had only been given ten days to prepare for the fight. Davis Says Evans in for a Shock on Saturday Night UFC on FOX 2 takes place tomorrow with prelims starting at 5:00 PM EST on Fuel TV and the main card firing up at 8:00 PM EST. Check out a full list of weights below followed by video of the Sonnen-Bisping and Evans-Davis staredowns: Chris Camozzi (185 lbs) vs. Dustin Jacoby (185 lbs) Joey Beltran (228 lbs) vs. Lavar Johnson (252 lbs) Shane Roller (156 lbs) vs. Michael Johnson (156 lbs) Charles Oliveira (144 lbs) vs. Eric Wisely (145 lbs) George Roop (145 lbs) vs. Cub Swanson (145 lbs) John Olav Einemo (253 lbs) vs. Mike Russow (251 lbs) Evan Dunham (155 lbs) vs. Nik Lentz (155 lbs) Demian Maia (186 lbs) vs. Chris Weidman (185 lbs) Chael Sonnen (185 lbs) vs. Michael Bisping (185 lbs) Rashad Evans (205 lbs) vs. Phil Davis (205 lbs) Tweet

Posted in: ufc, vs, johnson, lb, davi

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UFC president Dana White told reporters at the UFC on Fox 2 post-press conference media scrum that he is not ready to reconsider Anthony Johnson in the UFC or Strikeforce but he appeared to be slightly more open to a return by Nate Marquardt. MMA Fighting got White's statements: "(Johnson) needs to go fight somewhere else, get some wins, come in on weight," White said of Johnson. "He needs to prove to me that he can be a professional, show up on weight and do the things he needs to do. If he does, we can talk." When asked about Marquardt, however, White sounded open to the possibility that he could re-sign with the UFC. ... White was furious at the time, but several months later he sounds willing to forgive and forget. "I don't dislike Nate," White said. "I like Nate very much. We'll see what happens." Johnson was fired from the UFC after missing weight by 11 pounds at his UFC 142 co-main event bout against Vitor Belfort. Ironically that was Johnson's first fight at middleweight after struggling to make the 170lb welterweight limit in several previous fights. It was the third time Johnson missed weight for a UFC bout. Marquardt was fired from the organization right before a scheduled UFC on Versus 4 bout against Rick Story due to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission refusing to license him for the fight. The PSAC's actions stemmed from Marquardt failing a blood test commissioned by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission who were following up on Marquardt's previous bout against Dan Miller at UFC 128. Marquardt had been allowed to use Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) before that bout and the commission was following up to monitor his hormone levels. Ironically Johnson and Marquardt were originally scheduled to meet at UFC on Versus 4 but Johnson had to drop out due to injuries. Marquardt signed with the UK's Bamma promotion but they were unable to put a fight together for him and he has been released from his contract.

Posted in: ufc, fight, bout, johnson, marquardt

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Anthony Johnson was exiled from the Octagon following his failure to make weight at UFC 142 Rio, and it sounds as if it will be some time before he'll be welcomed back.

Posted in: rio, anthony johnson, johnson, weight, anthony

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The UFC is back on Fox this Saturday night as they present what is the first official show under their deal with the broadcasting giant. They had a trial run back in November which saw only one bout televised. Of course that fight was for the UFC heavyweight champ and fans witnessed the title change hands as Junior dos Santos knocked out Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds. This time around the UFC is giving fans an outstanding card. The main event will see former light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans take on undefeated Team Alliance fighter Phil Davis. If Evans wins he will face Jon Jones in attempt to win back the title he lost to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98, most likely at UFC 145. If Davis wins that opportunity will go to former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson. Davis can win convincingly, but will need to build his resume a bit more before he gets a crack at the 205lb. belt. The co-main event will see the winner face UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva in Brazil this summer. Former number one contender Chael Sonnen was originally scheduled to face Mark Munoz, but an injury forced the UFC to move Michael Bisping into his slot. Bisping of course was scheduled to face another former middleweight title contender in Demian Maia, but jumped at the opportunity to face of f with Sonnen. Maia will now face undefeated prospect Chris Weidman. To see what Weidman had to say on this matchup check out my interview with him. Now let’s go ahead and see which of the following undercard fighters may be in line for a pink slip should they lose on Saturday night. There are some interesting match-ups that the UFC has lined up for us to see on Fuel TV. Chris Camozzi: Camozzi was brought back to the UFC at UFC 137 in October where he lost to Francis Carmont. The loss ran his UFC record to 2-2. Camozzi was released after his first UFC loss which followed two wins in his first two bouts with the organization. For some reason or another they weren’t too enthralled with his performance. He will face Dustin Jacoby who is fighting for his second time in the Octagon. Camozzi needs a win here to keep his job, if one loss was enough to get him cut, then what will two in a row do for him? Dustin Jacoby: Jacoby as stated above will be fighting for the second time in the UFC. He lost his initial bout to Clifford Starks at UFC 137 after winning his first six professional bouts fighting in the midwest region. He trains at Finney’s Hit Squad which was originated by former welterweight kingpin Matt Hughes. He has finished all six of his wins, five by knockout and one by submission so he has a killer instinct, but he better be on point Saturday night or he will find himself out of job and back on the regional circuit. Lavar Johnson: Although this is Johnson’s UFC debut he has lost his last two fights while competing for Strikeforce. Johnson was shot on July 4, 2009 at a party and was back in action in less than a year. He won his first two bouts back before suffering some setbacks. He is big and strong knocking out out 13 of his fifteen victims. This may be a one and done for Johnson unless he and Joey Beltran put on a slugfest which isn’t out of the question. Anytime the “Mexicutioner” is in the cage there are sure to be fireworks. Michael Johnson: Johnson is just two fights removed from fighting in The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 finale against Jonathan Brookins. He lost that bout and won his following match-up against Eddie Faaloloto. Up next he took on Paul Sass at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson. He lost via first round submission and now finds himself with his back against the wall. With an overall record of 9-6 he needs a win. The UFC doesn’t normally keep fighters on their roster who are creeping towards the .500 mark. Shane Roller: Roller has lost his last two UFC bouts after winning his debut inside the Octagon against Thiago Tavares. He took home the Knockout of the Night bonus that night, but hasn’t had any success since. He may get a break here because he took this fight on short notice after Cody McKenzie was injured. It all depends on his performance here, if he goes out and lays it all on the line he could be ok, but it’s always tough to keep your job when you’ve lost three fights in a row. Cub Swanson: Swanson is in a tough spot here as he lost his UFC debut against Ricardo Lamas at the initial UFC on FOX card in November. Before that he had gone 4-3 in his last seven bouts in the WEC. On top of that he has had problems with injuries, in fact he withdrew from two fights last year and was out of action for exactly 366 days. For Swanson to start his career inside the Octagon at 0-2 will definitely put his job in jeopardy. He’s lost to both Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes so you won’t be see him fighting at the top of any cards anytime soon, he is expendable. John-Olav Einemo: Einemo saw his first bit of action in almost five years at UFC 131 last June where he lost to Dave Herman. He is 36 years old and doesn’t seem to interested in fighting a full schedule. A second loss in two tries usually spells doom unless the UFC plans on keeping him around to fight once a year or so. He may hold some value there, but otherwise he needs to defeat Mike Russow on Saturday night. That seems to be it for this version of Who’s on the Hot Seat. Enjoy the fights!! next week we are back with UFC 143!!   Tweet

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Filed under: UFCCHICAGO -- UFC President Dana White confirmed on Thursday that Anthony Johnson has been released from the UFC and won't be welcome back until he can prove that he has put his weight problems behind him. But White wasn't quite so adamant that another fighter he released, Nate Marquardt, wouldn't be welcome to return to the Octagon. With Johnson, White said missing weight by 11 pounds at UFC 142 made it clear that he doesn't belong in the UFC. White also specifically ruled out the possibility of Johnson fighting for Strikeforce, and said that Johnson needs to go to another promotion, make weight and win fights before the UFC would consider giving him another chance. "He needs to go fight somewhere else, get some wins, come in on weight," White said of Johnson. "He needs to prove to me that he can be a professional, show up on weight and do the things he needs to do. If he does, we can talk." When asked about Marquardt, however, White sounded open to the possibility that he could re-sign with the UFC. Marquardt last fought at UFC 128 in March, defeating Dan Miller, but was cut by the UFC after his testosterone replacement therapy resulted in a high testosterone count, causing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission to cancel his fight. White was furious at the time, but several months later he sounds willing to forgive and forget. "I don't dislike Nate," White said. "I like Nate very much. We'll see what happens." White and Johnson were originally scheduled to fight each other in the main event of the UFC on Versus card in August, before Johnson pulled out with an injury and before Marquardt ran into his trouble with the Pennsylvania Commission. Both fighters are now free agents, which means that if another promotion wants to sign them, it could book a fight worthy of being a UFC main event. But if one of those free agents signs with the UFC this year, it sounds like it's going to be Marquardt. White may eventually forgive and forget with Johnson, but that won't happen any time soon. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, weight, marquardt

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Michael Johnson is coming off a loss, but he's facing a fighter off of two losses in a row and he knows that this is do or die for Shane Roller.

Posted in: loss, johnson, michael, michael johnson, shane

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Lavar Johnson knows that the man he’s facing in his UFC debut this Saturday night, Joey Beltran, is one of the toughest men in the entire sport, let alone the division. But the former Strikeforce heavyweight is also aware that fighting 15 minutes or less with “The Mexicutioner” can’t be tougher than surviving being shot three times.So when the training gets rough or the leather starts flying in the middle of a fight, the 34-year old always has a reference point of how much worse things could be. Back in July of 2009, Johnson was at a family reunion when a random drive-by shooting took the life of his cousin, and injured him and three other family members. 13-3 as a pro at the time, and less than two months removed from a Strikeforce debut that saw him knock out Carl Seumanutafa in just 18 seconds, Johnson was now in the fight of his life. Hit in his stomach, forearm, and hip, Johnson was forced to have his appendix removed and he received damage to his colon and intestines. Eventually though, after losing 60 pounds, he recovered and left the hospital. It was a life-altering experience for the Madera, California native.“When you’re that close to dying, you realize how precious life is,” said Johnson. “I’ve got kids and my girl, and I saw everybody else going through it…my life means a lot to me, but it means a lot to others as well, so it puts everything in perspective.”And just like a fighter, Johnson had every intention of putting the gloves on again, and less than a year later, on March 26, 2010, he picked up where he left off, stopping Lolohea Mahe in the second round.“It (the shooting) didn’t really affect me too much,” he said. “My breathing was just a little off, but everything healed up fine, so I’m good to go. I haven’t had any problems, other than being old (Laughs) and the wear and tear on my knees; that’s about it. Other than that, I’m good.”Following the win over Mahe, Johnson knocked out Virgil Zwicker in the first round of an October 2010 bout, but 2011 wasn’t as kind to him, as he was submitted in consecutive fights by Shane del Rosario and Shawn Jordan, putting his record at 15-5. But as he prepares for Beltran, the one thing he probably won’t have to worry about is getting submitted, as this one has Pier Six brawl written all over it.“I think it’s gonna be a good and entertaining fight,” said Johnson. “He likes to stand up and trade and I do too, so I think our styles match up fine.”The question is, has Johnson ever faced anyone with a chin like Beltran’s, and has Beltran ever faced a puncher like Johnson? The 34-year old banger thinks he has the answer to those questions.“I don’t think he’s been hit by anybody like me yet, so we’ll see. I’ve got a little pop in my punches, so we’ll see how he handles it.”If Johnson sounds confident in his ability to become the first man to knock out Beltran, he’s got reason to be. None of his wins have gone the distance, with all but one ending via his fists. But more than that, Johnson has gained confidence by working with two of the best big men in the game – former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Strikeforce Grand Prix finalist Daniel Cormier. Johnson has gotten plenty of sparring time with Velasquez at the AKA Gym in San Jose, and that experience has been invaluable.“You get to see where you’re at,” said Johnson of working with Velasquez. “If you ever have the chance to spar with the heavyweight champion of the world, you’re gonna test yourself and see where you’re at. He was number one in the world, and you’re always pushing forward and trying to better yourself, so it always gave me a push and I’m always learning something new. Him and Cormier always take the time out to show me a little something here and there. That’s awesome, and they’re good guys too.”Watching Velasquez in the eye of the media storm has helped the soft-spoken former linebacker carve his own path as well.“He (Velasquez) is humble, he’s himself, he doesn’t get caught up in the media and the hype, and he just does his job,” said Johnson. “He’s a hard worker, he clocks in, does his job, does it well, and goes home.”Expect the same from Lavar Johnson.“I know he (Beltran) is gonna go hard and he’s not gonna give up and quit, and neither am I,” said Johnson. “I just hope the fans get a Rocky-type fight, but of course with me raising my hand at the end.”

Posted in: ’t, johnson, velasquez, ’re, beltran

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The UFC’s “A” team may be taking to the field on the FOX network on Saturday night, but there’s a sizeable “B” team that’s duking it out on Fuel TV in the three hours before that big hoedown.  (Did I just use the word “hoedown”?  What the hell?)  Now, I don’t know about you, but whenever I call my cable company and ask if I can get Fuel TV added to my already extensive channel package, the person on the other end laughs uncontrollably and hangs up.  However, last weekend, when Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard were on deck, someone tweeted that the prelims airing on Fuel TV were also being broadcast on a channel called FOX Deportes – and lo and behold, I have FOX Deportes.  Granted, I speak almost zero Spanish and had no clue what was being said, but a fight’s a fight.  Other than knowing the names of the fighters, what more do I need?  So, in the spirit of there being a possibility that my liveblogging duties on Saturday night will extend beyond what’s on FOX’s flagship channel and stretch into the realm of “fuera de combate”, here’s a preview of the undercard.  Maybe some of you will get to watch the prelims, maybe none of us will.  Who knows.  At least I tried. -Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz – Some fighters are so exciting, you sit on the edge of your seat whenever they’re in motion, wary of the wicked knockout or slick submission they could inflict on their opponent at any given moment.  Lentz is not one of those fighters.  No, Lentz hugs people to death.  He’s pretty good at it, though, which is why he still has a job.  As a rule, Dunham is pretty exciting, and for a while there he was considered number one with a bullet when it came to the lightweight division.  Guillard squashed that with a rapid-fire TKO about a year ago, so here we are with a matchup that pits Mr. Huggy Bear against someone actually quite dangerous and skilled at finishing.  My money is on Dunham winning the decision, except I have truly never gambled, even though I’ve spent so much time in casinos attending MMA shows.  Weird, huh? -John-Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow – Einemo is a big, heavyweight jiu-jitsu black belt from Norway, which is kind of cool if you think about it.  Norway.  That’s like totally “Viking” or something.  Russow, on the other hand, is a big, hard-headed wrestler galoot from Minnesota, and Minnesota was settled by the Scandinavians, with Scandinavia comprised of Norway, Sweden and Denmark.   So technically, while it’s cool Einemo is repping the Norwegian MMA scene, he’s really fighting his brethren in Russow, which kind of makes the matchup less cool.  Anyway, Einemo may have gotten smoked by Dave Herman in his UFC debut, but he’s still a better grappler than Russow.  I see him winning by sweeping Russow, easing into mount and raining down punches. -Cub Swanson vs. George Roop – Swanson’s never really been able to rise to the occasion when taking on top-level featherweight competition, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t skilled.  He has, however, been in the game for a while, and his body has gotten kind of worn down, so count that as a strike against him.  Roop, meanwhile, is a tall and lanky gamer who’s proven to be tougher than a two-dollar steak.  Also, he tends to flounder against top-level competition too, so watch for these guys to wow us – Swanson on the ground and Roop on the feet – and for one of them to get the decision, then face someone tougher in the future, and get killed. -Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely – Up until he faced Jim Miller at UFC 124, Oliveira was the next big thing, busting out submissions like it was 1999 and he was the Artist Formerly Known as Prince.  Unfortunately, Miller kneebarred him easily, his win over Lentz was turned into a “no contest” when it was determined the Brazilian won via an accidental foul, and Don Cerrone just completely smashed him.  So I picture the conversation between Dana White and Joe Silva going something like this: “What the heck are we going to do with this Oliveira kid?  He had so much potential?” said White.  “Why don’t we pluck someone completely unworthy from the sub-minor leagues and feed him to the Brazilian – you know, to make Oliveira look good?” said Silva.  “Great idea.  Also, $@#^&*>+!” said White.  Oliveira is going to murder Wisely.  He better.  It doesn’t get any more spoon-fed than this. -Shane Roller vs. Michael Johnson – Roller can wrestle, nail a submission, or land a knockout punch.  He can also get worked over on the ground, get submitted, and get KO’d.  I guess that makes him well-rounded?  Johnson came close to winning TUF 12, but instead will forevermore suffer under the curse of the “TUF Runner-Up” (seriously, go back and look where all the TUF runner-ups are right now).  I have Roller outwrestling and outworking Johnson, but since both men are so capable at getting beaten, this one could go either way. -Lavar Johnson vs. Joey Beltran – Lavar Johnson (no relation to the aforementioned Michael) was a somewhat decent heavyweight slugger in Strikeforce, and now that Strikeforce is no longer in the heavyweight business, we get to see homeboy mix it up in the Octagon.  Yay!  His first opponent in the UFC?  The Human Punching Bag (didn’t I call someone that last week?) known as Beltran.  This is actually a good test for both men.  If Johnson can put Beltran away, he’ll prove to be a solid addition to the UFC roster; if Beltran wins, then that just proves he’s a badass and that Strikeforce sucks.  Or did suck, when it wasn’t a Muppet with Dana White’s fist up inside it like a proctologist with a profanity streak.

Posted in: ufc, ’t, vs, johnson, russow

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Both "The Ultimate Fighter 12" veteran Michael Johnson and former WEC contender Shane Roller are in need of a win at Saturday night's UFC on FOX 2 event. Yet Johnson insists there's no pressure heading into the matchup. After all, when you're fighting an opponent who's "tailor-made" for your style, with what is there to be concerned?

Posted in: fox, johnson, actionpacked ufc, roller tailormade, tailormade

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This Saturday, January 28, the UFC makes their second run on the Fox channel with UFC on Fox 2. The main card, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, consists of three contests with marquee light-heavies Rashad Evans and Phil Davis forming the headliner. Starting at 5 p.m. ET, a whopping eight-piece lineup on Fuel TV will precede the main broadcast. These prelims will be analyzed in two segments of four fights each, the first of which (Part One) will be addressed herein. The following is the entire cast of characters for the Fuel TV undercard: Part TwoEvan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz Mike Russow vs. Jon Olav EinemoJohnny Bedford vs. Mitch GagnonCub Swanson vs. George RoopPart OneMichael Johnson vs. Shane Roller Joey Beltran vs. Lavar JohnsonCharles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby Michael Johnson (9-6) vs. Shane Roller (10-5) Despite exhibiting the potential to break out of the basement level of the UFC's lightweight division, both Johnson and Roller have taken a loss in two of their last three. Johnson, a finalist on TUF 12, was unable to hold off a decision-stealing comeback from Jonathan Brookins after a commanding first frame in the reality show finale. He returned with a dominant stoppage over Edward Faaloloto at UFC Live on Versus 4 but then fell victim to the vacuum-like submission prowess of Paul Sass; again after assuming control early with a strong start. WEC crossover Shane Roller, a three-time Division 1 All American wrestler at Oklahoma State University, has faltered twice since knocking out Thiago Tavares in his UFC debut. Melvin Guillard nullified his takedowns and swarmed with a ruthless combination for a first round TKO, while T.J. Grant, a former welterweight who was dropping to '55 for the first time, caught him in a third round armbar. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2 On TUF, Johnson immediately stood out from the crowd and showed crisp boxing with heavy hands and solid wrestling. When faced with a superior wrestler -- as he will be against Roller -- Johnson was hit-and-miss with his sprawl-and-brawl, which will likely be the same strategy for him on Saturday. He came out of the gate hurling leather with Brookins and seemed to have his number in the first round. As we see to the right, Johnson tailored his boxing to account for the risk of a Brookins takedown by ripping uppercuts and shovel hooks "from his pockets." A wrestler has to dip his head when he's dropping levels for a takedown, and Johnson did a good job of streaking his fists through a lower target zone to keep Brookins leery about shooting. When Brookins was able to adhere, Johnson stayed upright with good balance, control of the head and use of the whizzer. His footwork is not bad offensively, but he sunk himself too deep in the pocket with a heavy front leg in many of the instances he was grounded against Brookins. His clinch game has also been stable, but he likes to go with a high grip and fire knees and dirty boxing, which should be more underhook-oriented against Roller. Six of Roller's ten career wins are by submission with an even number of guillotine and rear-naked chokes. Rather than being a fighter who is particularly adept with sub-grappling, Roller's imposing wrestling was generally the conduit to those catches. Don't get me wrong -- he's an adept scrambler and guard passer, but the bulk of his offense on the floor is propelled by explosiveness and high-level wrestling fundamentals rather than fluid finesse. His striking is similar, as it's accented by straight boxing with a busy jab and big power, especially in his right hand. Roller had the awareness to pick up on the way Tavares kept backing out of the pocket in a straight line, and he measured his steps accordingly to add a few inches of his depth on the right cross he finished with. Johnson has been comfortable off his back and might be able to stalemate Roller for a referee stand-up, but has lost five of his six by submission and would definitely be wiser to work his hands as much as possible. He's got a nice, stiff straight-left and the instincts to land the kind of low-range flurry that Guillard clipped Roller with. I believe Johnson, who is only age twenty-five, is still coming into his own and steadily improving. I'd give him a legit shot to find Roller's chin in open space or catch him coming in for a takedown. He was in control early in both of his UFC defeats, but lapses, mostly mental, ended up costing him. However, I don't think his still-raw potential can compensate for the poor match up that Roller presents. He's a step up in overall status who specializes in the areas that Johnson has struggled with the most, though I wouldn't risk a wager at -182 on the betting lines. My Prediction: Shane Roller by submission. Joey Beltran (13-6) vs. Lavar Johnson (15-5) Johnson, representing a new wave of incoming heavyweights from Strikeforce, will make his Octagon debut against Beltran, who has taken on the role of sentinel in the division. Johnson is a bulging 6'3" southpaw with a lot of strength and knockout power, winning thirteen of fifteen by TKO with two subs. "Big" has never gone the distance and only made it to the third round once. Four of his five losses are by submission and it's no secret that his ground game is a bit lacking. In fact, Johnson was tapped in his last two outings (Shane Del Rosario, Shawn Jordan), which darkened the seven-fight streak he assembled prior. Beltran is a down and dirty slugger with a hard head and heavy hands, chalking up all but two of his sixteen wins by TKO with one submission and decision apiece. In the L-column, Beltran has proven to be highly durable and tough to finish with five decisions and one submission defeat (Tony Lopez by kimura in King of the Cage). "The Mexicutioner" peed in the pool at what was expected to be Rolles Gracie's coming out party, rattling the highly touted BJJ practitioner with combinations in the second to steal the spotlight in their mutual debuts. After further establishing himself with a decision over Tim Hague in his sophomore effort, hard times would befall Beltran. Losses would accompany three of his next four (Matt Mitrione, Pat Barry, Stipe Miocic) though he scored a TKO over Aaron Rosa betwixt the Barry and Miocic fights. Both men are known for a stand and bang mentality, but Beltran's impervious chin and slight edge in the wrestling and agility departments are why he's a substantial favorite at -215. In the gif above, Beltran lands an opportunistic takedown on Division 1 wrestler Stipe Miocic (though the Croatian was admittedly gassed out at the time) and I'm expecting him to do the same with Johnson. My Prediction: Joey Beltran by rear-naked choke. Charles Oliveira (14-2) vs. Eric Wisely (19-6) Oliveira was pegged as an exciting lightweight prospect after opening up with two consecutive submission wins over Darren Elkins (armbar) and Efrain Escudero (rear-naked choke). The Brazilian who goes by "do Bronx" made a careless mistake against Jim Miller and cried uncle to a kneebar, but the flaw was drowned out amidst his electric performance against Nik Lentz (right). Despite the bout being overturned (No Contest) due to the illegal knee, Oliveira steamrolled the stubborn wrestler with his wicked Muay Thai in a fan-friendly battering. Then paired with an equally malicious kickboxer in Donald Cerrone, Oliveira would eat a sharp left to the bread box before being finished with ground-and-pound, inspiring his plunge to featherweight. Wisely, who reminds me of a miniature Spencer Fisher, is making his Octagon debut and is also a former lightweight who's recently dropped down to 145. Though his numbers don't look pretty, Wisely is a tough S.O.B. and no stranger to UFC-caliber opposition: he lost to Erik Koch early in his career and toppled Hermes Franca twice (TKO, decision) and Matt Veach (armbar) in the latter half. The surge earned him a shot in Strikeforce where veteran grappler and former welterweight Pat Healy defeated him via decision on the Challengers 18 card. Wisely is a Taekwondo black belt and adequately warded off the top game of Franca, a BJJ black belt, with a sufficient guard game. Were he tackling more of a run-of-the-mill featherweight, I'd expect Wisely to be a surprisingly staunch challenge as a newcomer. He's an aggressive southpaw with powerful striking and he's capable on the mat. Unless he's adversely affected by the first-time weight cut, Oliveira's BJJ and Muay Thai was stellar against top-shelf lightweights and he'll be fairly tall for a featherweight (5'10"). Despite being skinny as a rail, he had wiry strength and showed some wrestling prowess in the higher weight class as well. Wisely has never been finished and will probably check Oliveira's chin, which could make things interesting late in the fight -- Oliveira has just one win via decision and has only seen the third round two times in his career. His talent is inarguable but I'd say he's yet to prove his mettle. Still, Oliveira is a young kid (22) with an unlimited ceiling and the fiery onslaught he unleashes on the feet will be something Wisely has yet to encounter. My Prediction: Charles Oliveira by decision. Chris Camozzi (15-5) vs. Dustin Jacoby (6-1) Two of the middleweight division's tallest competitors match here as TUF 11 product Camozzi (6'3") takes on relative newcomer Jacoby (6'4") from Finney's H.I.T. Squad. The duo are coming off losses: Camozzi to new entry Francis Carmont and Jacoby to D1 wrestler Clifford Starks in his debut, both by decision on the UFC 137 card. Jacoby entered the UFC undefeated after six fights (5 TKOs, 1 sub), crushing all opponents in the first frame save one. Against Starks, he was simply unable to compete in the wrestling aspect, so I'm looking forward to seeing how he fares with Camozzi. Jacoby is lengthy and proficient in all areas, with his striking clocking in as his strongest facet. He's only twenty-three and stands as another solid prospect with room to grow. Camozzi scrapped with Bellator middleweight Victor O'Donnell in his TUF 11 elimination bout but, despite earning a hard-fought decision, had to leave the house with a broken jaw. He beat James Hammortree at the show's live finale and then eked out a split decision over Korean Top Team's Dongi Yang in a semi-controversial outcome. Australian submissionist Kyle Noke would tap him with a rear-naked choke next, and Camozzi squeaked out another split-vote win over veteran Joey Villasenor in Shark Fights before re-emerging in the UFC against Carmont. Camozzi comes in as a -210 favorite to win. That's perfectly understandable though I think Jacoby will make it much closer. Neither fighter has a true realm of specialty and prefer to stand up. Camozzi is an aggressive grinder where Jacoby is a little more artful and fluid. I'm tempted to take Jacoby for the upset, as his rangy striking could poke holes in Camozzi's brazen attacks on the feet, but I'll play it safe. My Prediction: Chris Camozzi by decision. All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Michael Johnson vs. Shane Roller -- Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson Johnson and Beltran Johnson and .... well, Johnson Roller and Beltran Roller and Johnson   23 votes | Results

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [4 comments]

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Lavar Johnson says he's ready to show that the Strikeforce heavyweights will be able to hang with their UFC counterparts when he meets Joey Beltran.

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No one likes to lose.The actors who walk down the red carpet at the Oscars, stopping to tell Ryan Seacrest they’re just happy to be nominated? They’re lying; they want to win. Being nominated is a tremendous accomplishment, but everyone wants to win. That way you don’t have to summon up all your acting chops to make the “I’m so happy for them” face on live television.Like the nominees who go home without a trophy and every fighter in the world, Michael Johnson doesn’t like losing either.Last time UFC fans saw the former Ultimate Fighter finalist, he was the latest lightweight to be caught in a submission by British standout Paul Sass. The October defeat sent the 25-year-old known as “The Menace” back to the gym in search of answers, and what he came up with is an outlook that shows that backwards step could produce forward progress, starting as early as this weekend.“A lot went wrong,” Johnson laughed when asked to assess his last appearance. “He got me in a weird situation that I didn’t really spend a lot of time on. I got a little confused, and I had to tap before he tore my knee out of place. It was just a mistake that I had to go back and work on, and it’s definitely not happening again anytime soon.“Sometimes losing can be good. The majority of times they’re horrible, but it’s good to have it happen early, as opposed to later on in my career. This way I actually have time to work on it, get better, and not get caught in it again.“I went back to the drawing board, spent a lot of time with my jiu-jitsu coach and the many black belts we have in our gym down here, and we work on it every day. Next time I do see something like that, I’ll know exactly what to do, and not just sit there and think about it.”That drawing board is located in Boca Raton, Florida, where Johnson has spent the last year as a part of the Imperial Athletics team more commonly known as “The Blackzilians.”Training each day alongside the likes of Jorge Santiago, Gesias Cavalcante, Melvin Guillard, and Rashad Evans, Johnson has seen consistent improvement in his skills, and knows the grueling hours he spends in the gym will eventually pay dividends in the cage.“Being down here for the last year as opposed to just getting in the game, I’ve improved dramatically. My standup has gotten way better working with Henri (Hooft) who has come over from Amsterdam. My jiu-jitsu has gotten better. Working on my wrestling with Mike Van Arsdale, it’s gone through the roof. I see myself being a better fighter every day.”Johnson gets to put the past four-months worth of gym time to the test this weekend in Chicago when he faces Shane Roller on the preliminary portion of the UFC on FOX 2 card.With the tremendous depth in the lightweight division, many look at this as a must-win fight for Johnson. The St. Louis native has a different way of approaching the contest, one that further shows he’s ready to take a step forward in the UFC’s most talent rich division.“I think every fight is considered a must-win. If you want to go forward in this sport and you want to make yourself known — if you lose, you take a couple steps back, and if you win, you’re in a completely different frame of the business.“I’m looking at this fight as one where I'm definitely improving and getting better. I’ve had a great, great training camp, and I’m ready to go out here and get a win. I definitely don’t want to sit here and take two losses in a row. That’s really hard to come back from, and then you kind of want to sit around and second-guess yourself. I would say this is a `must not lose’ as opposed to a must-win.”Some would say the two are the same, seeing only semantic differences between must-win and must-not-lose. As Johnson explains it, the difference is in how you prepare for the fight and execute your game plan when the cage door closes.“You’ve got to believe in yourself and your coaches. I’ve had a great training camp; all the hard work is done at this point. I’m just ready to get out here and get a fight.“I can’t get nervous and put a lot of pressure on myself and say, `I have to win this fight. I have to win this fight.’ Everybody wants to win, it’s just one of those things where I have to take all the pressure off myself, and go out there and fight my fight. If you’ve done all the things that you need to do to this point, the win should be the easy part.”Winning in the UFC is never easy, and Roller will be determined to bring his two-fight losing streak to a halt and hand Johnson a second consecutive loss in the process.Johnson is confident that won’t happen, and that his meeting with the WEC veteran will be the start of a breakthrough year in 2012.“He took this fight on short notice, so I’m really not seeing him having the wind or being in the best shape to go three rounds with me. I’m going to feel him out for the first round, put the pressure on him, and then look to finish him in the early second.“This is definitely going to be a new start for me. I’ve taken a new approach to training; completely rededicated myself to the game. I’ve done everything necessary to be a champion in the future, and this is definitely going to be my coming out party.”

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Second verse, a little different from the first. Once again, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hit the big time, as the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion makes its way back to the FOX network on Sat., Jan 28, 2012. Headlining its sophomore UFC on Fox 2 effort from the United Center in Chicago, Ill., are light heavyweight contenders Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, meeting up in an intriguing clash of wrestling standouts. In addition, divisive duelists Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will square off for a crack at division deity Anderson Silva, while blue chip prospect Chris Weidman will look to solidify himself as a legitimate 185-pound contender against Demian Maia. In addition to the three nationally-televised events just mentioned, the UFC will show all eight "Prelims" bouts on FUEL TV, beginning at 5 p.m. ET. Join us after the jump for a look at the first handful. 145 lbs.: Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely After stunning UFC fans by submitting Darren Elkins in less than 30 seconds and choking out an overweight Efrain Escudero, things when downhill quickly for Charles Oliveira (14-2, 1 NC). After being stunningly kneebarred by Jim Miller, "Do Bronx" had his dominant win over Nik Lentz changed to a no-contest by virtue of an illegal knee he landed during his flurry. To cap things off, he had his guts turned to mush by a Donald Cerrone body shot. Dropping down to 145 pounds -- where his lanky frame should do more good -- the 22-year-old grappling expert will try to reignite his momentum at the expense of the debuting Eric Wisely (19-6). Despite an enormous size disadvantage, well-traveled Wisely gave Alpha Spoiler Pat Healy a surprising amount of trouble in the former's lone Strikeforce effort, threatening with every conceivable submission despite eventually dropping the decision. "Little Lee," who owns wins over UFC veterans Matt Veach and Hermes Franca, has never been stopped -- all six of his losses have come via decision, while only four of his wins have done so. Stopping Oliveira would do wonders for the 27-year-old from Iowa's career. Despite the setbacks, I still firmly believe in Oliveira. His grappling is fantastic and his striking, while not on Donald Cerrone's level, is still quite good. His wrestling needs work, but he's far less likely to be overpowered at featherweight than he was at lightweight. Wisely is a very good fighter, and really did give Healy all he could handle, but doesn't seem to possess the attributes (solid takedown defense and superior striking) that I consider a requirement for me to pick someone to beat Oliveira. Idealistic fool I may be, but I'm calling for a triumphant return to form for Aloe Vera, who will grapple his way to an authoritative decision win. Prediction: Oliveira via unanimous decision 155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Shane Roller George St. Pierre's top pick on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12, Michael Johnson's (9-6) wrestling prowess carried him all the way to the show's Finale, where a dominant first round gave way to fatigue and a unanimous decision loss to Jonathan Brookins. "The Menace" bounced back with a vengeance, knocking out World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran Edward Faaloloto at UFC on Versus 4: "Kongo vs. Barry." Unfortunately, Paul Sass had no intention of letting that zero at the end of his record be stricken, and locked up a nasty heel hook to hand Johnson his second loss in three fights. Knowing the UFC's itchy trigger finger, Johnson could very well need a win over the veteran Shane Roller (10-5) to stay employed. Things haven't been all sunshine and lollipops for WEC mainstay Roller, either. In his second UFC effort, following his come-from-behind knockout of Thiago Tavares, he was unceremoniously flattened by Melvin Guillard, and, in his subsequent effort, utterly dominated on the ground by T.J. Grant before (apparently) submitting to an armbar. With two straight losses, Roller may also be finding himself in a win-or-go-home situation, and will need to use his decorated wrestling to its full extent against Johnson. I was picking Johnson to easily beat his former opponent for this event, Cody McKenzie, but Roller is a whole different animal. He's got solid power and really solid wrestling, and while they don't mesh as well as they should, he's a dangerous opponent anywhere the fight goes. While Johnson's improving striking could certainly carry him to victory, his vulnerability to submissions, combined with Roller's prowess for them, make me lean toward the latter in this one. Expect Johnson to have success in the early going, but eventually find himself on his back, then find Roller on his back squeezing the life out of him. Prediction: Roller via first round submission 265 lbs.: Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson He may have lost three of his last four fights, but it's a pretty safe bet that Joey Beltran (13-6) isn't going anywhere. A balls-to-the-wall brawler who absolutely refuses to acknowledge the dozens of power punches that inevitably find his face, "Mexicutioner" has eaten every conceivable strike in MMA and continued plodding forward and swinging for the fences. Luckily for the fans, his current foe has the exact same mindset, and Beltran will be sure to go out and put on a show. One of the toughest men in the heavyweight division, Strikeforce veteran Lavar Johnson (15-5) was shot twice during a family reunion in 2009, only to bounce back and score two consecutive knockouts in 2010. Unfortunately, his poor ground game bit him in the proverbial rear in 2011, suffering submission losses to Shane del Rosario and Shawn Jordan. Now on the biggest stage there is, "Big" -- who has never gone to the judges and has thirteen knockouts to his name -- has a great opportunity to snap the streak and endear himself to MMA fans worldwide. Neither of these guys will ever get within spitting distance of a title, but it's always a treat to watch them fight, and both of them in the cage together practically guarantees some rock-em, sock-em robots action. While Johnson is by far the harder puncher of the two, he's even sloppier than Beltran, and has no semblance of a ground game to speak of. Beltran has pretty pathetic takedowns himself, he proved in the Pat Barry fight that he's willing to at least try to bring it to the ground if things go south, and despite his iron head, things eventually will against a puncher like Johnson. These are two extremely limited fighters, and much as I'd hate for Johnson to come back from such an ordeal and suffer three straight losses, Beltran strikes me as having the better tools for the job, making up for his power deficiency with slightly cleaner technique and a willingness to bring it down if necessary. I've got him coming out on the right end of a raucous three-round slugfest. Prediction: Beltran via unanimous decision 185 lbs.: Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby A well-rounded fighter as gritty as sandpaper, Chris Camozzi (15-5) lost his chance to fight on TUF 11 when his brutal fight in the elimination round, which he walked away victorious from, resulted in a broken jaw. Nevertheless, he was invited back to the UFC, defeating James Hammortree and Dongi Yang before being submitted by Kyle Noke and released. After beating veteran Joey Villaseñor under the Shark Fights banner, he was brought back once again, only to fall to GSP training partner Francis Carmont. Now 1-2 in his last three, defeating the upstart Jacoby could be his only chance to stay with the promotion. 6'4" Dustin Jacoby (6-1) stepped into UFC 137 unbeaten, with five first-round stoppages to his credit. Unfortunately, his wrestling and defensive grappling just weren't up to snuff, as late replacement Clifford Starks was able to sit in his guard and hold him there for a unanimous decision. The HIT Squad representative, 23, could be on thin ice as a result of his poor performance, and will likely need something special this Saturday if he wants to keep saying he "does UFC" with any degree of honesty. I don't like to disparage fighters after one go in the Octagon, especially ones I picked to win, but Jacoby's performance in his fight with Starks was downright pathetic. He never tried to get up off his back, never tried for a submission, and couldn't do anything on his feet. Camozzi isn't really all that good in any particular area, but the fact that he has a takedown game at all is enough for me to pick him to beat Jacoby. Dustin is tall, young, and full of potential, but it seems to me that he's still got far too much to fix before he's UFC material. Camozzi by comfortable top control decision. Prediction: Camozzi via unanimous decision Stop by tomorrow for breakdowns of the four remaining tilts, featuring the likes of Evan Dunham, George Roop and Jon Olav Einemo, among others. See you then! Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on FOX 2, beginning with the "Prelims" bouts on FUEL TV scheduled for around 5 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the main card action as it happens throughout the evening this upcoming weekend.

Posted in: ufc, fight, decision, johnson, roller

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"I really like the match-up. He's not as well known as Anthony Johnson or Rick Story, but I've been working so hard to get my skills better, to increase my level all-around with fighting. When you fight guys like Anthony Johnson, I'm not gonna try to stand with Anthony Johnson, that's common sense. So I like that Roberts is more on my level of striking. He's an explosive athlete, he's got great jiu-jitsu. Against Greg Soto he showed that he's pretty versatile with submissions so it's something I'm gonna work to use my new skills on, but at the same time if I can beat with my game, I'm gonna beat him with my game." Up-and-coming UFC welterweight Charlie Brenneman, who was thrust into the spotlight with a sensational win over Rick Story, only to see it all taken away in an equally sensational loss to Anthony Johnson, tries to get back into the 170-pound title hunt when he takes on Daniel Roberts tonight (Jan. 20, 2012) at the UFC on FX event in Nashville, Tennessee. Who are you taking in a battle that pits a "Spaniard" versus a "Ninja?" More on Brenneman's trials and tribulations in our exclusive interview right here.

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, rick story, anthony, he

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The Athlete gives his thoughts on Anthony Johnson as well as Bisping-Sonnen and a couple other picks for the next two UFC shows.

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, athlete, anthony, athletes submissions

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Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This week we look at the UFC’s return to Brazil in which Jose Aldo defended his featherweight title against Chad Mendes. Aldo finishes Mendes and celebrates in crowd Jose Aldo’s explosive power was on display as a knee coming out of a clench ended Chad Mendes’ title shot. After the fight, Aldo ran into the crowd which provided a great moment albeit a gasp for UFC security. Realistically, Aldo’s security breach is much ado about nothing. He knew that he had the crowd behind him and he wanted to celebrate with his fans. Sure, someone could have done harm to him, but as I stated, he knew his audience. If someone wanted to do harm to him, they could have done so on the walkout. While the trampling of fans may have occurred, it seems as risky as when fans storm the court or field as they do in football or basketball. Do fans feel concerned when a Green Bay Packer does a “Lambeau Leap” after a touchdown? Yet, this was a “teachable moment” for UFC security for next time. It was awkward seeing Aldo trying to shake UFC security as he was trying to celebrate. Even Reed Harris tried to step in to direct Aldo back to the cage. For Aldo, he’s cleaned out the Featherweight division. It will be interesting to see what he’ll do next. A possible superfight with Frankie Edgar (or Ben Henderson) would be a great matchup and something that could be promoted as a battle of current division champs. Belfort chokes out Johnson What a bad trip for Anthony Johnson. A failed weight-cut, losing a portion of his show purse, a first round submission and Johnson returns to the United States without a job. Johnson weighed in on Friday at 197 pounds for his middleweight fight. That means he was 11 pounds over (considering the 1 pound allowance). Belfort, understandably would agree to take the fight if Johnson weighed no more than 205 pounds on Saturday. If Johnson didn’t make it, it certainly would have killed the top end of the PPV. Fortunately, he made weight Saturday. Still, making Dana White sweat the night before whether one of his fighters would make weight was the likely nail in the coffin for Johnson’s UFC career. Johnson has had past problems with cutting weight. He definitely is a chiseled athlete, but an athlete that should fight at 205. For Belfort, its another step back toward Anderson Silva’s title. Attendance and Gate According to the Wrestling Observer (subscription required), the attendance at the HSBC Arena garnered 10,605 paid fans for a gate of $2.8 million. The arena is said to hold 14,000 so we may extrapolate the number of comps assuming the arena was at capacity. In Brazil, UFC 142 was seen on Globo, its top-rated network. Although the three live fights were shown between 12:45am to 2:00am, it garnered 23 million viewers (Wrestling Observer). Bonuses MMA Junkie reports that the bonuses were worth $65,000 each. Edson Barboza won KO of the night for his spectacular spinning heel kick of Terry Etim. Barboza and Etim also won Fight of the Night. The leg lock machine, Rousimar Palhares won for submission of the night. UFC Prelims on FX This was the first time that the UFC Prelims appeared on FX and it received an 880,000 viewer average. The ratings were lower compared to its regular showings on Spike TV. We will try to update you with the UFC 142 Countdown rating  on Fuel. Sponsorships The Octagon included MetroPCS, Xyience, Burger King, Bony Acai, Manguinhos Refinaria, and IntegraMedica with Bud Light in the center of the Octagon. In addition to these sponsors, the UFC advertised its upcoming video game UFC Undisputed in the Octagon. Burger King also ran a promotion with Anderson Silva in which he would have lunch with a fan that won a contest for what the Spider should do to celebrate 1 million twitter followers. The Burger King sponsorship has only been in Brazil but we shall see if the relationship will extend to the United States. KMart is back with the UFC as it placed a voiceover at the beginning of the first round of each fight for its new promotion offering $10 off for UFC 143. It was a nice form of brand activation as its logo and the promotion reminded viewers at the beginning of each first round on the PPV. MMA Junkie reported on soccer clubs getting into the sponsorship of UFC fighters in Brazil. The UFC was said to be cautious about the newfound sponsor money due to the intense rivalries between the clubs. Along with his normal pre-fight sponsor banner, Belfort had another banner in honor of his kidnapped sister. He also spoke about the rash of kidnappings in Brazil at the post-fight press conference. Silva also participated in the UFC’s #Hunt4UFC promo where he gave out tickets to lucky fans. It will be interesting to see how much value the Brazilian sponsors such as IntegraMedica and Manguinhos will bring to the UFC and vice versa. Odds and ends -Another set of fights which ended with first round stoppages. UFC 134’s main events all ended in the first round and the same occurred for UFC 142. -Aldo’s crowd surf and Barboza’s heel kick were featured on Deadspin right after the fights. Barboza’s heel kick made number 3 on ESPN’s top plays of Saturday night. -No word whether there were any glitches with the XBox Live platform as many of those shut out of UFC 141 were given 142 for free. -For you pro wrestling fans, Aldo’s run in the crowd, reminded me of DDP of WCW fame heading into the crowd after a match. -Mike Pyle embraced the “heel” role in his victory over Brazilian Ricardo Funch as he egged on the crowd after his victory. Conclusion UFC 142 was a success from the perspective of its further ties with its Brazilian fan base. There were many PR events during the week including UFC fighters taking surf lessons and open workouts. No doubt the UFC has reengaged with the fans and it bodes well for local viewership of the first international Ultimate Fighter held in the country this year. But, the U.S. buy rate will not reflect the same as it ran opposite the NFL Playoffs. In addition to the playoffs, the fact that this card catered to Brazilian fans meant less known names to the U.S. fan base which will affect the final buy rate results. We also have the factor that a lighter weight division was at the top of the card which has meant (in recent history) a lower buy rate.

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Welcome back to Brazil! After waiting nearly 13 years before returning to the country for UFC 134 in August, this time the UFC waited just four months to make another trip back with UFC 142 this past Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. Featuring some holdovers from UFC 134, including Edson Barboza and Rousimar Palhares, the UFC has committed to featuring the massive amount of talent from the country when it visits. But the story of the weekend was American Anthony Johnson, who has long been known as a massive welterweight since his debut in 2007 and was making his long-awaited middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort in the co-main event. Only, one problem: Johnson failed to make the 186 pound middleweight limit. Weighing 197 on the day of weigh-ins, Johnson embarrassed himself for the last time. As Dana White put it, it was “three strikes and you’re out”, as this was the third time Johnson failed to make weight for a fight. Why Johnson failed to make weight we may never know for sure. His camp mentioned Johnson feeling ill the day of weigh-ins, making his weight cut more difficult. He was able to make it close to the limit before doctors told him they would not allow him to cut any more weight. Regardless of the circumstance, weight cutting and weight limits are a pivotal part of the job, as evident by Johnson being cut from the organization for failing to comply by those rules. Waking up for school was a chore as a child. Is it as tough as cutting 30+ pounds for a weigh-in? Just about. And much like I was able to fake a cough and convince my mother a few times that going to school just was not an option, the excuses run out, and quickly. Eventually my mother caught on, and Anthony Johnson’s mother, Dana White, has caught on as well. Where he goes from here is a story to be written on another day. Johnson still holds supreme talent, but being told by his camp, along with convincing himself, that he can consistently make 170 pounds was a mistake that hampered his career. Johnson should have been at middleweight this entire time. If he is to continue in another organization, he should do so at middleweight, where he is still formidable in both stature and talent. Biggest winner: Rousimar Palhares While Edson Barboza’s spinning wheel kick was insanely impressive, Palhares put himself into title contention by just doing what he does- grab your leg and make it hurt. I am beginning to think that his new slogan will be “Heel hooks and flexing! That’s what Palhares does!” He is certainly a formidable foe for anyone in a division that could use some new blood at the top. While he has been stuck in neutral for the last few years, losing to the two top contenders he has faced in Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt, Palhares definitely belongs in the top echelon of middleweight contenders. Biggest loser: Anthony Johnson Who else could be put here? It almost seems too literal, as Johnson was weighed in too big, and did indeed lose his job over it. Biggest question: Can anything be done concerning strikes to the back of the head? Mario Yamasaki stopped the Erick Silva/Carlo Prater fight early in the first round, as Silva was pummeling Prater. It made sense, and everyone assumed Silva was the victor. But then Yamasaki declared Prater the winner, as he had disqualified Silva for a punch to the back of Prater’s head. You can argue whether that was the correct call or not. And trust me, Joe Rogan will do it. But aside from that, this is not the first time the infraction has occurred during the end of a fight. One solution for the problem that has been discussed is implementing a replay system, as much like the NFL institutes a mandatory replay for every score during a game, the UFC would replay every finish. This does seem like it could work, as the referees would have the benefit of looking over their call, and at least have comfort in knowing that they can definitely make the correct decision. Future matchups: Jose Aldo vs. Hatsu Hioki Now, this is only if Hioki wins at UFC 144 against Bart Palaszewski in February. If he loses, the spot probably goes to Dustin Poirier. Unfortunately, prime candidates for Aldo is not a very big list. He easily put away a big test in Chad Mendes, who was supposed to challenge Aldo with his strong wrestling. That never happened, as Aldo knocked Mendes out with a knee in the last seconds of the first round. Aldo’s camp has stated that he will not be moving up to lightweight immediately, so he still has a few title defenses to make until then. Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva This matchup has already been announced, as the pair will be opposing coaches on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, and will likely fight in the upcoming UFC return to Brazil this summer. Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher Palhares deserves a challenge at middleweight, and with so many top contenders matched up in upcoming bouts, Belcher gets the call. I would be interested to see how Palhares fares against the BJJ black belt in Belcher. Erick Silva vs. John Hathaway Silva “won” on Saturday, and is a very talented prospect at welterweight. Another talented prospect is Hathaway, who has not fought in nearly a year. Each one has a very solid chance of being a title contender in the future at 170, and a win over the other would definitely be a big step in taking them there. Edson Barboza vs. Danny Castillo Barboza could use a guy that will test him on the ground, as he has fought exclusively on his feet throughout his UFC career. Castillo will certainly threaten him with his wrestling, and put pressure on Barboza, much like what Ross Pearson did.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, weight, palhare, aldo

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After defeating a much bigger foe in Anthony Johnson last weekend (Jan. 14, 2012) at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Vitor Belfort will now focus his attention on coaching the next wave of aspiring mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters when serves as a coach in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) first-ever international season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil" opposite his next opponent, Wanderlei Silva. The two coaches will collide in what will be a rematch 14 years in the making, which is tentatively scheduled to take place in their home country of Brazil in the middle of this year. In their first encounter, which also took place in Brazil, way back in 1998 at UFC 17.5, "The Phenom" blitzed through "The Axe Murderer" in only 44 seconds with a barrage of punches for which Silva had no answer. However, Belfort feels this next time around, the fight will be much tougher as he sent out this tweet via his official Twitter account (interpreted via Bloody Elbow) to praise his upcoming opponent, as well as clear up any misinterpretations. Check it out: "I would like to make it clear that I didn't say anything about @wandfc not having a chin, I said it was going to be a very tough fight. For me @wandfc is one of the best fighters of all time and is an example of maturity and I will never disrespect my opponent." Much has changed since their initial encounter. Silva enjoyed a long, prosperous an successful run in Pride FC as its middleweight champion, but has had mixed results after re-joining the UFC in 2007. Belfort, on the other hand, has since competed in various organizations from PRide FC, Affliction MMA and Cage Rage before re-signing with the UFC in 2009. "The Phenom" also spoke to "MMA: Inside The Arena" (via Sherdog.com), that his UFC 142 performance against "Rumble" deserved "Fight of the Night" honors, as well as the hefty check that accompanies it, but didn't get the bonus as a result of the promotion being unhappy with Johnson. That extra $65,000 in bonus money would have gone a long way in taking care of a very large training partner bill: "A wrestler won't be able to take me down and give me a hard time. I came from jiu-jitsu. I had seven trainers working with me during the last three months. I spent around $100,000 with them. They decided to award Barboza with the best knockout and best fight of the night. I think I deserved at least the best fight, but the problem is that they would have to reward Johnson, too, and Dana is really mad at him." Indeed, UFC head honcho Dana White was not happy with Johnson because the fact that he came in overweight for a third time and did not meet the required 185-pound limit. What do you say Manaics, was Belfort's and Johnson's one round of action enough to best Edson's Barboza's and Terry Etim's back-and forth affair? And will his rematch between Wanderlei Silva have similar results to their first encounter?

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, silva, johnson

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Former UFC light heavyweight champ Vitor Belfort enjoyed a big win over Anthony Johnson at UFC 142, finishing Johnson in the first round by rear naked choke. After the big win, Belfort spoke to the Brazilian news outlet O Globoabout Johnson (translated by Tom Mendes): (Johnson) pretended to be hungry when he came after me, but in reality he was not doing anything dangerous. A wrestler is not going to be able to take me down and smother me. It's no use. I come from jiu-jitsu. You can try but it won't lead to anything. I come from jiu-jitsu. Belfort also had some words for his next opponent, Wanderlei Silva: If he does that (trade with me) I'll break him again. He no longer has the chin to trade with me. Tell him to change strategies or it's going to be another knockout. Belfort and Silva are expected to coach the first installment of The Ultimate Fighter to be shot in Brazil. It will air on Fuel TV here in the states. Belfort KO'd Silva at the first UFC Brazil in 1997. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

Posted in: ufc, silva, johnson, wanderlei silva, belfort

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Anthony Johnson's flippant attitude on social media after missing weight by 11 pounds killed the chances of keeping his job.

Posted in: pound, job, johnson, chance, weight

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At UFC 142, Anthony Johnson was given the biggest opportunity of his career. After exciting battles in the welterweight class, Johnson was afforded the opportunity to jump up to 185 pounds, a division believed to benefit the 6'2" wrestling powerhouse who regularly weighs upwards of 200-plus pounds.

Posted in: pound, anthony johnson, johnson, mma history, anthony

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Probably wasn't hard to see this one coming. Following his submission loss to Vitor Belfort last Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has officially released Anthony Johnson from his ZUFFA contract. That's according to a report from ESPN correspondent Franklin McNeil. Johnson failed to make weight for his UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" co-main event against "The Phenom," tipping the scale at a whopping 197-pounds, a full 11 pounds over the 186-pound contractual limit. It was the third time "Rumble" missed weight in his UFC career. The first came against Rich Clementi at UFC 76 and then again opposite Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 104. And as Dana White told FUEL TV, three strikes and you're out. "Three strikes and you're out. This is his third time that he hasn't made weight. He's the co-main event in a huge fight down here in Brazil and this one was a bad one. Rumble Johnson did the damage to himself. To be that unprofessional and not come in on weight, and to be that far off when you used to fight at 170, now you went to 185 pounds so you wouldn't have trouble making weight, and this is your worst weight cut ever? That's at a detriment to himself." Johnson claims he was on target for his middleweight debut, until his body betrayed him just hours before hitting the scale. On the advice of attending physicians, he rehydrated to preserve his health at the expense of making weight. Belfort agreed to proceed as planned and gave Johnson a stipulation of making 205-pounds by fight night, for which he did. It kept the co-main event intact and allowed the Brazilian to get his revenge the good, old-fashioned way. By winning. For more on Weight-gate click here and here.

Posted in: ufc, pound, johnson, weight, comain event

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In the co-main event of UFC 142, Vitor Belfort overcame a number of hurdles before the bout and managed to submit huge opponent Anthony Johnson late in the first round. Johnson missed weight badly, coming in at 197 pounds after his weight cut went wrong due to some sort of medical issue. The win came in front of Belfort's home crowd in Rio, who went bonkers when the referee stopped the bout. Johnson was the aggressor early, throwing wild strikes and getting a takedown. He landed one big shot on the ground, but Vitor locked him down and earned the standup from the ref. Belfort's eye was swollen, but he managed to get a few shots in on Rumble while being held against the cage. Another separation led to a quick Johnson takedown, but again he was able to do nothing and Mirgliotta quickly reset them. Johnson was visibly gassed and fell to his knees after throwing a kick, which led Belfort to eventually take his back, land some punches, and sink in a rear naked choke. Johnson tapped at 4:49 of the first round. What was the high spot of this fight? Probably the crowd reaction to the tap. Other than that, the shot that Rumble landed on Belfort landed on the ground was pretty brutal. That is what caused all the swelling around Vitor's eye. Where do these guys go from here? It's pretty easy to guess where Johnson's going - to the unemployment line. Dana White announced after the fight that Rumble would be released because this was the third time he had missed weight in the UFC. It was especially egregious because the fight was Johnson's first at middleweight. He moved up in weight so he wouldn't have these issues, and he couldn't even make 185 either. While I certainly expect to see him back in the UFC one day, for now he'll be looking for a place to fight. Hector Lombard vs. Anthony Johnson in Bellator, perhaps? It's also pretty easy to state where Belfort is going from here. He is scheduled to be one of the coaches on the first Brazilian version of The Ultimate Fighter, and will face off with opposing coach Wanderlei Silva afterwards. Vitor and Silva have famously met once before, way back at UFC Brazil in 1998. Belfort stopped Silva by TKO in just 44 seconds. Watch it now, later or never? Now. Like the rest of the main card, this fight was full of action and ended early. You can also decide whether Mirgliotta's standups were justified or too quick. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 142 in the full entry UFC 142 Results: Wallid Ismail Reacts To Erick Silva DQ - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Six Fights To Make After Aldo Vs. Mendes - Ben Thapa UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson Cut Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matt Roth UFC 142: Rosi Sexton On Anthony Johnson And The Risks Of Weight Cutting - Bloody Elbow UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson 'Likely Cut' Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results Video: Jose Aldo Vs. Chad Mendes Full Fight Highlights - Bloody Elbow UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results: Jose Aldo Knocks Out Chad Mendes Then Celebrates In Crowd - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Vitor Belfort Defeats Anthony Johnson By Rear Naked Choke - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Rousimar Palhares Takes Home Mike Massenzio's Leg - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Erick Silva Disqualified In Fight With Carlo Prater - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Edson Barboza Knocks Out Terry Etim With A Wheel Kick - Matt Roth UFC 142 Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 122: UFC 142 Results Review - Matt Bishop UFC 142 Results: Thiago Tavares Defeats Sam Stout by Uanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Gabriel Gonzaga Chokes Out Edinaldo Oliveira - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Yuri Alcantara Defeats Michiro Omigawa By Unanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Mike Pyle Knocks Out Ricardo Funch In First Round - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Felipe Arantes Dominates Antonio Carvalho - Matt Roth UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard - Brent Brookhouse

Posted in: ufc, result, johnson, matt, roth

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Vitor Belfort is a former UFC champion and #1 contender, so he knows the kind of commitment it takes to become the best in MMA. Saturday night, Belfort took out Anthony Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes from his native country of Brazil in front of thousands of cheering fans. However, the fight was more about weights than strikes, as “Rumble” came in well over the 185 pound limit for the bout. For his efforts, “The Phenom” sent Johnson packing, picking up an extra 20% of Johnson’s paycheck. Still, money aside, the lack of respect involved left Belfort a little upset. UFC cameras caught up with the 34-year old following the victory to guage his reaction on the win and see what he had to say about Johnson as a hole. “I kept the pressure, I made him give up; that was the plan,” Belfort said. “The whole country was behind me. I have fans all over the world and they are the most important thing after God and my family.” Check out the entire interview below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, belfort, phenom ”, pressure i

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The sport may be acted out in an Octagon rather than a baseball diamond but in the case of Anthony Johnson’s weight-cutting issues in the UFC its still “three strikes and you’re out”. While it was strongly believed Johnson would be released from his contract if he lost to Belfort, possibly even if he won, UFC President Dana White confirmed the move had been made at the post-event press conference for UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes where Johnson was submitted in the opening round of his co-headlining collision with Vitor Belfort. “This is the worst weight-cutting disaster he’s ever had,” explained White. “The question everybody wants to know is, ‘Is he gone?’ Yes, he is. Three strikes and you’re out.” Cameras Follow White During UFC 142 Weigh-In Debacle Johnson notoriously came in eleven pounds over the limit for what was to be his 185-pound debut, claiming a medical issue had forced doctors to rehydrate a few hours before stepping on the scale. Had it been the first time “Rumble” missed weight he likely would have received little more than a slap on the wrist but given his history of coming in heavy, not to mention the bout’s importance to the card, the UFC was left with few options outside of cutting him from the roster. The 27-year old Johnson holds an overall record of 10-4 with seven TKOs and could certainly be a force to reckon with once he gets his weight in check. Among his past wins are those over notable adversaries such as Luigi Fioravanti, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Charlie Brenneman, and Dan Hardy. Possible promotions he could land in now that he’s a free agent include BAMMA or Bellator. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, weightcutting disaster, question everybody

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After missing weight by 11 pounds for his fight with Vitor Belfort, Anthony Johnson has been cut by the UFC. From MMA Junkie: "This is his third time," White said of Johnson's failure to make weight for the third time in his octagon career. "Three strikes and you're gone." This comes as no surprise, especially since Rumble looked awful in the fight and was submitted in the opening frame by Belfort. Anthony is now at a serious crossroad in his career. Hopefully he can get his mind and body together, win a few fights in smaller shows and make his way back to the UFC. This should also put everyone else in the company on notice (I'm looking at you, Thiago Alves). Part of being a professional fighter is making weight and if you habitually fail, you should be gone.

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, octagon career, anthony

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At UFC 142, Anthony Johnson had hoped to turn the page on past weight-cutting woes. Instead, the event spelled the end of one chapter in his career.

Posted in: ufc, event, johnson, erick silva, weightcutting woes

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Three strikes and Anthony Johnson is officially out. After missing weight by a whopping eleven pounds in what was scheduled to be his middleweight debut, then losing to Vitor Belfort by first round submission at UFC 142, Johnson has been released by the UFC. This past weekend was the third time Johnson was missed weight the day before the fight, with the other two times coming at welterweight. Dana White confirmed the termination of Johnson’s contract at the post-event press conference. Johnson had reportedly come to within a pound and a half of making 186 pounds but was advised by doctors to not cut anymore weight as it was becoming a health risk. Taking the doctors advice, Johnson re-hydrated back up to 197 pounds when he stepped on the scale on Friday and weighed 211 pounds when the cage door closed on Saturday night. Win or lose, Johnson was fighting for his job against Belfort following his weight issue. Come showtime, “Rumble” scored a couple of takedowns and damaged the right eye of Vitor before ultimately gassing out and falling victim to a rear naked choke in the final seconds of the opening frame. Other organizations likely interested in his services include BAMMA and Bellator. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, pound, anthony johnson, johnson, weight

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"A loss is a loss. My legs just got really tired. I didn't get beat up in there and he really didn't hurt me with what he hit me with. I just got tired. I've got to figure this thing out." -- In his post-fight remarks following his first round loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 last night (Jan. 14, 2012), Anthony Johnson explains that he really wasn't rattled by anything that "The Phenom" hit him with, but rather, was just tired. Assumingly, the fatigue stemmed from the weight cut troubles he suffered trying to make the 185-pound weight limit. A visibly bigger "Rumble" used his weight advantage early to outmuscle Belfort and score a few takedowns, but the Brazilian prevailed in the end, pleasing the home town crowd with a first round fight-ending rear naked choke that put Johnson out of his misery. Johnson came in 11 pounds more than the required weight limit, which marks the third time he has failed to make weight in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. He previously missed weight against Rich Clementi at UFC 76 and Yoshiyuki Yoshida UFC 104. After making the jump up to middleweight to limit his weight cutting issues, it came as a big surprise that he failed yet again in his first fight at middleweight and wasn't more prepared. Perhaps with the 15 pound gap, "Rumble" had the confidence to allow himself more leeway. With his "a loss is a loss" mentality, Johnson seems to be taking it in stride, however, in this case, a loss just isn't a loss, but rather, it could mark the end of his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career, which means he might now have plenty of time to "figure it out."

Posted in: ufc, loss, johnson, vitor belfort, weight

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Anthony Johnson has had a bad week. During his final weight cut on Friday, he was forced to stop after the UFC doctor stepped in and forced him to rehydrate because Johnson was unable to move his legs. At the weigh ins it was announced that his opponent Vitor Belfort agreed to the fight as long as 'Rumble' was able to weigh in on Saturday at 205 pounds. When Johnson stepped on the scales he came in 11 pounds over the middleweight limit, people were shocked. When he 'apologized' for it, people were appalled. To say that the fight with Vitor Belfort didn't go as planned would be an understatement. Johnson completed two of five takedown attempts and was unable to do much damage on the ground. He didn't fare much better on the feet being out struck by a seven to one margin and landing only five strikes. When he tapped to the rear naked choke, it was assumed that he'd be released. The UFC sent out a quick quote following the fight where Johnson had this to say about his performance: A loss is a loss. My legs just got really tired. I didn't get beat up in there and he really didn't hurt me with what he hit me with. I just got tired. I've got to figure this thing out. He'll have to figure it out on the regional scene as UFC President Dana White is planning on giving Anthony Johnson his walking papers following the performance. After initially saying "he'd probably cut Johnson", Dana decided to make things official after having some time to mull it over. MMA Junkie has the story: That was one of the most unprofessional things I've ever seen. The guy was at 170 pounds. He moved up to 185 pounds so this wouldn't happen anymore, and this is the worst weightcutting disaster he's ever had. He almost ruined the co-main event here in Brazil. I don't know what else to say about that one. I'm not happy about it. ... I don't know who you blame in this one. Do you blame him? Do you blame his team? Do you blame his camp? I mean who takes the blame in this one? Ultimately, you're a grown man. You're responsible for your own actions. After that performance I can't blame Dana. Anthony Johnson attempted to come into the fight as big as possible in order to bully Belfort. It backfired on him and he'll need to reevaluate his strategy and training camps going forward. Hopefully he can get back to the UFC after putting together a string of wins on the regional scene. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, belfort, didnt

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A friend once told me that hard problems require hard consequences. Just kidding, my friends aren't even close to being that wise. The most philosophical statement I heard from my buds last night during UFC 142 was 'red, yellow and white is camouflage at a McDonalds.' That's the best we can do. We're not used to making existential decisions that can further determine a person's life. Leave that up to ZUFFA who has now cut Anthony Johnson from the UFC roster. MMAJunkie has confirmed earlier reports that following UFC 142, Dana White released the former welterweight fighter due to grossly not making weight for this weekend's bout. Here's what Dana White said after UFC 142 about releasing Johnson. "This is his third time. Three strikes and you're gone." "That was one of the most unprofessional things I've ever seen. The guy was at 170 pounds. He moved up to 185 pounds so this wouldn't happen anymore, and this is the worst weightcutting disaster he's ever had. He almost ruined the co-main event here in Brazil. I don't know what else to say about that one. I'm not happy about it." "I don't dislike the guy. I like him very much actually. When you talk to Anthony Johnson, he's a good guy. "I don't know who you blame in this one. Do you blame him? Do you blame his team? Do you blame his camp? I mean who takes the blame in this one? Ultimately, you're a grown man. You're responsible for your own actions." I guess we can all call him 'Humble Johnson' from now on. Look on the bright side, Anthony Johnson vs. Hector Lombard could very well be on the horizon in Bellator this year. That, my friends, is a fight I can believe in. [Source]

Posted in: ufc, guy, johnson, friend, dont

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There was a significant amount of drama heading into last night's (January 14, 2012) UFC 142 co-main event between Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson. Unfortunately, very little of it had to do with the actual fight, itself. Johnson, in moving up a division to middleweight for the first time in his career, missed weight by 11 pounds on Friday, forcing a special stipulation of having to weigh in a second time on Saturday before he would be allowed to even compete as well as forfeiting 20 percent of his fight purse. "Rumble" pushed a very aggressive pace early with an intent on finishing the fight before he ran out of gas, but it was Belfort who responded efficiently earning his first submission victory in over 10 years. So how did "The Phenom" pull off the victory against such a big and powerful foe? And what's next for both fighters? Johnson pushed forward aggressively and perhaps recklessly early, scoring a big takedown after catching a Belfort head kick attempt. "Rumble," though, did not do much with his takedown, instead choosing to remain in Belfort's full guard, staying tight to his body in top position and not landing punches. After a quick warning from the referee, they were stood up. Again, Johnson hunted to the takedown, pressing "The Phenom" into the fence and clutching onto a single leg. When he couldn't improve his position and after eating some short strikes from a sprawling Belfort, the referee again separated both fighters. After a wild and rather sloppy exchange of strikes, Johnson dropped to his knees to again purse the takedown, turning the corner and putting Belfort on his back once more. The Imperial Athletics fighter was more active this time, trying to posture up and throw punches but they were once again stood up, this time perhaps even quicker than the first. (This is the only separation I don't fully agree with). Upon being reset for the third time, Johnson showcased his true desperation, recklessly throwing big power strikes and head kicks with very little technique whatsoever. When he shot in for a takedown with 90 seconds left, he was completely out of gas. Belfort stuffed it this time with a beautiful sprawl and then immediately countered with punches to the side of the head. With Johnson worrying about defending his head, "The Phenom" pounced onto his back, sinking both hooks in. He softened "Rumble" up with some heavy shots from behind and eventually sunk in a rear naked choke while flattening him out, forcing the tap as the Brazilian crowd erupted. For Anthony Johnson, this fight was a disaster. He wasn't active enough after securing the takedowns so while the referee was quick to stand them up, he has no one to blame but himself for not trying to pass Belfort's guard or posture up and throw heavier ground and pound. He also embarrassed both the himself and the UFC by missing weight so badly and it's going to be a costly lesson. Early reports are that Johnson will be released from the promotion, so he'll have plenty of time to think about what went wrong and how to fix it. Hopefully he takes this as a learning experience, makes weight successfully in his next few fights and we can see him back in the UFC again by the end of the year. For Vitor Belfort, this was a terrific showcase of some of his skills that fans haven't had an opportunity to see. He had a good defensive guard and was able to lock down Johnson after being taken down so as to force the stand-up from the referee. He also aggressively attacked after defending the final takedown and his transition to the American's back was excellent. The reaction from the crazed fans in attendance made the moment that much better. Belfort is already lined up to face Wanderlei Silva next as he'll coach against "The Axe Murderer" in the first ever foreign season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), this one taking place in Brazil. He was already a star in his home country, but his performance last night coupled with his upcoming television role will likely put him over the top. Expect Belfort to get a huge middleweight fight if he can get past Silva later this year. So what did you think, Maniacs? What did you think of Dan Miragliotta's two stand ups and one separation? Did this fight go as you expected since Johnson had the weight issues heading in? Does Johnson deserve to be fired? Sound off! For complete UFC 142 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

Posted in: fight, takedown, time, johnson, belfort

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Following a rough weight cut that had him 11 pounds over the middleweight max, and a first-round loss to Vitor Belfort, Anthony Johnson has been cut by the UFC.

Posted in: loss, johnson, vitor belfort, weight, middleweight max

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Jose Aldo took a huge step toward becoming the next mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012), delivering a crushing first-round knockout of challenger Chad Mendes in the UFC 142 main event at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With his fifth defense of his title, and third in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Aldo's performance before a cheering Brazilian crowd ended nearly as quickly as it began. In the co-main, Vitor Belfort overcame the challenge of the much-larger Anthony Johnson with a hard-nosed performance, overpowering "Rumble" to win via first-round rear-naked choke. There were several other fighters on the card who shined, as well as several who didn't, turning in a menagerie of grab bag-like of moments (and fights) that were memorable and controversial alike. The pay-per-view (PPV) main card featured 10 fighters, who aced, passed and/or failed their respective tests in "Rio." Here's a closer look at each of them graded out with the UFC 142 report card. Here's a closer look at how the competitors graded out: Edson Barboza -- AThe talented lightweight bumped his ledger to 10-0 with a third-round spinning back kick knockout of Terry Etim. Barboza's ability to control range and stuff occasional takedowns was tested last night, as Etim swarmed him to the mat twice, but Barboza's quick technical response -- a well-placed butterfly hook in both instances -- promptly returned the fight to standing position. Using a patient approach and his trademark booming kicks to the lower leg, the set up for the spectacular finish was a classic. Barboza unleashed a magnificent spinning back kick that knocked out Etim instantly, sending him crumpling to the floor.There aren't many 5'11" lightweights with a 75-inch reach, and Barboza has the stand up mojo physical tools to apply both those advantages to full effect. He also showed his potent hands in this bout, and rescued what may have otherwise been a forgettable decision win with a kick that will live forever in highlight reels.Rousimar Palhares -- AIn a relatively thin 185-pound division, champion Anderson Silva likely fights the winner of the Jan. 28 Chael Sonnen/Mark Munoz. But after that, there wasn't a lot in terms of bench strength. That changed last night as Palhares took an impressive win, albeit against an overmatched opponent. With another submission victory via heel hook, Palhares has made pulling guard an offensive move once more, akin to the early days of the UFC when nobody knew what the hell to do there. Built along compact lines with crushing strength, he seems capable of finding lower-leg submissions from virtually any position, and his reputation only grows off this latest victory.Palhares also showed a little more stand up variety with his performance, landing some thumping leg kicks, prior to the finisher. He's not going to be a betting favorite should he face Silva, but his combination of raw power, outstanding submissions, and cast-iron chin (see the Dan Henderson fight) make him an interesting proposition challenging Silva for the title. Or, anyone else, for that matter. Another good spot was that Palhares kept his emotions in check and let off the submission once fight was called. With his ability, the last thing he needs is more controversy accompanying his performances, and it was nice to see him do well in that department.Jose Aldo -- AThis was the return of the Aldo we knew and loved. The guy who turned leg kicks into a dominating weapon, and culled together highlight reels from brutal finishes. The champ's takedown defense was outstanding, though a blatant fence grab moments before the knockout stopped and obvious slam-takedown, which was precisely what Mendes needed to do to generate momentum. That being said, the ending sequence was classic Aldo, operating on a tactical level only he and other master strikers can comprehend: With Mendes clutching him from behind, Aldo used a basic over-under grip to spin out, and while keeping hold of Mendes' left hand, flung forward with a bull's-eye knee. It was a perfect set up and essentially ended the match right there.Aldo also turned a neat trick last night that's been the realm of fellow champs like Georges St. Pierre and Jon Jones: In dismantling highly-credentialed challengers, he makes the possibility of them getting a rematch a remote one, at least in the near future. Mendes would probably be a betting favorite over anyone else presently competing in the UFC featherweight division, but Aldo's blowout win will mean a long road back if he wants another crack at the belt. That's how good Aldo is, and a quite a statement to the world, that he did it against an unbeaten and talented challenger.This showing was also a return of the high-energy Aldo, who disappeared for stretches against Mark Hominick and was barely present against Kenny Florian. Smaller guys have to do more to become big names, but right now Aldo's the best under-170 lb. guy in the game.Vitor Belfort -- A-Putting the weigh-in controversy aside, where Johnson scaled a whopping 197 pounds and had to restrain himself to 205 pounds the morning of the bout, Belfort put on an impressive performance. Taking Johnson's attack in stride, Belfort showed by his striking is so dangerous, regardless of whom he's hitting, by besting Johnson in some rapid-if-wild exchanges, prior to taking the back and sinking in the fight-finishing rear naked choke.The only demerit Belfort gets here is some uncharacteristically wild striking, which a better fighter might have exploited. Either way, he gets a win that endears him to fans given how patently unfair the situation was to him. It's not quite the road he'll need to get a title shot secured just yet, but another win in vintage "Vitor" style and you can bet people will be willing to see him fight for the belt.Chad Mendes -- CThe championship challenger was doing reasonably well until the fight-finishing knee, showing improved confidence in his stand up by landing a few leg kicks, while eating much harder ones in return. Mendes gets a C here for two reasons: he lost to an amazing champion, and was screwed by ref Mario Yamasaki giving Aldo a mere warning for an obvious fence grab that denied Mendes a huge takedown. Aldo's grab was beyond incidental as it completely changed the flow of the fight.That aside, Mendes has a long path ahead of him to lock horns with the champ again. Like Vitor Belfort, who may be the most physically gifted challenger in his weight class, it'll be a tough sell on the immediate horizon to promote Mendes as a title challenger, but the good news is he still has the tools to knock off the required amount of top contenders to make his case.Terry Etim -- C-The British lightweight was game, but overmatched last night, unable to work his stand up effectively in what turned into an increasingly one-sided, albeit somewhat tepid bout, until the finish. Etim was impressive in actually taking down Barboza twice, but was quickly stymied by the Brazilian and couldn't keep the position. Terry's a willing if middling-level lightweight who's going to do well against a certain class of lightweights, and will definitely stay in the promotion given his style and English fan base, but he fell flat against one of the division's better guys tonight.Mike Massenzio -- DThe middleweight simply couldn't deal with Palhares, either standing or on the ground. Now 2-4 in the UFC, Massenzio is on promotional thin ice, though in his defense, there aren't a lot of guys that would've escaped the fight-ending submission, either. Unable to work the vital stand up phase that might have given him a chance to win, limited options made the end seem inevitable.Anthony Johnson -- FFailure to make weight? Check. Coming in more over the limit than any UFC fighter in history? Check. Losing in one round despite these advantages? Check. Johnson missed on all cylinders here, especially given that his rise from welterweight was supposed to solve his much-chronicled problem at the scales, which made him a hit-or-miss proposition come fight time. This was a massive fail on all counts. He'll need to make some serious changes to his preparation regimen if he wants to keep fighting in the UFC. Sadly, his talent and upside make it all the more tragic, because when he's on, he's as imposing as a fighter can be. There's always tomorrow when you're a young fighter, but for Johnson, tomorrow sure as heck was not this night in Brazil.Erick Silva and Carlo Prater: IncompleteSilva looked impressive in his second quick UFC bout, initially appearing to knockout Prater with blows, while his opponent was turtled on the mat. But after a lengthy post-fight interlude, it was announced that ref Mario Yamasaki was disqualifying Silva for blows to the back of the head, which apparently he warned Silva about sometime between the offense and legal blows, at which point Prater was apparently unable to continue. A disappointing ending to what should have been a showcase fight for the talented Brazilian, but ultimately there's really not enough here to grade, given the incomplete nature of the bout. For complete UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

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submitted by MentalMidgetGSP [link] [6 comments]

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What looked to be a very promising future in the UFC’s middleweight division just days ago turned out to be unmitigated disaster for Anthony Johnson this weekend in Rio. It all started yesterday when Johnson grossly missed weight by 11 pounds. He and his camp blamed it on a “medical issue” but that wasn’t enough of an explanation to keep him off Dana White’s sh*t list in the hours leading up to his fight with Vitor Belfort this evening. Dana stated before the fight that Johnson’s job was “on the line, win or lose,” basically implying that Johnson needed to perform spectacularly tonight to keep his job. Well, he didn’t and it sounds like Dana is going to keep his word. “To be honest, we’re probably going to cut him after this event,” UFC president Dana White said. “Three strikes and you’re out. This is his third time that he hasn’t made weight. He’s the co-main event in a huge fight down here in Brazil. This one was a bad one.” “Rumble Johnson did the damage to himself,” White said. “To be that unprofessional, and not come in on weight and be that far off when you used to fight at 170. Now you went to 185 pounds so you wouldn’t have trouble making weight and this is your worst weight cut ever? That’s a detriment to himself.” Considering this is his third time missing weight, I don’t see any problems with cutting him, but if they don’t, they at least should force him to fight at light heavyweight and be done with this weight fiasco. Nearly every other fighter on the UFC roster makes weight on a very consistent basis. There’s no reason Johnson shouldn’t be able to too. Image via MMA Junkie

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RIO DE JANEIRO - Anthony Johnson's third weighcutting mistake will be his last in the UFC, at least for now. Following Saturday night's UFC 142 event at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, UFC president Dana White terminated Johnson's contract. "This is his third time," White said of Johnson's failure to make weight for the third time in his octagon career. "Three strikes and you're gone."

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Anthony Johnson will likely be released by the UFC after suffering a first-round submission to Vitor Belfort in the co-main event of UFC 142 on Saturday night, one day after missing weight by 11 pounds for what was scheduled to be his middleweight debut. “We’re probably going to cut Anthony Johnson,” UFC President Dana White said in an interview after the event on Fuel TV. Johnson (10-4), who spent his first 10 UFC fights at welterweight, was coming off wins over Dan Hardy and Charlie Brenneman and had won five of his last six bouts, but missed weight 3 times for his 11 UFC fights, leaving him likely to be released without a win over Belfort. More UFC 142 coverage: UFC 142 Results Recap: Jose Aldo Knocks Out Chad Mendes in First Round Pictured: Anthony Johnson

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Anthony Johnson has been released by the UFC after losing by first-round submission to Vitor Belfort in the co-main event of UFC 142 on Saturday night, one day after missing weight by 11 pounds for what was scheduled to be his middleweight debut. “We’re probably going to cut Anthony Johnson,” UFC President Dana White said in an interview after the event on Fuel TV before confirming Johnson had already been released to MMAJunkie. Johnson (10-4), who spent his first 10 UFC fights at welterweight, was coming off wins over Dan Hardy and Charlie Brenneman and had won five of his last six bouts, but missed weight 3 times for his 11 UFC fights, leaving him likely to be released without a win over Belfort. More UFC 142 coverage: UFC 142 Results Recap: Jose Aldo Knocks Out Chad Mendes in First Round Pictured: Anthony Johnson

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After failing to make weight for the third time in his UFC career, it looks like Anthony Johnson is going to be let go by the promotion. Johnson had moved up to middleweight after a career at welterweight but still missed weight by eleven pounds. The reasoning for his failed weight cut was that he felt ill the day of the weigh-in and was told to take fluids by doctors. Johnson made things easier on the promotion when he appeared exhausted early in the first round against Vitor Belfort and his exhaustion allowed Belfort to hit him and take his back to get the rear naked choke finish. Larry Pepe of ProMMARadio tweeted this during the post-fight presser: @LarryPepeLarry Pepe Dana White: "We are probably going to cut Anthony Johnson"Jan 15 via webFavoriteRetweetReply Johnson is just too large of a man to keep trying to cut as much weight as he has all career. It's amazing to think that he made welterweight at any point given that he doesn't even look like a middleweight now. The guy appears to have the natural body size of a light heavyweight and it may be time for him to test that out. The best move to score some points with the UFC may be to be very pubic in saying that he needs to fight at 205 and go out and have some success doing so on the regional scene. Or, even if he wants to stay at middleweight, he has to make the cut with ease repeatedly and prove that he can do it. I truly believe we'd see him have better success if he stops wrecking his body with crazy weight cuts.

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A tumultuous weight cut will likely spell the end of Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson's UFC career.

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Following the UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" event that took place last night (Sat., Jan. 14, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, UFC President Dana White visited with Jon Anik for the post-fight show on Fuel TV. And during his interview, White was quoted as saying (via Larry Pepe) the UFC is "probably going to cut Anthony Johnson" following his first round submission loss to Vitor Belfort in the co-main event of the evening. It's not surprising, really. Johnson put the world's largest fight promotion in a highly undesirable position when he came in an unbelievable 11-pounds overweight for his middleweight contest, jeopardizing the bout just one day before it was scheduled to take place. Can you imagine how the Brazilian fans would have felt if they were told their beloved "Phenom" would no longer be on the card because his opponent couldn't make weight? And what's worse, he couldn't even come within 10 pounds of it? Fortunately for all involved, it was agreed upon that Johnson would simply need to weigh in under 205-pounds a certain number of hours before the event for the fight to go on and he was able to do so. As it turned out, all the weight cutting took its toll on "Rumble," who gassed after just a few minutes of action and was choked out inside the first round. Now, after losing once the competition was raised yet again, and failing miserably to make weight despite giving him an extra 15 pounds to work with (he normally competes at welterweight if you can believe it), Johnson is likely gone from the UFC. Maybe Strikeforce has an opening in its welter middle light heavyweight division.

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Vitor Belfort defeated Anthony Johnson in their co-main event at UFC 142.

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A look at a very busy January fight schedule for the UFC.

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Vitor Belfort overcame Anthony Johnson’s weight advantage and submitted Johnson with a rear naked choke with 11seconds left in the opening round in the co-main event of UFC 142 on Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. MMAFrenzy.com’s play-by-play of Belfort vs. Johnson is below: Round 1 – Johnson attempts a poor front kick and throws several wild shots. He looks massive. Belfort fires a kick but Johnson catches it and inside trips Belfort down to the mat. Belfort recovers and pulls guard after a hard shot from AJ. Another front kick to a takedown attempt by AJ. Belfort sprawls and uses the cage to stay up. Referee Dan Miraglotta separates them. AJ ducks for a takedown but eats a hard a knee from Belfort. AJ finally gets him down and is just looking to smother Belfort without posturing up. Miraglotta stands them up quickly again. Hard but wild knee from AJ and he looks for another takedown. Belfort defends and lands some punches before taking AJ’s back off a spin. Belfort throws the hooks in and is pounding AJ from top. AJ just covering up but doesn’t look hurt. Belfort locks up a rear naked choke and transitions to a Gable grip to choke AJ out cold. AJ’s dehydration clearly showed as the fight wore on. Vitor Belfort def. Anthony Johnson via sub (rear-naked choke) at 4:49 of Round 1 Pictured: Vitor Belfort

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Let Vitor Belfort's win over an overweight Rumble Johnson be a metaphor for everyone out there. In short, if you're overweight you will eventually be choked out. If you eat too much poutine, Belfort will dive through your friggin' bedroom window and choke you out, regardless of what you're doing. You think those shards of broken glass are going to cut Belfort? Nonsense. Sharpness doesn't affect Belfort It's a perk that comes with being one of the greatest Brazilian fighters in MMA history. It wasn't a cakewalk for Belfort. Rumble's plutonium-laced gloves connected to Vitor's face a number of times in the first round, resulting in a rather nasty right eye. However, Belfort managed to prevent the takedown on a number of occasions and in the final sprawl of the fight, Belfort managed to take Johnson's back and sink in a rear-naked choke with just eleven seconds left in the first round. With Anthony Johnson coming in at 197 lbs for a middleweight fight, we're not sure what's going to happen with him after tonight. However, props to Vitor on a stunning win over a very tough opponent tonight in Brazil.

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The only real hoopla created by the UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" event surrounded the co-main event of the evening a contest that was supposed to be contested at middleweight but was really a light heavyweight fight, as both Anthony Johnson and Vitor Belfort came in at or around 205-pounds. "Rumble," of course, caused quite a fuss when he missed weight by 11-pounds and created enough controversy to sell the card on his own. Fans quickly got behind "The Phenom" hoping he would make Johnson pay for his transgressions. Did he ever. Despite a massive size advantage, Belfort was far more physical and eventually locked in a rear-naked choke that forced Johnson to tap inside the first round. Johnson looked considerably larger inside the cage, especially noticeable when the two got together for the staredown. "Rumble" opened with a front kick that missed and after an awkward exchange, he put Belfort on his back. "The Phenom" missed on a few punches after they reset thanks to a referee restart and Johnson used that to clinch against the cage, presumably to lean on Vitor and make him feel his weight. Another break from the referee led to Belfort coming out strong with punches that looked to find their mark and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Johnson managed to get back on top and tried to stay busy but he just couldn't do enough to avoid another referee restart. By the end of the first round, it looked an awful lot like Johnson was gassed. Vitor took his back and started landing blows while looking for a rear-naked choke. Despite his size advantage, "Rumble" was losing the battle physically. Eventually, Belfort got the choke locked in and squeezed until Johnson went limp. Revenge is sweet. Getting it at home is even sweeter. Be sure to hit up MMAmania.com's live UFC 142 post for up to the minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of the rest of the night's action by clicking here.

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Vitor Belfort defeats Anthony Johnson by submission. The stoppage came at 4:49 in the first round. Vitor attempted a high kick and was awkwardly thrown on his head. Vitor threw his legs up for an Omaplata but Rumble stood up and then dove forward with a massive punch that landed clean. Vitor landed punches to the back of the head and then the referee stood the fighters up. Anthony Johnson looks for a takedown and Vitor defends well. Johnson switched to a single and against was unsuccessful. The ref called for a break and Vitor Belfort landed several punches cleanly before he was taken down. Rumble stayed active with punches to the body but the referee stood them up again. Johnson looks tired with a minute to go. Belfort took Johnson's back after a failed takedown attempt. Belfort peppered Johnson with punches to soften him up for a choke. Rumble has covered up well but the choke looks tight. Anthony Johnson tapped and Vitor Belfort won by submission. The Brazilian crowd went crazy with the win. Anthony Johnson entered the fight with his back against the wall after a failure to make the contracted weight. He fought aggressively because he knew he needed to win in spectacular fashion. Belfort looked great in victory and the Brazilian crowd was hot for the hometown hero. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

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Filed under: UFCThe look on Vitor Belfort's face in Dana White's pre-fight video blog said it all. When the UFC president sat him down before the UFC 142 weigh-ins and explained that Anthony Johnson wouldn't make weight -- that, in fact, he wouldn't even come close to making weight -- you could see that last ounce of energy drain from the Brazilian's face. Here he was chewing on ice through a towel, feeling miserable but on target to make weight, while Johnson was full of fluids and closer to 200 pounds than 185. Not only was it unfair, it was unprofessional. It was also unwise, at least for Johnson's career prospects, and it was completely avoidable. As we've learned over the years, one of the quickest ways to enrage your boss in the UFC is to miss weight. If you miss it by a pound or two it's bad enough. If you miss it by a bowling ball, as Johnson did after being forced to rehydrate by the UFC doctors -- and if it's not your first offense -- then you're really in trouble. As in, the kind of trouble that results in unemployment. White first said the UFC was "probably going to cut" Johnson after his sorry showing on the scales and in the cage this weekend, and according to an MMA Junkie report, the cut is already a reality. Normally, a submission loss to Belfort and a 2-2 record in your last four UFC fights wouldn't be cause for termination. But when you factor in Johnson's recent track record you start to understand why the UFC might have come to the conclusion that he isn't worth the headache. This is a guy who went up a weight class because he kept missing weight, and then missed weight for his first fight in his new division. This is a guy who put his own health in danger to the point where UFC doctors stepped in. Should the bout have even taken place? Would it have been allowed to, had an actual athletic commission been overseeing things? Should fans have asked for their money back after a depleted, diminished Johnson crumbled in the cage? All valid questions that Johnson invited, simply because he couldn't do what every other fighter on the card had done. Maybe the worst part is his own flippant attitude about the whole thing, as if he was doing us a favor by even trying to make the contracted weight. "I'm already laughing at what ppl are saying," Johnson wrote on Facebook after coming in at 197 pounds for a 185-pound bout. "Yeah it was for medical reason and I did what the UFC Dr Told me to do. Believe it or don't I give a f**k cuz the ppl close to me were freaking out but I'm still alive and something like this has never happen before. Say what you want I'm still gonna do my thang. You try not having feeling in your legs and can't move then and see how you look at life after that." Of course, when Johnson wrote that "something like this has never happen [sic] before," I assume he meant 'at this weight class,' or maybe just 'on this continent.' Failing to make weight? Yeah, that's happened to him before. A few times, in fact. That's why everyone around him thought it was such a good idea for him to move up to middleweight. He'd been killing himself trying to make the welterweight limit, and he wasn't even succeeding at it reliably enough for it to seem worth it. As for the whole "medical reasons" excuse, let's put that in perspective. When your body shuts down in the middle of a rough weight cut, sure, that's a medical problem. Then again, it's also a self-induced medical problem. His explanation is appropriately vague so as to keep us from knowing all the details, but it's not like a congenital heart defect kept Johnson from making the weight. Johnson had medical problems the same way a compulsive gambler has financial problems. This wasn't a lightning bolt of bad luck that found its way across the universe and zapped Johnson right in the teeth. This was a consequence of his own choices and his own actions, and it's a mistake he's made enough times to know better by now. The fact that he would attempt to write it off as a medical issue and blame the doctors just tells us how he got in this situation in the first place: by failing to take responsibility for his own actions. Of all the red flags that Johnson waved this weekend, that might be the most alarming one. If he at least showed a little remorse, a little humility and contrition, maybe it would be different. Instead he acted as if the whole world was insane for being angry at him, as if he had no control over what had happened. If that wasn't unprofessional enough to doom him, then he went out and fought like a man who had left his best stuff in the sauna, just to make White's decision easier. It'd be one thing if Johnson had taken the fight on short notice. If, like Mike Pyle did when he got an offer he couldn't refuse at UFC 98, he made himself sick in an effort to seize a fleeting opportunity, we could at least sympathize with him. But Johnson knew for weeks that he'd need to weigh 186 pounds on Friday afternoon. He simply failed to do what was necessary to get there. He failed to conduct himself like a professional, either before the weigh-in or after. And if a guy has shown that he isn't capable of behaving like a professional, maybe he shouldn't be one, at least at this level. Maybe he should leave this to the people who care enough to do what they say they'll do, and take responsibility for their mistakes when they come up short. Maybe the choice isn't his to make anymore for a very good reason, and maybe it's about time. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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UFC 142 was supposed to be a great experience for Anthony Johnson. A massive welterweight, it was believed that he'd have a simple cut down to middleweight. Unfortunately, when he woke up on Friday, he was unable to move his legs and was advised by the UFC doctor to rehydrate and not go ahead with his final weight cut. He tipped the scales at 197 pounds. Vitor Belfort made weight and agreed to the fight on the stipulation that Anthony Johnson would weigh in at 205 pounds at noon on Saturday. Johnson was able to meet that stipulation and the fight was once again on. Just minutes ago UFC President Dana White made the following tweet: Vitor just weighed-in at 205.6 and Rumble Johnson just weighed-in at 211. Earlier today Vitor Belfort's nutritionist Mike Dolce spoke with MMA Fighting and stated he believed that Anthony Johnson would enter the cage at 220 pounds. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

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Filed under: UFCOne of the most popular Brazilian fighters in the UFC put on a show back home on Saturday night. Vitor Belfort, who has been with the UFC longer than any active fighter and is a star in his homeland, fought in Brazil for the first time since 1998 and pulled off a first-round submission victory over Anthony Johnson at UFC 142. In the early going Johnson appeared to have Belfort in trouble, but Belfort maintained his composure, got the fight to the ground and steadily transitioned into a dominant position, taking Johnson's back on the ground. Belfort sunk in a rear-naked choke and Johnson tapped out with just 11 seconds left in the first round. The fight was marked by controversy beforehand, as Johnson failed to make weight, and there may be more controversy following the fight because referee Dan Miragliotta stood the fighters up twice in the first round for questionable reasons. But there's no controversy about this: Belfort put on a tremendous performance. Up next for Belfort is a stint coaching on the upcoming Brazilian season of The Ultimate Fighter, where his opposing coach will be Wanderlei Silva. Belfort will then fight Silva at the end of the season. If Belfort looks as good against Silva as he did against Johnson, that's going to be a rough fight for Silva. Belfort is looking good. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFCThis is the UFC 142 live blog for Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson, a middleweight bout on tonight's UFC pay-per-view from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Belfort (20-9) failed to capture the UFC middleweight title in February 2011, but bounced back with a first-round TKO over Yoshihiro Akiyama in August. Johnson (10-3) is a knockout artist coming off a head kick finish against Charlie Brenneman at last August's UFC on Versus. The live blog is below. More: UFC 142 Results | Latest UFC News According to UFC president Dana White, Belfort and Johnson weighed-in two hours ago at 205.6 and 211, respectively. Round 1: Round 2: Round 3: Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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With only a few hours left until showtime, Dana White has released one final video blog relating to UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes where the UFC President is seen travelling to the weigh-ins via helicopter, into the venue where he explains the weight-related situation with Anthony Johnson to a visibly disappointed Vitor Belfort, and onto the stage where the festivities take place. “Anthony Johnson is so f***ing far from making weight it’s not even funny,” White explains to the shocked Belfort. White Says Johnson’s Job is On the Line at UFC 142 UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones also offers up a prediction in the middleweight co-headliner, discussing his lack of respect for Johnson’s unprofessionalism while still feeling “Rumble” has a better chance than many people are giving him credit for. Check out the video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, johnson, vitor belfort, weightrelated situation, middleweight coheadliner

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Rising in weight to 185 pounds (or, in reality, 197), the physically impressive Anthony Johnson takes on a tough assignment in Vitor Belfort, one of the middleweight division’s best, in the UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" co main event this evening (Jan. 14, 2012) from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Looking to build a case for another title shot with Anderson Silva, Belfort takes on the talented Johnson, whose wrestling was a tad overlooked, thanks to several eye-popping knockouts, until he shut down Dan Hardy via decision. "Rumble" returned to his overpowering ways with a numbing stoppage of Charlie Brenneman, dispatching an otherwise difficult guy with disdainful ease. Johnson’s much-chronicled battle to make the 170-pound weight limit left him with a tough decision to make, and to his credit, he’s going all-in with the debut at 185. And this is no mere tuneup against a lower-tier middleweight, but rather a legit test to see if he can compete against someone a lot like him. Belfort’s ability to beat people on pure physical tools makes him exceptionally dangerous for anyone, and a victory for Johnson would elevate him in the 185 title queue considerably, especially since depth there is lacking. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 142 fight between Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson: The Breakdown Of Belfort’s nine wins in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), all have come by first-round (technical) knockout (that includes the aborted second Randy Couture fight). He’s 6-7 in fights that have gone past five minutes. Blessed with a legendary combination of speed, power and finishing instinct, Belfort’s ability to strike early and pounce with brutal effect have had few equals in the history of the sport. The big question is how Johnson deals with this. Will he be able to function on the feet with his more diverse mix of strikes, and still avoid getting caught? Can he use his solid wrestling – thus far unproven at 185 – to keep Belfort honest and suck him into a long, taxing battle? Belfort’s conditioning went south after nearly taking out Tito Ortiz in their classic 2005 battle. And while many felt the scorecards were controversial in giving Ortiz the decision, there’s no question who had the better stamina down the stretch. Johnson walks around north of 210 pounds and nearly weighed that much at weigh in yesterday because of a health issue. If he’s going to beat Belfort, he’ll have to put leather on "The Phenom" early to prevent the Brazilian’s confidence from growing. Because if there’s a sure way to keep Belfort from winning, it’s to plant doubt in his head. It’s a tough assignment, but Johnson’s got an excellent mix of punches, fast kicks and athleticism to do it. He just has to pick the right angles and, more importantly, avoid the wrong ones, as Belfort can ram home a fight-changing shot as well as anyone in the game. The Pick Few fighters in the sport’s history have won as impressively, nor lost as tragically, as Belfort. He’s the epitome of the hit-or-miss guy, looking like Superman in one outing and then coming up Clark Kent in the next. The key to this fight comes down to the opening round, where Johnson is most vulnerable to getting caught by Belfort’s blazing punches, which can hurt an opponent basically if they land anywhere on the skull. Johnson should move constantly and use kicks – especially teeps and high-percentage, low-risk ones to the lower legs – to frustrate Belfort and get acclimated to how the Brazilian moves. Johnson isn’t likely to score a takedown early on pure tie ups and wrestling, as Belfort is extremely strong and athletic in the clinch. Johnson’s either going to get caught with a smoking left hand and smashed out in a classic Belfort flurry, or survive the early storm and go to work. The guess here is that youth and tenacity make the latter happen. Johnson will stick and move early, avoiding Belfort’s best shots and maybe getting caught a time or two, only to see Johnson tie up and kill the clock to clear his head. By the second, Johnson’s kicks and counters will be landing with more frequency. He’ll swing the momentum with his more-diverse attack, hammering him some punches and eventually muscling Belfort to the mat. It’s here that Johnson will go to work, seizing the momentum and battering Belfort into submission via second round knockout. Johnson via knockout Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 142 results of all the "Aldo vs. Mendes" PPV action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:30 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning. See you then!

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, belfort, belfortrsquo

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UFC president Dana White just tweeted the newest version of his video blog, which covers the events of the UFC 142 weigh-ins. Of course, much of the footage is centered around the Anthony Johnson vs. Vitor Belfort fight, because Johnson was unable to make weight. It also covers a few other things, which I'll briefly go over below. After taking a helicopter over to the arena for the weigh-ins (and pointing out beaches and favelas along the way) and doing some production stuff, Dana brings Vitor in and explains the situation to him while he's chewing on a towel full of ice. He was given the option of not making weight and starting to rehydrate right then, but he wouldn't get 20% of Johnson's purse. As we all know by now, he opted to be a professional and make weight. Joe Rogan was almost a no-show and Mike Goldberg was on standby to fill in, but Rogan made it at the last second. Closeups of most of the faceoffs followed, with AJ trying to make sure Dana knew what happened to him and Dana apparently being in the dark about it at the time. The blog ends with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones making his picks for the top two fights on the card. Check it out.

Posted in: ufc, dana, johnson, blog, weight

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Vitor Belfort reacts to Anthony Johnson missing weight in this installment of Dana White’s UFC 142 video blog.

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, vitor, weight, anthony

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I'm sure there are a few jokes to be made about a guy that misses weight by 356 pounds, but we'll stick with professionalism here (?). Neither combatant really needs an introduction, but here goes. One fighter showed up 27 pounds heavier than he weighed in at 15 weeks ago (due to a medical condition, allegedly). The other fighter...is a phenom. A phenom who is quickly earning a weird reputation for punching guys in the back of the head. Anthony Johnson (10-3, 7-3 UFC) meets Vitor Belfort (20-9, 9-5 UFC). Belfort is currently sitting at number five at middleweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. This was supposed to be Johnson's first fight at middleweight, but he was sitting at number 10 at welterweight beforehand. This won't be a true middleweight fight (Johnson has a stip that he has to be 205 when he enters the cage) so the rankings theoretically shouldn't be affected. The voters are fickle though, and if Rumble wins, expect Vitor to tumble and Johnson to set up camp in the top 15 at MW. Even though this isn't at 185. This rumbleweight UFC 142 fight will be the first co-main event on the main card, and will be aired live on pay-per-view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Johnson: 27 years old | 6'2" | 78" reachBelfort: 34 years old | 6'0" | 74" reach What have these two done recently? Johnson: W - Charlie Brenneman (TKO) | W - Dan Hardy (UD) | L - Josh Koscheck (SUB)Belfort: W - Yoshihiro Akiyama (KO) | L - Anderson Silva (KO) | W - Rich Franklin (TKO) How did these two get here? Anthony "Rumble" Johnson had just three pro fights before he got the call from the UFC. The former Juco wrestling champion and disciple of Cung Le made a big splash with a 13-second KO of Chad Reiner, but was brought back to earth when Rich Clementi submitted him at UFC 76 (despite Rumble being like two weight classes bigger than No Love). An epic destruction of Tommy Speer and a weird couple of bouts with Kevin Burns was enough to make an imprint on avid UFC fans, and a string of big KO's after that just added to his mystique. Josh Koscheck threw a wrench in the Rumble hype train in another weird fight, but two more wins cemented his status as a contender. He is a huge man though, and had trouble making welterweight, so he moved up to middleweight for this bout with Belfort. And couldn't make that limit either. "Weird" might be the most defining word of Johnson's career thus far. Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort has a long and storied history in MMA. He's a former UFC heavyweight tournament winner and former UFC light heavyweight champion amongst other things. It's sometimes hard to believe that he's been fighting since 1996. His biography is full of tragedy and triumph, and he's arguably the most popular MMA fighter in Brazil. He was fast-tracked to a UFC middleweight title bout with Anderson Silva last year, but was famously knocked out with a swift kick to the face. He rebounded with a decimation of Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama, but a quick analysis of his finishing methods (he has landed multiple shots to the back of the head in his last two wins) has led to some questions about the validity of The Phenom in today's UFC. Belfort's next bout (against Wanderlei Silva) is booked win or lose, but Vitor hasn't fought in his home country in over 13 years. He has something to prove tonight against the Why should you care? You'd have a hard time finding a fight with more storylines. Due to Johnson's weight issues, this fight will always be looked upon as an outlier. Nonetheless, it's all sorts of interesting. Can Rumble KO The Phenom? Will a huge AJ get caught by the uber-quick Belfort? Will Johnson choose to stand with Belfort, or will he take it to the floor and try to tangle with a black belt? So many questions will be answered in a few short hours. You can catch more UFC 142 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes UFC 142 Rio: Anthony Johnson Misses Weight By 12 Pounds, Will Fight With Stipulation - Josh Nason UFC 142 Weigh-Ins - Anthony Johnson Misses Weight Badly - Josh Nason UFC 142 RIO: Vitor Belfort Vs. Anthony Johnson Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC RIO 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Staff Predictions - Bloody Elbow UFC 142 RIO: Rousimar Palhares Vs. Mike Massenzio Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 142: Jose Aldo Is The New GSP, And That's Not A Good Thing - Fraser Coffeen UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 142 RIO: Edson Barboza Vs. Terry Etim Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 142 RIO: Erick Silva Vs. Carlo Prater Dissection - Dallas Winston Will Tim Tebow Hurt UFC 142's PPV Performance? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage - Tim Burke Watch Countdown To UFC 142 Rio Video On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason UFC 142 RIO: FX Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 142 Judo Chop: The Leg Lock Set Ups of Rousimar Palhares - T.P. Grant

Posted in: ufc, fight, rio, johnson, belfort

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After missing weight at yesterday's UFC 142 weigh-in, Anthony Johnson jumped on his Facebook to make it blatantly apparent that he doesn't care what you think about him coming in at 197 lbs for a middleweight bout. Actually, here's the complete statement: "I'm already laughing at what ppl are saying. Yeah it was for medical reason and I did what the UFC Dr Told me to do. Believe it or don't I give a f**k cuz the ppl close to me were freaking out but I'm still alive and something like this has never happen before. Say what you want I'm still gonna do my thang. You try not having feeling in your legs and can't move then and see how you look at life after that." The pink elephant that's covered in neon flashing lights in that sentence is the part where Johnson claims he couldn't feel his legs. Of course, if Rumble couldn't feel his legs during the weigh-ins, then why would the doctor even clear him to fight? Seriously, no sensation in your lower extremities can be a warning sign of a serious neurological or cardiovascular problem. It's definitely not the kind of condition that you want going into perhaps one of the toughest fights of your career. It looks like we have a case of someone slightly stretching the truth, or a doctor that got his MD from healing people in Battlefield 3.

Posted in: johnson, middleweight bout, vitor belfort, dont i, elephant thats

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The rumbling in Rio de Janeiro has decreased some after Anthony Johnson clocked in this morning at a little over 204 pounds meaning he has met a stipulation that would have otherwise caused the cancellation of his co-headlining clash with Vitor Belfort at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. Johnson’s predicament started yesterday at the weigh-ins for tonight’s event when he came in eleven pounds heavy. As a result he was fined 20% of his purse and had to remain under 205 pounds today or else his bout with Belfort would be scrapped. The 27-year old claimed a medical situation had forced the medical team in Rio to rehydrate him a few hours before stepping on the scale while UFC President Dana White labeled the reason as being little more than a lack of professionalism on the power-punching wrestler’s part. In fact, White has even gone on record as saying Johnson’s job may not be safe even if he comes away with a victory against seasoned veteran Belfort. UFC 142 starts at 7:00 PM EST on Facebook before heading to FX and eventually PPV when the main card begins at 10:00 PM EST. The lineup is headlined by 145-pound champion Jose Aldo putting his gold up for grabs against unbeaten Californian Chad Mendes. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, pound, anthony johnson, johnson, belfort

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It looks like “middleweight” Anthony Johnson will indeed fight at least one more time inside the Octagon after putting his job in jeopardy on Friday by coming in heavy (yet again) for a bout. Johnson had missed his mark multiple times while competing as a 170 pounder and it was expected his move to 185 would eliminate the issue moving forward. This time around the Johnson’s problem with the scale involved him exceeding a contracted limit by eleven pounds for what is easily the biggest fight of his career, a co-headlining collision with Vitor Belfort tonight at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. As a result he was forced to pay Belfort 20% of his purse and come in under 205 pounds today, which, according to the UFC, Johnson has done (204.2 lbs) meaning his clash with Belfort will not be cancelled as it would have been otherwise. Johnson’s management came forward to explain “Rumble” had to be re-hydrated by the UFC’s medical staff after he fell ill while cutting weight. However, UFC President Dana White saw things a bit differently, stating the situation stemmed from an absence of professionalism and that Johnson’s job was on the line because of it. White Goes Off on Johnson UFC 142 starts at 7:00 PM EST on Facebook before heading to FX and eventually PPV when the main card begins at 10:00 PM EST. The lineup is headlined by featherweight phenom Jose Aldo putting his belt on the line against unbeaten grappler Chad Mendes. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, time, johnson, belfort, bout johnson

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Anthony Johnson vs. Vitor Belfort is officially on for tonight’s UFC 142 co-main event after Johnson weighed in at 204.2 pounds earlier today, just under the 205 pound requirement made after he missed the middleweight limit by 11 pounds on Friday. Belfort will collect 20% of Johnson’s salary for agreeing to fight at a catchweight. Johnson is expected to weigh as much as 220 pounds by fight time, while Belfort will be about 205 pounds, according to MMAFighting. UFC 142 is headlined by UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes. Check out MMAFrenzy.com’s live UFC 142 results and stay tuned for complete UFC 142 coverage. Pictured: Anthony Johnson

Posted in: ufc, pound, johnson, belfort, middleweight limit

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When a fighter misses weight by a pound or two, there’s usually a pretty simple explanation whether it be a slight miscalculation in the weight cut, a stubborn pound that won’t come off or even an inaccurate test scale. When a fighter misses weight by 10+ pounds though like Anthony Johnson did yesterday, you have to figure something went drastically wrong. Well according to his management, it did. Johnson’s manager informed MMA Weekly last night that Johnson was on target to make weight early Friday morning but got very sick during the cut to the point a doctor ordered him to rehydrate. According to Johnson’s manager, Glenn Robinson of Authentic Sports Management, who spoke to MMAWeekly.com on Friday, “Rumble” woke up on Friday morning weighing 191.5 pounds, only 5.5 pounds shy of the 186-pound weight limit for middleweight. With three hours to go until weigh-ins, Johnson was only a pound and a half away from making weight when his body started feeling off. Robinson says that Johnson started feeling sick and unstable, and so a local doctor came in to check him out to see what exactly was going on. The doctor gave Johnson fluids to see if it would improve his condition, and within a couple of hours, the Blackzilian fighter started to come back to life. Unfortunately, at this point it was too late to cut the weight back down to 186 pounds. “It was medical reasons, it wasn’t for lack of effort,” Robinson said. “The UFC was extremely supportive and said health comes first.” Johnson was naturally hit with a ton of criticism from media and fans after the weigh-ins. Johnson went on Facebook to fire back. Via BE: I’m already laughing at what ppl are saying. Yeah it was for medical reason and I did what the UFC Dr Told me to do. Believe it or don’t I give a f**k cuz the ppl close to me were freaking out but I’m still alive and something like this has never happen before. Say what you want I’m still gonna do my thang. You try not having feeling in your legs and can’t move then and see how you look at life after that Johnson and his camp may be blaming it on a “medical issue” — basically throwing their hands up and saying “not our fault!” — but unless that medical issue was completely unrelated to the weight cut, then Johnson still needs to accept responsibility because it certainly sounds like it was caused by cutting too much weight in one day. Circling back, Johnson’s manager mentioned that the UFC was “extremely supportive” throughout the ordeal. While that may be the case, it doesn’t mean they’re happy about it. Well, at least Dana White isn’t. He told MMA Junkie last night that Johnson’s job is on the line. “His job is on the line,” White said. “His job is absolutely on the line, win or lose.” “Complete and absolute unprofessionalism – that’s what happened,” White said. “There’s no other way it can be explained.” It certainly a messy situation but the good news is the fight will happen tonight. Per Belfort’s request, Johnson had to weigh-in under 205 lbs. today for the fight to go on. I was under the impression yesterday that Johnson would have to weigh-in closer to fight time, but that wasn’t the case. The UFC confirmed this morning that Johnson weighed in at 204.2 pounds and the fight is “ON.” Image via MMA Junkie

Posted in: ufc, fight, pound, johnson, weight

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Despite Anthony Johnson coming in 12 pounds overweight for his UFC 142 middleweight bout against Vitor Belfort, the fight will go on.

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, belfort, vitor belfort

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The UFC 142 Rio fight between Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson got the green light on Saturday when Johnson made the newly agreed upon weight of 205 pounds.

Posted in: ufc, fight, anthony johnson, johnson, vitor belfort

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Despite Anthony Johnson's weigh-in fiasco, his fight with Vitor Belfort will go underway "as planned", tonight at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Johnson weighed-in today at 204lbs, according to Vitor Belfort's stipulation to stay within the 205lbs limit. Yesterday Johnson missed the weight by 11lbs due to what was later described as "sickness". Rumble was brought back to life by the doctors, who pumped the Blackzillian's body with fluids. Anthony Johnson refused to apologize for missing the

Posted in: johnson, lb, belfort, vitor belfort, rumble weighsin

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submitted by muayguy [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: johnson, anthony, death, muayguy, til

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Multi-time UFC champion Vitor Belfort made a huge step towards another shot at the UFC Middleweight title, after choking out Anthony "Rumble" Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 142. Anthony Johnson opened the fight aggressively, chasing Belfort around the Octagon with strikes and takedowns attempts. Johnson was successful with his first takedown, followed by a vicious diving ground and pound strike that got Belfort's right eye grotesquely swollen. However, Belfort managed to bounce back by timing in

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, belfort, anthony

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submitted by KZidan [link] [comment]

Posted in: pound, anthony johnson, johnson, kzidan, kzidan link

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When former welterweight Anthony Johnson stepped off the scale yesterday, weighing an eye-popping 197-pounds for his his middleweight (186-pound division limit in non-title fights) debut bout against Vitor Belfort, "The Phenom" agreed to compete in their UFC 142 co main event on one condition: Johnson could not weigh more than 205 pounds on fight day, which is actually today (Jan. 14, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This time around, Johnson his his mark, coming in at 204.2 pounds this morning. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made the announcement just now on its Twitter page, confirming that the fight "is on" for later this evening. That's good news, considering it is the match up that most fight fans are looking forward to most on the UFC 142 fight card. However, it's a 20-pound departure from the middleweight mark. Sure, all fighters typically gain weight after the weigh in, rehydrating and eating to regain their strength prior to stepping inside the Octagon. It's even likely that Belfort -- a former light heavyweight -- will even be near 200 pounds himself by the time the pay-per-view (PPV) event begins at 10 p.m. ET. But, at this rate, because Johnson had such a huge head start -- and because it is so early -- he will probably add even more weight to the 204 pounds by showtime. Perhaps his health, which he described as life-threatening, is the reason for the early morning weigh in. Either way, the fight will go on as planned, but not without an asterisk and its fair share of controversy and drama. This one ain't over yet. Not even close. To get up to speed on Johnson's weight-cutting fiasco we have everything you need right here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, pound, johnson, belfort

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Speculation has now turned into fact on the subject of disgraced middleweight Anthony Johnson’s future in the UFC. Lose to Vitor Belfort at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes and he’s likely to be released; win and his spot on the roster still isn’t safe. The thin ice Johnson is currently skating on stems from the 27-year old coming in eleven pounds heavy for his co-headlining collision with “The Phenom”. As a result he was fined 20% of his purse and will have to come in below 205 pounds tomorrow afternoon or watch the biggest bout of his career get cancelled. A former welterweight who had missed his required mark before on more than one occasion, Johnson’s camp quickly came out to say the situation was related to a medical issue in the hours leading up to yesterday’s weigh-ins. However, UFC President Dana White apparently saw things differently. “Complete and absolute unprofessionalism – that’s what happened,” said White to MMAJunkie. “There’s no other way it can be explained.” “His job is on the line,” the incensed executive continued. “His job is absolutely on the line, win or lose.” For now it appears “Rumble” will at least be given an opportunity to remain in one of tonight’s two featured bouts, the other of course being featherweight champ Jose Aldo’s title-defense against Chad Mendes. However, he clearly has zero room for error at this point, adding to the already enormous stakes of his battle with Belfort. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, isn ’t, coheadlining collision, ” speculation

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Yesterday, Anthony Johnson missed weight by eleven pounds for his UFC 142 bout with Vitor Belfort. Missing weight by such a large amount created an understandable stir in the MMA community. Given that Johnson had a history of weight problems at welterweight and this was his first time fighting at middleweight, it was hard for many to understand how he could have so much trouble making 185. Johnson's excuse was illness that forced him to take fluids, thus screwing up his weight cut. Of course, it sounds more like his "illness" was severe dehydration from cutting weight. The only way to salvage the fight with Belfort was for Johnson to agree to be weighed in again today on the day of the fight and not weigh over 205 pounds. The UFC has now tweeted that Johnson was able to hit that mark and the fight will go on: @ufcUFC Anthony Johnson weighed in today at 204.2 pounds - tonight's fight with Vitor Belfort is ONJan 14 via webFavoriteRetweetReply SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

Posted in: fight, johnson, belfort, vitor belfort, weight

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RIO DE JANEIRO - Anthony Johnson made weight when it mattered most. After he came in heavy and weighed 197 pounds for a 185-pound bout with Vitor Belfort at Friday's official UFC 142 fighter weigh-ins, Johnson was told he could weigh no more than 205 pounds after rehydrating. After a UFC-mandated second weigh-in on event day, he today weighed 204.2 pounds.

Posted in: pound, anthony johnson, johnson, vitor belfort, event day

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LOL. Anthony Johnson is alive. And if you had any clue about how close he came to death yesterday (Jan. 13, 2012), trying to make the cut to 186 pounds for his UFC 142 fight against Vitor Belfort, then you wouldn't be blasting him for coming in a whopping 11 pounds over the middleweight division limit. That's according to "Rumble," at least, who recently took to Facebook to explain his dire medical condition and blast those who are calling him out. In addition to the unforgiving online mixed martial arts (MMA) online community, one would have to imagine that also includes Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, who branded Johnson totally "unprofessional." Then again, perhaps White, too, was unaware that Johnson lost feeling in his legs and "couldn't move" as he attempted to shed the final five pounds. Check out his defiant declaration after the jump: "I'm already laughing at what ppl are saying. Yeah it was for medical reason and I did what the UFC Dr Told me to do. Believe it or don't I give a f**k cuz the ppl close to me were freaking out but I'm still alive and something like this has never happen before. Say what you want I'm still gonna do my thang. You try not having feeling in your legs and can't move then and see how you look at life after that." As we reported yesterday, Johnson fell ill in the final stretch of his weight cut. The doctor, which the promotion brought with it from Las Vegas, Nevada, ordered Johnson to consume fluids to return to normal strength. He eventually did; however, it was too late -- there was just one hour until the official UFC 142 weigh in. Nonetheless, it appears that Johnson waited until the last minute -- like most (if not all) fighters -- to make weight, failing to have a contingency plan in place just in case something went wrong. And it did. Terribly. It's great news that Johnson is fit enough to still compete this evening (Jan. 14, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but when traveling overseas to cut weight in foreign countries -- coupled with a history of scale-tipping fiascos -- he should have been better prepared. At the very least, he should have take the public relations high road when it was revealed he wasn't. Remember, Johnson will be required to weigh less than 205 pounds prior to his clash with Belfort this evening (Jan. 14, 2012). He will also be required to forfeit 20 percent of his fight purse to his Brazilian counterpart once their (now) light heavyweight fight is over. That's it ... for now.

Posted in: ufc, pound, johnson, weight, jan

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Anthony Johnson talks to MMAWeekly Radio about his move to middleweight and if it will be permanent or just a one time deal.

Posted in: mmaweekly radio, anthony johnson, johnson, mmaweekly, anthony

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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: Courtesy of UFC - Nine Ways of Looking at UFC 142 (MMA Fighting) “Let’s take a minute to thank the Brazilians for being such good sports about the late start time for this event. In order for the UFC to stick to its preferred 10 p.m. ET pay-per-view start time and still go live, the local crowd will be showing up for a main card that doesn’t begin until 1 a.m. local time. As our own Ariel Helwani pointed out this week, that means they could be waiting until 3:30 a.m. for the main event to get started. “ - Video: Anthony Johnson’s ‘Wanna get away?’ moment on the scale (Fight Opinion) “He used to fight at 170 pounds and was the bane of Dan Hardy’s existence. Trouble making Welterweight, Anthony Johnson was set to make the move to Middleweight on Saturday to face Vitor Belfort. When it came time for weigh-in… he was 12 pounds over the established weight for the fight. Medical reasons or not, one thing is for certain — Anthony’s future in MMA is at Light Heavyweight or Heavyweight. Middleweight doesn’t look to be sustainable for him. … He weighed in at 197 pounds for a Middleweight fight… and he was cutting to make Welterweight a year ago. How did his body survive that massive weight cut? The penalty for not making weight? 20% purse reduction. … If Rumble is over 205 pounds on Saturday, the fight will be canceled… live. In front of fans who told him and Chad Mendes that they will die on Saturday night. That’s a hospitable atmosphere…” - Davis says to give the next title shot to Dan Henderson (MMA Mania) “Give it to Hendo. I ain’t losing. Give it to Hendo. I don’t care either way. You can give it to Hendo and there will still be a belt when I get there. There will still be a belt when I get there. I don’t care who the person is that has the belt but there will be a belt when I get to it and that’s all that I’m concerned about. If somebody else gets to fight the champ before I do, that’s fine with me.” - UFC 142 ‘Aldo vs. Mendes’ Weigh-Ins, Pics & Video: Anthony Johnson Misses MW By A Mile (MMA Convert) “After cutting to 170 pounds for years, it seems Anthony Johnson vastly underestimated his first cut to 185 pounds because he missed that mark by a mile at today’s weigh-ins, coming in 11 pounds over his 186 pound target. Johnson will forfeit his 20% of his purse to Belfort and perhaps more punishing, Johnson will have to weigh-in again tomorrow for the fight at no more than 205 lbs. per Belfort’s demand to continue with the fight. Johnson stated he was weighing 215 on a conference call last week, so in essence he won’t be able to fully rehydrate for the fight which could have devastating effects on his performance.” - UFC Sweden completely sold out within the first hour of sales (MiddleEasy) “It seems that the UFC’s upcoming event in Globe Arena in Stockholm was sold out in just one hour after the tickets went to public sale. According to some fans Ticnet’s customer service said that the event was sold out 30 minutes after the sales started. … UFC Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers already had their chance to buy tickets from a pre-sale on Wednesday and Thursday while the rest had to wait till Friday to get a chance to buy tickets. Fast ticket sales is just another sign that the Nordic MMA fans have been waiting for a long time for the UFC to land in the Northern Europe.” - Matt Hume And Bibiano Fernandes Refute ‘Fedor Diva’ Rumors (FightLine) “But, what really happened was that Fedor was in doing interviews, and everyone was waiting on the two buses, and Fedor was to get on one of those buses and go back. So, both buses were waiting for him. Everybody else had finished their press, but, of course, Fedor is very popular in Japan, he had not finished his press yet, and they were still keeping him there. So, everybody was staying there waiting. So, Fedor asked if they could let the people go who wanted to get back to their hotel.” - Gallery: 20 Incredible Works of MMA Fan Art (Cage Potato) “We’ve seen some bad, bad MMA fan art in our time. (Like, really bad.) So it came as a relief when we recently stumbled upon MMAFanMade, a tumblr account that showcases the best MMA-themed art and artists on the Internet. We decided to cherry-pick some of the site’s highlights, mix in a few old classics, and put ‘em all together in the gallery above.” - TUF Brasil finals, Vitor Belfort-Wanderlei Silva headed to summer PPV (Five Ounces of Pain) “However, according to the UFC, it appears their fight in addition to the two TUF finals will take place on PPV as part of a massive June card possibly headed to Sao Paolo. The show would also host Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II assuming things fall into line and Sonnen defeats Mark Munoz later this month at UFC on FOX 2.” - Dana White Rips Anthony Johnson for “Unprofessional” Behavior (5thRound) “Rumble is not on-weight, and when I say he’s off-weight, he’s way off-weight,” an irked White said. “The way this normally works is, Vitor Belfort can come in on-weight, Vitor is at-weight, and he would get 20 percent of Johnson’s purse. … “The stipulation is, Vitor does not want him to weigh more than 205 pounds tomorrow by like 2 o’clock in the afternoon. So we’re going to have to see how this thing plays out.” - Anderson Silva reveals he is suffering from a back injury (LowKick) “Silva recently began training again, but it looks as if he has suffered another injury. According to the UFC Middleweight champion, “I’m not sure when I’ll come back because I’m still with a shoulder injury, another injury arose recently on my lower back, so I’m getting treatment.” – for more see Tatame.com” - Movie Review: Haywire (TheFightNerd) “In spite of a tumultuous time during development, the latest Stephen Soderbergh spy thriller “Haywire,” starring former “face of women’s MMA” Gina Carano, is slated for a national theatrical release later this month. By Soderbergh’s own admission, Haywire was written as a means to get Carano on to the silver screen. The cinematic bar for star vehicle action movies like the ones that first introduced audiences to Jean-Claude Van Damme and Stephen Seagal is set incredibly low. And, for what it’s worth, Haywire gracefully leaps over it. There are even a few scenes in the movie that are unarguably great. But, Haywire also sports too much random silliness to call it a genuinely good movie.” - Minnesota MMA Fighter Kaitlin Young: Women’s MMA Is 10 Years Behind Men’s (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “Strikeforce has so many awesome people to compete against, but I think I would be hesitant because they have a tendency to sit on a lot of their fighters for a long time. Six months at a time even,” she explained. “I’m having a lot of opportunities in getting fights lined up right now and really with Strikeforce and ProElite, when you see how much they pay some of the female fighters, it’s at best what you can get at a local show. You can probably make more at a local show if you have decent ticket sales and sponsors.”

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsSo just how much of a size advantage will Anthony Johnson have over Vitor Belfort Saturday night at UFC 142? Well, we already know that "Rumble" weighed 204.2 pounds this morning, hours after missing the middleweight mark Friday afternoon when he weighed 197 at the weigh-ins. Belfort's highly-regarded nutritionist and trainer Mike Dolce told MMAFighting.com Saturday morning from Brazil that Belfort weighed 205 pounds at 9:15 p.m. local time Friday night, and he believes "The Phenom" will be around that weight by the time he steps into the cage Saturday night. "He may get up to 208 with a full belly," Dolce said, "but we'll pull back his food a bit as he gets closer to competition time. [He'll] probably be 204 tonight." Dolce said he believes Johnson will "probably be over 220 pounds" come fight time, but despite the expected weight discrepancy, Belfort never considered turning down the fight. "We wanted the fight regardless," Dolce said. According to Johnson's manager Glenn Robinson, "Rumble" was en route to making weight until he fell ill Friday morning and needed fluids to get better. However, Dolce isn't buying that excuse. "Every fighter is 'ill' on weigh-in day. He was bouncing around giving high-five's in the pre-weigh-in line-up, laughing and looking fine," Dolce said. "Missing weight is an issue of a weak mind, not body. I have seen thousands of cuts. If an athlete misses it is because he did not prepare properly or he breaks mentally." And while the scales will show that Johnson will enter the cage with a size advantage, Dolce doesn't believe the deck has been stacked against his client Belfort. "Belfort had the advantage the day the fight was signed. Johnson endured no more trauma than Vitor did. Or, any other MMA athlete. I don't care what the stories say, all these guys suffer exactly the same and endure the same pain. Either you are prepared or you aren't. Vitor is prepared." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, johnson, saturday, belfort, size advantage

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After he came in at 197 pounds for his middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort, Anthony Johnson said illness and doctor-suggested fluid intake made him miss weight.

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, weight, middleweight debut, intake

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Filed under: UFCAnthony Johnson vs. Vitor Belfort is on at UFC 142. Johnson, who weighed in at an absurd 197 pounds on Friday, showed up to his unusual second weigh-in on Saturday at 204.2 pounds -- way over the contracted weight of 186 pounds, but low enough that Belfort is willing to take the fight. Belfort, who came in at 186 pounds on Friday, had said he would refuse to fight Johnson if Johnson couldn't weigh in below 205 pounds on fight day. UFC President Dana White was furious at Johnson for missing weight, but Johnson didn't seem to care. Johnson posted a statement on his Facebook page saying he's "laughing at" the people who have criticized him and adding, "I don't give a f--k." Johnson claims he has a medical issue that required him to get intravenous fluids, and that's why he couldn't cut weight on Friday. But while Johnson may not care, it's clear that White does. If Johnson loses to Belfort on Saturday night, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see the UFC release him. So the fight is a must-win situation for Johnson in a hostile environment against Belfort, who's one of the most popular fighters in Brazil. But at least the fight is on: Johnson is overweight, but he's close enough that Belfort is willing to fight him. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Anthony Johnson was cutting weight to make Welterweight a year ago. Now he can't make a cut to fight at Middleweight.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, weight, anthony, ’ moment

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Rio de Janeiro’s favorite fighting son, Vitor Belfort, put all the controversy of the past 24 hours to rest the only way he knew how Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 142, looking past Anthony Johnson’s failure to make weight the day before by submitting the hard-hitting “Rumble” in the first round in front of his hometown fans at HSBC Arena.“I fought big guys,” said Belfort, who weighed in Friday at 186 pounds to Johnson’s 197. “I’m not scared of size. I’m ready to fight whoever. I cut 25 pounds in four days so I gotta be professional. You sacrifice to achieve glory.”Johnson opened up with a front kick that missed, and after a wild ensuing exchange, “Rumble” muscled Belfort to the mat. Belfort kept his wits about him from the bottom, eventually earning himself a restart from referee Dan Miragliotta. Johnson shot in for another takedown, but Belfort made him work for it, landing punches as Johnson bulled him to the fence. Another restart gave Belfort some room, and he scored with some shots before Johnson got him back to the mat. When the action stalled, Miragliotta intervened, and though Belfort’s right eye was swelling, he was starting to take control. A failed takedown attempt by Johnson was disastrous, as Belfort fired off punches and took his back with under a minute left. As the seconds ticked away, Belfort worked and worked, eventually sinking in the rear naked choke that forced Johnson to tap out at 4:49 of the round.With the win, Belfort improves to 21-9; Johnson falls to 10-4. PALHARES vs. MASSENZIOThe middleweight leg lock master, Rousimar Palhares, lived up to his reputation in devastating style, submitting New Jersey’s Mike Massenzio with a heel hook just 63 seconds into their bout.An inadvertent low kick from Palhares brought a quick halt to the action in the opening minute, but once it resumed, “Toquinho” went right to work, and as he shot for a takedown, he pulled guard and caught Massenzio’s right leg. The tap seconds later was inevitable, with the end via heel hook coming at the 1:03 of the round.Palhares improves to 23-3 with the win; Massenzio falls to 13-6.PRATER vs. SILVAIt looked like welterweight up and comer Erick Silva was about to score his second sub 40 second finish in a row when he took on veteran Carlo Prater, but a controversial call by referee Mario Yamasaki instead left him with a disqualification loss.“I have great respect for the referee, and I see that most of them hit the side of the head,” said Silva while watching a post-fight replay. “I don’t see any that hit the back of the head.”Silva missed a right hand to begin the bout, but a left knee to the chest nailed Prater and had him looking for a takedown. Silva responded with a series of hammerfists, bringing in Yamasaki to halt the bout at the 29 second mark. Most believed it was a TKO win for Silva, but it was ruled otherwise by Yamasaki.“I was telling him don’t hit the back of the head,” said the referee. “I have to decide in the moment. He hit some in the back of the head, some he didn’t.”Silva, who had knocked out Luis Ramos in 40 seconds last August, falls to 13-2 with 1 NC; Prater improves to 30-10-1.“I’m not a judge. I didn’t stop the fight,” said Prater. “All I know is that he hit me and it sent a shock of pain through my body unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I don’t know if the shots were legal. I just know it was unlike anything I’ve ever felt.”“Everyone here knows that wasn’t intentional,” said Silva. “I don’t know what else to say.”BARBOZA vs. ETIMRising lightweight star Edson Barboza may have already locked up the 2012 Knockout of the Year award with an unforgettable spinning heel kick finish of fellow prospect Terry Etim in the main card opener that not only electrified his hometown fans but the entire MMA world.“When you fight in Brazil, it’s unlike fighting in any other place in the world,” said Barboza. “In a fight, you try things and hope they work. Tonight, it (the kick) worked. It’s something I’ve practiced a lot and I finally was able to land it hard. I’m happy with this outcome and you can expect more of that soon.”Etim ran out fast to open the bout, shooting out jabs before getting rebuffed on his first takedown attempt. Undeterred, Etim kept the pressure on and then secured the takedown on attempt number two, but Barboza swept his foe and got back to his feet immediately. Once standing, Barboza began working on Etim’s legs with kicks, occasionally going upstairs with looping overhand rights. In the process, Barboza slowed Etim’s offense considerably, landing with a spinning back kick just before the bell.Barboza continued to peck away at Etim in round two, keeping the Liverpool native from getting into a rhythm. With a little over 90 seconds left, Etim scored his second takedown of the bout, but again, Barboza got back to his feet and stood in the pocket, looking to counter. Etim stayed busy, but the harder shots were undoubtedly landed by the Rio native.The crowd got restless in the third, even though both fighters were staying busy, Etim stalking and Barboza countering. They erupted soon enough though, as Barboza planted his feet and drilled Etim with a spinning left heel kick, stiffening and knocking Etim out immediately, with referee Dan Miragliotta halting the bout at the 2:02 mark.With the win, Barboza improves to 10-0; Etim, who left the Octagon under his own power, falls to 15-4.

Posted in: ’t, barboza, johnson, belfort, etim

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

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

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Anthony Johnson loves to eat, y'all. But that's not why he missed weight at the UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" weigh-in event that took place earlier today (Fri., Jan. 13, 2012) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. No, apparently, "Rumble" was on schedule and woke up this morning at 191-pounds, well on his way to sweating off the additional baggage to get him to the contracted limit of 186-pounds. And then it all went terribly wrong. According to a report from Sergio Non at USA Today, Johnson's manager says he was doing just fine and moving right along until he suddenly fell ill due to the weight cut. It was at that point that doctors ordered him to get some fluids into his body for his own health and well-being. By the time he was feeling better, it was too late. Here's Robinson explaining the situation: "They called in the local doctor, who made him drink a bunch of fluids to see if that made him feel better. About an hour later he started feeling better. By the time he started feeling better, it was an hour to weigh-ins. ... There was no time to shed the weight." Seems like a reasonable enough explanation but UFC President Dana White is not happy, nonetheless. The Octagon boss called Johnson a total unprofessional and is reportedly considering firing Johnson for his many issues with making weight throughout his career. Indeed, this is the third time Johnson has missed weight for a bout. To make matters worse, this was his middleweight debut. That's right; he was given a full 15 pounds extra to work with and he still couldn't make weight. Luckily, Vitor Belfort, Johnson's opponent tomorrow night at UFC 142, was an understanding fellow and decided to create the stipulation that if Johnson can weigh in under 205-pounds tomorrow before the event, he'll go ahead with the fight. "The Phenom" will also be awarded 20-percent of his opponent's fight purse. What a mess. Maniacs, what do you think the right play is here if you're in White's position? Does Johnson deserve another chance? Should he be made to fight at light heavyweight now? Should he even have a job at all? And should this fight even be going forward with the massive weight difference? Sound off.

Posted in: fight, pound, time, johnson, weight

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With less than 24 hours remaining before UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes fires up in Rio de Janeiro the UFC has found themselves in the midst of a potential card-altering situation after Anthony Johnson not only failed to hit the necessary mark for his co-headlining clash with Vitor Belfort but did so in as bad a fashion as has been seen in some time. Johnson weighed in at 197 pounds (eleven over the limit) and will be fined 20% of his purse as a result. Additionally, a stipulation has been agreed to stating “Rumble” must be under 205 pounds tomorrow afternoon or the match-up will be cancelled. Johnson has missed weight before on multiple occasions as a 170 pounder but was believed to be in the clear by moving up to 185. Johnson Ready to Break Belfort According to an official statement from Johnson’s representatives to Yahoo Sports, Johnson client became sick a few hours before hitting the stage and had to be re-hydrated by medical professionals. All other fighters made weight including featherweight champion Jose Aldo (145 lbs) and top contender Chad Mendes (144 lbs). Read below for a complete rundown of UFC 142 weigh-in results: Antonio Carvalho (144 lbs) vs. Felipe Arantes (145 lbs) Mike Pyle (171 lbs) vs. Ricardo Funch (170 lbs) Yuri Alcantara (145 lbs) vs. Michihiro Omigawa (146 lbs) Edinaldo Oliveira (229 lbs) def. Gabriel Gonzaga (250 lbs) Sam Stout (155 lbs) vs. Thiago Tavares (155 lbs) Terry Etim (155 lbs) vs. Edson Barboza (154 lbs) Erick Silva (169 lbs) vs. Carlo Prater (170 lbs) Rousimar Palhares (186 lbs) vs. Mike Massenzio (184 lbs) Vitor Belfort (186 lbs) vs. Anthony Johnson (197 lbs)* Jose Aldo (145 lbs) vs. Chad Mendes (144 lbs) * – Johnson must weigh less than 205 pounds tomorrow or the bout will be cancelled. He has been fined 20% of his purse. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, vs, anthony johnson, johnson, lb

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submitted by hyperinsane [link] [15 comments]

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, weight, anthony, hyperinsane

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Anthony Johnson appeared to be on pace to make weight for UFC 142′s co-main event against Vitor Belfort before experiencing medical issues related to the weight cut that doctors treated with fluids, ballooning ”Rumble” to 11 pounds overweight for what was to be his middleweight debut. Johnson’s manager, Glenn Robinson, told MMAWeekly about the problems Johnson faced after waking up Friday at 191.5, just 5.5 pounds over his 186 pound target. “It was medical reasons, it wasn’t for lack of effort,” Robinson said. “The UFC was extremely supportive and said health comes first.” Johnson must weigh no more than 205 pounds on Saturday for the fight to go on. Belfort will also collect 20% of Johnson’s purse for agreeing to a catchweight. Stop back to MMAFrenzy.com tomorrow (Saturday) night for complete UFC 142 coverage and live UFC 142 results.

Posted in: ufc, pound, johnson, weight, problems johnson

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UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" weigh-in event went down today (Jan. 13, 2012) in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, where all 22 competitors tipped the scale to make their respective bouts official for tomorrow's (Dec. 30, 2011) historic event. In the video above, the first fighter steps on the scale around the 19-minute mark. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo (145) and number one contender Chad Mendes (144), who will main event tomorrow night's pay-per-view broadcast, both came in on point, making their title fight officially official. The real story, though, is Anthony Johnson, who tipped the scale at a whooping 197-pounds and infuriated his boss, Dana White, who called him a total unprofessional. That's unlike Johnson's opponent, Vitor Belfort, who had no problem making the 186-pound limit. To read more on Johnson missing weight click here. For complete UFC 142 weigh in results click here and for staredown pics click here. Ready to rumble yet or what, Maniacs?

Posted in: ufc, event, johnson, title fight, boss dana

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RIO DE JANEIRO - Dana White today told MMAjunkie.com that he's "beyond pissed" at Anthony Johnson after the fighter came in 11 pounds overweight for a bout with Vitor Belfort at UFC 142. The UFC president said Johnson came within a pound-and-a-half of the 186-pound limit allowed for non-title middleweight fights but was forced by a doctor to rehydrate because "he couldn't make it." Now, Johnson is fighting for his job, regardless of whether he wins or loses the co-main event fight, which takes place Saturday at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, vitor belfort, janeiro dana

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Anthony Johnson's manager explains what happened to his client for the UFC 142 weigh-ins, and promises that the fight with Vitor Belfort will still happen on Saturday night.

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, vitor belfort, anthony

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UFC President Dana White, as expected, was a little upset that Anthomy Johnson failed to make weight for his UFC 142 co-main event against Vitor Belfort. "Rumble" tipped the scale at 197-pounds, compared to "The Phenom's" 186. Here is White's reaction from today's weigh in show on FUEL TV: "Rumble Johnson is not on weight today, and when I say he's not on weight he's way off weight. This is not the first time this has happened with Johnson. He moved up to 185 pounds so this wouldn't happen to him at 170 pounds, and here we are in the same position. Belfort came in like a professional on weight, and Anthony Johnson comes in as a total unprofessional, way overweight. The stipulation is, Vitor does not want him to weigh more than 205 pounds by tomorrow. So we will see how this plays out. He'll weigh in today and have to weigh in tomorrow. As a fighter, you are a professional. You are contracted to come in at a certain weight." Johnson was fined 20-percent of his purse, which now goes to Belfort, and is required to weigh less than 205-pounds on fight night, or his bout against the Brazilian will be canceled. For more on the UFC 142 weigh ins, including full results and video, click here.

Posted in: ufc, pound, anthony johnson, johnson, weight

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The UFC 142 weigh-ins took place this afternoon at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. After cutting to 170 pounds for years, it seems Anthony Johnson vastly underestimated his first cut to 185 pounds because he missed that mark by a mile at today’s weigh-ins, coming in 11 pounds over his 186 pound target. Johnson will forfeit his 20% of his purse to Belfort and perhaps more punishing, Johnson will have to weigh-in again tomorrow for the fight at no more than 205 lbs. per Belfort’s demand to continue with the fight. Johnson stated he was weighing 215 on a conference call last week, so in essence he won’t be able to fully rehydrate for the fight which could have devastating effects on his performance. All other fighters on the card made weight including main event participants Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes. The weigh-in results: Jose Aldo (145) vs. Chad Mendes (144) Vitor Belfort (186) vs. Anthony Johnson (197) Mike Massenzio (184) vs. Rousimar Palhares (186) Carlo Prater (170) vs. Erick Silva (169) Edson Barboza (154) vs. Terry Etim (155) Sam Stout (155) vs. Thiago Tavares (155) Gabriel Gonzaga (250) vs. Ednaldo Oliveira (229) Yuri Alcantara (145) vs. Michihiro Omigawa (146) Ricardo Funch (170) vs. Mike Pyle (171) Felipe Arantes (145) vs. Antonio “Pato” Carvalho (144) Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit. UFC 142 “Aldo vs. Mendes” will take place tomorrow, Jan. 14, at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will air live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The preliminary bouts will air live on FX at 8pm ET/5pm PT. More UFC 142 weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com. Video via MMA Fighting.

Posted in: pound, vs, johnson, weighin, hsbc arena

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In what was supposed to be his middleweight debut, Anthony Johnson missed weight by 11 pounds Friday for his UFC 142 bout vs. Vitor Belfort.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, debut, weight, anthony

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During the Fuel TV telecast of the UFC 142 weigh-ins Friday, UFC President Dana White announced that Anthony Johnson would not make the 185 pound limit. However, opponent Vitor Belfort agreed to continue with the bout if Johnson is not over 205 pounds before he enters the cage Saturday. Johnson weighed in at 197, 11 pounds over the 186-pound limit.This was to be Johnson's UFC debut at middleweight after a long run at welterweight which Johnson struggled to make the cut at. At UFC 76, Johnson faced Rich Clementi and missed weight by 6.5 pounds. At UFC 104, he missed weight by six pounds in a bout against Yoshiyuki Yoshida. He was actually tabbed for the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter but his former manager Ken Pavia was concerned about his ability to make weight potentially three times in six weeks.On the Fuel broadcast, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones called Johnson "extremely unprofessional." SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

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RIO DE JANEIRO - Anthony Johnson today grossly missed the middleweight mark required for his co-main event bout with Vitor Belfort at UFC 142. Prior to the start of weigh-ins, UFC president Dana White said Johnson would "badly" miss weight. Moments later, when he officially weighed 197 pounds, officials announced Johnson has been fined 20 percent of his "show" money (which goes to Belfort), and after rehydrating, he can weigh no more than 205 pounds on fight day.

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, vitor belfort, weight moments

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Former welterweight Anthony Johnson moved up to middleweight so that he could avoid the punishing weight cut to 170-pounds. Didn't matter. Johnson "Rumbled" onto the scale at a whopping 197-pounds, a full 11 pounds over the contractual limit of 186. He's not a middleweight by any stretch of the imagination, and we'll have to see how the promotion handles his UFC 142 co-main event against Vitor Belfort, who weighed in at 186. As of now, the fight will go on, and "The Phenom" will receive 20-percent of Johnson's fight purse. Unfortunately Johnson, who will not be allowed to weigh any more than 205-pounds on fight night, has a history of failing to make weight, but his problems at welterweight were expected to be alleviated in the higher weight class, which at first glance appeared to be much better suited to his large frame. So much for Plan B. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this developing story. In the meantime, you can get complete results from the UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" weigh in event, which took place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by clicking here.

Posted in: pound, johnson, weight, plan b, hsbc arena

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Anthony Johnson's long nightmare of weight cutting continued at UFC 142 despite moving up to middleweight, and he will miss the mark for his fight with Vitor Belfort.

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, vitor, weight

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Anthony Johnson always had trouble making the cut at welterweight. So the middleweight division looks like his sweet spot.

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The greatest tweet I've read thus far regarding Antohny Johnson coming in overweight against Vitor Belfort is by 'TheOtherJD' that reads: "Anthony Johnson is on the Dulce Diet." That's comedy, folks. We retweeted it, so hopefully by the end of the day it will spread around the MMA world. It's a hilariously accurate statement being that Anthony Johnson didn't even try to make weight for UFC 142. A few days ago we jokingly created an article entitled 'Let's just hope Rumble Johnson is eating as healthy as Vitor Belfort for UFC 142...' so we'll take all the blame for jinxing the former welterweight title contender. Seriously, how did this guy ever fight at 170 lbs less than a year ago. Vitor Belfort agreed to take the catchweight bout with only one exception: Rumble must weigh in tomorrow under 205 lbs. Essentially, this means Rumble can't rehydrate to ridiculous levels and have a significant weight advantage over Vitor. We're also assuming a hefty portion of Johnson's purse goes directly into Belfort's pocket due to this severe dietary violation. As far as the face-off, it was pretty tame. Check out this screen cap I grabbed just minutes ago from the live UFC 142 weigh-ins.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, vitor, belfort, vitor belfort

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WTF? Edit 1: Will miss weight submitted by xKrazExMNUx [link] [17 comments]

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We often use the term "rising phenom" to describe an especially talented newcomer, or query "which fighter will show up?" to reflect an athlete's streaky inconsistency. Vitor Belfort was the first fighter in MMA that perfectly embodied both sentiments. The unforgettable devastation of the classic first-round "Vitor flurry" that vaulted him to stardom and earned him the "Phenom" nickname was eventually clouded by his sporadically disappointing performances. Wait, hold on a sec ... disappointing? Is that really a befitting way to categorize a fighter who's only lost to all-time greats like Randy Couture, Kazushi Sakuraba, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and Anderson Silva? Belfort's legacy is often accompanied by frustrated sighs and lamentations of wasted potential, which I find rather unsettling considering how much he's accomplished in the cage and endured outside of it. However, it was Vitor that set the bar so high for himself -- and that's intended as a compliment. It was impossible not to reserve a seat on his hype-train when, at only age nineteen, he was annihilating all comers with the quickest and deadliest boxing combinations the sport had seen. It made absolutely no sense that his teammates lifted him on their shoulders to incite a celebratory chant of "Jiu Jitsu! Jiu Jitsu!" when he was knocking the crap out of people standing, but we couldn't be bothered with such trivial details -- and Jiu Jitsu was cool too -- so we cheered along anyway. Presently, Vitor is a well-worn, 34-year-old middleweight who still has his nose to the grindstone at the top level. He'll always be ultra-dangerous and have us on the edge our seats, anxiously anticipating another highlight-reel addition to his fourteen career TKOs. Opposing him in the co-main event of tomorrow night's UFC 142 RIO: Aldo vs. Mendes event is Anthony Johnson, the athletic leviathan who too often tried to shrink his massive frame into welterweight proportions. Johnson also had a thunderous entrance into the spotlight, stepping in to face Chad Reiner at UFC Fight Night 10 with only a few days to prepare and three pro-fights under his belt. Johnson dusted Reiner in just thirteen seconds with a ruthless barrage of strikes, putting him on the map as a new killer on the block. Though he would drop two of his next three, one opponent was a wily veteran (Rich Clementi) and the other blinded him with an unintentional eye poke (Kevin Burns), and Johnson had notched another rousing knockout in between (Tommy Speer). From that point on, Johnson would climb the welterweight ladder with wins in five of his next six, only falling short against perennial top contender Josh Koscheck. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes I'm stubbornly convinced that Belfort's astounding flurry on Wanderlei Silva at UFC 17.5 is the most epic display of violence I've ever witnessed. This epitomizes the lightning-fast destruction that he's capable of at any time. Barring the Sarlacc Pit he turned Marvin Eastman's head into with a clinch knee at UFC 84, the bulk of Belfort's career knockouts all resemble this sequence. I mean, is there really any way to spin it into some sort of enlightened and technical analysis? This is the threat that Belfort presents and, win or lose, half his fights have ended as such. Johnson, a two-time state wrestling champ in high school and NJCAA national champion, wowed fans with his kickboxing prowess more than his takedowns. With what I feel is his best strike, he flattens Burns with a crisp left high-kick to avenge the eye-poke loss in the rematch. This is the same kick he used to vanquish Charlie Brenneman in his last outing and also the technique that he dropped Dan Hardy with. His boxing has also come along nicely. Johnson always good instincts and power, but he's now developing a more polished game with better defense and punching technique. He's also a rangy striker with exceptional height and length, but the kicker is that he's still incredibly explosive and agile for such a large, hulking fighter. The bloodthirsty fans who were craving a stand up brawl were displeased with Johnson in his fight with Hardy, but he was wise exploit the UK striker's weakness by reverting to his wrestling to pick up the win. Vitor is a longtime BJJ black belt but hasn't shown the capability to handle Johnson from his back. His two measly career submissions came against training partner Joe Charles back in 1997 and Bobby Southworth circa 2001. I think it's clear that, though both are far from amateurs in the realm of their opponent's specialty, this is a virtual striker vs. grappler match. Belfort's hand speed and knockout power are unparalleled, while Johnson's chances increase dramatically with takedowns and stifling top-control. Belfort has exhibited a solid grasp of takedown defense, such as in his razor-thin split-decision loss to Tito Ortiz, and his recent at Jackson's MMA to train with Georges St. Pierre can't hurt. Johnson is probably comparable to Ortiz in the takedown department but sets things up much better with his hands, and Vitor is in for a long night if Johnson can connect and work his wrestling. The key factors will be how Johnson closes the distance while avoiding the whir of leather and how long and effectively he can contain Belfort with control. I wouldn't rule out Johnson catching Vitor on the feet, but Vitor has a strong beard and I expect him to dictate things standing. I'm taking Belfort here but think Johnson has a clear path to victory in an ugly way: if he can keep Belfort in phone-booth range or underneath him for the better part of two rounds, the pressure will be on the Brazilian to pull off another dramatic stoppage, putting Johnson in the prime position for an upset. My Prediction: Vitor Belfort by KO Johnson vs. Hardy gif via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Belfort vs. Silva gif via MMA-Core.com Johnson vs. Burns gif via mmagif.blogspot.com Poll Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Vitor Belfort Anthony Johnson   36 votes | Results

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has a message to the middleweight division…watch out for Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson.

Posted in: division, johnson, rashad evans, middleweight division, rumble johnson

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Filed under: UFCWhen Anthony Johnson moved up from welterweight to middleweight for his UFC 142 fight with Vitor Belfort, it just seemed like common sense: Johnson had struggled mightily to make the 170-pound welterweight limit, and so the 185-pound middleweight class was a much better home for him. But there's just one problem: Johnson can't make weight at middleweight, either. Just before the UFC 142 weigh-ins on Friday in Rio de Janeiro, UFC President Dana White announced that Johnson is over the 185-pound limit and won't be able to get down, and so the fight is in jeopardy, although Belfort is expected to agree to fight Johnson anyway. "Rumble Johnson is not on weight today. And when I say he's not on weight he's way off weight," White said. So the UFC has essentially decided to turn this into a light heavyweight bout, but with an added condition: They'll have a second weigh-in on Saturday at which Johnson will have to make it under the light heavyweight limit of 205 pounds again. If Johnson can't make weight then, the fight is off. "The stipulation is, Vitor does not want him to weigh more than 205 pounds by tomorrow at like 2 o'clock in the afternoon," White said. "So we'll see how this thing plays out. He'll weigh in today and have to weigh in tomorrow." White made it clear that he's not happy with Johnson. "As a fighter, you are a professional. You are contracted to come in at a certain weight. This is not the first time this has happened with Johnson. He moved up to 185 pounds so this wouldn't happen to him at 170 pounds, and here we are in the same position again. [Belfort] came in like a professional on weight, and Anthony Johnson comes in as a total unprofessional, way overweight." White appeared angry enough on Friday that this might be Johnson's final fight in the UFC in any weight class. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Following his well-documented struggles to make the 170-pound weight limit, reports that Anthony Johnson would be making his Middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 came as welcomed news to fans of "Rumble."After all, if the explosive knockout artist was capable of running through opponents after such a drastic weight cut, than imagine what Johnson could do at full capacity.According to UFC President Dana White, however, it's a question that will remain unanswered for the time being. "Rumble

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, vitor belfort, knockout artist, welldocumented struggles

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Anthony "Rumble" Johnson's move to the middleweight division has not gotten off to a good start, as the former welterweight standout failed to make weight for Saturday's UFC 142 co-main event bout against Vitor Belfort, an announcement made Friday afternoon by UFC President Dana White.Johnson clocked in at 197 pounds, 11 pounds over the allowed 186-pound non-title limit for middleweight bouts.The bout is still expected to go on as scheduled, with Belfort receiving 20% of Johnson's purse and Johnson not allowed to weigh more than 205 pounds at a second weigh-in on Saturday."As a fighter, you are a professional," said White. "You are contracted to come in at a certain weight. This is not the first time this has happened with Johnson. He moved up to 185 pound so this wouldn't happen, and here we are in the same position again."Johnson failed to make weight on two occasions during his stint at welterweight, but apparently his struggles with the scale are not over."Vitor was bummed out and he feels the same way I do," said White. "Vitor Belfort has to cut this weight too and he's older than "Rumble" Johnson is. He came in, like a professional, on weight, and Anthony Johnson comes in totally unprofessional and way overweight."

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Two of the most violent strikers in the UFC will battle this Saturday night (January 14, 2011) as former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort accepts the challenge of debuting middleweight Anthony Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 142 in Rio. Belfort is coming off a brutally violent knockout of Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133 and will be fighting in his native Brazil for the first time in well over 13 years. This will be an emotional homecoming as he's beloved by the Brazilian faithful and he won't want to let them down. "Rumble" Johnson finally caved and moved up to the middleweight division after years of holding off the inevitable which included missing weight on multiple occasions. Johnson was a huge player in the welterweight division so he will become an instant contender if he can knock off the legend in his divisional debut. Will Belfort bring back the furious flurry of strikes he's famous for? Can the upstart Johnson silence the Brazilian crowd by knocking out their idol? What's the best path to victory for both men on Saturday night? Let's find out. Vitor Belfort Record: 20-9 overall, 9-5 in the UFC Key Wins: Rich Franklin (UFC 103), Randy Couture (UFC 46), Wanderlei Silva (UFC Brazil) Key Losses: Anderson Silva (UFC 126), Dan Henderson (Pride 32), Randy Couture 2x (UFC 49, UFC 15) How he got here: Vitor Belfort has had a love affair with the UFC for a very, very long time. At just 19 years old and in just his second and third professional fights, he cruised through the UFC 12 heavyweight tournament, defeating both opponents in two minutes combined. After crushing fan favorite Tank Abbott in just 52 seconds barely three months later, he earned a number one contender match against some unheralded old fogie named Randy Couture. Vitor would be completely overwhelmed by "The Natural's" wrestling and eventually TKO'd in just over eight minutes to halt the uber-prospect's momentum. After two more victories inside the Octagon, including a 44 second thrashing of Wanderlei Silva that is still considered one of the most impressive displays of hand speed in MMA history, Belfort decided to send his talents to Japan to compete in Pride. The Brazilian would close his Pride run with four straight victories and returned to the UFC. After losing a decision to Chuck Liddell in his return bout, he would go on to earn a title shot against Randy Couture, winning the belt in one of MMA's biggest fluke injuries after a grazing punch slit "Captain America's" eyelid badly, forcing a cut stoppage in less than a minute. Couture would get his revenge in the next fight, taking a decision and after a split decision loss to Tito Ortiz, he would not return to the UFC for two more years. During that time, he would have a series of highs and lows in Pride and Strikeforce before finding his groove in Cage Rage and Affliction. After his devastating knockout of Matt Lindland, Belfort was offered an opportunity to fight Rich Franklin at UFC 103. Belfort would crush the former middleweight champion with another nasty knockout in just three minutes to earn a title shot against Anderson Silva. After several delays due to injury, the showdown finally took place this February and Silva finished Belfort with one of 2011's finest knockouts, a front kick to the face. "The Phenom" redeemed himself against Akiyama at UFC 133, crushing the Korean/Japanese fighter inside the first round by brutal knockout and gleefully accepted an opportunity to fight in his native Brazil again. How he gets it done: It's not the biggest surprise what Belfort wants to do. He's known for his lethal hands and he'll be looking for an opportunity to explode forward with a lightning quick combination of strikes against Johnson on Saturday night. "The Phenom" has become more patient with time, he waited nearly three minutes before blasting Rich Franklin at UFC 103 and nearly two minutes before exploding against Akiyama his last time around. If he doesn't see an opening, he won't take it, although he should clearly have a technical striking advantage over Johnson. Look for him to cautiously pick Johnson apart in the striking early, similar to what Josh Koscheck was able to do. Expect Belfort to stay on the outside for most of the fight. Johnson is a significant threat with his wrestling and with the added mass with his move to middleweight, he could have even more force behind a takedown. Belfort should try to avoid short strikes unless he hurts "Rumble." If Belfort does tag Johnson, look out. He's got the skills to lunge forward with scary precision and finish the fight in an instant. Anthony Johnson Record: 10-3 overall, 7-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Charlie Brenneman (UFC on Versus 6), Dan Hardy (UFC Fight Night 24), Yoshiyuki Yoshida (UFC 104) Key Losses: Josh Koscheck (UFC 106), Rich Clementi (UFC 76) How he got here: Anthony Johnson took the fast track to the UFC. With his freakish size and power for a welterweight, he made his promotional debut in just his fourth professional fight. Prior to that, he had been a national champion wrestling on the junior college level. He didn't get off to a great start in the UFC, going 2-2 in his first four fights, losing via submission to the significantly smaller Rich Clementi and getting his eye poked badly by Kevin Burns which somehow resulted in a TKO loss. In between those fights, he showed his potential by knocking Ultimate Fighter season six finalist Tommy Speer silly in less than a minute with a vicious punch. "Rumble" went on a solid three fight win streak, avenging the eye poke to Burns and knocking out both Luigi Fioravanti and Yoshiyuki Yoshida in the first round. This earned him a big time divisional match-up against top contender Josh Koscheck. Johnson struggled to land big strikes against Koscheck, resorting to wild punches and his lack of a serious submission game resulted in a second round rear naked choke defeat. He was slated to face John Howard but their fight next got past the ridiculously awesome war of words before Johnson was sidelined with a horrible knee injury. He would be shelved for 17 months before finally returning against Dan Hardy at UFC Fight Night 24. Johnson smashed Hardy with strikes and then rode out a decision with his significantly superior wrestling, something he caught some flack from the fans and media. He faced the surging Charlie Brenneman at UFC on Versus 6 and floored the wrestling, stuffing his takedowns and finishing him off with a brutal head kick. Afterwards, he finally decided to move to middleweight to take on "The Phenom." How he gets it done: Johnson has knocked out his opponent in all but one of his UFC victories. He's got some serious power. "Rumble" is very dangerous with not only his punches but also his kicks, something Belfort should be very careful about considering he tends to stand on the outside before diving in. That's how he got caught by Anderson Silva's famous front kick Despite coming up from welterweight, Anthony Johnson is the bigger fighter so his best plan of action would be to stay on the outside looking for the big power shot whether it's a counter punch or a huge head kick. If Belfort dives in with his famous punching flurries, Johnson needs to change levels and slam "The Phenom" to the canvas. It's the ability to overpower Belfort that should be able to carry Johnson to victory. He could really outmuscle and wear out the Brazilian either in the clinch or with takedowns. It's the things that Johnson can do that Belfort can't which could be the deciding factor here. Fight X-Factor: There are two major X-Factors for this bout. The first, obviously, is the move to middleweight for Anthony Johnson. It looks like he's packed on some significant muscle and has been working incredibly hard with top fighters like Rashad Evans over with the Blackzilians at Imperial Athletics. "Rumble" is likely to have more energy and be even more powerful at middleweight than at 170 pounds so he could be extremely scary come fight night. The other factor is Vitor Belfort already having plans beyond this bout. He's already signed on to coach the first Brazilian season of The Ultimate Fighter and he's already going to fight Wanderlei Silva as his next opponent regardless of whether he wins or loses so what are the stakes for this fight? There are multiple people ahead of him in the title picture already. If he is not taking this bout as seriously as he should, Anthony Johnson could surprise the hell out of him. Bottom Line: This is by far the most intriguing match-up of the entire UFC 142 fight card simply because it has the most questions heading into it. New weight classes, the Brazilian crowd, kickboxer-wrestler versus boxer-jiu-jitsu. This fight could take place just about anywhere at any point with the extremely violent nature of both men (both have won via knockout in six of their last seven victories) there should be some serious fireworks in store for the viewers. Hold on to your hats. Who will come out on top at UFC 142? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will walk away from the Octagon with a victory in the co-main event of UFC 142 on Saturday night? Anthony Johnson Vitor Belfort   26 votes | Results

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After the huge success of UFC 134, it was only a matter of time before the Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to the land of samba. Opening their PPV account for 2012 is another card in Rio, this time featuring a featherweight title bout between Brazil’s own Jose Aldo, and arguably his toughest stylistic opponent to date, Chad Mendes, who many deem to be the most well equipped fighter to wrestle the title away from the dominant champion. Unfortunately, the rest of the main card isn’t quite as compelling, as many of the originally scheduled bouts fell through after numerous fighters were struck by injuries. Nevertheless, an intriguing co-main event pits Brazil’s most popular fighter, Vitor Belfort, against rising prospect Anthony Johnson, who will be making his debut in the middleweight division, in a bout that c0uld well put a dent in “The Phenom’s” hopes for a second outing against middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. Preliminary Predictions * Antonio Carvalho to defeat Felipe Arantes by Decision * Mike Pyle to defeat Ricardo Funch by Submission in Round 2 * Michihiro Omigawa to defeat Yuri Alcantara by Decision * Gabriel Gonzaga to defeat Edinaldo Oliveira by TKO in Round 1 * Thiago Tavares to defeat Sam Stout by Decision Main Card Predictions Lightweight Fight: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim After making short work of Miguel Faaloloto, British prospect Etim returns to the cage for a much sterner test in the form of Barboza. While Etim’s striking has proven to be dynamic enough against some of the lower echelon fighters, he will be at a disadvantage on the feet here. Throughout his career, Etim has made full use of his reach and lanky frame. He uses his jab and especially, his kicks, to dictate the tempo of the fight. However, in addition to not having the reach advantage in this one, Etim can’t afford to engage in a kicking contest with Braboza. In fact, his long legs will play against him, and will make for an obvious target for Barboza’s brutal leg kicks. Barboza’s kicks are the backbone of his offense. As vicious as his leg kicks are, he does remarkably well to avoid getting too predictable, and often mixes things up by going to the head and body. The speed of his kicks, both with his lead and power leg, makes him even trickier to deal with. Since joining the UFC, he has worked on his boxing and it paid dividends. His jab has turned into quite a weapon, and he does well to follow it up with a stiff right cross. Crucially, he isn’t content to throw single strikes and is more than willing to move forward and throw combinations, occasionally finishing them off with a leg kick. The key for Etim on the feet is to take a page out of Ross Pearson‘s book and get on the inside, where Barboza is less comfortable. While that isn’t quite Etim’s forte, he needs to stay clear of fighting on the outside. Pearson was able to give Barboza trouble by closing the distance, landing with short left hooks and body shots, and generally getting the better of his opponent from close-quarters. This was made easier by Barboza’s habit of backpedaling into the fence when pressed. A similar approach could well prove fruitful for the Englishman, especially as it would give him the chance to set up takedowns. In fact, Etim’s grappling is greatly underrated, and if he is to get on top, the fight could be his for the taking. Despite improvement in his takedown defense, Barboza’s defensive wrestling is still not up to par. Etim isn’t the best offensive wrestler himself, but he could at least force some scrambles by going for takedowns. Moreover, Barboza’s tendency to sprawl immediately will give Etim the chance to get the front headlock position, which is where his grappling game shines most, as he possesses a terrific arsenal of submissions from that position; namely the guillotine and its variations. The fight will almost certainly be competitive, and as long as Etim is willing to move forward and pressure his opponent, he will have his chances. Nevertheless, consistently getting past Barboza’s reach and dealing with his kicks will prove too much for Etim, as Barboza takes another hard fought decision victory. Official Prediction: Edson Barboza to defeat Terry Etim by Decision Welterweight Fight: Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Siyar Bahadurzada‘s injury gives us a much less intriguing fight here, as Silva is paired up with another short notice opponent instead. For Prater, this is an extremely tough match-up. He has made a career out of outclassing inferior grapplers with a solid top game, highlighted by some slick guard passing and transitions. However, not only is Silva more than capable of matching him on the ground — if not straight up get the better of him — but he also possesses a good base that will make takedowns hard to come by for Prater. On the feet, Prater will be outmatched both in terms of power and technique. In addition to having the better boxing, Silva can inflict serious damage on the inside, with short power hooks and some brutal knees from the clinch. Silva’s killer instinct is equally noteworthy, as once he has his opponent hurt, he doesn’t let him off the hook. In fact, it is totally possible for him to hurt Prater standing before polishing him off with a submission on the ground. Unless a major upset occurs, Silva will be able to notch his second win over a short notice opponent in as many fights. Official Prediction: Erick Silva to defeat Carlo Prater by TKO in Round 1 Middleweight Fight: Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio In what could be the latest act in the Palhares lunacy story, the bizarre Brazilian is matched up with New Jersey’s Massenzio. For all his eccentricities, Palhares is an otherworldly grappler, who is a bit more than a one-trick pony. Beyond his bone crushing leg locks, Palhares has freakish strength, which he uses it expertly to get takedowns. Unlike many of his BJJ peers, Palhares possesses the takedown ability to take the fight to his element, as he is more than capable of slamming most fighters to the mat and use his submission wizardry from there. Massenzio is a capable wrestler with a decent overall grappling acumen, but surely he wants no part of “Toquinho” on the ground. This essentially forces Massenzio to abandon his usual game, and take a more striking oriented approach instead. The problem is, Massenzio’s striking is usually designed to help him rush his opponent, close the distance, and work for the takedown. His aggression could work against him here, as getting overzealous while chasing Palhares around will give the Brazilian the chance to switch levels and plant his foe on his back. To his credit, Massenzio can rough his opponents up when he throws combinations while moving forward, and Palhares’ chin isn’t exactly impenetrable. Conversely, for all his lack of technique and defensive deficiencies, Palhares possesses serious power and could well catch Massenzio off guard in a wild striking exchange. However, despite minute improvements in his stand-up, Palhares is still mainly reliant on a sloppy overhand right and some whacky kicks that seldom land. Yet, his last bout against Dan Miller showed that Palhares is capable of being more accurate on the feet when he puts his mind into it (which for him, seems to be a tough ask). Regardless, this is another fight that could be decided by Palhares’ leg lock game. The beauty about leg locks is that they require relatively little set up, and could be snatched from out of nowhere; an ability that “Toquinho” has mastered.Expect Massenzio to take “an arrow to the knee” in this one. Official Prediction: Rousimar Palhares to defeat Mike Massenzio by Submission in Round 1 Middleweight Fight: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Injury had forced Johnson to sit on the shelf for the entire duration of 2010, but he came back strong last year with dominant back-to-back performances against Dan Hardy and Charlie Brenneman. While Johnson’s edge in physicality will be somewhat reduced now that he’s moving up in weight, he still possesses a rare mixture of size, athleticism, and power. The one knock on Johnson is that, the Hardy bout aside, he isn’t as dominant with his wrestling as you’d expect from someone possessing all those attributes. Of course, having a good striking game and immense power means Johnson doesn’t exclusively have to rely on his wrestling, but he has yet to find the right balance between the two. In general, Johnson’s gameplan is very easy to spot in the first minute or so of a fight, and it becomes very apparent whether he’s in wrestling mode or striking mode, as he has yet to learn how to seamlessly combine them. Against an opponent of Belfort’s caliber, Johnson can’t afford to be predictable. Belfort has historically struggled to deal with imposing wrestling games, and he has a tendency to mentally crumble once he’s stuck on the bottom. However, to take Belfort down, Johnson needs to be able to control the striking first, as he can’t afford to simply rush him the way he did against Dan Hardy. In fact, one of the most overlooked aspects of Belfort’s game is his ability to control the distance, and any rash attempt to hastily move forward by Johnson could be punished by Belfort’s counter-striking. While he is mainly known for blitzing opponents by moving forward with combinations, Belfort possesses solid counter-punching skills. He is an expert at using his lead leg to cut his opponent off and blast him with a trademark straight left, and Johnson needs to be extremely wary of that fact, as few fighters — if any — can afford to taste the Brazilian’s power. Belfort has went through different phases in his fighting style. Lately, he’s developed into a much more patient striker. He has been mixing up some leg kicks in his arsenal, but he doesn’t quite use his jab with any sort of frequency. What he does however, is wait for the right moment to either counter or move forward, usually with a 1-2. Johnson’s striking on the other hand, is mostly reliant on his power, and his right hand is not something any fighter would want to feel. To his credit, he rarely gets too trigger happy with said right hand, and is sneakily good at setting it up with the jab. Furthermore, Johnson has some diversity in his striking. In fact, his kicks — particularly his high kicks — are arguably his most dangerous weapon, with his lead snap kick being especially deceptive in its speed and accuracy. While Johnson isn’t a power double leg type of fighter, he possesses a very quick and explosive first step when moving in for the shot. His single leg is arguably his best takedown, while his imposing clinch game could be key in this bout. Johnson’s top game on the other hand, is somewhat pedestrian and lacks dynamism, as he offers little in terms of guard passing or significant ground and pound. Despite some good hips, Belfort has never shown remarkable takedown defense or the ability to scramble up from underneath an opponent. Johnson may not be able to secure clean takedowns early, but he could wear Belfort out in the clinch for the first few minutes before finally planting him on his back. From there, unless “The Phenom” shows improved defensive grappling, he is likely in for a frustrating night. Of course, the threat of Belfort crushing Johnson with a well-placed counter or a trademark flurry is a significant one, and it is a big possibility any time the fight is vertical. However, judging by Belfort’s history, he is going to have a hard time keeping it where he’s most comfortable. Official Prediction: Anthony Johnson to defeat Vitor Belfort by Decision PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Go inside a day at training camp for Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, who fights Vitor Belfort in the co-main event of UFC 142 on Saturday in Brazil.

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Filed under: UFC, NewsAnthony Johnson's strategy (if you want to call it that) against Vitor Belfort is quite simple at UFC 142 this Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "I'm going in there to do me. And that's to fight," Johnson said Thursday during the UFC 142 pre-fight press conference. "There's no strategy. My strategy is to fight and that's what I get paid to do and that's what I'm here to do. So as far as strategy, it's called: get it done." Johnson projected an air of confidence in front of reporters heading into his middleweight debut against the former UFC light heavyweight champion. He spoke of gaining extra motivation after watching the "Countdown to UFC 142" preview show upon hearing Belfort say, "We're going to see a lion." Johnson was reminded of something his grandfather once told him. "I'm looking forward to seeing that lion, actually," Johnson said. "Before my granddad died, a week before he died, he told me, 'Fight like you're fighting a lion across the cage from you.' "That's all he had to tell me really before he passed," Johnson continued. "For me to not care and do the best I can in life. With Vitor saying that made me want to fight even more. I'm hungry too. I'm looking forward to the fight. I can't wait. I definitely can't wait. Belfort (20-9) is known as one of the most devastating punchers in UFC history. He joined the UFC at UFC 12, stopping two opponents in one night. 15 years later, Belfort hasn't slowed down. He's coming off a KO finish against Yoshihiro Akiyama last August at UFC 133. Johnson (10-3) is a knockout artist himself, having recorded five knockouts in his six UFC wins. His only losses inside the Octagon have been due to an injury and a pair of rear-naked chokes. Last year Johnson made a switch to Imperial Athletics in Boca Raton, Fla. to train under Mike Van Arsdale with the likes of Rashad Evans and Jorge Santiago. From the look of things, the move has already paid off. Last October, Johnson ended Charlie Brenneman's night with a first-round head-kick knockout. Training with a new camp and fighting at a new weight class, Johnson on Saturday will aim to establish himself against one of the future Hall of Famers in the sport. "Vitor is an amazing athlete, very hands and very powerful. You have no choice but to respect him. I respect him but I'm not afraid of him. I'm willing to accept the challenge." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Vitor Belfort respects Anthony Johnson like any past opponent, but on Jan. 14 he plans on letting him know that the cage belongs to him and he'll protect it accordingly

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Anthony Johnson didn’t need any more motivation than he already had for this Saturday’s UFC 142 bout against Vitor Belfort. “Rumble” was going to be making his middleweight debut after a long run at 170 pounds, he was facing a legit superstar and former champion, and he was doing it in a Pay-Per-View co-main event.But then he watched a clip of Belfort from the Countdown to UFC 142 preview show, and everything clicked even more. “In one of the clips, Vitor said that we’re gonna see a lion January 14th,” recalled Johnson. “Well, that’s the one thing my granddad told me right before he passed. The week he passed, he said to fight like I’m fighting a lion across the cage. When I heard that from Vitor’s mouth, I said thank you. I’ve been waiting on this lion a long time.”It’s almost as if this fight is his destiny, and in a lot of ways it is. Long considered one of the top prospects in the welterweight division, Johnson was also seen as one of the biggest fighters in the weight class, one whose ability to make 170 pounds was almost as spectacular as one of his many highlight reel knockouts. Yet after he seemed to get into a weight cutting rhythm and started to make moves on the top guns in the division, his move to middleweight was announced. “I like to keep people on their toes,” he laughed. “I don’t like to be what people think I am.”In his eyes, it wasn’t a conscious decision to move 15 pounds north; he just received the offer to fight Belfort and ran with it.“To me, any time would have been the right time. The UFC presented me with the chance to fight Vitor, so why not? You don’t really get many opportunities in life, and when you do, you need to take them. I just saw it as a great opportunity for me, and right now, I’m fighting at 185, so my focus is there. 170 hasn’t really popped into my head at all. After the fight I don’t know what I’m gonna think, but right now, I haven’t thought about going back down or doing anything else except fighting.”Does he feel the difference?“Yeah, I’m not hungry,” he deadpans before breaking out into a laugh. But Johnson’s move north is no laughing matter to the middleweight division. Not only will he be coming into fights with a boost of energy from not having a drastic weight cut, but he’s likely to have an edge in speed on his foes while still retaining his power. Add in his underrated wrestling and he’s a tough puzzle for any 185er to figure out. Even Belfort admitted in a pre-fight interview that he doesn’t know which version of Johnson is going to show up – the wrestler or the striker. Johnson likes being this international man of mystery.“I love the fact that I’m in the back of their minds and they don’t know what I’m gonna do, and I’m gonna keep it that way,” said the 27-year old. “I’m gonna keep the fans, my coaches, and my opponents guessing. My coaches don’t even know what guy’s gonna show up at practice (Laughs) – the wrestler or the striker. I just like to mix it up, and in my opinion, that’s how you beat people. I’m gonna use all of my strengths – wrestling, striking, jiu-jitsu, I don’t care; I’m coming hard.”And he’s ready for whatever Belfort shows up as well, whether it’s the explosive and aggressive striker or the more measured counterfighter who waits for his opponents to over commit.“He’s an extremely fast, good fighter,” said Johnson of the former UFC light heavyweight champion. “But this is a fight. I’m gonna go in there and do what I do and stick to my plan and fight the way I’ve always been fighting, and that’s using my speed, using my power, and just getting the job done. Vitor’s a phenomenal fighter, but I can do things just as good as he can. He thinks he has speed, well I have speed too. He thinks he has power, I got that too. So if he wants to go tit for tat, we can do that.”Anyone who has seen Johnson fight over the course of his nearly five year UFC career will attest to his willingness to scrap and his killer instinct. Yet his vicious knockouts of Charlie Brenneman, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Kevin Burns, Luigi Fioravanti, Tommy Speer, and Chad Reiner are in stark contrast to his out of the Octagon demeanor, where he is laid-back and always quick with a joke or one-liner. “When I fight, I don’t care what’s around me,” he said. “I’m there to do my job and I got somebody in there that’s trying to take my life, and that’s what I feel, so I’m gonna try my best to take the other person out. I got that on and off switch. I’m gonna pull that trigger, hit that switch, and make sure I get the job done.”The Jekyll and Hyde switch does come as a surprise to new acquaintances, but to Johnson’s family back in Georgia, they saw the roots of “Rumble” early on.“I used to beat up my cousin’s teddy bear all the time,” he laughed. “And teddy bears don’t punch back, but I was throwing that thing all around the house and doing some WWE-type stuff. I was body slamming it, jumping on top of it, punching it. I guess I was in training at a young age. So it doesn’t surprise them. I’m just that little kid that they saw growing up who’s on TV now and doing it for real.”Years later, Anthony Johnson is on the verge of big things in the UFC, and to move even closer to his goals, he’ll have to pull out the “Rumble” side of his personality not to fight a bear, but a lion.“When you fight a lion,” he said, “you gotta be on point, you gotta be sharp, and you gotta beat the lion to the punch in every single way and outsmart the lion.” 

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There will be a lot more Rumble in the Octagon than we're used to seeing at UFC 142, as Anthony Johnson makes his middleweight debut.

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RIO DE JANEIRO - As much as Anthony Johnson would like to think he's a middleweight, he's still moonlighting. "I'm out here to get this experience that I need right now at 185 (pounds) and see if these guys are the real deal like they say they are," Johnson today told MMAjunkie.com. Vitor Belfort, whom Johnson faces in the co-main event of Saturday's UFC 142 event, offers the first taste of experience fighting in a division most say he should have occupied years ago.

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Hopefully this trend of MMA parents infiltrating the world of mixed martial arts continues into 2012. I would like to take credit for it back in 2010 when KJ Noons' dad and I nearly fought in a club in downtown Los Angeles after a Strikeforce fight. During that bizarre altercation, KJ Noons broke us up and offered to buy me a Redbull and vodka. Of course I accepted the drink, it was friggin' KJ Noons buying me a drink. That doesn't happen very often in society. Thus far, Dan Hardy has not intervened in his father's minor altercation with Rumble Johnson which started less than a day ago on Twitter. It all started when Mark Hardy responded to a video which the UFC tweeted of Anthony Johnson claiming he will 'break Vitor' at UFC 142. Mark replied with 'He lies,' and then Johnson wrote the following to Pappa Dan Hardy:   Mark Hardy gave birth to one of the most articulate smack talkers in MMA, so of course he had something up his sleeve.   Of course, no trash talk is complete without some sort of illustration to convey the point. If you want to enjoy the madness as it happens, follow both Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) and Mark Hardy (@Mark_Hardy4) on Twitter.

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UFC veteran Anthony Johnson will finally step inside the Octagon as 185'er, facing the legendary Vitor Belfort in the co-main event of UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Currently enjoying an impressive two-fight winning streak, Johnson will look to make a statement against Belfort, with sights on becoming a top contender in the UFC middleweight division. Further Reading: UFC 142 is now open for

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If you're looking to identify a weakness in Anthony Johnson's game, it sure as heck isn't going to be his confidence. The former gargantuan welterweight, who needed the Papillon diet to make his cut, is finally moving up a division to compete at a more natural (and likely healthier) weight of 185-pounds. Unfortunately, his first opponent is former number one contender Vitor Belfort, who welcomes "Rumble" to the middleweight division in the co-main event of UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" this Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It's about as stiff a test as you can get at 185, but that doesn't mean boo to Johnson, who told fans in his latest video diary that "Vitor don't want none of this." "Jiu-jitsu. I'm gonna submit his ass. Knock him out and submit him, all at the same time. Vitor don't want none of this on the ground. Elbows, baby! Kicks, punches, from my back. I do spinning back kicks from the guard! It's gonna be a good night in Brazil and it's gonna be a bad night in Brazil, all at the same time." Hear more from Johnson as he trains with the Blackzilians, after the jump. Alright Maniacs, who's taking "Rumble" in this middleweight mash-up? More on their upcoming fight at UFC 142 right here.

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Anthony “Rumble” Johnson has not always had the best of luck making the Welterweight limit of 170 pounds, in fact at UFC 104, Johnson missed weight by six pounds. At UFC 142 Johnson will put the Welterweight division behind him as he makes his Middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort. The 10-3 Johnson recently revealed the logic that was behind the move to the 185 pound weight division. “Well when I said back in the day I was gonna fight at 185 that was just to get people talking and it

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Filed under: UFCLooking back on it, maybe Anthony Johnson should have realized sooner that he wasn't meant to be a permanent welterweight. Maybe the revelation should have hit him during any one of his notoriously drastic weight cuts, but especially when he found himself trapped in a sauna in the days before his fight with Dan Hardy in Seattle last March. "It was a rough cut," Johnson admits now. So rough, in fact, that he found himself threatening his own coaches with all manner of bodily harm when they wouldn't let him out of the sauna for even a second. "I only had like five or six pounds to go, and when you're that dehydrated and you've been working so hard, your brain...you kind of get out there a little bit," Johnson said. "My strength and conditioning coach and everybody else were sitting behind the door so I couldn't get it open. I just wanted a breath of fresh air. That was it." When they wouldn't let him have it, Johnson recalled with a chuckle, he threatened to "put something on y'all that you'll never forget." As anyone who's seen his run of knockout victories in the UFC already knows, that's a threat with teeth. Or at least it would have been if he hadn't been so depleted by the weight cut. "I was too weak anyway," he said. "That was just my mind...making threats that I knew I couldn't keep." That was the old way for Johnson. That particular brand of suffering constituted a normal part of fight week for him, which strikes his new coaches as more than a little bit insane. "With really good athletes like Anthony Johnson, the worst thing you can do is cut weight," said Mike Van Arsdale, who works with Johnson and the rest of the "Blackzilian" squad at Imperial Athletics in Boca Raton, Fla. "You're cutting away your athletic ability, is what you're doing." According to Van Arsdale, that's why the offer to fight Vitor Belfort at 185 pounds on Saturday night's UFC 142 card in Rio de Janeiro was the best thing that could have happened to Johnson. "All he's done [by going up in weight] is enable himself to be who he was supposed to be to begin with. If you weigh 220 pounds, you don't need to be fighting at 170," Van Arsdale said. "It's crazy. You're trying to make 170 in the sauna and you end up sitting there at 189 and already depleted. That's why I think this is the right weight class for him." For Johnson, the decision was simple. He didn't feel like he needed to flee the welterweight division after two straight victories, he said, but he also couldn't bring himself to say no to a fight with Belfort at middleweight. "Everybody's been talking about me going up to 185," Johnson said. "It came sooner than I expected, but it's here now. What am I going to do? I'm not going to back down from any opponent. I'm not going to let people second-guess me or think that I'm scared of 185." In Belfort, however, Johnson faces not just a bigger opponent, but one with proven knockout ability in the higher weight classes. In the last couple years he's starched opponents like Yoshihiro Akiyama and Rich Franklin with his one-punch power, and Johnson knows how dangerous he can be in the opening rounds. But the real difference-maker, according to Johnson, won't be the numbers on the scale, but rather the quality of the time each man has spent in the gym. That's why the decision to join the Blackzilians in Florida was such an important one, he said. "This is actually a camp that has real fighters and people that really want to win. We support each other through thick and thin. We don't badmouth each other. It's just a good environment with top-notch athletes." As Van Arsdale explained, it's the intensity of the practices and the quality of the sparring partners that makes all the difference. "Put it this way: if you're going to spar with [kickboxer] Tyrone Spong, and he's standing right in front of you and there's no way out of it, you're forced to rise up. That's what Anthony's done," said Van Arsdale. "You're going with that guy -- and he's 15 pounds or so heavier than Anthony -- how are you not going to get better at kickboxing? And the same thing when you're wrestling with Rashad Evans and guys from the Olympic Training Center every day in practice, how could you not get better at wrestling?" Beyond just the quality of talent on the mats each day, it's the support Johnson gets from his fellow fighters that has showed him what he was missing before, he said. "I didn't have a family like I have now. I had a team in certain teams I was a part of, but this is not a team to me. This is a family." According to Van Arsdale, both the move up in weight and the move to Florida have already paid tremendous dividends for Johnson, even if he doesn't think the combat sports community fully appreciates it just yet. "I don't really read a lot of the stuff on the internet, but I was curious the other day and I looked on there and saw that Anthony Johnson's nowhere to be seen in the top ten at 170 or 185, and that's really funny," Van Arsdale said. "This guy is good, man. Ever since he went up a weight class, it's like he jumped up five extra steps. There's no real way to prepare for him now; you just have to go in there and try to catch him with something, and that's hard to do." And yet, that's exactly what Belfort has excelled at in his career. Even Johnson admits that, based on the footage he's studied, there are few strikers more dangerous than "The Phenom" in the opening minutes of a fight. It's when the fight doesn't end during those first few minutes that he tends to struggle, Johnson said. "His hands are always the most dangerous part, especially in that first round. ...But I'm sure Vitor doesn't want to get embarrassed, so he's going to come in really good shape. I'm putting a lot of pressure on him. I'm beating the hell out of him." And the fact that they're fighting in Belfort's home country, where the crowd will no doubt be rabid in its support of their countryman? That doesn't matter to Johnson any more than Belfort's litany of past knockouts, since neither can get in the cage to help him. "Vitor, to me, is just like everybody else," Johnson said. "He's a human. He's a fighter just like me. He's been around for a while, but so what? That doesn't mean anything to me. I respect him, but this is a fight." And at least this time around, Johnson won't have to battle his own team and his own weight quite so ferociously just to make it into the cage. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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The UFC has released another installment of 'Fighter Diary', and this time, it gives us an inside look on the camp of Anthony Johnson. He has had trouble making weight at times during his days as a welterweight, and now, he will be moving up to take on middleweight contender Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 in Brazil. Basing on looks alone, it already appears that Johnson would be a great fit at middleweight. Without having to diet and cut as much weight to make 185 lbs, he seems roughly the same size as his training partner, former light heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans. Now that he doesn't have to compromise his conditioning by cutting that much weight anymore, could this be his Alistair Overeem moment? Could this move up in weight make him perform much better? I guess we'll find out for sure this weekend. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

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There’s no doubt Anthony Johnson will be entering this weekend’s bout against Vitor Belfort as an underdog. At 10-3, and coming up from welterweight with a lack of experience against world class competition, chances are very few people in general will be giving “Rumble” the benefit of the doubt where pulling out a win is concerned considering Belfort’s past success and championship glory. However, Johnson doesn’t need others’ assurance in terms of his ability to come out with his hand raised. After all, he’s got plenty of it coming from himself and his training partners at the Blackzilian camp in Florida. “I’m gonna break Vitor. I’m gonna break him,” said the 27-year old Johnson in a video from Authentic Sports Management profiling his preparation for Saturday night’s UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes festivities. “I’m not saying this fight is gonna be easy, but you know what? I bet it won’t be harder than what I go through at training,” Johnson explained while referring to teammates like Melvin Guillard and Rashad Evans. Johnson also revealed his intent to keep constant pressure on Belfort throughout while throwing strikes. “Vitor hasn’t seen that in his camp, I guarantee it. He doesn’t have these coaches that I have. He doesn’t have the caliber of training partners that I have. He doesn’t have the talent that I have.” Belfort-Johnson will take place as part of the UFC 142 main card, an event headlined by Jose Aldo defending his featherweight title against unbeaten Californian Chad Mendes. Check out the complete video from Johnson below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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If Anthony Johnson loses to Vitor Belfort this weekend at UFC 142, it won’t be from a lack of confidence or preparation. Authentic Sports Management put together this sweet video diary of Johnson’s training camp and it becomes clear pretty quick that Johnson is putting everything into this fight with Belfort. Rumble looks like an absolute monster and has me second-guessing who’s going to win this fight. HT: @robnashville

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The week UFC Undisputed 2009 was released, I visited my bud's house in Tucson, Arizona and used Matt Serra to beat Anthony Johnson eight consecutive times. My friend was so enraged that he grabbed the cord of his Xbox 360 controller and swung it around his living room like a medieval morning star. Eventually the analog stick of his controller met the fragile end of his window and everything came shattering down in unison. He ruined his entire living room solely because he couldn't live in a reality in which Matt Serra consistently defeats Rumble Johnson in a videogame. That's how hardcore Rumble Johnson fans are. You guys are friggin' dedicated. We're just a few days away from UFC's second voyage to Brazil in less than a year, and by the end of this upcoming Saturday the world will witness an extraordinary knockout during UFC 142's co-main event between Anthony Johnson vs. Vitor Belfort. LOL if you think this one is going to the judges. Check out this highly stylized clip of Rumble preparing for the first international fight of his professional MMA career. [Source]

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Take a look inside Anthony "Rumble" Johnson's training camp for his move to middleweight against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 in Rio.

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Anthony Johnson is a career welterweight who is tired of the massive self-deprivation required in order to make the division’s 170-pound weight limit. “Rumble” often walks around at over 200 pounds, so in order to compete, that means that more often than not, his camps are focused on shedding weight, rather than properly preparing for a fight from technique and game growth perspectives.The weight cut was such a problem that Johnson twice, in ten UFC bouts, missed weight. He was six and one-half pounds over for his fight against Rich Clementi back in 2007, tipping the scale at 177.5 pounds, rather than the allowed 171 pounds for non-title welterweight affairs. Two years later, he missed by five pounds against Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Despite hitting the mark for the past three fights, Johnson has finally had enough. He believes that, at 27 years old, he has simply outgrown the welterweight division. Thus, he is moving to middleweight for the first time on Saturday night at UFC 142. Johnson will still be cutting weight, but not like when he competes at 170 pounds.There is little doubt that Johnson will be stronger and more explosive at middleweight. He likely will have better cardio and generally feel better from not having to shed an additional 15 pounds. Yet, nobody knows whether all that will result in a better fighter. He might be better in the literal sense, but the question is whether Anthony Johnson 2.0 will perform better against middleweights than Anthony Johnson 1.0 did against welterweights. Rather than dip his toe into the middleweight water in search of an answer to that question, Johnson is diving in head first into a rip tide without any sort of a life vest because first up at middleweight is none other than former heavyweight tournament winner and former light heavy champ Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort.Belfort is one of the most feared strikers in all of mixed martial arts. The Brazilian debuted in the UFC back on February 7, 1997, when he was only 19 years old. He won the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament that night by knocking out Tra Telligman and Scott Ferrozzo in a combined two minutes. Fast-forward 15 years. Belfort is now a 34-year-old former champion who is looking to conquer his third weight class. The difference, of course, is that Belfort has moved down in weight over the years, not up.  He has also been competing in the middleweight division since July 19, 2008, so there are no question marks over how his body will perform at 185 pounds. In fact, Belfort’s volume of work below 205 pounds suggests that this is his best weight class.So suffice to say that Belfort will be the biggest, strongest, most accomplished opponent that Johnson has ever faced. It only adds to the intrigue that Johnson will be fighting one of the most amped up and focused Vitor Belforts that the world has ever seen, since he is fighting in his native Brazil for the first time since annihilating Wanderlei Silva at UFC Brazil way back on October 16, 1998. And it is a prelude fight to Belfort assuming a coaching role opposite Silva on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” – the first time that the UFC’s hit reality show will film a season outside of the US. Taping starts shortly after UFC 142.Welcome to the middleweight division, Anthony Johnson.On paper, this seems like an insurmountable task for “Rumble” because he doesn’t appear to enjoy an advantage in any area of the fight. Belfort is the better striker. He is the superior grappler. He is more experienced and accomplished. According to individuals who have trained with both, he is also the stronger, faster fighter. The only area where Johnson may enjoy a slight edge is in his cardio. Neither man will be confused with the Energizer Bunny any time soon, but Belfort’s cardio has been notoriously bad over the years. Johnson also appears to tire quickly in fights, but he has enjoyed much more success in fights lasting the distance than Belfort. The American is undefeated in those bouts, whereas Belfort has won less than half of his.None of that really matters, though. Why? Because fights don’t compete on paper. No fighter is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. One mistake can lead to an instant loss thanks to a perfectly placed strike or an inescapable submission hold. That is what makes MMA such a great sport.If Belfort is foolish enough to drop his hands, Johnson has more than enough power in his overhand right and right high kick to abruptly turn out the lights. “Rumble” scored knockouts in six of his last seven victories. None of those knockout victims had Belfort-like resumes. Yet, there is no denying that the reality of competing with four-ounce gloves and uncovered shins is that anyone can get knocked out on any given night in the UFC.If the former champion lets his focus lapse, Johnson has the wrestling chops to take the fight to the ground. Belfort may be a vastly superior grappler, but he has a terrible habit of resting in his guard, rather than working his transition jiu-jitsu or quickly scrambling back to his feet. That opens the door for Johnson to score a fight-altering cut, work some cardio-sapping ground and pound, or just score points on the judges’ cards for spending time on top.One mistake. That is all it takes. Belfort is acutely aware of that fact after his knockout loss to Anderson Silva just about one year ago. He failed to properly identify a front kick to the face, and he found himself waking up moments later with his first taste of middleweight defeat. It can happen again on Saturday night, if he isn’t sharp.But that isn’t the only way for Johnson to win. He can also take advantage of Belfort’s tendency to move backward and pose, rather than circling and striking, in the face of controlled pressure. Johnson can initiate that tendency by slowly approaching with his hands up ready to punch. Belfort will oblige by taking equally slows steps backward, coiled and ready to counter. Johnson should not fire a haphazard strike during his approach, otherwise it is lights out. He should, instead, just come forward with confident, yet measured, steps with his hands held high. Belfort will continue backing up until he nears the cage, at which point, he will either circle out to his right or stand his ground and initiate an exchange. Johnson should anticipate that and either shoot for a takedown when Belfort is within a step of the cage or step to his own left and fire his right hand. The former is the best way to get Belfort to clinch, rather than effectively sprawl. The latter is the best way to avoid a counter left hand, while still creating an opening to step inside and initiate a clinch himself. Belfort is an expert clinch fighter. But his first instinct will be to defend the takedown, rather than turn his opponent. That will create an opening for Johnson to drop his weight and secure a good position smothering Belfort against the cage. He will need to keep working for takedowns and mix in some dirty boxing and knees to avoid a referee restart, but he should focus first and foremost at maintaining the outside position for as long as the referee will allow it. Not only will this score points for Octagon control on the judges’ cards; it will also start to sap Belfort of his explosiveness as he begins to use up his precious cardio defending in the clinch. If there is a restart or the period comes to a close, Johnson should go right back to that game plan when the action gets back underway. Belfort’s counterstriking style is so deeply ingrained into his DNA that I would be absolutely shocked to see him react any differently than walking backward, if Johnson uses cautious aggression, as outlined above.  The sequence should play itself out again and again, just like it did in Belfort’s third fight with Randy Couture and his bout with Tito Ortiz. As Belfort’s cardio begins to betray him, Johnson can mix in aggressive takedown attempts and combination striking, rather than clinching once his foe nears the cage. Belfort’s extremely high percentage of fast twitch muscle fiber means that his explosive speed and power will decrease proportionately with his cardio. That is evidenced by the fact that he has never scored a knockout or a submission win in the third round. Not once in his illustrious career. Thus, Johnson can more freely open up his offensive game once the final round arrives.Belfort, on the other hand, won’t likely enter the cage with much of a game plan. I’m sure his coaches will have him fully prepared with an excellent game plan designed to take advantage of Johnson’s own technical flaws. That plan will undoubtedly include Belfort taking the offensive early in the fight. He is an absolute beast in sparring when he fights aggressively, rather than always countering. Yet, all that will go out the window, once the fight is underway. It always does with Belfort. He will instead stand and wait. He will retreat and wait. He will circle and wait. All the while, he will be waiting for Johnson to attack so that he can counter. Belfort won’t have a counter in mind. He counters by instinct. Years of training have made his response to incoming fire instinctual. It might be a bombing left hand, followed by a series of rights and lefts thrown in machine-gun fashion. It might be a flying knee, followed by that same series of rights and lefts. It might be all sorts of things. But what it won’t be is a single, haphazard strike. That isn’t how Belfort gets down. And that won’t be how he responds when he sees an opening on Saturday night. It will be all-out aggression, which almost always results in an opponent ending up on the canvas. I don’t think Saturday will end any differently.Again, on paper, it seems like this will be an exceedingly difficult challenge for Johnson, one that he likely won’t overcome. Then again, fights only unfold on paper in the minds of writers. I’m quite sure Anthony Johnson couldn’t care less about what I write in this breakdown because he is coming to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to win. Let’s see if he can pull it off. QUICK FACTSVitor Belfort•    20-9 overall•    34 years old•    6’0, 185 lbs•    74-inch reach•    4-1, 4 KOs at 195 lbs or less•    4-1 in last 5 fights•    7-3 in last 10•    All 9 UFC wins inside the distance (8 by KO/TKO and 1 by SUB)•    70% of career wins by KO/TKO•    10% of career wins by SUB•    20% of career wins by decision•    Former UFC light heavyweight champion•    Former UFC heavyweight tournament champion•    Knockout of the Night winner in two of last three fights (Akiyama and Franklin)•    Current layoff is 161 days•    Longest layoff of his career is 504 daysAnthony Johnson•    10-3 overall•    27 years old•    6’2, 185 lbs•    78-inch reach•    4-1 in last 5•    7-3 in last 10 •    70% of career wins by KO/TKO•    30% of career wins by decision•    No wins by SUB•    3-0 in fights that have lasted the distance•    Fight of the Night winner in loss to Josh Koscheck•    Knockout of the night winner twice (Brenneman and Burns)•    Current layoff is 105 days•    Longest layoff of his career is 490 days

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Anthony Johnson has two options. Behind door number one is a career at welterweight (170-pounds) where he is a top contender but essentially has to starve himself to make weight. It's been documented in the past that he's lost up to 60-pounds in one camp just to get ready for a fight. Behind door number two is a fresh start at a new career at middleweight (185-pounds), a full 15 pounds higher where he isn't quite as well established but is considered good enough to earn a fight against a top contender his first time out. Oh, and he doesn't have to cut nearly as much weight, which means he can eat more. Talk about Sophie's choice, right? UFC President Dana White and UFC Matchmaker Joe Silva had been trying for some time to get Johnson to move up in weight after a couple of failed attempts at making the 170-pound limit sprinkled throughout his Octagon fight career. All to no avail. Then they came calling with the offer to fight Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 on Jan. 14 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Sold! "This is going to be a lot of fun for me," Johnson said at a recent conference call. "So that's why I feel so good because I don't have to cut the weight that I used to cut and I'm more explosive; I'm more athletic. Everything has just come to where it needs to be right now. I'm peaking at the right time." What would a win over Belfort do for Johnson's standing at 185-pounds? Wonders, no doubt, but we're talking about a division that isn't exactly overrun with challengers to Anderson Silva's throne. Not credible ones, at least. That's a role "Rumble" could easily assume in just a few fights, starting with an impressive win over "The Phenom," who, himself, just fought for the title in Feb. of last year. That's likely a big reason Johnson is planning on sticking around in his new division. Well, that and one other thing: "Right now, middleweight is where I am. That's all I'm thinking about, and I really don't mind fighting middleweight because I get to eat more now. So like I said, I feel 1000 times better than I did when I fought (at) 170, so that's why I'm so happy and want to fight really bad." Laugh and grow fat, Maniacs. That's what Johnson's doing ... for now.

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An injury has knocked Cody McKenzie out of his bout against TUF 12 housemate Michael Johnson. Shane Roller will step in for the fight at UFC on Fox in Chicago.

Posted in: johnson, chicago, shane, shane roller, cody mckenzie

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Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 alum Michael Johnson has been paired up against Shane Roller for a 155-pound scrap at the UFC on FOX 2 event scheduled for Jan. 28, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Roller replaces Johnson's original opponent, Cody McKenzie, who was forced to bow out of the upcoming contest due to injury. After making his UFC debut with a knockout win over Thiago Tavares, Roller (10-5) dropped back-to-back fights to Melvin Guillard (knockout) and T.J. Grant (submission). The World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran is likely in a do-or-die situation from a contractual standpoint, as three straight losses never bodes well for up-and-coming fighters. Will Johnson send him to the unemployment line? Like Roller, "The Menace" is 1-2 inside the Octagon, wrapping a pair of losses to Jonathan Brookins and Paul Sass around a UFC on Versus 4 stoppage over Edward Faaloloto. And also like his opponent, the Jan. 28 fight could be for all the marbles. 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 injury to battle for the right to fight Jon Jones. Also booked for the FOX fight card is a middleweight title eliminator pitting former championship challenger Chael Sonnen against streaking 185-pound wrecking ball Mark Munoz. For the latest UFC on FOX 2 news and notes check out our event archive right here.

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Another injury has hit the UFC on Fox 2 card, and now it's guillotine afficionado, Cody McKenzie, who's been forced to bow out of a scheduled lightweight bout with his fellow TUF cast-mate, Michael Johnson. Stepping in to fight Johnson will be Shane Roller, according to MMA Junkie Roller will only have a few weeks to prepare for Johnson, but he's likely eager to get back in the Octagon as soon as possible, after suffering what he believed was a controversial loss to T.J. Grant back at UFC on Versus 6. The fight was stopped by referee Fernando Yamasaki when Grant had Roller locked in a tight armbar, but Roller claims he never tapped or verbally submitted. Shane Roller (10-5)L T.J. Grant (technical submission) - UFC on Versus 6L Melvin Guillard (KO) - UFC 132W Thiago Tavares (KO) - UFC on Versus 3 Michael "The Menace" Johnson (9-6)L Paul Sass (submission) - UFC on Versus 6W Edward Faaloloto (TKO) - UFC on Versus 4L Jonathan Brookins (unam. decision) - TUF 12 Finale UFC on Fox 2 coverage

Posted in: ufc, johnson, roller, shane roller, roller claims

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Filed under: UFC, NewsAnthony Johnson is considered to be one of the top welterweights in the UFC, but his days of fighting at 170 pounds may be over. "Rumble," who will make his middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 next week, said on a Wednesday conference call that he isn't thinking about fighting at welterweight anymore. "Right now, middleweight is where I am," Johnson said. "That's all I'm thinking about, and I really don't mind fighting middleweight because I get to eat more now. So like I said, I feel 1000 times better than I did when I fought [at] 170, so that's why I'm so happy and want to fight really bad." Johnson, who said he currently weighed 215 pounds, would sometimes cut as much as sixty pounds to make the 171-pound welterweight limit. He even missed weight twice (UFC 76 and UFC 104), but despite the struggle to make weight, he never seriously flirted with the idea of moving up to 185 pounds. That is until the UFC offered him a shot against Vitor Belfort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "This is going to be a lot of fun for me," Johnson said. "So that's why I feel so good because I don't have to cut the weight that I used to cut and I'm more explosive; I'm more athletic. Everything has just come to where it needs to be right now. I'm peaking at the right time." Asked whether he was officially done as a welterweight, Johnson simply said, "so far." UFC 142, headlined by Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes for the UFC featherweight title, airs live on pay-per-view from the HSBC Arena in Rio on Jan. 14. The prelims will air on FX. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Shane Roller has stepped in for an injured Cody McKenzie and will meet Michael Johnson in a lightweight matchup on the preliminary card of UFC on Fox 2 on January 28 in Chicago, according to MMAjunkie. Roller (10-5) is in need of a win after back-to-back losses to Melvin Guillard and TJ Grant, which followed a “Knockout of the Night” against Thiago Tavares in his UFC debut. Johnson (9-6), The Ultimate Fighter 12 runner-up, stopped Edward Faaloloto in June for his first UFC win, but fell to Paul Sass in October. UFC on Fox 2 is headlined by light heavyweight contenders Rashad Evans and Phil Davis and also features top middleweights Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz and Michael Bisping vs. Demian Maia For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 2 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Michael Johnson

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“This is easy, This is going to be a lot of fun for me… Everything has come to where it needs to be right now. I’m peaking at the right time… Right now, middleweight is where I am, and that’s all I’m thinking about. I really don’t mind fighting (at) middleweight because I get to eat more now. So I feel a thousand times better than when I fought at 170. That’s why I’m so happy and want to fight really bad.” — Anthony Johnson on a UFC 142 conference call talking about fighting at middleweight It seems Anthony Johnson is finally starting to realize what everyone has been saying for years — he belongs in the middleweight division. Johnson enjoyed a considerable size advantage in the welterweight division, but it always came at a price. He was cutting ridiculous amounts of weight to make 170 and as he mentions above, his body didn’t feel like it should. Johnson says he’s done with welterweight “so far”, but that will likely hinge on how well he does at 185. Even if he loses to Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 though, I hope he gives middleweight an honest run. It’s where he belongs and where I suspect we’ll see him unlock his full potential, similar to how Alistair Overeem has since he moved to heavyweight. By the way, Johnson says he’s currently weighing 215 which means he still needs to cut 30 pounds by next Friday’s weigh-ins. Image via Johnson’s manager Glenn Robinson

Posted in: time, johnson, middleweight, vitor belfort, welterweight division

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Vitor Belfort is on his way to being one of the first coaches for TUF Brasil. First, however, “The Phenom” will step inside the Octagon to face Anthony Johnson. Belfort-Johnson is the co-main event for UFC 142, which takes place January 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the main event, Jose Aldo will defend his UFC featherweight title against Chad Mendes. “I’m coming to fight in Brazil,” said Belfort in his latest video entry for The Road to UFC 142. “When I was 19 years old, I had a dream of my sport being popular in the whole world. And this moment is here now.” After the Johnson bout, Belfort will coach opposite Wanderlei Silva on TUF with the two meeting in a rematch following the season. Belfort knocked out Silva in their first and only meeting. Check out the video below to see Belfort preparing to welcome Johnson to the middleweight ranks: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, johnson, belfort, hsbc arena, video entry

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After years of cutting in excess of 30 pounds - and sometimes as much as 50 - to fight in the welterweight division, Anthony Johnson likes the idea of fighting at middleweight. So much so, in fact, that he's "so far" done with his former weight class. "This is easy," said Johnson, who fights Vitor Belfort next week at UFC 142. "This is going to be a lot of fun for me."

Posted in: fight, anthony johnson, johnson, welterweight division, weight class

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Some of you may have been diagnosed with radiation poisoning from that hydrogen bomb Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson detonated on Charlie Brenneman's head at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson last year. If you have, it's alright. Just look at it as another way to take off a week from your job. We're not sure when the athletic commission is going to outlaw stuffing plutonium in gloves but until they do, Rumble Johnson will continue to tear through UFC's welterweight division. Only three of Rumble Johnson's ten wins have come via decision, the rest have come by inadvertently knocking his opponent through a voyage of time and space. While you were out bartering with your local 24/7 Mexican fast-food joint to get a free meal because you 'found' a hair in your burrito, Johnson was busy gaining muscle. A lot of muscle. Check out this recent picture of Rumble's move to middleweight to face Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 later this month. [Source]

Posted in: ufc, johnson, light heavyweight, rumble, radiation poisoning

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Anthony Johnson has always been a big dude, but man, he is looking especially jacked for his upcoming middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142. No word on what he’s weighing in that pic, but I’m assuming it’s A LOT. Pic via Johnson’s manager Glenn Robinson

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

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It appears DaMarques Johnson and John Maguire have been signed to compete at UFC on FUEL TV 2, an event scheduled to take place on April 14 from the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Thought he card has not been announced by the UFC yet, rumors have it set to become the fourth international event in the early months of 2012 by the fight organization. Other shows planned for Brazil, Japan and Canada are already on deck. The event is set to be televised by FUEL TV though it is unknown if Johnson-Maguire will be on the preliminary or main part of the show. HeavyMMA was the first to report the fight. Johnson got himself back on track with a knockout of Clay Harvison in the first round of UFC on FOX : Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. The Ultimate Fighter alumnus sports a career record of 15-9, while going 4-3 in seven matches inside the Octagon. Meanwhile, Maguire won his UFC debut by topping Justin Edwards earlier this year. Overall, the United Kingdom competitor is 17-3 in his MMA career. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Swedish fans rejoice, but it looks like the UFC will finally be landing there in 2012.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, maguire, swedish, landing

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The UFC is expected to visit Sweden for the first time with UFC on FUEL TV 2 on April 14 in Stockholm, and a welterweight matchup between TUF 9 runner-up DaMarques Johnson and England’s John Maguire is the first fight slated for the card, according to Heavy MMA. Johnson (15-9) scored a first-round knockout of Clay Harvison at UFC on Fox 1 in November to bounce back from a loss to Amir Sadollah, while Maguire (17-3) topped Justin Edwards in his Octagon debut at UFC 138 in November. UFC on FUEL TV 2 follows UFC on FX 2, which airs on March 2 from Sydney, Australia and is headlined by Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann, and UFC 145 on March 24 in Montreal, Canada, which does not yet have a main event. For complete coverage of UFC on Fuel TV 2 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: DaMarques Johnson 

Posted in: ufc, johnson, tv, octagon debut, fuel

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The UFC will finally make its debut in Sweden in April, and sources close to the fight told HeavyMMA that DaMarques Johnson will face John Maguire on the card.

Posted in: johnson, maguire, damarques johnson, john maguire, ufc card

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Popular UFC middleweight Vitor Belfort recently vowed to give fans a “behind the scenes” look at his camp as he prepares to face Anthony Johnson in a few weeks at UFC 142. “The Phenom” has since produced his first entry in the series, introducing viewers to a few of his coaches/training partners and then closing with a message affirming his mindset is wholly on getting ready for the fight rather than a future date with Wanderlei Silva or second shot at the divisional title. Belfort Discusses Upcoming UFC 142 Vlog Series “My head is on today,” Belfort explains in the clip. “Tomorrow will take care of (itself). Today is the day. Today is the day that counts. I’m gonna make every day count so on (January 14) will be the day I’m gonna perform my athleticism, techniques…but if I don’t take care of today tomorrow may not come. So we take care of today.” Belfort-Johnson will take place as part of a PPV card featuring featherweight champion Jose Aldo defending his belt against undefeated grappler Chad Mendes. The 34-year old veteran will be looking for a second straight win since falling to Anderson Silva while Johnson will be making his middleweight debut after a successful run as an oversized 170-pounder. Check out the full “Road to UFC 142” video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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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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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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The UFC isn't wasting any time after announcing that the Strikeforce heavyweight division will fold after the conclusion of the grand prix tournament in March, with news breaking tonight via the UFC twitter account that Strikeforce fighter, Lavar Johnson, will make the jump to the UFC to face Joey Beltran in Chicago on January 28th: Heavyweights added to @UFConFOX 2 in Chicago: Joey Beltran @Mexicutioner760 vs. @LavarJohnson Although Johnson isn't technically the first fighter to make the jump from Strikeforce, as Fabricio Werdum's fight with Roy Nelson at UFC 143 was reported last week, he will still be fighting before Werdum does. As much of a threat as "Big"'s power is on the feet, he's shown some severe deficiencies on the ground, as evidenced by two submissions losses in his last two fights. Although Beltran will likely engage him on the feet, the "Mexicutioner" is in need of a win too, and he has shown an adequate take-down game in the past, so it might not be surprising nor a bad strategic movie if Beltran decides to get Johnson to the floor. Joey "The Mexicutioner" Beltran (13-6)L Stipe Miocic (unam. decision) - UFC 136W Aaron Rosa (TKO) - UFC 131L Pat Barry (unam. decision) - UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Lavar "Big" Johnson (15-5)L Shawn Jordan (submission - keylock) - Strikeforce Challengers: Larkin vs. RossboroughL Shane del Rosario (submission - armbar) - Strikeforce: Fedor vs. SilvaW Virgil Zwicker (KO) - Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker Here's how the UFC on Fox 2 card is currently stacking up: Fox Main Card:-Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis-Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz-Michael Bisping vs. Demian MaiaFuel TV Prelims:-Evan Dunham vs. Paul Sass-Johnny Bedford vs. Eddie Wineland-Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson-Michael Johnson vs. Cody McKenzie-Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow-George Roop vs. Cub Swanson-Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby UFC on Fox 2 coverage

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Joey Beltran will welcome Strikeforce heavyweight Lavar Johnson to the Octagon at UFC on FX 2 on January 28 in Chicago, while a bantamweight bout between Ivan Menjivar and TUF 14′s John Albert is set for UFC on Fuel TV 1 on February 15 in Omaha, Nebraska, the UFC announced Tuesday. Beltran and Johnson will likely be fighting for their UFC futures, as Beltran (13-6) has lost 3 of his last 4 after being knocked out by newcomer Stipe Miocic in October, while Johnson (15-5) is coming off back-to-back Strikeforce losses that followed a three-fight win streak after he recovered from a 2009 shooting. Menjivar (23-8) is on the rise after winning both of his UFC bouts over Charlie Valencia and Nick Pace, while Albert (7-1) knocked out fellow castmember Dustin Pague in just 69-seconds at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale earlier this month. For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 2 and UFC on Fuel TV 1 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Joey Beltran

Posted in: ufc, johnson, beltran, albert, ufc futures

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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 latest UFC on Fox show has added a heavyweight bout pitting heavy hitter Joey Beltran against former Strikeforce fighter Lavar Johnson.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, fox show, heavyweight bout, lavar

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Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceAs Zuffa moves forward on its plans to fold Strikeforce's heavyweight division into the UFC, the company announced Tuesday that Lavar Johnson will be the next Strikeforce heavyweight to set foot in the Octagon. Johnson will fight Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox 2 on January 28 in Chicago. The hard-punching Johnson won three straight fights on Strikeforce Challengers cards in 2009 and 2010, but this year he lost to Shane Del Rosario in an alternate bout in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, then bounced back down to Challengers and lost to Shawn Jordan. He's in a must-win situation at UFC on Fox 2, and so is Beltran, who has lost three of his last four. The UFC also made a few other fight announcements on Tuesday afternoon: -- Featherweight Erik Koch has suffered an injury and is out of his planned UFC 143 fight against Dustin Poirier. Koch and Poirier are two of the best young featherweights in the sport, and that fight should have been a big one. The UFC will seek a replacement to fight Poirier. -- The 5-0 Brazilian prospect Caio Magalhaes has been signed and will make his Octagon debut in his home country against Fabio Maldonado at UFC 142. Maldonado had previously been scheduled to face Stansislav Nedkov, but he was forced to withdraw from the fight. -- John Albert, a bantamweight who competed on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter and beat Dustin Pague in the Finale, will return and take a step up in quality of competition when he takes on Ivan Menjivar at the February 15 UFC on Fuel TV card in Omaha. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Vitor Belfort is excited to be returning to compete in his native country of Brazil. Belfort, who will meet Anthony Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, is planning on giving fight fans an in-depth look at his training camps in the weeks leading up to the January 14 fight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “The Phenom” has not fought in Brazil since 1998, when he defeated Wanderlei Silva with a first round knockout in his light heavyweight debut. Belfort and Silva will coach opposite each other in 2012 during the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. The two will square off following their coaching stint. As for Johnson, Belfort says he has nothing to hide, adding, “You guys are going to have full access to my training camp. And I promise you guys, we’re going to put on a terrific show.” The main event of UFC 142 will see Jose Aldo defend his UFC featherweight title against >Chad Mendes. Belfort-Johnson will serve as the pay-per-view co-main event for the evening. Check out Belfort’s video below:

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There was no Gus Johnson and his lovely lipstick! submitted by igorr35 [link] [comment]

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The four-man field to crown the first UFC flyweight champion isn't the type of tournament that Demetrious Johnson is used to. Like any fighter with a wrestling background, he's used to competition far more grueling than one that plays out over several months. "I'm used to going into a 16-man bracket where it's like you weigh in and you've got 30 to 45 minutes to eat, and you're on the mat," Johnson told MMAjunkie.com Radio. "Get ready to go. So it's actually going to be nice."

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Demetrious Johnson will no longer compete against Eddie Wineland at UFC on Fox 2, promotion officials announced Wednesday.

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, wineland, eddie wineland

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Filed under: UFCIan McCall will make his UFC debut in March at UFC on FX 2 in Australia against recent UFC bantamweight title challenger Demetrious Johnson. And as a representative of UFC's new flyweight division, McCall (11-2) wants to introduce himself to fans in a dramatic way. "I became No. 1 for a reason," McCall said Monday on The MMA Hour. "I rededicated myself, I think that [135-pounders] don't finish people enough. I'm a finisher. I can make it exciting. I can make it what people want to see. That's one thing I can promise that people will be always be happy after I fight." McCall admits his first experience under the Zuffa banner was underwhelming. Fighting for the Zuffa-era WEC in 2007 and 2009, McCall compiled a 1-2 record with the promotion. "I kinda blew it in the WEC," the 27-year-old said. "I took it for granted. I didn't work very hard." Since his last WEC fight, McCall has won four straight, including a win over Jussier da Silva to earn his No. 1 standing at flyweight. Now, McCall will take on Johnson in the semifinals of an unofficial tournament to crown the first-ever UFC flyweight champion. Top contender Joseph Benavidez will take on 123-pound Shooto champ Yasuhiro Urushitani on the other side of the bracket. In Johnson, McCall received the opponent he wanted all along to show what he's all about. "i really, really wanted this fight because he's so talented," McCall said. "And also because he's riding so high and everyone is so stoked on him. I think it's a good fight for me. I think I match up well -- not only to win but to make it exciting. I like challenging myself. I don't want to go in there and fight some random guy who sucks. I want to fight the best." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Anthony Johnson initially said that his trip to middleweight was a "one-time thing." Having delved into training, however, he's ready to conquer Vitor Belfort and the other UFC middleweights.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, middleweight, vitor, vitor belfort

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Former UFC title challenger, Demetrious Johnson, discusses his upcoming bout with top ranked Flyweight Ian McCall while making a guest appearance on HDNet's Inside MMA. Johnson admits that McCall is currently ranked above him as the number-one 125'er in the world, but says he's looking forward to putting that to the test on March 3rd.

Posted in: johnson, flyweight, guest appearance, mccall, mma johnson

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You don't have to be some polymorphing shape-shifter to understand that being a part of The Ultimate Fighter will forever put you in MMA history, or infamy depending on how many times you urinate in someone's fruit bowl. DaMarques Johnson has been there, and he even has the thrown water bottle scar to prove it. For most of you TUF n00bs that didn't get into MMA before Kimbo strapped on a pair of UFC gloves and stepped in the fighter house, DaMarques Johnson appeared on The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom, which provided the MMA world with that tremendous knockout at UFC 100 when Hendo sent Bisping astral traveling. Now that DaMarques Johnson has already racked up seven fights in the UFC, he's taking the time to drop a little knowledge on all these future TUFers that will be appearing in season fifteen of the show in this brief interview we conducted at the TUF tryouts.

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MMAWeekly Radio Weekend Edition is back with a stacked show including interviews with King Mo Lawal, Demetrious Johnson, Justin Wilcox and Brad Tavares.

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It’s been a long time coming, but the UFC has finally added another division. With the lighter weight classes consistently stealing the show the company has officially adopted the flyweight division, which has a maximum weight limit of 125 lbs. The division will make its debut on March 3, when UFC on FX 2 plays host to the start of a four-man tournament to crown the division’s first champion. Former bantamweight title contenders Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson will face Yasuhiro Urushitani and Ian McCall respectively. After post back-to-back wins against Eddie Wineland and Ian Loveland at 135, Benavidez will look to build on that momentum at 125. With only two losses in his career, both decision losses to current bantamweight king Dominick Cruz, the Team Alpha Male stand out will have his hands full with current 123 lb Shooto champion Urushitani. The Japanese veteran is currently riding a five fight win streak and holds notable victories over John Dodson and Mamoru Yamaguchi. Failing to capture the bantamweight strap in his last bout against Cruz, “Mighty Mouse” will try to bounce back in a new division where he’ll no longer be undersized. Prior to the Cruz loss, Johnson rattled off four straight wins, including victories over Miguel Torres and Norifumi Yamamoto. Like Johnson, McCall tried to find a home at 135 in the WEC but couldn’t overcome the size disparity, losing two of his three bouts in the organization. “Uncle Creepy” has fit in at 125 though, capturing the Tachi Palaca Fights flyweight title and defeating Jussier da Silva, who was the consensus top flyweight in the world at the time. UFC on FX 2 will take place on March 3 from the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia. The event will mark the UFC’s first event in Australia since UFC 127 earlier this year in February.

Posted in: ufc, division, johnson, bantamweight, flyweight

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The flyweight division is officially coming to the UFC on March 3, as Demetrious Johnson will meet Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez will face Yasuhiro Urushitani at UFC on FX 2 to determine the contenders for the UFC’s first 125-pound title, UFC President Dana White announced after UFC 140 on Saturday. Johnson (9-2) was slated to face Eddie Wineland in January at UFC on Fox 2 after coming up short to bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in October to snap a four-fight win streak, while McCall (11-2), known for his “Uncle Creepy” nickname, has won four-straight since losing to Cruz in the WEC in 2009. Benavidez (15-2) also came up short to Cruz when they met last August, but has since won three-straight including an August win over Eddie Wineland. Urushitani (19-4-6) fought just once in 2011, scoring his fifth-straight win via second-round TKO in his native Japan. UFC on FX 2 also features a showdown between top welterweights Martin Kampmann and Thiago Alves. For complete coverage of UFC on FX 2 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Demetrious Johnson

Posted in: ufc, fx, johnson, cruz, mccall

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The UFC’s January 28 appearance on FOX is starting to shape up to be far better than its predecessor, a statement saying a lot considering the presence of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos on the inaugural card and broadcast’s record-breaking viewership. With about six weeks to go, UFC on FOX 2 is set to be headlined by former light heavyweight title-holder Rashad Evans looking to cement his long-awaited second shot at the belt by facing undefeated phenom Phil Davis and also features colorful middleweight Chael Sonnen taking on surging grappler Mark Munoz with a bout against 185-pound champion Anderson Silva up for grabs. Now the UFC has confirmed five other fights for the Chicago-based event including today’s earlier news regarding Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland. Johnson vs. Wineland Latest Bout Added to January FOX Card The remaining quartet of clashes are all sure to entertain and span the divisional spectrum starting with a featherweight fight between aggressive 145ers George Roop and Cub Swanson. Moving up a notch, Ultimate Fighter alums Cody McKenzie and Michael Johnson meet in the Octagon, as will British submission specialist Paul Sass and ever-improving Xtreme Couture competitor Evan Dunham. Finally, as rumored, heavyweight BJJer John Olav Einemo takes on Chicago cop, and 14-1 Mixed Martial Artist, Mike Russow. UFC on FOX 2 will be shown live on the network with preliminary pairings likely headed to FX, Fuel TV, or ION. Tweet

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A “must win” fight where future contendership is concerned has been booked for the UFC’s return to network television in late January in the form of Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland. Both bantamweights have been to the divisional peak but are freshly off losing performances meaning the man who comes up short at UFC on FOX 2 will have a long road to travel in terms of earning a title-fight in the future. News of the match-up has been confirmed by the UFC. Johnson was last seen in October against 135-pound king Dominick Cruz, a bout he lost on the scorecards in large part due to his inability to fend off the champion’s takedowns or handle the general size difference between the two. “Mighty Mouse” holds an overall record of 9-2 with notable victories over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Miguel Torres. Johnson Content at 135 but Waiting for Flyweight Wineland, WEC’s inaugural bantamweight title-holder, has gone 0-2 since transitioning to the UFC but is 18-8-1 overall with fourteen finishing performances. UFC on FOX 2 features two bouts for contendership with Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis determining the top challenger at 205-pounds and Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz doing the same for middleweights. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will make his Middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142, which is set to take place on January 14, 2012 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Johnson, long recognized as one of the biggest welterweights in the UFC has missed the welterweight limit twice in his UFC career. In both those occasions, UFC 76 and UFC 104, Johnson fought his opponent at catchweight. Perhaps having enough of the endless weight cutting or maybe relishing the opportunity to

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Anthony Johnson will finally make his much anticipated move to middleweight when he takes on former number one division contender and hometown hero, Vitor Belfort, at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 14, 2012. "Rumble" has been known to have some issues with making weight at welterweight, failing to do so twice during his 170-pound career with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and experiencing difficulties with the cut even when he has been successful. Tonight (Dec. 5, 2011), Johnson appeared on HDNet's "Inside MMA" to discuss the move to the 185-pound weight class, as well as his upcoming fight with "The Phenom." And even though he be able to hit the scales 15 pounds heavier than normal on fight night, Johnson will still have to shed about 30 pounds between now and then to make the cut. Seriously: "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here and I'm here to stay. For me personally, it didn't matter what weight class I fought at. I'd fight at 205 (pounds) if they asked me to. But, fighting at 185 -- people have been asking me for a long time when I was gonna move up to 185. I had an opportunity to fight Vitor Belfort, so I'm gonna step up to the challenge and see what I can do. I feel great already. I'm 215 to 220, right now. I feel amazing. My speed is still there. Of course I'm stronger. So, I know, fighting at 185, I'm gonna be just as fast. In my opinion, I'll be just as strong. I don't see anything that could go wrong." Perhaps that extra strength will serve him well against Belfort, a fighter who is also seemingly trapped between two divisions, having competed at 205 pounds often throughout his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. In fact, Johnson seems to think that added power will ensure that the fight is a violent affair. One that he, unsurprisingly, sees it going in his favor: "I honestly think it won't go all three rounds. Somebody's gonna get hurt. I don't know who it'll be. I don't plan on getting hurt at all. Somebody's gonna get hurt. Somebody's gonna get carried out on a stretcher or something. It's gonna be a battle. That's what I'm looking for. That's what I'm preparing for. I hope he is too." After winning his last fight by technical knockout (head kick) over Charlie Brenneman at UFC on Versus 6 on Oct. 1, 2011, in Washington, D.C., Johnson is feeling awful confident these days. He's not cocky, he just is a big believer in himself and what he can do: "I plan on doing whatever it takes to beat Vitor. I mean, I don't know if I'm gonna stand or if I'm gonna take it to the ground. I'm gonna win. That's all I know. After this victory -- and I keep saying 'victory' and stuff like that -- I'm not cocky, I'm just confident in my abilities and stuff like that. If I don't believe in myself, no one else will. " Johnson also spoke about the prospect of fighting in Brazil. He's excited about the opportunity, but once it's all said and done, expect to see him on the first plane back to the United States. With a quickness: "I think it's gonna be pretty amazing. I'm pretty sure I'm the underdog, going into the fight, which I don't mind. Just fighting in Brazil, overall, that's gonna be a dream come true. I have a lot of teammates that are Brazilian and they tell me some crazy stories. So, I'm looking forward to it. But, after this, I don't plan on staying in Brazil for too long. I plan on coming back where I'm safe." Do you Maniacs see Johnson playing the role of spoiler by upsetting Belfort on his home turf? Is the move to middleweight the right career decision for "Rumble?" Weigh in! Be sure to check out our complete Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson UFC 142 archive right here.

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Five more fights are official for UFC on FOX 2, including previously unreported contests of Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland and George Roop vs. Cub Swanson, Additionally, previously reported fights of Evan Dunham vs. Paul Sass, Michael Johnson vs. Cody McKenzie and Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow are now also officially set. UFC execs today announced the new bookings.

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Former TUF 12 housemates Michael Johnson and Cody McKenzie, left, are expected to meet in a lightweight bout at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago.

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A lightweight matchup between The Ultimate Fighter 12 teammates Michael Johnson and Cody McKenzie is set for the UFC on Fox 2 fight card on January 28 in Chicago, McKenzie announced Friday. Johnson (9-6) suffered a first-round submission to Paul Sass in October after knocking out Eddie Faaloloto for his UFC win in June to rebound from losing to Jonathan Brookins in the finals of TUF 12. McKenzie (12-2) has dropped back-to-back submissions to Yves Edwards and Vagner Rocha after choking out fellow castmember Aaron Wilkinson in his Octagon debut in December. UFC on FOX 2 is headlined by light heavyweight contenders Rashad Evans and Phil Davis and also includes Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland, Paul Sass vs. Evan Dunham, and Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow. For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 2, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Michael Johnson

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Two cast-members from the 12th season of The Ultimate Fighter will face off in Chicago at the next UFC on Fox show, when Cody McKenzie meets Michael Johnson in a lightweight bout. McKenzie tweeted the news earlier today: @TheCodyMcKenzie Cody McKenzie I will be fighting jan 28th in chicago against my friend michael johnson McKenzie and Johnson were both members of Georges St. Pierre's team on the show, and as such, never fought each other, although they certainly know each other quite well after spending that time training together. Both men have seen mixed results in the UFC since appearing on the show. Johnson made it all the way to the finals but lost a decision to Jonathan Brookins. Since then, he's gone 1-1. McKenzie used his trademark guillotine choke to beat Aron Wilkinson at season finale event, but has followed that up by getting choked out himself, twice in a row now. Michael "The Menace" Johnson (9-6)L Paul Sass (submission - heel hook) - UFC on Versus 6W Edward Faaloloto (TKO) - UFC on Versus 4L Jonathan Brookins (unam. decision) - TUF 12 Finale Cody McKenzie (12-2)L Vagner Rocha (submission - rear naked choke) - UFN 24L Yves Edwards (submission - rear naked choke) - UFC Fight for the Troops 2W Aron Wilkinson (submission - guillotine) - TUF 12 Finale UFC on Fox 2 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, johnson, mckenzie, cody

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Former UFC bantamweight number one contender Demetrious Johnson will try to get back on his horse after falling to Dominick Cruz earlier this year in a fast-paced fight against Eddie Wineland, currently scheduled for UFC on FOX 2 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. MMA Weekly brought word of the pending match-up earlier today. Johnson (9-2) gets an A for effort, but was unable to match "The Dominator" in the striking department at UFC on Versus 6 back on Oct. 1. The loss to Cruz snapped a four-fight winning streak that included unanimous decision victories over Miguel Torres and "Kid" Yamamoto. Not a bad start for the 25-year old Kirkland native. Wineland (18-8-1) had also put together a string of four straight wins, which vaulted him into a showdown opposite former champion Urijah Faber at UFC 128. Unfortunately "The California Kid" was the busier of the two and took home the judge's nod to move on to bigger and better things, while Wineland attempted to rebound against Joseph Benavidez. He was unable to overcome his opponent's "Joe-Jitsu" and now has back-to-back losses heading into "The Windy City," so expect a sense of urgency in this 135-pound match-up. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to the UFC on FOX 2 fight card as they become available.

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It looks like the UFC's next Fox broadcast has its first fight, and it's a bantamweight scrap between recent title contender, Demetrious Johnson, and former WEC champ, Eddie Wineland. MMA Weekly brings news of the booking: Sources close to the match-up confirmed verbal agreements are in place for the bout when speaking to MMAWeekly.com on Monday. "Mighty Mouse" fought with a lot of heart in his title shot against Dominick Cruz back on October 1st, but the champ still remained firmly in control of the bout, taking the unanimous decision and sending Johnson back down the ladder. The loss snapped a four-fight winning streak for the Matt Hume-trained Johnson, although many look at his win over Miguel Torres, which earned him the title shot, as a controversial decision. Wineland was the first ever WEC bantamweight champ, and was riding a four-fight winning streak of his own when he made his UFC debut against Urijah Faber last spring. Although Faber was simply too much for Wineland to handle, the Indiana native was competitive, and not dominated by Faber like so many others have been. Unfortunately for Wineland, the UFC booked him to face Faber's training partner, Joseph Benavidez, and although Wineland's takedown defense was excellent, he was still hesitant to engage on the feet, and ended up getting outstruck by the wrestler for another decision loss. Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson (11-2)L Dominick Cruz (unam. decision) - UFC on Versus 6Win Miguel Torres (unam. decision) - UFC 130Win Norifumi Yamamoto (unam. decision) - UFC 126 Eddie Wineland (18-8-1)L Joseph Benavidez (unam. decision) - UFC on Versus 5L Urijah Faber (unam. decision) - UFC 128W Ken Stone (KO) - WEC 53 UFC on Fox 2 coverage

Posted in: ufc, decision, johnson, faber, wineland

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A bantamweight matchup between recent title challenger Demetrious Johnson and former WEC champ Eddie Wineland is in the works for the second UFC on Fox event, which is expected to take place on January 28 in Chicago, MMA Weekly reports. Johnson (9-2) came up short against bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz in October following back-to-back UFC wins over Kid Yamamoto and Miguel Torres by “Mighty Mouse.” Wineland (18-8-1) ended his WEC career with four-straight wins, but is 0-2 in the UFC after losing to fellow contenders Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez. Johnson-Wineland is the first fight rumored for UFC on Fox 2, which will feature a two hour, four fight main card after Junior dos Santos’ 64-second knockout of heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was the only fight featured on the first UFC on Fox broadcast. The event takes place one week after the UFC debuts on FX on Jan. 20 with Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller and one week before UFC 143 on Feb. 4 with welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz. For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 2, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Demetrious Johnson

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Speedy bantamweights Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Wineland will square off at UFC on FOX 2 in January.

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After defeating Clay Harvison in stunning fashion at Saturday night's UFC on Fox 1, DaMarques Johnson went one-on-one with MMAWeekly.com's Erik Fontanez to talk about the victory.

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, damarque, clay harvison

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DaMarques Johnson silenced any doubts that he couldn't get past Clay Harvison on Saturday night in Anaheim, crushing his opponent with a brutal left uppercut followed by a straight right. It only took Johnson 1:34 to add his name to the hat for knockout of the night honors.Johnson entered tonight's contest coming off a loss to Amir Sadollah at UFC Fight Night 24 in March, putting his record at 3-3 with the promotion. He has notable wins over Mike Guymon, Brad Blackburn, and Edgar Garcia, but losses to Matthew Riddle and James Wilks have kept Johnson out of discussions that he's a top prospect.  Harvison, like Johnson, was a participant on The Ultimate Fighter, losing on the show's thirteenth season in the quarterfinals to Ramsey Nijem. At the show's finale in June, however, he was able to defeat Justin Edwards in a hotly-contested bout. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to keep the momentum going, losing via submission to lanky welterweight Seth Baczynski at UFC Fight Night 25 in September. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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Filed under: MMA Videos, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Videos, UFC on FOXANAHEIM, Calif. - MMA Fighting caught up with DaMarques Johnson after his first-round TKO win at UFC on FOX. Johnson breaks down what happened, what he told Lorenzo Fertitta after the fight, what he learned from his Amir Sadollah loss, his legendary training partners and more.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Sure we've sponsored DaMarques Johnson in the past, but this time it's on the biggest stage MMA has ever encountered. UFC on FOX is expected to shatter the existing viewership numbers for an MMA event which is currently held by EliteXC, CBS and most importantly -- Kimbo Slice. To sponsor a guy fighting on FOX, the same network that airs Family Guy is a massive honor. Wait, so you're telling me that FOX is only airing one fight tomorrow, even if it lasts 10-seconds? Well, damn. There goes MiddleEasy's hopes for being launched on a large television network. I guess we'll just have to keep pitching our television script that one network has already turned down and the other seems to be too polite to tell us 'no.' Regardless, check out DaMarques Johnson's fresh new baby blue fight shorts with the MiddleEasy logo on the front. Be sure to watch DaMarques Johnson's fight against Clay Harvison which will air internationally, free of charge on Facebook. Be sure to follow DaMarques Johnson on Twitter while you're at it. Besides, your Twitter timeline needs an improvement anyway.

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If you’ve ever watched an Anthony Johnson fight, you have to tell yourself not to blink because you could miss out on a potentially epic knockout or TKO. On paper we know he is a wrestler, but fans know that the man known as ‘Rumble’ has a very technical and powerful striking game to compliment his wrestling abilities. His left high kick has become a trademark in his arsenal; he also has dynamite in his fists. If any of these weapons were to touch an opponent’s chin they would for

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, vitor belfort, anthony, epic knockout

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MMAWeekly Radio kicks off a new week with two fighters from the UFC on Fox show this weekend with Benson Henderson and DaMarques Johnson stopping by the show.

Posted in: johnson, mmaweekly, fox show, damarques johnson, benson henderson

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Two veterans of recent seasons of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) will duke it out this Saturday night as TUF season 9 alumni DaMarques Johnson battles recent TUF season 13 competitor Clay Harvison on the UFC on FOX 1 preliminary card. Johnson has always put on exciting fights in his UFC career, but with a 3-3 record in the promotion, he can't afford another loss. The entertaining grappler will be looking to stave off a potential pink slip with a victory. Clay Harvison is in a similar situation. He currently holds a 1-1 record in the promotion and simply must avoid scoring his second consecutive loss in the UFC welterweight division. He'll have to fight like a man possessed if he wants to secure a victory on Saturday night. Who will stave off a potential pink slip with a victory come Saturday night? Will Harvison and Johnson rise to the occasion with their backs against the wall, or will they be fighting "not to lose?" What is the key to victory for both fighters? Let's find out: DaMarques Johnson Record: 12-9 overall, 3-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Brad Blackburn (UFC 112), Mike Guymon (UFC: Fight for the Troops 2), Edger Garcia (UFC 107) Key Losses: Amir Sadollah (UFC Fight Night 24), Matthew Riddle (UFC on Versus 2), James Wilks (Ultimate Finale 9) How he got here: DaMarques Johnson learned jiu-jitsu while in the army and got into MMA after meeting Jeremy Horn once his service was over. He did not get off to a terrific start to his MMA career, losing four of his first six professional fights, but eventually he got the hang of it. After winning seven out of eight bouts, Johnson would become a castmember of The Ultimate Fighter season nine. He became known on the show for his feud with Michael Bisping, but also won three straight fights to advance to the finale, where he would come up short to James Wilks. He's won three of his five UFC fights since, but none of the men he defeated are still employed with the promotion. Most recently, he stepped up on very late notice and put up a tough fight against Amir Sadollah before being overwhelmed by the TUF season seven winner on the ground with elbows. Johnson was slated to fight at UFC Fight Night 25 against Harvison but got injured. He's healed up and ready to finish what had already been originally scheduled on Saturday. How he gets it done: Johnson has a very exciting and aggressive fight style and he's most dangerous on the ground, whether he's on his back looking for a triangle choke or on top position looking to pass guard and either pound his opponent in the face or hunt for a submission from above. The key will be for the Elite Performance fighter to get this fight to the ground. Harvison's strength is his striking and while Johnson isn't horrible in that department, he's got such an advantage on the ground that it would be crazy to not exploit it. He needs to take Harvison down and go to work by any means possible.  He'll need to either get inside and work for takedowns in the clinch or time a hook and shoot in. The second he gets this fight to the canvas is when Harvison is going to be in trouble.  Clay Harvison Record: 9-3 overall, 1-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Justin Edwards (Ultimate Finale 13) Key Losses: Seth Baczynski (UFC Fight Night 25) How he got here: Clay Harvison was a standout soccer player growing up and transitioned to MMA after taking a kickboxing class while pursuing his bachelor's degree. He transitioned to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai and then to mixed martial arts.  After compiling an 8-2 record on the local circuit, Harvison was selected to be a castmember on season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter. He was a member of Team Brock Lesnar and advanced to the quarterfinals but was eliminated by eventual finalist Ramsey Nijem.  On the show's finale, he beat fellow castmate Justin Edwards in a close split decision but would go on to lose via submission after getting hurt in the stand-up to TUF season 11 fighter Seth Baczynski in his most recent showing less than two months ago. Despite not having the time to train a full camp, Harvison accepted a bout on the UFC on FOX preliminary card against Johnson, the man he was originally scheduled to face this past September. How he gets it done: Harvison is primarily a stand-up fighter. He's got decent Muay Thai and he's aggressive, but what he truly needs to do is either turn this fight into a brawl or get really physical. DaMarques Johnson's biggest weaknesses are when fighters really put a lot of pressure on him either physically or if they simply try to overwhelm him either with punches or on the ground. Harvison likely isn't capable of overwhelming Johnson on the ground like James Wilks or Amir Sadollah did, but he's definitely capable of getting in his face and laying into him with strikes. He'll have to fight cautiously aggressive as he'll want to avoid the takedown at all costs while trying to keep the pressure on Johnson. Fight "X-Factor:" It's a bit of a cliche, but the "X-Factor" for this fight is whether or not Clay Harvison can avoid the ground game. Including his loss to Nijem on the show, he's been submitted three times in his career and they've all been via rear naked choke. That's pretty much to blueprint for defeating the Georgian. This bout will likely hinge on whether or not Johnson can take him down and keep him down. There are a couple other smaller factors as well, whether or not the quick turnaround for Harvison will be an issue as well as whether or not the injury that forced Johnson from competing against Harvison less than two months ago is fully healed. Either of those could play into the fight but the most important thing is where this fight takes place. Bottom Line: These are two welterweights that are just about on the bottom rung of the UFC's divisional ladder so this will likely be a "win or go home" fight. Both Harvison and Johnson are coming off stoppage losses in the second round so they'll be competing with their backs against the wall. Sometimes this forces fighters to fight like their life depends on it, other times, they play it extremely cautiously, fighting not to lose instead of simply to win. Despite not being big players in the division, but of these guys usually bring it and put on exciting bouts and I would expect nothing less on Saturday. This doesn't have any implications in the division at all, but it should be fun to watch. Who will come out on top at UFC on FOX? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which welterweight will be able to secure a victory on Saturday night on the UFC on FOX preliminary card? DeMarques Johnson Clay Harvison   4 votes | Results

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Top Welterweight-turned-Middleweight Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, who will meet Vitor Belfort in his 185-pound debut, discusses his decision to step up in weight and shares his thoughts on fighting in Brazil. Johnson says there was no hesitation on his behalf when asked to fight Belfort, but admits that his future at Middleweight depends on the outcome of their bout.

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, belfort, vitor belfort, brazil johnson

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MMAWeekly Radio Weekend Edition is back with special guests Miguel Torres and UFC lightweight Michael Johnson.

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This is a challenge, and what’s life without challenges?. I hopped on this challenge and accepted it. Sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone or your element just to see how you do… I feel just fine about the matchup. He can’t do nothing that I can’t do. Anything he thinks he can do, I think I can do better. I think it’s a pretty even matchup. He’s fast, I’m fast. He’s powerful, I’m powerful. It’s going to be a fight that really determines who’s the man at the end of the day. Either one of us can get dropped, so it’s going to see who has the most heart… All I know is I’m going to win. I’m going to go out and do my best, and give the fans what they want and deserve. This is my first fight in Brazil. I have so much energy and excitement built up in me for this. I’m ready to get in camp, get with the Blackzilians and do what we do: train hard and win fights.” — Anthony Johnson talking to MMA Fighting about his upcoming fight against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 Anthony Johnson thinks its “a pretty even match-up” and on paper it might be, but he will have a couple things working against him. It’s his first fight at middleweight. He’ll come into the fight bigger and stronger than his welterweights fights, but so will his competition. He’ll be fighting in very hostile territory. If we learned anything about the Brazilian crowd at UFC 134, it’s that they are extremely loud and loyal to their own. They have no problem booing all foreign fighters right out of the arena. If Johnson can’t tune it out, it could become a distraction. He’s fighting Vitor Belfort. Belfort may be aging but he still has the power of a middleweight with the speed of a welterweight and over a decade of big fight experience to boot. The only fighter Johnson has faced that’s on a remotely similar level to Belfort is Josh Koscheck and he lost. I’m not saying Johnson can’t win, but I do think it’s going to be a tough fight for him. Here’s more from Johnson on the match-up via KNOXX Gear: Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog

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"I feel just fine about the matchup. He can't do nothing that I can't do. Anything he thinks he can do, I think I can do better. I think it's a pretty even matchup. He's fast, I'm fast. He's powerful, I'm powerful. It's going to be a fight that really determines who's the man at the end of the day. Either one of us can get dropped, so it's going to see who has the most heart. ... All I know is I'm going to win." -- Anthony Johnson talks to MMAFighting.com about his upcoming middleweight match up against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 on Jan. 14, 2012. "Rumble," an oversized welterweight throughout his career, couldn't pass up the opportunity to fight a former champion, even if it meant moving up a weight class. The way he sees it, it's a win-win proposition. A victory makes him a two-division threat, while a loss means he can just drop back down to 170 pounds. And really, once he thought about it, Johnson feels like he's better than Belfort in every conceivable way. They're both fast and powerful, but Johnson may possess the one skill that will prove to be "The Phenom's" kryptonite -- wrestling. Why stand and bang when you can get paid on lay-n-pray? Dan Hardy knows a little something about that.

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Anthony Johnson reveals the reasons why he took a fight with Vitor Belfort at middleweight, and if his future lies at 170lbs or 185lbs.

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Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (10-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is set to make his middleweight debut against the Brazilian striker, Vitor Belfort (20-9 MMA, 9-5 UFC) at UFC 142 in Brazil. Johnson wrote in a twitter message “Ppl question why the move to 185? 1st its a challenge, 2nd because I want to, 3rd why not? What is life without challenges and trying something new? Life would be boring then!!! 170 is Still my home’’ This is a big test for Johnson, and if he can get past Belfort he’ll definitely be able to create some waves at 185 lbs. This move has been discussed for some time, given Johnsons history with making weight. He’s probably the biggest 170 pounder around and will even probably be one of the larger middleweights. For the rest of the UFC 142 rumors, check it out after the jump. UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil* 145lb Champion Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes Vitor Belfort vs Anthony Johnson *at this time, the card hasn’t been officially announced and is subject to change

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Anthony Rumble Johnson is finally set to make his middleweight debut, but it seems the UFC won’t be doing him any favors. His first fight in the division will be against perennial contender, Vitor Belfort at UFC 142. It’s a huge opportunity for Johnson and a win would surely catapult him into the elite of the division, but is this too much too soon? Johnson is a big man, some say a natural light heavyweight, and yet he’s spent his entire career fighting at welterweight. This giant size advantage has undoubtedly helped his career, but the cut hasn’t always been easy, and in my opinion has hurt his reputation with UFC fans. No one wants to root for the bigger stronger man picking on people much smaller than him, and that’s essentially what Johnson has been doing his entire MMA career. That’s all changed with the announcement that he’ll be making the move to middleweight, and his career could see a real resurgence because of it. Johnson was still fairly new to MMA when he made his UFC debut, and his career has reflected that inexperience with some very tough losses. A move to middleweight will be in many ways, a fresh start for rumble and it could take his career to new heights. Though Johnson will no longer be fighting opponents much smaller than himself, he should still stack up well with most middleweights in the UFC. He’s actually the same height as middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, and could potentially add on quite a bit of muscle mass. When Johnson was cutting to 170, he was supposedly as heavy as 200 pounds only a week removed from the fight. This is a serious weight cut for anyone, and it has most likely had a major effect on Johnson’s performance in the cage. Without the cut, he could not only see a drastic change in his cardio, but in speed and strength as well. This could be a whole new monster we see at UFC 142. My only concern is Johnson fighting such a talented opponent on his first attempt at middleweight. He won’t have the cut to worry about, but he’ll still be adjusting to the new weight class and should be taking it slowly. At 185, Johnson could possibly feel the heavier frame, and this could adversely affect his speed or even accuracy. Vitor is the kind of fighter that will instantly capitalize on any small mistakes you make in the cage, and could easily spoil Rumble’s middleweight debut. 

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After years of speculation on when he would make the move, oversized welterweight Anthony Johnson has decided to forgo the grueling cut to 170 pounds for a dip in the middleweight pool. However, while his body may be better suited for 185 pounds, the increased ease in hitting the mark certainly doesn’t carry over in terms of beating the opponent he’s drawn for his divisional debut. According to the UFC, Johnson will fight on January 14 in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 142 with legendary Brazilian Vitor Belfort waiting in the Octagon to welcome “Rumble” to the iconic South American city. Belfort will arguably be the largest opponent Johnson has faced in his career, both in terms of name value and actual size, but is actually shorter than the 27-year old and could be in trouble if caught with one of the West Coaster’s powerful strikes. Johnson holds an overall record of 10-3 and will be looking for a third straight win at UFC 142 after picking up victories over Dan Hardy and Charlie Brenneman in his previous two in-ring appearances. Likewise, “The Phenom” also had his hand raised in his last outing – an August drumming of Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133 – and is as much a threat to knock Johnson out cold as is the case in return (if not more of one). Among the fourteen TKOs in his career Belfort has stopped the likes of Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin with strikes. UFC 142 is headlined by featherweight champion Jose Aldo defending his title against 11-0 contender Chad Mendes. No other bouts have been announced but if UFC 134, also held in Rio, was any indication the card will be peppered with Brazilians in action against American fighters. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveThe call came as a surprise. Anthony Johnson was at home when his phone rang, with manager Glenn Robinson on the line. Since defeating Charlie Brenneman in early October, Johnson had been awaiting his next assignment, and he instinctively knew this was it. "I knew it was something serious," he told MMA Fighting. "He doesn't just call to joke around." But when Robinson passed along the UFC's fight offer, Johnson couldn't help but be a bit taken aback. After winning two straight as a welterweight, Johnson's services were being requested in the middleweight division. And if that wasn't enough, he was being asked to fight recent No. 1 contender Vitor Belfort. On his home soil. "It surprised me," he said of the offer to face Belfort at UFC 142. "It really did. Just for a second. I said at first, 'Are you serious?' I really didn't believe it, but he's straight-up and honest so I knew he was being serious. I had no hesitation. I said, 'Alright, let's do this. Let's have fun with this.'" Johnson (10-3) says that the time was going to eventually come to move up to 185 pounds. The move has been talked about for years by media and fans. But it was not something that he was thinking about when the call came. In each of his last two fights, he says he had no problem making the welterweight limit, and even after accepting this fight at middleweight, he's not committed to making it his permanent home. The way Johnson views it, it's just a golden opportunity, one simply not worth passing up. "This is a challenge, and what's life without challenges?" he said. "I hopped on this challenge and accepted it. Sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone or your element just to see how you do." The matchup between the two is fascinating in that they are both heavy strikers with one-punch knockout power. Johnson has a wrestling background and Belfort's takedown defense has rapidly improved over time. Without question, Belfort presents Johnson's most intriguing challenge to date. In November 2009, he faced Josh Koscheck and lost via rear naked choke. But Belfort doesn't have Koscheck's wrestling acumen, and he probably won't look to take the fight to the ground. That makes is possible that the two will test their proven standup skills against each other. And that suits Johnson. "I feel just fine about the matchup," he said. "He can't do nothing that I can't do. Anything he thinks he can do, I think I can do better. I think it's a pretty even matchup. He's fast, I'm fast. He's powerful, I'm powerful. It's going to be a fight that really determines who's the man at the end of the day. Either one of us can get dropped, so it's going to see who has the most heart." Johnson doesn't say that with any inflated sense of self-worth. When asked why he accepted the fight in the first place, he said simply, "it's Vitor," before outlining the Brazilian's many accomplishments as a former champion, top 10 contender and influence on him. Johnson, who currently weighs 210 pounds, says he has no idea how his body will feel at his new weight class, but believes he'll be even faster and have more energy than normal. So in essence, this is a test, but it's coming against one of the most dangerous men in the division. In Johnson's mind, he has nothing to lose. If he does fall to defeat, he can return to welterweight and continue his career there. If he happens to win, he'll be a hot commodity in two weight classes. But defining his weight class and winning a championship is not a priority. At least not right now. "When it comes down to it, the belt is where it's at," he said. "That's everyone's goal. But right now I'm thinking about what's directly head of me. The belt is out of sight, out of mind." Johnson has his marching orders, and that's to prepare for his fight on foreign turf. That alone is a scarier proposition than fighting Belfort, he says, noting that his "Blackzilians" teammate Danilo Villefort, a native Brazilian, told him that the local fans chanted "You're going to die" to several American fighters during August's UFC 134. That won't change anything for him, not when there's so much to gain. Whether he's a welterweight, middleweight or somewhere in between will be an ongoing question. On January 14, we will at least learn a piece of that answer. "All I know is I'm going to win," he said. "I'm going to go out and do my best, and give the fans what they want and deserve. This is my first fight in Brazil. I have so much energy and excitement built up in me for this. I'm ready to get in camp, get with the Blackzilians and do what we do: train hard and win fights." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Standing 6’2” with a chiseled frame, Anthony Johnson has long been viewed as a 185er obsessed with having a significant size advantage over opponents to the point he’s cut more than forty pounds to make the welterweight limit. However, it appears “Rumble” is done with the strain the process puts on his body and is moving up a division to focus on chasing Anderson Silva’s strap. According to the UFC, Johnson has agreed to face Vitor Belfort on January 14 at UFC 142 when the company heads back to Brazil still basking in the glow of their South American success this past August at UFC 134. The card is expected to take place in Rio de Janeiro and will be headlined by Jose Aldo defending his featherweight title against undefeated Californian Chad Mendes. Belfort was last seen knocking out Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133. While he was expected to face Cung Le later this month at UFC 139, “The Phenom” had to duck out due to injury and provides an imposing opponent for Johnson’s middleweight debut consider Belfort’s victories over Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin. Belfort Dreams of Fighting in Front of Countrymen at UFC Show Comparably, the 27-year old Johnson holds an overall record of 10-3, less than half of Belfort’s total experience, and is coming off a pair of wins over Dan Hardy and Charlie Brenneman. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Anthony (Rumble) Johnson will make his middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 in Brazil.

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Those Brazilians that didn't get in on the party the first time around are slowly but surely being penciled in on the second trip to the South American country. This time it's possibly the most famous of them all, as Vitor Belfort has been booked to sling leather against Anthony Johnson, who will be making the jump to middleweight (finally), at UFC 142 on Jan. 14. UFC.com with the news: "Verbal agreements in for what should be an explosive matchup as powerhouse Anthony ‘Rumble' Johnson moves up to middleweight to face ‘The Phenom' Vitor Belfort at the event," UFC president Dana White said. Fists will be flying, Maniacs. How do you like this one?

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Just one day after UFC 142 was announced as the UFC’s latest event in Brazil featuring featherweight champion Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes, another Brazilian will be making a homecoming trip to Rio de Janeiro on January 14. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will welcome welterweight slugger Anthony “Rumble” Johnson to the middleweight division for the event that is expected for the HSBC Arena, which also hosted UFC 134 in August. Belfort (20-9) last fought in Brazil at the UFC’s most-recent visit before UFC 134 in 1998, knocking out Wanderlei Silva in under a minute. After fighting for a number of notable promotions, “The Phenom” returned to the UFC in September 2009 with a win over Rich Franklin then challenged fellow Brazilian Anderson Silva for the middleweight title in February, but suffered a first-round KO. He was previously scheduled to welcome Cung Le to the UFC at UFC 139, but withdrew from the event due to injury. Johnson is also a longtime UFC veteran with ten fights inside the Octagon all at welterweight. Johnson has struggled cutting to 170 pounds on a few occasions, missing weight by as much as 7.5 pounds in 2007. At 6’2″, he is taller than even most middleweights, so he will not be giving up much size with his move up. It has not been announced whether this is a permanent move to middleweight, or a one time trial for Johnson. Both fighters won their most recent fights less than three minutes into the first round. Belfort knocked out Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133 in August in just 1:52, while Johnson stopped Charlie Brenneman with a head kick in only 2:39 at UFC on Versus 6 in October. UFC 142 has just one other official matchup, as Aldo defends the UFC featherweight title for the third time against Mendes. For complete coverage of UFC 142, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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Two men coming off very impressive knockout victories will face off in Brazil. Anthony Johnson is set to make his middleweight debut against a very tough opponent in Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 on January 14th. UFC.com shares the news: A second Brazilian mega-star is set to fight at home at UFC 142. "Verbal agreements in for what should be an explosive matchup as powerhouse Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson moves up to middleweight to face ‘The Phenom’ Vitor Belfort at the event," UFC president Dana White said. The news had been rumored yesterday, and the UFC finally confirmed it today. Johnson is coming off his KO win over Charlie Brenneman at UFC on Versus 6 and a move to middleweight was bound to happen sooner or later. Belfort had been scheduled to face Cung Le in the co-main event at UFC 139, but was forced to withdraw due to an injury and was replaced by Wanderlei Silva. He last competed at UFC 133 where he knocked out Yoshihiro Akiyama. The UFC 142 card, which currently doesn't have a set location, will also feature a UFC featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and challenger Chad Mendes in the main event. More SBN coverage of UFC 142

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Here’s a fight no one saw coming. The UFC announced today that Anthony Johnson is finally moving up to middleweight and will take on Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro. A second Brazilian mega-star is set to fight at home at UFC 142. “Verbal agreements in for what should be an explosive matchup as powerhouse Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson moves up to middleweight to face ‘The Phenom’ Vitor Belfort at the event,” UFC president Dana White said. We don’t typically see fighters change weight classes coming off wins, but I suppose the opportunity to fight Vitor Belfort was too good to pass up. If Johnson can pull it off in impressive fashion, we may have a new contender in the division. If not, he can always return to the welterweight division where he found a lot of success. Either way, it’s a very interesting fight. Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog

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Titanic welterweight Anthony Johnson is making the move to middleweight to face Vitor Belfort at UFC 142.

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A intriguing middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and former welterweight Anthony Johnson will be part of January's UFC 142 card. UFC officials today announced that verbal agreements are in place for the fight. UFC 142 takes place Jan. 14 in Brazil, and Belfort vs. Johnson will be part of a main card expected to air on pay-per-view.

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Vitor Belfort will finally get his chance to fight at home in Brazil again as he has agreed to face Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson at UFC 142 in January.

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Some of you may have been diagnosed with radiation poisoning from that hydrogen bomb Anthony Rumble Johnson detonated on Charlie Brenneman's face at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson. If you have, it's alright, just look at it as another way to take off a week from your job. We're not sure when the athletic commission is going to outlaw stuffing plutonium in gloves (and feet) but until they do, Rumble Johnson will continue to tear through UFC's welterweight division. Only three of Rumble Johnson's ten wins were obtained via decision, the rest have come by inadvertently knocking his opponent through a voyage of time and space. Now according to Brazil's Folha, Rumble Johnson will now face Vitor Belfort in the UFC's second return to Brazil in under a year. The bout will be held in the middleweight division at UFC 142 scheduled for January 14th 2012. There's still the rumor that Vitor Belfort will also be tapped to film The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil with Anderson Silva as the opposing coach, however the two will not fight since Chael Sonnen is rumored to have a rematch with The Spider sometime in 2012. [Source]

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Filed under: UFC, NewsAnthony Johnson has finally made the step most felt was inevitable, moving up a division to middleweight. It won't take him long to get tested at his new home. The fearsome slugger will step right into the upper echelon of the division when he takes on Vitor Belfort at UFC 142. The promotion confirmed the matchup on Tuesday. Johnson has spent his entire UFC career at 170 pounds, though he's struggled to make weight on more than one occasion. The timing of the move comes as a bit of a surprise though, as Johnson returned from a 16-month absence earlier this year and got off to a 2-0 start with wins over Dan Hardy and Charlie Brenneman. Belfort would represent his highest-ranked opponent since losing to Josh Koscheck in November 2009. Johnson is 10-3 overall with seven knockouts, and has won five of his last six. Belfort recently rebounded from a UFC 126 title fight loss to Anderson Silva by knocking out Yoshihiro Akiyama in August. That upped his record to 20-9. UFC 142 will take place on January 14 from a yet-to-be determined location in Brazil. The only other officially announced bout is a featherweight title bout with champion Jose Aldo attempting to defend his belt against Chad Mendes. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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UFC officials confirmed today (Tuesda) that multi-time UFC Champion Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort will return to the Octagon at UFC 142 against no other than Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, who will make his long-awaited Middleweight debut. It's interesting to see how good Anthony Johnson will be as a Middleweight, especially when he doesn't have to cut around 40lbs to get down to 170lbs limit. For a fighter moving up in weight classes, Johnson is taller than Belfort and has a significantly longer reach, something

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An explosive clash has been added to the UFC 142 card, which takes place on January 14th in Brazil.Hard-hitting middleweights Vitor Belfort and Antony...

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Heavyweights often catch a lot of flak for not having to adhere to the strict diet most Mixed Martial Artists must adhere to in order to bulk up while still making their contracted limits. However, the same is true for the most part when it comes to undersized fighters rather than simply just the big boys with guys like Frankie Edgar cutting very little weight to make 155 pounds. In terms of Demetrious Johnson, the UFC’s Energizer Bunny-like bantamweight contender, he’s unable to even compete against foes requiring a division-altering diet given his diminutive dimensions (5’3”). Johnson recently discussed his desire to compete at 125 pounds once the UFC opens appropriate pool up for swimming in, though has also reviewed his losing performance earlier this month against Dominick Cruz and recognizes he can improve in a few areas while things like height are not likely to change minus a mid-life growth spurt. Speaking to MMAJunkie, Johnson explained no matter what path he travels, “The road back to the top doesn’t scare me. It’s only going to make me get better and evolve my skill and become a more mature martial artist.” “I know now that everybody is going to look at that fight and be like, ‘OK, Demetrious has great footwork and speed, and he has great combinations (but) we just need to hold him down,” the 9-2 Johnson explained of his showing at UFC Live 6 against Cruz. “I’ve got to be able to break that habit and get my submission game better and work on getting back up to my feet or taking them down, passing guard and submitting them.” As far as the ever-present question regarding an eventual move to flyweight, Johnson explained, “Honestly, I’d be happy to there. I’ve been relaxing, eating Jack in the Box and drinking milkshakes. The biggest my weight has got up to has been 145, and I haven’t been training that hard. Obviously in the future I’d love to go down there and test myself and try to be the first UFC 125-pound champion. But right now, I’m focused on 135 until further notice.” No word has surfaced on who Johnson may be facing next though logical options include the loser of Brian Bowles vs. Urijah Faber in December, the winner of Scott Jorgensen’s clash with Jeff Curran next weekend, fellow undersized 135er Joseph Benavidez, or even a crack at avenging a loss to Brad Pickett if the Brit escapes unscathed at UFC 138. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/HEAVYMMA

Posted in: ufc, johnson, frankie edgar, weekend fellow, everpresent question

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Three weeks ago, Demetrious Johnson came up short in his bid to claim the UFC's bantamweight title from champion Dominick Cruz. With a little time to rest and reflect on the performance, Johnson believes he has only himself to blame for dropping a unanimous-decision to the bigger Cruz. But while many MMA pundits believe Johnson is sure to drop to 125 pounds the minute the UFC officially adds the division, the 5-foot-3 "Mighty Mouse" is fine right where he is and isn't afraid to make another run to the top at 135 pounds.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, mma pundits, demetrious johnson, performance johnson

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MMAWeekly Radio weekend edition returns with former Strikeforce champ Cung Le, UFC welterweight Anthony Johnson, and a look at UFC 136 and its fallout.

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Joe Silva has been a busy man this week as he continues to fill up the card for the UFC on Fox 1 show on November 12th in Anaheim, California. The promotion added two more preliminary bouts last night, featuring Damarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison in the welterweight division, and a bantamweight match-up between Alex Caceres and Cole Escovedo: Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres is dropping to 135 pounds to take on Cole Escovedo at the UFC on Fox event in Anaheim. UFC president Dana White announced today that verbal agreements are in for the bout. "Both bantamweights had non-stop action fights in their last outings and are sure to do the same November 12." In another rescheduled match from Battle on the Bayou, verbal agreements are in for a welterweight bout between TUF 13's Clay "Heavy Metal" Harvison and TUF 9's DaMarques "Darkness" Johnson. Johnson was injured in August, giving TUF 11's Seth Baczynski the opportunity to fight in his place against Harvison. It looks like Caceres is following the Jason Reinhardt plan by continuing to drop lower in weight after getting out-classed and choked out in previous fights against Mackens Semerzier and Jim Hettes,, but this surely will be the end of the line for "Bruce Leroy" if he falls to Escovedo. The "Apache Kid" has far more experience than Caceres and has fought much tougher competition. He looked good early against Takeya Mizugaki last weekend at UFC on Versus 6, but wilted in the second round and succumbed to Mizugaki's nonstop onslaught of punches. Clay Harvison is another fighter who will likely be looking at a pink slip if he falls to Damarques Johnson. Although he's certainly entertaining to watch, "Heavy Metal" isn't the most technical of fighters, and he got absolutely crushed by Seth Baczynski, who was filling in for Damarques on short notice in New Orleans. Damarques is coming off a long layoff since getting brutalized by the sharp muay thai of Amir Sadollah in March and then bowing out of the Battle on the Bayou fight with an injury, so we'll have to see if there's any ring rust affecting him More SBNation coverage of UFC on Fox 1

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After three bouts were added to the UFC on Fox 1 fight card earlier today, a welterweight showdown between The Ultimate Fighter veterans DaMarques Johnson and Clay Harvison is also in the works for the November 12 event in Anaheim, California, according to MMAjunkie. Johnson (12-9) and Harvison (7-2) were scheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night 25, but Johnson withdrew from the September event and Harvison went on to suffer a second-round submission to Seth Baczynski, while Johnson hasn’t fought since being stopped by Amir Sadollah in March. UFC on Fox 1 is headlined by heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos and also features lightweight contenders Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson. For complete UFC on Fox coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, fox, johnson, clay harvison, harvison

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In studying Demetrious Johnson’s fights, Dominick Cruz noticed one mistake his opponents were making above all others.

Posted in: johnson, opponent, cruz, dominick cruz, control

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Charlie Brenneman was at one time a promising prospect in the welterweight division, but with the loss to Anthony Johnson this past Saturday, I’m not as convinced.  At the age of 30, and now with two losses in the UFC, I feel the Brenneman ship has sailed. Coming into the UFC, Brenneman had an impressive record of 11-1, with his only loss coming to UFC vet John Howard. Realistically, he’s never looked like a world-beater but with his solid wrestling foundation and great cardio, he was almost immediately considered a future contender. Unfortunately his UFC career hasn’t exactly lived up to those expectations. He made his octagon debut against Jason High, grinding out a unanimous decision, but was completely dominated in his next fight against Johny Hendricks. It was a disappointing setback to be sure but Hendricks is no slouch and I, among others hoped the loss would help Brenneman’s progress as a fighter. It didn’t. In similar fashion, he grinded out another two decision wins against Amilcar Alves and rising prospect Rick Story. Though the Story fight gave Brenneman a huge boost in popularity, it also inadvertently catapulted him into the elite of the welterweight division. It was now time to either sink or swim for the Spaniard and at UFC on Versus 6, he sank. Anthony Johnson outclassed him in every possible way this past Saturday, stuffing Brenneman’s desperate takedown attempts and absolutely crushing him on the feet. Brenneman did his best to fend off the devastating strikes of Johnson but was eventually tagged and finished with a beautiful headkick. Some may argue the fight was stopped early, but it was clear Brenneman had nothing left to offer in the fight. There is no shame in losing to Anthony Johnson, who despite having some tough losses of his own, is still a top 5 welterweight in the UFC, but let’s be real here. At 30 years of age, I don’t see Brenneman making another run at the title. He’s shown very little progress over the course of his UFC career and if he can’t get by Johnson, the other elite welterweight fighters would give him just as many problems. It’s a little early to call his UFC career a failure but the future doesn’t look nearly as promising as it once did for Charlie Brenneman.  With a limited skill set and age slowly creeping up on him, it seems the Spaniard’s fighting career has reached its peak. 

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, &rsquo, brenneman

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In what must seem like déjà vu, Kajan Johnson is once again facing the prospect of fighting Richie Whitson at MFC 31 on Oct. 7, but he is, in fact, just happy to be fighting.

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Get all of MMAWeekly.com's video coverage from UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson in one convenient playlist

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) its final Versus broadcasted show last Saturday night (Oct. 1, 2011) with UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" featuring Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz defending his 135-pound crown for the second time inside the Octagon with a gritty decision victory over Demetrious Johnson. But that's not all. Heavyweight "Skyscraper" Stefan Struve used his long legs to choke the life out of Pat Barry in the co-main event of the evening, securing a second round submission finish to get back on the right track. And what else is there to say about the incredible performance turned in by Anthony Johnson? In cased you missed any or all of it -- or just want to keep the discussion alive -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in Washington D.C. In we go: UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" Results and live blow-by-blow Recap and discussion Bonuses and awards Event photos gallery Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson fight video highlights Fight recap: Matt Wiman wins bloody decision over Mac Danzig Fight recap: Anthony Johnson knocks out Charlie Brenneman with a head kick Fight recap: Stefan Struve submits Pat Barry Fight recap: Dominick Cruz decisions Demetrious Johnson to retain his title Review and analysis: Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Review and analysis: Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry Review and analysis: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson UFC on Versus 6 post-fight fallout An evening of good fights was marred by bad officiating Is too much of a good thing bad for the sport? UFC on Versus 6 might have answered that question Dominick Cruz beat Demetrious Johnson with a broken freaking hand Pat Barry powerbombs Stefan Struve (gif) Pat Barry won't be cut after losing again Was the Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman fight stopped too early? Stefan Struve stares down Jon Jones ... and it's scary Matt Wiman dissects his win over Mac Danzig That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What gets your vote for the biggest story coming out of UFC on Versus 6? Sound off, Maniacs.

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Filed under: UFCDominick Cruz and Dana White see a big future for the UFC's bantamweight division, but for now, all I see is a one-man stomping ground. After going to plan B and still soundly defeating Demetrious Johnson on the judges' scorecards, who is going to beat Cruz? He's already beaten most of the top fighters in a somewhat thin division, and there really isn't anyone on the way up who has shown the all-around game to alter what he does and take the fight to him. Johnson had half of the equation down on Saturday. He took the fight to Cruz, standing in the pocket and aggressively moving forward. Instead of being drowned by Cruz's volume, he threw first and often. A lot of good that did him. Johnson couldn't keep the fight where he needed, getting taken down to the mat on 10 of 19 Cruz attempts and losing handily on all three judges' scorecards. Counting his time as the WEC champ, Cruz has now held the bantamweight title for 577 days. He's defeated Johnson, Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez (twice), Scott Jorgensen and Brian Bowles. Who is left for him? What is left for him? At 26 years old, is he already out of challenges? Cruz is as dangerous a positional fighter as we have seen in lower-weight MMA. Where Urijah Faber has always taken risks that put him in danger and Miguel Torres had no problem fighting off his back, where Takanori Gomi welcomed standup exchanges, Cruz prefers battlefield tactics over brawn. That approach is the hallmark of his success, and it's also the frustration of his critics. With most fighters, you can say he's very good at one specific thing, like wrestling or jiu-jitsu. With Cruz, though, he's just very good at mixed martial arts. His striking gets lauded for his footwork, but he's not exceptionally accurate, landing only 30 percent of his thrown strikes. His wrestling was his savior on Saturday, but his career takedown accuracy? Only 56 percent. A solid number, but not elite. He doesn't have one-punch knockout power, he hasn't submitted anyone in five years and he's not a physical freak of strength. Somehow, these above average passing grades in all categories add up to make the division's best. The crazy thing about Cruz's success is that he truly doesn't have a whole lot of room for error. Over and over, we hear that a fighter should never leave the fight in the hands of the judges, but Cruz has been to a decision 12 times in his career, and he's never lost one. Since becoming a Zuffa fighter, he's waited for a decision eight times, and eight times the announcer called out his name. That's not luck. This isn't coin-flipping. Cruz is simply great at adjusting on the fly, continually exploiting small advantages and coming into every fight prepared to go to the final bell. Against Johnson, he needed it. Johnson may have won only a single round on a single judge's scorecard, but he came to give the champion a fight. The 5-foot-3 Johnson, though, is probably better equipped to fight as a flyweight, and the strength differential was too much to overcome. If he could have stuffed a few more takedowns, the judges' job would not have been quite so easy. Cruz said afterward that it's his aim to prove to fans that the 135-pound weight class is the most exciting one in MMA, but to do that, he's going to have to fight shadows from his past. That's because UFC president Dana White recently admitted that it would be hard not to give a rematch to the winner of November's Brian Bowles vs. Urijah Faber fight. Faber continues to be an exciting fighter, but he has lost four straight title matches in just the last three years, and dropped a clear decision to Cruz in July. What does Cruz have to gain in fighting him again so quickly? (And frankly, at what point does Faber's chances run out?) Bowles had his fight against Cruz stopped due to a hand injury, so at least he wasn't decisively beaten. Beyond those two, there isn't anyone who looks to be on the verge of wresting his title away. Renan Barao is 26-1, but he's yet to face anyone in the top 10. Michael McDonald has been impressive, but he too hasn't yet moved into the upper tier of the division. Miguel Torres has lost three of his last five, so he has some work to do. In the distance, there are tumbleweeds and rematches for a fighter who's barely been threatened. So what can Cruz do to add to his legacy? Well, finish, for one. The Bowles' fight may be a TKO on his fight ledger, but fighters don't dream of winning on an opponent's self-sustained injury. Any criticism can be somewhat muted by the fact that he's basically laid waste to the division. There's really no one on the horizon who he's not equipped to beat. But when you've proven yourself the best, the expectations only begin to grow. Georges St-Pierre gets criticized for not finishing, and Anderson Silva has faced down storms of anger at times he's been unfocused. Cruz has stated that he wants to be the best and to carry his division to the masses. He's accomplished the first task, but to do the second requires imagination-capturing performances. And the reality is that as good as he's fought, as impressive as his romp through the bantamweights has been, fans don't fantasize about decisions being read off scorecards.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" took place last night (Sat., Oct. 1, 2011) from the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. In the main event of the evening, UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz successfully defended his 135-pound belt against Demetrious Johnson. But it wasn't easy, not in the early rounds of the fight, anyway, with "Mighty Mouse" pushing the pace, closing the distance and daring "The Dominator" to a duel. Cruz, who typically never stops moving forward, actually seemed to be a bit flustered with Johnson's aggression. And it wasn't until about the third round where he finally figured out the key to victory: Wrestling. From the point on, Cruz coasted for the remaining 15 minutes, putting Johnson on his back -- even with several highlight-reel suplexes -- and keeping him there until the final bell. Johnson only won one round on the judges scorecards when all was said and done, but he definitely turned in a very solid performance against one of the best fighters in the sport today. Once again, Cruz failed to finish a fight early (he hasn't truly done that in more than three years), but he looked as sharp as ever. And his ability to switch gameplans mid-fight speaks volumes for his intelligence.  He also happened to break his hand on Johnson's face, which also could have contributed toward the final outcome. Regardless, Cruz remains undefeated at 135 pounds. And the amount of notable competition to challenge him is already running thin. Former champions Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles are on the short list, but Cruz has already bested them both. He might just have to try to do it again. (To read Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson UFC on Versus 6 immediate post-fight recap click here. To check out a Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson fight review and analysis go here.) In the co-featured fight of the night, Stefan Struve stopped the one-dimensional former K-1 kickboxer Pat Barry with a second round submission (triangle choke). However, not before Barry strafed the legs of the lanky Dutchman with lashing leg kicks. "HD" was starting to find his range toward the tail end of the first and to start the second, but he made a fatal error and let Struve wrap his long limbs around his neck. It started with a guillotine and then Struve transitioned to a slick triangle that appeared to be a fight ender. Sensing the end was near, a desperate Barry channeled Quinton Jackson, scooping up his 260-pound counterpart and slamming him to the canvas in an attempt to break free. It looked awesome, but it didn't work. In fact, it allowed Struve to tighten his grip and even hasten the tap with a dual armbar. That's now two straight losses for Barry, who continues to struggle with anything other than striking. Struve, meanwhile, has won three of his last four fights and is quickly emerging as one of the more exciting heavyweights on the promotion's roster win, lose or draw. And he's just 23 years young. (To read Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry UFC on Versus 6 immediate post-fight recap click here. To check out a Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry fight review and analysis go here.) Charlie Brenneman
 was out to prove that his most recent win over Rick Story on just one day's notice was no fluke when he locked horns with Anthony Johnson in a welterweight fight. Early on Brenneman made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with Johnson's powerful stand up, diving for takedowns and not looking to get to his feet even though "Rumble" was punishing him on the ground. When the "Spaniard" finally did make it to his feet, Johnson demonstrated the reason Brenneman was so reluctant to stand and trade. Did he ever. Johnson connected with a vicious kick to the face of Brenneman while he was trying to recover and collect himself from a healthy helping of ground and pound. But, Johnson didn't give him anytime, putting his foot literally in Brenneman's mouth and sending him crashing to the canvas. It was so brutal that the referee intervened immediately, fearing that Brenneman was a goner. He wasn't, but he was clearly stunned -- it's remarkable that he didn't go to sleep. Brenneman protested the stoppage, but at that point there was nothing he could do. The fight was over. And so, too, is his fast rise up the welterweight ranks ... at least for now. (To read Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman UFC on Versus 6 immediate post-fight recap click here. To check out a Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman fight review and analysis go here.) Last but certainly not least, lightweights Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig collided in a rematch that was more than one year in the making. Their first encounter ended in controversy, with Wiman getting the submission win thanks to referee error (Danzig never tapped nor was he put to sleep). Wiman would once again walk away the winner, but not after a three-round, blood-soaked battle to earn a unanimous decision. The pair set a furious pace in the first two rounds, splitting them and heading into the third and final frame with the fight on the line. It was Wiman who dug a little deeper, connecting with punches and several skin-splitting short elbows along the fence that had Danzig bleeding badly. He'd continue to literally lump him up and bust him open with powerful ground and pound that likely contributed to the final result significantly. Danzig attempted a guillotine choke as the fight ended, and it appeared to be tight, but it was too little to late. It was a great fight. One that overwhelmingly proved that sequels can indeed outshine their predecessors. (To read Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig UFC on Versus 6 immediate post-fight recap click here. To check out a Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig fight review and analysis go here.) That's enough from us. Now it's your turn to discuss "Cruz vs. Johnson" in the comments section below. Sound off, Maniacs! For complete UFC on Versus 6 results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here.

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UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" went down last night, Oct. 1, 2011, from the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The event featured bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz successfully defending his title for the second time inside the Octagon by gutting out a unanimous decision victory over Demetrious Johson despite a broken hand.  Ouch. The co-main event featured a giant and a dwarf and while Stefan Struve started slow against Pat Barry, he finished strong with a sweet transition from a guillotine to a triangle choke for the win in the second round. He even took a powerbomb slam and kept on choking. In other main card action, Anthony Johnson kicked Charlie Brenneman's head off while Matt Wiman proved once and for all that he's a better fighter than Mac Danzig by working his way to a bloody decision. Photo gallery from the event (via UFC.com) after the jump. Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson Mike Easton vs. Byron Bloodworth TJ Grant vs. Shane Roller Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski Walel Watson vs. Joseph Sandoval

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Last night (Oct. 1) at UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" in Washington D.C., Anthony Johnson knocked out Charlie Brenneman with a head kick in the first round.  Or at least that's what the official records will say. However, the result is in dispute by pundits and fans alike. Directly after Johnson landed a clean, unimpeded kick straight to Brenneman's face, referee Mario Yamasaki immediately rushed in to call a stop to the action. This was much to the dismay of "The Spaniard," who landed on his elbows and appeared to be in complete control of his faculties. He vehemently protested the stoppage but, as is always the case, what's done is done. The debate, though, will continue. And that's where you come in, Maniacs.  After the jump are a pair of gifs (via IronForgesIron) to illustrate the finish and you can vote in a poll whether or not the fight was stopped far before it should have been. It certainly looks close. UFC President Dana White had no problem with the stoppage but do you? Poll Was the stoppage good? Yes. No. Just glad I don't have to make such a decision.   23 votes | Results

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Well the Dogfish Head Punkin is helping with the hangover. It's pretty much gone. But now I'm starting to get drunk and that was not the plan. Whatever, I'll go with the flow and let this day go where it's gonna go. Last night had several relevant fights besides the championship bout at the top of the card. Let's take a look at the fights that Joe Silva should put together after the results are in.  Dominick Cruz - He's set to face the winner of Urijah Faber vs Brian Bowles. Both will be a rematch. Cruz looked dominant in his win over Bowles which ended when Brian couldn't continue due to a broken hand. The Faber/Cruz match was a lot closer but there was still a definitive winner. Dominick is quickly becoming Anderson Silva/Georges St. Pierre making his division look weak.  Demetrious Johnson - He had a good showing and with Dana White and the UFC talking about adding Flyweight next year he's definitely going to be considered one of the best at that weight. Until then he's going to beat a lot of fighters at 135 with his speed and superior wrestling. I'd like to see him vs the loser of Bowles/Faber. Stefan Struve - Struve has shown he can beat the lower end of the division and that he gets destroyed by the better fighters at heavyweight. His chin is a question. His inability to use his reach is annoying. His grappling is solid. I'd love to see him against Ben Rothwell who still has a name from the IFL. I think it's a good fight for both fighters and Rothwell has skills that can push Struve. Pat Barry - Yes, the UFC doesn't match up winners and losers. You know what? I don't care. I want him fighting Mark Hunt next. Hunt is on a winning streak and has started to establish himself in the UFC's heavyweight division. We'll get to see some really good striking and see how Barry can handle a K-1 champion. Not all "K-1 level" kickboxers are created equal. Anthony Johnson - Things no one thought we'd be saying: Anthony Johnson - Top 10 welterweight. We're saying that today. He was ginormous last night and Brenneman looked tiny in comparison. There will always be question on if he can make the weight or if he'll move up to 185. While he's at welterweight a fight with Paulo Thiago would be incredibly fun to watch.  Charlie Brenneman - Every feel good story has to come to an end. His ended last night. It's a shame it only last one fight. He falls out of the top 10 and will need to reestablish himself in the division. He's still talented but isn't who we thought he was. A rematch with Rick Story when they both have had a camp to train for one another would be awesome.  Matt Wiman - This was a great win. He looked great and his fighting from the clinch was top notch. Those inside elbows were brutal. I'd love to see him fight George Sotiropolous or Rafael Dos Anjos should he defeat Gleison Tibau at UFC 139.  Mac Danzi - He's undersized for 155. A spot awaits him at featherweight if he chooses to drop. I hope he does because he definitely has some great boxing. If he does maybe a fight with Josh Grispi or George Roop if he loses to Hatsu Hioki.  Facebook fighters after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Yves Edwards - Yves is reestablishing himself in the division. He looked good. The loss to Stout hurts his placement though. Why not a fight with Mac Danzig who has solid boxing and was ranked higher. I'd love to see that fight.  Rafaello Oliviera - He looked awful. I wouldn't be surprised if he got cut. If he doesn't then maybe a fight with Cole Miller or Paul Sass. But he's probably getting his walking papers.  Paul Sass - He's so one dimensional. It just happens to be that his single dimension is good enough to win him fights. He lucked into a win because Johnson is still developing as a defensive grappler. He needs to work on takedowns because he couldn't get the fight there on his own. Oliviera (Charles or Rafaello) or T.J. Grant would be fun. Michael Johnson - He's still young and has plenty to learn. He shouldn't have followed Sass to the ground. He looked great on his feet. He's in a weird situation because he's just so new to the UFC. Maybe a fight with Anthony Ferguson? Yeah that sounds radical.  Mike Easton - Easton looked like a Beaston (I'm sorry). He's got a long way to go but that was a great way to kick off his UFC career. There are a ton of matchups at 135 for him and the one I want to see most is Charlie Valencia or Damacio Page.  Byron Bloodworth - Cut.  T.J. Grant - Getting takedowns on a great wrestler from OSU? WOW. Grant looked good. It's a shame that he won the fight because the referee was incompetent because it tarnishes his performance. I'd love to see a rematch with Shane Roller to be honest. I think both fighters deserve to finish what they started.  Shane Roller - See above. I think they deserve a rematch and finish the fight that was prematurely ended last night. It's only fair.  Josh Neer - What a way to come back to the UFC. Nice inside elbows and butchering up Wisniewski's face. What does this mean for the future? I dunno. He looked good against someone that clearly didn't belong in the UFC. No idea where to book him since he took the fight on short notice.  Keith Wisniewski - Cut. Walel Watson - Nice win. Another one that was kinda tarnished because of an early stoppage. He's huge for the weight class and looked a good 20 pounds bigger than Sandoval in the cage. No clue what they do with him.  Joseph Sandoval - Cut. 

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Rundown of post-fight news and notes from UFC on Versus 6… — 9,380 UFC fans came out to the Verizon Center in Washington DC last for a $706,775 live gate. Both numbers set new attendance and live gate records for the UFC on Versus series. — Matt Wiman and Mac Danizg took home $65,000 Fight of the Night bonuses for their dogfight. Stefan Struve picked up Submission of the Night honors for tapping out Pat Barry with a triangle choke. Anthony Johnson was awarded the KO bonus for brutally kicking Charlie Brenneman in the face. — A broken hand didn’t stop bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz from defending his title against Demetrious Johnson last night. That’s right, Cruz broke his hand during the fight, but you wouldn’t know it if you relied on Cruz to tell you. Dana White had to break the news following the fight. “You know one of the things I respect about the kid?” UFC president Dana White openly pondered. “He’s got a broken hand and had one the entire fight. He broke his (left) hand and is going to have surgery. Not only did he not stop fighting and keep coming up 100 percent, he doesn’t even [expletive] say anything about it. “He goes through an entire press conference and doesn’t say anything about his hand.” Cruz shrugged it off like it was no big deal, but the injury will require surgery. His timetable for return is unknown. In the meantime, his next challenger will likely be decided when Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles meet at UFC 139. — The UFC is getting very close to adding a flyweight division. As Dana White explained, you may see some familiar faces from TUF 14 on the flyweight roster in addition to UFC newcomers. One fighter you won’t see at 125 anytime soon though is Demetrious Johnson. Despite the loss last night, Johnson is determined to get better and make his way back up the bantamweight ladder. “I’m focused more at 135,” Johnson said. “I know I lost, but I’m happy where I’m at, and I still think I can be champion at 135. I’m going to go home and fix a lot of things and keep climbing back to the top of that mountain.” It’s still unclear exactly when the flyweight division will be implemented, but if the UFC is going to run as many shows as they say they in 2012, we’ll probably see it sometime next year if not before. — There was a little controversy last night surrounding the Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman stoppage. If you missed it, Johnson blasted Brenneman with a nasty kick right to the mouth off a scramble. It should have knocked him out, but amazingly Brenneman was still conscious when he landed and appeared to be in position to defend himself from his back. It didn’t matter though, because referee Mario Yamasaki called the fight as soon as the kick landed which led many to believe the fight was stopped prematurely. When asked about it the press conference, neither Johnson or Dana thought there was anything wrong with it. “Yamasaki is a good ref, so whatever he decided to do didn’t bother me,” Johnson shrugged. “I agree 100 percent with that stoppage,” [Dana] said. “He was on crazy legs before the kick to the head happened. And again, there’s a fine line between stopped too early and stopped too late, and I’ll takes stopped too early every time. I thought he was hurt before the kick to the face. “And that was a kick to the face.” Yes, it was. — Regarding the simultaneous Japan/Las Vegas events the UFC has planned for next February, Dana White clarified that the Japan card would air on live TV before the Vegas show goes live on pay-per-view. “It’s going to happen,” White said. “It’ll be live in Japan and live in the United States.  The fight in Japan would go live on free TV before the (Las Vegas) pay-per-view.” Dana says both cards will be “stacked.” — And last but not least, Dana White revealed last night that’s he’s working on bringing Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez over to the UFC. “Yeah, we do want to bring Gilbert Melendez over, and we’re looking at it right now,” White said following Saturday’s UFC on Versus 6 event at Washington, D.C.’s Verizon Center. “We’re looking to bring Gilbert Melendez over ASAP.” Melendez was expected to defend his Strikeforce title in December against Jorge Masvidal, but that seems to be in question now. Dana says an immediate title shot is a possibility if the timing works out, but it’s too early to tell right now. Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

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It was not good to be a Yamasaki last night. Mario and brother Fernando each made questionable decisions, including an early stoppage in the curtain jerker between Walel Watson and Joseph Sandoval, "saving" Shane Roller from T.J. Grant's armbar, and allowing Yves Edwards every opportunity to inflict brain damage on Rafaello Oliveira. Fortunately for the Brothers Yamasaki, those fighters were only watched by the handful of fans who tune into the Facebook streams. Mario carried the amateur hour into the Versus main card, however. After the jump, a look at two GIFs of Anthony Johnson's head kick "knockout" of Charlie Brenneman. Yamasaki's in good position to see the kick itself -- he has a direct line to Brenneman's chin. Unfortunately, his positioning affords him no angle on Brenneman after impact. As Brenneman falls away from the fence, Johnson's momentum carries him into Yamasaki's line of sight. Any decision in life is best made with as much information as possible. Yamasaki had information here: Brenneman DID stumble into the fence and the impact of Johnson's leg likely sent Brenneman's eyes into googly land. One crucial piece of information he missed? Brenneman braced himself for impact and had a clear look in his eyes once he landed on the floor. He IMMEDIATELY communicated with his eyes his disappointment with Yamasaki's decision. Yamasaki apologists have pointed to the likelihood that Johnson would have finished Brenneman shortly after the kick anyhow...and that's probably true. But that doesn't exonerate his mistake. That he stopped this fight early after allowing Yves Edwards license to kill two fights prior only compounds the matter. 

Posted in: johnson, impact, kick, brenneman, yamasaki

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Welterweight Charlie Brenneman was the Cinderella man in his last fight against Rick Story, stepping in on extremely late notice and taking out the top 10 ranked fighter in front of rampant support from his home state of Pennsylvania.  The clock apparently struck midnight last night (October 1, 2011) in his UFC on Versus 6 main card bout against Anthony Johnson. Brenneman had previously been able to dominate his opponents with his perfectly timed takedowns, strong top control and light ground and pound, so how was Johnson able to completely neutralize his game? We'll take a closer look as well as figure out what's next for each combatant after the jump. From the early onset of the fight, it was obvious that Brenneman was extremely concerned about standing with Johnson. He kept his distance and almost desperately attempted to catch two of Johnson's kicks in an attempt to take the fight to the canvas.  Despite not catching a kick, "The Spaniard" dove in for a takedown anyways and immediately got stuffed by Johnson. "Rumble" sprawled very deeply, put his right hand on top of the back of Brenneman's head to control him and proceeded to pummel him with short strikes on the ground. Johnson turned to Brenneman's side and began blasting him with some sharp knees to the body and this caused Brenneman to finally roll over into guard. After some posturing, the AMA Fight Club member pushed with his legs to create some space and tried to get to his feet but got clipped with a grazing head kick which sent him back to the ground.  Brenneman tried to get to his feet one last time and was on wobbly legs. He leaned against the fence to regain his balance and this left him wide open to a huge left head kick from Johnson while his hands were at his sides. Brenneman briefly went limp and dropped to his butt as the ref stepped in to save him from further punishment. Notice from the angle of the referee's vision, he sees Brenneman in trouble and then absolutely blasted by the head kick from Johnson.  There was a huge cry from fans and even some media that it was an early stoppage because Brenneman fell on his back in a defensive position but from looking at the end of the fight multiple times, the fact that "The Spaniard" was on wobbly legs before the kick and the fact that he couldn't even bring his hands up to defend himself from the kick is reason enough for that fight to be stopped once he was dropped. I'd rather see a fight like that stopped early than see Brenneman pummeled to the point of unconsciousness. I doubt he was protesting the stoppage with the way he was getting manhandled in there anyways.  For Charlie Brenneman, this bout was a bit of a reality check. He burst into many top 10 lists after his upset over Rick Story, but he still has a long ways to go to be a fully well-rounded fighter. His wrestling is fantastic, but he was devoid of some serious defense from ground strikes after his shot got stuffed. He's also going to have to improve his striking because that's what he uses primarily to set up takedowns and if his opponents aren't going to take his striking seriously, they aren't going to be taken down as easily. Brenneman will likely face someone along the lines of Mike Pyle, Mike Pierce, or Carlos Eduardo Rocha in his next bout as all three fighters are also coming off a loss. For Anthony Johnson, that was a stellar performance. He dominated from start to finish and was perfectly prepared for what Brenneman brought to the table. It's high time he got another top level opponent to see just how good he is. There are currently no top fights for him as the rest of the division is locked up. A bout with the winner of Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez would make a ton of sense, as would the winner of Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks or Rory MacDonald vs. Brian Ebersole.  So what do you think Maniacs? After several long layoffs due to injury, is now finally the time to shine for Anthony Johnson? Was this simply too much too fast for Charlie Brenneman? Speak up! For complete UFC on Versus 6 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event, click here and here All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.  

Posted in: fight, johnson, .&nbsp, kick, brenneman

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Dominick Cruz entered the Octagon as the UFC bantamweight champion last night (October 1, 2011) in the UFC on Versus 6 main event. He left the cage as the champion too. His opponent, Demetrious Johnson, was thoroughly testing him in the speed department and hanging with him strike for strike. So how was Cruz able to dominate "Mighty Mouse" and come away with a solid unanimous decision victory, only losing one round on one judges' scorecard? We'll take a closer look at the 135 pound title scrap and find out what's next for both fighters after the jump. In the beginning, Johnson was clearly hanging with Cruz and pushing the pace. Cruz, normally known for his crazy footwork, constant movement and odd striking angles was completely getting neutralized by the speed of "Mighty Mouse." Notice here how after initially using a whizzer to fend off the takedown attempt launches a barrage of offensive strikes in Cruz's direction. While Cruz is normally known for being the man pushing the pace, it's Johnson who's coming after him, making him go backward and staying in his face with punches and even kicks. The Matt Hume-trained Johnson is giving "The Dominator" no room to breathe in the stand-up and Cruz had some serious issues with spacing early because of his aggression there. The big neutralizer for Cruz were the takedowns. It seemed like he fended off nearly every takedown attempt from Johnson while really outworking the young grappler in that department throughout the rest of the fight. While the first two rounds were hotly contested and fans may have wondered whether Johnson had an upset brewing, Cruz made a statement in the final three rounds with aggressive takedowns, guard passing and some serious top control. This was perhaps the turning point of the fight. Cruz took Johnson's back standing, stepped forward with his left foot and pulled him straight backwards with a beautiful German suplex. This is a pretty damn rare move in an MMA fight and Cruz pulled it off with ease, actually doing it three total times in this five round affair.  Notice how Cruz arches his back to get full torque on his slam and keeps his arms locked so he can turn into Johnson and take top position while his opponent is temporarily stunned. In rounds three, four and five, Cruz was 2 for 3, 2 for 4 and 3 for 5 respectively with his takedown attempts and he passed Johnson's guard a total of six times, even nearly finishing the fight in round three with a rear naked choke before "Mighty Mouse" squirmed free of danger. In the end, while Johnson was able to go toe-to-toe with Cruz in the striking department, something no fighter had been able to do before, he couldn't handle the wrestling of the champion. It was a tremendous change in gameplan for "The Dominator" not even two rounds into the fight. Putting "Mighty Mouse" both in the clinch and on his back completely nullified his speed. For Demetrious Johnson, the fight was much closer than the judges' scorecards. "Mighty Mouse" put on a hell of a fight. His biggest issue was his inability to stop from being put on his back and especially his inability to bounce quickly to his feet once Cruz took him down. He had to work extra hard to bring the fight back to the stand-up portion and that ate precious seconds off the clock. The AMC Pankration product will be given a tough fight for sure as he's still one of the top bantamweights on the planet (and will easily be one of the top flyweights on the planet once the UFC actually creates the division). Perhaps the loser of the upcoming Brian Bowles vs. Urijah Faber fight will be on tap for "Mighty Mouse" or even the loser of the Brad Pickett vs. Renan Barao match at UFC 138. Either way, he'll remain at the top of the division until 125 enters the picture. For Dominick Cruz, this was a tremendous showing of how a fighter can adapt due to having extremely well-rounded skills. He wasn't getting lit up on the feet or anything, but the fight was closer than he liked in that department so he switched things up and utilized his offensive grappling game. His size advantage played a huge part in helping him control Johnson. His next opponent has already been determined. It will be a rematch either between the man he originally beat for the title, Brian Bowles, or the man he defeated earlier this summer who is the only fighter to ever best him in the cage, Urijah Faber. In either match-up, Cruz will have the speed advantage again and will be showcasing that unorthodox attack. So what did you think Maniacs? Did Johnson make you a fan with his effort last night? Can Dominick Cruz be stopped in the UFC bantamweight division? If so, who do you think has what it takes to pull it off? Sound off! For complete UFC on Versus 6 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event, click here and here All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.

Posted in: ufc, round, fight, johnson, cruz

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Sixth Ultimate Fighting Championship card on VERSUS took place last night at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. For the first time since UFC 75 in London, England, MMA fans around the world got a UFC title fights on free television, as Dominick Cruz defended his belt against "The Mighty Mouse" Demetrious Johnson. Co-main event of the night featured the unusual Heavyweight contest between almost 7ft tall Stefan Struve and almost 6ft tall Patrick Barry, while Brenneman vs. Johnson and Wiman vs. Danzig

Posted in: ufc, washington d.c, co-main event, johnson, patrick barry

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - It was a dominant performance for Anthony Johnson - one that moves him a big step toward a potential title fight with welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. But it also came with a bit of controversy. However, following Johnson's first-round destruction of Charlie Brenneman at Saturday's UFC on Versus 6 event, both Johnson and UFC president Dana White downplayed the supposedly controversial stoppage.

Posted in: ufc, anthony johnson, johnson, first-round destruction, charlie brenneman

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The flyweights are coming. Demetrious Johnson, though, isn't quite ready to join the pack. Johnson failed in his attempt to take UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz's title in the main event of Saturday's UFC on Versus 6 event at Washington, D.C.'s Verizon Center. But if you think the loss is going to prompt the UFC's shortest fighter to drop a weight class, think again.

Posted in: ufc, washington, johnson, demetrious johnson, weight class

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In case you missed it live, here's a quick highlight video from ESPN on the UFC on Versus 6 main event bout with Dominick Cruz taking on Demetrious Johnson with the UFC Bantamweight Championship on the line. SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Here's the complete play-by-play from our live blog of the event: Dominick Cruz vs Demetrious Johnson Round 1: Cruz is off to a start landing his crazy kicks. Demetrious Johnson lands. This is going to be impossible to live blog. Demetrious shoots and Dominick defends. He starts landing punches and then works for a trip. Johnson is back up and eats a knee. Dominick gets the fight to the ground and is working to escape from butterfly guard. Johnson is working to escape but Cruz keeps his weight. He scoops as Demetrious' butt out as he tries to cage walk. Demetrious stands and punches his way out. Head kick by Demetrious and he's tripped. He's looking for a leg and Dom survives and steps over. He has Demetrious' back and eats a left hook on the escape. Demetrious with a takedown and Dom is right back up. Super busy first round and I wouldn't expect anything less. Knees inside by Johnson and Cruz. Cruz ducks down and can't score the right hand. They trade rights and Demetrious is getting better of the exchanges. Cruz resets and throws a body kick. He pushes forward with a jab. 10 seconds left and Cruz looks to have settled. Man I dunno, I'll say 10-9 Cruz for the takedown and control.  Round 2: Cruz tries to come in with a jab and is answered with a combination that backs him up against the cage. Cruz ducks under and gets the fight to the ground. Cruz landing knees to the body on the way up. Big knee to the head for Cruz. Johnson gets the takedown and immediately Cruz is up on his feet. Johnson landing from the clinch. Cruz with knees. Cruz takes a big breath. Shot from outside by Johnson is stuffed. Knees from the clinch to the body from Cruz. This pace is incredible. I feel like I've watched 3 rounds already. Knee to the head for Johnson. Cruz with a knee to the body. Cruz tries to use a whizzer but can't get it to the ground. Head fighting and Johnson tires to hoist Cruz up. He fails and Cruz withe a knee from the Thai clinch barely misses. Cruz has reset and takes another big gasp. Upper cut lands for Cruz. Johnson walks through it. Minute left and Cruz lands a jab. He's failed so far with slowing Johnson down. Knee to the body by Cruz and then a defense with a whizzer. Cruz gets the takedown and is working from butterfly guard. Landing some punches but can't really open up. He's looking to keep Johnson on the mat. 10-9 Cruz in another super close round. Side note: My cousin is now snoring. He isn't a MMA fan. What a bummer.  Round 3: They trade early body kicks. Johnson comes forward with a combination and Cruz flung himself back against the cage to avoid the kick. Cruz is trying to find an angle and lands a jab. He's turning this into his type of fight. He shoots from outside and is shrugged off. He gets Johnson's back and drops back in a Zangief style suplex. He gets his hooks and is working to finish with a choke. Wow this is a great sequence from the champion. He has the Gable grip and Johnson spins out. Cruz back to working for it. Again Demetrious spins out. He stands and is pushing cruz against the fence. Cruz looks exhausted trying to finish the fight. Big uppercut missed for Cruz. He gets the double and is back in butterfly guard. He's stepping for a mount but again hasn't been able to do anything with the position. This pace has been too much for Cruz who is looking to regain some energy with the position. Johnson is constantly looking to stand up. Johnson with under hooks and gets his butt under under. He stands! Fifteen seconds left and they are trading knees to the body in the clinch. 10-9 for Cruz but he's tired as hell. Johnson is in a great spot to win this fight.  Round 4: Johnson's first time in the championship rounds and he looks great. He lands two leg kicks and if I didn't know any better I'd think he was the champion. Cruz comes forward but can't find range. Lands a left hook. Leg kick from Cruz lands. Nice jab as well. Cruz ducks down to land to the body and eats a hook on the way up. Johnson is finding a home for his left hook. Cruz is being forced to turn this into a wrestling match. He gets the fight to the ground again. This won't win Dominick Cruz any fans even though he's been dominant with the takedowns. Punches to the body and Cruz is stuck in half guard. He steps over and gets full mount. Johnson has Cruz's body locked down to stop Cruz from creating space. Cruz is landing arm punches to the face. He scoots up and gets full guard again. Johnson scoots back up and is standing again. He comes forward but doesn't land any punches. Johnson lands a kick to the body. He lands a jab. Cruz drops again for a takedown and lands some knees to the head before muscling Johnson to the ground. Open half guard and they trade on the way up. Cruz looks for another takedown as Johnson comes forward. 10-9 Cruz on the takedowns and control. He's dying for air though. This has been the most intense fight of his career.  Round 5: Final round they touch gloves. Cruz with the leg kick and Johnson comes forward throwing Dominick avoids most of them. He gets Johnson's back and again has a big suplex like Miyata. He uses it for side control and is more active on the ground. Johnson hips to half guard. And then to full guard. Cruz steps over to half but is back in the closed guard. Busy on the ground and Lloyd Irvin is telling the ref they're being busy. Cruz has Johnson's back against the cage. Halfway through the round and this is a wrestling match. Johnson stands is trying to get out of the clinch. He throws a combination and eats an uppercut on the escape. Cruz ducks under a kick. Johnson clinches and uses a whizzer for the takedown but Cruz is right back up. Cruz lands two judo throws. Minute and a half left. Cruz is exhausted. Johnson is landing on him and comes forward to try and end the fight. Cruz drops down and scores the double leg. He hops right to mount and Johnson gives his back. Cruz loses his hooks and Johnson stands. Johnson lands and Cruz is hurt. He survives and gets the takedown. Cruz should win this with 5 straight rounds but damn that was entertaining. 10-9 Cruz.  Official Result: Dominick Cruz by Unanimous Decision. Fantastic fight.

Posted in: round, johnson, demetriou, land, cruz

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Dominick Cruz proved once again why he’s the top-ranked bantamweight in the world, using a varied attack to turn away game challenger Demetrious Johnson in the main event of UFC Live 6.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, eye, cruz, dominick cruz

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Demetrious Johnson almost reached the peak of the mountain, but came up short in his bid to become UFC bantamweight champion.

Posted in: champion, johnson, demetriou, mountain, demetrious johnson

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Video highlights from the UFC on Versus main event between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson via ESPN.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

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Demetrious Johnson talks about his effort to strip Dominick Cruz of his title at UFC Live 6.

Posted in: pound, title, johnson, demetriou, mouse ’

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UFC on VS. 6 results Washington, D.CDominick Cruz def. Demetrious Johnson via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 50-45)Stefan Struve def. Pat Barry via submission triangle choke 3:22 R2Anthony Johnson def. Charlie Brenneman via TKO (head kick) 2:49 R1Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Yves Edwards def. Rafaello Oliveira via TKO (punches) 2:44 R2Paul Sass def. Michael Johnson via submission heel hook 3:00 R1Mike Easton def. Byron Bloodworth via TKO (knees) 4:52 R2T.J. Grant def. Shane Roller via submission armbar 2:12 R3Josh Neer def. Keith Wisniewski via TKO (doctor's stoppage) 5:00 R2Walel Watson def. Joseph Sandoval via TKO (strikes) 1:17 R1Attendance (9,380 Live gate $706,775Of the night bonuses 65KFight: Matt Wiman vs. Mac DanzigKO: Anthony JohnsonSubmission: Stefan Struve

Posted in: decision, tko, submission, johnson, demetrious johnson

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Dominick Cruz demonstrated his versatility Saturday night by winning a unanimous decision over Demetrious (Mighty Mouse) Johnson.

Posted in: title, johnson, saturday, cruz, dominick cruz

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Dominick Cruz uses his superior size and strength to neutralize the speedy footwork of his opponent, Demetrious Johnson, to retain his bantamweight championship in the main event of UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" tonight (Oct. 1) in Washington D.C. The win marks the second time "The Dominator" has successfully defended his crown inside the Octagon and bolsters his case as one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world today. Johnson, for his part, made his case for top contender in the flyweight division, whenever the UFC gets around to bringing it into the fold. Impressed by both men tonight, Maniacs? For complete UFC on Versus 6 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

Posted in: ufc, washington d.c, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz

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The UFC has announced the winners of the bonuses for Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Submission of the Night for UFC on Versus 6. Each bonus awarded was worth $65,000. “Fight of the Night” went to the opening bout of the main card on Versus, Mac Danzig versus Matt Wiman. The two lightweights kicked off the card with a great back and forth battle. Wiman went on to win the bout in a close unanimous decision. This was a rematch of their first bout at UFC 115. “Knockout of the Night” went to Anthony Johnson, who defeated Charlie Brenneman via head kick in the first round. While the stoppage may be deemed controversial, Johnson was easily handling “The Spaniard” from the opening bell. Johnson delivered a left head kick to Brenneman, as Brenneman was leaning against the cage attempting to back away on his feet. Johnson knocked Brenneman down with the kick, and while he landed on his elbows, referee Mario Yamasaki had seen enough and stopped the fight. “Submission of the Night” went to Stefan Struve with his triangle choke of Pat Barry. The Dutchman had to work for the triangle, after he was moving around well on his back. Barry attempted to escape with a last hurrah, lifting the 6’11 Struve up and slamming him to the mat. Unfortunately for Barry, Struve was able to hold on to the choke, and pulled his arm further while Barry slid into the choke even more. Barry tapped out seconds later. For complete coverage of tonight’s event, including play-by-play, recaps and more, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: night, johnson, barry, struve, brenneman

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Dominick Cruz showed another wrinkle in his game tonight. The problem of Demetrious Johnson's speed was made apparent early on. Cruz relies heavily on speed and constant movement, which overshadows serious fundamental flaws in his footwork. Johnson proved he could not only keep up with Cruz, but set the pace himself. Cruz, normally used to controlling the distance in a fight, found himself pressured and, even more surprising, touched up in the first round. Most MMA fighters resign themselves to their fate, vainly trying to force a gameplan that just isn't working. Cruz adapted. Unable to control the fight standing, Cruz worked for takedowns -- 5 in the second round, 3 in the third, 4 in the fourth, and 5 in the fifth. He suplexed Johnson in both the third and fifth rounds. His work did not stagnate on the floor either. Cruz worked for positional gains, earning the mount and tacking Johnson's back at multiple times during the fight. And take nothing away from Johnson, either. I had serious concerns for Cruz's title reign at the conclusion of round one. Cruz made the necessary adjustments, but Johnson remained game throughout. FightMetric credits Johnson with a virtual tie in striking totals -- 145 total strikes to Cruz's 146.  The biggest tragedy of the night is that it's likely that very few people watched it. Some of that is no fault of the UFC -- baseball had a rare doubleheader playoff night. But the fight was grossly underpromoted, especially given the tagline that this was the first live UFC title fight on free television. It's unlikely Cruz will ever become a big star -- he doesn't have the charisma to overcome an unpopular stick-and-move style, and unfortunately this show will do little to change that. UFC President Dana White has promised a flyweight division in the UFC sometime within the next year or so. Demetrious Johnson made a huge case for it tonight. Stefan Struve exploited Pat Barry's inability to grapple in the co-main, but he's made little progress on his distance management. Barry, with a foot disadvantage in both height and reach, was able to consistently get inside and tag Struve with punches on the chin and kicks to the legs. This is unacceptable, and while he's only 23, it's unlikely he'll make drastic changes as he closes in on 30 professional fights. Speaking of unacceptable, it's Pat Barry's grappling. Barry refused to react as Struve deliberately set up a triangle choke. Then, when firmly locked in, he decided to try his best "Rampage" Jackson, which only dropped him deeper into the choke. It's Barry's third submission loss in the UFC. The Brothers Yamasaki had themselves some evening, capped off with Anthony Johnson's head kick "knockout" of Charlie Brenneman. Johnson, who had dominated the first 2:30 of the fight, landed a left kick to the head, putting Brenneman on his back. Mario Yamasaki stepped in to stop the fight as Brenneman sat up with a clear look in his eyes. This followed his decision to allow Rafaello Oliveira every opportunity to have his face bashed in by Yves Edwards and brother Fernando's own flub when he stepped in to "save" Shane Roller from a T.J. Grant armbar. Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig put on what many described as the Fight of the Night in the Versus opener. I, admittedly, was preoccupied with other things. Let your imagination run wild.

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, barry, cruz

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The UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson fighters that scored postfight awards walked away with an additional $65,000 for their efforts.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, cruz, postfight awards, johnson fighters

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UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" from the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. has officially wrapped, which means it's time for those select fighters who went above and beyond in their respective fights to get a little extra grease for their efforts. To the tune of $65,000 each. The promotion dished out its standard post-fight monetary bonuses to four out of the 20 fighters on the card, and it's probably no surprise who's leaving the nation's capital with a second sack of simoleons. Anthony Johnson earned "Knockout of the Night" thanks to first round head kick destruction of Charlie Brenneman. It may have been a controversial stoppage but that extra $65K is just as green and spends the same.  Also hauling in a wheelbarrow full of cash is Stefan Struve, who skillfully manipulated his lengthy limbs to triangle choke his way past pint-sized brawler Pat Barry, earning "Submission of the Night" in the process. Surviving a powerbomb may have helped earn him the extra dough. Finally, Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig were awarded "Fight of the Night" for their thrilling, back-and-forth war of attrition that saw the "Handsome" one prove once and for all that he is, in fact, the better man. No fluke here. Here are the special fight bonuses for UFC on Versus 6: Knockout of the Night -- Anthony Johnson Submission of the Night -- Stefan Struve Fight of the Night -- Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig Again, each fighter received $65,000 extra for their performances in addition to their respective base salaries, which we will pass along as soon as possible. For complete UFC on Versus 6 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here. 

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, washington d.c, johnson

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Dominick Cruz held onto his bantamweight title with a successful against Demetrious Johnson. Read here to find out how the champ held up against his quick challenger.

Posted in: title, johnson, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, bantamweight title

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UFC on Versus 6 took place in our nation’s capital tonight and was headlined by a UFC bantamweight title fight between champion Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson. Johnson proved to be a game challenger in the main event but it was not enough as Cruz was just a little bit better in each round. Cruz nearly finished the fight with a rear naked choke to neck crank chain but Johnson showed heart and fought through it. Stefan Struve used his striking to set up a nice submission finish against Pat Barry. Barry tried an impressive power bomb on Struve but Struve defended it perfectly and finished Barry with a triangle arm bar. Elsewhere on the card, Charlie Brenneman’s dream year ended violently with an Anthony Johnson headkick. Mac Danzig and Matt Wiman’s rematch more than made up for the quick stoppage in their first bout as Wiman again secured the victory, only this time by decision. UFC on Versus 6 Results MAIN CARD Dominick Cruz defeats Demetrious Johnson via unanimous decision (50-45,49-46,50-45) UFC Bantamweight Championship Stefan Struve defeats Pat Barry via submission (triangle armbar) at 3:22 of Round 2 Anthony Johnson defeats Charlie Brenneman via TKO (head kick and ref’s stoppage) at 2:49 of Round 1 Matt Wiman defeats Mac Danzig via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28,29-28) PRELIMINARY CARD Yves Edwards defeats Rafaello Oliveira via TKO (punches) at 2:44 of Round 2 Paul Sass defeats Michael Johnson via submission (heel hook) at 3:00 of Round 1 Mike Easton defeats Byron Bloodworth via TKO (knee and punches) at 4:52 of Round 2 TJ Grant defeats Shane Roller via verbal submission (double armbar) at 2:12 of Round 3 Josh Neer defeats Keith Wisniewski via TKO (doctor’s stoppage due to cut) at 5:00 of Round 2 Walel Watson defeats Joseph Sandoval via TKO (punches) at 1:17 of Round 1

Posted in: round, tko, johnson, cruz, defeat

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The gap between champion Dominick Cruz and the rest of the bantamweight division remains wide, and, despite his considerable efforts, Demetrious Johnson was not the man to close it.

Posted in: division, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz, bantamweight division

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I'm being 100% serious when I say I just gulped down a cup of coffee so I can power through and write this fight recap. Call it a kind of method writing, I think being completely jacked on caffeine is the only conceivable way to keep up with the frenetic pace that was set in this match. OK, coffee done, left eye twitching. Lets begin. The fight started out with Demetrious Johnson bulldozing forward, knocking the champ out of his usual footwork laden rhythm. Cruz works the whizzer, multiple reverses happen, punches kicks elbows are thrown from all kinds of angles and levels and a brief takedown by Johnson gets foiled by a spring like Cruz. They separate and regroup. Twenty seconds have passed since the opening bell. The rest of the fight continues like a game of Tekken with infinite health, both competitors are bouncing around, inside and out landing strikes and leg kicks and things look to be evenly matched. Then halfway through the fight Cruz shifts gears and heads into takedown mode, starting with this amazing belly to back. Chris Benoit would be proud. Johnson tries to scramble out but Cruz manages to sink in a hook and then works a rear naked choke/neck crank. It looks tight but some how Mighty Mouse manages to escape to his feet yet again. My God this pace. As the match wears on Cruz looks to be getting somewhat tired but is taking down Johnson with relative ease, hip tossing and flat out using the cage. Grinding out the Xbox clad 135'er like a tiny Jake Shields. The final round begins and Mighty Mouse knows he has to make something big happen, it looks like he chugged a Red Bull after the fourth because he is throwing all sorts of strikes and keeping Cruz off balance. Somehow, the champ is able to clinch and control the Tesla like energy of Johnson, taking him to the mat once again, where he pretty much controls the fight until the end. Joe Rogan interviews Demetrious Johnson post fight and there is literally a swelling growing larger and larger on his cheek before our very eyes. It's amazing. Thanks to Tracy Lee for the banner pics and thanks to IronForgesIron for the gifs.

Posted in: fight, johnson, cruz, bantamweight title, cruz works

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Dominick Cruz retained his UFC bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Demetrious Johnson in the main event of UFC on Versus 6 tonight in Washington, DC. The final scores were 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46. He dominated the grappling, getting a ton of takedowns, advancing to full mount twice, and almost finished the fight with a choke in the third. The fight looked closer than it was, and Cruz definitely showed off some excellent well-rounded skills tonight. Cruz threw a leg quick early, but Johnson came right at him nonetheless. Both guys are throwing and missing early. Johnson shot for a takedown, got stuffed, and landed a nice throw of his own. Cruz ended up on top, and quickly passed to side control. Johnson managed to scoot and got back to full guard, then eventually to his feet. Johnson had a head kick caught and fell to the ground. He immediately looked for a leg lock, but Cruz controlled and ended up on top. They got back up and DJ briefly got a takedown, but Cruz popped up immediately. The fighters traded shots standing for the rest of the round. Cruz missed with a punch right away to start the second and Johnson landed a nice combination. Cruz responded with an immediate takedown though. Johnson came back up quickly though, and pressed Cruz against the fence, but ate some knees to the body. They spent a lot of time against the cage exchanging knees. Finally they separated with Cruz missing a huge knee. Cruz landed a nice uppercut, but Johnson responded with a right and a flying knee. Cruz blocked another DJ takedown and got one of his own. Round ended with Cruz on top. Cruz landed a few kicks while Johnson missed with pretty much everything for the first minute of the third. Johnson finally connected with a combination. Cruz ended up with Johnson's back, and landed a german suplex. Cruz took full back control on the ground again, flattened him out, and went for a rear naked choke. He went palm-to-palm, but Johnson escaped and managed to get  back to his feet and land some shots. Cruz again got a takedown, but couldn't do anything with it and Johnson eventually got back up. It was too late to get much going though. Johnson came out with some nice leg kicks. Both fighters missed with a lot, but Cruz managed a nice leg kick and beautiful jab. Johnson landed a good overhand left, but Cruz responded with a takedown again. Cruz finally got some offense going on the ground and managed to get to full mount, but Johnsnon managed to get back to full guard relatively, quickly, then got up. Once again, Johnson landed a couple of punches and a kick, but Cruz got another takedown. Rinse and repeat before the round ended. Johnson came out invigorated in round five and landed a few shots, but Cruz managed to get a hold of him and land another huge german suplex. He ended up in side control. Cruz just controlled position for a large portion of the round, not even looking to punch. Johnson finally got up with half of the round left, and threw some shots. He ate an uppercut in return though. Johnson kept attacking, but Cruz kept hitting throws and avoiding strikes. He came forward with a bevy of strikes, but Cruz ducked right into a big takedown and advanced directly to full mount. DJ flipped over and got back up though. Cruz appeared to hurt Johnson with a late strike, and finished the fight on top of Johnson. It was a great fight and a great example of how awesome the bantamweight division is. Cruz originally won the WEC bantamweight title by defeating Brian Bowles back at WEC 47 and defended it twice over there before the championship was transferred to the UFC. In his first UFC defense, Cruz won a unanimous decision over Urijah Faber in one of the best fights of 2011. Johnson earned his title shot with a razor-thin decision win over Miguel Torres at UFC 130, and was on a four-fight winning streak coming into this title fight. More SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6

Posted in: ufc, takedown, johnson, shot, cruz

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The main event of UFC on Versus 6 tonight (Oct. 1) in Washington D.C. featured a championship fight on free TV for the first time since 2007 with bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz putting his belt on the line against Demetrious Johnson.  They may have been forgotten by the promotion in terms of marketing and lacked any clear and present hype but the fight was almost guaranteed to deliver excitement. And that's exactly what it did. Cruz and Johnson battled back-and-forth for five long rounds, gutting their way through an absolute war of attrition that ultimately saw Cruz retain his title. Speed was the name of the game in this one and that was clear from the outset. Johnson, quite possibly the fastest man on the UFC roster, looked to utilize his best attribute early but Cruz, a spry chicken himself, nullified it with quickness and superior technique ... at first.  By the time the horn sounded to signify the end of the opening frame, Johnson was getting the better of the striking game, his speed creating problems for the champion. Cruz got cerebral in the second, bringing a heavy clinch game to slow his opponent down and lean on him as much as possible. It worked, to an extent, but he couldn't hold Johnson down the entire round and the "Mighty Mouse" continued to create problems. The third round saw most of the same but this time Cruz utilized a jiu-jitsu game we rarely see from the 135-pound champion. He threatened constantly with a rear-naked choke but Johnson survived and kept the pressure, his aggression and pacing nearly impossible to keep up with. Still, Cruz was doing just enough to keep himself ahead on the scorecards. The tale of the rest of the fight remained the same. Brief bursts of brilliance from Johnson were quickly followed by moments of steely resolve from Cruz, who just refused to give up the title he's worked so hard to defend. One more title defense in the books for the bantamweight king. Was there every any doubt? For complete results of UFC on Versus 6 and to follow along with live blow-by-blow of all the night's action click here.

Posted in: ufc, title, johnson, game, cruz

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Anthony Johnson collected his second win in a row with a defeat of Charlie Brenneman at UFC on Versus 6. Click here to find out how it all ended.

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, charlie brenneman, charlie, charlie brennamen

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"Rumble" earns second straight win with impressive finish on Saturday night in Washington.

Posted in: saturday night, johnson, charlie brenneman, charlie, tear

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Anthony Johnson looked dominant in taking a first-round TKO victory over Charlie Brenneman at UFC on Versus 6 tonight, but the stoppage was a source of some controversy. Johnson landed a huge head kick that floored Brenneman and earned a refereed stoppage from Mario Yamasaki right away, but Brenneman was definitely still awake and alert after the kick. Johnson picked up the victory at 2:49 of the first. Johnson came in looking way bigger than the 171 pounds he weighed in at the day before. Johnson looked to strike early, and Brenneman went for the takedown. Johnson pancaked  him though, and landed some shots to Charlie's midsection. Johnson had Brenneman's head pinned down and landed a few hard shots, then a couple of knees to the  body. Johnson spun around to the back, and Brenneman rolled into guard and looked for an arm-in guillotine. Johnson then glanced a head kick that stunned Brenneman, then followed up with another one that put Brenneman down on his back. It looked devastating and the ref stepped in to stop it, but Brenneman was fully alert and awake. In retrospect it wasn't a good stoppage. Brenneman entered this bout coming off the biggest win of his career over Rick Story at UFC on Versus 4. He was a last-minute replacement for Nate Marquardt. Johnson returned from a long layoff due to a knee injury at UFC Fight Night 24, where he took an easy unanimous decision win over Dan Hardy. He had won three of his last four bouts entering this contest. More SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6

Posted in: kick, head kick, ufc, brenneman, johnson

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The second main card bout at UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" tonight (Sat., Oct. 1, 2011) at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. featured a welterweight war with a spot among the division elite on the line. No, the names Anthony Johnson and Charlie Brenneman may not wow you but they were both threatening a run to the top of the division heading into tonight's showdown. Who took the next step in their quest for the 170-pound title? That would be Johnson, who said beforehand that he would knock Brenneman out with a head kick and that's exactly what he did. When two wrestlers meet inside the Octagon you can usually count on 15-minutes of lull or a stand up showdown with plenty of action. In this one, we got a bit of both. Johnson opened with his usual burst of speed and athleticism looking to land early and often with a head kick that he knew would be available to him. Sure enough, after a brief stint battling on the floor, "Rumble" executed a swift kick to "The Spaniard's" skull that sent him flying back. Referee Mario Yamasaki quickly stepped in to stop the fight but was it warranted? Brenneman appeared to be out but very briefly and he even landed on his elbows looking as though he could defend against any coming onslaught of follow up punches. It didn't matter. Did the ref make the right call or should he have let the action go a bit more? For complete results of UFC on Versus 6 and to follow along with live blow-by-blow of all the night's action click here.

Posted in: head kick, johnson, kick, charlie brenneman, brenneman

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Dominick Cruz retained his UFC bantamweight title with a unanimous decision win over Demetrious Johnson in the headline bout of UFC Live on Versus 6.Main...

Posted in: ufc, johnson, demetrious johnson, dominick cruz, headline bout

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Hello everyone. Hope you're enjoying the play by play thread for the Facebook prelims. Here is the post for the main card headlined with a title fight in the bantamweight division. Champion Dominick Cruz defends his belt against number one contender Demetrious Johnson. Cruz is one of the most dominant champions in UFC history using constant movement and angles to keep his opponents off balance. Johnson has become one of the top fighters at 135 despite being a natural flyweight.  Also on the card is a heavyweight fight between Pat Barry and Stefan Struve. Both fighters have been exciting in their UFC careers but haven't really been able to establish themselves in the division. This fight will be the largest height differential in company history.  Join us at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and tune into UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs Johnson.  SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Matt Wiman vs Mac Danzig:  Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Official Result:    Anthony Johnson vs Charlie Brenneman Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Official Result:    Pat Barry vs Stefan Struve Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Official Result:    Dominick Cruz vs Demetrious Johnson Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Round 4:  Round 5:  Official Result: 

Posted in: round, vs, johnson, nbsp, cruz

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Filed under: NewsFour fighters from Saturday's UFC on Versus 6 card in Washington, D.C., added $65,000 bonus checks to their take-home pay after the show. Anthony Johnson, Stefan Struve, Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig each took home post-fight bonus awards for their performances in the final UFC event on the Versus channel. The post-fight awards were announced by UFC president Dana White after the card. The $65,000 total equals the largest amount for a UFC show on either Versus or Spike, tying the $65,000 bonus awards that were handed out after UFC on Versus 5 in Milwaukee in August. UFC on Versus 6 was the promotion's debut in the nation's capital. Johnson won Knockout of the Night for his head-kick finish of Charlie Brenneman on the main card. Though Brenneman popped back up quickly after Johnson's left kick to the face, referee Mario Yamasaki had already stepped in to shut the fight down, and the official decision was a knockout for Johnson. Struve, the tallest heavyweight in the UFC, fought the shortest heavyweight in what became a fun kickboxing bout. But when Struve got the fight to the ground and locked in a triangle, Barry used his power to muscle Struve to the sky for a massive slam with the triangle still locked in. Struve though, held the hold, sank it in even tighter and forced Barry to tap, giving Struve the Submission of the Night bonus. It was Barry's second straight loss, the first losing streak of his career. In June, after nearly stopping Cheick Kongo, Kongo pulled off an epic comeback knockout victory. And Wiman and Danzig rematched after a controversial ending to their first fight in June 2010 - and the reboot was worth the wait. The two battled for three rounds of back-and-forth that earned them Fight of the Night, with Wiman taking a unanimous 29-28 decision. At UFC 115, Wiman won when Yves Lavigne stopped the fight, believing Danzig was out from a choke. He was not, and it's taken 16 months for the rematch, which was scheduled once but delayed with a Danzig injury. Struve got serious competition from Paul Sass, who submitted Michael Johnson with a heel hook on the preliminary card. Sass stayed unbeaten with the submission and now has 11 of his 12 career wins by tapout. And Wiman-Danzig got competition from the main event bantamweight title fight between champion Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson. But it was likely Cruz's large amount of time spent keeping Johnson pinned along the fence that kept them from the bonus. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, bonus, struve

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Filed under: UFCDominick Cruz showed once again on Saturday night that he's the best 135-pound fighter in mixed martial arts, beating Demetrious Johnson by unanimous decision to retain the UFC bantamweight title. It was an exciting, action-packed fight, and a bout that demonstrated just how ruthlessly effective Cruz's fighting style is. The win improved Cruz's professional MMA record to 19-1, and there's no question that he's one of the best fighters in the world, in any weight class. "It was a tough fight -- the kid's got a sick pace," Cruz said of Johnson. "He didn't surprise me. I was ready for a wicked pace. I knew I had to slow him down by using my strength and my size." The judges scored it 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 for Cruz. Most of the first round was fought on the ground, starting when Johnson clinched Cruz against the cage and Cruz responded by throwing him to the ground, then got on top and transitioned into side control. Johnson was able to land a couple of punches standing, and Johnson did get one takedown of his own, but overall the first round was Cruz's: He controlled the action on the feet and the position on the ground. Johnson charged in quickly at the start of the second round and hit Cruz with a punch and a kick, but it was soon Cruz who secured the takedown and got on top against the fence. For most of the rest of the round it remained Cruz who was in control, largely controlling the fight standing but also finishing the round on top of Johnson against the fence. After a couple minutes of battling in the third round, Cruz used a great belly-to-back suplex to get Johnson down and get on top of him, then attempted to sink in a rear naked choke. It appeared that Cruz was close to finishing the fight, but Johnson managed to break free and get back to his feet. In the fourth round Cruz got his best position on the ground of the fight, taking Johnson down and transitioning into full mount. Cruz wasn't able to do much with that dominant position, but the positional control alone was enough to win him the fourth round and ensure that he'd keep his title as long as he could survive the fifth. Within the first 30 seconds of the third round, Cruz had another belly-to-back suplex and another dominant position. Johnson got up and kept attacking on his feet, but he had no answer for Cruz in the clinch, and in the final minute of the fight Cruz took Johnson down and got into full mount on the ground. Johnson did manage to get back up for a last flurry of strikes, but Cruz finished the fight on top -- right where he belongs, as the top bantamweight in the sport. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, round, johnson, ground, cruz

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submitted by Vercingetorixxx [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, johnson, cruz, tinychat, vercingetorixxx

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Filed under: UFCIn a welterweight battle on Saturday night's UFC live card, Anthony Johnson defeated Charlie Brenneman in the first round thanks to a big head kick -- and a questionable stoppage from the referee. Johnson is a devastating striker who executed the kick perfectly, landing his foot square on Brenneman's face, and knocking Brenneman flat on his back. But Brenneman appeared to be conscious, alert and ready to defend himself on the ground when referee Mario Yamasaki jumped in to stop the fight. The whole contest lasted just 2 minutes, 49 seconds. More: UFC on Versus 6 Results | Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Live Blog "I'm very happy -- everybody was talking crap about my last performance with Dan Hardy so I figured I had to come in here and make a statement," Johnson said afterward. "I told Charlie he was the first guy to ever really have me nervous because his wrestling is so good." But while Brenneman's wrestling is good, Johnson's striking is better. The victory improves Johnson's record to 10-3 and likely sets him up for some very big fights in the welterweight division in 2012: He could be a future welterweight title contender. The loss drops Brenneman to 14-3, but there's no shame in losing to Johnson -- especially when the referee didn't do Brenneman any favors. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: head kick, johnson, charlie brenneman, brenneman, charlie

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It’s tiiiiiiiiiiime….for the third UFC show in three consecutive weekends! Tonight’s UFC Live 6 event features Dominick Cruz defending his bantamweight belt against the endless energy and lightning reflexes of 9-1 Demetrious Johnson. Cruz will be going for his eleventh straight win since falling to Urijah Faber in March 2007 while “Mighty Mouse” has won four in a row including victories over Damacio Page, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, and most recently Miguel Torres. The card is also highlighted by heavyweight action with Pat Barry hoping to avoid a losing record inside the Octagon with all 6’11″ of Stefan Struve standing in his way, Charlie Brenneman looking to build on his upset win over Rick Story by taking out powerful pugilist Anthony Johnson, and Mac Danzig settling the controversy against Matt Wiman after a premature stoppage in their original pairing. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be watching and reporting back with live results for readers as well as round-by-round breakdowns of televised fights. The festivities begin on Facebook at 6:00 PM EST before heading to Versus with the main card starting at 9:00 PM EST. Read below for a full breakdown of UFC Live 6 results including play-by-play for televised action: Walel Watson vs. Joseph Sandoval Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski Byron Bloodworth vs. Mike Easton Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson Shane Roller vs. T.J. Grant Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, result, vs, johnson, bantamweight belt

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A UFC championship will be defended on Versus for the first time in the organization’s history later tonight when the main event at UFC Live 6 fires up in the Nation’s Capital! Headlined by 135-pound king Dominick Cruz putting his strap on the line against streaking contender Demetrious Johnson, the card also features Pat Barry and Stefan Struve striking out their differences, as well as Anthony Johnson looking to further-cement his status as a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division by taking out Charlie Brenneman. Action starts on Versus at 9:00 PM EST with preliminary fights streaming through Facebook three hours earlier. As you can come to expect from now on, Fighters.com will be tuned in throughout and relaying results back to readers as they unfold live from the cage in Washington, D.C.. Here is a list of UFC Live 6 results thus far: Walel Watson vs. Joseph Sandoval Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski Byron Bloodworth vs. Mike Easton Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson Shane Roller vs. T.J. Grant Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson Tweet

Posted in: ufc, result, vs, johnson, time results

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Footwork and motion are integral aspects for both fighters in tonight's UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson headliner. Opinions vary on bantamweight Dominick Cruz's effervescent footwork, mobility and head movement: some feel it's "all show and no go" with fundamental flaws while others laud it as largely innovative. Though much more subtle and deliberate, the supercharged set of wheels that rocket Demetrious Johnson around the Octagon might be his best combat attribute. If you can tolerate a corny metaphor: I've always likened footwork to the torsional tracks of a tank that are intrinsic in providing the ideal base, balance and position to maximize the violence of the swiveling artillery mounted up top. Achieving the quintessential angle where you are at your strongest and your opponent is at his weakest is the simple function of footwork. The accuracy, power and effectiveness of all strikes are cooperatively amplified by the effectiveness of footwork, just as one's defensive efficacy is directly related to the virtues of footwork. Judo Chop overlord Fraser Coffeen and I have assembled a rundown of the cage characteristics exhibited in past performances by Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Fraser Coffeen: One of the things I really like about Demetrious Johnson's footwork is his ability to throw strikes while moving and not break his stride. A great example of that came against Damacio Page at WEC 52. Watch Johnson's attack after Page gets up at the start of the clip. As soon as Damacio regains his feet, Johnson charges forward with a flurry of punches. As he throws the punches and moves forward, he keeps his feet a good shoulder width apart. But the great moment is when, in the midst of moving forward, he throws a left kick to the body and keeps moving without missing a beat. This takes some incredible timing. Johnson throws the kick, then brings that left foot down in the lead position. As soon as his foot is down, he takes a small step with the right foot (still keeping the proper distance). As he steps, he throws a punch, and the combination of the kick and punch with their forward momentum are enough to drop Page. Dallas Winston: Further to Fraser's observations, an excellent indicator of a successful strike or combination is the balance with which it is thrown. We've seen "fast" fighters in MMA but generally the quicker they move and react, the more off balance and out of control they are. That is not the case with Johnson, who accelerates with blinding speed while always maintaining exceptional poise, composure and balance to react on the fly accordingly. Fraser Coffeen: Here is another example, this time from Johnson's UFC debut against Kid Yamamoto. Again we see Mighty Mouse able to push forward while throwing knees, punches, and kicks. One of the reasons he can string blows together like this is his total comfort in either the orthodox or south paw stance. In this sequence, Johnson is in south paw (right leg in front, left leg back) when he comes up from the scramble. He uses a left knee to switch to orthodox (left leg in front, right back), then after the right high kick, he brings the right foot back down in the lead position, putting himself back in south paw and allowing him to immediately continue attacking with punches. Dallas Winston: I had to include this sequence for Johnson because of it's sheer perfection. Notice how, after Johnson's initial flurry, he slips on a sidestep when re-engaging and Kid is so locked into reaction mode that he nearly loses his own footing when trying to adjust. Another subtle factor is how methodically Johnson keeps cutting off angles and steering Kid back into the cage wall. The double leg that concludes the sequence is poetic: it's set up with strikes, his level change is textbook and he gets ultra-deep penetration. Fraser Coffeen: Switching back and forth so fluidly gives Johnson more options in his combos, and makes his already fast strikes come together even faster. The biggest time Johnson's footwork failed him was against Brad Pickett in Johnson's lone loss. In that fight, Pickett was able to read Johnson's leg kicks, consistently catching the leg and using it to score takedowns. Pickett also managed to control the cage positioning at times. Here you see Pickett able to secure a takedown with relative ease thanks to having trapped Johnson against the cage. Dominick Cruz's footwork is interesting in that there is a lot that is technically "wrong" with what he does. Similar to Rashad Evans, Cruz does things that are usually big problems, but he makes it work withhis style. Here's a great example of that from the Scott Jorgensen fight. At the start of the clip, as Cruz backs away he completely crosses his feet, almost looking to be off balance for a moment, but then uses a hop to get back to an orthodox stance and resumes his attack. Here's another example of what some call a lack of footwork fundamentals. Throughout this sequence, keep an eye on Cruz's feet. He constantly brings them together, giving up the shoulder width stance that you should always maintain. A wider base in your feet gives you more power in your shots, and a greater ability to quickly move away from incoming shots. When Cruz has his feet together, he needs an extra step to escape. The feet together also forces his body to be more square to his opponent, which makes Cruz an easier target to hit. But Cruz uses distance and head movement so well that he doesn't get hit in these moments. Dallas Winston: What I respect about Cruz's head movement and footwork is that it's unpredictable. Even though certain consistencies and repetition can be tracked, his degree of angle and distance of travel are fairly drastic compared to the norm. In the clip above, check out the extreme difference in the hard circle he cuts to his back-left compared to the ground he covers going straight forward with the low kick and left hand. When trying to get a bead on his motion, your target switches in enormous increments from drifting backward and out of the pocket several feet back to charging straight forward with stiff strikes in your face. This ploy of motion and direction is also what enables Cruz to catch Jorgensen on his heels by springing forward aggressively after a number of circular and less volatile retreats backward. Fraser Coffeen: Cruz does also use more traditional footwork very effectively at times. In the above sequence he does a great job using footwork to position Jorgensen where he wants him and secure the takedown. At the start, Jorgensen is moving to his right and Cruz is following. Cruz takes a quick hop step in that direction, getting ahead of Jorgensen and cutting him off. At the same time, Cruz throws a left hook. Jorgensen responds by changing directions and moving left, which is exactly what Cruz anticipated. Cruz drops down and uses Jorgensen's momentum to the left to get the takedown. That hop step or hop switch is one of Cruz's best tools in his footwork. In the above clip, we saw him use that hop to quickly cut Jorgensen off. He also uses it to quickly get inside his opponent's range, or to get himself back to orthodox stance, as we saw in the first Jorgensen clip. Above is another example of Cruz using the hop to get back to orthodox (against Urijah Faber), then immediately attacking with a jumping knee. While Cruz is comfortable in either stance, when he has separation, he will often use that hop to reset to orthodox before beginning his attack, and frequently will begin attacking immediately after the switch. Against Faber, we saw some good examples of Cruz's footwork being figured out. Here's one example of Cruz trying to use that same hop to the outside that he did against Jorgensen: Faber responds with an outside leg kick, which immediately stops Cruz's momentum. Cruz resets, but he's sloppy when he comes back inside - notice the hesitation in his feet as he moves back in after the kick. Without that crisp movement, Cruz leaves himself open, and Faber is able to follow up with a nice right hand that staggers the champion. Dallas Winston: My last observation was how Cruz unleashes a surprise attack with sudden forward movement after dawdling backward to lullaby his opponent, but here we see the same strategy to catch him off-guard.  Quite consistently in the Faber fight, Cruz was tagged with a simple and straight punch while bouncing around on the perimeter and trying to find his rhythm. His overall activity and level of motion is extremely high and sometimes he's overly fixated on it. It was no coincidence that Cruz scored his best shots when he was leading exchanges and quickly pivoting at a unique chain of add angles, and Faber countered most effectively when he didn't let Cruz mesmerize him with a sequence of clever set ups.

Posted in: feet, johnson, cruz, footwork, jorgensen

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Demetrious Johnson doesn’t believe in turning down fights, and that kind of attitude is why he is stepping inside the Octagon tonight to face UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz for the title. Cruz-Johnson is the main event of UFC Live 6, airing later tonight on the Versus Network starting at 9:00 PM EST. The fighter known as “Mighty Mouse” will be looking to pull what many would consider a monumental upset against Cruz, who has lost just once in his entire career and is riding a nine-fight win streak. Along with being a heavy underdog, many “experts” have said Johnson isn’t even deserving of being in a title fight yet. “It doesn’t bother me because people are gonna say what they want to say,” said Johnson, in an interview with the UFC’s website recently. “I can’t control what they think of me. If Dana White thinks I should be there, then I’m happy to be there.” The 25-year-old Johnson has stayed active, as this will be his third fight this year and his seventh overall since the calendar turned to 2010. He is 9-1 in his career and has won four straight since a loss to Brad Pickett. “When the UFC calls for a fight, I accept any fight they give to me,” Johnson said. “I beat ‘Kid’ Yamamoto, stepped in for Pickett because he got hurt, fought Miguel Torres, won that fight, and the next thing you know, they call me up and I’m the next challenge for Cruz.” “I’m just blessed to be in the situation I’m in and I’m happy to be in the UFC and fighting all the time,” Johnson continued. “Donald Cerrone, he’s having the time of his life. He’s making money, he’s fighting all the time, he’s being active, and he’s young, so that’s a good thing and how I want to be as well.” This will be the first title fight of Johnson’s career but, all things considered, very likely not his last. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Complete results, commentary and analysis for "UFC Live on Versus: Cruz vs. Johnson".

Posted in: ufc, johnson, analysis, cruz vs, commentary

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Filed under: UFC, ResultsMMA Fighting has UFC on Versus 6 results for all of the Oct. 1 UFC on Versus 6 fights, live blogs of all the fights and live Cruz vs. Johnson twitter updates. In the main event, Dominick Cruz defends his bantamweight title against Demetrious Johnson. In the co-main event, Pat Barry will take on Stefan Struve. Check out the full results below. Main card Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson (live blog) Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve (live blog) Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman (live blog) Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig (live blog) Preliminary card Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira (live blog) Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass (live blog) Mike Easton vs. Byron Bloodworth (live blog) Shane Roller vs. TJ Grant (live blog) Josh Neer def. Keith Wisniewski via TKO (doctor stoppage) - R2, 5:00 (live blog) Walel Watson def. Joseph Sandoval via TKO (punches) - R1, 1:17 (live blog) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: vs, johnson, blog, stefan struve, cruz

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For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Cruz vs. Johnson" event, going down at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. UFC on Versus 6 will feature Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz defending his title for the second time inside the Octagon against speedy top contender Demetrious Johnson. In the co-main event of the evening, the biggest height difference between opponents in the history of the UFC will be highlighted when 6'11'' Stefan Struve slings leather with 5'11'' Pat Barry. It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories. But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered.  In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast. In we go: UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" Fight card and line-up Results and live fight coverage UFC on Versus 6 predictions and previews: Predictions from the man himself, Nostradumbass "Prelims" preview and predictions Fight preview: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson Fight preview: Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve Fight preview: Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Fight preview: Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman UFC on Versus 6 press conferences: Pre-fight press conference Press conference staredown pics UFC on Versus 6 weigh-ins: Weigh-in results Weigh-in staredown pics Weigh-in photo gallery Weigh-in video highlights UFC on Versus 6 odds: Complete odds and betting guide Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman UFC on Versus 6 news: Event poster   Conference call and live blog Open workout videos Exclusive interview with Demetrious Johnson UFC on Versus 6 editorials Dominick Cruz wants to finish Demetrious Johnson or embarrass him for five rounds Demetrious Johnson will give Dominick Cruz problems with his speed Stefan Struve is not afraid to strike with Pat Barry Pat Barry isn't going to sit and rot away in his chair, man Yves Edwards is willing to fight Rafaello Oliveira behind a Walmart If Mike Easton can beat death, he can beat Byron Bloodworth UFC on Versus 6 videos Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson video preview Dominick Cruz has something bigger to prove than Demetrious Johnson Dominick Cruz beat the crap out of himself to prepare to defend his title Pat Barry strategy for Stefan Struve includes a flying clothesline Stefan Struve trains with Brock Lesnar in preparation for Pat Barry Charlie Brenneman's newfound fame means nothing if he can't beat Anthony Johnson That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What has been the biggest story heading into this event? The lack of hype for a free card featuring a championship fight? The giant vs. the dwarf? Something else? Sound off, Maniacs.

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Check out this UFC-produced video preview of Saturday night's UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson main event between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson.

Posted in: saturday night, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

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Properly hyped or not, tonight’s bantamweight title fight between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson offers both competitors the chance to make a name for themselves. Sadly, the matter of fact is, this bout would not have sold well had it headlined a PPV. As it stands, Cruz and Johnson will get to display their skills for a wider audience, which on the long run, can only be beneficial. Slowly but surely, Cruz has managed to put on quite the title run, having successfully defended his title three times, besting the likes of Joseph Benavidez, Scott Jorgensen, and Urijah Faber. Bantamweight title fight: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson In Johnson, Cruz faces arguably his fastest opponent to date. In fact, it is Johnson’s speed that has allowed him to compensate for the size disadvantage he suffers from in almost all of his fights. Johnson does extremely well to gauge distance for someone with his lack of reach. He uses his quickness and his sharp footwork to get in and out of his opponent’s range, and is actually surprisingly effective when he presses forward with combinations. He likes to finish most of his combinations with kicks, and will continuously look to throw single head kicks — particularly switch kicks — and use them to keep his opponent at bay. The leg kicks could be key for Johnson, as Cruz has proven that his chin is hard to find. Moreover, continuous leg kicks will allow Johnson to cut Cruz off and hamper his movement. The champion is a master at getting on the inside, landing, and emerging unscathed. As such, Johnson needs to stop him in his tracks before he gets to settle into a rhythm and start landing his combos and kicks. Kicks could come at a price for Johnson however, as he learned in his bout with Brad Pickett, where “Mighty Mouse” found himself repeatedly taken down off of kicks that his opponent was able to catch. Someone as savvy as Cruz will surely look to capitalize. Cruz has developed quite a unique and unorthodox style, which so far has proven to be tough to figure out. The irony lies in the fact that Cruz’s head movement and especially, footwork, are quite flawed as he continuously tends to tuck his head down a little too much, while also throwing before both foot are fully set on the mat. What Urijah Faber managed to do against Cruz is time a few counter right crosses after his opponent moves in within range. Moreover, Faber found some success when pressing Cruz, particularly in the striking. Johnson will surely look to do that, but his game is ultimately designed towards changing levels and securing the takedowns. Against Cruz, this has been almost impossible to achieve, as “The Dominator” has managed to shut down one wrestler after the other. Furthermore, his offensive wrestling has been instrumental in his success. He does a tremendous job at setting up his sharp kneetap with a 1-2 combo, and it always seems to catch his opponents off-guard. Johnson’s takedown defense isn’t bulletproof, but he’s extremely good at hip escaping and scrambling back to his feet. In the early going, he will likely prove very hard to hold down. However, one has to question whether Cruz’s size will eventually wear on him. And that highlights the real problem for Johnson: Not only is this a stylistically tough match-up for him as he is coming up against a better striker with great takedown defense and very good wrestling, but he is also at a significant size and reach disadvantage. Expect Cruz to do his thing: consistently land three punch combos, finish with kicks, switch levels, and put Johnson on his back. The challenger will have his moments, but it is unlikely to be enough to stop Cruz from scoring a decisive decision victory. Official prediction: Dominick Cruz to beat Demetrious Johnson by decision.

Posted in: johnson, opponent, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

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UFC on Versus 6 takes place later tonight at the Verizon Center in Washington DC. The event airs live on Versus at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The Versus broadcast will be preceded by a prelim special on Facebook at 5:40pm ET/2:40pm PT. In the main event, Dominick Cruz puts his bantamweight title on the line against Demetrious Johnson. Pat Barry takes on Stefan Struve in a heavyweight match-up. Anthony Johnson faces Charlie Brenneman in a welterweight match-up. Mac Danzig and Matt Wiman meet in a lightweight rematch. Results, recap and bonuses after the jump. Results Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass Byron Bloodworth vs. Mike Easton T.J. Grant vs. Shane Roller Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski Joseph Sandoval vs. Walel Watson Recap & Thoughts Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman: Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman: Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson: Bonuses $??? Submission of the Night: Knockout of the Night: Fight of the Night:

Posted in: vs, johnson, demetrious johnson, charlie brenneman, matt wiman

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Believe it or not, the UFC welterweight division isn't as loaded as it once was. A few of the bigger names, men like Jake Shields and Thiago Alves, are struggling to gain footing while the weight class is still being ruled with an iron fist by Georges St. Pierre. That's why it's ripe for the picking for some new talent to rise to the top.  Tonight (Sat., Oct. 1, 2011) at UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson," a couple of 170-pound warhorses will attempt to do just that when Anthony Johnson takes on Charlie Brenneman. No, you won't be blown away by name value but their collective talent is undeniable and being in the right place at the right time is half the battle. Johnson has fought just once since 2009, a March 26 co-main event battle against British banger Dan Hardy. "Rumble" outclassed the Nottingham knuckler in every aspect of the fight game, knocking him around for three rounds to earn a decision win. It was the Johnson's fourth win in five fights. Despite the inactivity, that's enough to put him in position to break into the top 10 of the division ... if he can win tonight. It won't be an easy task. Brenneman is just four fights into his UFC career but he's 3-1 and has benefited immensely from being in the right place at the right time. When Nate Marquardt squandered his debut at 170-pounds at UFC on Versus 4, failing his pre-fight drug test, someone needed to step in on just one day's notice to take on an extremely dangerous opponent in Rick Story. "The Spaniard" stepped up to the plate and hit a home run, controlling "The Horror" for three full rounds on his way to the biggest victory of his career. The win catapulted him into the welterweight top ten. If he can follow it up with a victory over Johnson, his name will be bandied about for future big money match-ups. Who will take the leap? Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, right place, right time

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UFC on Versus 6 delivered an exciting free night of fights tonight from the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. Reigning Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz retained his title, outworking Demetrious Johnson to score a comfortable unanimous decision win in the headlining bout, while Stefan Struve secured a second-round submission victory over Pat Barry in the co-main event. Top Welterweight contender Anthony Johnson looked impressive, picking up a first-round TKO stoppage against Charlie Brenneman and Matt...

Posted in: washington d.c, co-main event, johnson, stefan struve, submission victory

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UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson will take place tonight at the Verizon in Washington, D.C., headlined by the UFC Bantamweight title bout between "The Mighty Mouse" Demetrious Johnson (challenger) and Dominick Cruz (champion). Don't forget to tune in tonight for LIVE UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Chat starting 9PM

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If ten months ago, someone suggested that the UFC will finish the year with two title fights on free television, he would have likely been ridiculed. And yet, the final quarter of 2011 will witness two very contrasting title bouts:  One will headline the UFC’s much publicized debut on Fox, while the other marks the promotion’s last venture on Versus. One is arguably the most anticipated fight of the year, while the other has been rendered to a mere afterthought. One will feature two 240 pounds behemoths locking horns, while the other will be contested in the UFC’s least celebrated division. And while tonight’s upcoming bantamweight championship fight between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson isn’t in the same galaxy as Cain Velasquez‘s mouthwatering clash with Junior Dos Santos, the action could well end up being every bit as good. Leading up to the main event is a decent undercard, featuring the likes of Stefan Struve, Pat Barry, Charlie Brennenman, and Anthony Johnson. Preliminary Predictions * Walel Watson to defeat Joseph Sandoval by Submission in Round One * Josh Neer to defeat Keith Wisniewski by decision * Shane Roller to defeat T.J. Grant by decision * Mike Easton to defeat Byron Bloodworth by TKO in Round Two * Michael Johnson to defeat Paul Sass by decision * Yves Edwards to defeat Rafaello Oliveira by decision Lightweight Fight: Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig When Wiman and Danzig squared off at UFC 115 over a year ago, a gaffe by referee Yves Lavigne robbed their encounter of a decisive outcome. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Danzig, as the controversial nature of the finish saw the UFC keep him around despite dropping his fourth loss in five fights. To his credit, Danzig was able to right the ship with a highlight reel one-punch knockout of Joe Stevenson at UFC 124. The main problem with Danzig’s skill set is that despite being generally adequate at each aspect of the game, he doesn’t particularly excel at any of them. While his striking looked improved against Stevenson, he has historically been quite hittable on the feet. He tends to make the crucial mistake of dropping his guard when throwing his right cross, and it is that particular punch that makes him especially vulnerable to left hooks and overhand right counters. Furthermore, when his opponent is aggressively pushing forward on the feet and putting it on him with combinations, Danzig doesn’t quite seem to know how to react. Wiman’s striking isn’t devastating by any means, but he does a better job at controlling the distance. He throws with volume and finishes his combinations with leg kicks, and more importantly, knows how to use his striking to set up takedowns. And therein lies another problem for Danzig in this fight: While he’s got decent takedowns and is a competent grappler, Wiman will be the superior wrestler and possesses the better overall ground game. Moreover, Danzig’s grappling is top game oriented, and he doesn’t offer much off of his back in terms of submission threats or, more crucially, regaining his feet. Wiman doesn’t possess a great double leg from the outside, and isn’t particularly great at finishing takedowns away from the fence, but he does a great job at using the cage to put his opponent on his back. Additionally, Wiman is great in the scrambles and uses them very well to get top position. The Denis Siver fight saw Wiman struggle to get clean takedowns, but was still able to put Siver down with some solid chain wrestling and scrambling ability. Wiman’s top game and superior wrestling will ultimately prove to be the difference-maker in this one. He should be able to keep Danzig on the bottom, land short elbows, and potentially pass guard and threaten with submission attempts. Official prediction: Matt Wiman to defeat Mac Danzig by decision. Welterweight Fight: Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brennenman Injury had forced Johnson to sit on the shelf for the entire duration of 2010, but he came back strong earlier this year with a dominant performance against Dan Hardy. Considered one of the brightest prospects in the division, the question with Johnson is how long he can keep cutting down to welterweight before eventually being forced to move up. As long as Johnson can keep making weight in a healthy manner, his physicality will keep being almost unrivaled in the division. With a rare mixture of size, athleticism and power, Johnson possesses all the tools to continue to work his way up the welterweight ladder. The one knock on Johnson is that despite those attributes and a solid wrestling base, he doesn’t use that wrestling to dominate fights the way you’d expect (when he’s not fighting Dan Hardy that is). Of course, having a good striking game and immense power means Johnson doesn’t exclusively have to rely on his wrestling, but he has yet to find the right balance between the two. In general, Johnson’s gameplan is very easy to spot in the first minute or so of a fight, and it becomes very apparent whether he’s in wrestling mode or striking mode, as he seldom mixes the two up together. Johnson’s striking is heavily reliant on his power, and his right hand is one of the biggest weapons in the division. He does a good job at setting it up, and to his credit, rarely gets too trigger happy with it. In fact, Johnson uses his kicks very well, and alternates between going to the legs, body and head. While he doesn’t exactly effortlessly use his striking to set up the takedowns, Johnson possesses a great first step when closing the distance and going for a takedown. His single leg is arguably his best takedown, and with his imposing clinch game, he has no trouble putting opponents down from there either. His top game on the other hand, is not very dynamic as he offers little in terms of guard passing or significant ground and pound. Whether Johnson can consistently take Brennenman down remains to be seen, as the latter is very good at hip escaping, scrambling, and getting back to his feet. In addition, Brennenman could very well take Johnson down himself. In the Josh Koscheck fight, Johnson was taken down routinely after he started tiring in the second round, and Brennenman’s relentless pursuit of a takedown could prove fruitful. Brennenman’s top game is quite underrated, as he is great at capitalizing on any mistake or sloppy submission attempt and immediately pass guard. Additionally, Brennenman makes his opponents pay for getting too desperate when attempting to regain their feet by using that opportunity to get back-mount. It’s a tough fight to pick, as Brennenman could very well wear Johnson out and start getting takedowns late in the fight, but I do think Johnson’s striking and power will make the difference before that can happen. Official prediction: Anthony Johnson to defeat Charlie Brennenman by TKO in Round One. Heavyweight Fight: Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve It says a lot about how flaky both fighters can be when this bout’s outcome could well be decided by who fights less to his detriment. Pat Barry’s killer instinct — or lack thereof — has been a huge hindrance to his career. Whether he’s hurting his opponent and bizarrely opting not to pounce, or following up but having no clue how to put him away, Barry has himself to blame for some of the defeats he’s suffered inside the Octagon. For his part, Struve continuously chooses to disregard his freakish reach by engaging in ill-advised close-quarters slug-fests, as well as throwing techniques that a fighter his height and reach should never have to use, such as the flying knee. It cost him dearly against Travis Browne, and it almost got him knocked out against Paul Buentello. Barry will be the better technical striker, and Struve’s long frame should provide him with an obvious target for his dreaded leg kicks. However, those leg kicks could leave him vulnerable to right cross counters, especially given his opponent’s humongous reach. That said, Struve is always prone to allowing his opponents to get on the inside and land some shots, and Barry’s right hand could certainly do some serious damage if he can sneak past Struve’s reach. One underrated aspect in Struve’s arsenal is his clinch game, and once Barry inevitably starts to tire late in the fight, Struve can do some damage in the muay Thai clinch, particularly with knees to the body. The bigger worry for Barry if he tires will be his inability to defend the takedown. If Struve puts him on his back at any portion of the fight — let alone late when Barry is gassed — “HD” will be in serious trouble. Struve has an usually fluid ground game for someone of his size, and possesses a wide array of submissions, both from the top and bottom. In fact, it wouldn’t even be a bad idea for Struve to pull guard, as his sweeps are extremely dangerous and Barry’s overall grappling game is severely deficient. While I was originally leaning towards Barry, Struve has more obvious ways to victory, especially in the ground game. If he takes Barry’s back for instance, the fight is all but over. And I expect just that. Official prediction: Stefan Struve to defeat Pat Barry by submission in Round Three.

Posted in: fight, johnson, game, barry, struve

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MMAFrenzy.com will have complete results and a live chat for today’s “UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson” event in Washington, D.C. starting at 6pm ET for the preliminary card on Facebook and 9pm for the main card on Spike. UFC on Versus 6 is headlined by UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson and also includes Pat Barry vs. Steffan Struve, Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson, and Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig. MMAFrenzy.com’s live UFC on Versus 6 coverage will begin below starting at 6pm ET, but while you wait check out our UFC on Versus 6 pre-fight coverage: UFC on Versus 6 Predictions Previews: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson, Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve, Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman, Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman  Demetrious Johnson: I’m Prepared for a Five Round War with Dominick Cruz Charlie Brenneman hopes to continue his remarkable year Shane Roller looks to return to winning ways at UFC on Versus 6 UFC on Versus 6 Results MAIN CARD Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Demetrious Johnson UFC Bantamweight Championship Pat Barry vs. Steffan Struve Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig PRELIMINARY CARD Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson Mike Easton vs. Byron Bloodworth Shane Roller vs. TJ Grant Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski Walel Watson vs. Joseph Sandoval

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Anthony Johnson may have went all wrestler on us as of late but he's still capable of taking heads off, as you can see in the video above when he decapitated Kevin Burns at the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 Finale on Dec. 13, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Rumble" will try to do the same tonight (Oct. 1, 2011) when he takes on Charlie Brenneman on the main card of UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" in Washington D.C. Anyone predicting head kick knockout? Or are we in for another long decision?

Posted in: washington d.c, johnson, head, charlie brenneman, kevin burns

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In the main event of the evening at UFC on Versus 6 in Washington D.C. on Saturday, champion Dominick Cruz (18-1) will aim to defend the UFC bantamweight title for the second time as he battles challenger Demetrious Johnson (10-1). Technically, this is Cruz's fourth title defense since he won the strap back at WEC 47 in March of last year against Brian Bowles. He defended it twice under the UFC's sister promotion, narrowly edging out Joseph Benavidez by split decision at WEC 50 and dominating Scott Jorgensen at WEC 53 to an unanimous decision. The win over Jorgensen marked the official changeover of the belt to the UFC, Cruz being the first bantamweight champion in its history. Cruz's first defense under the bright lights of the UFC came at UFC 132 in July. Over twenty-five minutes of action, Cruz defeated challenger Urijah Faber convincingly on the scorecards, although Faber did manage to make a real run at playing the role of spoiler. Surprisingly, Faber wasn't quick enough to solve Cruz's mesmerizing movement despite his status as one of the fastest featherweights on the planet. Shedding the ten pounds to make 135 lbs. created a faster version of Faber, but it still wasn't enough. The victory was, by far, Cruz's best to date, but it didn't erase any of the criticism surrounding him. Since his return to the WEC back in June of 2008, the 26-year old has finished one fight in eight appearances. Many fans, including the hardcore crowd who understands the nuances of his style, use the statistic as evidence that Cruz is the "Jon Fitch of striking". His jerky movements, evasion tactics, and ranged attack have won him plenty of fights, but it has hurt his marketability despite his champion status.  A more determined Dominick Cruz may show up on Saturday night at the Verizon Center hoping to prove he can do more to help his image. Unfortunately, Demetrious Johnson may not be the type of fighter to try to back into a corner. The speedy 25-year-old only stands a 5'3" tall, but he's one of the fastest, if not the fastest, fighters in the entire sport. Despite the fact that he's an obvious natural flyweight, Johnson paved a path to the crown by defeating Miguel Torres, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, Damacio Page, and Nick Pace. An impressive run for any bantamweight. Even more impressive for a flyweight. Johnson won't have the luxury of blowing by his opposition with blazing speed. This isn't the type of fight in which he can duck in and out of danger and win on the scorecards. Cruz is more experienced and stronger at that style of fighting. He's also possesses solid takedown defenses, good scrambling ability, and an endless gas tank. Sounds bleak, doesn't it? There are opportunities for Johnson to succeed, but it involves high risk. Rangy fighters have historically responded to aggression poorly. There are obviously outliers to that statement, Cruz being one of them. It does, however, make sense. Put them in a situation in which they can't use their physical gifts to win, and things become much easier for you. Johnson must mimic what Joseph Benavidez was able to have success doing at WEC 50 last August, only faster. Faster is something Johnson knows how to do very well. He'll need to turn up the tempo, explode from range, and catch Cruz while he attempts to evade or defend against the attacks. If he can do that consistently while ducking underneath to give off the perception he may try to take Cruz down, we could be crowning a new champion on Saturday night. I don't see that happening however. Cruz is just too experienced and versatile to allow a fairly one-dimensional gameplan fell him. Cruz batters Johnson over the course of five rounds, putting together what I suppose we can a classic performance of movement and striking. Cruz via decision. Poll Demetrious Johnson vs. Dominick Cruz Demetrious Johnson Dominick Cruz   3 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, johnson, demetriou, cruz, dominick

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UFC Welterweight contender Anthony "Rumble" Johnson added another TKO victory to his record, this time knocking out (or not) Charlie Brenneman with a head kick in Round 1. Johnson opened aggressively, with Brenneman looking to set up a takedown as part of his quite predictable gameplan. When Brenneman went for the takedown, Anthony Johnson defended well with a sprawl that later helped him to maintain top position throughout the fight. Having Charlie Brenneman's back, Anthony Johnson softened up his

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, charlie brenneman, brenneman, anthony

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LIVE results from UFC on Versus: Cruz vs. Johnson fight card in Washington, D.C.

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Follow UFC lightweight Michael Johnson all week as he prepares for tonight's fight with Paul Sass.

Posted in: ufc, week, johnson, michael johnson, paul sass

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UFC Live 6 unfolds from the Nation’s Capital tonight but before you tune in to Versus at 9:00 PM EST I’m back with another opportunity to increase your knowledge and once again come off as the smartest fan in your group of MMA-loving fans. Yesterday I broke down the preliminary portion of the show, an entertaining bunch of fights to be sure. Today, it’s time to take a look at the main card including the headlining title-bout between champ Dominick Cruz and top contender Demetrious Johnson as well as what should be an explosive, and potentially short, heavyweight tilt between the Pat Barry and Stefan Struve. Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig Storylines in MMA outside of title shot ramifications are always neat to have. This is a rematch of a fight from last year’s Vancouver event off an early stoppage where it was believed Danzig was unconscious when he was still fighting his way out of a choke. A year has gone by, and one scheduled rematch postponed, but here we are. Wiman has fought twice, including a somewhat controversial decision loss to Dennis Siver that could have gone either way. Danzig flattened Joe Stevenson last December, but has been injured and inactive since. Wiman may be one of the most underrated forces at lightweight, often overshadowed by many of the bigger names. He proved that he deserves a bit more consideration against Siver, and will take that momentum and learning experience back into the cage against Danzig. After shooting out of the gate after Ultimate Fighter, Danzig’s recent fight record may not necessarily be a reflection of the fight he brings. While he’s lost four of his last six fights, two have been to top contenders (Clay Guida and Jim Miller) and one was that quick stoppage against Wiman. Danzig needs this victory to stay in the UFC, and he’s going to have to be careful he doesn’t get careless again. Wiman has all the patience in the world, and has no problem taking the fight to the ground, where he’s got the skill to neutralize Danzig’s attacks. A couple years ago, I would have said this was a toss-up or even in Danzig’s favor. However, Wiman’s improved so much over the last couple of years that I see him taking this one after a longer and harder fought battle than before. Prediction – Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig via Split Decision Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson Brenneman is the UFC’s equivalent to Google stock right now. After his last fight was called off due to an opponent’s injury, he stepped in the day before to randomly take on Rick Story. In what most figured would be a “talent enhancement” fight for Story, “The Spaniard” prevailed easily and made the world take note. That’s how he suddenly finds himself in the spotlight, taking on “Rumble” Johnson on a main card. Brenneman’s a very silent fighter at 155, and you wouldn’t know that he’s won 9 of his last 10 coming into this. Johnson is in a constant love/hate relationship with the UFC, dazzling some nights, missing weight and boring fans in some others. His last fight against Dan Hardy was anything but classic, as he chose to lay and pray on the Brit for fifteen minutes and coast to a victory. Brenneman won’t let that happen, and you’re going to see a much different fight, likely contested on the ground. Despite his wrestling prowess, Brenneman has only won one fight by submission, with the rest of his stoppages due to punches. Johnson on the other hand, brings in a sickly amount of power. As one of the biggest (if not the biggest) welterweights in the UFC, he’s carded some huge knockouts to his name, and will look to add another in the form of the Spaniard. When he’s on his game, Johnson does all the right things at all the right times. Brenneman’s going to be in tough against Johnson here, and it’s basically going to come down to whether he’s able to finesse his way through Johnson’s raw power. I think he will, but I don’t think he’ll be able to finish. Brenneman is one of the most underrated and overlooked fighters in the UFC, but I think you’ll see him turn a lot of heads this fight. However, Johnson has a lot to prove here, and I don’t think he’s going to squander this opportunity for redemption. Give this one to “Rumble”, but not in decisive fashion. Prediction – Anthony Johnson def. Charlie Brenneman via Unanimous Decision Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve Random fact nobody cares about – The Twitter war of words for this fight is what finally convinced me to sign up for it. Barry and Struve have been entertaining for this fight in 140 characters or less ever since it was announced. From their viral YouTube videos, to a fake poster depicting Barry as shorter than he is, there’s been no stoppage of jokes and laughs for the last few months. Sadly, it all has to come to a head on Saturday when these two finally meet in the cage. Barry is a personality the UFC needs. He may not be the most technical fighter on the planet, but he’s someone that likes to entertain, and someone you never see without a smile on his face. I’d go so far as to saying he’s one of the most beloved fighters in UFC history amongst fans, though he’s only been around for a short time. He even brought out the best of Struve, constantly cracking jokes with each other every day leading to the fight. One thing’s for sure. This fight is basically going to be contested on the fight. I’m sure Barry has no interest in working a clinch game with Struve, and Struve has no interest in wrestling with Barry. Barry was seconds away from knocking out Cheick Kongo (some would argue Kongo was done on his feet at one point too) before being knocked out cold, while Struve himself suffered a huge strike-based stoppage at the hands of Travis Browne. This should be a pretty fight with lots of strikes thrown. Barry needs to go back to his old ways and wear the big man down with leg kicks. Struve needs to stay grounded and throw his punches with bit more caution, something he hasn’t really done of late. He was fairly lax in the Browne fight, and though he won against Christian Morecraft, he left that fight with a lot of bumps and bruises, and a 3rd lip which still hadn’t fully healed when I saw him last June. Both guys have hopefully endeared themselves to UFC brass that a loss won’t put them out, and they’re safe to go out there and throw hands for their, and fight fans’ amusement. This could easily be fight of the night, and the most fun you’ll have watching a UFC slugfest since Dave Herman and John Olav Einemo decided defence was optional last June. Give this one to Barry based solely on the fact that his leg kicks have the ability to slow Struve down enough to neutralize him eventually, and take the fight. However, don’t be surprised with anything, since this whole thing leading up has been strange enough to end in a double knockout. Prediction – Pat Barry def. Stefan Struve via TKO Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson We’ve reached our main event. This one plays out a bit like Rocky IV. In one corner, you’ve got Cruz – the Ivan Drago of the bantamweight division. Opponents try to reach him, but he keeps pushing them down and willing them out of their victories. Then there’s the fun loving Mighty Mouse. At a time when most fighters would be fretting about making weight, or getting tough about training a la Joe Swanson, Johnson was shaking hands with fans at PAX, and making public appearances for Microsoft. Was he shirking training? Definitely not. He’s made it clear he’s training harder than ever. We just have a different way of handling stress up here in the Pacific Northwest, and Mouse embodies that spirit. There are few bantamweights in the world that possess the speed of Johnson, and no bantamweights that have found an answer for the erratic drunken boxing style of Cruz. His is one that basically wills fighters out of their fighting spirit. As the fight goes on, you see fighters tire physically and mentality, and Cruz strengthen. That psychological edge is where Cruz excels and wins his fights. He has no non-injury stoppage victories in over 3 years, but he seems to win with a deal of ease, preferring to fight with a “wait and see” approach. He frustrated Urijah Faber enough to win back in July, avenging his one career loss. Then there’s Johnson, who is so speedy that he hits the light switch in his bedroom and is under the covers before the lights are off. Cruz has fought all of the top contenders at 135, however, not somebody as fast as Johnson. This fight could be compared to something similar to Mauricio Rua vs. Lyoto Machida. In those fights, Shogun found a way to penetrate the evasive gameplan of Machida that nobody could previously figure out, and used it to spook and defeat him. Johnson has that capability to invade Cruz’s comfort zone and he might be too stubborn to think he can’t. His no-nonsense, all out style allowed him to push through Miguel Torres, despite fighting 10 minutes with a broken leg. What makes this different than all the others is Johnson hasn’t experienced things that would make him hesitate his actions like Cruz’s past opponents, and I expect you’ll see him push forward more often. I know he’s a pretty big underdog going into this fight, but you have to believe that a quick witted style like Mighty Mouse’s can break through and disrupt that Cruz Control. The last thing you want to do is allow the UFC 135-pound champ to enter his comfort zone, because there’s almost no turning back when that happens. Johnson has to win this fight mentally in the first two rounds, and push forward enough in the last three. I don’t see this one being stopped at all, and I see it going the distance. Cruz is the best at what he does at 135, but I believe Johnson has what it takes to take it by a whisker (no pun intended) and proving again that no style, no matter how strange, is unbeatable. Prediction – Demetrious Johnson def. Dominick Cruz via Split Decision Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, barry, cruz

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If you're like me, you probably think you know a good deal about this sport. You watch it all the time, you understand on some level what Joe Rogan and Pat Miletich are expounding on and barring the unexpected, you kind of know how the fight is going to play out. The unexpected is, of course, the great equalizer in this sport, but to a bettor, what you need to look for is the law of averages. A quick intro to the novice bettor. Successful sports betting is not about merely picking who you think will win. In fact, sometimes the correct bet is not on the person you think will win, simply because the odds are such that it makes more sense investment-wise to put your money on the guy you think will lose, simply because of how much you stand to win if he does the unexpected (which happens so often in this sport). You are looking for odds in your favor. Odds that make you want to look at them a second time to make sure you didn't misread it. If I told you that Rashad Evans would give you $20 dollars for every $3 you bet on him, you'd almost certainly bet something on that, despite most people thinking that 'Shad is merely the next victim. I know I would. As such, UFC Live 6 is not about picking the winners and the losers, it's looking for an angle to see if there's a good spot to lay money on. Before I completely delve into the card, I want to bring up a few terms that don't generally come up when most people think of betting. Sabermetrics is a fairly new term used to encapsulate a new wave of statistics in baseball. Simply put, a few people thought that the traditional measuring sticks used to quantify a players' worth were inadequate to paint an accurate picture. Combine that with the reliance on inaccurate things like "feel" and "gut" and "instinct", and they attempted (and are still refining) better formulas to try and figure out how good someone is. Some of these stats also attempted to account for things that the player had no control over. Maybe a batter is just having an unlucky streak, but in reality he's doing all the right things at the plate, but just getting unlucky in the end result. Batting average doesn't really account for hitting 5 line drives that just all happen to get caught. It doesn't care if you strike out 5 times, meekly ground out to the pitcher or smoke it 390 feet (but the wall is 395). So they created a stat to measure the batting average on balls in play (BABIP) to take things like that into account. There's one for pitchers, too. Imagine you're a decent pitcher, but don't have a great strikeout pitch. You do, however, manage to produce a lot of ground balls (which often turn into outs). However, the other people on your team are poor fielders. They're some combination of slow, uncoordinated or other version of bad. Instead of producing a bunch of outs, you get a bunch of base runners, because the people behind you aren't all that good at their job. Your ERA (earned run average, for those that don't know baseball at all) suffers, but it isn't really your fault. Now there's a better measuring stick to see if it really is your fault or perhaps someone elses. Or maybe just bad luck. What a lot of this translates into is also basic poker skills. Poker at its most basic is a game of math. The human element allows for tells and other things to get involved, but at the simplest form, you are playing numbers. The best poker players make the correct play over and over regardless of the outcome. Why? because making the right play over and over will more often than not lead to the outcome you want. Sometimes it won't, but more often it will. This is called Good Process. Really, what you're looking to do is make the right choice, regardless of outcome. This is called being process oriented, rather than results oriented. Make the right choice, and regardless of outcome, you will eventually have the weight of success tilt towards you. With all this said, let's look at this card and see if there are advantages to be taken. All odds are from Bodog for simplicity's sake.And for the love of Peter, Paul & Mary, this is my own thoughts on the matter. Don't take this as gospel and go betting the house "because I told you to". Make your own informed decision. Dominick Cruz -525 vs Demetrious Johnson +325This is not a great fight to bet on. Personally, I think Cruz has the footwork to outhustle Mighty Mouse all day, erry day, and has the ability to stand up when taken down. As such, I'd want to bet on Cruz, but if I put down a hundred on him and he won, I'd only get back $119.05. 20% Return on Investment is still better than the stock market, but this isn't quite the lock I would want for those odds. Conversely, Johnson isn't enough of a dog that I'd be willing to risk him pulling off something I don't think he'll do. Matt Wiman -215 vs Mac Danzig +175This is a little better. I still feel confident that Wiman will win, simply because Mac Danzig is not that good. Not as confident as I am about Cruz, but neither are the bookies, so the odds are better. This is not a terrible fight to put a bet on, assuming you think as I do and Wiman takes it. Pat Barry -200 vs Stefan Struve +160There are so many possible ways I can see this fight ending. I can see Barry getting Kongo'd again. I can see Struve getting Browne'd again. I can see Barry getting Hague'd again. When I don't really know how the fight is going to end, I don't want to bet on it, aside from perhaps a small parlay bet. Anthony Johnson -205 vs Charlie Brenneman +165Again, I'm not terribly sure how this is going to play out. Josh Koschek tooled Johnson with his wrestling (and on the feet, to be honest), but Brenneman is (probably) no Koschek. Personally I think there's enough value on Brenneman to make a small wager, but I wouldn't go bonkers here. Shane Roller -200 vs T.J. Grant +160Grant has good value here, as I can easily see him winning the fight, underdog or no. Roller is the "better" wrestler, but his best win is... Njokuani? Tavares? His losses aren't bad, but shrug. Grant and Brenneman make a very tasty looking parlay if you ask me. A $20 parlay on them would mean you'd have $137.80 if you pull it off. That's not a bad profit if these two can swing it. I don't really have much to say about any of the other fights, other than I think that Paul Sass is a good live dog against the third Johnson on this card. And people say that MMA is gay. Can never have too many Johnsons apparently.

Posted in: fight, johnson, odd, people, bet

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WASHINGTON, D.C., October 1 – Unbeaten in nine fights at 135 pounds, Dominick Cruz has established himself as the bantamweight gold standard, and after a competitive, but near shutout, unanimous decision victory over Demetrious Johnson in the UFC Live main event at the Verizon Center Saturday night, he is rapidly on his way to cleaning out the division.“Bring it,” said Cruz, who defeated Urijah Faber in July after 2010 wins over Brian Bowles, Joseph Benavidez, and Scott Jorgensen. “I’ll take anybody. I’m trying to make history here.”Scores were 50-45 twice and 49-46 for Cruz, who defended his crown for the second time.A hard right hand opened the scoring for Cruz, with his striking keeping Johnson from getting too close. The challenger used his own wild strikes to get in range for a takedown, but that initial shot was turned back by Cruz, who went on to score his own takedown. While on the mat, Cruz controlled position, bulling his foe into the fence before the two rose with a little over two minutes left. Johnson immediately went on the attack, but Cruz caught a high kick for another takedown. After standing, Johnson got his first takedown, but Cruz immediately rose. A lockup against the fence ensued, followed by some feverish striking action in the closing moments.An early miss from Cruz to open round two allowed Johnson to get off a flurry of punches, yet Cruz quickly regained his footing and put the bout on the mat for a few seconds. Once standing, Cruz continued to control the close range grappling, yet Johnson kept pressing, landing with some leg kicks to remain in the scoring column. In the final minute, the fighters traded takedowns, with Cruz’ the more substantial of the two since he was able to keep his foe pinned until the bell.In round three, there was a more measured assault from both men while standing, but Cruz changed all that when he was able to get Johnson’s back and then suplex him. The move drew a roar from the crowd, but there was even more of a response when Johnson escaped Cruz’ rear naked choke attempt and got back to his feet. Cruz, not discouraged in the slightest, took Johnson back to the canvas, continuing to pile up the points in the process. In the final 20 seconds, Johnson was able to get himself upright, ending the round on his feet.The challenger showed no signs of fatigue as he chased after Cruz in round four, the champion barely slowing down either as he looked to counter. Two minutes in, Cruz got his by now customary takedown, keeping Johnson against the fence. Cruz soon worked his way into the mount position, Johnson soon working himself free and to his feet. For the first time, Cruz began to look tired as he took a couple deep breaths. He wouldn’t stop pressing though, and a takedown ensued before the two rose and scrapped on the feet until the end of the stanza.Going for broke to begin round five, Johnson’s aggressiveness allowed Cruz to pull off another thunderous throw. The champion’s subsequent control on the mat smothered Johnson, who was simply unable to break loose. At the midway point of the round, Johnson got back to his feet and eventually broke Cruz’ grasp, but his punches were having little effect on the elusive San Diegan. By this time, Johnson had a growing knot on his left cheek, but he kept moving forward. A late takedown and some hard strikes punctuated the hard-fought bout for the champion though, leaving little doubt as to who the winner was.“I put in a lot of work and it was a tough fight,” said Cruz. “The kid’s got a sick pace, so I had to outwrestle him.”With the win, Cruz improves to 19-1; Johnson falls to 14-2.STRUVE vs. BARRYMuch was made of the one foot height difference between 6-11 Stefan Struve and 5-11 Pat Barry, but in the end, it was technique, not size, that mattered in the heavyweight bout, as Struve submitted Barry in the second round.If the size difference between the two wasn’t evident before, it really showed up when the bell rang and the fighters squared off. Barry began firing kicks at Struve’s legs almost immediately, tossing in the occasional punch as well. With the crowd beginning to get restless at the lack of sustained action, Struve began to get his own striking game in gear, with a couple front kicks just missing the mark.  A wild flurry of activity ended the round, with Struve holding a slight edge.The action picked up in round two, with Struve throwing head kicks and Barry trying to score with uppercuts and a head kick of his own before going back to leg kicks that reddened the inside of Struve’s left leg.  After a quick close range flurry, Struve found the opening he needed as he looked for a guillotine choke and pulled guard. Barry deftly escaped, but the long-limbed Struve locked on a triangle choke. Barry lifted his foe high in the air and attempted to slam his way out of the maneuver, but Struve held on and tightened the lock, forcing Barry to tap out at the 3:22 mark.With the win, Struve improves to 26-5; Barry falls to 6-4.JOHNSON vs. BRENNEMANAfter showing off his wrestling in his March win over Dan Hardy, welterweight up and comer Anthony Johnson got back to what he does best as he knocked out Charlie Brenneman in the first round.“Everyone was talking about my last fight with Dan Hardy, so I figured I had to come out and make a statement,” said Johnson.He did.Johnson used his kicks to avoid Brenneman’s takedown attempts in the opening minute, and after sprawling out of one attempt, “Rumble” fired off a series of crushing ground strikes – first punches, then knees. Brenneman fought his way out of immediate danger, but as the two began to rise, Johnson kept his foe from getting a bead on where the next shot was coming from. As Brenneman found daylight against the fence, Johnson was already up and loading up the finisher, a crushing left kick to the head that put Brenneman on his back, prompting an immediate stoppage from referee Mario Yamasaki at the 2:49 mark.With the win, Johnson ups his record to 10-3; Brenneman falls to 14-3.WIMAN vs. DANZIGThere was no abbreviated ending in the rematch between lightweights Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig. Instead, fans got 15 full minutes of action – with the emphasis on action – from the two Ultimate Fighter alums, with Wiman pulling out a close, but unanimous, decision win.Scores were 29-28 across the board for Wiman, who scored a controversial first round submission win over Danzig in June of 2010.Engaging immediately, the two lightweights battled it out at close range until a Danzig kick to the head allowed Wiman to take the bout to the mat. After some back and forth action, Danzig tried to sink in a guillotine choke as the two rose, and when that came up empty, he flurried on his foe. The infighting continued, with Wiman scoring with elbows as Danzig let his fists do the talking. In the final minute, Wiman pressed the action, bloodying Danzig’s nose and getting the fight to the canvas just before the bell.With the trench warfare continuing in the early part of round two, Danzig decided to change things up by taking the bout to the mat. Wiman wasn’t flustered though, as he searched for a submission from the bottom position. Danzig, cool under pressure, broke free and fired off strikes, but Wiman again looked to grab his opponent’s arm. After escaping again, Danzig got back to his feet, with Wiman right behind him. Then it was back to the toe-to-toe battle at close range, with neither fighter giving an inch.If fatigue was going to be a factor in the final round, both fighters did their best to hide it, as they continued to scrap with mere inches separating them. Wiman’s elbows appeared to be the harder shots, but Danzig made up for it with volume, and when he got Wiman to the mat, he made his move as he took his opponent’s back. Wiman fought loose and reversed position, delivering hard shots from the top as Danzig tried to find an escape route. With 40 seconds left, he found it, scrambling to his feet. A last second guillotine choke attempt from Danzig came up empty, but it ended the 15 minute war with a deserving flourish.With the win, Wiman improves to 14-6; Danzig falls to 21-9-1.

Posted in: round, johnson, cruz, wiman, danzig

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The UFC bantamweight title is on the line for free tonight (October 1, 2011) in the main event of UFC on Versus 6 and current 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz takes on Demetrious Johnson. Cruz has been on a tremendous roll as of late, winning the belt in early 2010 and having defended it three straight times. He's looking to tie Miguel Torres' record of four straight bantamweight defenses as he tries to build his legacy against Johnson. Demetrious Johnson has been the perpetual underdog his entire UFC career. He overcame the odds against both "Kid" Yamamoto and Miguel Torres thus far in 2010 and despite breaking his leg, he's healed, revitalized and ready for the challenge of competing for the title. Will Cruz continue to dominate his bantamweight opposition? Can "Mighty Mouse" pull off something superhuman and upset the champion? Who will will be the king of 135 pounds when tomorrow night is over? Dominick Cruz Record: 18-1 overall, 1-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Urijah Faber (UFC 132), Joseph Benavidez 2x (WEC 50, WEC 42), Brian Bowles (WEC 47) Key Losses: Urijah Faber (WEC 26) How he got here: Dominick Cruz started out as a serviceable featherweight and got off to a terrific 9-0 start. Despite having barely fought professionaly for two years he was given a WEC featherweight title shot against champion Urijah Faber who quickly caught Cruz in his patented guillotine choke and forced the tap inside two minutes. After the loss, Cruz would make the cut to bantamweight for his next WEC bout and hasn't looked back since. He earned a title shot against then-champion Brian Bowles and completely outworked the champ for two full rounds, forcing him to call it quits after the second round with a broken hand. "The Dominator" would successfully defend his title in a rematch against Joseph Benavidez and would go on to absolutely destroy Scott Jorgensen for five consecutive rounds during the final WEC event ever. His speed had never been more impressive in a fight. This past July, Cruz finally got his shot at revenge against Faber who had dropped down to bantamweight and he would earn it with a unanimous decision victory in which his speed and volume made up for Faber's power. With Faber taking on the former champion Bowles, Cruz accepted a bout against Demetrious Johnson while waiting to (hopefully) fulfill the trilogy with "The California Kid." How he gets it done:Cruz has a unique style that is all his own. It includes strange movement, odd angles and constant misdirection. He's about as active as any fighter on the planet when he's in the cage and he never gets tired. His conditioning is the most important thing to him because he believes that's the one thing he can always control no matter what. For once, Cruz won't have a speed advantage in the fight with Johnson so he's going to have to make up for that with footwork, technique and by utilizing his height and slight reach advantage. Every time Johnson tries to dart in, Cruz needs to slip to the sides and pepper him in the face with punches. The key for Cruz will be to come in at angles against Johnson and try not to give him the same look twice. He also needs to keep Johnson honest by mixing in takedowns every once in a while so his opponent doesn't get comfortable. Even if he's unsuccessful, it could at least force Johnson to respect the possibility of being put on his back and back off a bit. Demetrious Johnson Record: 9-1 overall, 2-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Miguel Torres (UFC 130), Norifumi Yamamoto (UFC 126), Nick Pace (WEC 51) Key Losses: Brad Pickett (WEC 48) How he got here:"Mighty Mouse" carried an impressive string of five straight wins on the regional circuit to earn a WEC debut against top bantamweight Brad Pickett in the promotion's first and only pay-per-view event. The AMC Pankration fighter lost a spirited decision to "One Punch" but then proceeded to reel off two consecutive victories in just a few short months against top 15 ranked bantamweights Nick Pace and Damacio Page He would meet Japanese legend Norifuni "Kid" Yamamoto in his UFC debut this past February and completely outworked the dynamic striker/wrestler over the course of three rounds. Never one to turn down an opportunity, Johnson stepped up when Brad Pickett dropped out of his UFC 130 bout with Miguel Torres. Despite breaking his leg early in the fight, Johnson gutted through the injury and turned what had been a strong striking performance into a strong grappling performance against the former WEC bantamweight champion and pulled out a unanimous decision victory. With no other challengers on the horizon, Johnson's victory over Torres was enough to vault him into title-challenger status How he gets it done: Demetrious Johnson absolutely needs to utilize his tremendous athletic gifts. He will be giving up five inches in height but only two in reach. Getting inside is a top priority in the stand-up, and it won't be easy. Cruz almost never attacks straight on. He comes in at angles and is constantly moving. Time and time again his opponents choose to sit back and counter which, whole conserving energy, also lets them get repeatedly tagged with punches while not offering much in return. Johnson should go on the offensive, he's just as fast as Cruz and likely faster. He shouldn't chase Cruz but he should cut him off constantly and get in his face with constant pressure and punches. This is not something "The Dominator" is used to and it could catch him off guard. "Mighty Mouse" is also a terrific wrestler but it will not be easy putting Cruz on his back as Cruz is also very competent in that department. If Johnson wants to win this fight, he needs to get in Cruz's face and never let him get in a groove. If Cruz gets comfortable with his striking, it could mean a lot of trouble for the AMC Pankration fighter. Fight "X-Factor:" The X-Factor for this bout, at least to me, is speed. How is Dominick Cruz going to deal with a man who's actually faster than him for once? This will be the first time he's stepped into the cage where his cardio and quickness aren't going to be huge advantages.  Of course he has other weapons like his wrestling, his size and his technique, but it's been his all-around advantages that have helped him make up for his lack of punching power. If he gets frustrated at any point by Johnson's speed, we might see something completely new out of him, or perhaps he's been planning for that already. How he reacts to Johnson's speed will perhaps be what turns the fight either into his favor or against it. Bottom Line: This is a match-up of two of the quickest fighters in MMA history. Both Cruz and Johnson fight at a high pace, have faith in their hands, have strong wrestling and have gas tanks for days. This bout has the potential to be a flurry of strikes for five straight rounds and the odds that it's not exciting are incredibly low. Ignore the fact that Johnson is a large underdog, he fights like he's got something to prove every time out and this championship bout will be no different. This is going to be a good one. Who will come out on top at UFC on Versus 6? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will be the UFC bantamweight champion once the UFC on Versus 6 main event is over tonight? Dominick Cruz Demetrious Johnson   1 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, johnson, bantamweight, wec, cruz

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UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz got one step closer to defending his belt on the network he called home for years as a member of WEC when he stepped on the scale earlier today and made weight for his match-up with Demetrious Johnson meaning their fight will go on tomorrow night as scheduled. Cruz and Johnson both weighed in at 135 pounds on the dot, somewhat remarkable when considering Johnson is five inches shorter than “The Dominiator”. Though also involving a noticeable difference in height, co-headlining heavyweights Stefan Struve and Pat Barry didn’t come in nearly the same size weight-wise with the 6′11 Struve clocking in nearly twenty pounds heavier than 5′11 Barry.  Both men have a high rate of finishes and are coming off of losses meaning the two “big men” should deliver fireworks in the Nation’s Capital on Saturday evening. Barry: “Fighters Win or We Learn…” Their fights, along with the rest of the UFC Live 6 lineup, can be seen for free with prelims starting at approximately 5:40 PM EST and the main card firing up on Versus at 9:00 PM EST. Check below for a list of all UFC Live 6 weigh-in results: Walel Watson (134.5 lbs) vs. Joseph Sandoval (134 lbs) Josh Neer (171 lbs) vs. Keith Wisniewski (170 lbs) Shane Roller (156 lbs) vs. T.J. Grant (155 lbs) Mike Easton (135 lbs) vs. Byron Bloodworth (138 lbs)* Paul Sass (155 lbs) vs. Michael Johnson (156 lbs) Yves Edwards (155 lbs) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (155 lbs) Matt Wiman (156 lbs) vs. Mac Danzig (155 lbs) Charlie Brenneman (171 lbs) vs. Anthony Johnson (171 lbs) Pat Barry (243 lbs) vs. Stefan Struve (261 lbs) Dominick Cruz (135 lbs) vs. Demetrious Johnson (135 lbs) * – Bloodworth, a late replacement, has been given additional time to make the 136-pound BW limit PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, vs, johnson, lb, barry

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Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank 1 Georges St. Pierre 100 UFC 1 2 Jon Fitch 95 UFC 2 3 Carlos Condit 84 UFC 5 4 Nick Diaz 81 UFC 4 5 Josh Koscheck 80 UFC 7 6 Jake Shields 78 UFC 3 7 B.J. Penn 75 UFC 6 8 Jake Ellenberger 72 UFC 16 9 Charlie Brenneman 51 UFC 10 10 Rick Story 50 UFC 8 11 Thiago Alves 48 UFC 9 12 Diego Sanchez 44 UFC 11 13 Rory MacDonald 41 UFC 14 14 Martin Kampmann 41 UFC 12 15 Anthony Johnson 33 UFC 15 16 Paulo Thiago 29 UFC 18 17 Ben Askren 26 Bellator 17 18 Tyron Woodley 25 Strikeforce 21 19 Jay Hieron 25 Bellator 19 20 Johny Hendricks 24 UFC 20 21 Brian Ebersole 21 UFC 24 22 Matt Hughes 21 UFC 13 23 John Hathaway 20 UFC 23 24 Mike Pyle 20 UFC 26 25 Dong Hyun Kim 19 UFC 25 #9 Charlie Brenneman will try to prove his win over #10 Rick Story wasn't a fluke when he faces off against #15 Anthony Johnson at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson this Saturday. Even more importantly, unranked Ben Saunders will try to advance in the welterweight tournament when he takes on equally unranked Luis Santos at Bellator 53. Unrelated to upcoming fights, does anyone know what drugs Bloody Elbow columnists Leland Roling and Matt Roth were on this month when they ranked Anthony Johnson and Diego Sanchez respectively as their #5 welterweights?   Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the online MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA websites to produce our consensus rankings. We compile the top MMA rankings from each of our sources and award 25 points for a first place ranking, 16 for a 10th place ranking, 1 for a 25th place ranking. A formula is used to "normalize" the data so all fighters are awarded points from those lists that do not include a full 25 fighters. This formula ensures that each ranking site awards the same number of total points regardless of how many fighters they choose to rank. Each fighter’s total is divided by the number of possible points to determine their standing in the Consensus Rankings.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, johnson, ranking

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Dominick Cruz vs Demetrious Johnson Mike Fagan - What makes Cruz tough is his movement (not his footwork) and his ability to control distance. He’ll have a 2" reach advantage on a guy who is in the same spot as a lot of UFC lightweights this time last year (hint: flyweight). Johnson’s four-fight run has been impressive, but it stops with the champ. Dominick Cruz by decision Fraser - I think no matter where this fight goes, Cruz remains in control. On the feet, he has the edge. In the takedown game, Cruz has surprisingly good takedowns, and quality takedown defense. On the ground, Cruz has superb escapes and ability to scramble back to his feet, and good top control. Johnson has the speed advantage, but that’s about it, and it’s not enough. Dominick Cruz via decision Tim Burke - It’s all about Dominick’s takedown defense to me. DJ needs to get the fight to the floor to win, and I just can’t see him doing it consistently enough against a solid wrestler like Cruz. Cruz will pick him apart with his frustrating striking game and cruise to a wide, but spirited W. Dominick Cruz by decision KJ Gould - Usually I can’t pick against an AMC Pankration guy and while I’m sure Matt Hume has a solid strategy and gameplan going into the fight I’m not sure ho well Johnson can execute it. Cruz’s footwork may become predictable if studied enough but it’s still unorthodox and hard to train for. Having more experience at the top level and being well rounded will help as well especially if he uses his reach and I don’t think Johnson has the power to change the fight if he managed to clip the champ. Dominick Cruz by decision Matt Roth - This is a really easy fight to pick. Though he hasn’t been marketed at all, Dominick Cruz is the most dominant champion not named Anderson Silva or Georges St. Pierre. The WEC went all in with Miguel Torres and the UFC was banking on Faber beating him. Neither panned out. Gotta pick the champion and say Dominick Cruz wins a 5 round decision. Staff Picking Cruz: Roth, Fraser, Tim, KJ, Fagan Staff Picking Johnson:   Stefan Struve vs Pat Barry Mike Fagan - Until Struve can show me he’ll fight to his height, he’ll get no love from me. (On a side note, I love that our kickboxing guy is picking Struve and our grappling guy is picking Barry.) Pat Barry by TKO, round one Fraser - I had a whole argument for Barry written up, then deleted it because it felt wrong. Here’s the thing - Barry is not a great finisher. And Struve is a guy who stays alive in fights long past when you think he’s done, and still manages to pull off the win. I think Struve has some scares here, but ends up Kongo-ing Barry once again. Stefan Struve via TKO Tim Burke - I’m torn here. Anyone fighting Stefan Struve is gonna light him up a bit, that’s a given. But how much has Barry improved on the ground? If Struve can get it there (and I think he can) he holds a major advantage. He could even pull guard. My instincts are screaming no, but this Old Milwaukee is screaming yes. Stefan Struve via submission KJ Gould - I think this fight will come down to leg kicks. Struve has long legs that are asking to be kicked and Barry will be happy to oblige them. Struve is good off his back and Barry probably won’t want to engage him, even if you believe in the old wrasslin’ saying of ‘You’re all the same size when it hits the ground’. But then Sports Entertainment was never big on guard work. I think Barry has what it takes to chop the Dutch Elm down. Pat Barry by Leg Kicks TKO. Matt Roth - Hrm...Matt Roth picking Pat Barry? I thought I was super negative right guys? Despite his kickboxing skills being overstated, Barry still has legit stand up. And Stefan Struve is like a German Sheppard puppy. He just doesn’t realize how big he is. Pat Barry isn’t the greatest but he’s good enough. Pat Barry by Leg Kicks. Staff Picking Struve: Fraser, Tim Staff Picking Barry: Roth, KJ, Fagan   Anthony Johnson vs Charlie Brenneman Mike Fagan - Did anyone else find it funny that Johnson’s character fought at middleweight in Warrior? Cause I did. Anthony Johnson by TKO, round two Fraser - Johnson has a pretty good wrestling game, but it’s not as good as Brenneman’s. Which means he’ll need to win it on the feet with his boxing. And in a boxing vs. wrestler bout, I tend to go with the wrestler. Johnson could throw in a wildcard by being ridiculously overweight, but I hope we don’t see that. Charlie Brenneman via decision Tim Burke - Brenneman is overhyped. If Rick Story had time to prepare for a wrestler, Charlie never would have beaten him. I don’t believe that his wrestling is so much better than Rumble’s that he’ll be able to dictate where the fight takes place, and he’ll get lit up on the feet. Anthony Johnson via TKO KJ Gould - Brenneman capitalised on an unrested Story that would have got wrecked by Nate Marquardt with or without TRT.. His wrestling is very good but let’s see how he does against an opponent who has fully prepared for the fight and has some of the best KO power in the division. Anthony Johnson via KO. Matt Roth - Everyone is waiting patiently for Anthony Johnson to develop into the fighter that everyone thinks he could be. I think he’s finally turned the corner and can be that guy. At least I hope he has. I’m not really sure that his wrestling is better than Brenneman’s but I’m willing to roll with Rumble in this fight. Anthony Johnson via TKO. Staff Picking Johnson: Roth, Tim, KJ, Fagan Staff Picking Brenneman: Fraser   Matt Wiman vs Mac Danzig Mike Fagan - Danzig is a smaller, poor man’s Martin Kampmann -- technically sound, but lacking that "it" factor to move into the upper echelon. Matt Wiman by decision Fraser  - I’ve found myself more and more impressed by Wiman lately, which is astounding considering he’s been in the UFC midcard for 5 years. But that Cole Miller fight may have been his finest performance yet. This is a close one, but that tenacious top control and attack Wiman showed against Miller should be enough to keep Danzig down as well. Matt Wiman via decision Tim Burke - Danzig is going to get muscled all over the place and there’s not a thing he can do about it. I can’t see any way Danzig wins this. Matt Wiman by decision KJ Gould - We’ve yet to see Mac Danzig’s vegan powers unleashed in the UFC. Maybe it’s because he never graduated Vegan Academy, or maybe it’s because he’s not from Toronto. He does come across as thinking he’s better than others though, so he’s got the attitude down-pat. This is a rematch from last year where Wiman guillotined Danzig and referee Yves Lavigne stopped it early believing Danzig was out when he really wasn’t. So invested in this fight at the time I had to look that information up just now. This time around and only just over a year later I think Wiman can still edge him though perhaps not finish him. Matt Wiman by decision. Matt Roth - Wiman is handsome and has developed into a legitimate lightweight. I personally thought he did enough to beat Dennis Siver which to me says he’s ready to compete with the top of the division. I’m not sold on Danzig. I think he could be a ridiculous fighter at 145 but at 155 he just seems really small. Matt Wiman by Decision. Staff Picking Wiman: Roth, Fraser, Tim, KJ, Fagan Staff Picking Danzig: SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Yves Edwards vs Rafaello Oliveira Mike Fagan - Both guys are on the lower rung of UFC lightweights in 2011, so I’ll take the guy with age on his side. Rafaello Oliveira by TKO, round two Fraser - Yves Edwards is awesome and a legend, but he’s been on the downward side for a LONG time. I know he was supposed to be back, but I didn’t really buy it. He had way too much trouble with Cody McKenzie, and that Stout KO was just nasty. I’m impressed he’s coming back from it, but I fear this may be his last hurrah in the Octagon. Rafaello Oliveira via TKO Tim Burke - I’m torn here. I’m a huge Thugjitsu fan, but Yves isn’t the same guy he used to be. And that Stout KO might have sent him much further down the road to retirement. Tractor is nothing special, but I think he has the stifling game to shut Yves down and take a boring win to stay in the UFC. Rafaello Oliveira by decision KJ Gould - Edwards may be on a descent in his career, but not all Oliveiras are created equally. Rafaello has struggled in the UFC losing to Andre Winner and Nick Lentz and has had to get wins outside to get a chance to fight in The Octagon™ again. Edwards is still a dangerous fighter that can blast fools and I can’t see Rafaello overwhelming him. Yves Edwards by TKO. Matt Roth - I’m a fan of Yves Edwards. I’m pretty sure I’m one of the few left but I’ll ride with him till he retires. I haven’t really been impressed with Oliveira so far in the UFC and think that Yves has the skills to put a hurting on Tractor. That’s what my gut tells me and my gut is rarely wrong. Yves Edwards by TKO. Staff Picking Edwards: Roth, KJ Staff Picking Oliveira: Fraser, Tim, Fagan   Michael Johnson vs Paul Sass Mike Fagan - Rashad Evans raved about Michael Johnson at his UFC Q&A appearance. Michael Johnson by decision Fraser - I don’t like Johnson as the fight progresses, and if it gets into the later rounds I fear he may be in trouble. But his wrestling should carry him over the less experienced Sass. Michael Johnson via TKO. Tim Burke - This is one where I’m going to disagree with the masses and go Sass all the way. Yes, Johnson can put him on his back, but that’s right where Sass wants to be. Johnson has had trouble with sub guys his entire career, and it’s not going to change in DC. Sassangle. Paul Sass via submission KJ Gould - I think Paul Sass has the unofficial world record for most number of consecutive MMA wins by triangle choke at 7 in a row. He’s yet to face a great top game wrestler who can stifle his guard and Lightweight is full of those sorts of fighters. Is Johnson a good enough wrestler on top to shutdown Sass? Can Sass switch it up again and heelhook Johnson? Knowing exactly what Sass’ strategy will be should mean Johnson has prepared for him and show why a single skill-set hasn’t cut it in high level MMA for years. Michael Johnson by TKO. Matt Roth - Johnson fights outta the better camp and has shown massive improvement since his time on the Ultimate Fighter. Paul Sass is definitely skill but I’m not sold on him. I’m sold on Johnson as a future contender at 155. Especially since he’s working with Rashad Evans and some high level kickboxers in Tyrone Spong and Cosmo Alexander every day. Michael Johnson by TKO. Staff Picking Johnson: Roth, Fraser, KJ, Fagan Staff Picking Sass:   Tim Mike Easton vs Byron Bloodworth Mike Fagan - Holy crap is Byron Bloodworth an MMA name for the ages. Mike Easton by decision Fraser - I’m torn, because I don’t generally like picking guys on a two year layoff (Easton) or inexperienced fighters making their debuts on short notice (Bloodworth). So... ? In the end, I’ll go with the fighter with more big match experience. Mike Easton via decision Tim Burke - I honestly don’t know enough about Bloodworth to pick him, other than he has a pretty cool Might and Magic (remember that?) kind of name. Sounds like a wizard. And I’d take The Hulk over a wizard any day. Mike Easton via TKO KJ Gould - Easton hasn’t fought in 2 years but has enough experience to send Byron Bloodworth back to the pages of Comic Book villainy. Or the regional circuit. Whichever. Mike Easton vy decision. Matt Roth - Bloodworth may be the best name for a fighter ever. He isn’t the best fighter ever though. Mike Easton hasn’t fought in 2 years because of injuries but he’s still super talented. He should be able to win pretty easily. Mike Easton TKO in the first. Staff Picking Easton: Roth, Fraser, Tim, KJ, Fagan Staff Picking Bloodworth:   Shane Roller vs T.J. Grant Mike Fagan - Roller’s part of the failed Team Takedown experiment, but his record isn’t all that bad in retrospect. Losses to Bendo, Pettis, and Guillard -- and being 32 years of age -- indicate he’ll never reach that upper crust, but he should be a solid enough lightweight. Shane Roller by decision Fraser - I lean towards Roller anyway, and Grant making the cut to 155 for the first time puts it over the edge for me. Shane Roller via submission Tim Burke - This seems like another easy one to me. Grant’s primary weapon is wrestling. Yes, he’s submitted a lot of guys, but none in the big leagues. He’s a tough dude, and it surprises me that he can make 155, but he needs to put guys on their back to get going, and Roller’s gonna be a tough task in that department. Shane Roller’s game is full of gaping flaws, but he’s a way better wrestler than Grant and he can avoid getting caught for 15 minutes. Roller by decision KJ Gould - Both guys can wrestle, both guys can win by submission with Roller being a Grapplers Quest veteran. Which may not mean much. Grant’s cutting to Lightweight after being beaten by a Middleweight who had cut down to Welterweight. Such is the nature of this sport. It’s hard to pick this fight without seeing how both guys look at weigh ins, though time off tends to be a much bigger factor than a bad weight cut. Being out for a year is enough for me to lean towards Roller and if the cut for Grant looks bad I think it’s a wrap before either guy has even laced … err, Velcro’d gloves. Shane Roller by decision Matt Roth - Shane Roller isn’t the best but he sure as hell isn’t the worst. He’s actually pretty solid when he uses his wrestling. He just really don’t like using it all that much. And if he did he’d be a lot higher ranked. I’m not sold on the Team Takedown system but he should steamroll TJ this weekend. Shane Roller by Decision. Staff Picking Roller: Fraser, Tim, KJ, Fagan, Roth Staff Picking Grant:   Josh Neer vs Keith Wisniewski Mike Fagan - Speaking of lighter, poor man’s versions of guys: Josh Neer and Chris Lytle. Josh Neer by decision Tim Burke - I didn’t realize we were making picks for Wild Bill’s Fight Nights now. Why are two washed up guys from the midwest fighting on a card in DC? I’ll go with the Dentist, because that’s a more admirable profession than whatever a "Polish Connection" is. Honestly though, I bet this a helluva fight. Both of these guys are tough to finish. Josh Neer via TKO ] KJ Gould - I hate dentists. I may hate trying to pronounce Polish surnames even more. There are 9 other MMA fighters with pro records that share the surname Wisniewski and at least one of them is directly related to Keith. Both Wisniewski and Neer are on a similar winning streak from regional shows so it’s a pick ‘em. I’ll pick the single syllable surname this time out. Josh Neer by TKO Matt Roth - Nice to see the Dentist get another shot at the UFC. Lord knows he’s at the top of the list of great regional level fighters with a ton of upside. Please note the sarcasm just incase you don’t. He’s still a better fighter and should win easily. Josh Neer via Decision. Staff Picking Neer: Roth, Fraser, Tim, KJ, Fagan Staff Picking Wisniewski:   Walel Watson vs Joseph Sandoval Mike Fagan - There’s a part in Johnny Cash’s At San Quentin (or At Folsom Prison, I forget) where the warden pages for a prisoner with the last name of Sandoval. And he doesn’t know if it’s pronounced "San-doh-VAHL" or "San-DOH-vuhl." That always stuck out to me. Joseph Sandoval by decision Tim Burke - I cannot, in good conscience, pick someone who uses the nickname "The Gazelle". Not happening. a 5’11 bantamweight is kind of amusing though. Joseph Sandoval by decision KJ Gould - Watson likes to choke people. A lot. It probably has something to do with having long arms and legs relative to the weight class. He’ll have a 5 inch height advantage to his opponent Joseph Sandoval and who knows what the reach advantage will be. I’m wondering if this fight was booked so Barry vs Struve wasn’t the only odd looking fight on the card. Sandoval is undefeated but has half as many fights as Watson and tends to alternate between TKOs and Decisions. He has one submission on his record, but it’s due to strikes. He’s due a decision win statistically speaking, but I can see Watson putting him to sleep via blood or air constriction. Walel Watson by Submission (Choke) Matt Roth - I will be honest. I’m not really familiar with either fighter. I really just picked on who has a stronger name. It worked for me when I was a kid and would help my dad with his NFL pick’em by choosing the animal or person who was more ferocious. Sandoval just seems like a strong name. Joseph Sandoval by Decision. Staff Picking Watson: Tim, KJ Staff Picking Sandoval: Roth, Fraser, Fagan

Posted in: fight, decision, johnson, &rsquo, i &rsquo

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The UFC on Versus 6 weigh-ins took place this afternoon at the D.C. Armory in Washington DC. Byron Bloodworth was the only fighter to miss weight. He was given two hours to drop two pounds. The weigh-in results: Dominick Cruz (135) vs. Demetrious Johnson (135) Pat Barry (243) vs. Stefan Struve (261) Charlie Brenneman (171) vs. Anthony Johnson (171) Mac Danzig (155) vs. Matt Wiman (156) Yves Edwards (155) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (155) Michael Johnson (156) vs. Paul Sass (155) Byron Bloodworth (138) vs. Mike Easton (135) T.J. Grant (155) vs. Shane Roller (156) Josh Neer (171) vs. Keith Wisniewski (170) Joseph Sandoval (134) vs. Walel Watson (134.5) Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit. UFC on Versus 6 will take place tomorrow, Oct. 1, at the Verizon Center in Washington DC and will air live on Versus at 9PM ET/6PM PT. The Versus broadcast will be preceded by a prelim special on Facebook at 5:40pm ET/2:40pm PT. More UFC 116 weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com. Video via MMA Fighting.

Posted in: ufc, vs, johnson, weigh-in, washington dc

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Never before have bantamweights shouldered the marquee in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson are about to make a little history.

Posted in: showdown, johnson, demetrious johnson, cruz, dominick cruz

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It’s time for another UFC event, the third in as many weeks, and this weekend’s offering comes with the added bonus of a title-fight on free television. Scheduled for Saturday night on the Versus network, UFC Live 6 features 135-pound king Dominick Cruz defending his bantamweight championship against the non-stop grind of super-speedy Demetrious Johnson. The card is also highlighted by a heavyweight hoedown between powerful kickboxer Pat Barry and 6’11″ finisher Stefan Struve. The lot of UFC Live 6 competitors will step on the scale this afternoon at 4:00 PM EST and Five Ounces of Pain will be here to report the results back live to readers. All UFC Live 6 weights can be found below: Walel Watson ( 134.5 lbs) vs. Joseph Sandoval (134 lbs) Josh Neer (171 lbs) vs. Keith Wisniewski ( 170lbs) Byron Bloodworth (138  lbs) vs. Mike Easton ( 135 lbs) Paul Sass (155  lbs) vs. Michael Johnson ( 156 lbs) Shane Roller ( 156 lbs) vs. T.J. Grant ( 155 lbs) Yves Edwards (155 lbs) vs. Rafaello Oliveira ( 155 lbs) Matt Wiman (156  lbs) vs. Mac Danzig ( 155 lbs) Charlie Brenneman ( lbs) vs. Anthony Johnson ( lbs) Stefan Struve ( lbs) vs. Pat Barry ( lbs) Dominick Cruz ( lbs) vs. Demetrious Johnson ( lbs) PHOTO CREDIT – UFCSimilar Posts: Josh Neer headed back to the UFC against Keith Wisniewski in October Streaking bantamweights Mike Easton and Jeff Hougland collide at UFC Live 6 T.J. Grant drops to lightweight for October fight against Shane Roller UFC Live 6 lineup grows with addition of Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira TUF 12 finalist Michael Johnson meets unbeaten Brit Paul Sass in October Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, vs, johnson, lb, keith wisniewski

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These are the facts: UFC on Versus is Saturday night for its sixth installment, the promotion is touching down in Washington, DC proper for the first time (that UFC Fight Night in Northern Virginia doesn’t count – it’s freakin’ Virginia, for Christ’s sake), and there’s a bantamweight title on the line.  Oh yeah, and there’s zero buzz going into the event.  Why is there zero buzz?  Is everyone just exhausted from caring so much about UFC 135 last weekend and saving up all the leftover “care” for UFC 136 next week?  Or is it that the lighter weights still aren’t compelling enough to the average fan?  You know what, who cares what the reason is.  Like the WEC and, sadly, Bellator’s 135-pound tournament, Dominick Cruz’s defense of the belt against Demetrious Johnson can be our – you, me and the rest of the hardcores – little secret.  Because in addition to the aforementioned facts, there’s also this: the little guys are never boring.  Preview time! -Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson – The beauty of Cruz’s unorthodox striking-heavy style is that he fights like he’s having an epileptic seizure.  And it works!  The last challenger, Urijah Faber, was so disoriented he didn’t know if he was supposed to crap twice or go blind, and the rest of the top dogs, like Scott Jorgensen, Joseph Benavidez and Brian Bowles, still aren’t sure what happened to them when they fought Cruz.  On the other half of the equation is Johnson, a.k.a. “Mighty Mouse”, who trounced Damacio Page, “Kid” Yamamoto and Miguel Torres to earn his shot.  You know, I think Johnson is as worthy a challenger as we’re going to get, but you can’t outrun the Flash in a footrace or bench press more than the Hulk, and Johnson’s got an even harder task in front of him with Cruz.  This one’s going five rounds, with Cruz once against getting the nod. -Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry – In his last outing the eleven-foot tall Struve got plastered by Travis Browne, while Barry knocked out Cheick Kongo twice yet somehow still wound up unconscious.  You think redemption is on the minds of these guys?  I’d say yes, as well as thoughts of future employment options and the desire to f*** someone up – all of which means we’re most definitely seeing a heavyweight slugfest here.  My crystal ball says it’s going to be Struve who’s carried out on a stretcher, but you never know.  Barry might have a Kongo flashback and pass out. -Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson – In his last time at bat, Brenneman shocked the world by out-wrestling Rick Story and derailing the Story Train’s fast climb up the mountain.  In Johnson’s last outing, he shocked no one by playing it safe against Dan Hardy, lying on top of the Brit for three rounds.  You can bet Johnson is going to try his best to avoid getting taken down and beaten on.  He will, however, fail.  Brenneman is a better wrestler, and sports the kind of relentlessness that makes guys like Johnson wish they’d become a lawyer or doctor like their mom had wanted. -Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig – Wiman looked only okay on TUF 6, but his career in the Octagon since then has seen him lose to only some of the toughest lightweights out there.  Danzig, on the other hand, won TUF 6, but has looked like crap ever since.  Adding another wrinkle to this match-up is that these guys fought already at UFC 115, and the referee totally flubbed a call that involved a Wiman guillotine attempt and the ref believing that Danzig was dead (or something).  Anyway, rematch!  You know, with Kendall Grove axed, I think Danzig will be the next TUF winner to get his walking papers – he’s that uninspiring – so yeah, Wiman by something.  Maybe KO, maybe submission.

Posted in: ufc, ’t, vs, johnson, cruz

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UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Demetrious Johnson weigh-in Friday afternoon. MMAWeekly.com will have full weigh-in results.

Posted in: ufc, johnson, weigh-in, weigh-in results, cruz

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UFC on Versus 6 brings us the first championship fight on free television since UFC 75, and the first ever title fight that is presented live. This will also be the last event featured on Versus, due to the pending move to FOX Sports. Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will look to defend his belt for the fourth time, having already defeated Joseph Benavidez, Scott Jorgensen, and most recently, Urijah Faber. Demetrious Johnson will look to spoil Cruz’ reign, as he enters the octagon sporting a four fight win streak, which includes victories over Kid Yamamoto and Miguel Torres. The main card will also feature a staredown special in a heavyweight tilt between Pat Barry and Stefan Struve, a welterweight showdown between Anthony Johnson and Charlie Brenneman, and a rematch between lightweights Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig. The night’s action begins with the entire preliminary card airing live on facebook. The main card will begin at 9 PM EST on Versus. Here are the UFC on Versus 6 main card predictions from the MMAFrenzy.com staff: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson: Bantamweight Championship Analysis from Justin Regier: Who is giving “Mighty Mouse” a chance in this fight? Every logical thought process should bring you to the conclusion that Dominick Cruz will retain his UFC Bantamweight title. He has better stand up and good takedown defense. He also has the size advantage. For whatever reason I really believe that Johnson is going to pull out the upset. I think he is going to out pace Cruz and utilize his own angles and takedowns. Unanimous decision for “Mighty Mouse”. MMAFrenzy.com predictions: Cruz 3 Johnson 1 Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve: Analysis from Chris Leslie: Struve has a bad tendency to let guys in close. Doing so against Barry is suicide, but until we see a change, I’ll take Barry as long as it stays standing. MMAFrenzy.com predictions: Barry 3 Struve 1 Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson Analysis from Eric Shapiro: Whenever Anthony Johnson enters the octagon there are some caveats. Can he make weight? If not, will his opponent accept a catchweight? If Johnson has to scramble to make weight, will he be too exhausted from the cut to put in a decent show? The answer to all of these is who knows. But for the sake of prediction, let’s say Johnson is on weight and not completely dehydrated. In that case he should manhandle Charlie Brenneman. Johnson’s got the range and technique to make standing with him absolutely miserable. Brenneman has serious wrestling pedigree but so does Johnson, and given the size differential, I just don’t see “The Spaniard” scoring that double leg on old Rumble. Johnson via Knockout. MMAfrenzy.com predictions: Johnson 3 Brenneman 1 Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman: Analysis from Bryan Robison: This one is a rematch of their fight at UFC 115 last June. In that one, Wiman was applying a guillotine choke to Danzig early in the first round. Referee Yves Lavigne then prematurely stopped the fight due to Danzig appearing as if he had passed out. Well, he didn’t, and Danzig was jumping up and shouting as soon as Lavigne called the fight. Hopefully this time around, we don’t get the same mistake. That would be quite amusing, however. Regardless, much like the first matchup, Wiman holds the advantage in multiple areas. With Danzig, he will be able to bring the fight to his realm, and wrestle/out grapple Danzig. Wiman should be able to stay on the outside of Danzig’s limited striking. Danzig just looks to be the same fighter we saw 3-4 years ago. Wiman takes this one. MMAFrenzy.com predictions: Wiman 3 Danzig 1 For complete coverage of UFC on Versus 6, including weigh-ins, an MMAFrenzy podcast, and breakdowns of each main card fight, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: fight, johnson, prediction, wiman, danzig

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Filed under: UFCUFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Demetrious Johnson were both on weight for Saturday night's title fight when they stepped on the scale Friday at the UFC Live weigh-in. Both Cruz and Johnson weighed in right at the bantamweight limit of 135 pounds. The largely uneventful weigh-ins were lightened up by 5-foot-11 heavyweight Pat Barry standing on a stool to stare down with his 6-foot-11 opponent, Stefan Struve, as UFC announcer Joe Rogan declared, "This is the biggest height discrepancy for any UFC fight ever." One fighter missed weight: Byron Bloodworth, who took his bantamweight fight with Mike Easton on short notice this week, came in at 138 pounds. Full results are below. Main Card: Dominick Cruz (135) vs. Demetrious Johnson (135) Pat Barry (243) vs. Stefan Struve (261) Charlie Brenneman (171) vs. Anthony Johnson (171) Mac Danzig (155) vs. Matt Wiman (156) Preliminary Card: Yves Edwards (155) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (155) Michael Johnson (156) vs. Paul Sass (155) Byron Bloodworth (138) vs. Mike Easton (135) T.J. Grant (155) vs. Shane Roller (156) Josh Neer (171) vs. Keith Wisniewski (170) Joseph Sandoval (134) vs. Walel Watson (134.5) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, vs, johnson, bantamweight, cruz

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Posted in: johnson, weigh-in, cruz vs, johnson weigh-ins, forget....ufc

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UFC on Versus 6 will bring a championship title fight to the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., live and free of charge tomorrow night (Oct. 1, 2011) on the Versus network. Headlining the promotion's march on the nation's capitol is the 135-pound bantamweight bash between reigning division champion Dominick Cruz and surging number one contender Demetrious Johnson. Will "Mighty Mouse" save the day? Or is "The Dominator" here to stay? In heavyweight action, fan-favorite Pat Barry will look to raze "The Skyscraper" in his titanic tilt opposite Stefan Struve. Can "HD" unleash his wicked leg kicks on the lanky Dutchman? Or find a way to get himself submitted just when the gettin' is good? Anthony Johnson looks to insert himself into the very short list of 170-pound title contenders -- but only if he can stop the momentum of the recently relevant Charlie Brenneman. Rounding out the four-fight main card is a 155-pound rematch between Mac Danzig and Matt Wiman. Was the Vegan warrior's phantom tap the only thing stopping him from an ugly win over "Handsome?" Or will Wiman finish what he started at UFC 155. Let's take a look. Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson is a fight that hasn't been generating much fan buzz, which is unfortunate, because the champion is one of the best fighters we have in the game today. How does a mixed martial artist who is 18-1, who also avenged his only loss, get left off the pound-for-pound list? Is there some random 135-pounder Cruz has been ducking? Hasn't he beat the best his division has to offer? That will show you the power of the finish. Perceptually speaking, I suppose, since fans (and most media) don't subscribe to the old "a win is a win" theory. Cruz too, must also shoulder some of the blame. Don't call yourself "The Dominator" but then go to a decision in seven of your last eight fights. Still, his talent is undeniable, as is the speed of Johnson, who brings a credible, if not overwhelming challenge to the Verizon Center. Unfortunately Cruz has already shown in prior bouts that he has the footwork and timing to avoid not just speed, but a wrestling-based offense and when it does go south, there are few challengers who are able to keep him there. This will not be a replay of Torres vs. Johnson. But it wouldn't surprise me to see a replay of Cruz vs. Benavidez -- with a similar outcome. You can't outstrike the champ, you can't hold him down and you can't make him tired. I don't see much here to get excited about and five rounds of defensive striking and in-and-out action will likely bring out the boo birds. Dominick Cruz def. Demetrius Johnson via unanimous decision Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve is a frustrating fight from a prediction standpoint, as two scenarios play out with similar ease: Struve gets his legs turned into firewood by the incomparable kicks from his brutish foe, or he tangles Barry up and exploits what could be one of the worst ground games in the entire heavyweight division. I'm going with the latter. It pains me, because I'm an "HD" fan, but I can't believe any fight corner worthy paying would allow their star prospect to enter the Octagon against the New Orleans striker with the idea that a feeling out process doesn't earn him a "Wheelchair of the Night" bonus. Yes, Barry was put to sleep by Cheick Kongo, but I think based on past performances that was the exception and not the rule. He's also faster, stronger and while shorter, can probably walk through a rangy push-kick or long distance jab without the fear of getting iced. What he does need to worry about is wounding his prey and then giving it away. Flashback to the Denis Stojnic fight to get an idea of what kind of heart the Dutchman has. If you hurt him, you have to finish him. Look for Struve to get annihilated on his feet -- only to jump on Barry like a facehugger from Alien to strangle his way to an ugly submission victory. Stefan Struve def. Pat Barry via submission Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman will bring a cruel end to the feel-good story of 2011. "The Spaniard" did something special when he overcame Rick Story back in June, but let's also remember that it was Rick Story. It's not like he submitted Nick Diaz or knocked out Jon Fitch. And I believe the Anthony Johnson that stifled Dan Hardy walks through Brenneman in round one. It's not that I was overly impressed with "Rumble's" wrestling, as it was well documented that he was a successful college wrestler (and Hardy is helpless on the mat), rather it was his conditioning -- something that has plagued the massive welterweight -- that finally looked to be mastered. That kind of thing can be a problem when you cut from north of 200-pounds. I don't want to make it sound out of the realm of possibility that Brenneman gets him down and submits him, but first he has to get inside and his striking is avegarage (at best) and Johnson is just too strong and too dangerous in the stand-up to fall early. Johnson's striking > Brenneman's wrestling. Simply put, it's a race against the clock: Brenneman has to keep from getting knocked out long enough to tire Johnson out. I don't see it happening. Anthony Johnson def. Charlie Brenneman via technical knockout Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig, a rematch from UFC 115, will finally settle the controversy stemming from their first bout when Danzig lost by submission despite never tapping to Wiman's guillotine choke or passing out. Heading into D.C., Danzig is coming off a win, Wiman a loss. On paper this would seem like a close match-up but I think we shouldn't put a ton of stock in Danzig's one-hitter quitter over Joe Stevenson, who was in the midst of a four-fight skid that eventually saw him released from the promotion. Since winning The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Danzig has failed to impress and limped his way through 2008-09 after dropping three straight. He's got serviceable hands and a highly-rated ground game, but for my money Wiman is the more well-rounded fighter. I don't think Wiman will finish what he started, but I do expect him to control this fight for the better part of three rounds and sweep the judges scorecards en route to a unanimous decision win. Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig via unanimous decision Alright Maniacs, that's my best guess as to how the UFC on Versus 6 televised fight card will play out. What's yours? Let's hear some predictions in the comments section below.

Posted in: fight, johnson, cruz, wiman, brenneman

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UFC on Versus 6 is finally upon us, as Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson get their hands dirty in tomorrow night's (Oct. 1) championship main event from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. And that means there's money to be made for the gamblers among us. First you have to win, of course, and you should never bet what you can't afford to lose, but since I've recently started putting money down on the sport I love, I thought it might be prudent to share some wagering tips before major UFC and MMA events, pointing out the most profitable scraps. And which bouts to avoid. Included in the UFC on Versus 6 betting guide are all the odds for tomorrow night's show, but first check out my three important rules every bettor should follow right here. Now then, let's get to it.   We have a fantastic-looking free card this weekend and any time you get a title fight for free, life is good. Plus, Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve should be one of the funniest fights ever -- for however long it lasts.   Plus, we’ve got some tasty-looking odds. Let’s break it down and see where we can make some cash on the side. As usual, the lines provided are from Bodog.com, and bestfightodds.com has side-by-side comparisons of various sites' odds if you're looking to shop around. These lines are accurate as of today. Undercard Michael Johnson (-180) vs. Paul Sass (+150) Yves Edwards (-165) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (+135) Mike Easton (-340) vs. Byron Bloodworth (+260) Walel Watson (-130) vs. Joseph Sandoval (EVEN) Josh Neer (-270) vs. Keith Wisniewski (+210) Shane Roller (-200) vs. T.J. Grant (+160)   Thoughts: The two guys that strike me as bargains are Paul Sass and Joseph Sandoval. Johnson is a good, mid-tier fighter, but Paul Sass has proven surprisingly adept at taking out mid-tier fighters. A win over Rob Sinclair means a LOT, and in that fight, Paul also demonstrated very good wrestling to accompany his nasty guard game. As I mentioned in my breakdown, Johnson has four submission losses to his name, while Sass has ten submission finishes. Look for his grappling to frustrate Johnson into a late submission loss.   I haven’t seen too much of Sandoval besides rather grainy footage of his last effort, but what I saw impressed me enough to pick him over Watson. He’s primarily a standup fighter and his hands are above-average. The kicker for me, however, is Watson’s complete ignorance regarding how to react to punches. The man doesn’t use his range and he backs straight up, hands down when pressured. Don’t make him the focus of your parlays (I’m stretching Rule One as is), but at even odds, he’s worth at least a few bucks on the side.   Main Card Anthony Johnson (-185) vs. Charlie Brenneman (+155) Pat Barry (-185) vs. Stefan Struve (+155) Matt Wiman (-205) vs. Mac Danzig (+165) Dominick Cruz (-525) vs. Demetrious Johnson (+325)   Thoughts: Odds are a bit closer than last week, excluding the main event. Let’s break it down and see if we’ve got anything worth laying some money down on.   Brenneman is, without a doubt, the single best bargain on this entire card. His wrestling is damn good, even considering the wrestling monsters dominating his division. He was outgrappling Hendricks before the man’s ungodly left hand found Charlie’s jaw, and he dominated noted wrestlers Jason High and Rick Story.   Yes, Rumble is a wrestler, but that didn’t stop Clementi or Kos from taking him down and dominating him on the ground. Of course, Rumble can end the fight with any one of his limbs at any time, so it’s a bit risky, but I don’t anticipate Brenneman giving him the opportunity to plant himself and throw bombs.   Yes, I said most of this same hyperbole about Takanori Gomi last week, but my crippling devotion to all things PRIDE isn’t coming to play this time. Plus, I doubt anyone wants to see a Brenneman lay-and-pray fest, so putting money on him is a win/win: either you make a good amount of money, or you get to see Rumble splatter Brenneman’s skull across the Octagon. Go big here.   The odds on Barry-Struve look tempting, and Struve’s inability to shoot takedowns or defend punches with anything besides his face has me pretty convinced that Barry is going to paste him, but I just can’t shake the thought that Struve is going to find a way to wrap Barry into his guard and submit him from there. I’m also afraid that Barry, in traditional Barry fashion, is going to find some way to choke in the cusp of victory.   If you’re going to put money down, put it on Barry, but I can’t bring myself to recommend it with any degree of certainty.   Wiman has certainly done better than Danzig in recent times; knocking out Joe Stevenson doesn’t hold a candle to obliterating Cole Miller and giving Dennis Siver all he could handle. The only reason I’m not directing you towards emptying your wallet on Wiman is because I’ve seen approximately three minutes of Danzig in action: his fight with Stevenson and the first Wiman bout.   From what I HAVE seen, though, Wiman has the jaw, wrestling, and defensive grappling to avoid being finished in any fashion. I can see him putting Danzig on his back and dribbling his skull against the canvas for four minutes. He’s worth a parlay, and if he gets better than -180 by Saturday, go straight-up.   Let me say it flat-out: Dominick Cruz is not losing at 135 to the present crop of contenders. His wrestling, timing, cardio, and funky striking are too much for pretty much everyone I can think of. The only way I can see to beat him is to counter him on one of his hands-down lunges, and the only person I can see with the necessary power and speed to put him to sleep with that one blow is KID Yamamoto (who I don’t think will be challenging for the title any time soon).   Johnson is fast, Johnson is relentless, and Johnson is a very sound wrestler. Unfortunately, so was Urijah, so was Benavidez, and so was Jorgenson. Johnson simply doesn’t possess the sort of skillset necessary to take out Cruz. He doesn’t have the power to stop him standing, the takedown defense to avoid that inhuman knee-tap, or the takedown offense to put Cruz on his back. At -525, Cruz isn’t worth a straight bet at this time, but with the number of close lines, sticking him in a parlay can turn a – into a +.   My Current Bets: Single Bet: Joseph Sandoval-$30 to win $30 Single Bet: Charlie Brenneman-$65 to win $100.75 Parlay: Dominick Cruz and Charlie Brenneman-$54.86 to win $111.68 Parlay: Paul Sass and Dominick Cruz-$36 to win $71.14   Yeah, I'm going a bit crazy this week after doing so badly last week. This will probably come back to bite me, but fortune favors the bold.   Remember: never bet more than you can lose, bet with your head, and don’t let betting get in the way of your enjoying MMA. We’ve got an excellent weekend of fights ahead of us, so have fun.

Posted in: vs, johnson, &rsquo, nbsp, cruz

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Weigh-ins for tomorrow’s UFC on Versus 6 event take place today in Washington, D.C. as UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, challenger Demetrious Johnson, and the rest of the card weigh-in to make their fights official. MMAFrenzy.com will have UFC on Versus 6 weigh-in video and results below at 4pm ET: MAIN CARD Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Demetrious Johnson UFC Bantamweight Championship Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig PRELIMINARY CARD Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson Mike Easton vs. Byron Bloodworth Shane Roller vs. TJ Grant Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski Walel Watson vs. Joseph Sandoval

Posted in: ufc, vs, johnson, weigh-in, fights official

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The official weigh in event for UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" is set to take place today (Sept. 30, 2011) LIVE at the DC Armory (2001 East Capitol Street SE) in Washington, D.C. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 4 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the UFC on Versus 6 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. UFC on Versus 6 will be headlined by a bantamweight title fight that features champion Dominick Cruz trying to dominate the division's mightiest mouse, Demetrious Johnson. In the co-featured fight of the night, one of the heavyweight division's shortest fighters, Pat Barry, will take on its tallest, Stefan Struve. Other match ups set for the televised main card include a welterweight war between Anthony Johnson and Charlie Brenneman, as well as a long awaited rematch that pits Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman. Complete UFC on Versus 6 weigh in results after the jump: Main event: 135 lbs.: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson Main card (Versus): 265 lbs.: Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve170 lbs.: Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman
155 lbs.: Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman Preliminary card (Facebook): 155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass155 lbs.: Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira
135 lbs.: Byron Bloodworth vs. Mike Easton 170 lbs.: T.J. Grant vs. Shane Roller 155 lbs.: Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski
135 lbs.: Joseph Sandoval vs. Walel Watson For those fortunate enough to be in the nation's capital this weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 2 p.m. ET. In addition, UFC Fight Club members will be able to attend a special Q&A session with surging middleweight contender Mark Munoz at 3 p.m. local time. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Oct. 1), which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on the Versus network. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC on Versus 6 coverage you can handle.

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Mixed Martial Arts is a complex sport that includes many different aspects. Here, I'm taking a look at a key upcoming fight and breaking down just one of those aspects - the stand-up.  THE FIGHT Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious JohnsonUFC Bantamweight TitleUFC on Versus 6 DOMINICK CRUZ Strengths - Movement. Plain and simple. Dominick Cruz is an absolute master of movement in every aspect of his game. In particular, he uses footwork, body, and head movement to seamlessly flow between offense and defense when striking. Cruz's striking style is based around using his fast feet to quickly move inside an opponent's range. He then lands strikes, typically in a combo. Cruz's wide arsenal of strikes includes punches, kicks, and knees all delivered from either an orthodox or south paw stance. He uses his body well to get behind his shots and to chain them together nicely. After landing his own shots, Cruz uses head and body movement to slip any counter strikes, then once he sees an opening, either lands another combo, or uses his feet again to escape. Then he starts the sequence over again. In short, he gets in, does damage, takes none, and gets out. And that is almost exclusively due to his superior movement. One other way he uses movement to his great advantage is in his use of angles. One of the best ways to avoid being hit and maximize your own strikes is to strike your opponent while you are on an angle. Your body faces your opponent (maximizing your power), but theirs is turned slightly away from you (minimizing their power). Cruz does a very good job at landing while on angles. In particular, he has a great hook he hits while running diagonally past his opponent, making it very hard to counter. Weaknesses - Honestly, Cruz has one of the best stand-up games in the sport today, so it's hard to really call anything a weakness. If there's an area where he leaves an opening though it's in his style of defense. Cruz defends punches by slipping them - meaning he lowers his head and body and slides his head off to the side to avoid any incoming punches. It's a style of defense seen more in boxing than MMA, although Anderson Silva has been using it a lot lately. Because he defends with this head movement, Cruz keeps his hands low and does not use them to defend his chin and head at all. Normally, keeping the hands so low is a huge negative, but Cruz is so adept at his head movement that no one has yet been able to find that chin and exploit that defensive hole. But that doesn't mean it's not there. Analysis of Johnson and the head to head comparison in the full article. More SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6 DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON Strengths - Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson has a great all around game, and as a result his striking is sometimes a bit overlooked. But he has very good skills on the feet. His greatest asset is definitely his speed - Johnson may be the fastest fighter in the history of the UFC. That speed is most pronounced in his movement around the cage, but you also see it in his hand speed and ability to quickly put together combinations. In addition to this speed, Johnson also has strengths in his game that extend beyond the basic fundamentals. Like Cruz, he uses angles well, and is comfortable in either stance and will switch between stances often. He also throws very nice hooks that are crisp and tight. It's a very different approach to hooks from Cruz, who throws them more looping on the outside. Weaknesses - That speed is a huge plus, but it also means that Johnson often gives up power, preferring to connect quickly instead of with maximum force. While he connects often, the times he has staggered an opponent with his strikes are few indeed. One area where you really see this is his kicks. He throws kicks very quickly, but he doesn't rotate the hips much. That gets the kick off faster at times, but it doesn't allow him to get his body behind the kick and really maximize its power. HEAD TO HEAD In addition to his excellent stand-up, Dominick Cruz also has a very good wrestling and submission game that is built around keeping himself out of trouble and keeping the fight standing when he wants it there. Because of this, I think the man to beat Cruz will need to beat him on his feet, taking advantage of that defensive style to find Cruz's chin and connect with some powerful punches. And unfortunately for Johnson, he's just not that kind of fighter. The big plus Johnson has in his corner is that speed - Cruz is used to being the faster fighter, and he'll be at a speed disadvantage here. But Johnson's speed is more in his movement than his reflexes (as we saw in the Brad Pickett fight when Pickett repeatedly caught Johnson's kicks). I suspect Cruz will make the needed adjustments and be able to connect on Johnson. It comes down to this: if Johnson hangs back, Cruz will push in and outstrike him. If Johnson comes forward, Cruz will use his counter-striking to hit 3 or 4 strikes on Johnson every time Mighty Mouse misses. And Dominick Cruz is an expert at making people miss. ADVANTAGE: DOMINICK CRUZ Poll Who has the better stand-up? Dominick Cruz Demetrious Johnson Even   9 votes | Results

Posted in: johnson, head, cruz, speed, movement

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MMAFrenzy.com concludes its preview of UFC on Versus 6 with a new take on our head-to-head breakdowns. Each day we have taken a look at a each fight from Saturday’s main card, leading up to the main event. UFC on Versus 6 takes place this Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. UFC Bantamweight Championship fight- Dominick Cruz (c) versus Demetrious Johnson Keys for the Champion (Bryan Robison)- For the first time since his reign as bantamweight champion began, Dominick Cruz will have an opponent who can match him in speed. Demetrious Johnson will be able to counter against Cruz’ wiry punches and looping kicks by using his own impressive speed. Because of this, we might see a different Cruz on Saturday. While his speed is well known, he is also known for his unorthodox striking. It fooled previous opponents, such as Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen. While he most likely will not be able to knock you unconscious with the wide array of strikes, they are effective in canceling out his opponent’s. Cruz has displayed strong wrestling, even though he does not rely on it as much as he used to, due to his long advantageous frame at 135 pounds. That pedigree will more than likely need to be on display against Johnson. Johnson’s lone loss came against Brad Pickett, who was able to negate Johnson’s wrestling in the latter two rounds, and took the unanimous decision. Expect a bout that is similar to his two impressive bouts with Joseph Benavidez. Cruz came out on top in both by decision, utilizing his length and reach advantage against the shorter opponent. Keys for the Challenger (CL)- Demitrious Johnson feels the need… the need for speed. Ok so Top Gun references aside, this is likely the most important weapon in his arsenal. Cruz nearly always enjoys a considerable speed advantage over his opponents but in this case, Johnson is the faster fighter. The one problem for Johnson is that his usual wrestling advantage is gone against Cruz. So he must use his speed to close distance and stalk Cruz the majority of the fight. With this style, cutting the ring is paramount as it allows you to trap your opponent. In doing so, Johnson can attempt to dictate where the action takes place. In Cruz’s last bout with Urijah Faber, Faber looked his best when he went on the attack versus Cruz. If Johnson goes on the attack, utilizes the good kickboxing that he has shown earlier in his career, and counter-wrestles, he can pull off a victory. While most people are used to seeing one or two move wrestling in the octagon, Johnson must use what is known as “shot-reshot” in the wrestling world. What that means is that he must parry Cruz’s shot and then immediately shoot his own shot on the champion. Often times in college there can be multiple reshots in one flurry. With these fighters’ speed it can easily happen here. Johnson has to redirect Cruz’s shots in order to have any chance in this fight. If he cannot, this fight could look a lot like his fight with Brad Pickett. While Johnson’s future may lie at a flyweight, he still has the tools to stalk, dictate the location of the action, and outstrike the champion in his bid for the belt. If he accomplishes only two out of three of these he can still become the champion in a hard fought decision. UFC on Versus 6 Main Card UFC bantamweight title fight- Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Demetrious Johnson Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman Check out MMAFrenzy.com’s complete coverage of UFC on Versus 6 by clicking here.

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MMAFrenzy.com concludes its preview of UFC on Versus 6 with a new take on our head-to-head breakdowns. Each day we have taken a look at a each fight from Saturday’s main card, leading up to the main event. UFC on Versus 6 takes place this Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. UFC Bantamweight Championship fight- Dominick Cruz (c) versus Demetrious Johnson Keys for the Champion (Bryan Robison)- For the first time since his reign as bantamweight champion began, Dominick Cruz will have an opponent who can match him in speed. Demetrious Johnson will be able to counter against Cruz’ wiry punches and looping kicks by using his own impressive speed. Because of this, we might see a different Cruz on Saturday. While his speed is well known, he is also known for his unorthodox striking. It fooled previous opponents, such as Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen. While he most likely will not be able to knock you unconscious with the wide array of strikes, they are effective in canceling out his opponent’s. Cruz has displayed strong wrestling, even though he does not rely on it as much as he used to, due to his long advantageous frame at 135 pounds. That pedigree will more than likely need to be on display against Johnson. Johnson’s lone loss came against Brad Pickett, who was able to negate Johnson’s wrestling in the latter two rounds, and took the unanimous decision. Expect a bout that is similar to his two impressive bouts with Joseph Benavidez. Cruz came out on top in both by decision, utilizing his length and reach advantage against the shorter opponent. Keys for the Challenger (CL)- Demitrious Johnson feels the need… the need for speed. Ok so Top Gun references aside, this is likely the most important weapon in his arsenal. Cruz nearly always enjoys a considerable speed advantage over his opponents but in this case, Johnson is the faster fighter. The one problem for Johnson is that his usual wrestling advantage is gone against Cruz. So he must use his speed to close distance and stalk Cruz the majority of the fight. With this style, cutting the ring is paramount as it allows you to trap your opponent. In doing so, Johnson can attempt to dictate where the action takes place. In Cruz’s last bout with Urijah Faber, Faber looked his best when he went on the attack versus Cruz. If Johnson goes on the attack, utilizes the good kickboxing that he has shown earlier in his career, and counter-wrestles, he can pull off a victory. While most people are used to seeing one or two move wrestling in the octagon, Johnson must use what is known as “shot-reshot” in the wrestling world. What that means is that he must parry Cruz’s shot and then immediately shoot his own shot on the champion. Often times in college there can be multiple reshots in one flurry. With these fighters’ speed it can easily happen here. Johnson has to redirect Cruz’s shots in order to have any chance in this fight. If he cannot, this fight could look a lot like his fight with Brad Pickett. While Johnson’s future may lie at a flyweight, he still has the tools to stalk, dictate the location of the action, and outstrike the champion in his bid for the belt. If he accomplishes only two out of three of these he can still become the champion in a hard fought decision. UFC on Versus 6 Main Card UFC bantamweight title fight- Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Demetrious Johnson Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman Check out MMAFrenzy.com’s complete coverage of UFC on Versus 6 by clicking here.

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Charlie Brenneman became a Cinderella sensation (I'm swear I'm not trying to deliberately channel Mike Goldberg) with his victory over Rick Story. Story was coming off a big win over perennial contender in Thiago Alves, and primed as another in a short list of those in line for a title. Brenneman subsequently spoiled that journey. Anthony Johnson, meanwhile, is semi-fresh off his win over Dan Hardy: a fight that garnered him criticism for grinding out a decision instead of trading punches with Hardy. No me though. Hardy wasn't good enough to stop Anthony's takedowns, and kept going to inexplicable submission attempts in response. It's a proper fight for both men, but how do they matchup? While Johnson is an oversized WW, opponents have been able to fight around it. Even LW gatekeeper extraordinaire Rich Clementi was able to. The problem with Johnson is that he doesn't strike me as durable. This is where Brenneman has a real shot: if he could out-grind Rick Story, surely the potential is there to grappler his way to victory over Johnson. However, Johnson's a sturdy wrestler for at least a round, and on the feet he'll have a considerable advantage. Make no mistake. Johnson will look to advertise his arsenal of punches and kicks on the feet. And as he displayed in his knockout win over Kevin Burns (in what felt like just desserts for the way the first Burns fight ended), the power isn't restricted to his fists. I lean towards a Johnson victory, but with zero confidence. When you consider that Brenneman got starched by Johny Hendricks with the quickness, it's certainly not inconceivable that Johnson might do the same. Still, it's a proper fight that gives the winner real juice as the list of contenders to GSP's throne expands. If Johnson wins impressively, and does with soul and savvy, you can bet fans will be interested in a potential GSP fight. That's not the case if Brenneman wins, although Rogan and Goldberg will sell you that narrative if he wins. Which to be fair to Charlie, he will have damn well earned it (I'm not talking about a title shot, but certainly a matchup with a big name contender). Poll Who wins? Brenneman by Fitch-esque decision. Johnson by Burns-esque KO.   0 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, anthony johnson, johnson, story, brenneman

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Filed under: UFCIt's been four years since a UFC championship has been defended on basic cable TV, a streak that will end on Saturday when bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz attempts to hold onto his belt and thwart the challenge of Demetrious Johnson. The matchup, broadcast on Versus, likely boasts the speediest pair of fighters ever matched for a UFC title. Cruz is known for his fancy footwork and ability to weave in and out of striking distance, while the 5-foot-3 Johnson expertly navigates reach differentials with his own swift feet. Cruz has been likened to Lyoto Machida in that he has an unconventional style that is relatively difficult to emulate and causes matchup difficulties. But apart from that similarity, their styles are actually quite different. While Machida tends to be very still, leans back out of punching range and waits to aggressively move in for a killshot, Cruz's success is built on his endless movement, flurries of activity and ability to seamlessly transition from standup to takedowns. It's this unique set of skills that awaits Johnson as a challenge. For at least part of it, Johnson is at least on paper, equipped. Much like Cruz, Johnson spent his high school years as a wrestler. That's shown offensively, as Johnson has successfully completed 74 percent of his takedowns, according to FightMetric. Defensively, however, Johnson has had some difficulties. He's only stopped 46 percent of attempts against him. Given the frequency of Cruz's takedown tries (he's scored 31 takedowns in his last six fights), Johnson will have to do much better than that to give himself a chance to win. On their feet, things get trickier. An interesting note about Cruz is that for all the accolades his striking receives, he's not a particularly accurate striker. In fact, he's below average when it comes to connection percentage, landing only 29 percent of his thrown strikes. That probably comes as a surprising statistic to many who constantly hear about Cruz's standup brilliance. In reality, Cruz's striking success is based on volume and relentlessness above all else. Take his most recent title defense against Urijah Faber, for example. In the bout, Cruz out-landed Faber 97-53 overall. However, again, Cruz connected on just 39.4 percent of his strikes. For all his activity, Cruz rarely offers opponents a chance to hit him in flush in return. Faber, for example, scored on just 32 percent of his shots. While Faber arguably landed the bigger shots, they were fewer and farther between, and Cruz's offensive aggression makes an impact in the minds of the judges. We've seen a trend recently of opponents trying to engage Cruz in tight. Since he's not considered a power puncher, foes are willing to sit back, let the right-hander wade in towards them and fire back power shots as he steps into range. Both Faber and his Team Alpha Male teammate Joseph Benavidez employed that kind of strategy, often keying on his kicks. For Johnson, it would be a bit trickier, because while he has the speed to employ it, he hasn't shown the power to make that kind of attack the right one for him. That plan tends to be a risky proposition. When Cruz attacks first, there will usually be at least 3-4 strikes coming, and you might only get to fire off one in return. That almost ensures you'll lose the flurry in the eyes of the judges (barring a knockdown or flush strike), and over the course of the round, those types of exchanges will add up in his favor, as they have over and over. Johnson has so far in his UFC/WEC career flashed an impressive mix of striking accuracy and defense. He has successfully landed 51 percent of his strikes, and despite his usual reach disadvantage, he rarely gets hit. One interesting stat is that he only absorbs 0.98 strikes per minute, a number which would rank him No. 2 for best defense in the UFC if he had enough fights to qualify him for the leaderboard. By comparison, Cruz absorbs 1.75 strikes per minute. Cruz is about a 5-to-1 favorite, and that number is a little too big for a fighter who goes to decisions so often. His game is well equipped to win either a striking, wrestling or ground battle, but he's never shown the ability to overwhelm a foe except in volume. Johnson is one of the few bantamweights in the world who may be faster than Cruz and can match his gas tank. Because of that, I expect this fight to be more competitive than the line indicates. The key factor in this bout may not end up being speed or striking, but Cruz's takedown defense. Johnson's wrestling doesn't get a ton of notice, but since losing his WEC debut, he's scored 23 takedowns in four fights, successfully completing 74.1 percent of his tries. It was his wrestling that helped him win his two biggest fights, and we shouldn't expect him to abandon it now. Keeping Johnson at the end of his leg kicks will help Cruz in that regard, along with his natural gifts. The wrestling game will stalemate at times, leading this fight to be decided standing. As usual, Cruz's flurries and pace will offer him an advantage there. If Johnson tries to be a counter-fighter, he'll suffer the same fate as Faber and the rest, caught up in the numbers game. If he comes forward, his chances are better, but crossing the distance will leave him open to counters. Johnson is going to have his moments, but fighting from range is Cruz's specialty, and that's where most of this fight will be decided. Cruz via decision. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFCUFC on Versus 6 goes down in Washington D.C. on Saturday night, and while the people there may not look too kindly on you betting on presidential races (don't look now, but Ron Paul's going off at +4500), you can still scour this fight card in search of a good deal. So who do oddsmakers like on Saturday night, and who might they be overvaluing? I'm so glad you asked... Dominick Cruz (-525) vs. Demetrious Johnson (+325) If there's anybody in the 135-pound division who can out-quick Cruz, it just might be Johnson. Then again, that's still a big if. Johnson's problem is that his quickness is mostly limited to the takedown department. Granted, he can shoot in for a double-leg and have your back on the mat before you can say 'sprawl,' much less do it, but it's fairly predictable. Cruz, on the other hand, is anything but. With the way he dips his head and lets his feet drift perilously close together in that peculiar little striking cha-cha of his, he'd be relatively easy to drop if only you had any way of knowing when he was going to do what. From the looks of it, he barely knows. Cruz dominates not simply because he's fast, but because he disguises his attacks so well. Is he throwing the lead right or is he just distracting you with it en route to the takedown? You never know until it's too late. My pick: Cruz. Compared to him, Johnson is a one-trick pony. If that trick were knockout power or even slick submissions, it might be worth the risk. But no way he holds the champ down for five rounds. Pat Barry (-185) vs. Stefan Struve (+155) As much as I love Barry and hope he sticks around for a long time to entertain us in and out of the cage, I'm surprised to see him favored in this fight. Barry's a great kickboxer, but he's giving up so much size and reach to the 6'11" Struve. The smart play would be for Barry to attack his legs, if only because he can't reach the Dutchman's head without a trampoline. If Struve does even a mediocre job of using his length, he should be able to give Barry problems. If the fight moves in close, Struve could take it to the mat, where he has the better submissions game. The only thing he can't do is spend a lot of time in the clinch or miss with big shots that let Barry get in and counter. And okay, he also probably shouldn't let Barry do to his legs what he did to poor, poor Dan Evensen's, but that goes without saying, right? My pick: Struve. In a stand-up comedy or personality contest, Barry wins easily. But here, with the underdog line plus all the checkmarks in Struve's favor, he's the smarter pick. Anthony Johnson (-185) vs. Charlie Brenneman (+155) Remember when Brenneman was, according to the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission's Greg Sirb, a real-life "Rocky story" for stepping up in Nate Marquardt's place and beating Rick Story? Well, a) someone should remind Sirb that it's his job to regulate fights, not sell them like he's Don freaking King, and b) as a thank you from the UFC, now Brenneman gets has to fight Johnson, which just reminds us all what a tough way to make a living this sport can be. Johnson has proved himself to be a pretty solid wrestler when he needs to be, but here he'll likely use that to keep the fight standing and exploit Brenneman's inexperience in the striking game. And that can be done, let's not forget. Johny Hendricks had him on ice skates after landing a few good shots, and he's nowhere near the striker Johnson is. As long as "Rumble" can make weight without killing himself, he has the tools to keep this fight where he wants it and take advantage of some holes in Brenneman's game. But then, that scale has proved to be a nemesis in the past... My pick: Johnson. He's faced tougher competition in his UFC run than Brenneman, and a diverse set of skills has helped him tremendously. Brenneman does one thing very well, but that will only get you so far. Mac Danzig (+165) vs. Matt Wiman (-205) Ah, yes. The fight that ended early, then was supposed to happen again, then got put off by injuries and other match-ups until we all forgot what was weird about the first meeting. Quick version: Wiman had Danzig in a not-quite-tight-enough guillotine choke, but the ref freaked out and stopped it anyway, thinking Danzig was in trouble. Now they meet again to settle that old score, only this time it's Wiman who's more recently feeling the sting of injustice, having just lost a close decision to Dennis Siver in July. The first meeting between these two was so brief, it was tough to tell who had the edge. But that Siver fight gave Wiman a chance to really show what he could do, and he was impressive in it. The fight was still a close one and could have gone either way, but Wiman showed how far he's come in recent years by hanging with someone of Siver's caliber and nearly putting him away. Danzig? He knocked out Joe Stevenson last December, but that doesn't exactly mean what it used to. My pick: Wiman. He's come a long way in the last couple years. Danzig is still mostly the same guy who won TUF. Quick Picks: - Yves Edwards (-165) over Rafaello Oliveira (+135). Oliveira isn't fighting guys like "Wigman Big Big" anymore, and he's lost to nearly every name fighter he's faced. - Paul Sass (+150) over Michael Johnson (-180). With the exception of his decision loss to Jonathan Brookins in the TUF finale, all of Johnson's other losses have come via submission. And I don't know if you've noticed, but Sass has some nasty ones. The 'For Entertainment Purposes Only' Parlay: Cruz + Johnson + Wiman + Edwards. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson live results and play-by-play on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Washington, DC. The main event features Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson.

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UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson quick results on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Washington, DC. The main event features Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson.

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UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson play-by-play of Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Washington, DC.

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UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson play-by-play of Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Washington, DC.

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UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson play-by-play of Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Washington, DC.

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UFC Live, which is headlined by the UFC bantamweight championship bout between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson, and the heavyweight showdown between Pat Barry and Stefan Struve, airs live on VERSUS from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT. Fans who “like” the UFC on Facebook can see the entire slate of UFC Live prelim bouts at 6:40 pm ET / 3:40 pm PT.Main Event – UFC Bantamweight ChampionshipDemetrious Johnson (135) VS Dominick Cruz (135)Stefan Struve (261) VS Pat Barry (243)Charlie Brenneman (171) VS Anthony Johnson (171)Mac Danzig (155) VS Matt Wiman (156)Rafaello Oliveira (155) VS Yves Edwards (155)Paul Sass (155) VS Michael Johnson (156)Byron Bloodworth (138*) VS Mike Easton (135)TJ Grant (155) VS Shane Roller (156)Keith Wisniewski (170) VS Josh Neer (171)Joseph Sandoval (134) VS Walel Watson (134.5)* Easton has agreed to face Bloodworth, who will be fined, at 138 pounds.

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Take one look at Demetrious Johnson in a fight and it’s evident that he’s one of the fastest athletes in the UFC today. Who knew that he was going to take a similar path up the bantamweight ranks to a world title shot against Dominick Cruz on Saturday night?Perhaps Johnson didn’t know it himself, but every time the UFC called, he picked up the phone, stepped up to the plate and made his own luck. Now he’s one win away from being called a world champion. It’s still sinking in for the young man dubbed “Mighty Mouse.”“It’s hard to enjoy it because it’s part of the fight game and part of life,” said Johnson. “I’m just blessed to be in the situation I’m in and I’m happy to be in the UFC and fighting all the time. I want to be active and fight as much as possible. (Lightweight contender) Donald Cerrone, he’s having the time of his life. He’s making money, he’s fighting all the time, he’s being active, and he’s young, so that’s a good thing and how I want to be as well.”It’s an aspect of mixed martial arts that has been lost in the world of boxing. In boxing, there’s so much riding on the perfect record and fighting the “right” opponents until you hit the 25-0 mark and can get a premium cable fight or a spot on a Pay-Per-View card. In MMA, a fighter can go from obscurity to the top of the heap in the space of a year and a half like Johnson has, simply by being willing to take risks.“When the UFC calls for a fight, I accept any fight they give to me,” he said. “I beat Kid Yamamoto, stepped in for Brad Pickett because he got hurt, fought Miguel Torres, won that fight, and the next thing you know, they call me up and I’m the next challenge for Dominick Cruz.”Sounds simple enough, but after debuting in the WEC in April of 2010 with a close loss against England’s Pickett, Johnson went on to hand Nick Pace his first pro defeat and submit longtime contender Damacio Page before moving over to the UFC in 2011. And while the names Kid Yamamoto and Miguel Angel Torres may not immediately register to casual fans of the sport, to fight game aficionados, you’re talking about two of the premier lighter weight fighters in history. And the 25-year old Johnson beat them both – in consecutive bouts.“Going to fighting Kid Yamamoto from Damacio Page, there was a huge technical difference,” he said. “He (Yamamoto) understood range a lot more, he had good footwork and good boxing, and he also hit really hard. So that was a little different. And when I fought Miguel Torres, it was the same. They’re both tough, hard to put away, and they’re there to fight. They’ve been to the top level.”Now he’s there as well, a turn of events that has surprised some observers. But as far as Johnson is concerned, if the man calling the shots believes he’s ready for a shot at the crown, that’s all that matters.“It doesn’t bother me because people are gonna say what they want to say,” he said. “I can’t control what they think of me. If (UFC President) Dana White thinks I should be there, then I’m happy to be there.”After gutting out a close victory over Torres in May despite breaking his fibula in the second round, he’s about to take on the King of the Hill in the unorthodox Cruz, another fighter who won’t be losing any fastest man competitions anytime soon. If you’ve ever felt the need to watch a fight in slow motion to catch all the intricacies of the fast-paced action, this may be the one.“I think it (speed) is gonna play a huge part in the fight,” said Johnson. “He moves so much that it makes him a lot faster than a lot of people, and obviously speed’s gonna be a huge factor whether he’s using his speed or I’m using mine. But I’m just gonna go out there and fight like I always do, put the pressure on him and see what happens.”And when it comes to breaking down one of the most hard-to-decipher styles in the sport today, Johnson feels like he’s got all his bases covered, with “The Wizard” himself, Matt Hume, working up a gameplan in the Pacific Northwest home of the AMC Pankration gym.“We have a lot of guys in the gym who use a lot of movement to fight,” said Johnson. “One of my main training partners, Drew Brokenshire, he uses a lot of movement when he fights, and we actually have a coach, Trevor Jackson, who watched like 14 hours of footage on Dominick Cruz and he can imitate him down to a tee. I’ve been sparring him and Matt Hume, who’s an awesome wrestler and who outweighs me too, twice a week. So I think I prepared myself to get the best imitation I can for Dominick Cruz. But he can bring people into town to imitate me, and I can bring in people to try to imitate him, but it’s not gonna be the same until you get in there and actually experience what me and him can actually do with each other.”What people are expecting from this Saturday’s title fight is a bout that may go 25 minutes but feel like only 10. Cruz and Johnson are dervishes in the Octagon, always looking to stay a step ahead of their opposition. Put them together, and they may give a run to Cruz’ previous bout with Urijah Faber for Fight of the Year consideration. It’s a lot of pressure for Johnson, considering that this is not only his first UFC main event, but his first main card appearance, but he seems to be taking it well, quietly confident that a 13 week training camp has touched all the right bases.“I think my confidence comes from working out in the gym and training with the best in the world,” he said. “Before this fight was even in the books, I never took time off from training, and I’m always trying to evolve my game and get better. I broke my fibula in the Miguel Torres fight and I was on crutches, and when I wasn’t on crutches, I was already training for this fight. I’ve done the training that I need to to go out there and win this fight, and I trained my butt off. I believe in my skills, I believe in my coaches, and I’m just ready to go out there and see what happens.”Title shots don’t come around too often, and they rarely rear their head a second time. Demetrious Johnson knows what’s at stake on Saturday, yet he’s not focusing on what could happen after the final bell. He’s got a fight to think about first, and if there’s one thing that “Mighty Mouse” is sure of, it’s that he’s got plenty of fight in him for Dominick Cruz.“I’m a small guy, but I’ve got a lot of heart, and size doesn’t matter,” said the 5-foot-3 contender. “The only thing that matters is the fight in the person and how much that person wants it and how much drive the person has. I’m happy to be in the situation I’m in, I can’t wait to go out there and fight on a live card, being the main event, and hopefully I’ve got Dominick Cruz’ number. He’s beaten everybody in the weight class so far, but I’m going out there to try and seize the opportunity that’s been given to me.”

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MMA Weekly caught up with Dominick Cruz, Demetrious Johnson, Pat Barry, Anthony Johnson, Charlie Brenneman and Mike Easton to talk about their fights this weekend at UFC on Versus 6.

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Returning after a heroic victory over Rick Story in a fight he accepted fifteen minutes before the weigh-ins, Charlie Brenneman meets Anthony Johnson in main card action at UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson. Brenneman, a member of the burgeoning AMA Fight Club in New Jersey, wrestled at Pennsylvania's Lock Haven University, which is the same Division 1 powerhouse that Tim Boetsch and Jamie Varner attended."The Spaniard" devoured eleven of his first twelve opponents in MMA, capturing the Ring of Combat welterweight championship in the process. His only loss in that stretch was to fellow UFC welterweight John Howard. Graduating to the big leagues, Brenneman chalked up a win over Jason High in his debut before suffering his only Octagon defeat to Johnny Hendricks. He snuffed out Brazilian prospect Amilcar Alves by decision leading up to his inspiring upset over Story on the UFC Live 4: Kongo vs. Barry card. Anthony Johnson emerged in the UFC with a rep for wrestling but dazzled fans with wicked kickboxing instead. Johnson got the call from the UFC with only three pro fights under his belt as a late replacement to face Chad Reiner at UFC Fight Night 10 in 2007. Thirteen seconds after the bout began, Reiner was lying unconscious on the cage floor. Crafty vet Rich Clementi would coax the inexperienced fighter into a rear-naked choke, but Johnson stayed afloat with another crushing first round knockout, this time in fifty-one seconds against TUF contestant Tommy Speer. His ensuing loss to Kevin Burns -- where the replay clearly showed he was unintentionally poked in the eye -- served as the partial impetus (along with Mirko Filovpovic vs. Mustapha Al Turk) behind the New Jersey and Nevada State Athletic Commission instituting the instant replay rule. "Rumble" settled the score with a high-kick knockout of Burns coupled with a subsequent four-fight clip where only top welterweight Josh Koscheck would defeat him via submission. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Both Johnson and Brenneman represent a little bit of poison to the other: Johnson's losses were all dealt by superior wrestlers; Brenneman's by comparable wrestlers with better striking. To avoid being locked up in a battle of takedowns, Johnson will have to keep Brenneman at bay with his considerable reach length (77"), footwork and stand up. Brenneman's stand up is basic and mostly implemented to set up his shots, where Johnson has explosive kickboxing and dynamite in both hands. Along with an effortlessly cast left high kick, Johnson's left hook and right cross are his show-stoppers. In his plastering of Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 104 (left), Johnson shows a distinctive tendency to measure range by extending his left arm forward as a probe. His long arms, punching power and agility usually see him through, but the habit is not without its defensive risks. Also notice how far forward his left leg is and how much weight he puts on it. This closed and heavy-legged stance is the reason Johnson puts so much power into his strikes. Against Koscheck, it was also the reason he was taken down. Both of Koscheck's takedowns on Johnson were achieved by snatching up his extended left leg. When you're bursting forward and trying to adhere to the hips or a leg to initiate the takedown, the way Johnson stands makes it much more difficult to snap your hips back to sprawl. Like all of Mike Contantino's AMA Fight Club students, Charlie Brenneman always comes equipped with a cerebral strategy to execute. The clip to the left starts with Story walking him back against the fence just as he did against Thiago Alves, which ended up as his key to victory. The big difference is that Brenneman wisely cuts a sharp angle to his left; the simple action to avoid absorbing the volleys of stiff left hands Story drenched Alves with. Again keeping things basic, he times Story's left kick perfectly to catch him off balance for the takedown. To the right we see Brenneman's grinding determination to power a double leg. He stuffs Story's attempts, keeps his head moving while dodging punches, swats a big right hand while shuffling left to create the angle and drives through on the double leg. In each of these examples Story is the aggressor, so it will be interesting to see if Johnson presses the attack as he normally does. Bobbing, weaving, head movement and flowering opportunities through subtle angles are typically associated with striking, but the sequence to the right captures how Brenneman employs them for takedowns. He slips Story's uppercut, can't achieve control after dropping levels, then throws another overhand right while bobbing low and to the right. The precise change in direction is so effective that it causes Story to lose his footing when he starts to sprawl, anticipating another double. This is all Brenneman needs to pounce and ground the fight. Finally Brenneman uses good old fashioned tenacity to hold his grasp on Story's leg and relentlessly grind through, eventually securing it and patiently unwrapping himself from a triangle and kimura attempt. Neither Brenneman nor Johnson boast any significant BJJ credentials. Brenneman has one arm-triangle win while Johnson has never submitted anyone. A key factor is if and how Johnson tweaks his stance when striking and whether he'll temper his aggression so as not to walk into takedowns. I don't think Brenneman can win this on the feet. Conversely, to stay standing, Johnson must tone down his forward movement and relent on committing fully to power shots. Though not fan friendly, Johnson's best bet is a Machida-esque strategy of judiciously selecting pinpoint strikes while maintaining balance to sprawl at any time. His general approach of cornering and unloading the clip offers too many opportunities for Brenneman to exploit. Johnson also has a tendency to revert back to his wrestling when he's dominating on the feet, which an option I don't think he'll have here. Even so, surprising Brenneman with a few takedown attempts of his own will keep "The Spaniard" guessing. For Brenneman, it's just a matter of replicating the Story bout. Cerebral movement, precise timing and his signature explosion to snare a leg and finish the takedown is his simple specialty, although obviously easier said than done. For whatever it's worth, Johnson was sidelined for a year and a half with a knee injury before his last fight with Dan Hardy. This, along with the ever-looming perils of such a steep weight cut, could be hidden variables. I agree with the betting lines giving a slight push to Johnson. It just makes more sense: he's fought better competition, has the more well rounded game and is able to match Brenneman much better in wrestling than Brenneman can match him standing. The question becomes whether Brenneman can take away all those advantages by forcing a ground fight. I'll go out on a limb and guess that he can. My Prediction: Charlie Brenneman by decision         Johnson gifs via MMA-Core.com All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com     Poll Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Anthony Johnson Charlie Brenneman   1 votes | Results

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Anthony Johnson had only seen his latest opponent Charlie Brenneman fight once before he got matched up with him for their bout at UFC on Versus 6.

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Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson may be a heavy underdog at the sportsbooks heading into his fight with UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, but that's nothing new to him.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship is right back in action promoting this Saturday's (October 1, 2011) free event, UFC on Versus 6, which is taking place in Washington D.C. Headlining the free show will be the return of UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz as he looks to defend his title for the fourth time against challenger Demetrious Johnson.  Cruz has risen to the top with a unique fighting style that has baffled every opponent in his way. He recently defended his belt against the only man to ever previously defeat him, Urijah Faber, at UFC 132. His opponent, Demetrious Johnson, is coming off the most impressive victory of his career against former WEC champion Miguel Torres at UFC 130. He's hoping his speed can make up for Cruz's unorthodox style. The co-main event features a a very unique heavyweight battle as 6'11 Dutch fighter Stefan Struve takes on 5'11 American kickboxer Pat Barry. Both men are coming off of thrilling knockout losses in fights they had been previously winning and this has the potential to have the most awkward pre-fight staredown in UFC history. Anthony Johnson has widely been considered one of the top welterweight prospects and he scored a significant victory in his last bout against former title challenger Dan Hardy in a bout that he showcased his wrestling. He'll have a tougher time outwrestling Charlie Brenneman, an AMA Fight Club trained fighter with a strong wrestling base who's coming off the biggest win of his career. Cruz, Johnson, Struve, Barry, Johnson and Brenneman will participate in the UFC on Versus 6 press conference today (September 29, 2011) at 1 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will deliver up-to-the-second live updates of the conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The call is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET. Anthony Johnson: Charlie when he fought Rick Story did a great job and I didn't know he could wrestle that good. The only fight I'd seen of him before was against Johny Hendricks and he was doing good in that fight before he got caught. He's a very talented fighter.  Charlie Brenneman: When it comes to go-time, it's one of those things where we revert back to where we're comfortable. What I do in this fight depends what he throws at me. I'm prepared for every aspect of it. Reed Harris: Ticket sales are going well but there are tickets available. Reed Harris: These guys are incredible fighters. They're some of the most exciting fights I've seen in MMA. I think they've already broken through. I think they're as good of fighters as the heavyweights.  Dominick Cruz: I'm not going out there to defend anything. I'm going out there to win something new when I fight for the title. I don't own anything. This will be like my first time winning it. Dominick Cruz: Success feels good. I feel I'm a fighter and I love what I do. It's easier to say focused when I see all these maniacs coming up the division that want to fight me and take my belt. Demetrious Johnson: I think he's the champion, I think he's the best of the best of fhe weight class. On Saturday night I'm coming with a lot of fire and I'm gonna bring the fight. Demetrious Johnson: All the other opponents that he's faced are great fighters but I bring different tools. You'll have to tune in on Saturday night to watch it. I've prepared myself to win. Pat Barry: In MMA, we've got to be able to do everything. We've got to be able to defend on the ground and attack on the ground. Stefan could be able to submit me off his back while I'm standing. I've been working with a lot of top wrestlers that can grapple at Death Clutch. Do I plan on going to the ground? I don't plan on going to the ground ever. I could slip and fall and put myself on the ground but I don't want to.

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Bloody Elbow is here to offer live coverage of today's UFC on Versus 6 pre-fight press conference that is going down at The Newseum in Washington, DC. The fighters that will be participating include main eventers Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson, who will be competing for the UFC bantamweight title, along with co-headliners Pat Barry and Stefan Struve. Anthony Johnson and Charlie Brenneman will also be there to share their thoughts. You can catch live video of the press conference over at MMA Nation, SBN's home of live video. The press conference is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, so tune in and share your thoughts. Main Card:Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson (BW title)Pat Barry vs. Stefan StruveCharlie Brenneman vs. Anthony JohnsonMac Danzig vs. Matt WimanPreliminary Card:Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello OliveiraMichael Johnson vs. Paul SassByron Bloodworth vs. Mike EastonT.J. Grant vs. Shane RollerJosh Neer vs. Keith WisniewskiJoseph Sandoval vs. Walel Watson More SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6

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A lot has changed since June 22nd for Charlie Brenneman. That was the day that TJ Grant withdrew from their matchup at UFC on Versus 4 card. That meant no fight, a fight in which Brenneman would be fighting in front of his hometown crowd. But it did not take long for the tides to turn for Brenneman. As he puts it, “I felt fate was on my side.” Fate must also be from Pittsburgh, or at least a fan of the Spaniard’s hair. Just two days after his bout with Grant was called off of the Sunday card, Brenneman started to notice that fate was trying to show herself. “I was in the sauna on Friday*, actually sitting next to Nate Marquardt,” explained Brenneman. “My manager calls me and tells me that there is a slight chance I could be fighting Rick Story.  But I didn’t even know anything until the next day. About 45 minutes before weigh-ins, that’s when I get told I am in against Story.” *Brenneman had to still make weight in order to collect his purse, since Grant’s withdrawal was so close to the event. The next chapter is well known, as Brenneman went on to defeat Rick Story, in one of the biggest upsets in MMA this year. But to Brenneman, the win over Story is not that big of an upset. “As soon as I was put back on the card, it’s as almost as if I knew this was all going to happen,” explained Brenneman. “I knew all of this happened so I could go out there and put on a show in front of my hometown.” Now Brenneman hopes fate remains on his side, as he sets his sights on his next opponent, Anthony Johnson, whom he faces this Saturday at UFC on Versus 6. Johnson brings with him a reputation as a powerful hitter, but also one who struggles to make weight prior to fight day. Brenneman feels that is what he will be able to take advantage of. “Anthony Johnson is a giant welterweight,” said Brenneman. “He’s been suspect with his conditioning, and it remains to be seen whether he can last a full fifteen minutes.” If Brenneman is able to defeat Johnson, he is fully aware of the repercussions it will have on his career. Since his victory over Story, Brenneman has moved into the top 10 of many pundits’ rankings. But Brenneman does not put too much emphasis on those rankings, stating “Those rankings don’t really mean anything to me. The matchups are what are important. Johnson is a big name, someone who has been in the spotlight for quite a while. I know that a win over him would propel me in the right direction.” Brenneman is hoping that direction is adding another date, October 1st, to his already remarkable year. For complete coverage of UFC on Versus 6, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

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Filed under: UFC, NewsOn the surface, Dominick Cruz has settled into the role of champion nicely. He's successfully defended the bantamweight title three times, established himself as one of the sport's pound-for-pound best fighters, and headlines his second straight UFC event at Saturday night's UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson. Yet Cruz seems to go out of his way to remind himself that it can all change in an instant. He hasn't splurged on a big house or fancy car. Instead, he lives on the cheap and saves his money for a rainy day that might never come. Those reminders serve as motivation for training, and the mindset extends even to his most prized possession: his title belt. "Really, I'm not going out there to defend anything. I'm going out there to win something new every single time I go out and fight for a title," he said in a Thursday press conference from the Newseum in Washington D.C. "I don't own anything. It's always up for grabs, so I have to always stay on top and stay focused and go out there to win something new, so that's it. This will be like my first time winning it." Should Cruz beat Demetrious Johnson (10-1) on Saturday, it may feel like a first time for him, but it would mark his fourth straight defense of the 135-pound belt, surpassing the three successful defenses made by Miguel Torres when the belt was a WEC property. Cruz has done it with a style all his own, mixing active striking and strong wrestling with endless stamina to wear down opponents over time. Overall, he's won nine straight, and on the strength of his 18-1 overall record, his .948 winning percentage is among the best in major MMA. Rather than falling complacent though, Cruz continually surveys the landscape of his division and considers the oncoming challengers. "Success feels good," he said. "I'm a fighter and this is what I do. I love to do it. I love my job. It's easy to stay motivated if you see all these maniacs coming up in my division. They all want to beat me up. What other motivation do I need?" In Johnson, Cruz may be facing the fastest opponent he's ever faced. At just 5-foot-3 and with a 66-inch reach, Johnson has some distance to navigate, but if anyone can figure it out how to make an unlikely journey, it's the man that's nicknamed "Mighty Mouse." Johnson's rise to one of the division's best has been a largely untold story, though it is one worth telling. He's not a pedigreed athlete with a following who got major breaks along the way. Though he wrestled throughout high school, he was never a state champion, and he had no other martial arts training when he first walked into a gym in October 2005, after watching the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Johnson grinded his way through the northwest regional circuit before debuting tin the WEC, and then he promptly dropped his first fight by decision. The setback hardly set him back, however, and he ran off a streak, winning four straight to earn a shot at Cruz. In his last two fights, he beat Miguel Torres and Kid Yamamoto, who were at one time the best lighter weight fighters in the world. Now Johnson has a chance to join those ranks, but there aren't a lot of believers out there; Cruz is as much as a 5-to-1 favorite. "Story of my life," Johnson said. "I'm the smallest guy probably in the UFC. It is what it is. Everyone sees me as an underdog. I don't mind. It is what it is. Like I say, story of my life." Yet Johnson is every bit the story of determination as Cruz. Until recently, he held a full-time job in a Tacoma, Washington recycling plant. During his May win over Torres, he suffered a broken bone in his leg, but he was still back to work at the plant on the following Monday. After accepting the title bout with Cruz, he gave up the job to prepare for the biggest opportunity of his life. Like an underdog out of central casting, Johnson is quiet and polite in addition to being small. The UFC sat him next to 6-foot-11 Stefan Struve on Thursday, further highlighting just how small he is. He didn't say much on Thursday, and even when he was asked questions, he often clipped his answer short when you had the feeling he might have had a little bit more to say. Like Cruz, perhaps he is holding it back for when it truly matters. "You guys have all seen me fight, and you know what I do," he said. "I come out and bring the pace and I do my job. I prepare myself to win." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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If you asked a group of MMA fans about what it takes to be successful in the ring and you’re likely to end up with as many different answers as people surveyed – great striking, a solid wrestling base, world-class submissions, never-ending cardio, etc. However, question a collection of actual fighters and you’re likely to see a bit more uniformity in their responses with a singular emphasis on the importance one’s state of mind plays in terms of winning/losing. One such competitor who subscribes to that belief is Anthony Johnson, a 27-year old welterweight in the UFC who faces Charlie Brenneman this Saturday night at UFC Live 6 on the Versus network. “Rumble” recently elaborated on his viewpoint in a conversation with UFC.com while also citing a prime example of how psychology can affect a fight’s outcome. “The mental game is the most important part of fighting in my opinion,” explained Johnson. “If you have that mental edge and mental toughness, you’ll be able to be successful in fighting, no matter what skill level you’re at. It plays a big part, and fighting against Dan Hardy, it definitely worked to my advantage.” Johnson fought the British brawler earlier this year and drew criticism from some for promising to engage Hardy while standing only to wrestle his way to a one-sided decision victory once showtime rolled around. Johnson Responds to Hardy Blaming him for Boring Fight “I pretty much knew what I was gonna do,” said Johnson on the subject of Hardy. “I just wanted to mess with him a little bit because I knew he was really wanting somebody to stand and bang with him. But why would I take a 50-50 chance? Even though I know I’m a better striker than him – nothing against his striking or anything – why take a chance of getting caught when I know I’m better than him on the ground?” “The true fans and true MMA analysts that understand fighting and know MMA, it shocked them, but they also respected what I did,” he continued. “People who don’t know fighting and that just want to see people go in there and try to knock each other’s head off, they didn’t like it at all. They just want to see a bloodsport, and that’s not what MMA is all about. To me, this is my career, it’s my body, it’s my fight, and I’m gonna do what I’ve got to do to win. And if I have to play that psychological game with somebody, I’ll do that.” One of the biggest 170 pounders in the UFC, Johnson is 9-3 in his career with six TKOs and past triumphs over Luigi Fioravanti and Yoshiyuki Yoshida. His bout with Brenneman will be part of the UFC Live 6 main card alongside headlining bantamweights Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Filed under: UFCWill Dominick Cruz continue his reign of dominance over the bantamweight division, or will Demetrious Johnson become the new UFC 135-pound champion? Will Stefan Struve capitalize on his enormous reach advantage, or will Pat Barry get inside and test Struve's chin? Can Charlie Brenneman knock off Anthony Johnson and improve to 3-0 in 2011? We'll attempt to answer those questions as we predict the winners on Saturday night's fight card. What: UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson Where: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. When: Saturday, the Facebook preliminary card starts at 6 PM ET and the Versus televised card begins at 9. Predictions on the four Versus fights below. Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson Johnson, nicknamed "Mighty Mouse," is small even for the 135-pound weight class, and he's going to have a very, very difficult time against the tall and lanky Cruz, who is as good as anyone in the sport at using his reach advantage to prevent his opponents from getting near him. Johnson would love to get inside and take Cruz down repeatedly, as he did in winning decisions over Kid Yamamoto and Miguel Torres to get this title fight, but that's a very tall order against Cruz. For Cruz, the path to victory looks a lot like what he's been doing throughout his title reign: He needs to use his awkward movement and high-volume striking to keep Johnson on the outside and keep him frustrated. Although Johnson's quickness may be something Cruz hasn't seen before, Johnson looks like an opponent Cruz should be able to handle standing up for 25 minutes. And so I like Cruz to do what he usually does: Win by unanimous decision. Pick: Cruz Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve The enormous height difference between Struve (the UFC's tallest fighter) and Barry (the UFC's shortest heavyweight) makes this fight interesting visually, but what makes it especially interesting is that neither one of these guys fights the way you'd expect someone his height to fight: Struve often fails to take advantage of his reach and instead lets his opponents get inside and test his chin, while Barry doesn't let his short, stocky legs prevent him from throwing plenty of kicks. Barry probably has an advantage if the fight stays standing, but I think this fight will eventually go to the ground, and Struve will have an enormous advantage on the canvas -- even if he has to get knocked down to get there. Look for Barry to leave himself exposed on the ground and Struve to capitalize and win by submission. Pick: Struve Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Johnson returned after more than a year away and put a one-sided beating on Dan Hardy in March, and he'll look to do it again when he takes on Brenneman, who's coming off a big win over Rick Story. I think the savvy Brenneman is going to give Johnson a lot more trouble on the ground than most people expect, and win a decision. Pick: Brenneman Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig Some unfinished business between these two is finally about to get resolved: At UFC 115 in June of 2010, Wiman won when referee Yves Lavigne wrongly thought Danzig had passed out while in a guillotine choke. (In reality, Danzig was alert and defending himself.) The UFC tried to book them in an immediate rematch, but injuries got in the way. Now they're finally ready to meet again, and I like Wiman to win legitimately this time, taking a decision. Pick: Wiman Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, johnson, cruz, struve

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UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" will take place this Sat., Oct. 1, 2011, from the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. And that means it's time for all the pre-fight festivities. In the main event of the evening, Dominick Cruz will defend his bantamweight title for the second time in the UFC, this one against the "Mightiest Mouse" in the division, Demetrious Johnson. There are other compelling match-ups on the card, including Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve, Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman and Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig. It's a solid free card, folks. The open workouts were held yesterday and our fine friends at SB Nation were live on the scene to get the word from some of the key players. Videos are after the jump, including interviews with Cruz, Johnson, the other Johnson and Brenneman.

Posted in: ufc, washington d.c, vs, johnson, cruz

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Forget Nate Marquardt or Rick Story; Anthony Johnson believes Charlie Brenneman is a better opponent. Say what? The wrestler with the curl-fro better than two heavy-handed and dynamic veterans sacked by circumstance? "He's the kid that nobody knew about - he's like, an overnight sensation," said Johnson, who meets Brenneman on Saturday's UFC on Versus 6 main card. "He possesses a lot."

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, charlie brenneman, brenneman, nate marquardt

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Will Jon Jones suffer a loss in 2012? What’s next for Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren? Is it time for Matt Hughes to be put out to pasture? Who do you want to see fight at the UFC‘s upcoming show in Japan? Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay! Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose “Walk Out” and “After Party” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below. True/False – Jon Jones will go undefeated in 2012. Lambert: True. It kind of depends on how many times he fights in 2012. If he fights twice then he’ll fight Rashad Evans, then the winner of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Dan Henderson, and I think he can beat all three guys. If he takes that third fight though at the end of the year and it’s against Lyoto Machida, that’s the one guy who can give Jones problems that he hasn’t run into in his UFC career. It’s very possible that he fights three times in 2012 given how the schedule looks like it will play out, although no one can foresee injuries. But it’s not a guarantee that the third fight will be against Machida and, even though Machida is a tough fight for him, I’d still favor Jones in that fight. Conlan: Also true, though I see Evans being more of a challenge for Jones than Machida. Evans being a past teammate of Jones’ can’t be dismissed because unique insight he has into the champ’s physical abilities/limitations and mental make-up. He’ll have an idea of what things Jones is good at, where he struggles, and how to best avoid/exploit those areas. Sure, “Bones” is at an age where he’s constantly improving and will be a better fighter than the one Evans trained with in New Mexico, but certain tendencies will undoubtedly remain because, after all, it’s only been about six months since their falling out. Is it time for Matt Hughes to retire or should he keep fighting? Lambert: I say retire, but after talking with Samer Kadi on the podcast, I can get behind the idea of Hughes going the Chuck Liddell route. After losing to Rua, Liddell was “shelved” for over a year before returning for a scheduled fight against Tito Ortiz, which was the most winnable fight in the world for Liddell. Of course he ended up taking a much tougher fight against Rich Franklin, lost, and retired, but I could see UFC and Hughes doing something similar. Hughes takes a year off to farm, spend time with his family, and do whatever else he does in his free time and then return to fight Dennis Hallman. Conlan: I’m behind the notion of him carrying on his career, plus I never feel comfortable demanding a fighter retires because, frankly, their decision has no impact on my personal life. I’d rather let Hughes and his family figure it out in comparison to acting as though I know what’s best for them. Even if I was the kind of media-member who rants against Ken Shamrock and Jens Pulver, it isn’t as though Hughes has lost to chumps or hasn’t been competitive as of late. He was caught early by B.J. Penn and looked good against Josh Koscheck before the final sequence of strikes. He needs to be paired against guys who aren’t “Top 10” but are well-known to fight-fans. Hallman is a solid option because of his upset wins over Hughes a decade ago. Historical significance always creates a level of interest (see: Hughes’ past fights with Renzo Gracie and Royce Gracie) and Hallman would be a winnable fight at least allowing the Illinois native to potentially exit the UFC with some dignity. Another thought could be Dan Hardy for an event in England since it wouldn’t be a bad pairing for Hughes stylistically and would definitely sell some tickets in the UK. Will Dominick Cruz finish Demetrious Johnson? Lambert: I think he will but it wouldn’t shock me if he doesn’t. I don’t want to write-off Johnson, because this MMA and Johnson is a top level fighter, but this is a tough match up for him. He’s giving up a lot of size and Cruz can come close to matching the speed of Johnson. Plus there’s a matter of skill and Johnson’s wrestling game will likely be shut down against Cruz, who is a good offensive and defensive wrestler. Then on the feet, Cruz is leagues above Johnson with his movement and diversity. I think Cruz will be able to use his size to slow down Johnson and finish him on the ground. Again, it won’t shock me if Cruz dances around and picks apart Johnson for 25 minutes, but I feel like this is a fight that he should finish. Conlan: I’ll go the opposite route and say “no”. Johnson reminds me some of Joseph Benavidez and should stay competitive throughout. Yes, I think he’ll ultimately lose the decision because Cruz is THAT good, but I also believe “Mighty Mouse” has the skill to stay in the fight and even put Cruz in a few bad positions along the way. If we’re looking purely at numbers, “The Dominator” hasn’t stopped an opponent in 3 1/2 years while Johnson has only lost a single decision in ten total fights despite facing tough opponents who are typically bigger than him. Play Joe Silva and book one fight for the UFC in Japan event. Conlan: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Diego Sanchez. Akiyama is poised to make his welterweight debut at the February 26 show and Sanchez, who should be healed up from his broken hand, would be a fantastic fight for the Japanese veteran. Neither man knows how to turn in a boring performance when it comes to their chosen profession and it would put a local hero up against an original Ultimate Fighter winner. Lambert: Despite his recent performances, Takanori Gomi has to be on this card. Maybe fighting in Japan again will actually motivate him to show up, but that’s no guarantee. So UFC needs to guarantee that a Japanese fighter wins in Japan, and unless they plan paying tribute to early PRIDE and decide to fix the fight, they only way to guarantee a Japanese victory is to match him up against a fellow country man. That man should be Shinya Aoki. There’s no way Aoki vs. Gomi will suck, because it’s either going to end in a great KO for Gomi or a great submission for Aoki. Plus it’d be a match up for the two best lightweights in Japanese history. Following his KO loss, what should Joe Warren do next? Conlan: Start playing to his strengths instead of weaknesses. It’s clear Warren’s jaw is not made of adamantium, and while it may not be Ming Dynasty Porcelain either, he needs to stop opting to strike so much when he has world-class wrestling at his disposal. I want to see Warren work for takedowns, then smash people from on top. I also think sticking with bantamweight would be a smart move, even looking at a permanent move to flyweight when the UFC eventually adds the division. Size kills in MMA most of the time and, at 5’5”, he needs to utilize that advantage if possible. Lambert: Focus on one thing. Rarely do MMA fighters succeed when they’re juggling different things in this life. Whether it’s a second job, a personal problem, or a separate goal, if your head isn’t 100% into training and into the fight, it’s a recipe for disaster. Warren stretched himself too thin heading into this fight. He wanted to defend his 145 lb title, win the 135 lb tournament, and compete in the Olympics. I don’t care how great you are, that’s a tough task to accomplish all of them around the same time. Warren is a talented fighter, but unless he keeps his mind on one goal, he may not accomplish any of them. Do you expect Bellator to air on Spike TV in 2012? Conlan: No, as I’m under the impression there is a contractual issue preventing Spike from broadcasting live MMA as long as they own the rights to UFC’s video library (which they do until 2013). Dana White isn’t the type of person to back down when challenged and has no problem trying to out-dick a dickish move from an adversary. I also don’t see the UFC wanting to pay for videos that will not only cost them money but give Bellator better exposure. Let Spike TV sit on their fights for a year or milk whatever ratings they can, then try to get back into the “live MMA” game with the UFC regularly broadcasting live events (including TUF) through FOX/FX. Lambert: While the UFC contract may prevent Spike from airing any other MMA, it’s always possible that UFC buys back the tape library, thus more or less voiding the contract. And that’s exactly what Spike is trying to do, by countering the first UFC on FOX event with a block of UFC Unleashed featuring Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos bouts. This move has already upset White and things could get uglier if the two sides can’t hash it all out. While a UFC Unleashed marathon isn’t going to trump the UFC on FOX rating, maybe that’s part of Spike’s plans. They could actually trumpet the fact that the UFC ratings are down, that they’re not as big as they once were, and that they don’t need them anymore. It’d be a pretty dirty move, but if Spike is serious about wanting out of this contract so they can pick up Bellator, they may stoop to such tactics. All that said, I don’t expect Dana to budge. I think he’ll make Spike finish out the contract, but things could get pretty dirty between the two sides in 2012. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/BELLATORSimilar Posts: Grappling with Issues – 9/21/2011 UFC President believes fans have seen the last of Matt Hughes Grappling with Issues – 6/1/11 Grappling with Issues – 8/24/11 Grappling with Issues – 3/23/11 Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, fight, hughe, ’t, johnson

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The bantamweight belt is up for grabs in the headliner of Saturday night's UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson shindig. Devilish cage flux will abound as reigning 135-pound monarch Dominick Cruz defends the strap against the fleet footed Demetrious Johnson in the centerpiece. Preceding the main, the live stream on the UFC's Facebook page will accommodate the entire six-fight undercard. Three lightweight contests will be featured: MMA veteran Yves Edwards takes on BJJ black belt Rafaello Oliveira, Division 1 wrestler Shane Roller tangles with another talented grappler in T.J. Grant, and submissionist Paul Sass faces TUF winner Michael Johnson. With mostly new faces, the duplex of bantamweight bouts late entry Byron Bloodworth versus Mike Easton and Walel Watson versus Joseph Sandoval. The final undercard edition features the return of two experienced welterweights as Josh Neer draws Keith Wisniewski. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Yves Edwards (40-17-1) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (14-4) Before eating a picture-perfect left hook, the kickboxing of Yves Edwards still looked sharp against Sam Stout. The self-professed "Thugjitsu" practitioner boasts over three times the experience of Oliveira with fourteen years in the game and almost sixty fights, many against the sport's finest. Edwards emerged in the Octagon way back in 2001 at UFC 33, losing his first two bouts to the durable Matt Serra and Caol Uno by decision. He responded by slicing through his next six opponents -- including finishes over Rich Clementi and Josh Thomson -- to become the de facto lightweight champion right before the UFC dissolved the division entirely. As the balanced proportion of his stoppages (14 by TKO, 17 by sub) and vast experience would suggest, Yves is thoroughly composed and well rounded. A southpaw, Edwards chains the whole enchilada of strikes together with exceptional quickness and accuracy. On the mat, his scrambling and submission skills are equatable to the black belt level. Edwards' foray into martial arts began with Muay Thai and submission grappling in the late 90's. His clinch work is strong as well and the only area he doesn't outwardly shine in is wrestling, but he's far from inadequate in any aspect of MMA. Edwards showed a bulletproof beard throughout the bulk of his career; a trait that has declined of late. All four of his career TKO losses occurred within his last sixteen fights. The vital disclaimer accompanying this stat is the high caliber opposition that finished him with strikes: Joe Stevenson (positional stoppage with elbows), Jorge Masvidal (high kick), K.J. Noons (punches) and the aforementioned Stout. Some consider Edwards to be streaky or unpredictable because of his on-and-off performances, but I don't really get that. Every one of his seventeen losses were to top-ranked or highly formidable fighters. Regrouping after a disappointing mid-career spiral where he went four and seven, Edwards has won six of his last eight since, scoring a decision over John Gunderson and handing Cody McKenzie his first defeat before the Stout fight. Rafaello "Tractor" Oliveira trains out of New Jersey's AMA Fight Club alongside Charlie Brenneman and the Miller brothers. He's a BJJ stylist and instructor who set up shop in the states after starting out in Brazil. Oliveira debuted in the UFC with ten fights -- all wins save a 2008 TKO to Lyle Beerbohm in ShoXC -- against Nik Lentz, who wore him down via decision. He split his next two with a win over Gunderson and a loss to Andre Winner, both by decision. He ventured back overseas to notch four in a row before returning against Gleison Tibau at UFC 130, where he was shellacked with an uppercut and finished with a choke. While singularly proficient in BJJ, Oliveira is a decent wrestler and has made impressive strides with his stand up. His boxing and power are sufficient, so while he's capable of catching Yves with his one-two on the feet, his intention will be to invoke his grappling acumen. The catch is that Yves has superior striking but not a ton of knockout heft. His footwork, agility and fundamentals are top notch but Oliveira will likely drag him down if he can initiate the clinch. The more oomph Edwards puts on his punches, the more his feet are planted and susceptible to takedowns. Edwards has gotten in trouble before for courageously engaging his opponent anywhere instead of exploiting his strengths. As long as he doesn't play Oliveira's game, I like Edwards here by surviving any ground encounters and plunging quick punches through his defense. If he can't finish, fifteen minutes leaves "Tractor" with plenty of chances. My Prediction: Yves Edwards by decision Shane Roller (10-4) vs. T.J. Grant (16-5) WEC crossover Shane Roller has always been on the fringe of the elite, which is highly respectable considering he's only been in the sport four years. Out of his eight WEC performances, the Oklahoma State University wrestler ran through everyone but Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson. Roller submitted Anthony Njokuani, Danny Castillo and former champ Jamie Varner by rear-naked choke and opted for guillotines on Mike Budnik and Todd Moore. Vicious knockouts resulted from his two UFC showings, both the good kind (Thiago Tavares) and the type that's healthier to avoid (Melvin Guillard). Compared to his early days in the WEC, Roller has subtly enhanced his boxing game. To the right, he intelligently calculated the straight-line retreat of Tavares and started measuring his combinations to extend deeper. Maintaining balance, Roller triples up his jab to set up his overhand right and follows up with a nice leaping knee when Tavares runs out of real estate. The final sequence is a virtual carbon copy, this time requiring only two jabs to thin out the distance and smash the Brazilian with his right cross. Roller was dabbed with some punches early against Tavares and has exhibited some defensive concerns in the stand up department, mostly with keeping his chin tucked. He locks on to the neck to wrench vice-like guillotines in the clinch or anytime an opportunity presents itself. His sub-defense is a question mark as he hasn't clocked a lot of ground time with grapplers. T.J. Grant will be dropping to 155-pounds for the first time against Roller. As a welterweight, Grant experienced sequential wins and losses in all six fights: defeating Ryo Chonan, Kevin Burns and Julio Paulino with losses to Dong Hyun Kim, Johnny Hendricks and Ricardo Almeida in between. Like Roller, Grant is a ground-oriented fighter, only with a more even balance between wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu (he's a brown belt). I suggest a review of Kid Nate's Judo Chop on Grant's capacious bag of submission grappling tricks. Above, Grant pursues a single with Ryo Chonan pinned on the fence. As soon as Chonan starts to control the head and gather his balance, Grant craftily snares an ankle pick on his support leg. Grant's style is simple, smart and blue collar technique. To the left is the first in another nice little transition against Chonan. In the turtle position and eating right hands, watch how Chonan switches from posting his left arm to seeking control on Grant's left wrist. As soon as Chonan loses the support of his left arm, Grant takes advantage by not only rolling him over on that side, but passing to mount during the scramble and holding the wrist control to isolate Chonan's left arm.  The benefit of this cerebral maneuver is shown to the right. Grant volleys unhindered right hands to the head while Chonan has only his right arm to defend with at an ineffective angle. Attesting to his prowess, Grant has submitted twelve of his sixteen victories. Roller should be the stronger wrestler with the edge of control while Grant's technical arsenal is much broader. This will be a steep test for Roller's fight IQ and mental fortitude. He has more punching power and strength but must carefully avoid the litany of traps that Grant will bait him with, especially in scrambles. It's possible that Roller will keep this fight standing where the same proportion of power versus technique applies -- though Grant's resilient chin should carry him through on the feet. As I mentioned, we haven't really seen Roller engage an opponent like Grant, so I'm admittedly unsure how he'll perform. Assuming Grant doesn't suffer adversely from the weight cut or get stuck in a stand up fight, I think he's the safe bet here. My Prediction: T.J. Grant by submission Michael Johnson (9-5) vs. Paul Sass (11-0) British submission provocateur Paul "Don't Call Me Sassy" Sass meets TUF finalist Michael Johnson in a battle for lightweight relevance. A little known fact: Johnson beat undefeated Pablo Garza (currently a UFC featherweight) by decision to get into the house. Though he barely crept by Nam Phan in the semis and lost in the finals, Johnson was giving Jonathan Brookins the business in the first round. Mostly lauded as a wrestler, it was Johnson's boxing that I was impressed with. He's an athletic kid with great instincts and a lot of time to grow and mature. In his post-TUF debut against Edward Faaloloto, his striking was crisp and his takedowns were fully functional. Johnson also switched stances (above) and looked entirely comfortable snapping one-twos. Not big on circling or angles, Johnson generally darts in and out of range while goring with straight punches or cracks a low kick from outside. To the left, Johnson shows encouraging diversity with his clinch game. After he clips a knee to the body but can't retain the Thai plum hold, Johnson thwacks a short forearm to the head that causes Faaloloto to cover up, enabling Johnson to regain the plum and bomb with knees. As soon as Faaloloto extracts his right hand and decides to attack rather than defend, Johnson disconnects and flurries with a brutal combination. This is a nice example of intelligent aggression. If you think pulling guard is some sort of dishonorable and degenerate act of mere desperation, Paul Sass might change your mind. He lit off his career with seven -- yah, seven -- wins by triangle, all in the first frame but one. His next bout was a first round heel hook, then he won his only decision, then another first round heel hook. For the UK scene, his competition was pretty sturdy: new UFC entry Jason Young, BAMMA lightweight Jason Ball and BAMMA lightweight champ Rob Sinclair. In his debut at UFC 120 against Mark Holst, Sass showed an uncanny ability to pull guard. In fact, I don't remember another fighter executing the technique so perfectly and consisting. Note, in all of these gifs, how Sass thrives with what so many are missing when pulling guard: deep penetration on his initial double leg. When the attempt is telegraphed and the result of failing miserably on the takedown, then it does seem like more of a disheveled flop. To the right is a prime example. After he's stuffed, notice how Sass stands back up and takes a deep step inward with his right foot; so far that he almost steps on Holst's left foot. Buried deep in the pocket, Sass quickly shuffles his left foot forward and drops to his back while holding a strong overhook on Holst's left arm. Pulling guard is a science that Paul Sass has perfected. It's refreshing to see someone bursting with confidence in their guard that strives to get into the position that many view as a weakness by default. From his guard, Sass drenches his opponent with relentless submission attempts through a hyperactive set of hips. As only the top of the food chain can, Sass controls posture and envelopes with his octopus-like limbs to chain unending submissions and sweeps together in effortless harmony. Both Sass and Johnson are fairly green against upper shelf competition. Sass has tackled big punchers in the past, but Johnson is yet to face a pure grappling wizard. Sass's stand up is not bad, but Johnson will have a hefty advantage, so the question becomes how well and how long Johnson can force a striking battle. If unwaveringly fixated on sprawling and brawling, I'd give this to Johnson, but I foresee Sass eventually working his magic. My Prediction: Paul Sass by submission Josh Neer (31-10-1) vs. Keith Wisniewski (28-12-1) Eighty fights worth of joint experience will accompany welterweights Josh Neer and Keith Wisniewski into the cage. Neer is the sort of fighter that I love to watch even though he won't become champion or perhaps even make waves in the division. A multiple-time "Fight of the Night" winner and Miletich Fighting Systems vet, Neer has always been a rugged boxer, but has significantly evolved his ground game late in his career. Wisniewski has also been in the cage with top-flight competition and returns to the Octagon for the first time since a UFC 56 loss to Nick Thompson. Both of these scrappers are tough as nails, but I like Neer in this one for his wicked hands and killer instinct. Mike Easton (10-1) vs. Byron Bloodworth (6-1) Easton's name might ring a bell from the controversial decision he was awarded in UWC over Chase Beebe. In fact, that 2009 catastrophe was the last time he fought. His original opponent, Jeff Hougland, has been replaced by another newcomer in Byron Bloodworth. Regardless of the decision, Easton hung in with a reputable bantamweight in Beebe and I expect a convincing victory. Joseph Sandoval (6-0) vs. Walel Watson (8-2) Being unfamiliar with Sandoval, I have seen Walel Watson in losing effort at Tachi Palace Fights. Seven of Watson's eight wins are by submission. Sandoval has been a Shark Fights staple, fighting only once elsewhere. Watson is incredibly tall for a 135-pounder at 5'11" and I'll guess that his height and sub-game will prevail.         http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/11/1/1759748/judo-chop-paul-sass-gives-a-clinic-in-pulling-guard-at-ufc-120                       Poll Winners of the top two fights? Edwards and Roller Edwards and Grant Oliveira and Roller Oliveira and Grant   6 votes | Results

Posted in: johnson, nbsp, sas, edward, grant

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Michael "The Menace" Johnson joins the Next Big Thing podcast to discuss his upcoming bout with Paul Sass at UFC on Versus 6.

Posted in: johnson, michael, thing podcast, michael johnson, paul sass

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Follow Anthony and Michael Johnson as they prepare for their UFC on Versus 6 bouts in party 1 of this exclusive photo gallery series.

Posted in: johnson, michael, series, photo, michael johnson

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So is UFC welterweight Charlie Brenneman for real? Or just real lucky? After bringing a horrible end to Rick's Story back in June, "The Spaniard" has been awarded with a shot up the rankings and a chance to get himself "in the mix" by taking on Anthony Johnson at UFC on Versus 6 this Saturday night (Oct. 1, 2011) at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The oddsmakers have tagged Brenneman a slight underdog at +160. That makes Johnson the favorite at -185 after making it rain takedowns in Seattle, where "Rumble" abandoned his stand-and-bang style in favor of a wrestling based attack that he used to dominate Dan Hardy at UFC Fight Night 24 earlier this year. It was a much-needed win, seeing as he had been out of the cage for 16 months due to injury Brenneman may be viewed as a slight step down, at least in name value, but he's a dangerous wrestler and as he's already proven once this year, he has no problem playing spoiler. And as the oddsmakers have indicated, Johnson's advantage is a slight one. Who takes home the "W" in this battle of up-and-coming welterweights? For more UFC on Versus 6 betting lines check out odds aggregate Odds Shark here.

Posted in: ufc, washington d.c, johnson, odd, brenneman

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently finalized its upcoming Versus TV fight card from the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" will be headlined by a bantamweight title fight that features champion Dominick Cruz trying to dominate the division's mightiest mouse, Demetrious Johnson. In the co-featured fight of the night, one of the heavyweight division's shortest fighters, Pat Barry, will take on its tallest, Stefan Struve. Other match-ups set for the televised main card include a welterweight war between Anthony Johnson and Charlie Brenneman, as well as a long awaited rematch that pits Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman. Here is the UFC on Versus 6 fight card and line-up: Main event: 135 lbs.: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson Main card (Versus): 265 lbs.: Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve170 lbs.: Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman
155 lbs.: Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman Preliminary card (May not be broadcast): 155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass155 lbs.: Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira
135 lbs.: Byron Bloodworth vs. Mike Easton 170 lbs.: T.J. Grant vs. Shane Roller 155 lbs.: Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski
135 lbs.: Joseph Sandoval vs. Walel Watson MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on Versus 6, beginning with the network telecast at 9 p.m. ET on Oct. 1. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night. We're still a couple of days away from showtime; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions for "Cruz vs. Johnson" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event. For the latest UFC on Versus 6 news and notes click here.

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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. At UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson this Saturday, UFC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will defend his title for the second time since coming over from the WEC as he faces Demetrious Johnson. It's a fantastic fight, which is exciting to have on free TV, but is unfortunately not receiving much of a promotional push. And that pretty much sums up the state of affairs in the 135 pound Bantamweight division. These fighters are consistently putting on excellent fights, but are yet to break through and receive the attention of the higher weight classes. Will Cruz vs. Johnson change that? It's unlikely. The best bet for the division may be the boost in attention over the next few months thanks to The Ultimate Fighter, which will hopefully give this division some much deserved love. Next in Line: After Johnson, the title picture becomes very tricky, particularly if Cruz retains his belt. During Cruz's combined WEC and UFC championship runs, he has defeated almost every top name in the division, and the UFC has yet to bring in anyone new to provide a fresh challenge. So it's likely Cruz's next challenger would be someone he has already defeated. Best bet is the winner of Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles at UFC 139. Both have lost to Cruz, but Faber is 1-1 against the champ, and the Bowles fight ended with an unsatisfying injury, so a rematch for either man can be justified. For Faber though, this would be his 4th shot at a title since losing the Feathwerwight belt to Mike Brown. At some point, you have to admit it's just not going to happen. If Johnson wins on Saturday, it's even more likely to be Bowles or Faber, and the options for the future open up considerably. Key Match Ups: There are not a ton of big fights scheduled in the somewhat shallow Bantamweight division, but there are a pair that will help sort things out. As always with 135, these should be great fights. Jeff Curran vs. Scott Jorgensen (UFC 137) - This is a big fight for Curran. The 34 year old veteran has fought everywhere - Pride, the UFC, WEC - and is 4-1 since leaving the WEC in 2009. A win here could move him right into title contention, largely because he would make a new name at the top. Jorgensen looked great in his last fight, and will hope for another spectacular finish here. Brad Pickett vs. Renan Barao (UFC 139) - Pickett has been out this year due to injury, but he's on a great 10-1 run that includes his claim as the only man to defeat Demetrious Johnson. A Pickett win here and a Johnson win would give Pickett a strong argument for a title shot. As for Berao, he lost his MMA debut, but in the 27 fights and over 6 years since that debut, he's never been defeated again. That's an impressive run. Future Contenders: I expect this list will grow at the end of The Ultimate Fighter, but for now, there are a handful of names with no fights currently lined up, but who could find themselves moving into contention depending on how their next few fights play out. Joseph Benavidez - Teammate to Urijah Faber, Benavidez is a serious powerhouse in the division, who only has two loses in his career. Unfortunately, both of those loses are to Cruz. A Cruz loss puts him right back at the top, but until then, he's stuck in a bit of a holding pattern. Michael McDonald - He's not quite there yet, but the 13-1 fighter has some big names on his resume, and at only 20 years old, has the potential to really make a name in the division in the coming few years. He has just been announced as facing Johnny Eduardo at UFC 139. Takeya Mizugaki - Since coming to the US, Mizugaki has been on a consistent "win one, lose one" pattern, defeating lower tier opponents, but never taking out a top 5. He seems stuck just outside the elite level of the division, but a few big wins could move him in. Ivan Menjivar - This 10 year veteran has fought a ton of major names, including no less than Georges St. Pierre way back in 2002. He's dropped from Welterweight clear down to Bantamweight, and has done well at the weight so far. Miguel Torres - The former champion was considered by some to be a top 5 pound for pound fighter when he ruled the division. That was a bit excessive, but he remains a legitimate threat despite his 2-2 record since losing the belt. He needs a couple big wins to get back into title contention. SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Poll Who will be the next Bantamweight title challenger? Urijah Faber Brian Bowles Other   0 votes | Results

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MMAFrenzy.com continues its preview of UFC on Versus 6 with a new take on our head-to-head breakdowns. Each day we’ll look at a different fight from Saturday’s main card, ending with the main event on Friday. UFC on Versus 6 takes place this Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.. A bantamweight title fight between champion Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson will headline the card. The fight marks the first time a title fight will air free on TV since 2007’s UFC 75. While no announcement has been made yet about the preliminary fights, the fights will likely air on Facebook. Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman Keys for Johnson (BR)-  Anthony Johnson is going to be the bigger guy here. Oh, is that obvious? Okay. Anthony Johnson is going to be the taller guy here. This is not going well. Johnson will hold a distinct advantage on the feet in this matchup. Brenneman has never displayed overly impressive striking during his UFC career, with all three of his victories coming via decision. In fact, he faced a fellow wrestler in Johny Hendricks at UFC 117, and was knocked out early in the 2nd round. Johnson will look to utilize a similar plan to end the match in a similar fashion. When (and when is important) Johnson looks to use his brute power against someone, it usually does not end well for his opponent. Surprisingly, Johnson has been in the UFC for over four years. In that time, he has six wins, five by knockout or TKO. With Brenneman at least being on par with Johnson in regards to wrestling, it looks like Johnson will employ a strategy opposite of his critiqued performance against Dan Hardy. That performance was critiqued since Johnson openly boasted that the fight with Hardy would be a standup war. Then Johnson came in, kicked Hardy once, then repeatedly took Hardy down to coast to an easy unanimous decision victory. Johnson gets lost within a fight when things are not going his way. That was obvious in his fight against Josh Koscheck at UFC 106. Johnson likes to dictate the pace and style of the fight. So when he does not, he is at his most vulnerable. Brenneman can take advantage of that, much like how he employed his strategy on Rick Story. Johnson must stay away from being brought into Brenneman’s game. Keys for Brenneman (Chris Leslie)- Charlie Brenneman (pictured via UFC.com) got the chance of a lifetime when Nate Marquardt was not cleared for UFC on Versus 4 during the summer and Brenneman filled in against Rick Story. Brenneman pulled off a surprising upset that clinched a magical week for the  hometown fighter. Brenneman will be looking to catch lightning twice Saturday night when he faces Johnson. The key for Brenneman will be to close distance and work inside the reach of the much larger Johnson. Johnson will also likely weigh considerably more than Brenneman  on fight night. In order for Brenneman to overcome this, he cannot shoot straight in. Rather than shooting shots that put Brenneman where Johnson can use that weight, Brenneman needs to shoot for singles, preferably outside ones. Brenneman needs this fight on the ground like a fish needs water. While Mike Constantino has done a lot for Brenneman, Brenneman does not have the power or length that Johnson has in the striking game. If the the striking game was a hurricane, the maximum reach would be the eye wall. In order for Brenneman to survive the storm he has to punch his way inside to get to a point where he’ll take the least damage, the clinch. Expect Brenneman to punch his way in and then use a few strikes before trying to get this fight to the ground. In the end, it’s quite simple, the longer the fight stays standing the less likely it is that Brenneman will be winning. Check out MMAFrenzy.com’s complete coverage of UFC on Versus 6 by clicking here.

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Reigning Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz, who will look to make his fourth successful title defense when he meets Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson at UFC on Versus 6, discusses his opponent, as well as his expectations for the fight. Cruz acknowledges the competitor that Johnson is, but says he's planning to badly hurt "DJ" this Saturday night.

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With a new team and a new approach, Anthony Johnson is ready to give fans and critics new things to talk about when it comes to his fighting career.

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The UFC Bantamweight Championship is up for grabs for the third time since the promotion added the division to the roster late last year.Dominick Cruz is the reigning champion. With wins over Urijah Faber, Brian Bowles, Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen, he is truly one of the elite fighters in the world, despite the fact that he is still a newcomer to UFC fans. Demetrious Johnson is the challenger. Nonetheless, he is probably better known to UFC fans because he has already competed twice inside the Octagon, compared to just once for Cruz. In those two fights, Johnson toppled two of the division’s biggest names, Miguel Torres and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto.Whether or not fans recognize the names, this fight is must-see TV. Generally speaking, the bantamweights put on incredibly entertaining fights. It’s often like watching the Energizer Bunny fight his twin brother on fast forward. Cruz versus Johnson should be that plus a large dose of caffeine because these guys put the pedal to the metal once the action gets underway, and neither one stops until the bout has concluded, regardless of how long it lasts.Cruz is a pretty straightforward fighter. He likes to mix wrestling and kickboxing, often equally willing to slug it out on the feet or take an opponent down and slug him on the ground. He isn’t really a submission guy. Just one of his 18 professional wins came by tap out. His blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also isn’t going to scare anybody. That is about as novice as one would expect for a UFC champion.Still, Cruz is far from a novice ground fighter. Sure, his lone career loss was by submission, but he was completely out on his feet, thanks to a perfectly executed knee strike, when he basically gave his neck to Faber, begging to be submitted. Other than that, Cruz hasn’t succumbed to any ground fighter’s attacks. So, one must assume that his submission defense is much better than that of a traditional blue belt. He might not surprise anyone with a flying armbar, but I am quite sure that he knows how to defend one.On paper, Johnson should be Cruz’s kryptonite. He is a very good wrestler with solid submission skills that have seen him end five of his career victories by tap out. Yet, Faber also fit that description, and most probably believe that Faber is both a better wrestler and better ground fighter than Johnson. Yet, he could not pass the Cruz test back in July. In other words, I’m not sure that Johnson has the BJJ chops to catch Cruz in something, unless he first lands a fight-altering strike to scramble the champion’s wits. Granted, that is based in large part on how Cruz looked in his recent fight against Faber. That might not be a fair assessment. It is what it is.I think Cruz will come out looking to stick and move, just like he did against Faber. Johnson will look to strike just long enough to set up a takedown. He wants no part of a slugfest with Cruz. I’m not suggesting that Cruz is a standup crusher. He is not. Then again, very few guys south of 155 pounds possess legitimate one-strike knockout power. Instead, Cruz is a very good, technical striker. He strikes with incredible speed and uses very good footwork and lateral movement to keep his opponent off balance. He also frustrates his foes with shots thrown from unconventional angles and his constant herky-jerky motion. Johnson cannot match him on the feet, so he should not try. He needs to take the fight to the place where Cruz is the least comfortable—on his back. Easier said than done. Again, Faber is one of the best wrestlers in the bantamweight division. Yet, he could not turn things into a grappling match with the champion. That doesn’t leave me feeling good about Johnson’s chances at accomplishing that goal, but it certainly can be done.Cruz’s awkward standup style is predicated on the fact that he is a come-forward fighter. If Johnson can get him to move backward by applying calculated pressure via a rapid, accurate jab, Cruz should start moving backward. Johnson can use that opportunity to change levels and shoot under his opponent’s counters or high guard. Cruz has a great sprawl, but nobody has a great sprawl when moving backward while trying to counter or cover up.Once the fight hits the ground, Johnson should use punches and elbows to open the door for submissions. Cruz is very good at scrambling back to his feet, so working from a pure grappling perspective isn’t a great idea. Johnson needs to force the champion to defend strikes, which will preclude him from effectively scrambling. If Cruz spends three or four minutes of a round on his back, one must assume that the blue belt will make a mistake that Johnson can capitalize on. Then again, maybe not. But who really cares? Any time Johnson spends in the top position is time spent winning the fight. Time spent on the feet likely means time spent losing the fight. Like the co-featured bout between Pat Barry and Stefan Struve, this bout is all about where the fight unfolds. Cruz has the advantage on the feet. Johnson has the advantage on the ground. The man who dictates where the action unfolds more often than not will win the fight, absent someone capitalizing on a silly, fight-stopping mistake.I will admit that I was not a Cruz believer heading in to his July bout with Faber. I’m a believer now, particularly after re-watching that fight a handful of times. Cruz is an amazingly effective fighter, one who should give Johnson loads of trouble.QUICK FACTS:Dominick Cruz•    26 years old•    5’8, 135•    68-inch reach•    18-1 overall (8-1 UFC/WEC)•    5-0 in last 5•    9-1 in last 10 •    Currently riding a 9-fight winning streak•    Lone professional loss by submission•    Fight of the Night twice•    Current layoff is 91 days•    Longest layoff of career is 364 daysDemetrious Johnson•    25 years old•    5’3, 135•    66-inch reach•    14-1 overall (4-1 UFC/WEC)•    4-1 in last 5 •    9-1 in last 10•    Currently riding a 4-fight winning streak•    Lone professional loss by decision•    Current layoff is 126 days•    Longest layoff of career is 203 days

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Everyone loves a Cinderella story, and when Charlie Brenneman stepped in to replace Nate Marquardt with just a day’s notice against Rick Story for UFC on Versus 5’s co-main event – and he won – well, it doesn’t get more Cinderella-esque than that.  (Fact: at the stroke of midnight on June 26, right after Brenneman won, his coach, Mike Constantino, turned back into a field mouse and their car turned into a pumpkin.)  Of course, questions linger, like “Was the win a fluke?” and “Is Brenneman really that good or does Story just suck at wrestling?”  Folks, it was no fluke.  And while yes, Story probably does suck at wrestling (I kid, he wrestled in college), the man affectionately known as “The Spaniard” has been kicking butt from the beginning.  I know because I was there for his first few pro fights. When Brenneman made his pro debut, he had relentless collegiate-level wrestling, phenomenal conditioning, a string of victories as an amateur, bragging rights for having won the first season of the SpikeTV show “Pros vs. Joes”, and big hair.  All of those traits (except maybe the big hair) contributed to his dominant performances, which came one after the other in promotions like Extreme Challenge, Ring of Combat and ShoXC.  No one – including jiu-jitsu black belt Marcello Olivera, grappler Jordan Damon, judoka Joe Aviles and wrestler Mark Berraciol – could stop his takedowns and escape his nonstop pressure.  And that was the gist of it in those bouts; Brenneman was all about getting the fight to the canvas and playing smashmouth with his fists and forearms.  Everyone either wilted or was smothered until the final bell tolled.  It was like watching a larger version of Frankie Edgar. It goes without saying that Brenneman isn’t exactly an Edgar clone, as the UFC lightweight champ has better boxing and submission skills, is an aggressive finisher, and has defeated the best.  But the Spaniard has only tasted defeat twice – once via close decision to John Howard, and once via TKO to Johny Hendricks in the Octagon.  And he’s still growing and maturing.  How does Brenneman stack up against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, his opponent on Saturday night?  If how well he handled Story is any indication, Brenneman will have little problem putting Johnson on his back and keeping him there.  The only question mark, really, is if Johnson will succumb to the repeated blows to his dome or if he’ll endure the punishment for the entire fifteen minutes.   Either way, the smart money is on the Spaniard.  He’s been diligently working his way up the food chain since the beginning, and he’s not stopping for anything.

Posted in: johnson, story, brenneman, spaniard, field mouse

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The official weigh in event for UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" is set to take place at the DC Armory (2001 East Capitol Street SE) in Washington, D.C., on Fri., Sept. 30, 2011. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the UFC on Versus 6 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 4 p.m. ET. UFC on Versus 6 will be headlined by a bantamweight title fight that features champion Dominick Cruz trying to dominate the division's mightiest mouse, Demetrious Johnson. In the co-featured fight of the night, one of the heavyweight division's shortest fighters, Pat Barry, will take on its tallest, Stefan Struve. Other match ups set for the televised main card include a welterweight war between Anthony Johnson and Charlie Brenneman, as well as a long awaited rematch that pits Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman. Here is the current UFC on Versus 6 fight card: Main event: 135 lbs.: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson Main card (Versus): 265 lbs.: Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve170 lbs.: Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman
155 lbs.: Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman 155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass Preliminary card (May not be broadcast): 155 lbs.: Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira
135 lbs.: Byron Bloodworth vs. Mike Easton 170 lbs.: T.J. Grant vs. Shane Roller 155 lbs.: Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski
135 lbs.: Joseph Sandoval vs. Walel Watson For those fortunate enough to be in the nation's capital this weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 2 p.m. ET. In addition, UFC Fight Club members will be able to attend a special Q&A session with surging middleweight contender Mark Munoz at 3 p.m. local time. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Oct. 1), which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on the Versus network. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC on Versus 6 coverage you can handle.

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Follow Demetrious Johnson as he prepares to face Dominick Cruz for the UFC bantamweight championship this weekend.

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Standing just 5’3″ tall, Demetrious Johnson is one of the shortest fighters in the UFC’s smallest weight class, bantamweight (135 pounds), and a top candidate to drop to 125-pounds when the UFC adds a flyweight division. But that hasn’t stopped “Mighty Mouse” from nearly reaching the pinnacle of all professional fighters’ dreams: a world championship. Johnson will get that chance this Saturday at UFC on Versus 6, as he takes on the current bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz, in the main event. Johnson joined the WEC in April of last year, losing his debut against Brad Pickett, but has since won four in a row, including his most recent win over former WEC champion Miguel Torres at UFC 130. Johnson recenty spoke with MMAFrenzy.com regarding the opportunity in front of him, as well as the recovery from his last fight. In Dominick Cruz, Johnson takes on an opponent who, like him, has only lost once during his career. While he will bring a height advantage, Cruz’ arms are only two inches longer in reach compared to Johnson. Plus, Johnson is one of the few guys that can compete with Cruz athletically. “Dominick is a great champion,” said Johnson. “He’s always been well prepared for five rounds, but so am I. He is a cardio machine, so I know I have to have better cardio than him.” That preparation is evident with Cruz’ last three fights all going the distance in five round bouts. In fact, only one of Cruz’ last eight fights have ended prior to the third round. In Johnson’s most recent match with Miguel Torres, Johnson won a close unanimous decision. Johnson feels that prepared him for the taller Cruz, as Miguel is even taller than Cruz at 5’9″, while Cruz is 5’8″. In that fight, Johnson broke his fibia in the second round. This hampered Johnson’s training, but did not hamper his spirits or his chances at the title. “Breaking my fibia was tough,” said Johnson. “I love staying busy. I’m young and I heal well. Being on crutches for six weeks was boring, but I started training full time as soon I was cleared.” Even with his ascent to the top of the bantamweight division, rumors have continually gone around regarding a drop to 125 pounds once the flyweight division is introduced to the UFC. Johnson is only focused on what is happening now, stating “I’m not too sure what I will do. I am focused on Dominick right now, and winning would keep me at 135 pounds. I would want to keep the belt for as long as I can.” This fight with Cruz will be Johnson’s first fight on the East Coast, and more importantly, will be the first championship fight on free television since UFC 75, which saw Rampage Jackson defeat Dan Henderson. Johnson does not care whether the fight is a main event on pay-per-view or on free television. “It doesn’t bother me. The same results will happen if I win. I leave with the belt no matter what.” For complete coverage of UFC on Versus 6, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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Two of the fastest-rising welterweight prospects in the UFC will meet this Saturday night (October 1, 2011) on the UFC on Versus 6 main card as Charlie Brenneman takes on the always dangerous Anthony Johnson in a bout with some important divisional implications. Brenneman finally made his mark in the UFC after stepping up on extremely late notice to take out Rick Story in the co-main event of UFC on Versus 5 earlier this Summer. It was an incredibly gutsy maneuver and it paid off for the AMA Fight Club fighter big time. Now he's looking to prove he deserves his place in the rankings. Anthony Johnson has always been a talented prospect in the UFC but he's never truly gotten over the hump to become a top contender. His victory over Dan Hardy earlier this year after a 17 month layoff helped his cause, and now he's looking to take it to the next level. Will Brenneman continue his feel-good story by outwrestling the wrestler? Can Johnson silence the critics with another tremendous knockout? Who will dive headfirst into "the mix" in the crowded welterweight division? Charlie Brenneman Record: 14-2 overall, 3-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Rick Story (UFC on Versus 5), Jason High (UFC Fight Night 21), Amilcar Alves (UFC Fight for the Troops 2) Key Losses: Johny Hendricks (UFC 117), John Howard (Ring of Combat 21) How he got here: Believe it or not, Charlie Brenneman was mildly famous before he ever stepped foot in a cage. He competed on the original season of Spike TV's Pros vs. Joes and actually ended up winning the show alongside his brother. It was only after winning the show that he began his mixed martial arts career. Brenneman had been a strong collegiate wrestler and he carried that system into his fighting. He repeatedly took his opponents down and smashed them. After compiling an 11-1 record on the regional circuit, he made his UFC promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 21 against fellow newcomer Jason High. Brenneman was able to utilize his wrestling to take down the wrestler and win a unanimous decision. He would be thrown to the wolves in his next bout at UFC 117 when he squared off against former national champion wrestler Johny Hendricks. "The Spaniard" won the first round pretty handily but that only angered Hendricks, who came out and knocked Brenneman down three times in the first 40 seconds of the second round to win via technical knockout. The AMA Fight Club member rebounded against Amilcar Alves with a unanimous decision in his next fight and was slated to face T.J. Grant at UFC on Versus 5, but Grant had to pull out during fight week with an illness. Brenneman cut weight anyways and was a surprise replacement for Nate Marquardt, who was booted from the UFC after a testing too high on his testosterone levels. The Pennsylvania native shocked the MMA world by repeatedly putting top 10 welterweight Rick Story on his back and winning a unanimous decision. He'll be tested this Saturday night against another top divisional contender in Anthony Johnson. How he gets it done: Brenneman has decent striking and submissions, but it's his wrestling that gets him his victories. He's not likely to knock anyone out standing, but what he does do incredibly well is set up takedowns with his striking.  Even when his opponents know what's coming, he can distract them with a hook and dive in for a double leg takedown. Brenneman is tenacious with his wrestling and really puts his opponents on their backs better than anyone not named Georges St. Pierre in the welterweight division.  His key to victory will be using leverage and technique to make up for what will likely be a large strength and size disadvantage. "The Spaniard" does a great job working his takedowns whether they are in the center of the cage or along the fence and he chains his attempts together well, which can catch opponents off balance. He doesn't pass guard very well, at least not at a high level, so he'll have to remain very active with short punches from guard if he doesn't want to get stood up. Anthony Johnson Record: 9-3 overall, 6-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Dan Hardy (UFC Fight Night 24), Yoshiyuki Yoshida (UFC 104) Key Losses: Josh Koscheck (UFC 106), Rich Clementi (UFC 76) How he got here: Anthony Johnson took the fast track to the UFC. With his freakish size and power for a welterweight, he made his promotional debut in just his fourth professional fight. Prior to that, he had been a national champion wrestling on the junior college level. He didn't get off to a great start in the UFC, going 2-2 in his first four fights, losing via submission to the significantly smaller Rich Clementi and getting his eye poked badly by Kevin Burns which somehow resulted in a TKO loss. In between those fights, he showed his potential by knocking Ultimate Fighter season six finalist Tommy Speer silly in less than a minute with a vicious punch. "Rumble" went on a solid three fight win streak, avenging the eye poke to Burns and knocking out both Luigi Fioravanti and Yoshiyuki Yoshida in the first round. This earned him a big time divisional match-up against top contender Josh Koscheck. Johnson struggled to land big strikes against Koscheck, resorting to wild punches and his lack of a serious submission game resulted in a second round rear naked choke defeat. He was slated to face John Howard but their fight next got past the ridiculously awesome war of words before Johnson was sidelined with a horrible knee injury. He would be shelved for 17 months before finally returning against Dan Hardy at UFC Fight Night 24. Johnson smashed Hardy with strikes and then rode out a decision with his significantly superior wrestling, something he caught some flack from the fans and media. He was originally going to fight Nate Marquardt at UFC on Versus 5 but was sidelined with another injury but is ready to go this Saturday night against his Brenneman. How he gets it done: Everyone only seems to remember his last fight, in which Johnson positionally dominated Dan Hardy with his wrestling in the final two rounds, but they seem to forget every one of his other UFC fights prior. Johnson has knocked out his opponent in every other one of his UFC victories. He's got some serious power. "Rumble" is very dangerous with not only his punches but also his kicks, something Brenneman should be very careful about considering he tends to stoop down a lot looking for takedowns.  Johnson is the bigger, stronger fighter so his best plan of action would be to employ the "sprawl and brawl" style that Jens Pulver and Chuck Liddell made famous back in the day. When Brenneman shoots in for takedowns, Johnson immediately needs to grab some underhooks or drop down in a deep sprawl. He's a solid wrestler in his own right but why risk it by turning this fight into a grappling match? In the stand-up, Johnson should keep his distance because he's got a significant eight inch reach advantage with his punches. He could pick Brenneman apart with a lead jab and then follow up with a power strike if he does any damage.  Hopefully he's been putting some time in the gym working on his knees. A well-timed knee can be the perfect foil to a great wrestler and Brenneman's chin likely wouldn't hold up if he gets blasted badly on the way in. Fight "X-Factor:" The X-Factor for this fight has to be Anthony Johnson's size. Charlie Brenneman will want to take him down but that will not be easy considering Johnson's wrestling credentials and the fact that he might be the largest welterweight in the world. Johnson is 6'2 and routinely cuts from well over 200 pounds when preparing for a fight. That's a lethal combination that could spell doom for Charlie Brenneman.  Brenneman absolutely needs to use his technique to prevail here. His timing needs to be perfect with every takedown or he's going to be shrugged off with ease. If he can handle "Rumble's" size, he can win, but it certainly won't be easy. Bottom Line: There are a lot of questions about this fight in terms of excitement level. Johnson played it safe his last bout against Dan Hardy because "The Outlaw" couldn't wrestle, but that won't be the case against Brenneman. Brenneman doesn't play it safe with his wrestling, that's mainly his primary weapon in every fight. While his bout against Story was exciting mainly because of the whole underdog story of a guy stepping up on one day's notice, if he does the exact same thing against Anthony Johnson, people might start calling him boring.  Johnson will hopefully be looking for the knockout in the stand-up and Brenneman will hopefully be looking to actually pass guard and threaten with big ground and pound or submissions. If not, this one could lose steam very quickly. Who will come out on top at UFC on Versus 6 this Saturday night? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which welterweight will pull off the victory this Saturday night on the UFC on Versus 6 main card? Anthony Johnson Charlie Brenneman   4 votes | Results

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This weekend, twenty-five year old Demetrious Johnson will step inside the Octagon to challenge Dominick Cruz in the main event of UFC on Versus 6 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. Johnson currently enjoys a four-fight winning streak, with impressive victories over the legendary 135'ers in Miguel Torres and Kid Yamamoto. Here's the footage of Mighty Mouse's final preparations for the biggest fight of his MMA career so

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Lightweights Paul Sass and Michael Johnson get put in the spotlight heading into their meeting on Saturday night.

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The anecdotal first rule in real estate is “location, location, location”. The same can be said for being a professional UFC fighter because where one lives, what gym one goes to, and who one trains with has as great an effect on what happens in the Octagon as anything else. For The Ultimate Fighter season 12 finalist Michael Johnson, a change in camp showed immediate and marked improvement in his game, which helped earn “The Menace” his first victory in the UFC. As Johnson continues with this new camp, the lightweight division should expect a fast evolution for the wrestler with the dynamite hands. Johnson’s new home is an upstart gym with more than a couple recognizable names to the UFC faithful. “I am down at the Blackzilian camp in Florida with Rashad Evans, Anthony Johnson, Gesias ‘JZ’ Cavalcante, and the Villefort brothers,” states Johnson. The actual gym, which houses the Blackzilians is Imperial Athletics in Boca Raton, Florida. Evans began putting the team together after his storied departure from Jackson’s MMA and Grudge Training Center, and culled the rest of the talent through a familiar entity: their management. “We all have the same managers at Authentic Sports Management,” explains Johnson. “It was just kind of one of those things that ended up happening. I came down to help JZ get ready for a fight and I just fell in love with it down here and the situation they had. I decided to stay and give it a shot.”The 25-year old relocated from Missouri to South Florida earlier this year ahead of his bout with Edward Faaloloto at UFC Live in June. “Everything felt good for that fight and I came in a little bit more prepared and did what I had to do,” says Johnson, who was making his first appearance in the Octagon post-TUF and post his finale decision loss to Jonathan Brookins last December. “I felt really good going into that fight. With the layoff, I had plenty of time to work on the mistakes in my game that I made in the finale fight. I felt like I was in the best shape of my life after having a really long training camp and having some great coaches.”One coach’s work with Johnson was especially apparent in the bout with Faaloloto; that of Diogenes Assahida. The fight didn’t make it past the first round, as “The Menace” finished Faaloloto by TKO, but the fans got an eyeful prior to that with Johnson’s noticeably different Muay Thai standup. Assahida’s most famous student is none other than UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. The similarities were obvious to even casual fans: continuously switching stances, fluid powerful punches right down the center, a tight clinch with knees, and a stoppage. More than anything, it showed Johnson is ready to learn and can soak up knowledge like a sponge.“For the Eddie fight, I was working with a great striking coach, Diogenes Assahida, and he showed me some real good skills,” said Johnson. “Now, I have a new striking coach from Holland named Henri Hooht. I love his style, the Dutch style of kickboxing. I'm evolving everyday with my standup. I'm tightening up my standup and I'm punching with a lot more power and speed. It's always good to have that wrestling background, but I want to go in there and decide fights on my feet. I love to stand and give the crowd a show to look at. That's what everyone wants to see and that's what I'm fitting to put on.”On October 1st at UFC Live, Johnson’s next challenger will be the undefeated English prospect, Paul “Sassangle” Sass. At first glance, the moniker may appear odd, but one look at the 23-year old’s record explains everything. In short, Sass is good at triangle chokes - really good. Out of Sass’ 11 wins, 10 are by submission and eight of those are triangles, including UFC 120’s “Submission of the Night”, which “Sassangle” tapped Canadian Mark Holst with at the end of the first round. Johnson has lost by the dreaded triangle choke before the UFC, but he believes he’s learned from those mistakes and is a whole new breed of fighter now.“I think it makes it easier for me because I only have one thing to worry about,” asserts Johnson. “I was beat by triangles earlier in my career when I was just getting started in pro fights a couple years ago. I made those changes where I would never get choked like that again. I would be winning the fight and then I'd end up getting triangle choked. I dedicated myself in the gym to really work on that. It's a huge difference now. If he caught me a couple years ago, when I was easily getting caught in triangles because I wasn't defending them the right way, then I could see this going his way. But I don't really see that happening in this fight.”At 10-5, Johnson has displayed heavy hands in his standup, but his original background is in wrestling, so if Sass gets the fight to the floor, he’s ready. “I definitely think my wrestling overpowers his jiu-jitsu,” affirms Johnson, who confidently believes he can best Sass in his area of expertise if the fight ends up there, and if it doesn’t, then Sass is in a world of trouble. “Regardless, if the fight goes to the ground and he's on his back and he's trying to throw submissions and he can't submit me, then he's losing. If he is standing on his feet with me then he's going to be losing in that aspect as well. I see he his strengths, but I think they are easily beatable if I stick to my gameplan.”In the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., Johnson will look to put his hands on the submission specialist, Sass, live on Versus. “Every time I step into the cage, I'm there to fight for the full 15 minutes with everything I can because I'm in this sport to be the champ and my goal is definitely trying to accomplish that in the next few years.” He’s certainly with the right camp, the right coaches, and the right teammates, as he’s got the Blackzilians to help him one day achieve that goal. “I feel extremely blessed to learn from this group of guys and it motivates me every day to go in there and work with those guys. They show me the level that I need to be at to accomplish my goals in the UFC. And come the fight, I will go in there and put everything on the line and put on a show for the fans and they will not be disappointed.”

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When it comes to sleight of hand and psychological warfare, Anthony Johnson’s defeat of Dan Hardy in March was a masterstroke. With all five of his previous UFC wins coming by knockout – and not just plain ol’ knockouts, but the ‘fall down in funny ways’ knockouts – Johnson’s claim that he was going to go toe-to-toe with “The Outlaw” wasn’t just greeted with cheers from fight fans, but from Hardy as well.Then came the first takedown.  And the second. And the third. And you get the picture. For three rounds, Johnson baffled Hardy with the wrestling skills that had earned “Rumble” an accolade many forgot he had – a junior college national championship for Lassen Community College. The shutout three round decision in Johnson’s favor when it was all over? A mere formality.“I pretty much knew what I was gonna do,” said Johnson. “I just wanted to mess with him a little bit because I knew he was really wanting somebody to stand and bang with him. But why would I take a 50-50 chance? Even though I know I’m a better striker than him – nothing against his striking or anything – why take a chance of getting caught when I know I’m better than him on the ground?”Sure, the win (Johnson’s ninth against three losses) isn’t going to earn him any nominations for Fight of the Year, but in terms of putting together a brilliant gameplan and sticking to it against a tough opponent, you can’t help but give him his respect. And when it comes down to it, he won the fight with his brain and not just his brawn.“The mental game is the most important part of fighting in my opinion,” said Johnson. “If you have that mental edge and mental toughness, you’ll be able to be successful in fighting, no matter what skill level you’re at. It plays a big part, and fighting against Dan Hardy, it definitely worked to my advantage.”As for the critics who were expecting thunder from “Rumble,” he takes such talk with a grain of salt.“The true fans and true MMA analysts that understand fighting and know MMA, it shocked them, but they also respected what I did,” he said. “People who don’t know fighting and that just want to see people go in there and try to knock each other’s head off, they didn’t like it at all. They just want to see a bloodsport, and that’s not what MMA is all about. To me, this is my career, it’s my body, it’s my fight, and I’m gonna do what I’ve got to do to win. And if I have to play that psychological game with somebody, I’ll do that.”To many observers, the Hardy fight showed the evolution of the 27-year old’s fight game. We already saw the fight ending power, speed, and explosiveness. In March we witnessed him taking a bout to the mat and controlling it there from start to finish. That’s something every welterweight in the UFC has to think about from now on, but the way Johnson looks at the whole situation, he’s not even close to where he needs to be. “No, not yet,” said Johnson, who faces Charlie Brenneman this Saturday night in Washington, D.C. “I think this fight right here will show a lot with my takedown defense, takedowns, and striking. Each fight is a step forward and I think I get better and better in every fight. I think my performance against Dan Hardy was one of my worst ones, but after being out for a year, I came in and did what I had to do. But Charlie Brenneman’s really gonna bring out the fighter in me.”That should be something to see, as Brenneman - fresh off his upset win over Rick Story in June - is on a similar mission to get by his opponent on Saturday night and start making some noise among the 170-pound elite. Johnson likes the matchup and his fellow wrestler’s style.“He just goes after it,” said Johnson of former Lock Haven University wrestler Brenneman.  “I like his style of fighting and he’s real smooth. He keeps coming forward, his wrestling is so good, and he puts it together really well. I saw his fight against Rick Story and he had a gameplan that is almost the same one for everyone he fights. He might take a couple punches, but he’ll grab a leg and hold on to it for dear life just to get that takedown. And he’s pretty accurate with his takedowns. He’s one of those guys that if you don’t stay on your toes and move and get the job done, then he’ll beat you with his takedowns.”And though Johnson isn’t predicting that a wrestling match will break out in the Nation’s capital, he does admit that when one wrestler faces another, there’s always a little something extra to prove. “We have to be like that,” said Johnson. “Charlie Brenneman feels his wrestling is better than mine, and I feel mine is better than his, and that’s just where we’re at. We’re two competitive guys who come from the toughest sport in the world besides MMA, and that’s just how we think. But do we take our opponent’s talent for granted? No, not at all, because we know that one takedown could be a win or loss for a round. It’s gonna be fun and I’ve got a lot of respect for Charlie and his camp.”A win on Saturday would be his fifth in his last six bouts, with the only loss coming to Josh Koscheck in 2009. Of course injuries have slowed the Georgia native’s progress, but with the Hardy win and this week’s bout against Brenneman, he will be firmly back in the spotlight. There was also the business of a movie role earlier this year, as Johnson had a nice part in the film ‘Warrior.’“It was cool,” said Johnson of being on the silver screen. “Being on set for the movie was great. (Director) Gavin O’Connor and (Producer) Greg O’Connor were great, and it was fun having the TapouT guys there, even though Mask wasn’t there, and he was the whole reason I was in the movie. Those guys did such a great job, and they let the actors do the acting and the fighters do the fighting. They didn’t try and make a fighter be an actor, but when it came down to the fighting scenes, they actually took our advice whenever it came down to how it would look or how it would be in a certain situation or which move would actually look like a real MMA move. And that was cool because they were willing to listen to us and get our two cents. I think that’s what made it such a good movie. The writers did a really good job, the actors did such a good job, and it was unbelievable.”So are we about to lose Johnson to Hollywood? He laughs.“Acting is not my thing, but if it came down to it and somebody offered me another role, I would do it,” he said. “It’s actually pretty fun when you’re on set and you know people and everybody’s cool like they were on the set of ‘Warrior.’ But that (acting) is a lot of work.”It’s safe to say that he prefers his day job to long hours on the set, and he’s more than ready to hear the referee call “action” this Saturday night. And whatever the future brings, he’ll deal with it then.“I don’t really think about where this fight puts me, I just try and fight and keep it moving until my time comes,” said Johnson. “For the longest, I’ve been looking to see my name up there in the Top Ten, and I can’t complain that I’m not in it because I still haven’t paid my dues and I haven’t done what I need to do to be noticed as a Top Ten fighter. So we’ll see what’s next for me after this fight, but my goal is to win and keep going forward.”

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It's not the size of the man in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the man. That's why Demetrious Johnson isn't afraid to go for the title at 135lbs then conquer the 125lb division.

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Things have come quickly for Demetrious Johnson and that's just the way he likes it. He is, after all, one of the quickest fighters on the planet. Just 18 months after making his debut with Zuffa at WEC 48, the 25-year old will be challenging for the UFC world bantamweight title. "Mighty Mouse" took his training to the next level, quitting his 40 hour a week construction side job upon hearing the news so he could focus on being a fighter full-time.  The AMC Pankration fighter training out of Kirkland, Washington earned his shot after a strong four fight winning streak which culminated in a unanimous decision victory over former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres this past May. Johnson will challenge current UFC bantamweight chamion Dominick Cruz for the title this Saturday night (October 1, 2011) in the main event of UFC on Versus 6 in Washington D.C. and he spoke with MMAmania.com during a guest appearance on The Verbal Submission radio show about recovering from a broken leg, dealing with Cruz's unique style and what he brings to the table on Saturday night. Gerry Rodriguez: Going into that fight with Miguel Torres, there was a considerable size difference. I remember asking you about that. Once you got in the cage, you were able to negate his attacks. What was going inside your head. Were you think, "Wow, this is easier than I thought," or was it pretty much what you expected? Demetrious Johnson: I think the fight with Miguel Torres didn't go according to plan because as you know I broke my fibula so I couldn't execute the gameplan 110 percent like we wanted to. The gameplan was to stay on the feet and bang it out with him and I was being successful when I was on my feet so I had to resort back to my wrestling because your fibula is the bone that controls all your movement on your tippy toes and stuff and I'm always on my toes. It was tough to pull off but I came away with the victory, got the 'W' over a very tough opponent. Miguel Torres used to be the 135 pound champion and he considered at one time one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. Ben Thapa: How do you feel about that fight, looking back on it now? Demetrious Johnson: I think, looking back on it, I showed glimpses of my stand-up. Me and my coaches were talking the other way, "When you were moving and you were fighting Miguel Torres, you were tearing him up on the feet. I wish you had never broke your leg because you probably could have knocked him out because you were doing really well." The whole controversy thing. I apologize that Miguel Torres lost. It's not my fault. It's the judges' decision to decide who wins or loses. My job is to go out there and fight and people get mad at me because I won. You're gonna have haters in this sport and I think if you have haters, you're doing something right I guess.  Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): When you broke your leg in the fight, how long did it actually sideline you in training? When did you feel like you were back up to full speed? Demetrious Johnson: It sidelined me for maybe 4-6 weeks. I was doing other stuff to keep training but to be full on training, it took about seven weeks to start jogging on it and after that, I was back at full time training, doing my CrossFit, my swimming and my lifting. I started doing a little movements and getting ready for the next fight depending on who it was. Ben Thapa: With the addition of the scar tissue now, do you think you can kick harder or better with that leg now? Demetrious Johnson: I think definitely I can kick probably a little harder with it. One of the things about when I broke my leg was it taught me how to kick a little better by aiming with the tibia, which is the bigger bone in the leg and now I think the scar tissue is good. I've been doing deep tissue massages every Friday morning after my CrossFit workouts and I think my leg is gonna be good to go. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): If you could go back in time a bit. What was your reaction when you got told that you were next in line for a title shot and this was gonna be on Versus? Were you jumping for joy? What was your reaction? Demetrious Johnson: My reaction was like any other fight. It's just another fight against Dominick Cruz and he just happens to be the world champion. The only thing that changed really was I quit my job so I could focus 110 percent on this fight. In all my other previous fights, I was working 40 hours a week in construction while getting ready for them and since it's on Versus, it's free TV. I'm glad for that. Not everybody wants to pay to watch people fight. I didn't pay to watch Floyd Mayweather fight Victor Ortiz the other night because I'm not gonna spend $70 to watch one fight that I want to watch. I'm happy it's free on TV. All the fans are gonna be able to watch it and it's gonna be an awesome fight. I'm gonna get in there and mix it up with him.  Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Both you and Dominick Cruz have unique styles that are very reliant on speed. Who do you think is faster between the two of you? Demetrious Johnson: In terms of running to see who's faster, I'd say me. In long distance, it's probably me but in the cage, we'll have to find out. Everybody says that I'm a lot faster like when Joe Rogan talks about when I fight, he talks about my speed. I have very explosive speed like 'BAM!' I'm there. Dominick moves so much and he's able to make people miss and he's able to capitalize on things. That's what makes him so much faster than his other opponents. I'm like just naturally fast and I always keep a high pace so it depends on which way you look at the question.  Ben Thapa: How many advantages do you think you have over Cruz? Demetrious Johnson: I don't want to say I have advantages over him. I think I'm gonna be able to succeed where everybody else has faltered when they fight him. Everybody gets hypnotized by him when he does all his movement and I'm gonna have hopefully the technique and the ability where Urijah Faber faltered and he wasn't on him all the time or where Brian Bowles didn't have the speed to keep up with him. I think I have the attributes and the ability to give Dominick Cruz one hell of a fight.  Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I know you're very cautious and secretive about your gameplan but have you found somebody in your camp who's able to emulate Cruz's style pretty well? Demetrious Johnson: Yes. I found somebody in my camp who can imitate Dominick Cruz's style to a T. I can actually imitate Dominick Cruz's style to a T too. The coach, his name is Trevor Jackson and Matt Hume can imitate Dominick Cruz pretty well too especially with his kneetap because Matt Hume was a college wrestler, a very good wrestler. Me and him were wrestling yesterday for like an hour straight going hard and I was like, "Man you're so fast!" and he was like, "Ain't nobody better than me, especially Dominick Cruz ain't better than me at wrestling, I guarantee you that!" Trevor Jackson, he watched 13 hours of Dominick Cruz, watching every single thing he does and breaking down everything he does and why he does it. I've been sparring him on Saturdays and Mondays and everything's been going good man. I can't wait for that fight. I think we've got his number this time and it's gonna be an awesome fight. Ben Thapa: What was something that you did different for this fight that you haven't done for others? Demetrious Johnson: My Rainier CrossFit team, they've been amping up my cardio for a five round fight and also getting my speed up a lot higher. People tell me, "You're getting your speed up faster?" and I'm like, "Hell yeah! You always get after it. You've just got to make sure you do the right things." I've done a lot of different things in preparing for this fight than I have in my previous fights. I've done a lot of things before that would slow me down because usually when I fought Kid Yamamoto, when I fought Damacio Page, when I fought Miguel Torres, I always try to bulk up to be stronger because those guys are not as fast as me but I wanted to be stronger so I could handle their weight. This time I did a lot of things different so I don't have to carry extra weight. I'm not worried about Dominick manhandling me. I've just got to make sure my speed's through the roof.  Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): : How do you envision yourself winning against Dominick Cruz on October 1st? Demetrious Johnson: I never give predictions. I can just say I think it'll be a truly fantastic fight. He trained his butt off, I trained my butt off. I can't wait to get in there and mix it up with him. I just tell myself that it's gonna be a looooong night. Gerry Rodriguez: No Mortal Kombat style fatality or any jumping off the cage with an elbow drop-type move? Demetrious Johnson: Oh, well if it's in that case and if I can do that, it'll probably be like a flying suplex in the air like Zangief-style or something like that. (laughs) Demetrious would like to thank Universal, X-Box 360, Gears of War 3, all his coaches at AMC, Matt Hume, Trevor Jackson, Brad Kurtson, Steve Skidds, Curtis Laurie and his fiancee Destiny. So do you think "Might Mouse" has a shot this weekend, Maniacs?  Can Johnson he be the first fighter to solve Dominick Cruz's unorthodox puzzle?  Sound off! For the full audio of the interview with Demetrious Johnson, click here.

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We're less than a week away. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will offer a title fight on free television for the first time since Sept. 2007 when bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz puts his strap on the line against Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Versus 6, which goes down this Saturday night (Oct. 1, 2011) in Washington D.C. After Urijah Faber -- and more than a few fans -- campaigned for an immediate rubber match after Cruz went the distance with "The California Kid" at UFC 132, the decision was made to forgo that option in favor of a fresh challenger. The oddsmakers, however, don't think the "Mouse" will be "Mighty" enough to save the day, pegging Johnson a +350 underdog for this weekend's extravaganza. "The Dominator" currently stands as the -450 favorite. That's not necessarily a knock on Johnson, who seemingly came from out of nowhere to quickly establish himself as a legitimate threat to the bantamweight throne. Though he's won his last four fights against highly respectable competition -- namely Norifumi Yamamoto and Miguel Torres -- and fits the bill as the most credible challenger to Cruz, the champion just continues to look better every time out. Can the speedy "Mighty Mouse" culminate his incredible rise to the top and become a UFC title holder in just his third fight inside the Octagon? The bookies don't think so ... do you? For more UFC on Versus 6 odds and betting lines click here.

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Filed under: UFC, NewsAs a fairly unexposed commodity, Dominick Cruz isn't bothered by the fact that his bantamweight title fight this Saturday will be on Versus rather than pay-per-view. The UFC has in only one other instance premiered a championship on free TV, but that particular UFC 75 card in England aired on tape-delay. Cruz's fight at UFC on Versus 6 will be live. Some might consider the idea of a champion fighting on cable TV discouraging. Not Cruz. "What the UFC is doing is they're putting me on free TV," Cruz said Monday on The MMA Hour. "I can [make it] known to the casual fan the champion that I am, go out there and have an outstanding performance on TV and really I get myself out there and represent the 135-pound division to a wider audience for free." And Cruz (18-1)'s title defense is in the midst of three straight weeks of UFC title fights, not an ideal position to command attention, especially by a fledgling division. But the champ understands why the UFC's marketing efforts have been primarily directed towards last Saturday's UFC 135 with Jon Jones vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and UFC 136 with Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard in two weeks. "While those fights get more marketing muscle you got to think of how many times I've fought in the UFC and how many of the casual fans know who I am and have seen me," the 26-year-old Cruz admits. "The people who sell the most pay-per-views are the people in the UFC that are known by the casual fans." Cruz has only made one UFC appearance, successfully defending his belt against Urijah Faber at UFC 132 in July. After the Faber win, the UFC offered Demetrious Johnson to Cruz instead of another worthy challenger in Brian Bowles. Cruz figures the UFC picked Johnson since Cruz already holds a win over Bowles and the promotion tends "want to wait on rematches." More: UFC on Versus 6 Fight Card | Barry Downplays Struve's Reach Advantage Johnson brings to the fight a 10-1 record and coming off a big win, though a bit controversial, over former WEC champ Miguel Torres. In the fight, Johnson was able to score takedowns, but Torres was the one threatening to the end the fight with submissions. With the unanimous nod in favor of Johnson, the judges clearly valued Johnson and his top position. Cruz agrees. "Miguel Torres didn't want to be on his back," Cruz said. "Whether he was going for submissions or not. It doesn't mean anything. A submission doesn't count unless you finish it." Cruz is five inches taller and holds a two-inch reach advantage against the five-foot-three Johnson. Size and style-wise, Johnson is comparable to Cruz's WEC 53 challenger Joseph Benavidez. "I think Benavidez might be even a little more powerful than Demetrious and Demetrious might have the edge on the takedown and timing. So there's little adjustments I have to make, but for the most part I see it very similar to the Benavidez fight and that's how I see it playing out," Cruz said. Despite not having the notoriety of the other UFC champions, Cruz out of Alliance MMA and Team Lloyd Irvin has come a long way from his days fighting in the WEC. A lot of progress has already been made in his UFC debut when he headlined the card over future Hall of Famers in Tito Ortiz and Wanderlei Silva. "It gives the casual fans a reason to respect when you put on a show like me and Faber did and take on the main event role and headling the card. It's a different level of respect and at the same time I've been recognized a lot more. It's been a great ride, it's been a lot of fun and I'm just riding it until the wheels fall off." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Here we go again. In the aftermath of a crazy weekend of fights, Ultimate Fighting Championship is right back in action promoting its next event, UFC on Versus 6, which is taking place at the end of the week (October 1, 2011) in Washington D.C. Headlining the free show will be the return of UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz as he looks to defend his title for the fourth time against challenger Demetrious Johnson. Cruz has risen to the top with a unique fighting style that has baffled every opponent in his way. He recently defended his belt against the only man to ever previously defeat him, Urijah Faber, at UFC 132. His opponent, Demetrious Johnson, is coming off the most impressive victory of his career against former WEC champion Miguel Torres at UFC 130. He's hoping his speed can make up for Cruz's unorthodox style. The co-main event features a a very unique heavyweight battle as 6'11 Dutch fighter Stefan Struve takes on 5'11 American kickboxer Pat Barry. Both men are coming off of thrilling knockout losses in fights they had been previously winning and this has the potential to have the most awkward pre-fight staredown in UFC history. Cruz, Johnson, Struve and Barry will participate in a special UFC on Versus 6 media conference call today (September 26, 2011) at 1 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will deliver up-to-the-second live updates of the conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The call is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET.

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Check out this exclusive video featuring Jorge Santiago, Michael Johnson, Anthony Johnson and Cosmo Alexandre preparing for their upcoming fights.

Posted in: anthony johnson, johnson, michael johnson, jorge santiago, cosmo alexandre

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Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsWith a payday of $10,000, Lorenz Larkin, Ryan Couture and Lavar Johnson were the highest earners at this past Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19 in Las Vegas. Larkin, who defeated Nick Rossborough in the evening's main event, earned $5,000 to show and another $5,000 to win. Couture and Johnson each received $10,000 flat. Couture, though, won his fight against Maka Watson, while Johnson was submitted by Shawn Jordan. Salaries for all 18 fighters on the card are after the jump. Please keep in mind these salaries are the numbers Strikeforce reported to the Nevada athletic commission and does not necessarily represent a fighter's final earnings. Showtime Bouts Lorenz Larkin ($5,000 + $5,000 win = $10,000) def. Nick Rossborough ($3,000) Shawn Jordan ($4,000 + $4,000 win = $8,000) def. Lavar Johnson ($10,000) Ryan Couture ($10,000) def. Maka Watson ($2,000) Jason High ($4,000 + $4,000 = $8,000) def. Todd Moore ($4,000) Preliminary Bouts Brian Melancon ($3,000 + $3,000 win = $6,000) def. Felipe Portela ($2,000) James Terry ($4,000 + $4,000 win = $8,000) def. Magno Almeida ($2,000) Bobby Green ($3,000 + $3,000 = $6,000) def. Charon Spain ($3,000) Christopher Spang ($3,000 + $2,000 = $5,000) def. Joe Ray ($2,000) Quinn Mulhern ($2,100 + $2,500 = $4,600) def. Danny Davis Jr. ($2,900)* Mulhern failed to make weight and forfeited $400 of his purse to Davis Jr. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, johnson, larkin, salary

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Bellator, NewsThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday. Here's what we have planned for our 101st episode. * MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta, ESPN.com Chuck Mindenhall and TapouT's Mike Strake will return for another edition of the MMA Media Roundtable. We'll discuss the fallout from UFC 135, UFC on Versus 6 and much more. * Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson will stop by to discuss their bantamweight title fight on Saturday night. * Charlie Brenneman will talk about his fight against Anthony Johnson at UFC on Versus 6. * Alexis Vila will look back at his vicious knockout win over Joe Warren at Bellator 51. * And Jared Hamman will talk about his move down to 185 pounds and his new wine label. 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 show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma hour, hour, johnson

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MMAWeekly Radio weekend edition is back with UFC fighters Pat Barry, Yves Edwards, and bantamweight title challenger Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson.

Posted in: johnson, yves edwards, demetrious johnson, ufc fighters, barry

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UFC on Versus 6 is set to go down in Washington, DC on October 1st. The main event will see the first UFC title defended on free TV since UFC 75 in 2007 when Dominick Cruz puts his UFC bantamweight title on the line against Demetrious Johnson. In addition to that, a welterweight battle between Charlie Brenneman and Anthony Johnson and a heavyweight showdown between 5'10" Pat Barry and 6'11" Stefan Struve add intrigue to the event. Here's the card as it stands right now (you can catch the undercard after the jump): Oct 1st, live on Versus from Washington, DC: Main card: Dominick Cruz (18-1) vs. Demetrious Johnson (10-1) [BW Title] Charlie Brenneman (14-2) vs. Anthony Johnson (9-3) Pat Barry (6-3) vs. Stefan Struve (21-5) Mac Danzig (20-8-1) vs. Matt Wiman (13-6) More SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6 Preliminary card: Shane Roller (10-4) vs. T.J. Grant (16-5) Yves Edwards (40-17-1) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (14-4) Michael Johnson (9-5) vs. Paul Sass (11-0) Mike Easton (10-1) vs. Jeff Hougland (10-4) Josh Neer (31-10-1) vs. Keith Wisniewski (28-12-1) Joseph Sandoval (6-0) vs. Walel Watson (8-2)

Posted in: ufc, title, vs, johnson, card

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You know how when mom is making Thanksgiving dinner she serves up a tray with assorted raw vegetables and ranch dressing dip to hold you over until the turkey is done?  Tonight’s Strikeforce Challengers, which was headlined by up-and-comer Lorenz Larkin and Jeremy Horn-protégé Nick Rossborough, was that selection of crudités, meant to stave off the pangs of hunger until tomorrow night’s UFC 135 and Bellator 51 main course.  Did it work?  Well, I’m still hungry, but it was something good to munch on.  Here’s how it all went down. Brazilian Felipe Portela stepped into the cage hailed as some kind of striker, while Brian Melancon was purported to have enough wrestling chops to make it a dogfight.  And by the end of the first round, it was clear that assessment was accurate, as Portela was quite a bit more technical and dangerous on the feet and Melancon nailed two impressive takedowns to put the Brazilian on his back.  However, somewhere in his past the American scored a few knockouts and liked the taste of it, so more often than not Melancon was wading in swinging for the fences – a tactic that earned him a knockdown late in the second, and facilitated a number of takedowns in the third.  The end result was a unanimous decision win for Melancon in a moderately entertaining affair. As a UFC and DREAM veteran, Jason High doesn’t quite fit the mold of the standard Strikeforce Challengers competitor.  I mean, the dude once beat Hayato Sakurai, so you know his game – wrestling mixed with hard and varied striking – is solid.  Todd Moore, on the other hand, is a WEC veteran who hasn’t really been able to excel in the Big Leagues.  Therefore, it should come as no surprise how much High dominated Moore.  Case in point: the opening round, which saw High wasting no time getting his foe down and beating on him from the top.  TwiceMoorehad to defend chokes, and though he survived the round, and had a brief moment on top in Round 2, he wound up bloody from ground and pound in the third.  It was pretty much all High all the time, and the judges agreed, rendering a unanimous decision in his favor. It’s amusing to see who Ryan Couture gets matched up with.  Because of his last name, he gets the TUF winner treatment and is usually fed guys on the “easier” end of the spectrum.  Tonight, it was someone named Maka Watson.  Who?  Exactly.  But it’s a testament to Couture’s greenness how rough of a time he has against these kinds of opponents.  In the first round the son of the UFC legend got his opponent down and put him through the submission ringer, yet got reversed late and took some damage.  Round 2 played out in similar fashion, with Watson spending more time on top delivering punishment and opening up a cut on Couture’s forehead.  The final round was on track to turn out even worse for Couture; however, a reversal of his own early on had him reapplying the grappling pressure, and it was enough to ward off disaster.  He earned himself a majority decision when time ran out. Lavar Johnson may have been grappled right out of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix’s alternate mix, but he’s still a deadly knockout artist.  Unfortunately, Shawn Jordan hits hard and was a state wrestling champ – a mixture that made for one miserable evening for the big puncher.  Not long after the referee said “go”, Jordan tagged Johnson square in the eye with his fist, causing that area to swell up instantly.  Then came the takedowns, which forced Johnson to struggle under his heavyweight opponent’s weight.  Then came the punching exchanges, which had Johnson swinging hard but cautious about his eye.  Then came the takedown in the second round, which resulted inJordanon top, torquing Johnson’s arm with anAmericana.  The tap out came at 3:08, and it’s back to the drawing board for Johnson. Lorenz Larkin earned himself “rising star” status by virtue of his dynamic striking and dominant performances under the glare of the Strikeforce Challengers spotlight.  Nick Rossborough, on the other hand, was a late-replacement with a ton of experience, an iron head and a propensity for walking forward throwing punches.  Putting the two together gave us three rounds of grueling action.  From the outset Rossborough made it clear he wasn’t intimidated by the fire Larkin was bringing, stalking him down to tie him up against the cage and deliver punches.  Larkin was his usual elusive self, dodging this way and that, but eventually he just began laying into his opponent with four- and five-strike combinations to accumulate points.  Only in the final round did Larkin take complete charge, dropping Rossborough with a perfect knee to the solar plexus and bloodying him with ground and pound.  For his efforts, Larkin was awarded the unanimous decision, and his rising star status remains untouched. Results: -Lorenz Larkin def. Nick Rossborough via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) -Shawn Jordan def. Lavar Johnson via Submission (Americana) at 3:08 in Round 2 -Ryan Couture def. Maka Watson via Majority Decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28) -Jason High def. Todd Moore via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) -Brian Melancon def. Felipe Portela via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Posted in: round, decision, johnson, larkin, melancon

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UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson Date: October 1, 2011 Venue: Verizon CenterLocation: Washington, DC   Articles Ticket Info     Main Bouts (On Versus): -Dominick Cruz (18-1; #1 Bantamweight) vs. Demetrious Johnson (8-1; #6 Bantamweight) -Pat Barry (6-3) vs. Stefan Struve (21-5) -Anthony Johnson (9-3) vs. Charlie Brenneman (14-2) -Mac Danzig (20-8-1) vs. Matt Wiman (13-6) Preliminary Bouts: -Yves Edwards [...]

Posted in: vs, johnson, bantamweight, johnson date, verizon centerlocation

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Lavar Johnson is ready for a good old-fashined slugfest at Strikeforce Challengers 19 on Friday night.

Posted in: johnson, friday night, old-fashined slugfest, lavar johnson, slugfest

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Demetrious Johnson challenges Dominick Cruz for the UFC bantamweight championship on Saturday, Oct. 1, at UFC on Versus 6.

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