MMA-URLS

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante made a statement Saturday night at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final, disposing of former adversary Mike Kyle in prompt fashion. Cavalcante, who was knocked out by Kyle back in 2009, bull-rushed in on his foe, did damage with a knee, and locked in a choke after Kyle tried to power his way out, scoring a 33-second submission victory. With the Strikeforce light heavyweight title still vacant since Dan Henderson departed for the UFC, the win could have been the perfect way for Cavalcante to proclaim himself a contender. However, in case his bosses weren’t watching, the Brazilian took it a step further. “I want the belt,” said Cavalcante in the post-fight interview. “Feijao” has lost only to Kyle and Henderson since 2007, scoring victories over Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Antwain Britt among others during that time. While nothing has been made official, it appears Strikeforce is looking to pair Gegard Mousasi up with another member of the division to crown a champion with that party likely being “Feijao”. Mousasi is currently on the sidelines due to knee surgery. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, light, kyle, cavalcante, feijao

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It has always troubled me that Strikeforce used Mike Kyle, because he's probably the dirtiest fighter in the history of the game, with a disturbing track record to prove it (you could also make a good case for Gilbert Yvel, who compiled an impressive body of foul-plagued work). That's why it was a pleasure to see Kyle taken out quickly last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event in San Jose by Rafael Cavalcante via slam-bang choke in the opening seconds of the bout. Yet Kyle had a regular and recurring place on Strikeforce cards. I often wonder if his brutal and eminently senseless battering of Brian Olsen would've netted him more than a mere 18-month suspension (view the appaling sequence here, with the incident beginning at 2:50 in) if it had happened in the UFC. Or Strikeforce. Or, really, anywhere where the viewing public could've seen the sport at its worst, instead of the WEC in 2006, which was an obscure show at the time. Kyle's soccer kick of the obviously downed Olsen was bad enough, and his battering resulted in long-term injuries that Olsen still deals with to this day. Unlike Kyle's suspension, for Brian, the baggage from that incident has yet to expire. After the UFC 47 press conference, Kyle's opponent, Wes Sims, lifted his shirt and showed bite marks from Kyle during their fight. Yes, yes, yes, we know Kyle has "served" his sentence, and there's the argument that he's paid his debt to society, but I wonder how Olsen feels about that. If there were any more need for hypocrisy in giving the rule-breaking Kyle a slot on a Strikeforce card, the program took the time to promote Tyron Woodley vs. Nate Marquardt for the vacant title, despite the fact that Marquardt was released by the UFC for failing to disclose he was on testosterone replacement therapy, at which point UFC president Dana White swore Marquardt would never fight in the UFC again. Except until they needed someone to fight Woodley. In Strikeforce. Right. As a result, using fighters like Kyle only reinforces that breaking the rules is a short-term problem. I'd like to see the UFC -- which prides itself on enforcing the rules and drawing a strong line -- raise the bar a little, even if it's Strikeforce.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, rafael cavalcante, kyle, mike kyle

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In a light heavyweight bout, Feijao made his return to the Strikeforce cage after seven months off. His opponent had also last fought at that very Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov and looked to be hungry to prove his relevance in the LHW division. Very early in the fight, Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante hit Mike Kyle with a punch and then landed an enormous knee strike on a ducking Kyle. The knee stunned Kyle and Feijao applied a standing guillotine to his opponent. Kyle tried to slam out of it, but to no avail. The tap came at 0:33 of the first round. Feijao improves to 12-3 and avenges an earlier second round KO loss to Kyle back in 2009 at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields. His knees, clinch work and short range finishing ability looks to be very tight. Kyle drops to 19-9 and looks to be firmly in the wheelhouse of "Go Big Or Go Home" at this point.

Posted in: strikeforce, knee, kyle, feijao, lhw division

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Revenge was short, brutal and sweet for Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante. The Brazilian, who had lost to Mike Kyle in 2009, avenged the defeat with a swift submission win at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. It took him just 33 seconds. Cavalcante rocked Kyle early in the fight with a knee to the head while Kyle was ducking low. Feijao swarmed for the finish on the ground, but Kyle managed to defend, and as he worked to his feet, Cavalcante snatched his neck and cinched in the guillotine choke. Kyle held him up for a few seconds, but soon fell to the ground, and Cavalcante turned him over for the tighter, mounted guillotine. Kyle insta-tapped for the win. The former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champ Cavalcante improved to 12-3, and it's possible he will move on to fight for the currently vacant belt. "If Strikeforce gives me a chance, I want the belt," he said. Kyle fell to 19-9-1 with 1 no contest.

Posted in: strikeforce, kyle, cavalcante, mike kyle, feet cavalcante

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The light heavyweights were in action on the main card of the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event taking place tonight (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, as former division champion Rafael Cavalcante took on Mike Kyle. Considering the lack of a champion in the 205-pound division, this might as well have been an official number one contender bout, though that was never expressly stated. This was also a rematch of a 2009 bout that saw Kyle win via knockout in the second round. Revenge is sweet. That's because Cavalcante used a looping overhand right and a huge knee to send Kyle ass over tin cups. He failed to finish with ground-n-pound so instead jumped a guillotine that got the tap shortly thereafter. Wam, bam, thank you "Mak." Kyle pumped an early jab but Cavalcante attacked with a big knee that landed flush and had Kyle staggering back. "Feijao" jumped him and landed a few clean blows. He couldn't finish him with the initial onslaught but at his soonest opportunity, he latched onto a tight standing guillotine. After Kyle attempted to to get out by slamming Rafael to the mat and was unsuccessful, he was left with no choice but to tap after less than one minute of action. Hope you didn't blink, Maniacs. Remember, too, to check out MMAmania.com's complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results and live coverage of all the night's action by clicking here.

Posted in: barnett, nights action, kyle, cavalcante, mike kyle

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If you give Feijao thirty three seconds he will knee you in the face, punch you a dozen times then hop on your neck and make you tap for your life so he can get on with his day and do whatever a frightening light heavyweight named 'Bean' does on a Saturday evening in San Jose. This is the type of performance we have come to expect from the Black House pupil and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion - pure bean violence. '33' usually makes me think of the back of Rolling Rocks and Smashing Pumpkin songs, but tonight it will be all about Feijao. Thirty three seconds is all it took for Rafael Cavalcante to absolutely steamroll over Mike Kyle and earn his revenge for a 2009 loss. As soon as the bell rang the two light heavyweights sized each other up for about two seconds then Feijao exploded forward and landed a brutal knee to the dome of Mike Kyle, stunning him and rendering him to a punching bag. After a brief, wobbly scramble, they make their way to their feet and Feijao sinks in the guillotine like a boss and Mike Kyle taps. Wow. Check out all 33 seconds below from IronForgesIron.

Posted in: mike, second, kyle, mike kyle, feijao

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Giving up 44 pounds, Mike Kyle defied the odds when he put Brazilian heavyweight Antonio Silva down on the canvas seconds into their fight.

Posted in: fight, mike, kyle, breaks kyle, canvas seconds

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Strikeforce Light Heavyweight contender Mike Kyle has had his ups and downs in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. Lately, however, he's been trending more towards the latter. On Dec., 4, 2010, at Strikeforce: "Henderson vs. Babalu 2," Kyle lost to Antonio Silva in the second round via technical knockout after dropping "Bigfoot" early in their heavyweight fight. The loss snapped "Mak's" five fight winning streak and to add injury to insult, he suffered a broken hand in the process. Ready to get back on the horse, Kyle returned to 205-pounds and was penciled in to face Gegard Mousasi four months later, but another broken hand forced him to pull out of the fight. It was re-booked five months later, but this time it was Mousasi who withdrew from the bout. Kyle went on to defeat Marcos Rogerio de Lima at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" on Sept. 10. 2011 to get himself back in the win column. Hoping the third time would be the charm, Kyle and Gegard were booked to face off at Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" this past March. Once again, the fight was scratched as Kyle was forced to withdraw due to another injury. On a recent episode of TheSHOOT!, Kyle talked about his climb up the ranks of the 205-pound division, including a rough patch in his life that he says drove him to the 'deep end' following his suspension after his controversial fight against Brian Olsen at WEC 20 in 2006. "I've been fighting for a long time, I wasn't always doing the right things to take care of myself. I had a couple staph infections and had to pull out of a couple of fights. I had a broken hand, I broke it three times last year. I tore one of my labrums, it was actually my second tear. If you go into my old fights, the last few years since I got suspended, from that fight on, I go to hip toss a guy or I had to give them my back to get up, every time I would have to keep my legs straight, and I don't know if people would notice it or not, but I couldn't do it. I had that suspension from that illegal kick. I went through a lot. Training in the gym, people didn't want to train with me. I went off almost the deep end. I was drinking a lot every day and partying and I almost killed myself. Now, my girl is picking up bills for several months. I had to hit bottom to start the climb back up. My lady gave birth to a baby healthy girl. It had to be that point where my life really did turn around. It makes me motivated man, I gotta go out there and provide for her." With new found motivation, Kyle has compiled a 9-3 record since his disqualification loss to Olsen and looks to return to the Hexagon and stake his claim as one of the most dangerous light heavyweights in the game today. It won't be easy, though, as he's drawn a game former Strikeforce 205-pound champion Rafael Cavalcante at this weekend's (May 19, 2012) Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event, which will mark the second time the two have gone toe-to-toe, with Cavalcante getting the best of the first encounter back in 2009. Can the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) trained fighter make it two in a row in San Jose? Or will "Feijao" show once again that he has "Mak's" number? Opinions, please.

Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, vs, kyle

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In the first of 2 rematches set for the Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier main card, former light-heavyweight champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante seeks revenge versus Mike Kyle for a 2nd-round TKO loss back in 2009. Heavyweight Grand Prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier meet in the show's main attraction, which airs live on Showtime at 10:00 p.m. ET. Rafael Cavalcante (11-3) is a member of the world renowned Team Nogueira where he trains alongside the Nogueira brothers, Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. He's a sizzling Thai specialist with a black belt in BJJ and currently ranked as the 13th-best light-heavyweight in the consensus world rankings. "Feijao" made his Strikeforce debut against Kyle on the Lawler vs. Shields card with a 7-1 record, his lone loss being a Disqualification for cracking Marcio "Pe De Pano" Cruz with an illegal kick during his 2-piece stint in the IFL. After Kyle handed him a crushing knockout for his first real taste of defeat, Cavalcante destroyed Aaron Rosa and Antwain Britt to earn a shot at Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal's Strikeforce title. Overcoming slanted betting odds and Lawal's relentless wrestling, Cavalcante exploded with a clinch knee and a follow-up barrage of punches to finish Lawal in the 3rd-round. His title reign would be a short one, as high-profile UFC crossover Dan Henderson would land the infamous "H-Bomb" to overtake the throne. Cavalcante rebounded with a 2nd-round TKO of Yoel Romero in his last, maintaining his reputation as one of the sport's best finishers with his 10th TKO win. Cavalcante has yet to go the distance. More Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Dissections Burrell vs. Spang | Preliminary Card Dissection Mike "Mak" Kyle (19-8) deserves a lot of credit for turning his career around. After accruing a bad rep for his unsportsmanlike conduct and a forgettable entrance into Strikeforce (drew with Krzszytof Soszynski, submission loss to Wayne Cole), Kyle has notched wins in 9 of his last 12 with defeats to top-shelfers Antonio Silva (TKO) and Fabricio Werdum (submission) and a No Contest against Travis Wiuff. His tenure with "Crazy" Bob Cook at the American Kickboxing Academy has been evident in his vastly improved, piston-like boxing and enhanced fight I.Q. Kyle started out as a rugged brawler with huge punching power, but has harnessed that foundation into a more composed and calculating mixed martial artist with fluid deliverance of his striking heft. He's still a bit of a wild card, having lost to most of the top competition he's encountered, but Kyle's gameness and vicious hands present a viable threat to any 205er. Continued in the full entry. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Cavalcante is much more diversified than Kyle in every aspect except wrestling, so this confrontation boils down to his ability to avoid Kyle's one-shot power. However, Kyle has added a litany of skills to maximize his striking, giving him more than the typical puncher's chance. His stance and punches are tighter, he uses good footwork and circling to set up his big right hand and he pumps out a busy and snapping jab to control the tempo from the fringe. Kyle is also a tall (6'3") and long (76" reach) light-heavyweight with a few inches on Cavalcante in each category. The concept of Cavalcante eating another good-night punch is far from incomprehensible -- both of his career losses are by TKO and "Feijao" rarely implements his top-tier submission game because he's comfortable striking and isn't known as a wrestler. His largest advantage lies on the mat, as Kyle has been prone to elite submissionists in the past but does well in protecting the weakness through his striking and takedown defehense. I would strongly suggest that Cavalcante try to catch him off-guard with a takedown while they're exchanging. He might not have world class wrestling, but Cavalcante definitely has the explosiveness, timing and intelligence to spring a double on Kyle and wreak havoc with submission attempts. Even though he's considerably more technical on the feet -- with roundhouse kicks, boxing and a clinically volatile Thai clinch -- standing with Kyle leaves the door open to taste his power. There's no question that "Feijao" deserves the nod here for being the more complete fighter, but a single punch can outweigh that in a heartbeat. My Prediction: Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante by submission. Poll Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle Feijao Kyle   10 votes | Results

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, kyle, cavalcante, feijao

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Make sure you don’t get in the way of Mike Kyle in the near future. Following a press conference to promote this Saturday’s Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier event, Kyle went off on the words spoken by Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker during the event. Coker, when asked if the Kyle-Rafael Cavalcante match would determine a contender [...]

Posted in: strikeforce, press conference, rafael cavalcante, kyle, mike kyle

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SAN JOSE, Calif. - Mike Kyle couldn't leave the building fast enough after hearing Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker's carefully worded view of the 205-pound division. "I'm really upset by it," Kyle said as he stood outside the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., following Strikeforce's press conference on Thursday. "It makes me really not even want to fight. I don't feel like I'm getting nowhere in the sport. All the changes I've made in my life and the things I'm doing, there's no recognition for it."

Posted in: strikeforce, im, kyle, things im, changes ive

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Go inside the UFC 146 training camps of American Kickboxing Academy's Cain Velasquez and Kyle Kingsbury.

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Go inside the UFC 146 training camps of American Kickboxing Academy's Cain Velasquez and Kyle Kingsbury.

Posted in: ufc, velasquez, training, kingsbury, kyle

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Two of the top-ranked light heavyweights in Strikeforce will have a rematch this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) as former Strikeforce 205 pound champion Rafael Cavalcante challenges American Kickboxing Academy big man Mike Kyle on the main card of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier in San Jose. Cavalcante lost to Kyle in 2008, having his title aspirations delayed for two years by "Mak" although he would eventually claim the Strikeforce championship. Now, "Feijao" is looking to remove one of the dark marks on his record by avenging his first loss under the Strikeforce banner. Mike Kyle has looked terrific at light heavyweight in the last few years, only losing twice at heavyweight against current top big men Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva. Kyle has consistently handled everyone at 205 pounds and could be in line for a vacant title shot if he can beat "Feijao" again this weekend. Can Cavalcante finally right the biggest wrong on his current resume? Will Mike Kyle be able to repeat history on Saturday night with another knockout? What's the key to victory for both light heavyweights? Let's find out: Rafael Cavalcante Record: 11-3 overall, 4-1 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Muhammed Lawal (Strikeforce: Houston), Yoel Romero (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov), Antwain Britt (Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery) Key Losses: Dan Henderson (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson), Mike Kyle (Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields) How he got here: Rafael Cavalcante has been a highly touted Brazilian prospect for a long time. Training alongside Anderson Silva at Black House, "Feijao" was all set to work his way towards a Strikeforce light heavyweight title shot in 2008 before an injury forced then-champion "Babalu" Sobral off the card. In his place stepped American Kickboxing Academy's Mike Kyle, who pulled off a shocking upset, clipping Cavalcante and finishing him with heavy strikes on the ground which was shocking to many. Since that loss, Cavalcante bounced back with a trio of huge knockout victories, including a monumental third round finish of champion "King Mo" Muhammed Lawal in the main event of Strikeforce: Houston in 2010. Unfortunately, "Feijao" would not be able to successfully defend his title, losing via knockout to Dan Henderson last year to drop his belt, but he bounced back again, scoring a late second round victory over Yoel Romero last September. He'll likely have an opportunity to fight for the vacant title if he can avenge his prior loss to Kyle. How he gets it done: Cavalcante has some very nasty elbows, knees and a ground game. If he wants to avenge his loss to Kyle, I'd expect to see him close the distance, get in the clinch and start pounding away on "Mak" with his joints. If Cavalcante can drag Kyle to the ground, he definitely should. Kyle has some respectable ground striking, but he's far from accomplished in the grappling department and he could be prone to some serious guard passing, ground and pound and potentially even submissions. What Cavalcante doesn't want to do is stand in the pocket and trade strikes with Kyle. He can match the American Kickboxing Academy fighter with power, but he's susceptible to getting rocked on the feet and doesn't have the greatest ability to take big strikes. The clinch and ground are where Cavalcante will likely be most comfortable. Mike Kyle Record: 19-8-1 (1 no contest) overall, 3-3-1 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Rafael Cavalcante (Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields), Tony Lopez (KOTC: Honor), Marcos Rogerio de Lima (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov) Key Losses: Antonio Silva (Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu), Fabricio Werdum (Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg) How he got here: Mike Kyle has had a very strange career arc. He stepped up and faced some very difficult opposition early in his career, losing bouts to the likes of Dan Bobish, Paul Buentello and Justin Eilers in his first 11 fights. He had a very difficult 0-3-1 stretch from 2006-2008, most notably his incredibly bizarre actions in a WEC title fight against Brian Olsen where he refused to quit attacking his opponent after the referee tried to pull him off and he was disqualified and suspended for an extended period of time. Since then, he's gone 8-2 with one no contest and his only losses have been when he stepped up to take on Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva at heavyweight. He nearly pulled off a huge upset against Silva, rocking "Bigfoot" on the feet early but failing to finish the big man on the ground. Kyle has looked very strong at 205 pounds, but has been plagued by injuries as of late. only fighting once in the last year and a half. He's hoping to get more active and become a contender if he can repeat history against Feijao. How he gets it done: Kyle doesn't have an advantage over Cavalcante on the ground or in the clinch, but he does have some serious power in both hands and has a better chin. If Kyle wants to score another victory over "Feijao" he's got to utilize his fast hands and crack Cavalcante on the chin. Kyle has fight-ending power as evidenced by his multiple knockouts and his ability to drop even Antonio Silva. Footwork will be key for Kyle to find an opening against Feijao. Perhaps he can take advantage lunging in if Cavalcante backs away straight as he's been prone to do on occasion. The one thing that's most important of all is if he hurts "Feijao" he can't let him off the hook. He has to aggressively attack and put him away as he might not get another opportunity. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is Mike Kyle's health. The man has suffered a series of really bad injuries and hasn't been able to train like he'd like to in recent bouts, also being sidelined for extended periods with hand injuries. If he breaks his hand against Cavalcante, he could be in for a world of trouble as his power decreases drastically after hurting his fist, as evidenced by his inability to finish Antonio Silva after breaking his hand throwing hammer fists on the canvas. If he stays healthy, he's got a shot, but once you start breaking your hand consistently, it's not something that just gets better overnight. Bottom Line: Both of these men have history with each other and both are capable of finishing a fight on a moment's notice with their power on the feet. Mike Kyle has really had some entertaining fights in the last few years and "Feijao" always brings it. I expect these guys to go toe-to-toe and throw down for extended periods and the likelihood of a finish is extremely high whether it's submission or knockout. This should be very fun. Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?" Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who could potentially earn a shot at the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title on Saturday night? Rafael Cavalcante Mike Kyle   3 votes | Results

Posted in: strikeforce, vs, mike, kyle, cavalcante

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Rematches are hit or miss. Sometimes you can't wait to see them, sometimes you want to scratch your eyes to save yourself from having to watch them. In the case of Mike Kyle vs. Rafael Cavalcante, it's definitely on my list of rematches that I want to see. Cavalcante has had some good fights since their first 2009 meeting, and Kyle has had a fantastic run over the last two years, with the only blemish during that time being a loss at heavyweight to Antonio Silva. In a recent TapouT Radio interview, MAK talks about his upcoming bout with Feijao and who he thinks has the tools to topple Jon Jones. *Note: Interviewer is either my co-host, Evan Shoman of TapouT Radio, or myself. When I don't conduct these interviews by myself, I just put "Interviewer" to eliminate having to bounce back and forth between three different names. Interviewer: You are a completely different fighter than you were five years ago. What prompted this evolution in your style? Mike Kyle: I had to. With the way this sport has changed, jiu jitsu and wrestling have really taken off, so with me being at AKA, I really had to work on all aspects of my game. Now, I can actually say that I'm comfortable in a fight, from any position. Interviewer: What are your thoughts on Feijao's striking? Mike Kyle: You know, his boxing has gotten a lot better since the first time I faced him in June of '09. I ended up knocking him out in mid second round. He's had some good fights since then, but it's not too smart to trade with me. It's only a matter of time before something hits, and I really don't believe that guy has a great chin. His leg kicks worked good for him in our first fight, so I know he might try to capitalize by using those leg kicks. He might try to take me down, but my wrestling really has evolved. I believe that we're pretty much equal as far as jiu jitsu on the ground. I think I have the slight edge in wrestling, and I'm positive that I have the better hands. Interviewer: How did this fight come about? Related: Daniel Cormier Talks Strikeforce Heavyweight GP Mike Kyle: I was getting ready for Mousasi but had to pull out two different times due to injury. One was a broken hand a week out, and the other was a recurring staph infection after a major surgery I had. I couldn't get into shape because I was always out of the gym trying to heal up from the surgery and the staph. After I healed up, I was hoping to fight Mousasi, with the winner getting a title shot, I was told. Then he wouldn't take the fight due to me pulling out from the other fights. He had his reasons, but I would never back out of a fight unless it was a last resort. I understood where he was coming from. Dana White, Joe Silva and those guys must have understood where he was coming from, because they were letting him dictate what he wanted to do. The opportunity came up with Feijao, and he jumped right on it. Most fighters want the opportunity to get back a fight that they lost. I know that he's going to be coming for me. He's training harder. I'm training harder. It looks like it's going to be some fireworks. Interviewer: You fought for some time at heavyweight, and now you're at light heavyweight. What do you walk around at when not in training camp? Mike Kyle: Right now I'm walking around between 218-222 pounds. Before camp, I was closer to 235. I try not get any higher than that. If I'm out of shape, I'm at 240. I took my time dropping my weight off slow, and now I'm walking around at about 218. After my workouts, I'm at 215. I'm in great shape right now. I've never been in as great shape as I am right now. I'm hitting the cardio and working out twice a day now. I use organic apple cider vinegar early in the morning to spike up my metabolism, and it works good for me. I did get away from the heavy lifting, because I can go lift two times a week and I'm back up to 225. I have to be careful with how I lift, so I'm doing a lot of airdyne bike and cardio. The other day, me and Todd Duffee went on a 38 mile bike ride, so you know, I'm really getting after it. Interviewer: This is your third time under the ZUFFA umbrella. Are you noticing a big difference in how things are run these days? Mike Kyle: I do notice a difference. Burt (Watson) taking control of all the hotel arrangements, and running guys around. They are more organized as far as all that. They're helping us out with getting the insurance benefits stuff going. They still don't have the retirement plan that us fighters deserve and need. There's a lot of money out there that they're making, and it's only a matter of time before they start giving it back to the fighters. I pray for that every night, that I'm not hung out to dry at the end of my career. I'm very happy to be back with ZUFFA. I see them constantly improving their organization, and they're doing good things for their fighters. I plan on being the top guy, and I believe that they have faith in me. I really believe that I'm going to go out there and beat Feijao. Who knows how long Strikeforce is going to be around. Hopefully long enough for me to get a title, and then I can step in and challenge Jon Jones. I don't like getting off the subject of Feijao, but I really believe that I have Jon Jones ticket, and that I can reach his chin. He has a huge reach advantage on everyone he faces, and on me, he has maybe three or four inches. He's really versatile, but he's young. I've got a lot of experience, and I've fought a lot of tough guys. I've never seen him get hit hard yet. He is a tough kid, and athletic as hell, and I don't want to take away anything from his victory against Rashad Evans. It was a great fight. He got a little out of synch in that first round with all Rashad's movement, but he came back, started working, and getting that range down. Rashad stopped moving his feet. That movement that he had going, slowed down, and playing patty-cake got him caught with those elbows. It just goes to show, if you get off your gameplan, even for a second, the other guy will capitalize on it, and it can throw off the whole fight for you. I've been working at this for a long time, and now I finally have my mindset right. I'm training hard, and my body is working well. I'm doing the things I'm supposed to be doing in life. Follow Mike via his Twitter, @MAK4afight

Posted in: fight, time, mike, im, kyle

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The contendership picture for the Strikeforce light heavyweight division seemed to be coming back into focus after a bout between Rafael Cavalcante-Mike Kyle was announced for the company’s May 19 event. Each is among the dwindling group of upper-echelon talent remaining on the organization’s roster and riding momentum from a series of in-ring successes, factors likely leading to a title-shot for the fighter emerging victorious in next month’s match-up. However, if Cavalcante comes away with his hand raised his plan doesn’t involve Strikeforce gold or the promotion in general for that matter. While he wouldn’t necessarily turn down a crack at the belt, his preference pertains to testing his talents inside the Octagon. “I’m hoping for (a title-shot) or, if possible, going to the UFC. Let’s see what they’ll say about it,” stated Cavalcante on his future in an interview with TATAME. “My game matches many light heavyweight fighters. I would like to see how it turns out. I’m not pointing out names, but I want a chance to show my work in the UFC. My fighting style sells, it’s what people like to see.” His more immediate focus is, of course, Kyle who beat him by way of TKO in 2009. “Feijao” is confident things will go much differently this time around based on some changes in his life and camp in comparison to their initial encounter. “Training in the United States, away from my team and people…That was what made me weak. I got there, exceeded the weight limit…Now I’m with my team, at home, doing my prep with (Rogerio) Camoes, training with (Josuel) Distak and all the guys here. It’s just another story,” the 31-year old explained. “Present ‘Feijao’ is much more mature, both technical and physically. I wanted it for a long time. It’s a completely different fight. We have unfinished business and we’re gonna solve them all now. “He’s very complete, man, has heavy hands. I gotta be smart with him, move a lot,” Cavalcante continued on his impending collision with Kyle. “I have a really good game, I did a good preparation. My evolution on the stand-up is notable, so I hope to let loose and get the win by knockout once again.” The 11-3 Cavalcante has won four of his last five fights with the lone exception being a loss to Dan Henderson. All eleven of his victories have involved some form of stoppage. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, ’m, kyle, cavalcante

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With Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson already booked to face off for the Strikeforce lightweight title, another bout with championship implications was also signed in the form of Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante-Mike Kyle. Cavalcante-Kyle will take place May 19 from San Jose at Strikeforce: Grand Prix Final where Daniel Cormier-Josh Barnett battle it out to lay claim to the last heavyweight standing in the organization’s yearlong tournament. These two have met before, with Kyle scoring an upset knockout in the second round back in 2009. While the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt remains vacant, the match is not expected to be for the gold though it’s likely the winner will end up in a title-bout against Gegard Mousasi with a decisive victory. “Feijao” held the crown after defeating Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, but was upended by Dan Henderson in his first defense. Kyle, meanwhile, has hit a rough patch health-wise despite being one of the hottest fighters in the division. He has won six of his last seven fights with the only exception being a defeat to heavyweight Antonio Silva. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, gegard mousasi, gilbert melendez, kyle, defense kyle

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Let's run it back. Almost three years removed from their first encounter, Rafael Cavalcante and Mike Kyle will collide in a Light Heavyweight rematch at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on May 19, 2012. The mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion announced the bout this evening, which will be featured on the televised Showtime main card that will begin at 10 p.m. ET on fight night. "Feijao" and "MAK" first traded leather at Strikeforce: "Lawler vs. Shields" back in June 2009, with Kyle scoring a devastating upset knockout finish in round two. Up until that point, Cavalcante was among the hottest 205-pound prospects in the sport and was being groomed for a title shot after an impressive run under the Elite XC banner. Cavalcante would rebound, winning his next three fights, including the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship with a technical knockout over Muhammed Lawal in Aug. 2010. Dan Henderson would ultimately upset his apple cart in his first title defense, but then bolt for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) immediately thereafter. Revenge is likely on Cavalcante's mind, but it wouldn't be surprising if the winner of this match gets a crack at the now vacant division title. Kyle went on to win six of his last eight fights since the initial showdown with Cavalcante, including one "No Contest." He hasn't prevailed over anyone significantly notable during that stretch; however, he did win two titles elsewhere: King of the Cage and XMMA. He took several fights in the Heavyweight division during that stretch, which were against two very talented competitors, Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva. Kyle was finished in both bouts and will no doubt be out to prove that he can hang with tougher competition, as well demonstrate that the win over Cavalcante was not a fluke. The main event of this Strikeforce show will feature a showdown between Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, which is the final fight of the promotion's Heavyweight grand prix. In the co-featured fight of the night between Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson, the winner will look to score the defining victory in their 155-pound trilogy. For all the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" news be sure to check out our complete event archive right here.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, kyle, cavalcante

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A pivotal match-up in the Strikeforce light heavyweight division is headed towards their next show on May 19 as former champion Rafael 'Feijao' Cavalcante faces Mike Kyle.

Posted in: strikeforce card, mike, kyle, cavalcante, feijao

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Andrew Craig defeated Kyle Noke by Unanimous Decision. The judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28. Kyle Noke with an inside leg kick to open the fight. Noke then pushed forward and completed a takedown against the cage. He took Andrew Craig's back and looked to finish with a rear naked choke. Craig defended well and was able to regain his feet. Noke took Craig back down to the ground and looked for another rear naked choke. Craig again defended and regained his guard. Craig threw his legs up for a triangle but was unable to tighten the submission. Noke landed several elbows before Craig regained his feet. Craig landed two knees from the clinch. Big front kick landed for Noke. Noke attempted a flying knee and was countered with a hook. Craig found his range a the end of the round as Noke landed two kicks to the body. Outside leg kick from Andrew Craig to open the second round. The two fighters traded punches at range. Craig did well cutting the cage of to land several punches. Kyle Noke shot for a high single leg and Andrew Craig landed elbows and fists to the temple. Kyle Noke was forced to drop to his back to prevent any more damage. Andrew Craig landed punches from the guard and postured up when Noke threw his legs up for a triangle. One of the elbows opened up a cut on the forehead of Kyle Noke. Andrew Craig stod up and allowed Kyle Noke to regain his feet. Switch kick from Noke landed but he slipped coming forward and the round ended with Andrew Craig landing from the top. Noke came out tentative in the third round. He threw a front kick and Craig countered with a right hand. Noke came forward with a body punch and Craig made him pay with a two punch combination. Noke dove for a low single and Craig punished him with punches to the head. Noke was able to complete a body lock takedown but couldn't take advantage with the position. Craig wall walked off the cage and landed two punches on the release. Huge power double from Andrew Craig and with a minute left he's just battering Noke from the top. Noke threw his legs up for an armbar but Craig defends well. Noke gave up his back and Andrew Craig throwing punches from the top. The round ended with Andrew Craig attacking from top control. Andrew Craig made his UFC debut and is now 1-0 in the organization and 7-0 in his career. He gave a shout out to Texas' Independence Day in his post-fight interview. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

Posted in: punch, andrew, kyle, craig, noke

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Kyle Kingsbury will look to get back in the win column against UFC newcomer Glover Teixeira, who brings a 15-fight winning streak into his debut at UFC 146.

Posted in: ufc, kyle kingsbury, teixeira, newcomer, kyle

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The co-main event for March’s Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card has hit a snag, as it appears Mike Kyle will not be able to face Gegard Mousasi due to damage sustained while training for the fight. Kyle (19-8-1) and Mousasi (32-3-2) were first expected to face off against one another last April before a hand injury knocked Kyle out of that bout too. MMAJunkie was the first to report Kyle’s status. A replacement for for the hard-hitting light heavyweight was not revealed nor is it known whether Strikeforce will seek a new opponent at all. The fight promotion is still without a champion at 205 pounds with Dan Henderson vacating the title last year to sign with the UFC. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey takes place March 3 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main event pits champion Miesha Tate against unbeaten Olympian Ronda Rousey for the bantamweight title. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, kyle, mike kyle

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It’s beginning to look like Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle just isn’t meant to be. Mousasi and Kyle were originally scheduled to fight last year at Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Daley” however a broken hand forced Kyle out of the fight. The fight was booked once again for next month’s Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” card, but has been derailed once again due to another injury. An undisclosed injury has forced Mike Kyle (19-8-1 MMA, 3-3-1 SF) to withdraw from a co-headliner at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey,” sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). At this time, it’s unknown whether a replacement has been found to fight Mousasi, though one source said it’s likely to be scrapped altogether. Strikeforce officials haven’t formally announced the scratch. Bummer. If the fight is scrapped, there are at least some good match-ups in the prelims that would be worthy of promoting to the main card, which was something you could never say before Zuffa bought the promotion. Strikeforce may not have much depth, but at least they have some flexibility now. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, mousasi, kyle

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Mike Kyle's hope to secure a Strikeforce light heavyweight title shot will have to wait a little longer.

Posted in: strikeforce, mike, strikeforce fight, kyle, mike kyle

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I've been staring at this picture for about five minutes trying to decide if it fits in MiddleEasy's loose guideline of what we deem 'news', and I've come to the decision that it isn't news. It's art. Look at that, it looks like someone stuck a piece of dripped candle wax on Kyle Watson's head and told him to hug Juha-Pekka Vainikainen while they took a picture. Make this shot black and white and it could go on a tumblr page. Any tumblr page. Cage Warriors Fight Night 3 went down last night, and if you had the stamina to endure an early wake up for ONE FC, you enjoyed roughly 30 fights non stop yesterday with Cage Warriors falling somewhere in the middle. In the main event Juha-Pekka Vainikainen defeated Kyle Watson in the bloody main event. It seems like Juha-Pekka Vainikainen is putting together a nice run. That said, what matters most is we got this cool picture out of it. [Source]

Posted in: picture, watson, kyle, vainikainen, tumblr page

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

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

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Strikeforce has added a pair of bouts to their Columbus card currently scheduled for March 3rd, and one of them is likely to serve as the main event. AKA's Mike Kyle is set to face off with former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi, and Conor Heun will meet Ryan Couture. Kyle tweeted about his bout today: @Mak4afightMikekyle @danawhite @Strikeforce it's on march 3 Ohio baby. Mak Kyle and mossasi beast mode gerrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! Jan 23 via Echofon Favorite Retweet Reply Kyle is coming off a decision win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima last September, while Mousasi is 4-0-1 in his last five outings. With King Mo out for a while due to his positive steroid test, it's possible that this bout could decide the new LHW champion. It's more likely that the winner will face someone else for the title down the road though. Heun picked up a grueling win his last outing, managing to defeat Magno Almeida by decision despite dislocating his elbow. Couture is 3-1, with all of his prior bouts coming on Strikeforce Challengers cards. The bout is expected to take place on the preliminary portion of the card. More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: strikeforce, bout, card, kyle, lhw champion

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Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle will attempt to make Strikeforce's vacant light heavyweight title picture clearer when they meet March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.

Posted in: mousasi, mike, march, kyle, mike kyle

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@danawhite @Strikeforce it's on march 3 Ohio baby. Mak Kyle and mossasi beast mode gerrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!about 3 hours ago via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite@Mak4afightMikekyle Strikeforce’s March 3 card got two new additions today. The first lucky pair is Mike Kyle and Gegard Mousasi. MMA Junkie confirmed the bout will serve as the co-main event after Kyle announced the fight on Twitter. It’s unclear if the fight will be for the vacant light heavyweight title, but with King Mo likely out for the next year, it remains a possibility. As for the other match-up, MMA Fighting is reporting that Ryan Couture will take on Conor Heun in a lightweight bout. It’s unclear it will serve as a main card bout or a preliminary bout, but the latter seems more likely. Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey and will feature other match-ups such as Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, Kazuo Misaki vs. Paul Daley and Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis.

Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, tate, kyle

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

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

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A pivotal match-up in the Strikeforce light heavyweight division appears headed for March 3 in Ohio with Mike Kyle facing Gegard Mousasi.

Posted in: gegard mousasi, mousasi, mike, kyle, mike kyle

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Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsRumors of a bout between Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle have spread at various times over the last year. In fact, the duo seemed destined to meet in both April and September of 2011 before various issues sidetracked the pairing from being made. Now, it's on again. Sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the Mousasi-Kyle matchup has been agreed to as the co-main event of March 3's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event. Mousasi (32-3-2) was last seen just over one month ago, showing improved takedown defense to go with his usual aggressive striking game en route to a unanimous decision over Ovince St. Preux. Meanwhile, Kyle (19-8-1, 1 no contest) is coming off a unanimous decision victory of his own, this one coming against Marcos Rogerio de Lima in September. The winner of the bout may eventually earn a chance to fight for the vacant Strikeforce light-heavyweight title. Mousasi-Kyle is the co-headliner just underneath a women's bantamweight title bout with Miesha Tate against Ronda Rousey. As MMA Fighting reported earlier Monday, a lightweight fight between Conor Heun and Ryan Couture was just added to the event as well. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, event, comain event, rousey, kyle

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Kyle Noke has a new opponent for UFC on FX 2 in his home country of Australia, as undefeated newcomer Andrew Craig has replaced injured middleweight Jared Hamman against Noke on the March 3 card in Sydney, the UFC announced Thursday. UFC on FX 2, which airs live in the U.S. on Friday, March 2 on FX (main card) and Fuel TV (prelims), is headlined by welterweights Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann and flyweight semifinals featuring Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani. For complete coverage of UFC on FX 2 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Kyle Noke (via UFC.com)

Posted in: ufc, fx, kyle, kyle noke, noke

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An injury has forced UFC middleweight Jared Hamman out of his bout with Kyle Noke at UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann.

Posted in: ufc, fx, jared hamman, kyle, kyle noke

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An injury has forced UFC middleweight Jared Hamman out of his bout with Kyle Noke at UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann.

Posted in: ufc, fx, jared hamman, kyle, kyle noke

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Photo by Kevin Wuchter, TheGarv Name: Kyle Cerminara Nickname: -- Age: 28 Height: 6'0" Location: Philadelphia, PA The long, arduous journey of becoming a world-class wrestler is likely one of the most grueling goals, both physically and mentally, that anyone could ever attempt to accomplish. For Pennsylvania's Kyle Cerminara (2-0), the journey ultimately led to the biggest letdown of his life, but as the old adage says - as one door closes, another door opens. The 2004 NCAA Division I All-American tried to create a dream of Olympic glory when he moved to Colorado in 2007-2008 to train at the U.S. Olympic training center. It nearly paid off, placing second at both the 2009 Pan-American Championships and U.S. Open. Unfortunately for Kyle, he was never able to attain a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, only earning a consolation prize of an alternate position on the world team. Three years later, Cerminara is now an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Pennsylvania. At 28 years old, however, he didn't feel it was too late to take advantage of what wrestling could do for him in the sport of mixed martial arts. Following his debut victory over Ariel Sepulveda at Cage Fury Fighting Championships 7 in April, Cerminara won Bellator's open tryouts at Daddis Fight Camps' Cherry Hill gym in New Jersey. Not exactly a shocking revelation when you consider Cerminara's vast background in wrestling, but it is nonetheless impressive considering his novice status in the sport. Cerminara followed up the tryout with a win over John Doyle at a Locked in the Cage event in August, once again utilizing his smothering wrestling skills to win on the scorecards. As one would expect, Cerminara relies heavily on his athleticism and know-how in the wrestling department to crush his opponents. He's a sizeable light heavyweight fighter with brute strength and excellent conditioning. His only flaw is his lack of knowledge in the ground arts, specifically in the submission game. That could all change under the guidance of Relson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts Phil and Ricardo Migliarese. The brothers run Balance Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and they are a pivotal piece to helping Cerminara obtain the skills he needs to succeed this year. If Cerminara can add a savvy submission game to his arsenal, fans may be comparing him to Chris Weidman by the end of the 2012, possibly earning him a shot in one of Bellator's coveted tournaments. Unfortunately, there is only wrestling footage of Cerminara that's easily available. If you happen to be a GFL.tv customer, you can access Cerminara's debut. FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 -

Posted in: year, olympic, kyle, cerminara, submission game

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UFC veteran Kyle Watson has signed for British promotion CageWarriors and will make his debut in February 2012.He will be fighting in the Middle East as...

Posted in: veteran, february, watson, cagewarrior, kyle

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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and TUF season twelve semi-finalist, Kyle Watson spoke with FightHubTV recently and discussed his new school opening in St. Louis, MO, his expected return to competition and what he has worked on to grow in his journey as a mixed martial artist. FHTV: Thank you for taking the time to [...]

Posted in: tuf season, watson, kyle, school opening, artist fhtv

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Stephan Bonnar dominated Kyle Kingsbury on the ground to win the unanimous decision at UFC 139. Judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-27, and 30-25. It was Bonnar's first fight this year after a pretty busy 2010. Bonnar is a former Illinois golden gloves boxer and member of the legendary Carlson Gracie fight team. He came up short in his attempt at being the season one Ultimate Fighter in a classic fight against Forrest Griffin.  For three rounds Stephan Bonnar controlled the fight on the ground using his high level grappling skills to negate the athleticism of Kyle Kingsbury. Moving from guard to side control to north-south, he was active with punches and submission attempts. While the crowd was booing the display, it was one of the best performances of Bonnar's UFC career.  He's won three fights in a row and is 8-6 in the UFC. He's 14-7 overall. Kyle Kingsbury is now 4-2 in the UFC and 11-3 (1) in his career. After the fight Bonnar apologized to Josh Koscheck for making t-shirts in his likeness. SBN coverage of UFC 139: Henderson vs. Rua

Posted in: ufc, fight, kyle kingsbury, bonnar, kyle

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UFC 139 takes place later tonight at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The event airs live on pay-per-view at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The pay-per-view broadcast will be preceded by prelim specials on Facebook at 6pm ET/3pm PT and Spike TV at 8pm ET/5pm PT. In the main event, Dan Henderson returns to the UFC to take on fellow PRIDE veteran Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. In the co-main event, Cung Le makes his UFC debut against Wanderlei Silva. Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles fight for a potential bantamweight title shot. Rick Story faces Martin Kampmann in a welterweight bout. Stephan Bonnar takes on Kyle Kingsbury in a light heavyweight match-up. Results, recap and bonuses after the jump. Results Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Dan Henderson Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story Stephan Bonnar vs. Kyle Kingsbury Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz Michael McDonald vs. Alex Soto Tom Lawlor vs. Chris Weidman Nick Pace vs. Miguel Torres Rafael dos Anjos vs. Gleison Tibau Seth Baczynski vs. Matt Brown Shamar Bailey vs. Danny Castillo Recap & Thoughts Michael McDonald vs. Alex Soto: Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz: Stephan Bonnar vs. Kyle Kingsbury: Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story: Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles: Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Dan Henderson: Bonuses $??? Submission of the Night: Knockout of the Night: Fight of the Night:

Posted in: ufc, vs, henderson, shogun, kyle

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It's been awhile since we last saw 'The American Psycho'. I never found that particular nickname fitting until Bonnar's highly inexplicable victory pose at UFC 116. However, he's 2-1 for the year 2010. He wasn't all that impressive in his last outing, but a win's a win. Even if it's over Igor Prokrajac. Kyle Kingsbury has been an unlikely success story. Most guys that lost in the house on TUF have a very limited shelf life. Kingsbury, who will always be known for blasting his goof juice into Dave Kaplan's sushi, has found the atypical success.  Neither fighter will ever be mistaken for contenders. But they're both tough, and rugged gatekeepers. And more importantly for entertainment purposes, they're both active, violent fighters. Perhaps the most interesting story is the work Victor Conte is doing with Kingsbury. Kyle is doing what's called fourth generation intermittent hypoxic training: high altitude simulation without the high altitude basically (the idea being that actually training at high altitude isn't good for your immune system). But the story of the fight itself will essentially be a matter of who folds. Stephan Bonnar is a decent boxer, all things told. No, his Golden Gloves championship Rogan and Goldie will belabor the point of mentioning hasn't paid dividends. But what he lacks in skill he makes up for in toughness. His ability to take a few to give a few is the reason for his success. I don't expect this fight to go to the ground. On the feet, I think Kingsbury isn't as good at fighting at a distance, and therefore needs to find his rhythm in the clinch. Don't expect this fight to hit the ground: both guys have sturdy enough takedown defense to negate the limited wrestling of their respective games. While I think Kingsbury has slightly more pop in his strikes, he won't find success at a distance. On top of that, Bonnar is the more durable fighter. In fact, Bonnar has never been stopped with strikes or a submission in his entire career (his two TKO losses are by cut). I expect to see an all out war, but also a lot of clinching. It'll probably look like Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman II, but with less compact elbows. I hesitate to do it, because I think if they clinch a lot, Kinsbury should earn the decision victory, but in the center of the cage, Bonnar will have the edge. I think Kinsbury will oblige him. Bonnar by decision. Poll Who do you got? Stephan Bonnar Kyle Kingsbury   0 votes | Results

Posted in: fighter, bonnar, kingsbury, kyle, altitude isnt

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Kyle Kingsbury has shown flashes of greatness in the octagon since his kinda meh run on the Ultimate Fighter. Unfortunately, he's shown longer flashes of shitty cardio. Good news: he's working on fixing the problem through a dedicated nutrition and training program. I dunno if you'd call this bad news, but it's certainly interesting ... check out who he's got running his supplement regiment: There isn't a long line of athletes waiting to work with Stan Conte, but Kyle Kingsbury trusts the guy, many wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. The former Arizona State defensive lineman and UFC veteran continues his journey in the world of mixed martial arts with Barry Bonds' former mixologist at his side."Having gone to jail and having four daughters to look after he understands they gave him a slap on the wrist the first go around he's done," said Kingsbury, who first heard Conte's "I'm a changed man" pitch a few years ago. "I believed him right then and there. He's on the up and up."Conte is still scuffling to find clients. MLB player Marlon Byrd and boxer Nonito Donaire are on the short list of other athletes who jumped on board with the guy who took down the careers of dozens of athletes during the Balco steroid scandal."I'm about forgiveness. I've had to learn to forgive myself. And Kyle was one of the first that found it in his heart to forgive me. He realized there was going to be a stigma attached to me," said Conte. Eh, that stigma stuff only applies as long as your name appears in headlines alongside steroid allegations. That's basically 1% of the time when the media decides it's time for a witch hunt. The other 99% of the time, no one cares about all the performance enhancing drugs floating around the world of sports. And I bet Conte knows about all the best stuff that's right on the edge of legality.

Posted in: ufc veteran, kingsbury, he, kyle, conte

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American Kickboxing Academy product Kyle Kingsbury discusses his UFC 139 bout with Stephan Bonnar.

Posted in: ufc, kyle kingsbury, bonnar, kyle, stephan

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